Jean Chalopin, a French national, rose to the forefront of the animation industry - a field normally monopolized by Americans -- at a young age and with an enterprising spirit. Mr. Chalopin honed his business acumen in France by creating and managing his first company at age 18. OGAP was an advertising company specializing in the production of shorts and commercials, including animated films. DIC Audiovisuel, S.A.R.L. grew out of that company, producing, in addition to commercials, educational programs for various French Government Agencies. (“La Bonne Conduite”, “Archibald le Magichien”, etc..) and its first TV series (BOFF, 104 episodes in 1963-64 for FR3). As its president, Mr. Chalopin learned every step, creatively and technically, of the television and film production business. Within five years, and under Mr. Chalopin's leadership as president, DIC became the largest animation studio in Europe. Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Television/Radio Television Luxembourg (CLT-RTL), then the largest private radio-television company in Europe, became DIC's second largest shareholder in 1976. Mr. Chalopin turned his company's efforts exclusively to children and family oriented entertainment. Soon after, DIC produced its first two animated series aimed at an entirely international market (“Ulysses 31” – “The Cities Of Gold”) utilizing a combination of production facilities in France, Taiwan and Japan, all organized by Jean Chalopin. Two years only after Mr. Chalopin launched a U.S. office, it became the biggest producer of television animation in Hollywood - and, by its own estimation in 1984, 85 and 86 -- the world’s champion, beating giants like Hanna-Barbera on their own field. DIC Enterprises, Inc., a California company with a staff of 300, grossed $380 million in business in 1984, not including the consequent growth of its library, merchandising and promotions departments. During the same period of time, Mr. Chalopin became also involved into the development and construction of CLT and RTL production (in France, UK and Luxembourg/ Germany) and broadcasting companies all over Europe (RTL in Germany and Belgium, M6 in France, etc…). Outside Europe Mr Chalopin organized and operated related companies, DIC Animation City, a California corporation founded in 1984 to operate studio facilities in Los Angeles and KK DIC, a Japanese company, founded to operate studio facilities in Tokyo and the Far East [including Korea, China (Shanghai) and the Philippines]. Concerned about how the changes in TV regulations would affect DIC’s business, Jean Chalopin, along with CLT, sold his interest in the DIC Group in 1986, creating a ‘creative boutique’, Creativite et Developpement (C&D), with offices in Paris, Tokyo and JetLag Productions in Los Angeles. From that point onward, Jean Chalopin re-concentrated his efforts toward Europe, and especially to the writing and creation of concepts suitable for both Europe and the North American market. 10 years later C&D had accumulated more than 1650 episodes responding to this definition, constituting one of the largest library of animation and family oriented programs, worldwide. In 1996, Jean Chalopin sold his interests in C&D to the SABAN-FOX joint venture operating FOX KIDS NETWORK, FOX KIDS WORLWIDE and FOX FAMILY CHANNEL, transferring then to FOX the rights of its library. Throughout the years, Jean has remained the creative force, working hands-on, writing and producing family oriented projects. To name a few, some of the world's best-known television hits include:
Live ActionAnimation
INSPECTOR GADGET, HEATHCLIFF, THE LITTLES, CARE BEARS, KISSYFUR, THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS, ULYSSES 1, DENNIS THE MENACE, CONAN THE ADVENTURER, M.A.S.K., HE-MAN, KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF JUSTICE, POLE POSITION, GET ALONG GANG, POPPLES, RAINBOW BRITE, KIDD VIDEO, JAYCE AND THE WHEELED WARRIORS, LADY LOVELY LOCKS, THE ADVENTURES OF T-REX, HOT WHEELS/MICHEL VAILLANT, THE BOTS' MASTER, LITTLEST PET SHOP, HAPPY NESS etc...
There is no question that Jean's undeniable business and creative talents are well respected by the most notorious individuals and companies in the industry who recognize him as being directly responsible for the tremendous growth of each Group. Jean Chalopin remains a prolific writer and recently wrote 26 episodes of TV series named Cyrano 2022, followed by the writing and supervision of 52 episodes of the new Inspector Gadget series (Gadget and the Gadgetinis). Jean Chalopin also executive-produced during the same time two feature-films for Disney: Inspector Gadget I and sequel II. Since the delivery of the last “Gadget” series and movies, Jean Chalopin began putting together the Movie Plus Group of companies worldwide and developing feature-films and concepts for general audience, mostly in the field of Family, Romantic Comedy or Action Comedy.
Jean is the Movie Plus Group Chairman and CEO.
