AwesomenessTV Hires Ex-Nickelodeon Exec For Live Events, Traditional Casting
by David Bloom
Now isn’t this interesting: Multi-platform network AwesomenessTV, owned by DreamWorks Animation and Hearst, has created a new job running talent and live events for former long-time Nickelodeon executive Paula Kaplan.
It tells you a lot about where CEO Brian Robbins thinks his company needs to head in the world above and beyond YouTube.
Kaplan will be handling casting for all those low-budget films he’s doing featuring online-video stars, for instance. Robbins and AwesomenessTV have cut deals recently to create a string of these projects, centered around YouTube and Vine stars, with nearly zero marketing dollars other than the stars’ regular conversations with their prodigious online followings.
And here on the eve of Vidcon, live events are proving lucrative opportunities for the online-video companies and their stars. AwesomenessTV has been providing, it seems, most of the good news for owner DWA the past couple of years. If they execute well on this stuff, could be more coming for a parent company that could use it.
Here’s the release that hit today:
AWESOMENESSTV NAMES PAULA KAPLAN HEAD OF TALENT AND LIVE CONTENT
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 17, 2015) — Veteran television executive Paula Kaplan has joined AwesomenessTV, a multi-platform media company, as the Head of Talent and Live Content. In this newly created position, she is charged with leading the company’s talent initiatives and casting strategies across all of film and series production; additionally she will oversee the creation and execution of brand-defining live events and programming.
“Having worked closely with Paula for many years, her eye for talent and ability to cultivate stars for the young adult audience is unmatched, which is why she is the perfect person to head up our talent and live content division,” said Brian Robbins, AwesomenessTV founder and CEO. “Her strong relationships throughout the creative community will play an integral role at AwesomenessTV as we build our channels and continue to expand in film, series and live events.”
Kaplan spent 20 years at Nickelodeon and was a creative force within the children’s network holding a variety of roles during her tenure there that included: Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Live Events; Executive Vice President, Talent/General Manager, West Coast; Senior Vice President, Talent; and Vice President Talent Relations. She is also credited with building Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, which she served as the Executive Producer, and grew into a marquee event that attracted Hollywood’s A-list celebrities and generated top ratings.
Under her leadership, her division at the Viacom owned company, built the deepest roster of talent in Nickelodeon’s history, casting stars in series such as iCarly, Victorious, Drake and Josh, Big Time Rush, SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. She also developed and launched many stars who grew into pop culture icons, including Nick Cannon, Kenan Thompson, Ariana Grande, Emma Roberts, Josh Peck, Miranda Cosgrove and Jennette McCurdy.
Prior to joining AwesomenessTV, Paula served as a consultant for digital brands and film companies, working on the CBS Films’ 2015 release of The Duff.
