Studio 2.0, the original programming, digital production arm of the Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG), has begun production on 23 new shortform series projects for broadband and wireless, with additional programming in active development. The new projects – from Jim Henson Productions, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and film & television director/producer McG, as well as fast-rising comedians Joey & David, videogame/film/television producer Jason Hall and cutting-edge artist Alex Pardee, among others – reflect WBTVG’s creative strategy for Studio 2.0, to showcase new artistic voices, provide creative opportunities for established talent in the broadband/wireless space and serve as an incubator for new television series.
Studio 2.0 programming will be distributed across a variety of broadband and wireless platforms and sites, often in partnership with advertisers, as WBTVG pursues an aggressive, wide-ranging networked distribution strategy.
Cutting-edge artist Alex Pardee and producer Jason Hall of HDFILMS Inc. are teaming up on a 3D animation project based upon Pardee’s character of the same name. Initially introduced as a character icon for the popular rock band The Used, Chadam has become an Internet phenomenon. Chadam lives as the "chosen one" in the hyper-stylized and exaggerated metropolitan island city of Vulture. His power of imagination is strong enough to physically change his environment and, therefore, his world … to save it from evil. The series will find Chadam in a place of refuge, where he and others have retreated to plan their attack against the serial killer known as Viceroy. An action-horror-adventure story filled with self-discovery, Chadam will come to full 3D animated life via the magic of the Unreal Engine 3, the leading technology and development framework that powers cutting-edge games such as Gears of War and BioShock on today’s popular platforms, including PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The Internet series will serve as an incubator for future expansion of the Chadam universe, from additional online episodes to television, film, videogames and more.
"As I’ve often said, at our heart, Warner Bros. is a content company," said Rosenblum. "For the Television Group’s digital strategy to truly be realized, we are focusing equally on the creation of original programming specifically designed for the digital market and developing advertiser-supported targeted distribution strategies.
"We do not have a one-size-fits-all distribution strategy," said Hunegs. "We will tailor distribution to each project in a way that most effectively reaches its potential audience by working across multiple new media VOD ventures – from new Warner Bros. destinations and branded channels to well-known sites and aggregators like Joost and RealNetworks and oftentimes in partnership with an advertiser. We also anticipate that our most successful new shows will migrate to television via our Warner Bros. Television Group’s network, cable and first-run production divisions."
"I’ve been blown away by the caliber of talent eager to be a part of Studio 2.0’s programming slate," added Rich Rosenthal, Senior Vice President, Creative Affairs and Production, Studio 2.0. "From the established and accomplished to first-timers and up-and-comers, we have an incredible team of writers, directors and producers working in a diverse mix of genres and styles and all under a new cost-effective business model. This is really very exciting."