IDT Media Acquires Rights To Gene Roddenberry's "Starpoint Academy" and "Char"
Deal marks IDT Media's Digital Production Solutions entry into 3-D feature film development and distribution
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Newark, N.J., March 12, 2003 – IDT Media’s Digital Production Solutions (DPS) today announced that it has acquired rights to never-before-seen projects created by Gene Roddenberry. “Gene Roddenberry’s Starpoint Academy” and “Gene Roddenberry’s Char,” are the first original properties acquired by DPS. IDT Media is a division of IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT.B, IDT.C), a multinational carrier, technology and telephone company.
“This is exciting. Acquiring two stories by Gene Roddenberry is like finding long lost unpublished manuscripts of Shakespeare or Hemingway in an old trunk in the attic,” said Howard Jonas, IDT’s Chairman. “Now a new generation of fans will be able to experience what no generation has before; Gene Roddenberry’s visions on the big screen in 3-D.”
“Starpoint Academy” and “Char” are the first and only Gene Roddenberry projects that are specifically aimed at children. Both projects were optioned and immediately purchased by IDT Media's Executive Vice President of Business Development, Morris Berger from the as yet-unnamed production company recently launched by Panacea Entertainment Chairman Eric Gardner and former Tribune Entertainment Senior VP of Programming and Development
Karen Corbin, which will produce the projects in association with IDT Media. Gardner and Corbin will executive produce along with Majel Roddenberry, Gene Roddenberry's widow, with whom they developed the properties.
This deal marks IDT Media’s Digital Production Solutions entry into 3-D feature film development and distribution. Digital Production Solutions will be utilizing its Global Animation Studio’s proprietary 3-D animation software in the development of both properties. In addition, IDT Media acquired the rights to all audio and video content relating to the projects, including but not limited to licensing, game development and merchandising.
“We’re planning on taking Gene Roddenberry fans on a new trek through space with ‘Starpoint Academy’ and 'Char’,” said Jim Courter, IDT’s CEO. “Using superior texturing, lighting and visual effects, IDT Media’s Global Animation Studio will create high-quality 3-D animated productions that would even amaze Gene Roddenberry. The realistic scenery, landscape and special effects that can be created through 3-D animation will make viewers feel like they are truly part of the story.”
“Gene and I had often discussed the wonderful possibilities available in storytelling for these younger audiences,” said Majel Roddenberry. “These projects will bring alive his positive vision of science, exploration and adventure to a new generation."
"These days everything is about branding, and the Roddenberry name is about as iconic as it gets," said Panacea chief Eric Gardner. "Majel, Karen and I were immediately impressed by IDT's reverence for Gene's legacy, which led to our closing our deal with them quickly and enthusiastically."
“Starpoint Academy” takes place on Starpoint Pharos, an artificial planet that houses emissaries of peace from every galaxy. In this cosmic United Nations, the problems of the universe are peacefully debated and resolved. Against this backdrop, the best and brightest galactic teens are recruited and trained in body, mind and spirit as elite Astari Rangers, the renaissance teens of the future and guardians of the peace. “Char” is the saga of an Intergalactic princess, robbed of her birthright and without knowledge of her true identity, is being raised as a normal all-American girl on 24th Century Earth.
“We’re very excited to be working on projects from the mind of such a legendary sci-fi master,” said Morris Berger. “We want all of Gene’s fans to know that the result will be well worth waiting for.”
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Mar 12, 2003 |
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