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HappyNest has closed an equity investment into GoKidGo, an audio company geared towards making content for kids. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The pact gives HappyNest proprietary development rights to adapt short-form and long-form animated series from GoKidGo original characters, including a new original R.L. Stine franchise.

HappyNest is a production company that focuses on kids and family animated projects. It was launched in 2021 as a joint venture between Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures and UTA. Silverman is a media veteran who previously oversaw production at Warner Bros.

GoKidGo was founded by bestselling children’s author Patrick Carman, entrepreneur Jennifer Clary, and film and television executive and producer Maia Glikman. GoKidGo’s narrative podcasts are freely accessed. The company has released almost 1,000 episodes to date, and is exceeding 500,000 listens per month as of March 2022. Stine is the mega-selling author of more than 300 books, including the popular “Goosebumps” franchise.

Emmy-winning father-daughter duo Ron and Jasmine Cephas Jones will team up to announce the Emmy nominations on July 13. The virtual event will live stream on Emmys.com at 8:30 a.m. Pt.

“It has been an extraordinary year in which television brought multigenerational families together in a shared love of their favorite programs,” said Television Academy Chairman and CEO Frank Scherma, who will join them at the nomination announcements for the 73rd Emmy Awards. “So it seems fitting that these two accomplished performers announce this year’s Emmy nominees as we acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional programs and talent that are elevating and redefining television.”

Last year, the Cephas Jones made history as the first father-daughter duo to win performance Emmy Awards in the same year. Ron won for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for his role as William Hill on NBC’s “This Is Us.” Jasmine, whose series “Blindspotting” recently premiered on Starz,...

Sarah Wayne Callies is leading the charge on a new scripted podcast series that also stars David Harbour and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Callies has written, directed and will star in post-apocalyptic series Aftershock, which she first teased last summer at the virtual TCA press tour.

The Walking Dead star co-created the series with her Nomadic Engine partners, Patrick Carman and Ben Haber. The series, which will launch on July 14 via iHeartMedia, is co-produced by Salmira Productions.

Aftershock takes place in the wake of the largest earthquake in US history. Los Angeles lies in ruins, hundreds of thousands of people are dead or unaccounted for, and a mysterious island has risen up in the quake just off the coast of the city. Cassie Wallace (Callies) and Wayne Sharpe (Harbour) embark on the dangerous journey to the island to save her daughter who is stranded there – but they are not alone. Doomsday preppers,...

Bold Films is stepping into the Ya ring with the acquisition of Patrick Carman's 2010 novel 13 Days To Midnight. Combining themes of super powers, ancient conspiracies and growing into adulthood, the story is a dark morality tale centered on Jacob Fielding, a teenager who receives incredible power when his foster father whispers to him "you are indestructible." That power however comes with a dark history that Jacob must discover to keep himself and his friends…...

Disney is pretty stacked when it comes to established franchises. The studio has Star Wars, Marvel Studios, Pirates of the Caribbean, Frozen, Cars, and a bunch of others. That’s their bread and butter. But they’re always looking for the next one and may have just found it. Disney has acquired the rights to Patrick Carman‘s children’s […]

The post Disney Acquires New Franchise ‘Floors;’ ‘Willy Wonka’ Set in a Hotel appeared first on /Film.

Disney loves a good franchise and has a pretty good sense when it comes to finding the next one to work. They might have found it with Patrick Carman.s children.s book series, .Floors.. I don.t know how it will stand next to Marvel Studios, Pirate Of The Caribbean and Frozen but it sounds pretty fun to me. Jason Filardi (17 Again, Bringing Down The House) pitched the series to Disney and will write the script. Understandably I had never heard of the series, but its official description leads...

