IFILM, a leading Internet resource for film fans, filmmakers and film
industry professionals, has increased their fold by three. The company
announced the appointments of Kevin Wendle, a co-founder of CNET and Fox
Broadcasting Company, as chief executive officer; Doug Sylvester, a
co-founder of E! On-line, as president and chief operating officer; and Tom
Harbeck, former head of programming for the Sundance Channel and a senior
Nickelodeon marketing executive, as the company's Senior VP of programming,
marketing and creative director. "As IFILM's first investor, Kevin Wendle
has been actively involved in the vision, development and management of
this business since day one," said Skip Paul, IFILM's chairman of the
board. "It speaks volumes of IFILM's potential that he has agreed to join
the company full-time as my partner." Wendle and Sylvester join the company
directly from The Cottage Group, LLC, an investment organization founded by
Wendle in 1999 to invest in fledgling Internet companies. The pair will
continue to advise The Cottage Group, LLC, but will take on full-time
duties for IFILM. Wendle was one of the six founding members of the team
behind the creation and launch of the Fox Broadcasting Company. As
executive vice president, he led the development of the network's initial
programming including THE SIMPSONS, MARRIED ... WITH CHILDREN, BEVERLY
HILLS 90210, AMERICA'S MOST WANTED, COPS, IN LIVING COLOR and 21 JUMP
STREET. Wendle was one of the earliest prominent entertainment figures to
hop on the on-line bandwagon when he became a co-founder of CNET and a
co-founder of E! On-line. Sylvester created and managed the New Business
Development and Corporate Planning departments at E! before being named
general manager of E! On-line. He structured the initial E! On-line joint
venture with CNET, negotiated a later buyout of CNET's interests, and
created a long-term strategic partnership with CNET. Sylvester helped build
E!'s sister network, Style, E! Latin America, E! Spain (Estilo) and E!
Poland. Prior to E! On-line, Sylvester worked at New Line Cinema in Los
Angeles where he oversaw all west coast business development activities. At
the Sundance Channel as executive vice president of programming and
creative director, Harbeck puppeteered all programming strategies and
acquisitions for the television network. Prior to the Sundance Channel,
Harbeck served as the senior vice president of marketing and on air
promotion/creative director for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite/TV Land. While at
Nickelodeon, Harbeck set the creative tone and strategic course for
Nickelodeon and its creative brands. While there he directed all marketing
activities and creative design for the network. Under his leadership,
Nickelodeon was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame. Since November
1999, IFILM has raised US$35 million from Sony, Eastman Kodak, Paul Allen's
Vulcan Ventures, Shamrock Capital Advisors and Liberty Digital. In
addition, the company has attracted other heavy-weight advisors and
investors such as: GeoCities founder David Bohnett, ICM Chairman Jeff Berg,
UTA Chairman Jim Berkus, Warner Bros. CEO Bob Daly, producer Lauren
Schuler-Donner, writer Nora Ephron, former Warner Bros. Co-President Bill
Gerber, producer Quincy Jones, producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank
Marshall, director Richard Donner, Brillstein-Grey CEO Brad Grey, VH1
President John Sykes, entertainment attorney Alan Hergott and LA Avengers
owner Casey Wasserman.