Industry Execs Align to Form Skywriter Media

TORONTO: Kevin Gillis, Michael McLaughlin and Michael Iscove have launched Skywriter Media and Entertainment Group, involved in the development, production, marketing and distribution of original entertainment projects across multiple platforms.

Gillis, who launched and was the managing partner of Breakthrough Animation, serves as the new company’s CEO. Gillis’s career spans nearly 30 years as a creator, producer, director and marketer of successful animated series and dramatic prime-time projects. His credits include The Raccoons, Atomic Betty, Miss BG, RoboCop: The Series, FX: The Series, Captain Flamingo, Jimmy Two Shoes and Producing Parker.

McLaughlin takes on the role of president for Skywriter. He brings more than 24 years of experience in programming and sales to the company, having served as the executive VP of Omnicom’s Entertainment division for the last nine years. Prior to Omnicom, Mclaughlin spent 15 years at Canwest Global in both programming and sales roles.

Iscove is Skywriter’s COO and CFO, bringing with him more than 25 years of international expertise in strategic business development, corporate finance, strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions.

Paula McLaren has been appointed to head up worldwide distribution for Skywriter, overseeing all areas of global sales, marketing and acquisitions. McLaren joins the company from BBC Worldwide, where she managed business development for BBC Motion Gallery. Previously, McLaren headed up distribution at Breakthrough and served as a senior sales executive for CBC International.

Skywriter is financing, developing, producing, acquiring and distributing a broad range of children’s, family and prime-time programming for the global market. The company is looking to forge strategic alliances with technology and digital media companies for the production, distribution and marketing of content for all emerging media. Skywriter is also focusing on creating advertiser-supported content opportunities for the digital media marketplace, including online, mobile and gaming platforms.

“Opportunities within media and entertainment channels are expanding exponentially, and companies engaged in this growing universe require broad skills, expertise and experience to address the evolving business models,” said Gillis. “Skywriter is a one-stop source committed to serving as a bridge between producers, advertisers, broadcasters and digital media alike by creating, developing and acquiring compelling content for all platforms. We are truly excited to be able to support and nurture ground-breaking product for the global marketplace.”

“Skywriter’s unique approach is meant to address the many extraordinary developments that occur in media and entertainment," said McLaughlin. "Our company brings to the global marketplace a wealth of financing, creative development and production, technology expertise, advertising and marketing experience and, with the appointment of Paula McLaren, outstanding distribution capabilities under one banner.”