Platinum taps Execs for Advisory Board
Home Media Magazine has reported that Platinum Studios has formed an advisory board, featuring a dozen executives from print and mass media to help CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg guide their print-to-film projects.
“The vast experience and success with various forms of entertainment that each advisory board member brings with them will allow Platinum to access additional contacts in the film, television, online, retail and video game industries and in development of the 5,600 comic characters and storylines in the Platinum Studios portfolio,” Rosenberg said. “I am excited by each and every member’s willingness to join the Advisory Board and support Platinum in a more formal role.”
Rosenberg’s ambitious total includes Platinum-generated properties in addition to other comic publishers’ whose film rights they represent such as the forthcoming Witchblade film based on the Top Cow character.
The board is comprised of Richard Fowkes, head of business affairs for Legendary Pictures and former EVP in charge of business affairs for the motion picture group at Paramount Pictures; Andrea Hein, former president of Viacom Consumer Products and current EVP of First Wives World; Mark Canton, former chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and current chairman of Atmosphere Entertainment; Michael Helfant, former president and COO of Marvel Studios; John W. Hyde, former president and CEO of Film Roman and current chairman of Rehab Incorporated; Gale Anne Hurd, chairwoman of Valhalla Motion Pictures; Jerry Katzman, former vice chairman of William Morris Agency; Steve Milo, former president of new media for Marvel Comics; Ed Dille, chairman of Fog Studios; Gareb Shamus, founder of Wizard Entertainment; Charlie Weber, former CEO of Lucasfilm; and Glenn Rigberg, president of Rigberg Entertainment Group.
Platinum has angered creators over payments and legal issues stemming form their recent purchase of Wowio. While they continue to publish comics both in print and on the web, none have broken through as major creative successes. They do have numerous projects in various stages of development. Most notable among the list is Cowboys & Aliens which DreamWorks is developing and has Robert Downey, Jr. attached to star.
Platinum was formed in 1997 after Rosenberg exited Malibu Comics in the wake of its purchase by Marvel Comics. He has been slow to develop Platinum through the years and didn’t really begin releasing titles until late 2006 despite years of development. On September 25, 2006, Platinum pruchased DrunkDuck, a webcomics site and began a strong didigtal initiative that led to the purchase earlier this year of Wowio.
Their media initivative has been limited to the Showtime series Jeremiah, based on a European properrty licensed by the studio. Platinum Studios posted net losses of $4.3 million in 2006 and $5.1 million in 2007.
How about an ethics board? I'm just saying.
Just to clarify a few terms as Scott Rosenberg seems to see them in today's market:CEO — Chief Embezzlement Officer.CFO — Corporate Fraud Officer.COO — Criminal Opprtunities Officer.CONTRACT — A one sided agreement giving Platinum the right to say they've lost money promoting a Creator's work while removing any rights they may have had and causing a Creator to mistake him/her-self for a genius. This also gives PS the right to sit on any properties they have, and lie about the number of characters they own and have in development with a major studio.VALUE INVESTING — The art of buying low and writing even more losses off their tax reports.WOWIO — A company recently purchased by PS that they can restructure, change the contracts with existing talents, and still not pay royalties to without legal repercussions.If this company is so far in the hole, where are they going to find the money to pay these "Big-Guns?" They can't even pay their talent! Exactly what have they solicited and shipped in print in the last 6 months? AFAIK they aren't even electronically publishing, and they have lost close to half of the talent that was on WOWIO before the buy-out. Has no one learned anything about these crooks!?! Has the model of unrestricted profit mongering on Wallstreet gone to thei heads? I bet Scott R. can't spell the word "Ethics" let alone accurately define it.Your milage may vary, but I wouldn't look for any profits from this group in the near or far-flung future…