Exclusive: Earlier this morning, Amazon revealed that it was laying off several hundred employees across Prime Video and Amazon Studios as part of a review of its business.
Details have emerged about the cuts, which were described by one source close to the company as a “bloodbath”. Senior execs let go include Nancy Cotton, Arturo Interian, Marcy Kaplan, Chris Castallo and Uri Fleming across different divisions.
Most of the exits are a result of the integration of Lindsay Sloane’s MGM Scripted Television team alongside MGM+ and the Barry Poznick-led MGM Alternative TV under Chris Brearton, VP, Corporate Strategy, Prime Video and Studios. Sloane and Poznick’s teams will continue to work closely with the studios teams in developing for Prime Video and also will continue to produce for outside networks and streamers.
Also impacted by layoffs in a consolidation move are multiple other Amazon MGM Studios teams, including Studio Marketing,...
Details have emerged about the cuts, which were described by one source close to the company as a “bloodbath”. Senior execs let go include Nancy Cotton, Arturo Interian, Marcy Kaplan, Chris Castallo and Uri Fleming across different divisions.
Most of the exits are a result of the integration of Lindsay Sloane’s MGM Scripted Television team alongside MGM+ and the Barry Poznick-led MGM Alternative TV under Chris Brearton, VP, Corporate Strategy, Prime Video and Studios. Sloane and Poznick’s teams will continue to work closely with the studios teams in developing for Prime Video and also will continue to produce for outside networks and streamers.
Also impacted by layoffs in a consolidation move are multiple other Amazon MGM Studios teams, including Studio Marketing,...
- 1/10/2024
- by Peter White and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: There’s more movement in Amazon’s programming team with unscripted exec Chris Castallo moving to the streamer’s scripted division.
Castallo joined the company in 2018 as Head of Unscripted Television for Amazon Studios, focused on non-scripted series for Amazon Prime Video. However, a restructure last year, saw him oversee alternative programming across both Prime Video and its free streaming service Freevee, reporting to Lauren Anderson, Head of AVOD Originals, Unscripted, and Targeted Programming for Amazon Studios.
He will now move into the scripted team. No immediate word on whether he will be directly replaced in the unscripted team.
Anderson, whose team has had a breakout hit with James Marsden prank improv comedy Jury Duty, will continue to oversee unscripted. Her team also includes senior unscripted creative executive Jenny Falkoff.
Castallo was responsible for series such as Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, which won the Emmy...
Castallo joined the company in 2018 as Head of Unscripted Television for Amazon Studios, focused on non-scripted series for Amazon Prime Video. However, a restructure last year, saw him oversee alternative programming across both Prime Video and its free streaming service Freevee, reporting to Lauren Anderson, Head of AVOD Originals, Unscripted, and Targeted Programming for Amazon Studios.
He will now move into the scripted team. No immediate word on whether he will be directly replaced in the unscripted team.
Anderson, whose team has had a breakout hit with James Marsden prank improv comedy Jury Duty, will continue to oversee unscripted. Her team also includes senior unscripted creative executive Jenny Falkoff.
Castallo was responsible for series such as Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, which won the Emmy...
- 5/4/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been a busy week at Amazon as the restructure involving MGM takes hold.
Deadline revealed earlier today that Lindsay Sloane and Rola Bauer were handed key roles within MGM’s new scripted TV structure.
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The company is also known for producing a swathe of unscripted series including The Voice, Survivor and Shark Tank as well as reality shows such as The Real Housewives of Orange County and Beverly Hills.
Deadline understands Barry Poznick, who is President of MGM Unscripted Television and Orion Television, and was one of outgoing chief Mark Burnett’s key lieutenants,...
Deadline revealed earlier today that Lindsay Sloane and Rola Bauer were handed key roles within MGM’s new scripted TV structure.
Related Story Amazon Studios Restructures MGM TV Scripted Operations: Leadership Roles For Lindsay Sloane & Rola Bauer, Bradley Gardner Exits As Orion TV Folds Related Story Ryan Eggold & Isaiah Mustafa Board Amazon's Alex Cross Series Related Story Scarlett Johansson To Headline & EP 'Just Cause' In TV Debut; Amazon Orders Limited Series Penned By Christy Hall
The company is also known for producing a swathe of unscripted series including The Voice, Survivor and Shark Tank as well as reality shows such as The Real Housewives of Orange County and Beverly Hills.
