The birth of the technology industry is an interesting story, one fueled by big money, hubris and creators’ unique ability to see a world that might be overlaying the one that exists. That’s the message that comes through in about half of National Geographic’s new series, “Valley of the Boom,” which had its world premiere at the Tribeca TV Festival Sept. 21 in advance of its Jan. 13 premiere. The portion of this hybrid scripted-nonfiction show drawn from interviews with real-world tech pioneers and scenesters is light but enlightening.
By contrast, the time the show spends dramatizing the stories its talking heads explain is poorly spent, spinning a relatively thin narrative into a six-episode run through repetitious and tiring use of post-modern storytelling techniques that are as tired today as a dial-up modem.
The series tells the stories of three startups in the 1990s — Netscape, the early web browser; TheGlobe.
By contrast, the time the show spends dramatizing the stories its talking heads explain is poorly spent, spinning a relatively thin narrative into a six-episode run through repetitious and tiring use of post-modern storytelling techniques that are as tired today as a dial-up modem.
The series tells the stories of three startups in the 1990s — Netscape, the early web browser; TheGlobe.
- 9/24/2018
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
Nat Geo has cast Bradley Whitford, Lamorne Morris and Steve Zahn as the stars of its six-part limited series “Valley of the Boom,” which is set in Silicon Valley during the ’90s tech bubble.
Additionally John Karna will play Marc Andreesen, a computer engineer who co-created Mosaic, the first internet browser. Plus, Dakota Shapiro and Oliver Cooper play Ivy League undergraduates who launched theglobe.com, one of the very first social networking sites, out of their dorm room.
The 2019 miniseries hails from Matthew Carnahan, Arianna Huffington and STXtv. Other executive producers are Jason Goldberg, Brant Pinvidic and David Walpert, while David Newsom, Gary Goldman and...
Additionally John Karna will play Marc Andreesen, a computer engineer who co-created Mosaic, the first internet browser. Plus, Dakota Shapiro and Oliver Cooper play Ivy League undergraduates who launched theglobe.com, one of the very first social networking sites, out of their dorm room.
The 2019 miniseries hails from Matthew Carnahan, Arianna Huffington and STXtv. Other executive producers are Jason Goldberg, Brant Pinvidic and David Walpert, while David Newsom, Gary Goldman and...
- 3/16/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Fox is in development on an unscripted “Bad Moms” series, TheWrap has learned. The project, inspired by the 2016 Mila Kunis comedy, is being produced by Stx Entertainment’s unscripted exec Jason Goldberg and reality producer Brant Pinvidic. Plans are for the show to focus on the lives of real mothers, though the project remains in the early stages and details are scarce. Released in 2016 by Stx, “Bad Moms” starred Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn as a trio of mothers who vow to stop trying to be perfect parents. The film proved to be a hit, grossing more than $113 million domestically...
- 2/9/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Turkey time means something very different in Albert’s house.
The turkey, who was rescued by TV producer Brant Pinvidic, is a pet who has captivated the Internet with his penchant for giving hugs (a Facebook video of one embrace has been viewed 14 million times).
Albert and his mate Princess were rescued together by Pinvidic — who has produced shows like Extreme Weight Loss and the Kitten Bowl — from a farm that sells chickens and turkeys for the dinner table. On Thanksgiving 2016, Albert served up something extra special.
“We left Albert in the chicken coop for a week before we let...
The turkey, who was rescued by TV producer Brant Pinvidic, is a pet who has captivated the Internet with his penchant for giving hugs (a Facebook video of one embrace has been viewed 14 million times).
Albert and his mate Princess were rescued together by Pinvidic — who has produced shows like Extreme Weight Loss and the Kitten Bowl — from a farm that sells chickens and turkeys for the dinner table. On Thanksgiving 2016, Albert served up something extra special.
“We left Albert in the chicken coop for a week before we let...
- 5/19/2017
- by Amy Jamieson
- PEOPLE.com
Stx Entertainment continues to ramp up its newly launched non-scripted television business, signing multi-year production deals with Brant Pinvidic's INvelop Entertainment, and Ryan Holcomb's Tower 2 Productions. The announcement was made today by Jason Goldberg, President of Non-Scripted and Alternative Programming for Stx Entertainment. Pinvidic launched INvelop Entertainment, a multimedia production company focusing on unscripted television and feature length…...
