Cookie Jar Teams With Universal Music Canada For “Mudpit”
On the heels of a successful MIP TV 2011, Cookie Jar Entertainment CEO Michael Hirsh and Universal Music Canada (UMC) President and CEO Randy Lennox, jointly announce their partnership for the exclusive distribution audio and visual product from Mudpit. The highly anticipated Cookie Jar blended CGI animation/live action series Mudpit is set to premiere on TELETOON Canada’s English and French services, this fall/winter season.
This is a partnership to exploit the home entertainment and incredible all-original music which are front and center within every episode of Mudpit. The recently wrapped production is one of the core properties Cookie Jar unveiled this April at MIP TV 2011 in Cannes, France.
Randy Lennox comments “Cookie Jar is setting a new standard and we are thrilled to see such a talented roster of musicians contributing to a TV series. The full spectrum of rock and pop music is represented and the cumulative experience of the team they’ve assembled is truly impressive.”
Michael Hirsh added: “We have partnered with Universal Music Canada because they got the concept of the series right from the beginning. We look forward to UMC applying their track record of success bringing music properties to life, to our series.”
Mudpit is a new state-of-the-art blended CGI animation/live action TV series about four high school friends who form a band and enter an on-line performance-battle competition. Sure to appeal to kids and teens alike, the show tracks the highs and lows of the challenges the attractive, talented group navigates in real life while climbing their way to the top in the intensely vibrant, virtual game world of Muzika.
Featuring fantastic, ready-to-chart tracks, Mudpit will release albums through Universal Music Canada. Viewers will enjoy hip musical productions developed by industry veterans Andrea Wasse, Patrick Pentland and Greig Nori. Nori, former Treblecharger front man, has worked with everyone from Iggy Pop to Ludacris. Considered a music industry guru, Greig was duly instrumental to the massive success of Sum 41 as Co-Manager, Co-Writer and Producer.
Wasse is a strong writer whose work has featured in many films and TV projects including Instant Star and Margaret Cho’s VH1 show. Her songs have also been released by Fefe Dobson and Canadian Idols Kalan Porter and Brian Melo. As founding member of the band Sloan, Pentland is a true Canadian rock vet. In addition to writing, producing and performing for Sloan, Patrick has worked with many others including writing music for the children’s show Role Play.
Superstar Deryck Whibley, guitarist, lead vocalist, songwriter and producer of the Juno Award-winning rock band Sum 41 jumps in the mix, co-writing the title song ‘Mudpit’.
Overseeing all music production for the TV series are Last Gang Entertainment executives, Chris Taylor (Metric, Crystal Castles, DFA79) and Mark DiPietro (Peaches, Down with Webster).
The talented ‘cherry picked’ Mudpit cast members come from across Canada and bring extensive international TV series experience with them. Mudpit lead Liam/Lamb is played by Jesse Rath. Jesse`s recurring role on CBC’s 18 To Life recently earned him a Gemini Award for Best Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series. Carleigh Beverly in the role of Geneva/G has appeared in Connor Undercover. Adding to the high caliber of this talented cast is Vas Saranga as Reese/Dodge. He is most well known for his recurring role on Disney XD’s Aaron Stone as Vas. Rounding out the Canadian cast is Daniel Magder as Mikey/Booch, best known as Edwin from Life with Derek.