Deadline understands Barry Poznick, who is President of MGM Unscripted Television and Orion Television, and was one of outgoing chief Mark Burnett’s key lieutenants,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios is merging its Prime Video and Freevee unscripted teams under the oversight of reality TV vet Chris Castallo. Having previously focused on Prime Video fare, Castallo will now oversee unscripted for both outlets and report to Lauren Anderson, who was recently named head of AVOD original content and programming at Amazon Studios.
The move comes following a restructure inside Amazon’s ad-supported video on demand service. Earlier this month, Ryan Pirozzi was named head of Freevee, overseeing the business side of the streaming service, while Anderson was given oversight for programming, which includes development, production, licensing, scheduling, research and strategy for Freevee and Prime Video’s ad-supported Fast linear channels. Anderson and Pirozzi had formerly served as co-heads of content and programming for Amazon Freevee (the ad-supported video on demand service that had been known as IMDb TV).
Castallo previously reported to Marc Resteghini, the US/Global Head of Development at Amazon Studios.
The move comes following a restructure inside Amazon’s ad-supported video on demand service. Earlier this month, Ryan Pirozzi was named head of Freevee, overseeing the business side of the streaming service, while Anderson was given oversight for programming, which includes development, production, licensing, scheduling, research and strategy for Freevee and Prime Video’s ad-supported Fast linear channels. Anderson and Pirozzi had formerly served as co-heads of content and programming for Amazon Freevee (the ad-supported video on demand service that had been known as IMDb TV).
Castallo previously reported to Marc Resteghini, the US/Global Head of Development at Amazon Studios.
- 8/23/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Studios Reorg: Albert Cheng Becomes Full-Time COO, Vernon Sanders Now Solo Head Of Television
Exclusive: Amazon Studios’ longtime Chief Operating Officer Albert Cheng, who also has served as Co-Head of Television for the last three and a half years, will focus solely on his duties as COO going forward, with Co-Head of Television Vernon Sanders becoming Head of US/Global Television at Amazon Studios. The announcement was made this morning by Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, in a companywide memo obtained by Deadline.
In the note Salke, stressing Amazon Studios’ commitment to being “inclusive home for talent”, revealed that the company’s content in 2022 is targeted to grow more than 70% year over year, with more than twice as many local Originals in 2022 vs 2021, and spoke of Amazon Studios’ planned expansion into new countries in Europe, Africa and South East Asia.
“With our next phase of growth ahead, it’s time for us to have a dedicated Chief Operating Officer, focusing completely on all...
In the note Salke, stressing Amazon Studios’ commitment to being “inclusive home for talent”, revealed that the company’s content in 2022 is targeted to grow more than 70% year over year, with more than twice as many local Originals in 2022 vs 2021, and spoke of Amazon Studios’ planned expansion into new countries in Europe, Africa and South East Asia.
“With our next phase of growth ahead, it’s time for us to have a dedicated Chief Operating Officer, focusing completely on all...
- 10/11/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Much of the coverage of Amazon’s $8.45 billion deal to acquire MGM has focused on the company’s film attributes and the impact on theatrical distribution.
The executive shuffle on the film side, featuring the likes of Michael De Luca, will get a lot of headlines, as will the importance of owning IP and a film library that can feed Amazon’s hungry video services. But the Lion’s television business has been one of its most profitable divisions in recent years and the mega-deal will certainly put a new focus on this unit.
There will be inevitable attention paid to which classic MGM film properties Amazon Prime Video and its sister streamer IMDb TV can reboot, but the deal could also have a major boost on the streamer’s unscripted fortunes. Then there are question marks over the future of Epix and of MGM Television as a stand-alone entity.
The executive shuffle on the film side, featuring the likes of Michael De Luca, will get a lot of headlines, as will the importance of owning IP and a film library that can feed Amazon’s hungry video services. But the Lion’s television business has been one of its most profitable divisions in recent years and the mega-deal will certainly put a new focus on this unit.
There will be inevitable attention paid to which classic MGM film properties Amazon Prime Video and its sister streamer IMDb TV can reboot, but the deal could also have a major boost on the streamer’s unscripted fortunes. Then there are question marks over the future of Epix and of MGM Television as a stand-alone entity.
- 5/26/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios has restructured its television development team under studio chief Jennifer Salke.
Amazon is reforming its TV development to focus on three areas: development, series and IP/talent management.