- 5/3/2016
- Deadline TV
3 Ball Entertainment is teaming with New Regency for a game show based on the Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie-led 2005 film "Mr. and Mrs. Smith".
The film starred the pair as assassins working for different firms who pose as a married couple and both wind up being assigned to kill the other after a botched assignment.
The series will feature married couples who compete in a high-octane, high-stakes game which offers a twist on the reality competition format.
Todd A. Nelson and Brant Pinvidic will executive produce.
Source: The Live Feed...
The film starred the pair as assassins working for different firms who pose as a married couple and both wind up being assigned to kill the other after a botched assignment.
The series will feature married couples who compete in a high-octane, high-stakes game which offers a twist on the reality competition format.
Todd A. Nelson and Brant Pinvidic will executive produce.
Source: The Live Feed...
- 6/24/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
While we may puzzle over its stance on privacy and worry about the reams of data collected about its users, it's hard to escape the grip of Facebook. The service has proven to be a quantum leap in how we communicate and share information, but if you have yet to join, should you? That's the premise of the upcoming documentary "Why I'm Not On Facebook." Directed by Brant Pinvidic, the movie follows his journey as he decides whether or not to log on with the social media giant. Family, friends, total strangers and celebrities all weigh in, as Pinvidic explores the benefits of staying in touch with old friends as well as the perils of a service that gives pick-up artists and thieves a way to ply their trade on a keyboard. In this exclusive clip, the filmmaker speaks with the Winklevoss twins, who you might remember as Mark Zuckerberg...
- 10/16/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Spike TV has ordered a 10-episode second season of unscripted series Catch A Contractor hosted by Adam Carolla, slated for debut in the fall. Spike also is extending the new episodes to an hour, up from the current half-hour. Carolla, who happens to be a master carpenter, serves as a vigilant watchdog to homeowners who have been cheated by a contractor and left with an unfinished disaster. In each episode, Carolla, along with no-nonsense contractor Skip Bedell and his wife, investigator Alison Bedell, track down shady, evasive contractors, drag them back to their construction disasters and make them finish the job right. Catch A Contractor debuted March 9 and is averaging 1.2 million viewers after seven episodes. Eyeworks USA created the series, with Jd Roth, Todd A. Nelson, DJ Nurre and Brant Pinvidic executive producing.
- 4/16/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
"The Hunger Games" meets "Big Brother" on "Opposite Worlds," a new competitive reality series premiering Tuesday, Jan. 21, on Syfy. Luke Tipple, who served a similar function in last summer's CW game show "Capture," hosts the 12-episode series, which airs each Tuesday and Wednesday, the latter episodes live.
"Opposite Worlds" revolves around 14 players who are divided randomly into two teams, each living in an extreme environment that replicates a given time frame.
"One is in a futuristic type environment, while the other is living in much more of a Stone Age environment, but they're separated only by one glass wall, so they can see each other, see how the other half lives," explains Brant Pinvidic, one of the show's executive producers to Zap2it. "Each week they'll be competing for where they will fit in the game, battling to live on whichever side they want to be. It's a really interesting...
"Opposite Worlds" revolves around 14 players who are divided randomly into two teams, each living in an extreme environment that replicates a given time frame.
"One is in a futuristic type environment, while the other is living in much more of a Stone Age environment, but they're separated only by one glass wall, so they can see each other, see how the other half lives," explains Brant Pinvidic, one of the show's executive producers to Zap2it. "Each week they'll be competing for where they will fit in the game, battling to live on whichever side they want to be. It's a really interesting...
- 1/21/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
In an valiant and temporarily successful effort to divert our attentions from some show’s anniversary, Syfy today released its January premiere schedule, including the series premieres of Helix and Bitten and the return of Being Human (which we told you about yesterday), Lost Girl, Face Off, and Ghost Hunters.
Check out the full info in the press release below, including synopses of each series:
Syfy Kicks Off January 2014 With Seven New And Returning Original Series Including… Helix From Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) First Weekly Live Series Broadcast Opposite Worlds, A “Past vs. Future” Competition Reality Program Supernatural Drama Bitten Joins All-new Seasons Of Being Human And Lost Girl Mondays 8-11Pm Season Six Of Reality Hit Face Off Plus New Episodes Of Ghost Hunters
New York – November 22, 2013 – Syfy will kick off 2014 with seven new and returning original series in January including Helix from Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore...
