Tag: VRP

Edward Charles Egerton “Ed” Weeks is an English actor, comedian, writer and producer. He plays Dr. Jeremy Reed on the Fox (now Hulu) comedy series The Mindy Project.

Hannah Mackay is a British television comedy producer. Most recently she produced the final series of Peep Show for Objective Productions. Prior to that she script edited two series of Toast of London and three series of Fresh Meat.

Ben Aaron is currently a reporter for WNBC’s New York Live. His first introduction into entertainment began at a young age when he hosted his own public access show from his basement. His passion for the various facets of show business continued to grow and he had his first on-air radio job by age 18. Aaron’s career in radio segued into a career as on-air reporter for programs all over the country from Tucson to Boston to Los Angeles and other cities. In 2009, Aaron joined WNBC and in addition to hosting New York Live, he is responsible for writing, editing and producing daily segments on lifestyle topics. His on-camera feature reporting work with WNBC has earned him 3 New York Emmy® Awards. Aaron has also served as a contributor for Extra, Meredith and the 4th hour of Today. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in radio from Emerson College and resides in New York with his wife.

‘Scream’ Producer Cathy Konrad Signs First-Look Deal With Fisher Stevens’ Insurgent Media  |  Hollywood Reporter  |  August 5, 2016
Veteran film and TV producer Cathy Konrad — behind the first three Scream titles and its recent TV adaptation for MTV — has signed a first-look deal with Insurgent Media, the production house headed by Oscar-winning multi-hyphenate Fisher Stevens.

Announced on Friday, the first project to be developed under the deal is Cicada 3301, an espionage TV thriller based on the real-life global code-breaking phenomenon that has, since 2012, posted puzzles online with the reported aim of recruit “highly intelligent individuals.” Konrad will produce alongside Ezna Sands and Ashley Richardson for Insurgent Media.

“I have been fortunate in my career to work with partners who share my taste and passion for both genre and character stories,” said Konrad. “While working with the Insurgent team, it has become clear, very quickly, that we share a similar aesthetic and sensibility for storytelling, and that we are in sync with regards to the talent we want to be in business with and support creatively.”

Insurgent, based in New York and Los Angeles, was behind the 2014 Netflix environmental documentary Mission Blue.

Weinsteins Pay to Settle Producer Cathy Konrad’s ‘Scream 4’ Lawsuit (Exclusive)  |  Hollywood Reporter  |  April 5, 2011
Scream 4 will hit theaters April 15 without the specter of a lawsuit hovering over the horror sequel. Distributor the Weinstein Co. has paid to settle a $3 million claim filed by producer Cathy Konrad, who alleged she was booted from the fourth installment of the franchise after it was developed behind her back.

Terms of the settlement, which was reached a few months ago but has gone unreported until now, have not been disclosed. However, sources tell THR that Konrad is getting a cash payment from TWC and a very small portion of the back end on the film.

We broke the news last May that Konrad and her Cat Entertainment had sued in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming she was responsible for the development of the lucrative Scream franchise and was entitled to a first opportunity to produce any sequels on the same financial terms as Scream 3, for which she received $550,000 pay-or-play plus $100,000 bonuses for domestic boxoffice targets of $75 million, $100 million, $110 million and $125 million.

Konrad claimed she had planned to be involved in the fourth film, directed by Wes Craven, but she learned from media reports that TWC was planning to restart the horror series and release another installment in 2011 without including her.

The suit alleged that the Weinsteins booted her based on the “false pretext” that her producing services were to be exclusive to the project, which she says was not a requirement on Scream 3. She claimed that the Weinsteins actually excluded her to lower costs and to hire Craven’s wife instead of Konrad.TWC attorney Bert Fieldsdenied the allegations at the time.

Fields and Konrad’s attorney declined to comment on the settlement.

Josh Berman

Josh Berman is a writer and producer for television. He was an executive producer on the TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and consulting producer on Bones.

Royal Viking Entertainment 

Royal Viking Entertainment is a production company based in Los Angeles. They are producing the upcoming movie Mayhem, which is currently in post-production. 

1619 N La Brea Avenue, #534, Los Angeles, CA 90028  |  323-999-4453

Producer: Sean Sorensen (CAA, Jon Levin)

Filmography:

Mayhem 2017

IMDBpro: https://pro-labs.imdb.com/company/co0477021/staff?ref_=co_st_all

Sean Sorensen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-sorensen-6b4287101

Sean Sorensen IMDBpro: https://pro-labs.imdb.com/name/nm1802864/

Sean Sorensen in the Media:

Interview with Sean Sorensen  |  The Science & Entertainment Exchange  |  Feb 6, 2013

Have you ever heard of Sealand? Hollywood writer and producer Sean Sorensen sure has! Sean chats with us this week about what other great ideas he has up his sleeve and his advice for making it in Hollywood.

