Disney Channel Pulls the JESSIE Episode: “Quitting Cold Koala” From It's Schedule

Disney Channel has pulled last nights (May 17) new episode of JESSIE titled “Quitting Cold Koala” over “references to gluten restrictions in the character’s diet”, according to a post on the channel’s official Facebook page. The full message reads:

To our viewers, we received your feedback about tonight’s “Jessie” episode which some of you accessed early on Video-on-Demand. We are removing this particular episode from our regular programming schedule and will re-evaluate its references to gluten restrictions in the character’s diet. Please accept our apologies for the upset this episode caused you and your family. We value your feedback and thank you for watching Disney Channel.

Disney Gets That Kids Want To Curl Up With Their TV

[Via forbes.com...]

Anne Sweeney

In the constantly changing technological landscape, TV companies have to decide how easily they want to make it for viewers to watch their shows. Do they stick with the traditional model of premiering shows on networks and later repackaging them on DVD and online? Or do they try to make the shows as widely available as possible even if it risks fewer people watching the shows on TV … where the advertisers are.

At Forbes’ Power Redefined Women’s Summit on Thursday, Disney Media Networks Co-Chair Anne Sweeney spoke about the fact that Disney now streams its live content on tablets and mobile phones through the Disney WATCH app which lets kids watch shows like Doc McStuffins and Phineas and Ferb online with an authenticated connection.

“We believe media is becoming more personal because you can hold it in your hand,” said Sweeney who was speaking on a panel about the new dynamics of connectivity along with Gayle King, Google ‘s Susan Wojcicki and The Muse co-founder Kathryn Minshew.

Sweeney recalled when the company was testing the WATCH app and she saw  two little children curled up together on the couch watching Disney even though there was a big TV in the room. She realized that kids liked the intimacy of watching their shows in such a cozy way.

Disney is embracing the changing relationship with its customers by making the company’s content as accessible as possible. (Although not every cable company has yet signed on to WATCH.) It’s not hurting the company’s bottom line. For the first six months of the year Disney reported $10 billion in revenue from the company’s media networks, up from $9.4 billion for the same time period last year.

Sweeney and her fellow panelists also talked about how technology is helping, or hurting, our ability to connect. King, who admits she struggles with technology, said that she prefers face to face interaction but she appreciates the fact that Skype lets her talk to her son who is living in Asia.

Wojcicki pointed out that the Internet helps people who are dealing with illnesses or other problems connect with similar people all around the world and gain the power of a supportive community. They all agreed that we’re only going to get more connected through technology but the challenge is going to be getting out of our little bubbles to find new things to like.

Adam Bonnett Promoted at Disney Channels Worldwide

[Via hollywoodreporter.com...]

The former THR Next Gen member will now serve in the newly created role as exec vp original programming.

Disney Channels Worldwide is promoting Adam Bonnett.

A former member of The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen class of executives under 35 has been tapped executive vp original programming following a record-setting year of ratings.

In the newly created role, Bonnett will continue to oversee all live-action development and current original series and movies for Disney Channel and Disney XD as well as casting and talent relations for both channels.

"Adam is an extraordinarily talented executive who brilliantly blends great storytelling with great comedy and in doing so, has helped create the No. 1 kids network on television," said Disney Channels Worldwide president and COO Gary Marsh, to whom Bonnett will report. "His instinct for finding and developing the nucleus of what makes great kid and family programming is unrivaled."

 Under Bonnett's ledership, Disney Channel has scored the top five live-action TV series among kids 6-11 in 2012 -- Good Luck Charlie, Jessie, Shake It Up, Austin & Ally and A.N.T. Farm. Bonnett also developed Disney Channel's newest entry, Dog With a Blog and the upcoming Liv and Maddie, among other original movies.

Bonnett joined Disney Channel in 1997 and has developed series including Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, among countless others.

Disney Channel PR Launch Their Official Instagram Account

Disney Channel PR, the official communication from Disney Channel Media Relations (representing Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior & Radio Disney) announced yesterday (May 4) the launch of their official Instagram account (instagram.com/disneychannelpr).

On the official DisneyChannelPR twitter page (@DisneyChannelPR) they tweeted:

What a great day to launch our Instagram! Could Mickey and Minnie be any cuter!? #maythe4thbewithyou http://instagram.com/p/Y5xaTKjGQC/

Disney Stars Celebrate “May the Fourth Be With You” Day with Children’s Hospital LA

[Via shineon-media.com...]

Happy “May the Fourth Be With You” day!

To celebrate the Star Wars inspired day, all your favorite Disney Channel and Disney XD stars, Star Wars characters, and even Mickey & Minnie Mouse paid a visit to Children’s Hospital L.A.

Billy Unger, Spencer Boldman, Karan Brar, Skai Jackson, Blake Michael, Kelli Berglund, Aedin Mincks, Sierra McCormick, Francesca Capaldi, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Roshon Fegan, Adam Irigoyen, Stefanie Scott, and Jake Short all signed autographs for the kids and it looks like they had some fun with lightsabers too.

Disney Channel’s Head Of Original Movies Michael Healy To Depart

[Via deadline.com...]

