Vancouver, Canada - Rainmaker Entertainment Inc.'s CEO Warren
Franklin announced that veteran animation producer and creative
executive, Catherine Winder, has joined Rainmaker Entertainment as
president. Winder was most recently at Lucasfilm Animation where she
set-up the studio and produced the Cartoon Network series "Star Wars:
The Clone Wars," as well as the animated feature version which was
released by Warner Bros. last summer. Kim Dent Wilder is also being
added to the management team as senior vice president of Production and
Operations. Tara Kemes will join Rainmaker as manager of talent
development.
"I'm thrilled to be at the helm as we refocus and reinvigorate the
studio toward family-oriented content in a wide variety of genres, in
addition to continuing our successful service-based business. Building
on the great work that has been done over the years, Rainmaker,
formerly Mainframe, has a talent base and innovative pipeline that is
well poised to re-position itself and regain its place as a leader in
our industry," Winder comments. "I look forward to establishing our own
creative brain trust where we inspire, support, and encourage
excellence. Plus, to be teamed up again with Warren and to work side by
side with the incredible management team we've put in place is a
terrific opportunity for me."
Rainmaker's executive team also includes Jennifer Twiner McCarron
continuing as vice president of production, managing the day-to-day
production of Rainmaker's various movies, DVDs, games, and series work;
Tony Pelle, director of technology; and Ron Stinson, director of IT and
operations.
McCarron, Pelle, and Stinson, along with Kemes, will report to
Wilder. Kimberly Dennison, who joined the studio from Disney as
director of development last year, will continue to work directly with
Winder to develop the slate of in-house projects. Winder, who has been
consulting with Rainmaker, has set the studio on a new trajectory.
"There is exceptional creative talent here," Winder explains.
"What makes it especially remarkable is the legacy of efficiency and
flexibility that Rainmaker is also known for. As we proceed with all
the pipeline improvements already underway, we envision our future to
be very bright."
One of Winder's first new steps at Rainmaker is the production of
an original short feature animation project, Luna, based on a concept
from in-house producer Luke Carroll, and directed by Pixar alumnus Jon
Mead. Luna will begin production this summer.
Over her distinguished career in animation,Winder has worked in
feature films, home video, and television, in addition to running her
own industry consulting business. She was senior vice president of
production at Fox Feature Animation, where she oversaw the production
of the Oscar-nominated hit Ice Age. Winder has produced such
series as "Spawn" and "Spicy City" for HBO and Aeon Flux for MTV. She
began her animation career in Asia, working for Walt Disney Television
Japan, followed by positions at Hanna-Barbera/Turner Pictures in both
Taiwan and Los Angeles. Winder also co-authored Producing Animation
which is used as are ference text in animation schools. Kim Dent Wilder
rejoins Rainmaker after a three-year break, during which time she was
COO of Nexon Publishing North America (NPNA), a Vancouver-based global
online entertainment company. During her previous stint at Rainmaker,
she was vice president of production.
In her new position,Wilder, reporting directly to Winder, will
oversee all studio production operations including the ongoing
service-based projects.