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Santa Barbara - April 12th, 2007
Foothill Rides Wave of New Programming into MIP 2007
(Cannes--2007 April) Santa Barbara based Foothill Entertainment, Inc. arrives in Cannes having acquired a raft of new programming in recent months. The Foothill catalogue has seen the addition of classic animation from the US and UK, a cutting edge puppetry series from Asia as well as an exciting live-action 'tween/teen property that is already creating a multi-platform buzz.
Foothill is proud to launch at MIP 2007 the worldwide distribution of the teen and 'tween movie, Hip-Hop Kidz: It's a Beautiful Thing. This exciting live action production is based on the real-life Hip-Hop Kidz dance program founded by fitness and dance instructor, Suzy Stone, who saw an opportunity for kids to participate in the fast growing dance craze in a fun and positive way. With hip hop music and dance continuing to be a dominate influence on mainstream arts and culture globally, this genre has become a universal language to which 'tweens and teens relate. While finalizing distribution deals for the existing movie, the Company is simultaneously pursuing brand extension possibilities for the property which lends itself to series or serial treatment.
"We are simply tapping into a cultural phenomenon that just seems to exist in almost every country today," said Foothill President Jo Kavanagh-Payne. "With a positive message and even better sound track, this is a perfect vehicle to bring the universal concepts of exercise, perseverance, friendship and fun to a global audience."
Foothill is also bringing to Cannes not one, but two "Miltons". They recently acquired worldwide video rights to the animation cult classic Milton the Monster from legendary producer Hal Seeger Studios. Already sold in the US to pop culture specialist Shout! Factory, Milton the Monster marked the network debut for the late animation icon Hal Seeger. Foothill has also acquired worldwide distribution rights to the award winning UK classic Microscopic Milton. Narrated by the late Oscar®-nominated actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne, this superbly animated series first launched on the BBC in 1997.
Singapore producer Studio Bizzaro has granted Foothill worldwide distribution rights (excluding Australasia and Asia) for its unique 'tween comedy Planet Bizzaro: The World According to Zoomer. Using state-of-the-art puppetry and live action, this unique series features a young Earth girl named Amber who strikes up an on-line friendship with Zoomer, a teen-age boy who happens to live on another planet. Amber doesn't realize that Zoomer is an alien or that his kooky friends live on Bizzaro, a dust-ball planet some 317 light years away! Foothill also teamed with Studio Bizzaro to seek pre-sale partners for their comedy adventure series Space Clowns which follows the planet-hopping exploits of a zany group of intergalactic circus clowns who find themselves battling The Villainously Evil Ringmaster.
Pushing forward with plans for the environmentally themed CGI series, Snapper, Foothill has just closed a deal for co-development of the property with UK creators Phew!! TV and Toronto powerhouse Kaleidoscope Entertainment. Set on the Amazon's Maricombo River, this 5 to 8 year old skewing comedy adventure series finds the mischievous little alligator Snapper exploring the unique environment that makes up his jungle community. Being raised by his adoptive parents, Akimbo the monkey and McCaw, the old parrot, Snapper is as curious about life up and down the river as he in having good old fashioned fun. To be animated by Malaysia's Vision New Media, the series highlights the rich but fragile life in the Amazon Basin. MIP 2007 marks the first market for the collaboration of the four companies.
Foothill has recently acquired the distribution rights to the perennially popular series Little Monsters now owned by London-based Spargo Productions. In addition to continuing sale of the classic series, the Company is also looking for pre-sales of a brand new spin-off series, Little Beasts, as well as new episodes of classic Little Monsters programs.
Foothill Chairman Gregory Payne states, "We have so many good projects to talk to people about at this MIP, it is destined to be one of our busiest markets yet."
Founded in September 2000 by former DIC Entertainment executive vice president of business and legal affairs, Gregory Payne and Jo Kavanagh-Payne, former Link Television Entertainment, Inc senior vice president of U.S. operations, Foothill specializes in the co-development and distribution of children's and family entertainment programming. Their company is based in Santa Barbara, California.
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