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UPDATE: Amazon Studios Begins Pilot Pickups; ‘Zombieland’ Writer Blames Pass On Fans

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday May 17, 2013 @ 11:45am PDTTags: Alpha House, Amazon Studios, Zombieland
Nellie Andreeva

2ND UPDATE, 11:45 AM: I hear Alpha House has gotten an official pickup, joining Betas. Alpha House follows four senators (John Goodman, Clark Johnson, Matt Malloy, Mark Consuelos) who live together in a rented house in Washington, DC. Zombieland and Browsers did not make the cut.

Related: Full Amazon Pilot Listings

UPDATE, 9 AM: Zombieland writer-producer Rhett Reese took to Twitter to blame the series’ pickup fail on Zombieland fans themselves: “I’ll never understand the vehement hate the pilot received from die-hard Zombieland fans. You guys successfully hated it out of existence.”

UPDATE, THURSDAY PM: There will be no Zombieland TV series, at least not on Amazon. The streaming service has passed on the pilot, as well as Browsers, as it continues to narrow down the field. READ MORE »

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Amazon Studios Touts Strong Viewer Response To Its Pilots

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday April 22, 2013 @ 7:10am PDTTags: Amazon Studios
Nellie Andreeva

Will this help convince TV networks to open their pilot process to the public too? Amazon Studios, which put its first 14 original scripted pilots online on Friday, said this morning that the pilots were the most-watched TV … Read More »

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Amazon Studios Puts Its 14 Pilots Online

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday April 19, 2013 @ 6:52am PDTTags: Amazon Studios
Nellie Andreeva

As broadcast networks are moving onto screening their pilots for next season, Amazon Studios too is kicking off its pilot screening process. But unlike the traditional TV networks’ pilot screenings, which are shrouded in secrecy, Amazon brass are doing theirs out in the open. The company this morning has unveiled its inaugural slate of 14 pilots — eight comedies and six kids shows. All have been made available for free on Amazon Instant Video, LoveFilm UK and LoveFilm Germany. Viewers are being invited to watch the pilots and review them on the site.

There will be “a lot of data points” in Amazon’s decision-making process as to which pilots will be picked up to series,” said Amazon Studios director Roy Price. Amazon will count how many people watched each pilot, how many watched each pilot from start to finish and how many shared it on social media. Additionally, the company will evaluate feedback from an online panel recruited on Amazon preview as well as traditional offline focus groups. Read More »

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Amazon Officially Announces Comedy Pilot ‘Betas’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 27, 2013 @ 3:31pm PDTTags: Amazon Studios, Betas
Nellie Andreeva

As it just did with Zombieland, Amazon Studios acknowledged the existence of its comedy pilot Betas after the project was cast and well into production. Set in the land of Silicon Valley start-ups where the right algorithm can make you king, Betas, written by Evan Endicott and Josh Stoddard, follows four computer geeks and their quest for nerd fame as they attempt to crack the ultimate code. Ed Begley Jr, Jon Daly, Joe Dinicol, Margo Harshman, Charlie Saxton and Karan Soni star in the pilot, written by Michael Lehmann (Heathers) who will direct and produce with Alan Freedland & Alan Cohen and Michael London. Betas, the eighth comedy pilot added to Amazon’s roster, will be made available — along with the other seven comedy pilots and six children’s pilots — for free on Amazon Instant Video and Lovefilm UK/Germany. Read More »

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Amazon Announces ‘Zombieland’ Pilot

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday March 25, 2013 @ 6:38am PDTTags: Amazon Studios, Zombieland
Nellie Andreeva

While the Amazon Studios pilot Zombieland, based on the hit 2009 Sony movie, has already been cast and filmed, this is the first time the company has acknowledged its existence. The pilot hails from Sony Pictures TV, marking the first Amazon original project from a major studio. Here is the release:

SEATTLE—March 25, 2013—Amazon Studios, the original movie and series production arm of Amazon.com, today announced it will add cult classic Zombieland to the line-up of pilots already in production for Prime Instant Video. Zombieland, which is the seventh comedy pilot added to Amazon’s pilot line-up, will be made available (along with the other six comedy pilots and six children’s pilots) for free on Amazon Instant Video and LOVEFiLM UK. Customers are invited to view the pilots and then review them on the site; customer feedback will help determine which of the 13 pilots Amazon Studios will make into full-season productions, to air on Prime Instant Video.