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Healy, Disney Channel‘s SVP Original Movies, is leaving the company after nearly 16 years and more than 90 Disney Channel movies to pursue other opportunities. Healy, whose last day is April 26, led the Disney Channel Original Movie franchise to a streak of 11 consecutive year-end finishes as cable TV’s #1 original movie telecast among tweens 9-14, boasting the #1 scripted cable TV telecast in total viewers for six of the past seven years. He shepherded megahits High School Musical and its sequel High School Musical 2 whose premiere became the most watched basic-cable telecast with 18.6 million viewers. The HSM franchise also crossed over into features and into virtually every facet of the Disney company to become a billion-dollar worldwide franchise. Other hit Disney Channel original movies developed by Healy include Princess Protection Program, The Cheetah Girls (1-3), Camp Rock, Jump In! and Wizards Of Waverly Place The Movie. “Michael’s contributions to Disney Channel have been enormous and we will definitely miss his wit, his wisdom and his remarkable story-telling ability,” said Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, who worked with Healy for his entire tenure at the channel. “We wish him continued success with his next ventures.” In light of Healy’s departure, Disney Channel’s Original Movie department will be restructured. Healy has Disney Channel’s original movie pipeline well stocked up: His ambitious break-into-song musical Teen Beach Movie, from writer Robert Horn, director Jeffrey Hornaday and choreographer Chris Scott, will premiere in July. It will be followed up by snowboarding adventure Cloud 9, executive produced by HSM‘s Ashley Tisdale and snowboarding superstar Shaun White.

Healy joined Disney Channel in October 1997 as VP Original Movies. Before that, he was Director of Motion Pictures-for-Television for CBS, working on more than 50 movies, and VP for Movies for TV and Mini-Series for Reeves Entertainment. Healy began his career as a writer at The Courier Express in Buffalo, NY, and was a movie critic for The Denver Post and The Daily News Of Los Angeles.

How TV has Replaced Animated Films as Disney’s Biggest Brand Ambassador

[Via variety.com...]

The growth of Disney Channels Worldwide has given the Mouse House a powerful way to promote Disney to kids and families around the globe.

For nearly eight decades, Disney has relied on films to rally kids and their families around the Mouse House. But with its core audience increasingly glued to screens of all sizes, the success of animated hits such as “Phineas and Ferb” and live-action fare like “Violetta” and “A.N.T. Farm,” has turned TV into the company’s most powerful brand ambassador.

That’s especially true overseas, where Disney Channels Worldwide — which operates Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior — has succeeded in introducing young audiences to the company’s iconic characters for the first time, or to new franchises that make them loyal to Mickey and friends for years to come.


“Disney Channel has become the biggest franchise grower for the company worldwide,” Jay Rasulo, the Walt Disney Co.’s chief financial officer, said last fall at the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Media, Communications and Entertainment Conference in Beverly Hills. “It used to be (film) animation, but the amount of time kids spend in front of the TV and w

eb devices (and) mobile devices (watching) the Disney Channel make this an incredibly powerful vehicle.”

Disney has always reached out to kids on TV via shows like “The Wonderful World of Disney” and “The Mickey Mouse Club,” but Disney Channels gives it more of a dedicated profile. In fact, given that more kids tune in to Disney Channels’ shows each day than watch the studio’s films, the kids cabler has launched more moneymaking properties than the Walt Disney 

Studios over the past five to seven years, Rasulo says.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer of Disney Channels Worldwide, says that the channel’s ability to reach people in their homes every day with programming that’s entertaining and uplifting is a profoundly positive influence in people’s relationship to the Disney brand. “In many countries, we are a daily 24/7 touch point presenting the core of all things Disney. It’s hard to imagine a more potent form of ambassadorship.”

It’s hard to argue with that when you consider the numbers: Disney Channels’ portfolio, targeting 2- to 11-year-olds, includes 107 channels in 166 countries, available in 431.3 million households. Not only is that up 13% from last year, it’s an exponential rise over 2007, when the division had 54 million total viewers in 20 countries.

Viewership is also increasing rapidly. In the fourth quarter of 2012, 620 million total viewers watched the channels around the world, an improvement of 11% over 2011. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, views are up 20%, another 15% in Latin America and 10% in Asia over last year. Disney Channel’s top international markets are the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Latin America, in that order.

That kind of growth has made the network’s animated/live-action programming mix —“Phineas and Ferb,” “A.N.T. Farm,” “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” “Sofia the First,” “Shake It Up,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and before that, “Hannah Montana,” “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” and “High School Musical” — international hits, which has turned its actors and characters into homegrown Disney Channel stars, and companywide ambassadors to promote everything from Disney’s films and TV shows to theme parks and mobile apps.

Get kids interested in Marvel’s superheroes or Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars” at an early age and they may want their parents to take them to the next films featuring Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Avengers or Darth Vader.

Disney is revving up its promotional machine to launch 17-year-old Dove Cameron as its next young icon, casting the “Liv & Maddie” sitcom topliner in the snowboarding movie “Cloud 9,” co-produced by Ashley Tisdale and pro-boarder Shaun White.

The market size of its footprint has certainly helped Disney become more competitive against rival kids cablers like Viacom’s Nickelodeon and Time Warner’s Cartoon Network, which operate channels in 110 and 170 countries, respectively.