Marc Resteghini, who led drama development, will now be in charge of all series development globally, adding comedy, genre, animation and unscripted under his purview. Laura Lancaster has also joined the studio from Alcon and will serve as head of series; she’ll be in charge of guiding returning series through their life cycle. Kara Smith will take over Resteghini’s old role as head of drama. Resteghini and Lancaster will both report to Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, Amazon’s co-heads of television.
Over the next several weeks, we will be expanding its IP and talent management team. A search is under way for a senior executive who will work with the studio’s current leaders to scale and...
Amazon is reforming its TV development to focus on three areas: development, series and IP/talent management.
Marc Resteghini, who led drama development, will now be in charge of all series development globally, adding comedy, genre, animation and unscripted under his purview. Laura Lancaster has also joined the studio from Alcon and will serve as head of series; she’ll be in charge of guiding returning series through their life cycle. Kara Smith will take over Resteghini’s old role as head of drama. Resteghini and Lancaster will both report to Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, Amazon’s co-heads of television.
Over the next several weeks, we will be expanding its IP and talent management team. A search is under way for a senior executive who will work with the studio’s current leaders to scale and...
- 2/10/2021
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Amazon Studios is expanding and restructuring its executive leadership team, bringing on board Laura Lancaster as head of series and upping Marc Resteghini to head of development in both the U.S. and globally. They will report to co-heads of television Vernon Sanders and Albert Cheng.
The move comes as the studio organizes its leadership team to focus on three areas: development, series, and IP and talent management. Resteghini, most recently head of drama, will now oversee those leading the studio’s drama, genre, comedy, animation and unscripted projects from concept through end of Season 1.
As part of those changes, Kara Smith has been named head of drama development, while Ryan Andolina will expand his duties as head of comedy, with Melissa Wolfe reporting to him as head of animation. Head of genre development Jon Wax and head of unscripted Chris Castallo will continue in their roles, reporting to Marc.
The move comes as the studio organizes its leadership team to focus on three areas: development, series, and IP and talent management. Resteghini, most recently head of drama, will now oversee those leading the studio’s drama, genre, comedy, animation and unscripted projects from concept through end of Season 1.
As part of those changes, Kara Smith has been named head of drama development, while Ryan Andolina will expand his duties as head of comedy, with Melissa Wolfe reporting to him as head of animation. Head of genre development Jon Wax and head of unscripted Chris Castallo will continue in their roles, reporting to Marc.
- 2/10/2021
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
As the volume of Amazon Studios’ TV development, current series and overall deals increases, the company has moved in to restructure and streamline its programming operations.
Head of Drama Marc Resteghini has been elevated to US/Global Head of Development. Former NBC head of drama Laura Lancaster, most recently Alcon Television Group President, will join the company on March 1 as Head of Series, leading a department that will oversee the streamer’s returning shows through their life cycle. They will be among three direct reports to Amazon Studios co-heads of TV Vernon Sanders and Albert Cheng (who also is COO). The third, head of IP & Talent Management, overseeing big franchise properties and overall deals, will be named later; executive search is currently underway for the position.
Under the previous structure, all programming departments, which handled development and current for Prime Video and IMDb TV, reported to Sanders and Cheng.
Now,...
Head of Drama Marc Resteghini has been elevated to US/Global Head of Development. Former NBC head of drama Laura Lancaster, most recently Alcon Television Group President, will join the company on March 1 as Head of Series, leading a department that will oversee the streamer’s returning shows through their life cycle. They will be among three direct reports to Amazon Studios co-heads of TV Vernon Sanders and Albert Cheng (who also is COO). The third, head of IP & Talent Management, overseeing big franchise properties and overall deals, will be named later; executive search is currently underway for the position.
Under the previous structure, all programming departments, which handled development and current for Prime Video and IMDb TV, reported to Sanders and Cheng.
Now,...
- 2/10/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The Pack is packing it in.
Amazon’s adventure-series-with-dogs has been cancelled after one season, TVLine has confirmed.
More from TVLineThe Lord of the Rings: Amazon Hints at [Spoiler]'s Dark Role in Prequel SeriesThe Wilds Renewed for Season 2Amazon's The Wilds: Grade It!
The reality program followed a dozen dogs and their owners as they went on an Amazing Race-like, international adventure. The winning human-canine pair took home $500,000 and a $250,000 donation to the animal charity of their chocie. Olympic gold-medal skier Lindsey Vonn hosted alongside her Cavalier King Charles pup, Lucy.
The Wrap first reported The Pack‘s cancellation.