Jean Chalopin was born on May 31st, 1950 in France. Married in 1989 with Ethel Sau-Yee Fong, he has two children: Jun Wei (born 26-01-91) and Tian Xi (born 10-11-93). He is “Chevaliers Des Arts et des Lettres”, member of the Societe des Auteurs Compositeurs Dramatiques since 1969, and of Societe des Auteurs, Compositeurs, Editeurs de Musique since 1978.
Stephen (Steve) Waterman spent the last twenty years in the television and motion picture industry. He was an agent with the Sy Fischer Agency and later became the Vice President of Television at International Creative Management. Mr. Waterman packaged all forms of programming for Hanna-Barbera, HIT Communications and DIC Enterprises, Inc., several of the world's largest suppliers of family programming. Series include: SMURFS, SCOOBY DOO, GHOSTBUSTERS, SLIMER, SUPER MARIO BROS., G.I. JOE, ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS, PROSTARS, WISHKID, HAMMERMAN, HALLMARKS - SHIRTALES, BILL & TED, WHERE'S WALDO, MADELINE, BERENSTEIN BEARS, LIFE WITH LOUIE, PUNKY BREWSTER, BEATRIX POTTER'S "PETER RABBIT" SPECIALS and SWAMPTHING. Steve Waterman was also a Senior Vice President of Taft Entertainment. During his term, projects including RUNNING MAN, IRONWEED, MONSTER SQUAD, CRIME IN AMERICA, JON SABLE, SAM HOUSTON, TRIVIAL PURSUIT and DOUBLE TAKE were produced. He is an Executive Producer of the theatrical features CASPER and KULL THE CONQUERER with Universal, and the acclaimed STUART LITTLE I and II with Columbia Pictures. He also served as an Executive Producer for BORN FREE - THE NEW ADVENTURE for Columbia Pictures Television. Steve Waterman's television producing credits include the following series: THE BLACK STALLION with Mickey Rooney; AFRICAN SKIES with Robert Mitchum and Catherine Bach; CATWALK; BOOGIE'S DINER; HIGH TIDE with Rick Springfield; COULD IT BE A MIRACLE? with Robert Culp; MIKE HAMMER - PRIVATE EYE with Stacy Keach; and MOWGLI: The New Adventures of the Jungle Book. Animated series include: STUNT DAWGS and MUTANT LEAGUE; twenty-six action hours of AIR AMERICA; BORN FREE - THE SERIES, based on the Joy Adamson bestseller in conjunction with Columbia Pictures Television; etc. Concurrently, Steve has consulted for and represented numerous television and motion picture projects, including DIC Entertainment, HIT Entertainment, Sextant Entertainment, Kirch Media, Alliance/Atlantis, Canal Plus, Belo Productions, Phase 4, Bagdasarian Productions, among others. Steve Waterman’s producing credits include: KULL THE CONQUEROR, THE JUNGLE BOOK, CASPAR THE FRIENDLY GHOST and STUART LITTLE.
Steve joined the MoviePlus Group three years ago and became MoviePlus’ US President. Currently, Steve and MoviePlus US are in production with 20th Century Fox for the feature presentation ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS. He is also the President of Puppy Plays, LLC which is currently producing PUPPY PLAYS, a children’s series of specials for HBO Family.
Simon has had a distinguished career as a lawyer. Simon recently retired as Chairman of Olswang, a prominent UK law firm, which Simon founded in 1981 and which has developed into a leading and widely respected practice serving the media, communications and related industries, to join the Movie Plus Group, as the President of the newly formed MoviePlus UK company. He was instrumental to the financing and legal structure of prominent films such as “Monthy Python”, “Ghandi”, “The Last Emperor”, etc… Simon is certainly the most regarded legal and financial European advisor in the field of films and television programming, and his presence at Movie Plus is a real asset for our group. Simon was also a co-founder of LongAcre Partners Ltd, a specialist M&A and advisory firm focusing on the media and entertainment industries, of which he is a non-executive director. He is a member of the Board of Directors of The British Library and of the British Screen Advisory Council; he has also served as a non-executive director of a number of companies and organisations including Aegis Group plc, The Press Association and the British Film Institute. Outside business, Simon serves as Chairman of Governors of Langdon College of Further (Special) Education in Salford, of which he is a co-founder and trustee.
As the Project Director of Movie Plus Group Beijing Office, Mr. Wang Qun is in charge of our Company’s business in China Region. He was the director and producer of Zhejiang Film Studio under Zhejiang Provincial Radio & TV group, and general manager of Zhejiang United Film & TV Company Ltd.
