EXCLUSIVE: Former Disney, NBCUniversal and Bloomberg TV execs have formed part of a new advisory board at storyboarding and previsualisation platform Pzaz.
Paul Robinson, Rose Stacey, Lindsey Oliver, Jonathan Levi and Weerada Sucharitkul have been named to board, as part of a plan to expand Pzaz internationally across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific.
Pzaz, a monthly subscription service, provides creatives the opportunity to create storyboards and visuals of their ideas in minutes using a proprietary AI system. The platform is already offered in more than 30 languages, with about 4,500 filmmakers currently using it to stop the slowdown that can occur when ideas stall prior to production.
Of the new advisory board, well-known kids TV exec Robinson is former SVP and Managing Director, Walt Disney International, and ex-President of Kartoon Channel Worldwide. He launched Disney’s preschool TV brand, took his own channel, KidsCo, into to 98 countries as founding CEO, and grew Kartoon Channel Worldwide to 69 countries.
“I’m firmly of the view that technology’s purpose is to improve our lives, and Pzaz’s goal to use AI to unleash creativity and tell even more interesting stories is something that I passionately believe in,” he said.
Rose Stacey
Former Creative Producer at NBCUniversal, Netflix and Nickelodeon Animation
Rose Stacey has spent more than a decade developing and producing content across entertainment, animation and digital media. She helped build Netflix’s Animation team, and her previous projects include Wednesday, Star Trek and SpongeBob.
Stacey is former a creative producer at NBCUniversal, Netflix and Nickelodeon Animation. She was part of the team that launched Netflix’s animation division, and has worked on the likes of Wednesday, Star Trek and SpongeBob.
Oliver is a partner at Global Media Consult, and has more than 30 years’ experience in law, media and broadcasting. She was SVP, General Counsel and Director of Network at CNBC Europe; founding director and global commercial director of Al Jazeera English; and international commercial director at Bloomberg TV.
Levi, meanwhile, is CEO of UK indie producer Content Kings and BAFTA-nominated director and Sunday Times bestselling author. The former Warner Bros. and ITV exec said: “The earlier a team can see a production, the better the decisions they make. Pzaz puts professional storyboarding and previsualisation within reach of every production, not just the biggest.”
The final board member is Sucharitkul, the CEO and founder of LB Global Media and former FilmDoo CEO. She is also an international co-producer and primarily works in the mediatech space.
“Film distribution has never been harder, and streaming hasn’t filled the gap for distribution of independent productions,” said Sucharitkul. “Pzaz helps reduce production costs so independent projects can still earn a return through streaming or self-distribution.”
Pzaz CEO Vince Weberink said the film and entertainment industry “is going through a seismic change” that means independent producer can create content without “large budgets or studio backing.”
He added: “With production slowing, even at the largest Hollywood studios, we’re proud to build a creative tool that lets independent filmmakers and producers worldwide get projects to audiences faster and at much lower costs. Independent teams will no longer need large budgets or studio backing.
“We are honoured to welcome industry rock stars from both sides of the Atlantic, each bringing distinct, invaluable experience across the media spectrum, from film and animation to news and unscripted content. It reflects the enormous growth opportunity for Pzaz across every media and entertainment sector.