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Amazon Studios Comedy Pilot ‘Betas’ Assembles Cast

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday March 18, 2013 @ 3:05pm PDTTags: Amazon Studios, Betas
Nellie Andreeva

Margo HarshmanCharlie SaxtonJoe Dinicol, Margo Harshman (Bent), Charlie Saxton (Bandslam) and Karan Soni (Safety Not Guaranteed) have been cast in Amazon Studios‘ comedy pilot … Read More »

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Amazon Studios Greenlights Children’s Pilot

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday March 6, 2013 @ 6:45am PSTTags: Amazon Studios, Sara Solves It
Nellie Andreeva

Amazon Studios, the original movie and series production arm of Amazon.com, has ordered another test pilot for an original children’s series, Sara Solves It. Co-developed by WGBH and Out of the Blue Enterprises, the animated show was created by Emmy Award winner Carol Greenwald (Curious George) and Angela C. Santomero (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), who serve as executive producers. It follows brother and sister duo Sara and Sam as they take on mysteries that spring from the questions young children encounter in their daily lives. Each mystery is an interactive, math-based puzzle that the home viewer can solve along with the characters. Read More »

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Mark Consuelos Among Four New Cast Additions To Amazon Comedy Pilots

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 13, 2013 @ 6:32pm PSTTags: Alpha House, Amazon Studios, Mark Consuelos, The Onion Presents: The News
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Consuelos has been tapped as a lead opposite John Goodman in Amazon Studios‘ comedy pilot  Alpha House. Yara Martinez and Kobi Libii also have been cast in the pilot written by Garry Trudeau.  Alpha House follows four senators who live together in a rented house in Washington DC. Consuelos will play one of them, Andy Guzman, a young, handsome, confident Senator with an excess of charm & swagger. An irresistible rogue. Goodman plays another Senator. Martinez will play Adriana De Portago, a beautiful Cuban-American billionaire heiress looking for a good time with new beau, Andy Guzman. Libii will play Aaron Stimson, a seasoned Capitol Hill vet on one of the Senators’ staffs. Consuelos, repped by CAA and Liebman Entertainment, recently recurred on FX’s American Horror Story: Asylum and NBC’s Guys With Kids. Martinez, repped by APA and D2 Management, has recurred on ABC Family’s The Lying Game, ABC’s Nashville and TNT’s Southland. Libii, repped by KSR&A and manager Ken Treusch, can be seen in the off-Broadway play Really Really. Read More »

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Cheyenne Jackson Joins Amazon’s ‘Onion’ Pilot, Bojana Novakovic Cast In Fox’s ‘Rake’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday February 12, 2013 @ 12:22pm PSTTags: Amazon Studios, Bojana Novakovic, Cheyenne Jackson, Rake
Nellie Andreeva

Cheyenne Jackson is set to co-star opposite Jeffrey Tambor in Amazon Studios‘ comedy pilot The Onion Presents: The News. The project, from The Onion’s Will Graham & Dan Mirk, is described as a fast-paced scripted … Read More »

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Jeffrey Tambor To Star In Amazon Comedy Pilot ‘The Onion Presents: The News’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday February 4, 2013 @ 8:48am PSTTags: Amazon Studios, Jeffrey Tambor, The Onion Presents: The News
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Studios has landed another big-name actor for one of its first six comedy pilots. I’ve learned that Jeffrey Tambor is set to star in The Onion Presents: The News. The project, from The … Read More »

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Amazon Announces 6 Comedy Pilot Orders

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday December 20, 2012 @ 7:59am PSTTags: Amazon Studios
Nellie Andreeva

After declining to comment when word on some of its pilot orders recently got out, Amazon Studios, the original film and series production arm of Amazon.com, today announced its first original slate of six comedy pilots from industry veterans and Hollywood newcomers. These are Amazon’s first green lights since the studio expanded into original programming development earlier this year. In addition to projects from professional writers, Amazon also went after ideas by aspiring creators solicited through Amazon Studios’ site. Once the six pilots are completed, they will be posted on Amazon Instant Video for Amazon customers to watch for free. Viewer feedback will help determine which of them will be picked up to series. “Since launching our original series development effort, we have received more than 2,000 series ideas from creators around the world with all different backgrounds, and we are extremely excited to begin production on our very first set of pilots,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios.

Related:
Amazon Eyes Comedy Pilot Greenlight
Amazon Pilots Supernatural Toon Comedy

Here is a list of the pilots, some of which have been announced on Deadline: Read More »

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Amazon Pilots Supernatural Toon Comedy

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday November 19, 2012 @ 7:26am PSTTags: Amazon, Amazon Studios, Big Deals TV
Nellie Andreeva

Amazon is ramping up its efforts to get an original series on its streaming service. I hear Amazon Studios, the content development division of the online retailer, has greenlighted animated comedy pilot Supa Natural. The move comes on the heels of the company also giving a pilot order to Browsers, a live-action single-camera comedy from writer David Javerbaum and 3 Arts Entertainment. Supa Natural, produced by Underground Films, centers on two outspoken divas who happened to be humanity’s only line of defense against the supernatural… just so long as they’re not busy shopping at the mall. Lily Sparks, Price Peterson and Ryan Sandoval wrote the script and executive produce with Underground’s Trevor Engelson and Josh McGuire as well as Kristen Schaal (The Daily Show) and Jason Micallef. Read More »

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Amazon Studios Tests The Film Waters With ‘Blackburn Burrow’ Digital Comic

