Hyphenate Media Group, the production venture and holding company launched in October by Eva Longoria and Cris Abrego with backing from Banijay, has set its leadership team with the appointments of three senior executives.
Jada Miranda, formerly of STX Entertainment, has been named president of television for the Los Angeles-based company headed by actor/director/producer Longoria and the veteran producer and TV executive Abrego. Banijay Americas executives Karla Pita Loor and Alex Chang have signed on to Hyphenate as chief strategy officer and chief operating officer, respectively. The two will continue to consult for Paris-based Banijay.
“Jada’s impressive track record speaks for itself. With her vast network and studio experience across domestic and international co-productions and her deep talent relationships, she is the ideal leader to run Hyphenate originals,” Longoria said. “Cris and I are excited to count on her creativity and vision as we build our television business.
Jada Miranda, formerly of STX Entertainment, has been named president of television for the Los Angeles-based company headed by actor/director/producer Longoria and the veteran producer and TV executive Abrego. Banijay Americas executives Karla Pita Loor and Alex Chang have signed on to Hyphenate as chief strategy officer and chief operating officer, respectively. The two will continue to consult for Paris-based Banijay.
“Jada’s impressive track record speaks for itself. With her vast network and studio experience across domestic and international co-productions and her deep talent relationships, she is the ideal leader to run Hyphenate originals,” Longoria said. “Cris and I are excited to count on her creativity and vision as we build our television business.
- 3/21/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Hyphenate Media Group co-founders Cris Abrego and Eva Longoria have set the company’s executive leadership team. Jada Miranda will serve as President of Television, Karla Pita Loor as Chief Strategy Officer and Alex Chang as Chief Operating Officer. All executives will report to Abrego and Longoria.
Most recently, Miranda served as President of Scripted Television and Production of STX Entertainment, focusing on domestic and international co-productions with partners Netflix, SyFy and Prime Video. Before that role, she helped develop series from video game IP, such as Halo at Xbox Entertainment Studios and fan-favorite titles Hannibal, Grimm and Chicago Fire at NBCUniversal. She began her career at HBO, where she co-led Comedy Programming supporting shows like Entourage, The Comeback and executive producing How to Make it In America.
“Jada’s impressive track record speaks for itself. With her vast network and studio experience across domestic and international co-productions and her deep talent relationships,...
Most recently, Miranda served as President of Scripted Television and Production of STX Entertainment, focusing on domestic and international co-productions with partners Netflix, SyFy and Prime Video. Before that role, she helped develop series from video game IP, such as Halo at Xbox Entertainment Studios and fan-favorite titles Hannibal, Grimm and Chicago Fire at NBCUniversal. She began her career at HBO, where she co-led Comedy Programming supporting shows like Entourage, The Comeback and executive producing How to Make it In America.
“Jada’s impressive track record speaks for itself. With her vast network and studio experience across domestic and international co-productions and her deep talent relationships,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Profiles by Seth Abramovitch, Gary Baum, Evan Nicole Brown, Tyler Coates, Kirsten Chuba, Aaron Couch, Scott Feinberg, Mesfin Fekadu, Mia Galuppo, James Hibberd, Rebecca Keegan, Sydney Odman, Rick Porter, Lacey Rose, Julian Sancton, Rebecca Sun and Beatrice Verhoeven
Cris Abrego & Karla Pita Loor Cris Abrego and Karla Pita Loor
Banijay Americas
Abrego is one of the top-ranking Latino execs in English-language media, and Pita Loor is the board chair of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, a major conduit for industry players who are invested in improving inclusion. Under their leadership, Banijay Americas has stepped up initiatives to help people from historically excluded backgrounds break into entertainment. “This work has both financial and cultural bottom lines, and those are not only equally important but also inextricably connected,” says Abrego of the content business. “Success requires attention to both.”
I’m excited about …
Abrego “Mindy Kaling is just laugh-out-loud funny...