You know Charlie Bucket and his adventures in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Now Disney wants you to meet Leo Fillmore and step into his wild Whippet Hotel, which contains caves, ponds, ghosts, and even a flying farm room. Deadline reports Walt Disney Pictures has purchased the rights to the Patrick Carman children's book series Floors. The books' author has been brought on as a producer. However, Carman has not been asked to draft the adapted screenplay. That responsibility goes to Jason Filardi, who pitched the project to Disney to begin with. Filardi's past credits include penning the 2009 Zac Efron/Matthew Perry comedy 17 Again and the 2003 Steve Martin/Queen Latifah laffer Bringing Down The House. The title Floors might seem lackluster, and I'd be willing to wager Disney will give it a flashier final name before release. However, the premise is one that plays to Disney's forte, promising a fantastical environment...

Walt Disney Pictures has acquired the film rights to Patrick Carman's children's novel "Floors". Patrick Carman will serve as the executive producer.

The story follows an emotionally stunted man who inherits his father's wacky hotel. He ends up going on series of adventures within the building, to prevent it from self-destructing.

Jason Filardi ("Bringing Down The House," "17 Again") will pen the adaptation which is said to have the same tone as the likes of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "Night at the Museum".

Source: Deadline...

Walt Disney Pictures has acquired the rights to Patrick Carman's children's novel Floors, with Jason Filardi (Bringing Down The House) set to write the adaptation.

The story follows "an emotionally stunted son" who inherits his father's zany hotel, described as "the coolest and craziest hotel in the world." He must go on a series of adventures within the building, to prevent it from self-destructing. Patrick Carman will serve as the executive producer. The book is said to be in the same vein as Night at the Museum and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Patrick Carman has written over 30 books, which have been translated into over 20 languages. Walt Disney Pictures Executive Vice President Kristin Burr is overseeing the project for the studio.

Jason Filardi made his screenwriting debut with Disney's Bringing Down The House starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah, which he followed up with the body-switching comedy 17 Again...

Exclusive: Walt Disney Pictures has closed a deal for Floors, a pitch that Jason Filardi made to give movie treatment to the children’s book series by Patrick Carman.

Filardi, who scripted Bringing Down The House for the studio, will write the script. In the vein of Night At The Museum and Willy Wonka, pic tells the story of an emotionally stunted son who inherits the coolest and craziest hotel in the world from his estranged and eccentric father. He must go on a fun-filled adventure inside the hotel to stop it from self-destructing. Carman, whose 30 books have been translated into more than 20 languages, will be an executive producer.

Filardi, whose last credit was the Zac Efron hit 17 Again, is repped by Paradigm and manager Brian Lutz. Walt Disney Pictures Executive VP Kristin Burr will oversee the project for the studio.

HollywoodNews.com: Dan Angel, a partner in the La-based production company, The Hatchery LLC, has optioned Dark Eden (Katherine Tegen Books), the newest multimedia young adult novel by Patrick Carman, a leader in marrying digital content with printed and electronic books.

Dark Eden is a psychological thriller about seven teens sent to a remote institution to be cured of their crippling phobias. Sequestered in mysterious fear chambers, they are forced to confront their worst nightmares. A recent winner of the Qed award for quality, excellence and design in ebooks from Digital Book World, Dark Eden was recognized as a ?revolutionary idea in ebook publishing.? The novel is enhanced by a downloadable app that enriches all the elements of the traditional narrative. The digital components are delivered through a mobile application that transmits new episodes sequentially as the story unfolds. Designed to engage wired readers, complete episodes include innovative story artifacts such as still images,...

Press Release – We are excited to announce that Dark Eden, the riveting page-turner set in a mysterious place where teenagers go to face their fears will be available everywhere on November 1st. Will Besting, along with six other teenagers, all suffer from crippling secrets and phobias. Together they are sent to Fort Eden, an old, eerie and mysterious place that holds the promise of a cure for each of them. Not knowing what to expect but eager to be cured, they take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night’s experience, but each person soon discovers something strange and unexplainable has happened to them.

Dark Eden can be experienced in two ways. The series is enhanced by a downloadable app that enriches the elements of the traditional narrative through innovative story artifacts including still images,...

