Eyeworks USA rebrands, reorganises management

Eyeworks USA is rebranding to 3 Ball Entertainment and installed new senior management.

The international Eyeworks business and its associated production businesses were acquired by Warner Bros. in a deal completed last February, but the US business was not part of that agreement.

3 Ball is the original brand the US prodco had before it was rebranded after its acquisition by Eyeworks in 2006, though its previous moniker was 3 Ball Productions.

Eyeworks founder Reinout Oerlemans (pictured) is chairman of the rebadged business. Current Eyeworks USA CEO Todd A. Nelson and CFO Ross Weintraub become joint-CEOs.

3 Ball was originally created in 2001 by producers Nelson and JD Roth. The latter has been Eyeworks USA CEO, but will step down from that role. The company said he will “focus on creative, producing select projects for the company as well as orchestrating new initiatives” as well as continuing to produce ABC series Extreme Weight Loss for broadcast net ABC.

Brant Pinvidic, formerly company president, becomes chief creative officer of 3 Ball. Jeff Goldman, former co-managing director of Eyeworks Distribution, becomes chief business officer, in charge of business development, business affairs and international.

Oerlemans, Nelson, Weintraub, Roth, Pinvidic, Goldman, and Netherlands-based Robert van den Bogaard and Ronald van Wechem all sit on the company’s board of directors.

“JD Roth and Todd Nelson, two gifted entrepreneurs with serious producing chops, were reality TV pioneers, creating game-changing series and helping to propel the industry,” said Oerlemans. “Now, as TV mobilises for the future, our newly independent 3 Ball Entertainment is perfectly positioned for its next chapter of success and growth, including pushing into new arenas.”

Roth added: “I’m immensely proud of the work we did and the success of the company Todd and I created, whose legacy now comes full circle. Letting go of the operational leadership of 3 Ball was a difficult decision, but I’m elated to put my heart and soul back into the creative process.”

Besides Eyeworks USA, Warner’s acquisition of the Eyeworks Group also did not include Eyeworks International Distribution. The latter was been wound down, with Warner taking on its catalogue. Last year, TBI revealed most of its staff were facing exits, and many subsequently left.

Tyler Massey, for example, launched distribution business MassMedia International, while Ted Bookstaver joined Shine International, which is now part of the Endemol Shine Group.