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday September 12, 2012 @ 1:39pm PDTTags: Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios says it sees digital comics as a great way to get audience feedback and test the viability of the project to possibly turn into a feature film. Blackburn Burrow, released today, is a supernatural tale set in a small Appalachian town in northern Georgia during the Civil War. It’s based on a feature film screenplay by writer Jay Levy. “This is a very exciting new venture for Amazon Studios. Beyond entertaining lots of comic fans, we see value in digital comics as a new way to test screenplays and learn more about fan engagement,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. The Blackburn Burrow digital comic book is produced by 12 Gauge Comics, along with comics writer Ron Marz (Silver Surfer, Green Lantern, Marvel Vs. DC, Batman/Aliens) and veteran illustrator Matthew Dow Smith (Doctor Who, X-Men Icons). Read More »

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Amazon Studios Picks 4 Series Projects

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Sunday June 24, 2012 @ 8:09am PDTTags: Amazon Studios

The first four projects of Amazon Studios series development slate involve a Hell of a deal, the end of the world, a magic monkey and a plaid sheep. That last one is a kids show and the others are comedies. All were selected from Amazon Studios site. … Read More »

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Zombies Roman The Ancient Empire? Clive Barker And Amazon Studios Say Yes!

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday June 5, 2012 @ 6:00am PDTTags: Amazon Studios
Mike Fleming

In greater and greater numbers, zombies continue to swarm not only movies and TV series–the Game of Thrones season finale the latest example–but have even been referenced in a number … Read More »

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Amazon Studios Will Develop Comedy And Children’s Series

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Wednesday May 2, 2012 @ 8:55am PDTTags: Amazon Studios

SEATTLE—May 2, 2012—(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon.com, Inc. today announced that Amazon Studios is expanding its development efforts into comedy and children’s series. Amazon Studios is Amazon’s content development division that uses audience feedback to identify great, original entertainment customers will love. Starting today, series creators are invited to upload their proposals for comedy and children’s programming to Amazon Studios at http://studios.amazon.com. The best comedy and children’s series will be distributed through Amazon Instant Video, Amazon’s digital video streaming service.

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Amazon Studios Unveils Movie Development Slate, And New Rules For Scripts

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Friday April 6, 2012 @ 7:02am PDTTags: Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios says that its controversial movie production effort, launched in 2010, has 15 projects in development — and new rules to make it easier for writers to submit scripts. “We’re eager to get movies made and we look forward to seeing the best work that writers have to offer,” Amazon Studios Director Roy Price said on the company’s blog. “This is why we have an open door.” Amazon said that it will pay up to $33,000 for rewrites of two films in its top 15: There’s 12 Princesses, about a farm boy who enters a magical underground world to save a princess from her 11 sisters and a diabolical fairy queen. In February Amazon awarded 12 Princesses a $1M grand prize for being its Best Test Movie. The online retailer also wants additional work on I Think My Facebook Friend is Dead, about an agoraphobic boy who has a crush on a girl he only knows via Facebook but gathers his pals to help save her when she’s missing. Here are summaries of all 15 movies that most interest Amazon Studios. Read More »

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Did Amazon Exec Give Away Its TV Production Plan?

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Wednesday March 7, 2012 @ 6:51am PSTTags: Amazon Studios

It seems so: Yesterday LA-based exec Joe Lewis — a former director of production at 20th Century Fox and former executive at Comedy Central’s series Tosh.0 – briefly changed his LinkedIn profile citing his occupation as “Vice-President of Original Television at … Read More »

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Amazon Studios Awards $1M To Rob Gardner’s ‘12 Princesses’

By BRIAN BROOKS | Tuesday February 7, 2012 @ 7:01pm PSTTags: Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios unveiled $1 million and $100,000 winners Tuesday in the filmmaking competition the online retailer launched in November 2010. Writer-director Rob Gardner’s 12 Princesses won Best Test Movie taking the $1 million grand prize “for its family friendly storyline and magical imagery brought to life.” Matthew Gossett’s thriller Origin Of Species won Best Script of the Year for its “chilling suspense and mind-twisting storyline that left judges on the edge of their seats,” according to Amazon’s announcement. Since debuting its program, Amazon Studios has featured 700 test movies and 7,000 scripts, awarding more than $1.9 million.

After its launch in a bid to identify new filmmakers and screenwriters, the initiative sparked controversy. Some Hollywood writers warned aspiring screenwriters about the program’s potential copyright and authorship drawbacks.

Five projects made it to the final running for the $1 million prize including I Think My Facebook Friend Is Dead, The Alchemist Agenda, Sky Pirates, 12 Princesses and Evolver. They’re featured along with four other projects Amazon Studios funded. Two of the films, Velvet Elvis by Jeff Stewart and The Temple by Alex Greenfield, were made by Amazon insiders. Both had submitted proposals in response to an “open directing assignment where filmmakers were given the opportunity to turn any script on the site into a test movie.” Read More »

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