Love short stories but don't have a lot time to read them? Have an iPhone/iPod/iPad or an Android? Then you'll be interested in 3:15, a collection of nine standalone, spooky stories based on urban legends, B-movie horror, and classic ghost stories from innovative author Patrick Carman (Skeleton Creek).

From the Press Release:

3:15 means several things. It’s a time when things go bump in the night. A place where spooky stories find a home. A feeling. That chill running down your spine. ‘3’ stands for listen, read, watch. Because that’s what you do with a 3:15 story. ‘15’ is how long it’s going to take you — fifteen minutes or less.

A new story will be available every two weeks as an app with three parts. First is an audio introduction, narrated by a creepy Rod Serling-type, Paul Chandler. If readers are brave enough to continue, they...

Bits 'n Bloody Pieces is a quick look at stuff we might have missed, viral-related promotions or items that do not necessarily warrant their own news item. Got something weird, or a news nugget, to share that fits in with B'nBP? Send it on over to To Me Right Here . . Retro Slashers , always keeping their fingers on the pulse of old school splatter pics, reports the 1983 slasher flick Sledgehammer is hitting DVD on May 10 from Intervision Pictures Corp. Written and directed by David A. Prior, want to take a guess what the killer uses in this film? The disc is loaded up with special features, included audio commentary. . Young adult novel author Patrick Carman has launched a new digital series at 3:15stories.com where short terror tales will be rolled out. Download...

More supernatural spookiness is on the way from the good folks over at Intrepid Pictures who have just secured the rights to two new terror tales for us horror hounds to take a bite out of.

According to Variety Intrepid Pictures (The Hitcher, Doomsday, The Strangers, The Raven) is going supernatural, buying up feature rights to a pair of young adult novels by Patrick Carman, Skeleton Creek and 13 Days to Midnight.

Intrepid has tapped Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson to adapt Skeleton Creek, Scholastic's book-video hybrid series set in Skeleton Creek, Ore., where two teens encounter a potentially supernatural entity while exploring an abandoned gold mine, launching them into an investigation of their town's long-buried secrets.

Rebecca Sonnenshine's to pen the screenplay for 13 Days to Midnight, published by Little Brown Books. The story centers on a boy who's granted the power of indestructibility from his dying foster father.

Sonnenshine's credits include Within,...

Intrepid Pictures is going supernatural, buying up feature rights to a pair of young adult novels by Patrick Carman: Skeleton Creek and 13 Days To Midnight. Intrepid has tapped Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson to adapt "Skeleton Creek," Scholastic's book-video hybrid series set in Skeleton Creek, Ore., where two teens encounter a potentially supernatural entity while exploring an abandoned gold mine, launching them into an investigation of their town's long-buried secrets. Rebecca Sonnenshine's to pen the screenplay for "13 Days to Midnight," published by Little Brown Books. The story centers on a boy who's granted the power of indestructibility from his dying foster father. Sonnenshine's credits include Within, The Haunting of Molly Hartley and American Zombie.

Intrepid Pictures have picked up feature rights to Patrick Carman's young adult book-video hybrid series "Skeleton Creek" and "13 Days to Midnight" reports Variety.

Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson will adapt 'Creek' which is set in Oregon where two teens encounter a potentially supernatural entity while exploring an abandoned gold mine, launching them into an investigation of their town's long-buried secrets.

Rebecca Sonnenshine ("Within," "The Haunting of Molly Hartley") will adapt '13 Days' which centers on a boy who's granted the power of indestructibility from his dying foster father.

The tie-in website features videos which have pulled in over eight million hits. Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans will serve as producers.

Author Patrick Carman has two of his young adult novels coming to the screen: "Skeleton Creek" and "13 Days to Midnight." Variety says Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson are adapting the former for Intrepid Pictures, the company overseeing both projects. Variety says, "Skeleton Creek" takes place in a small Oregon town where two teens encounter a supernatura menace in an old mine. "13 Days to Midnight," the tale of an indestructible kid, will be adapted by Rebecca Sonnenshine, writer of The Haunting of Molly Harthley and American Zombie .