DREW LEVIN ANNOUNCES BEGINNING OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPY ON PBS SERIES

Executive Producer Drew Levin announced today that his company Initiative Productions has commenced principal photography of its 8-hour PBS primetime historical/archeological series The Route to Christianity.

Drew S Levin brings over twenty years of success as Executive Producer to oversee, steer and mold the project into another successful PBS series in the tradition of his Emmy-winning show Futurequest starring Jeff Goldblum and his most recent critical and ratings success Walking the Bible.

Helming the series and sharing executive producer duties is top broadcast, cable and feature film director/producer Hector Galán who has now acquired footage in Bethlehem and Jerusalem and has already began to supervise preliminary editing of this footage for initial segment rough cuts and promo pieces.

The host is Jonathan Phillips, a history professor who has frequently appeared on documentaries as an expert commentator but whose charisma and talent, says Drew Levin, “…will make him the next big PBS star presenter.” Phillips has also earned accolades as an author with a rave review in the New York Times for his most recent book “Holy Warriors: A Modern History of the Crusades.”

Serving as the primary creative consultant in charge of content is Alex Gregory, who served as principal writer on Drew S Levin whose hit series Walking the Bible as well. Assisting Alex with research and story development are Paula Deats and Tip McPartland.

Providing production services in Israel and Palestine is Sharon Schaveet and her company Biblical Productions. In Egypt and other Arab areas, Ash Hasen, another veteran of Walking the Bible, will serve as the shows “fixer” to obtain permits and will also field produce.

The editorial team is being assembled and Levin is targeting top editors such as Clement Barkley, Ash Hasen, Duncan Burns and Chuck Cirino.

Slated to score the series is top composer and Ph.D. in music Richard Friedman whose music for Walking the Bible not only generated awards buzz but sold well as a soundtrack CD.

National Public Media is working with several major corporations on series underwriting and as Drew Levin says, “They are the best in the business.”

Levin is also working with top publicists and marketing executives in the faith-based sector to ensure that the show equals or exceeds the huge ratings success of Levin’s previous show Walking the Bible.

Says Levin, “We have truly assembled the A-team that can produce another award-winning PBS series that will again garner exceptional ratings and high critical acclaim.”

Drew Levin Announces Equestrian Reality Shows for 2010

Executive Producer Drew Levin announced today his company Initiative Productions’ new reality slate. Heading the list are two unscripted equestrian series, Horse Chasers and Horse Sense, both of which have already garnered strong interest from multiple networks.

Drew Levin has a solid track record both in the reality genres, with Executive Producer credits including Hollywood Stuntmakers, Superstars of Action and many others.

Horse Chasers takes us into the world of the wranglers, cowboys and trainers at one of America’s top horse rescue and adoption agencies, who work with the US Bureau of LandManagement to help capture and corral the magnificent wild mustangs of the American West.But wait, mentions the producer Drew S Levin, capturing the horses is just the beginning!

Then Drew S Levin and team helps find loving people and families to adopt them, and helps the people and horses learn to live together in such harmony that the horse literally thinks he’s found a new herd. It’s the high action of the chase blended with the heartfelt emotions that develop between humans and horses as our team breaks the horses without breaking their spirits.

Horse Sense is the first competitive reality show set in one of the most competitive settings in the world, thoroughbred racing. The show opens with the selection of five couples with no prior horse racing or training experience, but with love for horses, and a strong desire to someday own a racing stable. Each couple is a $20,000 stake and is paired with a top trainer who immerses them in the world of claiming races, where any horse in a race can be bought for a pre-set price.

DREW S LEVIN GEARS UP FOR PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPY ON PBS SERIES

Executive Producer Drew S Levin announced today that his company Initiative Productions has assembled the team it needs to launch production of its 8-hour PBS primetime historical/archeological series The Route to Christianity.

Drew Levin will bring over twenty years of success as Executive Producer to oversee, steer and mold the project into another successful PBS series in the tradition of his Emmy-winning show Futurequest starring Jeff Goldblum, Pros and Cons, Westside Detective (see above) and his most recent critical and ratings success Walking the Bible.

Helming the series and sharing executive producer duties is top broadcast, cable and feature film director/producer Hector Galán who has already began shooting the series in the Holy Land. Working with a top Israeli crew, Galán shot for five days in Bethlehem and Jerusalem over the Christmas holidays, recording a total of over 600 minutes of high definition footage.

The host is Jonathan Phillips, a history professor who has frequently appeared on documentaries as an expert commentator but whose charisma and talent, says Levin, “…will make him the next big PBS star presenter.”

