The second round of Disney‘s planned three-part, 7,000-staff layoffs dropped this week. Among the executives across multiple entertainment divisions who have been let go are Khaki Jones, SVP Current, Disney Television Animation — who has been with the company for nearly 13 years — and several director-level positions in the studio.
Marc Buhaj, who was a development executive and then GM/SVP at Disney XD for many years, is another longtime Mouse House veteran impacted by the cuts. Buhaj had been serving as VP, Unscripted Series and Specials for Disney Branded Television.
Tara Billik has joined The Jim Henson Company as Vice President of Feature Films, overseeing the development of the Company’s fantasy, science fiction, animated and family projects. The announcement was made this week by CEO Lisa Henson, whom Billik will report.
Billik most recently served as VP of Film & TV at Mythical Entertainment and as VP of Development and Production at Gunpowder & Sky. She previously held creative development positions for producer Marianne Maddalena and Oscar winner Graham King’s GK Films. She began her career working for Wes Craven, and has worked on a myriad of productions including Hugo, The Tourist, The Rum Diary, The Town, Rango, The Hills Have Eyes 2, Edge of Darkness and more.
Billik hails from Michigan and holds a B.A. in Film and Video Studies from The University of Michigan.
The Jim Henson Company’s most recent features include the Oscar-winning Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Netflix), as well as The Portable Door for MGM+. Projects currently in development include Muppet Man with Disney, The 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear with Netflix, and the Labyrinth sequel with TriStar.
Scott Greenberg, Co-Founder & CEO of Fox-owned, Emmy-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment, is leaving the company to “explore new opportunities.” He is also departing his post as CEO of Fox’s Web3 media/tech company Blockchain Creative Labs. Greenberg’s departure is effective May 19.
Bento Box COO Brett Coker has been elevated to President, reporting to Fox Entertainment President of Scripted Programming, Michael Thorn. Fox Ent.’s SVP Animation Daniel Weidenfeld will shift over to the studio to oversee development with Creative Director Ben Jones, both reporting to Coker.
Back at Fox Ent., Comedy Programming & Development SVP Cheryl Dollins will now oversee live-action comedy and animation programming/development. BCL will be overseen bey President Melody Hildebrandt.
Dublin-based CG animation studio Little Moon Animation has appointed six-time Emmy nominee David McCamley as its Creative Director. With over three decades of experience in the animation industry, McCamley brings his expertise to the studio’s slate of innovative projects utilizing real-time tech. In fact, Little Moon is currently nominated for Best Innovation for the 2023 Irish Animation Awards and was among the first studios in Europe to air a series animated in CG using Unreal Engine.
“I am incredibly excited to join the talented team at Little Moon Animation and embark on this new adventure. Their commitment to innovation, storytelling and captivating audiences aligns perfectly with my own passion for creating meaningful and impactful content,” said McCamley. “Together, I’m looking forward to pushing the boundaries of animation and bringing inspiring stories to life for audiences around the world.”
McCamley began his 30-year career working on projects such as The Lion King and Tarzan for Walt Disney Feature Animation. His most recent tenure as Director of Visual Development at Brown Bag Films had him overseeing the visual development of many of the studios’ Emmy and BAFTA-winning series, including Ada Twist (Netflix), Get Rolling with Otis (Apple TV+), Peter Rabbit (Nick Jr.) and most recently Eva the Owlet (Apple TV+).
Canadian animation studio Copernicus announces the departure of its Co-Founder & CEO, Juan Cruz Baldassarre, who has decided to pursue a new opportunity in emerging technologies for animation and virtual production.
Alongside Paul Rigg, Andrew Holland and Murray Bain, he co-founded Copernicus almost 20 years ago, leading production on hit 2D shows like Teen Titans Go!, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic and Solar Opposites, in addition to expanding into IP development and production.
“We are proud of the body of work we’ve accomplished over the last 20 years and the company we built together. I leave the business in the other founders’ capable hands in a good place and positioned for growth,” Baldassare commented. He will continue to assist the studio as a non-executive advisor for Copernicus’ service productions.
During the FMX – Film and Media Exchange in Stuttgart, the Animationsinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg introduced its new head: Jan Pinkava. The British-Czech animator, director, screenwriter and Oscar winner will take over as Head of the Institute in June , succeeding Prof. Andreas Hykade and taking over for interim head, Prof. Thomas Shadt.
“I am beyond honored to have been appointed Head of the Animationsinstitut,” said Pinkava. “The school has an extraordinary reputation, dedicated staff, brilliant teachers, outstanding graduates, and highly talented students. What could be more worthwhile than to build on this legacy?”
Pinkava has worked in the animation industry for 30 years and won numerous awards with his films. During his time at Pixar, he won an Oscar for his short film Geri’s Game in 1998. As creator and co-director, Pinkava was also instrumental in Ratatouille‘s Oscar win for best animated feature film in 2008. Pinkava was also involved in the creation of the innovative format Google Spotlight Stories as co-founder and creative director.
Bizzy Day has been appointed as the new Festival Director of Bristol-based short film, animation and VR festival Encounters.Day will take up the position in May and begin working alongside Rich Warren, current Director, and the rest of the team to deliver the 2023 festival edition (Sept. 27-Oct. 1).
“I’m delighted to be joining the fantastic team at Encounters ahead of its landmark 30th birthday next year,” said Day. “The U.K.’s leading short film festival, Encounters is a true celebration of talent, creativity, diversity and short form moving image. I can’t wait to get started and build on the incredible work of Rich and team.”
Day previously worked in production and business affairs at Ffilm Cymru working across a wide range of rights & legals and supporting the progression, closing and aftercare of feature films for theatrical release. She also co-founded and ran The Other Room, Cardiff’s pub theater, where she was responsible for the strategic direction and fiscal health of the company in addition to producing the theatre productions. Other experience includes producing National Youth Theatre Wales for National Youth Arts Wales and freelance consultancy across arts fundraising, business planning and strategy.
As an executive, Day prioritizes sustainable business models, talent development and innovation in the creative industries, and is an alum of the Clore Emerging Leaders program and former Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Independent London-based visual effects studio BlueBolt has expanded its senior management team. BlueBolt’s Co-Founders, Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor and Angela Barson welcome Tracy McCreary, Henry Badgett and Nic Birmingham onto the Board of Directors.
BlueBolt’s new board is led by McCreary, who has served as Managing Director since 2020. Alongside McCreary are Badgett, multi award-winning BlueBolt VFX Supervisor (Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, The Great), and Birmingham, Head of 3D (The Last Kingdom, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon) who will both lead the company’s creative vision.
Ainsworth-Taylor and Barson, who co-founded BlueBolt in 2009, will step back from day-to-day operations while remaining involved as Directors and shareholders.
BlueBolt is currently in production on a roster of film and episodic projects including Robert Egger’s Nosferatu, Fast X (Universal), Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount), Cobra season 3 (Sky) and Pain Hustlers (Netflix). The studio recently completed production on projects including Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, The Peripheral (Amazon), Seven Kings Must Die (Carnival Films/ Netflix) and The Great season 3 (Hulu).