Amazon’s adventure-series-with-dogs has been cancelled after one season, TVLine has confirmed.
More from TVLineThe Lord of the Rings: Amazon Hints at [Spoiler]'s Dark Role in Prequel SeriesThe Wilds Renewed for Season 2Amazon's The Wilds: Grade It!
The reality program followed a dozen dogs and their owners as they went on an Amazing Race-like, international adventure. The winning human-canine pair took home $500,000 and a $250,000 donation to the animal charity of their chocie. Olympic gold-medal skier Lindsey Vonn hosted alongside her Cavalier King Charles pup, Lucy.
The Wrap first reported The Pack‘s cancellation.
- 1/14/2021
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
Amazon Prime Video has canceled humans-and-their-dogs competition “The Pack” after just one season, TheWrap has learned. The “Amazing Race”-style series was hosted by Olympian Lindsey Vonn (and her dog).
Last month, TheWrap obtained and published editing room-floor footage of dogs being put into seemingly dangerous situations. PETA condemned the footage in a statement to TheWrap.
“Video footage of a dog dangling in midair from someone’s harness and paddling in a futile effort to gain his footing before getting swung into a rock face shows exactly where producers’ priorities lay for ‘The Pack,'” PETA wrote to us. “It seems that this clip ended up on the cutting room floor because producers knew that the dog was not enthusiastic and happy, but distressed. This senior dog should be curled up on a sofa, not thrown into one dangerous situation after another for the sake of ratings. No dog would...
Last month, TheWrap obtained and published editing room-floor footage of dogs being put into seemingly dangerous situations. PETA condemned the footage in a statement to TheWrap.
“Video footage of a dog dangling in midair from someone’s harness and paddling in a futile effort to gain his footing before getting swung into a rock face shows exactly where producers’ priorities lay for ‘The Pack,'” PETA wrote to us. “It seems that this clip ended up on the cutting room floor because producers knew that the dog was not enthusiastic and happy, but distressed. This senior dog should be curled up on a sofa, not thrown into one dangerous situation after another for the sake of ratings. No dog would...
- 1/13/2021
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Joseph Baxter Feb 28, 2019
The classic Critters horror film franchise is returning in the form of a TV series that’s set for streaming service Shudder.
Critters may be but one of several campy horror franchises from the 1980s to – akin to the soon-to-be-animated Gremlins – feature diminutive multiplying mini-monsters, but the imagery of its eponymous alien invaders – resembling demonic bipedal versions of Star Trek Tribbles with shark teeth and T-Rex arms – make them especially memorable, even if the poster image of the toilet monster from Ghoulies was more memorable in its ability to make tense experiences out of nature’s call for a generation. Regardless, Critters is getting a long-overdue return.
AMC Networks’ horror-centric Shudder streaming service will be the platform for a revival television series bearing the meta-minded title, Critters: A New Binge. Moreover, the series is arriving a lot sooner than you might have thought, since the announcement reveals...
The classic Critters horror film franchise is returning in the form of a TV series that’s set for streaming service Shudder.
Critters may be but one of several campy horror franchises from the 1980s to – akin to the soon-to-be-animated Gremlins – feature diminutive multiplying mini-monsters, but the imagery of its eponymous alien invaders – resembling demonic bipedal versions of Star Trek Tribbles with shark teeth and T-Rex arms – make them especially memorable, even if the poster image of the toilet monster from Ghoulies was more memorable in its ability to make tense experiences out of nature’s call for a generation. Regardless, Critters is getting a long-overdue return.
AMC Networks’ horror-centric Shudder streaming service will be the platform for a revival television series bearing the meta-minded title, Critters: A New Binge. Moreover, the series is arriving a lot sooner than you might have thought, since the announcement reveals...
- 2/28/2019
- Den of Geek
Amazon Studios has tapped Chris Castallo as head of unscripted television.
Castallo replaces Heather Schuster, who left Amazon in August, after less than a year on the job.
In his new role, he will spearhead development of unscripted as the company eyes formats with global appeal. Castallo will be heavily involved in Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge” and the upcoming fashion series with Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. Castallo will report directly to Amazon TV co-heads Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders.
Also Read: Amazon Studios Names James Farrell Head of International Originals
Castallo was most recently head of development at Verizon’s mobile platform, Go90, until it was shut down in July. He was also a former head of alternative for CBS, where he oversaw reality series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Undercover Boss” and “Big Brother” during his 10-year tenure. He was named executive VP of alternative programming in 2013 after previously serving as senior VP.
