Bardel Entertainment, the acclaimed Vancouver-based animation company, has hired Lenny Brown as Manager, Business Development. Brown recently departed Toonz Ent. and brings more than a decade of industry experience to his new post, having held corporate development and management roles at film and TV studios such as THQ, HBO, Sony and Universal. Brown has a proven track record of identifying new business/market expansion opportunities in the entertainment industry and a keen understanding of the role content plays within a digital ecosystem.
Deluxe Entertainment Services Group has brought on former Tag Worldwide CEO John Paulson as President and General Manager, Features and Advertising Post Services. Reporting to CEO John Wallace, Paulson will integrate Deluxe’s operations spanning picture editorial, color, post and production services for feature film and advertising to streamline processes for clients worldwide. His leadership encompasses Deluxe’s Beast, Company 3, EFILM, Editpool, Rushes, the post-production group in Culver City, and the Creative New Media team. Prior to Tag, Paulson was with global ad agency G2, stating as President of G2 Interactive North America and rising to CEO of G2 Worldwide, leading the unification of its Interactive, Direct, Promotional Marketing and Branding & Design units. In his new role, Paulson will work out of both New York and L.A.
Luma creative studio, based in Santa Monica and Melbourne, has hired industry vet Jill Gilbert as Executive Producer of Animated Content. Based in Santa Monica, Gilbert is charged with overseeing, developing and managing Luma Toons original animated content (like The New Adventures of Figaro Pho) and animation service work, as well as contributing to acquisition and development of branded content. She will work closely with Animation Director Raphael Pimental and CG Supe Andrew Zink as Luma builds a diverse animation slate including films, series, digital content and VR. Gilbert holds over two decades of experience, specializing in animation production, with credits on dozens of films for major brands and studios. She joins Luma from Psyop, where she was EP and MD. Prior, Gilber was VP of Production at Paramount’s feature animation division, launching SpongeBob SquarePants in 3D. Her CV also includes VP posts at DisneyToon and Technicolor Digital.
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios welcomes long-time collaborator Zeb Wells as an exclusive in-house producer; and long-time Comedy Central exec Elizabeth Porter has been hired as Head of Development. Wells is an Emmy and Annie Award-winning writer and actor known for his work at Marvel Comics and on Robot Chicken. He is the co-creator of SuperMansion and is currently penning Sony/Ubisoft’s CG-hybrid Rabbids film. Porter brings over 15 years of experience in creative development and production with her, having overseen scripted, animated and unscripted projects and multiplatform materials. She most recently serves as EVP of Development at Reality Television — prior, Porter was SVP of Development and Special Productions at Comedy Central. Porter has worked at a variety of production and broadcast companies, tackling many different TV formats.