Cris Abrego & Karla Pita Loor Cris Abrego and Karla Pita Loor
Banijay Americas
Abrego is one of the top-ranking Latino execs in English-language media, and Pita Loor is the board chair of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, a major conduit for industry players who are invested in improving inclusion. Under their leadership, Banijay Americas has stepped up initiatives to help people from historically excluded backgrounds break into entertainment. “This work has both financial and cultural bottom lines, and those are not only equally important but also inextricably connected,” says Abrego of the content business. “Success requires attention to both.”
I’m excited about …
Abrego “Mindy Kaling is just laugh-out-loud funny...
- 5/31/2023
- by Ashley Cullins, Editor and Mikey O'Connell, Editor
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers is hosting one more celebration of women in media.
Nalip has unveiled the program roster for their seventh annual Diverse Women in Media Forum. The event will be held at the London West Hollywood on March 30, marking the first time the forum has been held during Women’s History Month.
The Diverse Women in Media Forum will be hosted by Christian Vera (“Mayans M.C.”) and will feature remarks from actor-producer Kate del Castillo and casting director Carla Hool, among other speakers. In addition, the forum will host networking, panels and performances by singer-songwriter Victory Jones and poet Bay Davis.
“This year’s Diverse Women in Media Forum program brings together extraordinary women who are leading the charge for inclusion, access and visibility across the entertainment industry–on screen, behind the scenes, in our...
Nalip has unveiled the program roster for their seventh annual Diverse Women in Media Forum. The event will be held at the London West Hollywood on March 30, marking the first time the forum has been held during Women’s History Month.
The Diverse Women in Media Forum will be hosted by Christian Vera (“Mayans M.C.”) and will feature remarks from actor-producer Kate del Castillo and casting director Carla Hool, among other speakers. In addition, the forum will host networking, panels and performances by singer-songwriter Victory Jones and poet Bay Davis.
“This year’s Diverse Women in Media Forum program brings together extraordinary women who are leading the charge for inclusion, access and visibility across the entertainment industry–on screen, behind the scenes, in our...
- 3/24/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
The Los Angeles-based National Assn. of Latino Independent Producers has tapped Diana Luna as its executive director.
Luna is a veteran academic administrator, having served as executive director of Loyola Marymount University’s Lmu Extension program. Luna’s charter has been community outreach and making higher education more inclusive. She steered a broad program that offered more than 160 job training certificate programs, with a focus on those that helped spur placement opportunities for students and adults from underrepresented communities.
Luna also helped develop master’s degree programs in creative fields including arts management and arts business. On her watch Lmu partnered with Hola Mexico Film Festival. She helped create the nonprofit Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today, which is designed to nurture the careers of promising young Latino female filmmakers.
At Nalip, she takes the reins from Ben Lopez, who had served as executive director of the advocacy organization for Latino professionals...
Luna is a veteran academic administrator, having served as executive director of Loyola Marymount University’s Lmu Extension program. Luna’s charter has been community outreach and making higher education more inclusive. She steered a broad program that offered more than 160 job training certificate programs, with a focus on those that helped spur placement opportunities for students and adults from underrepresented communities.
Luna also helped develop master’s degree programs in creative fields including arts management and arts business. On her watch Lmu partnered with Hola Mexico Film Festival. She helped create the nonprofit Tomorrow’s Filmmakers Today, which is designed to nurture the careers of promising young Latino female filmmakers.
At Nalip, she takes the reins from Ben Lopez, who had served as executive director of the advocacy organization for Latino professionals...
- 1/26/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Banijay Americas and Best Buy are launching a new program to provide access to entertainment industry careers for high school students and recent graduates in Los Angeles.
The reality production and distribution giant — whose shows include Emmy-winning Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls as well as MasterChef, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Below Deck — will develop a curriculum about television production tailored to participants at L.A.’s Best Buy Teen Tech Centers, which provide a space for underserved youth to develop skills in film production, digital media, audio engineering, augmented and virtual reality, 3-D design and other technologies through hands-on experience and peer and adult mentorship. The curriculum will include seminars and job-shadowing opportunities with Hollywood producers, directors, editors and writers.
In addition, Teen Tech Center alumni will be able to join Banijay Americas’ feeder program for production assistants, with...