Last year, Disney Channel was No. 1 among kids 2-11, toppling Nickelodeon’s 17-year record in total day among the largest advertiser-targeted segment, while it was also tops among kids 6-11 for the second consecutive year, and for the fourth year among tweens 9-14.

But operating so many channels means keeping tabs on what audiences in those countries want to watch.

“At the end of the day, we look at what makes our audiences similar, and celebrate that,” says Paul DeBenedittis, senior VP, programming strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide. “Being a kid and growing up and coming of age is universal. There might be different components of what’s happening in a different market, but kids want really funny, relatable and quality content.”

While many of its U.S. shows are dubbed for foreign territoriessome have been repurposed entirely to cater to local tastes.

For example, Disney Channel in India adapted sitcom “Good Luck Charlie” with its own local cast, and a new name, “Best of Luck Nikki,” but is filming the same scripts the U.S. show uses.

It’s similar to how it reworked “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” as “The Suite Life of Karan & Kabir.”

In other territories, Disney Channels is producing its own local-language productions.

Music-based teen soap “Violetta” has become a big hit in Latin America since launching there last year and spinning off a live concert series. Since then, show has begun airing dubbed versions in Italy, Spain and Russia, but has not yet bowed in the U.S.

“GoalMouth,” a sports-themed show in the U.K. is being eyed as a format for other regions. And in Russia, programmers are exploring the launch of original content to complement the U.S. shows it airs.

“Hopefully along the way, we will be able to globalize the local and localize the global,” says Paul DeBenedittis, senior VP of programming strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide. “Nothing would make us happier than to have a Disney Russia series be adapted for the U.S. or other markets.”

Disney international chairman Andy Bird expressed similar sentiments during his opening keynote address this week at FICCI Frames conference, in Mumbai, India . “There is no international market,” he said. “There is only a vast collection of diverse and dynamic local markets that demand individual strategies and relevant products from any business trying to succeed there.”

Disney Channel hits overseas are only now starting to make their way Stateside.

In the U.K., “Henry Hugglemonster” debuted on Disney Jr., in February, made its way to India, and will air on the U.S. channel in April.

“It’s a great example of a project developed in another region that will go global,” DeBenedittis says.

In some markets, like Australia where a Disney XD does not currently exist, “Lab Rats” is a top five series on the Disney Channel.

“Because the shows still have the DNA of Disney, they can still work on a Disney Channel,” DeBenedittis says.

To help cross over more properties, Disney Channel also has offered shows’ assets to its channels to adapt for their audiences.

For “Take Two With Phineas and Ferb,” a talkshow-themed interstitial that paired the show’s toon stars with celebs like Jack Black, Taylor Swift and David Beckham, Disney made the animated sequences available for channels to feature local comedians and athletes like India standup comedian Cyrus Broacha.

Not every show has been a success for Disney, however.

Disney XD’s visually impressive and pricey animated series “Tron: Uprising,” based on the films, struggled to attract the channel’s core viewers of 6- 11-year-old boys. The series’ tone appealed more to an older audience that isn’t yet watching the channel.

“It did well with many segments of the audience, but missed some of the key demos,” DeBenedittis says. “It’s one of those examples where if the bull’s-eye is the Disney brand, and you go into the other rings, you take some risks in missing the magic of the bull’s-eye. (“Tron: Uprising” took the right risk and we created a show to be so proud of, but it hit the secondary ring of the target.”)

With a sequel to “Tron: Legacy” in the works at the studio, Disney Channels plans to eventually bring back “Tron,” but it may not be returning as the same show, DeBenedittis says.

Instead, live-action series like “Pair of Kings,” “Lab Rats,” “Kickin’ It!” and “Crash and Bernstein” are slowly defining what the Disney XD brand means.

“Live action has really been fueling much of our success,” DeBenedittis says, since the series have made it easier for young audiences to connect with the stories and characters, and engage with the talent playing them. But the company also sees the value of animation, given that “Phineas and Ferb” struck a chord with its uber-optimistic themes of imagination, friendship and anything being possible.

While most channels feature a balance of live action and animation, in parts of Asia, toons tend to work better.

“Asia tends to be a market that thrived on anime and animation,” DeBenedittis says. “The live action genre isn’t new, but in the kids landscape, we’re still showcasing this type of content to an audience that lives and breathes anime.” As a result, Disney plans to invest more on local programming in those markets, including Japan.

Moving forward, Marvel and Lucasfilm will play a more significant programming role for Disney XD in the U.S. and some global markets, with new shows featuring the Avengers, the Incredible Hulk and “Star Wars” characters. “Ultimate Spider-Man” already is the No. 1 series on XD in the U.K.

The company has pulled the plug on the animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” which had been airing on Cartoon Network over the past five seasons, to develop new shows.

Marvel and Lucasfilm offer “a world of really magical storytelling that has spanned generations, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of what this could mean for us,” DeBenedittis says.

Given how quickly its younger auds grow up, Disney’s shows typically have a short life, lasting around four years.

“That’s about all we need for kids in the landscape,” DeBenedittis says, citing the four-year run of “Hannah Montana” as an example of a series that saw its fanbase grow up and move on to other shows once it wrappedDisney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie” enters its fourth season in April. “We will go to season five if there is still more story to tell,” DeBenedittis says.

