Emmy Award Winner and Cable Ace : Drew Levin

2010-06-30T04:02:00.000Z

Drew S Levin is an entertainment industry veteran and company leader with more than 25 years of proven international production, distribution, financial, marketing and management experience and has produced and distributed all forms of media properties to more than 100 countries worldwide.

Drew Levin is an Emmy Award- and Cable Ace-winning producer who has executive produced more than 3,000 hours of critically acclaimed documentary, reality and dramatic television series and specials, movies-of-the-week and miniseries, live events, game shows, and animated and live action children's programming for US networks, cable and satellite outlets and international broadcast venues.

Over the course of his illustrious entertainment career, Mr. Drew S Levin has successfully built private and publicly traded media companies in the US and Europe and has raised more than $100,000,000 for his companies and projects. Mr. Drew Levin has extensive reality-based and documentary credits which includes Future Quest for the PBS Network, for which he received an Emmy; Cosmos: A Special Edition, a critically acclaimed miniseries for the Chris Craft Station Group, hosted by the Nobel Prize-winning astronomer, Carl Sagan, and based upon the award-winning PBS series; Shadow Theater, hosted by Robert England (of Freddy Kruger fame), for USA Network; Hollywood Stuntmakers, FX Masters, Superstars of Action, Mysterious Forces Beyond and World's Most Mysterious Places for the Discovery Networks; and Stephen King's World of Horror for MTV. His entertainment series and specials include the long-running BBC hit series,

Top of the Pops, which he produced for the CBS Network; A Very Special Christmas, starring Madonna, also for the CBS Network; The Montreux Rock Festivals for the BBC, MTV and Showtime Networks; and the BRIT Awards for the BBC and MTV. Mr. Levin's dramatic-series credits include Total Recall 2070, adapted from the blockbuster feature film and produced for Showtime Networks and Polygram TV for syndication in the US, for Sky TV in the UK and for ProSieben in Germany; his well-received adaptation of Jack London's classic novel, Call of the Wild, for Animal Planet; and MTV Network's first drama series, Live Through This.

Among Mr. Levin's numerous movie-of-the-week credits are Earthquake in New York, one of the Fox Family Channel's highest-rated original movies; The Matthew Shepard Story for the MTV Network; and Final Jeopardy for the ABC Network. In his current position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Initiative Productions, Mr. Drew Levin has aligned his company with exceptional independent producers spanning the globe. He has also been instrumental in developing the company's slate of global documentaries, specialty reality series and primetime network competition programs.

Mr. Drew S Levin has spear-headed the launch of the company, Initiative Productions, with new documentary and reality-based productions ready for worldwide distribution in the 2010 and 2011 broadcast seasons. Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses, based on the New York Times bestseller by award-winning author Bruce Feiler, aired during primetime on the 357 member stations of the PBS Network in January 2006, achieving phenomenal ratings in the top 50 metered markets.

Initiative Productions' creative team is currently in prinicipal photography in Turkey, Greece, Northern Africa and the Holy Land on the company's historical/archeological/travel eight-hour primetime series The Route to Christianity for the PBS Network.

DREW LEVIN ANNOUNCES BEGINNING OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPY ON PBS SERIES

2010-05-07T00:55:00.000Z

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."

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

2010-04-25T05:45:00.000Z

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 LEVIN GEARS UP FOR PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPY ON PBS SERIES

2010-03-03T06:03:00.000Z

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

2010-03-03T05:41:00.000Z

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.

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

2010-02-24T02:08:00.000Z

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

2010-02-24T01:45:00.000Z

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."

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY BEGINNING FOR ROUTE TO CHRISTIANITY

2010-02-12T03:12:00.000Z

Executive Producer Drew Levin announced today that his company Initiative Productions is commencing production on the company's 8-hour PBS series The Route to Christianity. The series follows chronicles the rise of one of the world's great religions and follows on the heels of Levin's last PBS series Walking the Bible which was a huge critical and ratings success. Drew Levin has many PBS, broadcast and cable credits as Executive Producer include Future Quest starring Jeff Goldblum and Showtime's one-hour drama series Total Recall 2070.

Drew Levin said that principal photography is to begin on December 23, 2009 in Bethlehem and Jerusalem and will include footage of some Christianity's holiest sites, including the Church of the Nativity which marks the spot where Jesus was born and the Cenacle or Upper Room, site of the Last Supper and other epochal events in the history of the Faith. All production will be in 1080P HD and the series will be shot throughout the Middle East and also in France, Italy and Greece.

The series will be presented by Jonathan Phillips who has been appeared prominently in numerous documentaries including Christianity: A History for UK Channel 4 and The Crusades: Crescent and the Cross for History Channel.

Veteran director Hector Galán will helm the entire 8 hour series and will Executive Produce along with Levin. Galán's most recent credits include the acclaimed feature film Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields and Crossroads, the popular PBS series Visiones and History Channel's Cinco de Mayo.

The series writer is Ben Loeterman, also a PBS mainstay with numerous "Frontline" and "American Experience" episodes to his credit. Loeterman recently wrote and directed the highly acclaimed documentary "The People vs. Leo Frank."Says Drew Levin about the new series, "All of us at Initiative Productions are thrilled to be commencing production on The Route to Christianity. We're confident that it will be an even bigger hit for PBS than Walking the Bible was."