Serving as the primary creative consultant in charge of content is Alex Gregory, who served as principal writer on Drew Levin’s hit series Walking the Bible as well. Assisting Alex with research and story development is Tip McPartland.

Providing production services in Israel and Palestine is Sharon Schaveet and her company Biblical Productions. In Egypt and other Arab areas, Ash Hasen, another veteran of Walking the Bible, will serve as the shows “fixer” to obtain permits and will also field produce including hiring crews.

The editorial team is being assembled and Levin is targeting top editors such as Clement Barkley, Ash Hasen, Duncan Burns and Chuck Cirino.

Slated to score the series is top composer and Ph.D. in music Richard Friedman whose music for Walking the Bible not only generated awards buzz but sold well as a soundtrack CD.

National Public Media is working with several major corporations on series underwriting and as Levin says, “They are the best in the business.”

Levin is also working with top publicists and marketing executives in the faith-based sector to ensure that the show equals or exceeds the huge ratings success of Levin’s previous show Walking the Bible.

Says Drew Levin, “We have truly assembled the A-team that can produce another award-winning PBS series that will again garner exceptional ratings and high critical acclaim.”

DREW LEVIN GEARS UP FOR PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPY ON PBS SERIES

Executive Producer Drew Levin announced today that his company Initiative Productions has assembled the team it needs to launch production of its 8-hour PBS primetime historical/archeological series The Route to Christianity.

Levin will bring over twenty years of success as Executive Producer to oversee, steer and mold the project into another successful PBS series in the tradition of his Emmy-winning show Futurequest starring Jeff Goldblum and his most recent critical and ratings success Walking the Bible.

Helming the series and sharing executive producer duties is top broadcast, cable and feature film director/producer Hector Galán who has already began shooting the series in the Holy Land. Working with a top Israeli crew, Galán shot for five days in Bethlehem and Jerusalem over the Christmas holidays, recording a total of over 600 minutes of high definition footage.

The host is Jonathan Phillips, a history professor who has frequently appeared on documentaries as an expert commentator but whose charisma and talent, says Levin, “…will make him the next big PBS star presenter.”

Serving as the primary creative consultant in charge of content is Alex Gregory, who served as principal writer on Drew Levin’s hit series Walking the Bible as well. Assisting Alex with research and story development is Tip McPartland.

Providing production services in Israel and Palestine is Sharon Schaveet and her company Biblical Productions. In Egypt and other Arab areas, Ash Hasen, another veteran of Walking the Bible, will serve as the shows “fixer” to obtain permits and will also field produce including hiring crews.

The editorial team is being assembled and Levin is targeting top editors such as Clement Barkley, Ash Hasen, Duncan Burns and Chuck Cirino. Slated to score the series is top composer and Ph.D. in music Richard Friedman whose music for Walking the Bible not only generated awards buzz but sold well as a soundtrack CD.

National Public Media is working with several major corporations on series underwriting and as Levin says, “They are the best in the business.”

Levin is also working with top publicists and marketing executives in the faith-based sector to ensure that the show equals or exceeds the huge ratings success of Levin’s previous show Walking the Bible. Says Levin, “We have truly assembled the A-team that can produce another award-winning PBS series that will again garner exceptional ratings and high critical acclaim.”

DREW S. LEVIN GEARS UP FOR PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPY ON PBS SERIES

Executive Producer Drew S. Levin announced today that his company Initiative Productions has assembled the team it needs to launch production of its 8-hour PBS primetime historical/archeological series The Route to Christianity.

Levin will bring over twenty years of success as Executive Producer to oversee, steer and mold the project into another successful PBS series in the tradition of his Emmy-winning show Futurequest starring Jeff Goldblum and his most recent critical and ratings success Walking the Bible.

Helming the series and sharing executive producer duties is top broadcast, cable and feature film director/producer Hector Galán who has already began shooting the series in the Holy Land. Working with a top Israeli crew, Galán shot for five days in Bethlehem and Jerusalem over the Christmas holidays, recording a total of over 600 minutes of high definition footage.

The host is Jonathan Phillips, a history professor who has frequently appeared on documentaries as an expert commentator but whose charisma and talent, says Levin, “…will make him the next big PBS star presenter.”

Serving as the primary creative consultant in charge of content is Alex Gregory, who served as principal writer on Drew S Levin’s hit series Walking the Bible as well. Assisting Alex with research and story development is Tip McPartland.

