MENA Production Outfit MBC Studios Names New COO

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMPC Episodic, which offers its VFX expertise to series creators, has expanded its senior team with the hire of seven key creatives. The outfit has also opened a Berlin office.Since its launch in January, MPC Episodic has been working on a number of series for clients including Disney Plus, BBC Studios, Apple TV Plus and Amazon Studios.

Matt Grobar Assistant Editor, AwardslineIn its eight-episode third season, The Marvelous Mrs.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterEXCLUSIVE: The Riki Group, a leader in Russia’s animation market that has been operating for 16 years, has appointed Mark Zavadskiy to the role of CEO.He will be responsible for running the company’s business units including two animation studios, digital content production, licensing and publishing agencies.

Ted Johnson Michael Pack, the new CEO of the government-run global media media entity that oversees Voice of America and other news outlets, plans to clean house of the agency’s top career leadership, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said on Tuesday.Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) said in a statement that he had learned that Pack, confirmed by the Senate earlier this month to lead the U.S.

The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik is set to front a new show for TBS where celebrities will be tasked with producing compelling content from their own homes. Celebrity Show-Off will be a 10-episode series, launching on June 23.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Bryce and Jackie Zabel’s Stellar Productions is teaming with fledgling LA production and management firm Alta Global Media on TV series Captured, based on the landmark 1961 alien abduction case of Betty and Barney Hill.The project will chart the story of the interracial couple from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who said they were captured by a UFO on the night of September 19, 1961.

Joe Giudice will meet his match in October when he faces off against Ojani Noa in a round of celebrity boxing! The former Real Housewives Of New Jersey star has been bulking up and getting in shape for the charity match since he’s been living in Italy. He previously teased that he would love to take on Jersey Shore‘s Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, but a new challenge has presented itself. Before the October takedown, here are five things you should know about Joe’s new rival, Ojani Noa.

You won’t find 75 Dollar Bill anywhere on the Billboard charts, but the New York act’s latest studio album nabbed the No. 1 spot on experimental bible Wire magazine’s best albums of 2019 list.

Hollywood director James Cameron had reportedly landed in New Zealand to resume the production of the highly anticipated film, Avatar 2. The team of the film had to suspend all the work due to the global outbreak of Coronavirus.

The worlds of “Avatar” are about to come alive again.

By Tom Grater

Detavio Samuels has been named COO at Revolt Media & TV, where he will oversee all aspects of programming and development at the multiplatform hip-hop brand founded by Sean “Diddy” Combs. Samuels will report directly to Revolt CEO Roma Khanna.

It looks as though, the queen of Latin pop - and now of social media -  Thalía  and her husband, Tommy Mottola may have plans to move to South Florida being the couple has purchased a luxurious property in Miami. As reported by the real estate website, The Real Deal, the residence is entirely new and valued at $8 million.

ViacomCBS has promoted Jonathan Karp to president and CEO of Simon & Schuster after putting the book publisher up for sale. Karp succeeds Carolyn Reidy, the former president and CEO who passed away earlier this month at age 71 due to a heart attack.

Ky-Mani Marley and Jacob Anderson, who records under the name Raleigh Ritchie and is most well-known for playing the character named Grey Worm on HBO’s Game of Thrones, have both signed to Alacran Records.

NEW YORK -- Jonathan Karp, who has worked with authors ranging from Sen. Edward Kennedy to Susan Orlean, has been named the new CEO of Simon & Schuster. He replaces Carolyn Reidy, who died two weeks ago.