Check out the full info in the press release below, including synopses of each series:
Syfy Kicks Off January 2014 With Seven New And Returning Original Series Including… Helix From Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) First Weekly Live Series Broadcast Opposite Worlds, A “Past vs. Future” Competition Reality Program Supernatural Drama Bitten Joins All-new Seasons Of Being Human And Lost Girl Mondays 8-11Pm Season Six Of Reality Hit Face Off Plus New Episodes Of Ghost Hunters
New York – November 22, 2013 – Syfy will kick off 2014 with seven new and returning original series in January including Helix from Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore...
- 11/22/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Exclusive: Opposite Worlds, which had been in the works at Syfy for a year, has received a formal green light for a January 21, 2014 premiere. The competition reality series, based on the Chilean format Mundos Opuestos, will air 12 episodes over six weeks, with the second weekly episode featuring a live element — a first for a Syfy reality series. Opposite Worlds, from Extreme Weight Loss producer Eyeworks USA, pits 14 people who face off in opposing teams in a house separated into two distinctly different worlds: one past and one future, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. A glass wall divides the house into the two environments, allowing the teams to watch, envy and dread each other’s every move. Cast members compete in a series of challenges, with viewers weighing in in real time on social media, affecting the outcome of each player’s fate. “Building on the success of Defiance,...
- 10/22/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Eyeworks USA, formerly 3Ball Productions, has named its president. Veteran television executive Brant Pinvidic, who has served as Eyeworks USA executive vp development since 2009, has been promoted to the newly created position, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Eyeworks USA co-CEOs J.D. Roth and Todd A. Nelson made the announcement Tuesday. The production company has also named a new board of directors, which includes Roth, Nelson, Pinvidic and COO Ross Weintraub. Pinvidic's promotion comes on the heels of multiple successes for the production company, which produces unscripted and nonfiction programming for broadcast and cable networks. Positioning Pinvidic
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- 10/15/2013
- by Philiana Ng
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spike TV has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of the new original series in which restaurateur Jon Taffer and expert chefs John Besh and Tiffany Derry reach out and help “diamond in the rough” failing restaurants meet their potential. Hungry Investors, produced by Eyeworks USA, goes into production this fall and will premiere in spring 2014. Each week, the Hungry Investors team puts two struggling restaurants to the test to prove they deserve a second chance at success. The enterprise that shows the most promise of turning things around earns a significant cash investment. Taffer also serves as an executive producer along with Jd Roth, Todd A. Nelson, Brant Pinvidic and DJ Nurre.
- 8/21/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Spike TV has greenlighted Catch A Contractor, a new half-hour unscripted series hosted by Adam Carolla who serves as a vigilant watchdog to homeowners who have been cheated by a contractor and left with an unfinished disaster. In addition to being a TV and radio personality, Carolla apparently also is a passionate master carpenter who easily identifies shoddy, inferior work. Each episode will follow Carolla, along with no-nonsense contractor Skip Bedell and his wife, investigator Allison Bedell, as they seek retribution for wronged homeowners. Carolla and the Bedells hunt down and confront unscrupulous builders, drag them back to their construction disasters, and make them finish the job right. Spike TV has ordered 10 episodes which begins production this fall and will premiere in spring 2014. Eyeworks USA created the series, with Jd Roth, Todd A. Nelson, DJ Nurre and Brant Pinvidic executive producing.
- 8/5/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Spike TV has greenlit 20 more episodes its popular original series Bar Rescue for a fall premiere. Bar Rescue features bar and nightlife expert Jon Taffer as he tries to help give failing establishments one last chance to transform themselves into profitable businesses. The series’ third season which premiered on Sunday, February 10, averaged 1.8 million viewers, its highest ever, and improved the timeslot by +282% with Adults 18-34 and +195% with Adults 18-49. The series drew a franchise-high 2.2 million viewers on April 7. Bar Rescue is produced by Eyeworks USA and Executive Producers Jd Roth, Todd A. Nelson Brant Pinvidic, DJ Nurre, Tim Warren and Jon Taffer.