Still the generational aspect is what helped greenlight “Girl Meets World,” a spinoff of “Boy Meets World,” that aired on ABC from 1993-2000.

“We think there is a whole other generation that is going on the same journey,” and will watch the updated series featuring the same cast as parents, with their kids, DeBenedittis says.

Because of its success, Disney wants to see its kids cable biz expand into even more markets in the future. Bob Iger has pushed the growth of Disney Channels since becoming Disney chairman and CEO in 2005.

In 2011, Disney paid $300 million for a 49% stake in Russia’s Seven TV to launch a free Disney Channel in 40 million homes. Last year, it spent $375 million to acquire UTV Software 

Communications, which produces local programming for Disney Channel India.

While it airs programming blocks featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other characters on China Central Television Network, a new Disney Channel could launch in China because of the company’s partnership with Shanghai Radio, Film and Television Development Co., which is involved with the construction of Disney’s new $3.7 billion park in Shanghai.

“With the addition of some of our Asian-based Disney Channels over the past few years — specifically Turkey, India and most recently Russia — we’ve been steadily adding to our distribution reach,” Marsh says. “The one significant country that remains on our wish list is China. Having a dedicated Disney Channel there to accompany the launch of Shanghai 

Disneyland, in 2015, represents a huge opportunity.” Marsh adds that the division already has installed a local China-based content creation team whose focus is to develop and produce locally sourced, Disney-branded content for distribution inside China — “content that will proudly showcase what Disney represents for current and future generations,” he says.

Disney also is expanding its digital presence through its Watch apps, which count 12.4 million downloads, as of February, with users spending 6 billion minutes watching Disney Channel content via live feeds or VOD on tablets and other mobile devices.

“For us it’s really about staying connected to our audience and being everywhere they are and want to be,” DeBenedittis says. “It’s really about making sure that there are many different ways of engaging with our audiences.

Disney Channel’s Nikki Reed Replaces Donna Ebbs As Hub Head Of Programming

[Via deadline.com...]

Discovery Communications and Hasbro have poached Disney Channel/Disney XD executive Nikki Reed as head of programming for their joint venture, rival children’s cable network The Hub, which is looking to expand into live-action programming. Reed, named SVP Programming & Development for The Hub, replaces Donna Ebbs, who served as the first programming chief for The Hub since its October 2010 launch. Ebbs is now transitioning to a consultant and executive producer role. “Our goal is to utilize my relationships with writers, producers and talent to grow The Hub’s existing slate of programming and enhance it with more live-action series,” said Reed, who reports to The Hub president and CEO Margaret Loesch. Hub’s current lineup is dominated by animated shows, while Reed’s background is in primarily live-action programing. For the past three years, she was VP Original Series, overseeing live-action development for Disney Channel and Disney XD where she developed Jessie, Austin And Ally, Dog With A Blog, Lab Rats, and Crash & Bernstein. Before that, Reed, who has 15 years experience as an executive and producer, was VP Current and Development at Universal Cable Prods. She also spent five years as a development executive for executive producer Barry Kemp’s Bungalow 78 Prods while it was based at Touchstone TV and served as VP Development at Jon Turteltaub’s Junction Entertainment for Disney Studios.

Disney Introduces New Stars of the Upcoming Season

[Via etonline.com...]



Disney Channel has a new crop of youngsters for the next TV season and they were proud to introduce them (as well as the projects they're working on) at the network's upfronts yesterday in New York.

The event featured musical performances by Good Luck Charlie star Bridgit Mendler, Austin & Ally star Ross Lynch and Radio Disney's N.B.T. (Next Big Thing).

This marked the first red carpet event for Liv & Maddie star Dove Cameron (who is appearing in the Ashley Tisdale-produced movie Cloud 9), and she described the experience, saying, "Ever since I was negative 6-years-old, I've wanted to be here in this moment."

That moment included many sneak peeks presented by Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer of Disney Channels Worldwide.

Watch the video to get a glimpse at what's in store for Disney Channel, Disney XD, Radio Disney and Disney Junior.

Disney Gears Up for Kids Upfront Event

[Via variety.com...]

Disney’s Kids Upfront event on Tuesday at Gotham’s Hudson Theater could well be a victory lap as the mothership Disney Channel reigns in the kidvid realm as the No. 1 net among tykes 2-11 and 6-11.

The Mouse House comes to Madison Avenue in search of sponsor partnerships for Disney Channel, which still does not carry traditional blurbs but opts for “select sponsorships.” The same is true for the fledgling Disney Jr. cabler aimed at the pre-K set. The boy-centric Disney XD is fully ad-supported.

Even with the recent departure of signature series such as “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Hannah Montana,” Disney Channel maintains a tight grip on kids and preteens with its series and telepics. Animated smash “Phineas and Ferb” and the live-action “Good Luck Charlie” remain pillars of the sked.

In 2012, Disney Channel was TV’s No. 1 network in total day for the first time among kids 2-11 and for the second consecutive year in kids 6-11. And it’s carrying that success into the new year, ruling as the top place for kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14.

“Austin & Ally” is TV’s No. 1 series 2013 to date in kids 2-11, while “Phineas & Ferb” is No. 1 among animated series with kids 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14.

