Pitch Party 2012
WHAT’S A PITCH PARTY?
We open up an entire section of our publication (read by more animation decision-makers than any other) to 1/6th page advertisements that pitch new ideas. For less than the cost of a workshop on “breaking into the biz” you can get your great idea in front of our major readers. [NOTE: This opportunity is only available once a year. AND to help you out, we're offering these ads at a heavily discounted price!]
PLUS! We’ve enlisted a panel of ten powerful development execs, producers and agents to judge your entries. The Pitch Party winner will receive a chance to pitch the judge of his or her choice and will receive FREE Pitch Party Participation.
WHO’S JUDGING THIS THING?
 Donna Ebbs - Senior Vice President of Programming, The Hub |
With a diverse array of professional hats acquired throughout her career—from radio DJ, to animator, to record label exec, to film and TV production coordinator—it’s not wonder Ebbs was tapped to help start up the Hasbro/Discovery venture channel The Hub back in 2009. As Senior VP of Programming, she brings her vast industry experience to the tasks of overseeing original content, acquisitions, scheduling, production and post-production of popular toons and live-action fare like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, The Aquabats! Super Show! and Transformers Prime. Before joining The Hub crew, Ebbs served as VP of Original Programming at Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group, where she oversaw development and production of a heavy movie slate for ABC Family and served as head of specials—helping bring A Miser Brothers Christmas to airwaves—as well as taking on series development roles and the coordination of an internship program at the channel. Her Hollywood career also includes the role of VP of Development & Production of Movies & Miniseres for ABC and “The Wonderful Word of Disney,” and a staggering number of projects with King World Prod., Barwood, Davis Entertainment Television, Goodman/Rosen Prod., Hearts Productions and more. The New England native attended Boston’s Emerson College, where she concentrated on broadcasting, film animation and political theory. Ebbs has guest lectured at USC and other local colleges, served on high-profile entertainment panels and is on the Television Academy’s Executive Peer Group Committee. Having experienced mentoring youth through the ABC’s scholarship program and The Friar’s Club, she is currently active with The Hub’s philanthropic efforts which include The Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and the national youth activation program GenOn. |
 Sebastian Debertin - Head of Fiction, Acquisitions & Co-Productions, KI.KA |
An integral part of the KI.KA team since the joint ARD and ZDF public kid’s channel launched in 1996, Debertin now overseas the Fiction, Acquisitions and Co-Productions department and also serves as Dep. Managing & Programming Director. In this role he has been instrumental in bringing quality animated programs for all age groups to the channel, such as Pet Alien, School for Vampires, Jakers!, Pocoyo, Lila and Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies. Previous to joining KI.KA, the multiple award-winning TV guru helped launched the international distribution arm of Penta TV Productions, where he served as VP International Sales and Acquisitions. Debertin’s early career saw him serving in a variety of editorial and production roles on children’s programs like Hello Spencer, Leonie Lionheart, Sesame Street and Sandman in addition to non-fiction programs, wildlife documentaries and various animation series. In addition to his role at KI.KA, Debertin is a tutor and speaker for several institutions including Media Business School, Television Business School, European universities and international film boards. He is a jury member of various film and television awards, and is an active supporter of The German Academy on Children’s Media. Debertin attended the University of Hamburg, where he majored in Sociology, and has successfully completed special training in Editorial and Program Management. |
 Katie Krentz - Manager of Comedy Animation, Cartoon Network |
A person who really knows her funny stuff, Krentz fills her days as comedy animation manager at Cartoon Network developing and producing the hilarious toon hits that keep viewers coming back for more. She’s also the one to impress if you’re looking to get your animated project green lit! Before joining the Cartoon Network crew, Krentz served as a development and production executive at Twentieth Century Fox Television, where she oversaw the Inkubation Shorts Program. She was also involved on a day to day basis with cool comedic toons like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, American Dad!, King of the Hill, The Cleveland Show, Allen Gregory and Napoleon Dynamite. Previously, Kentz worked in production on Family Guy. Raised in the Midwest, Krentz graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Telecommunications and Fine Arts. |
 Linda Simensky - Vice President, Children's Programming, PBS |
We are so pleased to have the busy veep of kids programming for PBS as a returning judge this year. In her role with the public broadcaster, Simensky collaborates with producers, co-production partners and distributors throughout the development, production, post-production and broadcast phases for beloved kids shows like Curious George, Dinosaur Train, Super Why, Martha Speaks, and Sid the Science Kid for PBS KIDS, as well as Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, WordGirl and The Electric Company for PBS KIDS GO! Prior to joining PBS, Simensky was senior VP of original animation for Cartoon Network, where she oversaw the development and production of The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Courage the Cowardly Dog and other major projects. Simensky began her career with a nine-year tenure at Nickelodeon, where she helped build the animation department and launch such popular series as Rugrats, Doug and The Ren & Stimpy Show. Simensky is a past-president of ASIFA-East, and the founder of New York chapter of Women in Animation. She has lectured at numerous colleges and animation festivals, and has taught courses in animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She has written for numerous animation publications and has had several essays published in books including Nickelodeon Nation and The Children’s Television Community. Simensky holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and history from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in media ecology from New York University. |