- 5/9/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Oxygen is bulking up its unscripted roster, ordering three projects to series, including a makeover show from the producers of The Biggest Loser. The youngest women's network said Monday that it has greenlighted three unscripted efforts to series and ordered a pilot for a hidden-camera entry. The three series -- first announced as part of Oxygen's October slate of five -- include Fat Girl Revenge, from The Biggest Loser's Jd Roth, Todd A. Nelson, Brant Pinvidic, Adam Kaloustian and Jenn Duncan and Eyeworks USA. Story: Dating, Weddings, Revenge: Oxygen Adds 5 to Unscripted Roster (Exclusive) Also gaining series orders are Find
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- 1/7/2013
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Diving, a main attraction during TV coverage of summer Olympics, will return to primetime way before the Rio games in 2016. ABC has picked up what is being described as television’s first diving, reality competition show from Eyeworks USA (formerly 3 Ball Prods.) The project, ordered straight to series, is based on the Dutch format Celebrity Splash and ill be executive produced by Jd Roth, Todd A. Nelson and Brant Pinvidic. According to the producers, in Celebrity Splash, celebrities perform dives from dizzying heights, which increase in difficulty each week, including backflips, somersaults and other gymnastic feats. Leading up to the competition, a professional diving instructor gives each celebrity weeks of training. The set up echoes ABC’s veteran Dancing With The Stars and its short-lived spinoff Skating With The Stars. Celebrity Splash, called Sterren Springen in the Netherlands, the country that gave us Big Brother and The Voice, was a...
- 10/6/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
The cable network has announced five new development titles for 2013 focused on young women in transition and the desires and interests of Generation O. They are Fat Girl Revenge, Funny Girls, Shotgun Weddings, Heart And Soul, and Gorgeous And Guilty! Here’s a look at each from Oxygen. Fat Girl Revenge This show is about getting even… after getting gorgeous. Everyone has a story of being teased, taunted, and hurt by someone, but not everyone has the chance to stand up to their bully and finally get revenge. It’s time for the ‘fat girl’ who was discounted, humiliated and rejected to move on and shed her weight and painful baggage. Each week, viewers meet two women who are ready to do what it takes to confidently confront their rival – and for those who inflicted the hurt, payback is going to be something they never expected. Fat Girl Revenge is produced by 3 Ball Productions,...
- 10/4/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
By Josef Adalian
Former Tlc executive Brant Pinvidic is headed to 3 Ball Productions ("The Biggest Loser"), taking on a newly created post as executive vice president of development.
In addition, 3 Ball has promoted Dan Snook to vice president of development. Pinvidic will report to 3 Ball chiefs/ co-founders J.D. Roth and Todd Nelson, while Snook will report to Pinvidic.
Pinvidic was most recently senior VP of programming and development at Tlc, but left as part of an executive reshuffling above him. He helped develop shows such as "Rock the Reception, " "I Can Make Y...
Former Tlc executive Brant Pinvidic is headed to 3 Ball Productions ("The Biggest Loser"), taking on a newly created post as executive vice president of development.
In addition, 3 Ball has promoted Dan Snook to vice president of development. Pinvidic will report to 3 Ball chiefs/ co-founders J.D. Roth and Todd Nelson, while Snook will report to Pinvidic.
Pinvidic was most recently senior VP of programming and development at Tlc, but left as part of an executive reshuffling above him. He helped develop shows such as "Rock the Reception, " "I Can Make Y...
- 10/14/2009
- by Adalian
- The Wrap
Reality production house 3 Ball is expanding its development team with a pair of executive moves, hiring Brant Pinvidic as the company's new executive vp of development and promoting Dan Snook to vp of development.
Pinvidic previously served as senior vp of programming at Tlc, where he worked on shows such as "I Can Make You Thin" and "Must Love Kids," in addition bringing back "Trading Spaces" host Paige Davis. Before that, Pinvidic was at Grb, where he executive produced projects like "The Princes of Malibu" and "Banking on Brody."
Snook's shows for 3 Ball include "Groomer Has It," "Hammer Time" (A&E), and "The Fashion Show," among others.
