Exclusive: Former UTA agent Anna Berthold-Zuk has joined Stampede Ventures as Executive Vice President of Animation and Kids & Family, the company’s President Chris Bosco announced on Thursday.
In her new role, Berthold-Zuk will guide Stampede’s existing kids & family initiatives and oversee expansion in this space as she continues to build out additional creator-driven ventures aimed at launching new franchises. Additionally, she will work to find ways to overcome current hurdles in the kids & family business by building out strategic ventures necessary to support the launch of said franchises in the wake of continual constriction within the industry.
Berthold-Zuk’s appointment bolsters Stampede’s ability to expand its Kids & Family reach in tandem with their existing ventures including Mo Willems’s Hidden Pigeon Company with RedBird Capital Partners and HappyNest Entertainment, a co-venture with UTA, which Berthold-Zuk helped put together. Looking ahead, she will work closely with Sadaf Cohen Muncy,...
In her new role, Berthold-Zuk will guide Stampede’s existing kids & family initiatives and oversee expansion in this space as she continues to build out additional creator-driven ventures aimed at launching new franchises. Additionally, she will work to find ways to overcome current hurdles in the kids & family business by building out strategic ventures necessary to support the launch of said franchises in the wake of continual constriction within the industry.
Berthold-Zuk’s appointment bolsters Stampede’s ability to expand its Kids & Family reach in tandem with their existing ventures including Mo Willems’s Hidden Pigeon Company with RedBird Capital Partners and HappyNest Entertainment, a co-venture with UTA, which Berthold-Zuk helped put together. Looking ahead, she will work closely with Sadaf Cohen Muncy,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
HappyNest has closed an equity investment into GoKidGo, an audio company geared towards making content for kids. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The pact gives HappyNest proprietary development rights to adapt short-form and long-form animated series from GoKidGo original characters, including a new original R.L. Stine franchise.
HappyNest is a production company that focuses on kids and family animated projects. It was launched in 2021 as a joint venture between Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures and UTA. Silverman is a media veteran who previously oversaw production at Warner Bros.
GoKidGo was founded by bestselling children’s author Patrick Carman, entrepreneur Jennifer Clary, and film and television executive and producer Maia Glikman. GoKidGo’s narrative podcasts are freely accessed. The company has released almost 1,000 episodes to date, and is exceeding 500,000 listens per month as of March 2022. Stine is the mega-selling author of more than 300 books, including the popular “Goosebumps” franchise.
HappyNest is a production company that focuses on kids and family animated projects. It was launched in 2021 as a joint venture between Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures and UTA. Silverman is a media veteran who previously oversaw production at Warner Bros.
GoKidGo was founded by bestselling children’s author Patrick Carman, entrepreneur Jennifer Clary, and film and television executive and producer Maia Glikman. GoKidGo’s narrative podcasts are freely accessed. The company has released almost 1,000 episodes to date, and is exceeding 500,000 listens per month as of March 2022. Stine is the mega-selling author of more than 300 books, including the popular “Goosebumps” franchise.
- 6/6/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
UTA and Stampede Ventures are launching a production company focused on kids and family animation.
The company, HappyNest, will serve as an incubator for for animators, helping shepherd their ideas from concept to finished product and will sell to multiple platforms, while also developing IP that can cross over to other media, including books, toys and games. Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the animation business, will lead HappyNest as head of development and production.
Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco helped bring the launch to fruition along with UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture literary agent Anna Berthold-Zuk. UTA is the only major agency with a dedicated animation division.
“The concept for HappyNest came together out of an incredible partnership with UTA,” said Silverman. “At Stampede, our mission has always been to connect us all through our favorite stories. To know that, through HappyNest,...
The company, HappyNest, will serve as an incubator for for animators, helping shepherd their ideas from concept to finished product and will sell to multiple platforms, while also developing IP that can cross over to other media, including books, toys and games. Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the animation business, will lead HappyNest as head of development and production.
Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco helped bring the launch to fruition along with UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture literary agent Anna Berthold-Zuk. UTA is the only major agency with a dedicated animation division.
“The concept for HappyNest came together out of an incredible partnership with UTA,” said Silverman. “At Stampede, our mission has always been to connect us all through our favorite stories. To know that, through HappyNest,...
