Hollywood & Games Adds TMNT Director, Ubisoft Exec

The organizers of the 2007 Hollywood and Games Summit have announced new speakers for the June 26th-27th event, with the line-up including TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) CG movie writer and director Kevin Munroe and Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat. The second annual Summit, co-created by the CMP Game Group (owner of Gamasutra) and The Hollywood Reporter, is intended to "...allow leaders from their respective industries to interact and discuss best practices for strategically marketing original IP via both media to greatest effect." Kevin Munroe, apart from creating the most recent Ninja Turtle movie has worked on Hey Arnold!, Disney's Hall of Legends, Vanguard's El Zombo, and also wrote, produced, designed, and directed CG animation for the Midway video game Freaky Flyers. Munroe was also ranked as one of Animation Magazine's "Rising Stars of CGI." Mallat is CEO at Ubisoft’s Montreal studio, after having been with the company since 2000 holding roles as third party producer and producer and executive producer overseeing new IP’s and classic series, including the company's multi-million selling franchise, Prince of Persia. In addition to the above mentioned pair, Hollywood and Games will also see History Channel historical programming director Peggy Kim speaking. Kim is the creator and executive producer of the network’s hit series Digging for the Truth, as well as Decoding the Past, UFO Files, Decisive Battles, History Now and the Emmy nominated Beyond the Da Vinci Code. The speakers will join previously announced Heroes producer Jesse Alexander, who was also a co-executive producer on ABC’s Emmy award-winning drama Lost, and Jordan Mechner, who both created the Prince Of Persia series and has reportedly been working on a movie version of the game franchise. Other speakers for the second annual event include Foglight Entertainment president Gregg Backer, Electronic Arts director of entertainment programming Brandon Barber, veteran journalist Geoff Keighley and fl0w co-creator Kellee Santiago, with more speakers to be announced in the near future. Though specific lecture details have not yet been revealed, some of the topics to be covered for the event include managing a unified pipeline: simultaneous creation of films and games; creating an attractive cross-platform property between film, TV, music, game, mobile, and Internet; how Hollywood talent can be relevant in the interactive medium; conversations between indie film and indie games; and using game engine technology in the film production process. More information on the event, which takes place at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on June 26th and the 27th, is available at the official website.