Among the anticipated offerings for the coming year is “Girl Meets World,” the live-action sequel series to the 1990s ABC sitcom “Boy Meets World.” The Mouse will also give a big push to rising tween star Dove Cameron, with the telepic “Cloud 9” and series “Liv and Maddie” coming in the fall.

Disney XD is coming off a year of ratings gains, thanks in part to live-action laffers including “Crash and Bernstein” (whose puppet star will make an appearance with Disney Channel Worldwide topper Gary Marsh on stage at the Hudson), “Lab Rats” and “Kickin’ It,” along with Marvel toon series. Disney XD is ramping up its Marvel presence even more this year with new series “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” and “Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.,” slated to debut on July 7 and Aug. 11, respectively.

In 2012, Disney XD delivered its most-watched year in the network’s history in both total day and primetime in all kid demographics plus total viewers.

Meanwhile, the Disney Junior channel marks its first birthday this month. The channel is celebrating its first home-grown hit, the animated “Sofia the First.” The extension of Disney Jr. to a standalone net is part of Disney’s cradie-to-college strategy of ensuring strong exposure among kids and teens for key properties across the Disney-branded cablers and offshoots such as the Radio Disney music service.

Dominant as the Mouse House nets are, they still faces competition for boy viewers from Cartoon Network and for teens from Nickelodeon. At its upfront event last month, Nickelodeon execs unveiled a big “hit the reset button” push in an effort to reverse its recent ratings slide.

Disney Channel Press Team Visit The Set of Disney XD's Lab Rats

The Disney Channel Media Relations / Press Relations team for Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior & Radio Disney who also run the official Disney Channel twitter account, @DisneyChannelPR visited the set of Disney XD's Lab Rats yesterday (February 13, 2013). During their visit they posted behind the scenes pictures of the cast and set of the show. 

Via Disney Channel PR...

Guess what set we're visiting today? pic.twitter.com/sVPsWSLU

You got it! We're here on the set of #LABRATS!

See anyone you recognize? #LABRATS pic.twitter.com/JdnkifCp

This is @Tyreljwill's favorite part of the set! #LABRATS pic.twitter.com/Hkew8xbF

.@Kelliberglund doing some interviews on set! #LABRATS pic.twitter.com/5rh4eqVs

.@spencerboldman's favorite spot on set! #behindthescenes #LABRATS pic.twitter.com/citZOpnn

.@angelparker and @HalSparks #showsomeheart on the set of #LABRATS! pic.twitter.com/zNvuDwsu

#ShowSomeHeart by opening doors for your friends! http://yfrog.com/ocq4yjij  @SpencerBoldman @tyreljwill

Disney Channel Upfront Announcement To Be Held On March 12, 2013

According to Medialife Magazine, Disney Channel will be making their Upfront announcement on March 12, 2013. The Upfront event is a presentation that will cover the 2013 - 2014 season for Disney Channels Worldwide - Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior. Last year, at the 2012 Upfront event, Disney Channel announced Shake It Up: Made In Japan, Good Luck Charlie Season 3 and DCOMs (Disney Channel Original Movies) Teen Beach Musical, Girl Vs Monster and Let It Shine. It is predicted that at this years Upfront event Disney Channel will announce details of the Girl Meets World pilot, further details on DCOM Teen Beach Movie, the JESSIE Movie, DCOM: Cloud Nine, and possible upcoming shows such as Bits & Pieces, Fantasma, I Didn't Do It and the Disney XD show Kirby Gates.

Disney Channel and Disney XD Stars Launch #ShowSomeHeart

[Via Disney Channel Press Release...]

DISNEY CHANNEL AND DISNEY XD STARS LAUNCH #SHOWSOMEHEART

Tween and teen stars of Disney Channel and Disney XD champion kindness and generosity of spirit towards others in "Show Some Heart" video messages to be posted on the young actors' Twitter feeds and @DisneyChannelPR beginning today, February 8. The popular stars share how they "Show Some Heart" and encourage others to share their own acts of kindness via #ShowSomeHeart.

DisneyChannel.com and DisneyXD.com will debut exclusive videos featuring Disney Channel and Disney XD stars sharing Valentine's Day memories and fun messages, beginning February 13. Viewers can answer the call to action by sharing how they "Show Some Heart" on the websites.

Disney stars featured in the "ShowSomeHeart" video messages include: China Anne McClain ("A.N.T. Farm"); Ross Lynch and Laura Marano ("Austin & Ally"); Cole Jensen and Crash ("Crash & Bernstein"); Bridgit Mendler ("Good Luck Charlie"); Debby Ryan ("Jessie"); Leo Howard and Olivia Holt ("Kickin' It"); Spencer Boldman and Tyrel Jackson Williams ("Lab Rats"); and Bella Thorne and Zendaya ("Shake It Up"), among others.

Disney XD Stars, Olivia Holt & Dylan Riley Snyder Promote Literacy At Marvel Comics Closeup Event

[Via shineon-media.com...]

Dylan Riley Snyder, Cole Jensen, Drake Bell, and Olivia Holt give their best Spider-Man poses at the Marvel Comics Closeup event in Burbank on Saturday.

The stars gathered for “Reading With: Marvel Comics Close-Up,” an initiative championing children’s literacy. The event featured a donation to the Burbank Public Library and the local Boys & Girls Clubs. The kids in attendance had the chance to preview the season 2 premiere of “Ultimate Spider-Man” and also got to read comics with the Disney XD stars.