Tell us about your background. Where are you from, and what did you want to do when you grew up?
I grew up in Orange County, California. I wanted to be an astronaut until I realized how much math was involved.

What was your first job in Hollywood and how did you get it?
I optioned the life rights to the family that founded Sealand, the smallest country in the world. I sold the story to Warner Bros. in 2003, wrote the script, and was hired as executive producer. That movie never got made, but I learned a ton from that experience.

What advice do you have for the next generation of young adults who want to break into the business?
I would tell them they have better luck breaking into a bank. But so what – if you are passionate about it, make it happen. Napoleon said, “If you commence to take Vienna, take Vienna.” I think getting ahead in this business requires an absolute narrow-mindedness. Throw away Plan B. Turn thought into action. Become the mantra, “this is going to happen,” and do everything it takes to realize your dreams.

Can you give us some insight into the creative process? What is the most difficult part of your job?
A surprising and frustrating percentage of my day is reminding other people to do what they said they were going to do, but I am pretty sure that is true with every business. Everyone’s creative process is different; just find out what works for you and assume that’s the right way to do it.

What does a typical work day look like?
I am super light-sensitive, so I get up around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. and immediately read a script and answer e-mails. So by the time I am in the office, I have already got a good head start on my day. The rest of the day is calls, meetings, e-mails, writing treatments, and, of course, reminding people to do what they said they were going to do.

How did you become involved with The Exchange? What are your thoughts about the program? Do you have a most memorable moment?
I met Rick Loverd during a lunch with writer Max Borenstein at Comic-Con 2012 and The Exchange has quickly become one of my favorite things of the year! My favorite moment has to be brainstorming ideas with Dr. Todd Coleman and Dr. Ricardo Gil de Costa for this television series we sold a few months ago. Todd and Ricardo are so genial, brilliant, and just downright cool … not to mention they made significant contributions to the scientific integrity of our show.

Other highlights of The Exchange include touring the nuclear submarine USS Albuquerque and the missile destroyer USS Stockdale with the U.S. Navy in San Diego, as well as visiting the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Dr. Coleman and Dr. De Costa’s laboratories at Salk Institute.

There has also been meetings with 4-star generals, panels with astronauts … basically, anything The Exchange does is super awesome and I feel lucky to be included.

What memory or experience stands out as a turning point early in your career?
Obviously, selling my first project was a big deal because suddenly, I was not just dreaming anymore. But segueing a few years later from screenwriter to executive was a major turning point. The writing process is typically so isolated and sedentary whereas producing allows me to showcase some of my natural abilities … like weeping, shouting, and begging.

What were your favorite movies and television shows when you were growing up?
I saw Star Wars when I was five years old and remember leaving the theater wanting to be Han Solo. Shortly thereafter, my mother married a religious zealot and, for the most part, radio, television, and movies became forbidden. Of course, that only made me want them more and here we are.

Is there anything that we should have asked, but did not? Anything else you would like to add?
Years ago, my beloved grandfather cut down a holly tree on his property. As a woodworking hobbyist, he intended to carve the holly wood into a set of chess pieces. The gnarled twisted stump laid in his front yard as he regaled me with his vivid dreams for this amazing chess set. He saw this chess set so clearly in his mind. For more than a dozen years, he made measurements, sketches, and plans, but never got around to carving the chess pieces. Eventually, he passed away and one of my first actions upon his death was to heft that stump into the garbage.

Annapurna Television 

Sam Sokolow is the President of EUE/Sokolow, a Los Angeles and New York based television production company that he founded with EUE/Screen Gems principals Jeff Cooney and Chris Cooney. At EUE/Sokolow, Sam oversees all aspects of television & film development and production, including script and format creation & the packaging of intellectual properties as well as full third party production services — every aspect of bringing television shows, limited series and films to market.

Currently, Sam is executive producing Genius, a scripted series for National Geographic Network. The first season of Genius is based on Walter Isaacson’s New York Times Bestseller Einstein and is being produced in partnership with OddLot Entertainment, Fox 21 Television and Imagine Entertainment with Ron Howard directing the pilot episode.