Castallo replaces Heather Schuster, who left Amazon in August, after less than a year on the job.
In his new role, he will spearhead development of unscripted as the company eyes formats with global appeal. Castallo will be heavily involved in Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge” and the upcoming fashion series with Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. Castallo will report directly to Amazon TV co-heads Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders.
Also Read: Amazon Studios Names James Farrell Head of International Originals
Castallo was most recently head of development at Verizon’s mobile platform, Go90, until it was shut down in July. He was also a former head of alternative for CBS, where he oversaw reality series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Undercover Boss” and “Big Brother” during his 10-year tenure. He was named executive VP of alternative programming in 2013 after previously serving as senior VP.
- 10/22/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Amazon Studios has tapped industry veteran Chris Castallo to serve as head of unscripted television.
Castallo, formerly a programming exec at CBS and NBC, replaces Heather Schuster, who was forced out in August amid an investigation into allegations that she was verbally abusive in the workplace.
Castallo will spearhead unscripted development for Amazon. He will be tasked with shepherding two big projects in the works for Amazon: the revival of Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge” with Bear Grylls as host, and the fashion-centric series to be toplined by “Project Runway” alums Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. He reports to Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, Amazon Studios’ co-heads of television.
Castallo comes to Amazon Studios after working at Verizon’s now-shuttered go90 content platform, which he joined in August 2017. Before that he spent 10 years at CBS, rising to exec VP and head of unscripted programming where he steered “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,...
Castallo, formerly a programming exec at CBS and NBC, replaces Heather Schuster, who was forced out in August amid an investigation into allegations that she was verbally abusive in the workplace.
Castallo will spearhead unscripted development for Amazon. He will be tasked with shepherding two big projects in the works for Amazon: the revival of Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge” with Bear Grylls as host, and the fashion-centric series to be toplined by “Project Runway” alums Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. He reports to Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, Amazon Studios’ co-heads of television.
Castallo comes to Amazon Studios after working at Verizon’s now-shuttered go90 content platform, which he joined in August 2017. Before that he spent 10 years at CBS, rising to exec VP and head of unscripted programming where he steered “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,...
- 10/22/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
After an extensive executive search that came down to a couple of high-profile candidates, former CBS head of alternative programming Chris Castallo has been named Head of Unscripted Television for Amazon Studios. He will oversee unscripted TV development, reporting to Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders, Co-Heads of Television, Amazon Studios.
Castallo will fill the void left by the August ouster of former unscripted head Heather Schuster following an internal investigation.
Amazon Studios had limited presence in the unscripted space until the recent regime change at the company; its most recognizable title in the arena was The Grand Tour. Since Jennifer Salke took over as head of Amazon Studios, the company has made two high-profile deals in the alternative genre, picking up the Eco-Challenge reboot from Mark Burnett with host Bear Grylls and signing Project Runway stars Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn for a new fashion reality series. Castallo will be...
Castallo will fill the void left by the August ouster of former unscripted head Heather Schuster following an internal investigation.
Amazon Studios had limited presence in the unscripted space until the recent regime change at the company; its most recognizable title in the arena was The Grand Tour. Since Jennifer Salke took over as head of Amazon Studios, the company has made two high-profile deals in the alternative genre, picking up the Eco-Challenge reboot from Mark Burnett with host Bear Grylls and signing Project Runway stars Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn for a new fashion reality series. Castallo will be...
- 10/22/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios has found its new head of unscripted.
Chris Castallo has replaced Heather Schuster at the streamer, the company announced Monday. Castallo most recently was head of development at Verizon's mobile platform Go90, and before that, headed unscripted programming for CBS. The veteran alternative executive had been with Go90 until it was shut down in June, and was with CBS for a decade and had run the division since 2013 before announcing his exit in March 2017. (Sharon Vuong replaced Castallo at CBS.)
In his new role as head of unscripted TV at Amazon, he will spearhead development of unscripted ...
Chris Castallo has replaced Heather Schuster at the streamer, the company announced Monday. Castallo most recently was head of development at Verizon's mobile platform Go90, and before that, headed unscripted programming for CBS. The veteran alternative executive had been with Go90 until it was shut down in June, and was with CBS for a decade and had run the division since 2013 before announcing his exit in March 2017. (Sharon Vuong replaced Castallo at CBS.)
In his new role as head of unscripted TV at Amazon, he will spearhead development of unscripted ...
- 10/22/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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