TORONTO — Blue Ant Studios is bolstering its push into the unscripted programming market with the appointment of Los Angeles-based Jennifer Harkness (pictured) to the newly created role of senior vice-president of unscripted content.
Harkness’s key focus will be to develop, sell and produce unscripted series for the US and global markets, Blue Ant said in a news release Monday announcing Harkness’s appointment, which takes effect immediately.
“Bringing on board an executive of Jennifer’s calibre reflects our commitment to creating and selling premium unscripted programming for the US market and abroad,” said Sam Sniderman, executive vice-president of global production for Blue Ant Media, in the news release. “She has a keen eye for the contemporary market, passion for compelling stories and brings with her a wealth of high-level relationships with buyers in L.A. and New York.”
Harkness joins Blue Ant’s L.A. office and will be working alongside Dan Lubetkin, senior vice-president of scripted content. With these two senior roles in place, Blue Ant Studios is strategically positioned to increase development and production of premium projects with American-based partners and platforms in both unscripted and scripted genres, the company said.
“The growing appetite for new, premium content combined with Blue Ant’s commitment to investing in top-tier productions is the perfect opportunity to develop exciting new projects,” Harkness said in the news release.
Previously, Harkness served as senior vice-president of US sales and development for Toronto-based factual entertainment producer Cream Productions (The Dictator’s Playbook, Fear Thy Neighbor). In this role, Harkness focused on sales and development of original unscripted programming for US broadcasters and networks, as well as creating production partnerships and supporting Cream’s push into digital and virtual reality. At Cream, Harkness developed a variety of projects, including an unannounced series with CNN, for which she also serves as co-executive producer.
Harkness joined Cream from Jumpwire Media, the social media agency she co-founded. Prior to Jumpwire, she served as head of development, factual entertainment, for Temple Street Productions, where she developed and produced series such as Recipe to Riches (Food Network Canada, Global) and the competitive music show Cover Me Canada (CBC).
An industry veteran with more than 20 years of television and film experience, Harkness has also held key positions such as executive director for the Banff World Television Festival and production executive for Canada’s Global Television Network.