Since opening their doors at the beginning of 2011, EUE/Sokolow has set up scripted and reality television projects at HBO, ABC, Nat Geo, NBCUniversal Television, TNT, Freeform, E!, LMN, HLN, OWN, & Travel Channel. EUE/Sokolow is currently packaging and shopping independently financed television sit-com presentations with Caryn Lucas (The Nanny), Blair Singer (Mysteries Of Laura) and Luke Greenfield (Let’s Be Cops) and developing their ever-growing slate of projects. EUE/Sokolow is currently in production on 23, a pilot for ABC Freeform, and recently saw their true crime special, The Real SVU, air on LMN.

From 2002-2009, Sam served as a founder and Co-CEO of SokoLobl Entertainment, an independent television production company based in Los Angeles. While at SokoLobl, Sam created and executive produced 10 original television series including Taildaters for MTV; Man vs. Vegas for CMT; Ballbreakers and Vegas Weddings Unveiled for GSN; Pay It Off for BET, and Deion and Pilar: Primetime Love for Oxygen. SokoLobl also executive produced the documentary film The Kentucky Kid for MTV; reality series Burned and Trick it Out for MTV and Ultimatum for Style Channel.

Previously, Sam co-wrote, produced and directed the award-winning independent feature film The Definite Maybe, starring Josh Lucas, Roy Scheider and Bob Balaban. In 1999, Sam became the first filmmaker to self-distribute his own feature film via the Internet, a groundbreaking initiative that landed him on Good Morning America and in Time Magazine.

In 2000, Sam served as Co-President of Homemade Entertainment, a venture capital backed television content website. In 1999, Sam worked in the marketing department of the NFL in New York, where he helped develop strategic marketing campaigns for the NFL brand. 1994 to 1997, Sam served as a television & radio commercial producer for Wells, Rich & Greene Advertising. He was an Associate Producer on Barbara Kopple’s Emmy Award-winning CBS movie Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson. From 1993-1994, Sam held a position as a staff reporter for the New York Daily News covering crime and community affairs for the Manhattan and Queens Metro section.

In his own words:
My name is Robert Compton, but my friends call me Bob. I am glad to have lived during such interesting times. I have a wide range of interests and I hope that you and I can learn something from each other.

With an undergraduate liberal arts degree, I began my career at the IBM Corporation initially as a systems engineer, and later as a sales representative selling mainframe computer systems. I left IBM to continue my education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business where I received my Masters in Business Administration.

After Harvard, I entered the venture capital industry landing a position at First Chicago Venture Capital. From there, I moved to Indiana where I served as a general partner at CID Equity Partners from 1987 to 1997. My first deal was help-desk software developer Software Artistry, which went public in 1995 and was acquired two years later by IBM for about $200 Million. My subsequent investments included Interactive Intelligence, Allscripts and ExactTarget – all of which had successful public offerings.

I left the venture business to become President and Chief Operating Officer of Sofamor Danek Group, Inc., which at the time was the world’s largest supplier of implants, computer-assisted surgery products, and biologics for spinal surgery. Medtronic acquired Sofamor Danek Group, Inc. in January 1999 for $3.7 billion. I have served on numerous corporate Boards of Directors in an array of industries and have been the lead investor in over 20 businesses, six of which have had successful public offerings.

After traveling to India in 2005, I was inspired to create the documentary Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination to take a deeper look at how the three superpowers of the 21st Century-China, India and the United States are preparing their students for the future. My subsequent 7 films have explored entrepreneurship and education around the world, including my most recent film The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World’s Most Surprising School System.

Despite the relative decline of American education, the decades ahead can be ones of prosperity and economic growth, provided the American people embrace the 21st Century. I remain an optimist about America. We have always risen to every challenge and I believe the American people will meet this one with characteristic ingenuity and innovation.

Multiple Stars Turn Out For The Los Angeles Red Carpet Premiere Of The Sundance Award-Winning Film, “First Girl I Loved”  |  Marketwired  |  Oct 20, 2016
The Sundance Film Festival Audience Award Winning feature film “First Girl I Loved” had its Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday, October 18th and the stars were out at the historic Vista Theatre to celebrate. Jaden Smith showed his support for the film (which is partnered with the It Gets Better Project) along with the film’s stars Brianna Hildebrand (who was just nominated for a Teen Choice Award for playing Negasonic Teenage Warhead in “Deadpool”), Dylan Gelula (best known for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Pamela Aldon (writer/star of the hit series “Better Things”) and Mateo Arias (from “Disney’s Kickin’ It”). Also on hand were Stephen Kramer Glickman (“Storks”), Rex Lee (“Young And Hungry”), Bex Taylor-Klaus (MTV’s “Scream”), Brec Bassinger, Rachel Sterling, Damian Whitewood, Will Meyers, Stefan Kapicic, Ramona Young and many, many more.