In addition, the guests got a sneak peek at “Marvel Comics Close-Up,” a series of interstitials hosted by Joe Quesada (Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer) and Dylan Riley Snyder (“Kickin’ It”) encouraging kids to read, will debut Monday, January 21 during the special one-hour season two premiere of “Ultimate Spider-Man” (7:00 – 8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD. As a part of the initiative, several ABC Owned Television Stations across the country are engaging their local communities to nominate a local organization, a school or library to receive a book donation from First Book to promote kids’ literacy. For free digital Marvel comics and additional information about “Marvel Comics Close-Up” please visit DisneyXD.com/comics.

We had the chance to attend the event where we chatted with the stars about why reading is important, their favorite books and what super power they want!

Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis hopes to meet Disney Channel stars

[Via latimes.com...]

Quvenzhané Wallis, the 9-year-old 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' actress nominated for an Academy Award, is a fan of Disney Channel and Disney XD actors.

Quvenzhané Wallis is excited to be an Oscar nominee, primarily because it gives her the chance to meet some movie actors. Yet, when pressed, the 9-year-old star of "Beasts of the Southern Wild" says it's the stars of her favorite television shows "Jessie" and "Austin & Ally" that are most appealing to her.

"I want to meet everybody on Disney Channel and Disney XD that are alive," she said in a phone interview Friday.

Wallis and "Beasts" had been critical favorites since last year's Sundance Film Festival. But the film — which so far has grossed about $11 million at the box office — wasn't widely known in mainstream circles until the Oscar nominations were announced Thursday. "Beasts" racked up four nominations, including best picture and director, and a lead actress nod for Wallis, a resident of Houma, La., and the youngest actress ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Wallis celebrated her historical recognition with Thursday evening's Critics' Choice Awards, where she won the best young actress prize. She said she especially enjoyed the party following the show, where she danced with her mom and her brothers, dressed in a sparkly purple gown.

Only 5 when she auditioned for the role of Hushpuppy in "Beasts," Wallis says that she wanted to act even before she made her first movie, because, "I get to meet different directors and different people."

Those directors include "Beasts" helmer Benh Zeitlin and Steve McQueen, who worked most recently with Wallis on his Southern-set drama "Twelve Years a Slave" starring Brad Pitt. Wallis has a small part in the film, playing the daughter of Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kelsey Scott. Cameron Zeigler plays her brother.

How did the two directors differ? According to Wallis, McQueen "has a different accent and he's bigger."

Wallis says she wants to continue acting but also plans to stay in her school. The fourth-grader said some of her friends back home have seen her PG-13 debut. "Two of my friends have seen it," she said. "They said I did good."

Wallis herself has watched the movie nine times. Her favorite parts: "I like it whenever I'm eating seafood and whenever Walrus falls off the trailer," she says, referring to one of the colorful residents of the Bathtub, a fictional town in Louisiana that's been cut off from the world after a storm causes a break in a levee.

On the Verge: Disney's Bridgit Mendler

[Via usatoday.com....]

Ready or not, there's a new young female star breaking out from the Disney Channel.

4:29PM EST December 2. 2012 - Bridgit Mendler is following in the footsteps of Hillary Duff, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, parlaying her popularity on the Disney Channel into success in the music world. Mendler, 19, seems well-suited to the role, having branched out from Radio Disney and realized a legitimate top 40 hit with Ready or Not. "I guess I meet a type or something," says the actress/singer/songwriter, who played a recurring character on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place before getting her own series, Good Luck Charlie, which will enter its fourth season in 2013. "I try not to think too much about the other artists that have come before or are coming up. You can't compare that, because each person has a different path they want to go down."

A princess is born: Mendler co-wrote every song on her debut album, Hello My Name Is …, released in October. But she has been writing songs since she was 6 or 7, when she composed a ditty about "little baby Jesus, resting in a manger" inspired by her younger brother's Play-Doh nativity scene. Mendler made her stage debut around that same time, playing Princess Multiplication in her first-grade play: "I sang a song about how you can't multiply with zero."

Musical anglophile: Though Mendler was born in Washington, D.C., and has lived in California since she was 8, her debut album unmistakably bears the influence of British neo-soul. Mendler expresses fondness for artists like Ellie Goulding, Florence + the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds and Lianne La Havas. "I love British sassiness, and their style is so cool," she says. "If I could be born again as a Brit? Love that."

Didn't she blow your mind this time?: Yes, Mendler was aware of The Delfonics' 1968 hit Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love) – or, more accurately, The Fugees' 1996 Ready or Not that borrowed the chorus from the Philadelphia soul group – when she, Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou and Evan Bogart wrote their song. "One of the writers played The Fugees' Ready or Not, and we were, like, 'Let's do an interpolation; that'd be kind of fun,'" she says. "So we did that and became familiar with The Delfonics' version also and kind of came up with our own. So it was intentional." The song is No. 25 on USA TODAY's top 40 airplay chart and has sold 356,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Actress, singer, student: Mendler will enter the University of Southern California as a freshman in January. "My plan right now is just to do one class at a time and see how that goes," she says. "I'm just going to study something that will be interesting and doable from the road and just take care of my general education courses for now." She hopes to get a degree eventually, though she doesn't plan to major in an entertainment-related field. She's currently considering arts history. "I want to know something outside of what I do." Mendler's mother will be at USC at the same time, pursuing a doctorate. "She's such an overachiever," Mendler says.