 Michael J. Vogel – Vice President, Development, Hasbro Studios |
A dedicated shepherd of Hasbro’s toon flock, Vogel has headed all development for Los Angeles-based Hasbro Studios (the production divistion of Hasbro, Inc.) since March of 2011. As a veep and previously as executive director of boys and action programming, Vogel has worked closely with Hasbro Studios producers, writers and artists as well as independent entities to guide many of the studio’s well-known brand revamps from inception through to broadcast success on Hasbro/Discovery’s joint venture The Hub and on networks that reach over 160 countries. These top properties include Transformers Prime, Transformers Rescue Bots, Littlest Pet Shop, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters and the Clue miniseries, based on the iconic family game. Prior to joining Hasbro, Vogel served as director of animated programming at Sony Pictures Entertainment, overseeing development and current programming for animated TV fare. His toon credits include the Emmy-nominated Jackie Chan Adventures, Stan Lee’s The Spectacular Spiderman for Kid’s WB, the Peabody Award-winning The Boondocks and Sit Down Shut Up. |
 Barry Blumberg – Executive Vice President, Alloy Digital | President, Smosh |
As EVP for Alloy Digital, a major creator/distributor of media and entertainment for the 12-34 set, Blumberg guides editorial strategy and programming development for Alloy-owned sites which include popular properties Alloy, Gurl, The Gloss, Teen, Smosh and Smosh’s Shut Up! Cartoons. He continues to serve as president of Alloy-own pop-culture phenom Smosh—the Webby Award-winning online destination for multiplatform original video content for teens and young adults which is one of the top three channels on YouTube, generating more than 13 million views per month. Blumberg is also the driving force behind Smosh’s Shut Up! Cartoons, the recently launched and fast-rising YouTube original animation channel that features a host of irreverent creators producing high-quality toon content—including those behind some of the most popular animated properties around. Launched April 30 of this year, Shut Up! Cartoons has already attracted over 5.4 million views, led in subscriber gains, broken into the top 350 of YouTube channels and finished among its 20 most popular channels in its first week alone. Before making a splash at Smosh, Blumber served as president of Walt Disney Television Animation, where he oversaw production of more than 1,000 episodes delivered to Disney Channels and other global distribution outlets. His resume also includes a stint as EVP of Harvey Entertainment, where he managed media and merchandising activities for evergreen brands Casper the Friendly Ghost and Richie Rich. |
 Kim Manning - Director, Programming and Acquisitions, Adult Swim |
Don’t let the serious gaze fool you—grown-up entertainment hub Adult Swim’s Kim Manning knows her way around a quirky comedy. Manning joined the Cartoon Network family in 2002, shortly after Adult Swim’s launch, where she spends her days heading the programming department in addition to scheduling stunts, premieres, specials and crafting the line-up for the popular late-night programming block. Upon diving into the Adult Swim pool, Manning helped develop diversely hilarious animated fare Robot Chicken, The Venture Brothers, The Drinky Crow Show and Tom Goes to the Mayor. She also acquires Japanese anime programming for Adult Swim and coordinated the triumphant return of fan-favorite programming block, Toonami. Manning joins previously announced Pitch Party judges Barry Blumberg (EVP, Alloy Digital & President, Smosh), Donna Ebbs (SVP Programming, The Hub), Sebastian Debertin (Fiction, Acquisitions & Co-Pros Head, KI.KA), Katie Krentz (Manager, Comedy Animation, Cartoon Network), Linda Simensky (VP, Children’s Programming, PBS) and Michael J. Vogel (VP, Development, Hasbro Studios). |
 Jenna Boyd – Senior Vice President, Animation Development, Nickelodeon Group |
In her latest role as SVP for global kids’ entertainment giant Nickelodeon’s toon division, Jenna Boyd oversees the pipeline of all new animated series as well as the recently announced comedy shorts program, focusing on finding creator-driven original comedies, fresh animation styles and developing toon classics for the new generation. Previously, she served as VP of Live Action Development, overseeing programming slates for Nickelodeon, Teenick and family originals for Nick at Nite. Boyd’s career with Nickelodeon began over 15 years ago as a production intern for the studio’s live-action comedy Kenan & Kel at their Orlando, Florida studios. She then moved to New York to work in the TV Land programming department, transitioning to Nickelodeon production where she developed and produced live-action and animation properties for the network. Boyd relocated to Los Angeles in 2004 to serve as Director, Development where she oversaw production of critically acclaimed animated hit Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jenna Boyd joins previously announced Pitch Party judges Barry Blumberg (EVP, Alloy Digital & President, Smosh), Donna Ebbs (SVP Programming, The Hub), Sebastian Debertin (Fiction, Acquisitions & Co-Pros Head, KI.KA), Katie Krentz (Manager, Comedy Animation, Cartoon Network), Kim Manning (Director, Programming & Acquisitions, Adult Swim), Linda Simensky (VP, Children’s Programming, PBS) and Michael J. Vogel (VP, Development, Hasbro Studios). |
AND WHAT DO I WIN?