"3 Ball has been experiencing enormous growth, both creatively and in sheer production volume, and we knew the time was right to expand our development group and take advantage of this momentum," said 3 Ball co-founder Jd Roth. "Brant's unique combination of TV experience and...
Pinvidic previously served as senior vp of programming at Tlc, where he worked on shows such as "I Can Make You Thin" and "Must Love Kids," in addition bringing back "Trading Spaces" host Paige Davis. Before that, Pinvidic was at Grb, where he executive produced projects like "The Princes of Malibu" and "Banking on Brody."
Snook's shows for 3 Ball include "Groomer Has It," "Hammer Time" (A&E), and "The Fashion Show," among others.
"3 Ball has been experiencing enormous growth, both creatively and in sheer production volume, and we knew the time was right to expand our development group and take advantage of this momentum," said 3 Ball co-founder Jd Roth. "Brant's unique combination of TV experience and...
- 10/13/2009
- by By James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tlc has named Discovery Studios executive Nancy Daniels as senior vp production and development, based in Los Angeles.
Daniels will oversee all strategic planning and execution for programming on the channel, which is part of Discovery Communications.
Since July 2007, Daniels had been senior vp development and production at Discovery Studios, West Coast, which develops and produces original programming for multiple platforms. There, she managed development and production for all programming out of the L.A. branch and supervised key programs for networks including Tlc, Planet Green, Discovery Health Channel and Science Channel.
Before that, Daniels was vp alternative series development at CBS, where she worked on "Survivor," "The Amazing Race" and other series.
Daniels essentially replaces senior vp programming Brant Pinvidic, who departed Tlc in the spring, but adds new responsibilities to the role. This marks the first major hire for Eileen O'Neill since the Discovery veteran became president/Gm of Tlc a month ago.
Daniels will oversee all strategic planning and execution for programming on the channel, which is part of Discovery Communications.
Since July 2007, Daniels had been senior vp development and production at Discovery Studios, West Coast, which develops and produces original programming for multiple platforms. There, she managed development and production for all programming out of the L.A. branch and supervised key programs for networks including Tlc, Planet Green, Discovery Health Channel and Science Channel.
Before that, Daniels was vp alternative series development at CBS, where she worked on "Survivor," "The Amazing Race" and other series.
Daniels essentially replaces senior vp programming Brant Pinvidic, who departed Tlc in the spring, but adds new responsibilities to the role. This marks the first major hire for Eileen O'Neill since the Discovery veteran became president/Gm of Tlc a month ago.
- 8/26/2008
- by By Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Angela Shapiro-Mathes, TLC's new president and GM, has beefed up the channel's executive ranks by tapping Brant Pinvidic and Deborah Adler Myers to serve as co-heads of programming at the Discovery Communications-owned cable network.
Pinvidic and Myers have been named senior vps programming, overseeing all development and current programming for the channel. Pinvidic will have primary responsibility for primetime, while Myers will lead daytime and fringe.
Pinvidic will be based in Los Angeles, and Myers is based in Silver Spring, Md. Both report to Shapiro-Mathes, who joined Discovery Communications on July 1 and runs TLC as the company's first Los Angeles-based network.
Pindivic most recently was senior vp development at Los Angeles-based GRB Entertainment. Myers, who joined Discovery in 2005, has been responsible for more than 500 hours of content across all of Discovery's networks.
"Debbie and Brant share my passion and vision for this channel, and I'm thrilled to have these two incredibly talented creative executives on our team," Shapiro-Mathes said.
Pinvidic and Myers have been named senior vps programming, overseeing all development and current programming for the channel. Pinvidic will have primary responsibility for primetime, while Myers will lead daytime and fringe.
Pinvidic will be based in Los Angeles, and Myers is based in Silver Spring, Md. Both report to Shapiro-Mathes, who joined Discovery Communications on July 1 and runs TLC as the company's first Los Angeles-based network.
Pindivic most recently was senior vp development at Los Angeles-based GRB Entertainment. Myers, who joined Discovery in 2005, has been responsible for more than 500 hours of content across all of Discovery's networks.
"Debbie and Brant share my passion and vision for this channel, and I'm thrilled to have these two incredibly talented creative executives on our team," Shapiro-Mathes said.
- 7/26/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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