Next year and beyond: Mendler will play several radio-station shows, including New York's Z100 Jingle Ball, between now and the end of the year. She hopes to do a larger tour in 2013. "I have Good Luck Charlie for the first half of the year," she says. "We'll probably put some touring dates in after that. I'm probably also going to do a few international dates on the hiatuses during Good Luck Charlie's shooting time." Beyond Disney Channel – and her music and school – Mendler's got her eye on feature films. "I don't want to bust out into some edgy thing, because I do value the audience that's there. I also think there's a way to be a grown-up without being that. But I'd love to be in an action movie or some fun comedy – that'd be awesome. I feel like it's a good time to dream big."

Past Is Future On Disney Channel and Nickelodeon

[Via forbes.com...]

Teen sitcom stars Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande weren’t even born yet when Nickelodeon was launched in 1979.

Their long-running series, iCarly and Victorious, are getting a combined spin-off show, called Sam and Cat. Nickelodeon announced the pilot order in August, and has ordered 20 episodes. Production begins in January 2012, in Los Angeles.

Similarly, Disney was two years away from purchasing ABC when Boy Meets World became a Friday night hit in 1993. Disney Channel acquired Boy Meets World in 2000, and introduced characters Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence to a new generation of teens and preteens.

Now, Disney Channel is developing a pilot for Boy spinoff. Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel will reprise their characters in Girl Meets World, which will follow the trials and tribulations of their 13-year-old TV daughter, Riley.

The original creators, veteran producers Dan Schneider and Michael Jacobs, lead the charge for Sam and Girl respectively.

McCurdy and the star of iCarly, Miranda Cosgrove, were frequently nominated for prestigious billings for kid programs, such as the Teen Choice Awards, Kids’ Choice Awards, and Primetime Emmys. Both Grande, 19, and McCurdy are talented vocalists.

McCurdy, 21,  will continue her role as Sam Puckett. She and Grande’s character will become unlikely room mates who start a babysitting business together.

Girl Meets World is still early in development, but Savage will play a history teacher, like his Boy Meets World mentor, ‘Mr. Feeny.’ A nationwide search is on for daughter Riley Matthews, and her edgy best friend Maya. Boy and its actors were nominated for dozens of Kids’ Choice and Young Artist awards; Savage and Fishel won some, along with several co-stars.

The maturation of the kids in these programs reflects the maturation of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. While ‘mature’ might sound like the kiss of death for a youth-oriented business, it’s not the case here. Though both channels started in the 70s, they reinvented themselves approximately 20 years later, with drastic focus change. Disney Channel switched from pay to basic cable, and began replacing its old, recycled acquired programming (think Walt Disney Presents) with original movies and star-making episodic series (think Lizzie McGuire).

Nickelodeon was ahead of the curve in animation, with Ren & Stimpy and Rugrats, but its late-tween, early teen programming was getting long in the tooth (think reruns of Clarissa Explains It All and Are You Afraid Of The Dark?). By 1996, Nick began launching series featuring talent that appeared in Schneider’s All That,  such as Kenan & Kel, The Amanda Show, and later Drake & Josh and Zoey 101, starring Jamie Lynn Spears.

In other words, these channels laid a solid foundation of original, character-driven programming, which can now spawn second and third generation hits. While Boy Meets World was not developed at Disney Channel but rather, Buena Vista Television, its saturation and promotion on the channel assured that Disney could mine the intellectual property decades later.

Disney Casting Directors Seek Out Both Established and New Talent

There are two types of casting directors that audition actors for Disney. The first type are called "in-house" casting executives. The VP of Casting and Talent Relations for Disney Channel is an example of an in-house casting director who usually auditions established actors for series regular roles or starring roles for Disney Channel Original Movies. On the other hand there are many freelance casting directors who have cast countless Disney Channel shows, as well as other shows on different networks. These freelance casting directors also audition established talent for series regulars and starring roles, however they do bring in newcomers to read for roles if they fit the look that is being sought for a specific role.

Newcomers are much more likely to be cast in supporting or recurring roles as opposed to starring or series regulars, but from time to time an actor with minimal credits does land that coveted top level role. And it is happening more and more frequently as studios vie to discover that fresh new face. However, any type of casting director will tell you that finding talented actors with little experience can be a daunting task. Disney Channel conducts open casting calls around the United States a couple of times each year for non-specific roles, and out of the thousands who show up, only one or two actually make it onto the air. Another example is when Walt Disney Studios held open calls at many cities during the talent search for the role of Mattie Ross in the 2010 film "True Grit". In the end, they hired an actress who had professional credits, training, and a talent agent who submitted her for the role in Los Angeles.

The most important thing that casting directors look for on an actors resume is live theatre. Doing plays in youth theatre groups, community theatre, and summer acting camps is not only extremely fun, but is also an incredible learning experience. You do not get the opportunity to do multiple takes for each scene, rather you must nail your lines dead on in real-time. And the more experience that talent has doing that, means less takes for each scene when working on a movie or television show.

