Richard Scrivener joins board to help develop opportunities within the sector.
Illustration agency Bright Group International has outlined its ambitions to develop its clients’ film/TV and merchandising rights.
The company has welcomed Richard Scrivener to its board as a non-executive director, and he will have a designated role in helping to develop the business area.
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with Bright,” Richard commented. “As an agency it brings a compelling combination of brilliant artistic and writing talent, alongside a unique, innovative and entrepreneurial approach to rights management led by Vicky Willden-Lebrecht.
“The media landscape is changing beneath our feet, but as an agency I feel Bright is brilliantly positioned to exploit all the opportunities this new market has to offer.”
Richard continued: “For us this means looking beyond the traditional UK broadcasters for funding – and not moaning about having to do so. We are not convinced though that YouTube is the answer.
“Conversations we’ve had so far on Benji Davies Storm Whale (Simon and Schuster), for instance, have been hugely positive for development as an animated half-hour TV special. And in another departure, the agency is considering a joint venture for the development of Rex and Friends by award-winning author illustrator Yasmeen Ismail based on Time for Bed Fred!, Specs for Rex and I’m A Girl (Bloomsbury).”
Richard also believes that the likes of Supertato from Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet – which proved a hit on World Book Day – has TV potential.
He explained: “The key is to be flexible but true to the creative spirit of the books.”
Bright’s md and founder Vicki Willden-Lebrecht added: “I’m delighted to have Richard on board to work alongside and evolve our business. Bright has retained full rights in some, if not all, of our most successful author illustrator books. As an entrepreneur one always bring in people with greater expertise to make new ventures happen.”
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