Banijay Americas and Best Buy are launching a new program to provide access to entertainment industry careers for high school students and recent graduates in Los Angeles.
The reality production and distribution giant — whose shows include Emmy-winning Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls as well as MasterChef, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Below Deck — will develop a curriculum about television production tailored to participants at L.A.’s Best Buy Teen Tech Centers, which provide a space for underserved youth to develop skills in film production, digital media, audio engineering, augmented and virtual reality, 3-D design and other technologies through hands-on experience and peer and adult mentorship. The curriculum will include seminars and job-shadowing opportunities with Hollywood producers, directors, editors and writers.
In addition, Teen Tech Center alumni will be able to join Banijay Americas’ feeder program for production assistants, with...
- 12/7/2022
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: The Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive has selected Corey Dashaun, Gabriela Revilla Lugo, John Lowe, Naiyah Ambros, Raymond Arturo Perez, and Tennessee Martin as the program’s finalists.
The second and final phase, which kicks off on October 3, will see the 6 writers develop, write and pitch a spec episode script for a current Starz series with the support of writers Danny Fernandez and Sahar Jahani as well as Starz executives Samantha Offsay-Nissen, Senior Vice President, Original Programming; Alex Alberts, Director, Original Programming; Giovanna Desselle, Director, Original Programming; and Tara Roy, Director, Original Programming.
The program will wrap on November 4th when participants will pitch their spec episode to the Starz programming team.
“We are elated with the success of this inaugural program and our partnership with Starz and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles as we celebrate the finalists in phase two of the Writer’s Intensive,“ said Karla Pita Loor, chair of Nalip’s Board of Directors.
The second and final phase, which kicks off on October 3, will see the 6 writers develop, write and pitch a spec episode script for a current Starz series with the support of writers Danny Fernandez and Sahar Jahani as well as Starz executives Samantha Offsay-Nissen, Senior Vice President, Original Programming; Alex Alberts, Director, Original Programming; Giovanna Desselle, Director, Original Programming; and Tara Roy, Director, Original Programming.
The program will wrap on November 4th when participants will pitch their spec episode to the Starz programming team.
“We are elated with the success of this inaugural program and our partnership with Starz and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles as we celebrate the finalists in phase two of the Writer’s Intensive,“ said Karla Pita Loor, chair of Nalip’s Board of Directors.
- 10/4/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Starz’s #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive has revealed the 10 participants selected from 500 applicants for phase one kicking off on August 22nd.
The finalists are Corey Dashuan, Gabby Revilla Lugo, Ida Yazdi, John Lowe, Jorge Thomson, Naiyah Ambros, Nzinga Kemp, Raymond Arturo Perez, and Tennessee Martin. The cohort includes writers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds and captures the kind of inclusivity that Starz celebrates in its programming, talent, and throughout its organization.
The program gives the finalists access to industry insiders including Starz executives Kathryn Busby, Kathryn Tyus-Adair, Giovanna Desselle, Sebastian Arboleda, and Jordan Lippetz; Jairo Alvarado and Tony Gil of Redefine Entertainment; Molly Breeskin of Gina Rodriguez’s I Can and I Will Productions; Gary Lennon, showrunner of Starz’s Power Book IV: Force, Kelly Goode at Warner Bros. Television; Lauren Jane Holland at Creative Artists Agency; Felicia Pride, writer and producer of Grey’s Anatomy. Serving as advisors,...
The finalists are Corey Dashuan, Gabby Revilla Lugo, Ida Yazdi, John Lowe, Jorge Thomson, Naiyah Ambros, Nzinga Kemp, Raymond Arturo Perez, and Tennessee Martin. The cohort includes writers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds and captures the kind of inclusivity that Starz celebrates in its programming, talent, and throughout its organization.