For one thing, a whole lot of print and online coverage! Not only do you get a 1/6th page ad in our print edition, if you’re a winner, you’ll get additional editorial coverage, a chance to pitch your idea to the judge of your choice and the cost of your entry reimbursed. BUT, WAIT! There’s more … (here’s a big list of everything you could get just by entering).
- 1/6th page in the August edition of Animation Magazine, distributed to readers in over 100 countries with bonus distribution at the San Diego Comic-Con.
- A high-powered panel of development execs and producers will personally evaluate your pitch.
- If you win, you get to pitch your idea to the Judge of your choice. Plus! You’ll get editorial coverage in our August edition.
- If you win, you get FREE Pitch Party Participation.
- If you come in second or third, you’ll get editorial coverage in our August edition.
- We also run a STAFF PICKS contest. So if our staff picks you, they’ll write about why you won in our August edition.
- We run an ONLINE READERS’ POLL using your 1/6th page ad. So for one week your ad will be online and oggled by more than 100,000 unique visitors. AND! You guessed it! We also write about the winners of the online poll in our August edition. (Don’t worry, we monitor our ONLINE READERS’ POLL carefully. No reader can vote more than one time!) The Online Reader’s Poll begins on or about June 10.
HOW DO I ENTER?
1) Contact us to reserve our entry space! Email: sales@animationmagazine.net or call: 818-665-2050
2) Send us the elements of the ad: the image(s), the contact information as you want it to appear in the ad, and your pitch (also to appear on the ad – 30 word max), and we can create the ad for you, or you can create the ad according to the following specs:
Dimensions: 2.25″ wide x 4.875″ high
• Adobe Photoshop Files – Images should be Tiff, Jpeg, EPS or Photoshop file (if EPS or Photoshop file include Fonts). Images should be either Bitmap, Grayscale or CMYK. NO RGB or Indexed Color. Resolution should be 300dpi.
• InDesign Files – Include all used images, printer and screen fonts. Include a PDFx-1a including bleed and cropmarks with your submission.
• Adobe Illustrator Files – Convert all fonts to outlines and save as EPS. Do not leave fonts embedded. If this can’t be done, send printer and screen fonts with your file. Fonts need to be stuffed.
3) The entry fee is $375. Ask about our special student discounts.
4) Materials and payment are due by June 1.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How Do I Protect My Idea? Well, the easiest answer is “by entering the Pitch Party.” If you’re pitching your idea in our magazine then your idea has appeared in print with your name attached; your idea is no longer floating around out in the ether for anyone to pick up. To further protect yourself though, we suggest registering your idea with the Writers Guild. Go to www.wga.org for more info.
WHAT KIND OF STUFF CAN I ENTER?
Anything! As long as your idea has the potential to be animated, you can enter a television series, movie, game, whatever!
WHAT SHOULD I ENTER?
Basically an idea that’s different; something our judges haven’t seen before. Most development folks want a show that is “character-driven”. In artist-speak that just means they’re looking for a show that has a strong character at the center of the action and, if it’s a TV show, a character that people can latch onto. Remember to pick a really strong image for your entry, one that describes your show or its main character in a striking visual manner. Concerning your 30-word description, all we can say is re-write, re-write, re-write. Don’t just give us the first thing that trips off your fingertips onto the keyboard and into Microsoft word. Work it! Then read it to your friends. They’ll tell you if they get it or not. (And, we know this sounds dumb, but run a spell check.)
WHEN DO YOU ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS?
As soon as our August issue hits the newsstands, around July 11. We will also be hyping our winners online during the week of the San Diego Comic-Con, July 12-15 (www.comic-con.org/cci/).
LEGAL STUFF
Animation Magazine is not responsible or liable for ensuring the images used in Pitch Party Participant advertisements are the property of the advertisers/participants.
