MTV Announces Debut Slate Of Original Short Form Greenlights & Development Deals From Recently Created Short Form Programming Team
MTV Also Launches "The Stew" Channel On Mtv.Com Where Short Form Clips & Content Will Reign
New York, NY (September 26, 2006) - Following the successful development and launch of experimental short form creative including "Videos By Andrew" on Overdrive, "Sway�s Hip Hop Owner�s Manual" on MTV Mobile, and a heritage of SHARTS (Short Art Pieces) on MTV2, MTV today announces its first ever original short form development slate, and a myriad of new short form greenlights. Building on the overwhelming success of broadband network MTV Overdrive, and the hunger of MTV�s audience for compelling short form content, MTV�s new short form projects span reality, animation, comedy, drama and more.
MTV also revealed the launch of "The Stew" channel on MTV.com/Overdrive - a new broadband feed featuring a diverse, engaging and often outrageous compilation of short form programming. Inspired by MTV�s infamous Sunday Stew programming block, "The Stew" channel on MTV.com/Overdrive will give viewers instant, on-demand access to experience a wide catalog of off the wall and hilarious short form programs. With original short form content, along with archived MTV footage, and much more, "The Stew" channel is the first of several new MTV broadband channels to launch in the upcoming months, and will join current MTV.com/Overdrive channels that include music, news, gaming and more.
"MTV is in the content creation business, and in particular, celebrates a long history of creating buzzworthy short form content, dating back to our infamous spots featuring Dennis Leary and Jimmy The Cab Driver," said Brian Graden, President of Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group and President Logo. "In that tradition, earlier this year we created dedicated short form development teams, and began partnering with the creative community - filmmakers, producers, artists, and most certainly users and viewers - to assemble a diverse slate of exciting concepts, the first of which debut with today�s announcement."
With the same tone and sensibility as the Stew programming that has appeared on-air, "The Stew" channel will showcase clips, two to three minutes in length on average, of original short form content from MTV�s greenlight line-up, along with curated user generated content, and on-air Stew favorites like "Jackass," "Andy Milonakis," "Stankervision" and others. The channel will also feature some of the most talked about moments from MTV�s rich history including Kurt Loder�s impromptu VMA interview with Madonna and Courtney Love, Dennis Leary�s infamous Cindy Crawford rant, Vanilla Ice�s spontaneous destruction of an MTV set, and much more. Viewers are invited to experience "The Stew" channel firsthand by visiting stew.mtv.com.
As part of the launch, Amp'd Mobile has partnered with MTV to present "The Stew" channel and bring it to audiences on the go. Throughout the rest of the year, Amp�d Mobile users will have the exclusive wireless access to some of "The Stew" channel�s most enticing clips, and will be the only wireless partner to premiere new "Stew" content alongside MTV.com/Overdrive. MTV will also produce the "Amp�d Weekly Fix" for Amp�d Mobile users and fans on MTV.com/Overdrive, highlighting the very best of the best of the "Stew" line-up for the week. In addition, on MTV and MTV2, Amp�d Mobile will present a new weekly short form segment featuring some of the most entertaining and recent additions to "The Stew" channel line-up. Finally, Amp�d Mobile and MTV will give fans the unique opportunity to produce their very own short to premiere on Amp�d Mobile and ultimately "The Stew." With the help of Amp�d Mobile producers and facilities, one lucky individual will be able to showcase their creation to the world. To enter, fans are invited to visit stew.mtv.com and describe their experience, ability, and ultimately why they should get the chance to create their idea.
MTV�s short form content will feed a number of platforms - from the award winning broadband network, MTV Overdrive, to wireless devices, stand alone content channels like "The Stew," and much more. Today�s announcement follows MTV�s forward-looking restructure of its content group earlier this year, dedicating separate teams to both linear television, as well as short form content. Drawing on a diverse mix of production talent that includes up-and-coming talent and established professionals, the following are MTV�s greenlit short form projects:
VIDEOS BY ANDREW - After a popular debut, dive back into the mind of New Jersey college student Andrew Mathas as he creates his own music videos to popular music, such as Fall Out Boy�s "Sugar, We�re Going Down" and "St. Jimmy" by Green Day. With an all new set of episodes, Andrew puts his own take on each song�s lyrics with his unique sense of humor, and ultimately, puts a homemade twist on the art of music video.
MY TUNES - The creative relationship between artist and fan has never been stronger, and "My Tunes" takes that collaborative spirit one step further. In this series of shorts created by MTV Production, a notable band selects a theme for a song they have not yet written, and through MTV.com and the band�s web site, we ask fans to send their own personal photographs that fit that theme. The band then uses the photos as inspiration to write a new, exclusive song and produces a music video with those same fan photos. The result is "My Tunes."
CHLOE -- A live action, short form, teen driven soap, "Chloe" follows the life of an adorably likeable teen girl and her circle of friends thru the trials and tribulations of their very dramatic, every day lives. However, someone has a secret that is about to change everything. "Chloe" is created by Terry McCluskey.
HELLO, MY NAME IS� -- Ever wonder how artists like Gnarls Barkley, Busta Rhymes, or All American Rejects got their names? In this animated short, the band or artist tells the story and we provide the visuals. Created by Fractured Hip Productions.
PAUL BOOTH�S TATTOO THEATER - Starring one of the world�s greatest tattoo artists, this documentary series follows Paul Booth and his New York-based shop "Last Rites" known for their creepy, gothic, custom tattoos. In the series, we meet Booth�s clients and hear their stories while Booth creates their amazing body art.
MAGICAL REALM - In a world of mystery and mystic, "Magical Realm" features a series of fractured fairy tales for the...ahem...more mature Stew Channel audience. Created by Richard Mather.
MTV SMASHED - Giving an unexpected and entirely new spin on MTV favorites, this short form comedy series re-cuts footage from MTV shows and series so that it�s presented in an entirely different vein than how it was intended. In the premiere episode, hit series Laguna Beach finds new life as a horror movie trailer. Created by MTV Production.
Aside from today�s greenlight announcement, MTV also revealed a slate of short form projects in development. Working with a variety of creative sources, the following are short form projects currently in development:
ONE MINUTE MASTER -- Created and hosted by Antony Langdon (Arckid, Spacehog), "One Minute Master" features artists showcasing their unconventional, interesting, and perhaps peculiar life skills in one to two minute segments.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PRETTY TONEY - Dive into the life of Ghostface Killah's alter ego, Pretty Toney, who is famous for his unique insight into everyday life.
JUST US SQUAD -- An animated epic comic book style expose of the music industry, "Just Us Squad" features a league of hip-hop rapping superheroes that fight injustice. Created by MTV staffer Jahai Brightly.
IF - Topical, irreverent and funny, reality and imagination collide in this series of animated sketches. Current events and pop culture play out in an alternate universe where mayhem reigns and anything can happen. "If" is produced by Granada America.
GAMER'S CHRONICLES - In this original short form series created by MTV, follow a group of New York City videogamers who have banded together to overcome personal struggles through the unifying power of gaming.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world�s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
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