US-based producer, distributor and AVOD operator Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSSE) has formed a new scripted division to be led by former Sonar Entertainment CEO David Ellender. Halcyon Television’s formation comes less than a month after CSSE acquired Ellender’s Sonar Entertainment, which had been behind shows such as The Son for AMC, Mr Mercedes […]
US-based producer, distributor and AVOD operator Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has acquired the TV and film assets of the David Ellender-led prodco and distribution outfit Sonar Entertainment. LA-based indie Sonar, which also has offices in London and Toronto, has developed, produced, distributed and financed shows including The Shannara Chronicles for Netflix and MTV, […]
German outfit Leonine Studios has hired former Sky Vision and Sonar exec Patrick Phelan to lead its global distribution efforts. Phelan becomes director of world sales at Leonine, with a remit to oversee all international sales activities for the company’s licensing unit. He will report to SVP of license sales, Christiane Goldberg. Phelan was previously […]
Sonar Entertainment, the US-based producer behind AT&T series Mr Mercedes and Amazon drama The Hunt, has promoted David Ellender to become CEO, with incumbent Tom Lesinski stepping down. Ellender has been president of global distribution and co-productions at Sonar since 2016, leading international sales and working on shows such as Tom Hardy-fronted Taboo and The […]
Sonar Entertainment is developing a new comedy-travel series with comedia Felipe Esparza based on making bad decisions along the US/Mexico border. Crossing Over – Bad Decisions Along the Border sees Esparza tackle the debate around ‘The Wall”, where the Mexico/US border lies, and give it a comedic twist. In this multi-part series, Esparza and his […]
ITV Studios America has hired Sonar’s CFO and executive VP of strategy Peter Keramidas as executive VP of operations, strategy and business development. Keramidas will report to Phillippe Maigret, president at ITV Studios America. The exec has held multiple senior positions with leading entertainment companies, as well as running his own consulting practice advising on […]
US cable net Bravo is tuning up for limited event series The Fifth Beatle. The project is based on Tony Award-winning producer Vivek J. Tiwary’s graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, exploring the complicated personal life of The Beatle’s manager, who helped the foursome reach international stardom. Bravo will work with Universal […]
Distributors will tell you that if they could have one drama production in their portfolio it would be an evergreen returning franchise that rakes in the cash year after year. But this doesn’t alter the fact that TV movies, minis and limited runs are also regarded as valuable assets and are increasingly getting recommissioned as […]
Andrea Gorfolova is joining LA’s Sonar Entertainment after the prodco completed its acquisition of Tricon Films & Television’s programming library. Tricon founder Gorfolova has been finding a home for the programming library after the LA- and Toronto-based firm she founded went into administration in December 2016. Sonar has bought about 1,500 hours. She and other […]
Sonar Entertainment is to buy Tricon Film & Television’s programming library and certain production assets. A deal has been in the works for some time, with Canadian courts allowing a deadline for a deal to be extended as terms were worked out. The Tricon library comprises a total of around 3,000 hours in genres ranging from […]
