DIC Ent. plans to get some positive messages out through Promise Media Prods, a new venture with independent production company Thomopoulos Prods. The new shingle will develop, market and distribute both animated and live-action family content for the faith-based and secular markets. Initial projects on the slate an animated version of Black Beauty, an animated remake of the gladiator classic Ben Hur and an original live-action theatrical production titled Angel Flight for Life.
In addition to developing original content, Promise Media will acquire existing brands for distribution across film, television, home entertainment, new media and consumer products platforms. The venture is looking to properties that incorporate virtues such as faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The goal is to offer parents a safe environment by avoiding gratuitous sex and violence.
“We know there is a vast demand for content that showcases positive values and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, and we plan to apply our entertainment and consumer products expertise to promote positive values for kids,” says DIC chairman and CEO Heyward.
“The multi-billion dollar market for positive values entertainment continues to rapidly grow, and Andy and I recognized a tremendous opportunity in this underserved marketplace to create and deliver high-quality product that resonates with faith-based values,” adds Tony Thomopoulos, president of Thomopoulos Prods.
Renowned clinical psychologist, author and leadership consultant Dr. Henry Cloud is among the media experts and educators taking part in Promise Media Prods.’s advisory board, which will develop program guidelines that ensure positive values are incorporated into the content. As president of Cloud-Townsend Resources, Dr. Cloud has produced and conducted hundreds of public seminars around the country speaking on marriage, parenting, personal growth and spirituality.
Promise is mainly looking to literary sources for its current production slate, employing animation to adapt the classic novels Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and Ben-Hur, A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace. Also in the works is a toon series titled The Animated Adventures of Sophie and Sam, based on the illustrated children’s book by Tori Cloud and rooted in the principles of the bestselling book, Boundaries, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. Valuable life lessons and music education will be brought to life with CG animation in The Jammies of Harmonyville, a new TV series produced in association with Believe Ent., and a biblical tale will get a hip, new twist with the animated comedy-adventure, Noah’s Hope. In the show, Noah will be a nineteen-year-old scientist who travels America with his animal pals in an eco-bus to seek out real-life conservationists who are making a difference in their communities. Among the live-action offerings in development are a feature film titled Angel, Flight for Life and a DVD series titled Zakland, which showcases the talents of award-winning musical performer and writer Zak Norman.
Thomopoulos previously served as president of ABC Broadcast Group and was chairman of United Artists Pictures, where he supervised the production of such films as Rain Man and entries in the James Bond franchise. From 1991 to 1995, he was president of Amblin Television, a division of Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Ent., and was responsible for the original placement of NBC’s long-running hit, ER. He later joined International Family Entertainment Inc. (IFE) and oversaw all aspects of programming for The Family Channel.
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