The program gives the finalists access to industry insiders including Starz executives Kathryn Busby, Kathryn Tyus-Adair, Giovanna Desselle, Sebastian Arboleda, and Jordan Lippetz; Jairo Alvarado and Tony Gil of Redefine Entertainment; Molly Breeskin of Gina Rodriguez’s I Can and I Will Productions; Gary Lennon, showrunner of Starz’s Power Book IV: Force, Kelly Goode at Warner Bros. Television; Lauren Jane Holland at Creative Artists Agency; Felicia Pride, writer and producer of Grey’s Anatomy. Serving as advisors,...
- 8/16/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
As part of Starz’s ongoing #TakeTheLead initiative to support inclusion behind the scenes as well as as onscreen, the network is launching a program to train scribes from historically excluded backgrounds in writing for premium cable.
The Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive is a first-time partnership with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Eligible participants must hail from a background that is traditionally underrepresented among television writers (which includes every race other than white). In order to ensure that participants are positioned to take maximum advantage of the program’s offerings, they must either have had at least one sole writing credit on a completed short or feature film that has been accepted into a film festival, or have a story department-related credit (such as writer’s assistant, staff writer, showrunner’s assistant, script coordinator) on a TV show.
As part of Starz’s ongoing #TakeTheLead initiative to support inclusion behind the scenes as well as as onscreen, the network is launching a program to train scribes from historically excluded backgrounds in writing for premium cable.
The Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive is a first-time partnership with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Eligible participants must hail from a background that is traditionally underrepresented among television writers (which includes every race other than white). In order to ensure that participants are positioned to take maximum advantage of the program’s offerings, they must either have had at least one sole writing credit on a completed short or feature film that has been accepted into a film festival, or have a story department-related credit (such as writer’s assistant, staff writer, showrunner’s assistant, script coordinator) on a TV show.
- 7/15/2022
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The National Association of Latino Independent Producers, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles and Starz have teamed up for a new initiative to support emerging writers from underrepresented communities.
Known as Take the Lead, the writer’s intensive is divided into two phases. The first will select 10 writers to receive mentorship by industry professionals, with the goal of helping them develop an episode treatment and pitch. Four writers will be selected by a jury to advance to the second stage, where they will write a full spec script with the support of executives and other industry professionals.
“Starz is thrilled to partner with Nalip and Nfmla, who proudly serve intersecting communities throughout all media,” said Kathryn Busby, Starz’s president of original programming. “It’s incredibly important to have underrepresented writers from all backgrounds tell their own stories and we are delighted to provide a great level of access through this new program.
Known as Take the Lead, the writer’s intensive is divided into two phases. The first will select 10 writers to receive mentorship by industry professionals, with the goal of helping them develop an episode treatment and pitch. Four writers will be selected by a jury to advance to the second stage, where they will write a full spec script with the support of executives and other industry professionals.
“Starz is thrilled to partner with Nalip and Nfmla, who proudly serve intersecting communities throughout all media,” said Kathryn Busby, Starz’s president of original programming. “It’s incredibly important to have underrepresented writers from all backgrounds tell their own stories and we are delighted to provide a great level of access through this new program.
- 7/15/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Back for a third year, the Latinx List has added some significant streamer sinew for 2022.
Netflix has now come on board with the scriptwriting initiative to offer WGA minimum script deals to two selected scribes. With five original feature films and five original pilot scripts to be chosen, the submission period for the 2022 Latinx List runs from now until September 2.
Successful candidates can expect to be notified soon after the submissions window closes. Scripts can be submitted here through blcklst.com.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Black List, Ulp, Nalip and Latin Tracking Board on this initiative,” says Pete Corona, Netflix’s Director of Drama Development. “Great storytellers are the archstone of great content and this further solidifies Netflix’s commitment to platforming inclusive stories from the U.S. Latinx community.”
“The Ulp is so thrilled to be partnering again with the Latin Tracking Board, Nalip,...
Netflix has now come on board with the scriptwriting initiative to offer WGA minimum script deals to two selected scribes. With five original feature films and five original pilot scripts to be chosen, the submission period for the 2022 Latinx List runs from now until September 2.