Providing production services in Israel and Palestine is Sharon Schaveet and her company Biblical Productions. In Egypt and other Arab areas, Ash Hasen, another veteran of Walking the Bible, will serve as the shows “fixer” to obtain permits and will also field produce including hiring crews.

The editorial team is being assembled and Levin is targeting top editors such as Clement Barkley, Ash Hasen, Duncan Burns and Chuck Cirino. Slated to score the series is top composer and Ph.D. in music Richard Friedman whose music for Walking the Bible not only generated awards buzz but sold well as a soundtrack CD.

National Public Media is working with several major corporations on series underwriting and as Levin says, “They are the best in the business.”

Levin is also working with top publicists and marketing executives in the faith-based sector to ensure that the show equals or exceeds the huge ratings success of Levin’s previous show Walking the Bible. Says Levin, “We have truly assembled the A-team that can produce another award-winning PBS series that will again garner exceptional ratings and high critical acclaim.”

DREW S. LEVIN ANNOUNCES REALITY SLATE FOR 2010

Executive Producer Drew S Levin announced today that his company Initiative Productions has developed and is currently pitching five new unscripted series targeting the cable market to complement his company’s strengths in the broadcast world.

Among the shows is National Lampoon’s Amazing Tails that combines Drew Levin’s tent pole Animal Planet franchise Amazing Tails with one of the top comedy brands in America. The show combines hilarious animal mashups with hilarious voice over from some of America’s top comics.

Another hot new property pitched by Drew S Levin and company is So You Want to Be a Witch that stars an ensemble cast of three real witches and three women who want to learn “the craft.” The show keys into women’s universal aspirations to succeed in their personal and professional lives, but with a supernatural twist.

Pros and Cons brings four of America’s top former hustlers to the task of working with law enforcement to bust con men that are currently preying on the public. Using spy and hidden cameras, the audience is with them as they con the cons.

Horse Chasers is a wild-west adventure that takes us into the world of men and women, who rescue wild mustangs, then help the horses to find new homes. But that’s just the beginning. The horses and their new people have to be mentored and trained, using the latest “gentling” techniques.

Horse Sense is a competitive, serialized reality show that gives young couples the chance to own their own thoroughbred racing stable. Each couple is teamed up with a top trainer who helps them buy, race and even sell horses, with whoever makes the most money getting set up with their own stable!

Says Drew Levin, who has just returned from pitching his new slate in New York and who is also pitching numerous Los Angeles networks, “We are already getting strong network interest on several of our properties, and anticipate airing at least two of them by Summer of 2010.”

DREW S. LEVIN RETRACTS LANGUAGE IN PREVIOUS RELEASE REGARDING COMEDY SPECIAL

Executive Producer Drew S Levin today retracted the statement that his company Initiative Productions has “acquired” the completed 90-minute comedy special The Godfathers of Comedy, the Italian version of popular comedy formats such as Kings of Comedy and Latin Divas of Comedy.

The business arrangement with owners of this property is a sales agreement only, allowing Drew S Levin and his team to market the property for a limited time with no conveyance of primary or ancillary rights. There is no purchase, acquisition or any transfer of any ownership interest whatsoever in the property aside from this temporary marketing arrangement. Drew Levin and his organization regret the inaccurate and misleading impression that usage of the word “acquisition” created.

Says Levin, “I was drawn to the project because I recognized the extraordinary talents and achievements of the director, the producer and the comedians themselves. This is truly a dream team of comedy.”

The Godfathers of Comedy was directed by Rocco Urbisci who is known at HBO’s top comedy director, with credits including 11 mega-popular George Carlin specials. Urbisci also directed “40 Years of Laughter at the Improv” which was a primetime ratings winner for NBC.

The Godfathers of Comedy was produced by Neal Marshall, Showtime’s leading comedy producer with over 25 credits on the cable net including Latin Divas of Comedy, Hot Tamales and next year’s Green Collar Comedy.

The special features some of the Italian-American community’s best stand up comics, including Rocky LaPorte who had his own Comedy Central special, former prosecutor Paul D’Angelo (Comedy All-Stars), John Caponera (Comics Unleashed, Drew Carey), Frank Santorelli from The Sopranos and Willie Fratto whose grandfather’s bodyguard was Rocky Marciano – need we say more?

Says Drew Levin about his new marketing arrangement, “It’s a real pleasure to be working with HBO’s best comedy director and Showtime’s best comedy producer on this hilarious 90 minute special that we’re certain will be a big hit, no pun intended.”