Training is also important, especially with reputable acting teachers and coaches. In the big markets such as Los Angeles and New York, there is an abundance of great acting teachers, many of which are well connected in the entertainmenbt industry. Often these mentors will bring in casting directors or talent agents to watch their students perform scenes. Specialized training such as singing and dancing is also a great thing to have on your resume.

A few of The Walt Disney Company holdings consist of Marvel Studios, Touchstone Pictures, The Muppets Studio, Disney Theatrical Group, Pixar Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Pictures. Their television divisions include Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Jr., and ABC Family among others. So there you have it. The opportunities are out there, you just have to make the right moves, stay focused, and follow your heart.

Alan Baltes invites you to take advantage of a wealth of information about how to submit yourself to Disney casting directors for acting auditions, as well as register for extra work. Auditions and casting information for Walt Disney Company films - Touchstone Pictures, Pixar Animation, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Walt Disney Pictures. Learn more by heading over to Disney Casting

Source: Alan Baltes

How To Land Disney Channel Auditions For Free

For many kids, the dream of working on a Disney Channel show or movie may seem like a fantasy too good to ever come true. But the reality is that if someone is determined enough and willing to work hard, anything is possible - even acting on a Disney show! Every person who ever worked one of the networks shows had to start somewhere, from the big famous stars right down to the bit role players and background extras.

The network still conducts talent searches in various cities each year, and most are open calls where anyone within a specified age range can attend. And it does not matter if they are signed with a talent agent, or if they have had previous acting experience - although taking acting classes and doing plays can help tremendously.

In addition to the annual general talent searches, DC shoots various shows and movies in cities outside of Los Angeles, and the casting directors sometimes hold open casting calls for specific roles in those cities. Examples are the High School Musical movies which were all filmed in the Salt Lake City area, and the Camp Rock movies which were all filmed in the Toronto area.

As far as any fees or costs associated with DC talent searches, open casting calls, and auditions - there are none! Auditions are always completely free of charge to attend. The only exception is for extras. Disney Channel always contracts out to extras casting companies to hire the extras for their productions. The individual extras casting companies often charge a small fee that may cover photo imaging, administrative costs, etc. This fee is commonly about $15 - $30.

Be aware that there are several unscrupulous websites operating that "scrape" or steal free Disney auditions and casting information from legit websites and use that information to lure people into signing up for a pay-subscription website. They NEVER uses pay-subscription websites for their casting needs, speaking roles or otherwise. Disney Channel auditions, talent searches, and casting calls are always available completely free of charge.

Some of the shows and movies for 2012 include the pilot episodes of "The Little Leftover Witch," "Shmagreggie Saves The World," "Zombies & Cheerleaders," and "Crash And Bernstein"; the series "Austin & Ally," "A.N.T. Farm," "Jessie," "Good Luck Charlie," and "Shake It Up!; the Disney Channel Original Movies "Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie Sequel," and the upcoming "Adventure Quest".

Alan Baltes invites you to take advantage of a wealth of information about how to submit yourself to Disney Channel casting directors for acting auditions, as well as register for extra work. Details about proper submission etiquette and guidelines are outlined. Start being considered now for acting jobs on Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Jr. by heading over to Disney Channel Auditions

Source: Alan J Baltes

"Good Luck Charlie" Wins British Academy Children's Television Award (BAFTA) Kids' Vote 2012

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the winners of tonight’s British Academy Children’s Awards, celebrating the very best in children’s film, television, games and online media of the past year, and the talent behind their successes.

The ceremony was hosted by Barney Harwood at the London Hilton on Park Lane, and presenters included Eddie Izzard, Alesha Dixon, Sir David Jason, Tom and Dougie from McFly, Olympic gold medallists Heather Stanning and Alex Gregory, Tyger Drew Honey, Caitlin Moran, X Factor’s Kye Sones and Jade Ellis, Jedward and American film director John Landis.

A record-breaking number of votes were received in this year’s BAFTA Kids’ Vote. 7-14 year-olds cast over half a million votes – 593,674 – and had their say across a whole range of entertainment media in a nationwide poll to choose their favourite film, television programme, website and video game. The winners in the four categories were: The Smurfs (Feature Film); Good Luck Charlie (Television); Temple Run (Video Game); Bin Weevils (Website). The Kids’ Vote website - www.baftakidsvote.org - remains a year-round destination for the under 14s, with quizzes, games, interviews, and reports from the Awards.

Exclusive red carpet highlights, backstage interviews with the winners, ceremony highlights and photography will be published after the ceremony on www.bafta.org/awards/childrens and www.baftakidsvote.org .

The British Academy Children’s Awards represent all aspects of children’s entertainment: Animation, Channel of the Year, Comedy, Drama, Entertainment, Factual, Feature Film, Independent Production Company, Interactive, International, Learning–Primary, Learning–Secondary, Performer, Pre-school Animation, Pre-school Live Action, Presenter, Short Form, Video Game and Writer.

About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit www.bafta.org .

About BAFTA Kids Vote 
The shortlist was derived from the top children’s feature films (12A and under) at the box office, the highest-rated children’s programmes on both terrestrial and multichannel, the most visited websites created for children and the top-selling video games PEGI-rated 12+ and under. Voting ran from 23 October – 25 November on www.baftakidsvote.org .