Being well-experienced in film and TV production and management, Mr. Wang Qun has worked in the fields of TV and film for more than 20 years. He made tens of movies and TV series and won over ten state-level and provincial-level prizes of the country, while acting as the director and producer. Some of his works are: SHIP QUEEN, SUPERINTENDENT CLASS ONE, THE SEA GUARD, WHEN THE REED CATKINS FLY, BRIDGE OF THE BACK, DREAM OF THE LIFE, LEGEND OF LVBUWEI , CRICKET PRIME MINISTER
Mr. Wang is also an authenticated film and TV play producer by China State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Now he is member both of China Film Director Association and China Television Specialist Association.
Lindsay joined the MoviePlus US office two years ago as the VP of Development. She is currently producing the preschool series PUPPY PLAYS for HBO Family, as well as developing television programs such as THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE, and animated series for Columbia, ANDRE JR., a family feature with Paramount, THE ADVENTURES OF SPOT, a live action preschool series based on the widely successful books by Eric Hill, PRINCESS SCHOOL, an animated feature with Scholastic, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, a feature with director Stuart Gordon.
Christopher Brough’s extensive experience as a multi award winning writer, producer, and director of numerous feature film and television productions, motivated him to become a Co-Founder and CEO of three of Western Canada’s largest and most prolific entertainment companies: beginning with the creation of BLT Productions Ltd. In the late 1980’s - best known for the long-running worldwide hit television series “Andromeda” and the ABC mini-series “A Wrinkle in Time”. Then, in the early 1990’s, he co-founded Mainframe Entertainment, Inc., the world’s first and largest television animation studio - best known for such global hit television series as “Reboot” and “Transformers, and the “Casper” and “Barbie” series of best selling long form DVD releases via MCA/Universal. In the late 1990’s, he organized the Sextant Entertainment Group - producer of numerous Hallmark financed mini-series, US/Canadian Network Movies of the Week, internationally co-produced animated television series and various studio/independent feature films. A prolific winner of numerous entertainment industry awards, including six Gemini Awards, Chris was inducted into the Smithsonian Institute’s Cyberworld Hall of Fame - after being nominated by Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates. Before moving to British Columbia in the late 1980’s, Christopher’s extensive Hollywood executive career began as a Director of Prime Time Development at animation production giant Hanna-Barbera Studios, then as a Senior Vice President of Motion Pictures and Television Production at Alchemy II Productions and later served as Executive Producer at the Burbank based DIC Studios for three years. In addition to creating highly successful entertainment companies, Christopher co-founded New Media BC, which evolved into a globally recognized trade organization representing over two hundred companies currently operating within BC’s 3.5 billion dollar annual new media technology sector while serving as NMBC’s founding President for three consecutive terms. As a government appointed Director of the Board of Governors for the internationally recognized Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design for the past six years, Chris was recently appointed as Chair of the Institute’s Foundation Board. Via his motion picture company Dotcom Productions Ltd., Mr.. Brough has numerous feature films in development and pre-production, including theatrical documentary “The Trails of the Panda” - slated for a Summer 2007 production - filming on locations throughout the Sechutzuwan Province of China - with Beijing based MoviePlus Studios set as production partner and Sony/Columbia studios providing co-financing and international distribution. For further industry credits/awards/bio information, please consult: Canada’s Who’s Who and/or www.imdb.com.
Mark Phillips is a seasoned production executive who has spent the last seventeen years in the television and motion picture industry. He has Produced and/or Executive-in-Charge of Production for over 700 hours of series television, working with tier one communications companies such as Columbia Pictures, Fox Children Television, USA Networks and Sci-Fi Channel. Some of the programs include “Night Flight”; “Mike Hammer”; and “Born Free”. Mr. Phillips began his career as a partner in the theatrical agency business at American Talent International, which was sold to ICM in 1985. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Phillips was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ventura, California based studio Santa Ventura Studios. Santa Ventura Studios was a full service production facility complete with five sound stages where the Academy Award winning film “Erin Brockovich” was produced. In 2000, Santa Ventura Studios was sold to a film academy, where the facilities would be used to teach undergraduate students film and television production. After he left Santa Ventura Studios, Mr. Phillips was a founding partner in Dax Solutions, Inc., where he acted as Executive Vice President until 2006 when Dax was sold to a larger technology company. Dax provides technology to studios within the entertainment industry with its largest client being The Walt Disney Company. Mr. Phillips is currently producing the children’s television series “Puppy Plays” for HBO Family in conjunction with Steve Waterman.?
Jean Chalopin
Group Chairman and CEO
Stephen Waterman
President of US Movie Plus
Christopher Brough
Partner
Mark Phillips
Partner
Simon Olswang
President of UK Movie Plus
Wang Qun
Project Director
Lindsay Schulz
Vice President of Development