Successful candidates can expect to be notified soon after the submissions window closes. Scripts can be submitted here through blcklst.com.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Black List, Ulp, Nalip and Latin Tracking Board on this initiative,” says Pete Corona, Netflix’s Director of Drama Development. “Great storytellers are the archstone of great content and this further solidifies Netflix’s commitment to platforming inclusive stories from the U.S. Latinx community.”
“The Ulp is so thrilled to be partnering again with the Latin Tracking Board, Nalip,...
- 6/22/2022
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Cris Abrego’s rise to the top of the ranks of the unscripted television world is a tale of passion and perseverance. Born and raised in suburban El Monte, Calif., he is a second-generation Mexican American who fought hard to break into the entertainment industry 25 years ago. Now, as chairman of the Americas for Paris-based Banijay, and president and CEO of Endemol Shine Holdings, Abrego is one of the highest-ranking Latino executives in Hollywood.
“When I was younger, I couldn’t get a job in the industry,” Abrego says. “I had no connections, and even though we lived 24 miles from Hollywood, it was literally a different lifetime away. I very much felt like an outsider and it was extremely difficult for people like me to find their way in.”
His life changed when he joined the team at Bunim/Murray productions, which kick-started a new generation of reality television programming with “The Real World.
“When I was younger, I couldn’t get a job in the industry,” Abrego says. “I had no connections, and even though we lived 24 miles from Hollywood, it was literally a different lifetime away. I very much felt like an outsider and it was extremely difficult for people like me to find their way in.”
His life changed when he joined the team at Bunim/Murray productions, which kick-started a new generation of reality television programming with “The Real World.
- 6/15/2022
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
A+E Networks, Amazon Studios, Banijay Americas and Warner Bros. Discovery have all signed on to Coded For Inclusion, an initiative that aims to disrupt biased hiring systems in the industry by providing their productions access to the leading industry hiring platform, Staff Me Up.
The effort, launched last year to address diversity shortcomings in Hollywood, is endorsed by Color Of Change and led by organizations including Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society Fellowship, Hue You Know, AMC Networks and Endeavor Content.
The idea of the initiative is to remove barriers to entry for job seekers from historically excluded groups, including Bipoc, Women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and active military/veterans, to ensure studios and production houses have a direct pipeline to candidates. The additional partnerships with A+E Networks, Amazon Studios, Banijay Americas and Warner Bros Discovery will support further expansion into scripted production.
“We’re thrilled to welcome A+E Networks,...
The effort, launched last year to address diversity shortcomings in Hollywood, is endorsed by Color Of Change and led by organizations including Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society Fellowship, Hue You Know, AMC Networks and Endeavor Content.
The idea of the initiative is to remove barriers to entry for job seekers from historically excluded groups, including Bipoc, Women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and active military/veterans, to ensure studios and production houses have a direct pipeline to candidates. The additional partnerships with A+E Networks, Amazon Studios, Banijay Americas and Warner Bros Discovery will support further expansion into scripted production.
“We’re thrilled to welcome A+E Networks,...
- 5/26/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Major entertainment companies Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. Discover, A+E Networks and Banijay Americas have signed on to join Coded for Inclusion, an initiative that aims to combat discriminatory hiring systems in the industry through its Staff Me Up platform.
Coded for Inclusion was launched last year, as a collaboration between several organizations including Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society Fellowship, Hue You Know, AMC Networks and Endeavor Content. The program provides productions access to Staff Me Up, a hiring program that uses Dei tools developed from research by social and racial justice groups Hue You Know and Color of Change, and encourages executives to hire outside of their organizations.
“We believe that every role on a set contributes to the product and it is why we are committed to diversifying the people powering our content behind the scenes in order to be the most representative of the audience,” Samata Narra,...
Coded for Inclusion was launched last year, as a collaboration between several organizations including Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society Fellowship, Hue You Know, AMC Networks and Endeavor Content. The program provides productions access to Staff Me Up, a hiring program that uses Dei tools developed from research by social and racial justice groups Hue You Know and Color of Change, and encourages executives to hire outside of their organizations.
“We believe that every role on a set contributes to the product and it is why we are committed to diversifying the people powering our content behind the scenes in order to be the most representative of the audience,” Samata Narra,...
- 5/26/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.