- 11/16/2021
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stampede Ventures and UTA today announced the launch of HappyNest, an indie animation production company that will create content geared toward kids and families, naming Sadaf Cohen Muncy as its Head of Development and Production.
HappyNest will draw on the strength of UTA’s animation division—which represents a stable of award-winning creators and next generation stars—helping artists to incubate their ideas through artistic and financial support, and shepherding their concepts through the entire creative process, from development through to production and sales.
The company funded by Stampede Ventures and UTA will look to create IP that can spur new entertainment franchises for kids and families—through the likes of books, games, toys, digital media, and more. Its launch was shepherded by Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and President Chris Bosco, alongside UTA Partner Gregory McKnight and Motion Picture Literary Agent Anna Berthold-Zuk.
“The concept for HappyNest...
HappyNest will draw on the strength of UTA’s animation division—which represents a stable of award-winning creators and next generation stars—helping artists to incubate their ideas through artistic and financial support, and shepherding their concepts through the entire creative process, from development through to production and sales.
The company funded by Stampede Ventures and UTA will look to create IP that can spur new entertainment franchises for kids and families—through the likes of books, games, toys, digital media, and more. Its launch was shepherded by Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and President Chris Bosco, alongside UTA Partner Gregory McKnight and Motion Picture Literary Agent Anna Berthold-Zuk.
“The concept for HappyNest...
- 11/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures and United Talent Agency have formed HappyNest, a production company for animated kids and family content.
HappyNest will act as an ideas incubator and assist in financing, production and sales for multiple categories including filmed content, books, games, toys and digital media. The venture also pledged to help creatives maintain creative and financial control of their intellectual property.
UTA is the only major agency with a dedicated animation division representing top artists and rising stars. Its participation in HappyNest is compliant with the spirt of the new WGA franchise agreement, insiders familiar with the deal said. Others noted that the kids and family space is not governed by the WGA, which forced the agencies to divest as much as 80% ownership in content ventures this year, but rather by the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839).
Both parties are funding the joint venture, with former Warner Bros. Pictures...
HappyNest will act as an ideas incubator and assist in financing, production and sales for multiple categories including filmed content, books, games, toys and digital media. The venture also pledged to help creatives maintain creative and financial control of their intellectual property.
UTA is the only major agency with a dedicated animation division representing top artists and rising stars. Its participation in HappyNest is compliant with the spirt of the new WGA franchise agreement, insiders familiar with the deal said. Others noted that the kids and family space is not governed by the WGA, which forced the agencies to divest as much as 80% ownership in content ventures this year, but rather by the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839).
Both parties are funding the joint venture, with former Warner Bros. Pictures...
- 11/16/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
UTA and Stampede Ventures are launching a production company focused on kids and family animation.
The company, HappyNest, will serve as an incubator for for animators, helping shepherd their ideas from concept to finished product and will sell to multiple platforms, while also developing IP that can cross over to other media, including books, toys and games. Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the animation business, will lead HappyNest as head of development and production.
Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco helped bring the launch to fruition along with UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture ...
The company, HappyNest, will serve as an incubator for for animators, helping shepherd their ideas from concept to finished product and will sell to multiple platforms, while also developing IP that can cross over to other media, including books, toys and games. Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the animation business, will lead HappyNest as head of development and production.
Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco helped bring the launch to fruition along with UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture ...
- 11/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
UTA and Stampede Ventures are launching a production company focused on kids and family animation.
The company, HappyNest, will serve as an incubator for for animators, helping shepherd their ideas from concept to finished product and will sell to multiple platforms, while also developing IP that can cross over to other media, including books, toys and games. Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the animation business, will lead HappyNest as head of development and production.
Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco helped bring the launch to fruition along with UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture ...
The company, HappyNest, will serve as an incubator for for animators, helping shepherd their ideas from concept to finished product and will sell to multiple platforms, while also developing IP that can cross over to other media, including books, toys and games. Sadaf Cohen Muncy, a veteran of the animation business, will lead HappyNest as head of development and production.
Stampede Ventures founder and CEO Greg Silverman and president Chris Bosco helped bring the launch to fruition along with UTA partner Gregory McKnight, and motion picture ...
- 11/16/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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