ViacomCBS Kids & Family Streamlines Live-Action Production

ViacomCBS Kids & Family is consolidating all live-action production under one team, spanning development, current series and studio content.

The newly formed group will be led by Nickelodeon’s Shauna Phelan and Zack Olin, who are broadening their current roles of leading Nick’s live-action scripted content to now also oversee live-action for Awesomeness and third-party platforms. Syrinthia Studer will continue to oversee the combined Awesomeness and Nickelodeon’s live-action film studio.

ViacomCBS Kids & Family President Brian Robbins said, “As our content grows in demand from both our own audiences and from third-party platforms, consolidating all scripted live-action under Shauna and Zack streamlines our process to make the biggest creative impact possible. Syrinthia, Shauna and Zack are a formidable team of terrific storytellers, and they’re delivering an exciting slate of films and series that have been tailored to the full expanse of demos we serve, from kids to Gen Z.”

Phelan and Olin’s expanded oversight follows the departure of Awesomeness executive Shelley Zimmerman, who opted to not renew her contract. Zimmerman most recently served as Executive Vice President, Live-Action Studios, having joined Awesomeness in 2015.

Robbins added, “Shelley and I have worked together throughout the years, and she is an incredibly talented and savvy creative executive. We wish her the absolute best and are so grateful for her leadership and contributions to Awesomeness’s studio success with hits like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, PEN15 and Trinkets.”