Development Needs for Network/Cable TV CD

Jonathan Eskenas is a producer and currently serves as vice president of development at Dick Clark Productions, a leading television and film production company. In this position, he has become one of the industry's top executives, producing numerous television movies, miniseries, and series for multiple outlets. He recently co-executive produced the Lifetime movie Fab Five starring Tatum O'Neil and Jenna Dewan. The film premiered in August 2008 as the network's highest-rated movie of the year and second-most-watched movie of all time among the key 18-48 female demographic. He also executive produced Hallmark Channel's romance film Bridal Fever, starring Delta Burke and Andrea Roth, which premiered in Feb. 2008. He is currently in production, post production, and development on multiple projects, including The Good Witch's Garden for Hallmark Channel, along with films for Lifetime, Nickelodeon and ABC Family. Among his other producing credits are 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, ESPN's all-time highest rated movie with over seven million viewers starring Barry Pepper in a SAG Award nominated performance; Odd Girl Out, based on the groundbreaking book about bullying among teenage girls, for Lifetime; ESPN's critically acclaimed telefilm Code Breakers starring Scott Glenn; the widely publicized true story The Madam's Family: The Truth About Canal Street Brothel, starring Ellen Burstyn, Annabella Sciorra, and Dominique Swain, for CBS; USA Network telefilm D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear, winner of NAACP Image Awards for best television movie and best lead actor (Charles Dutton); ESPN film The Junction Boys starring Tom Berenger as coaching icon Bear Bryant; and comedic detective film Mystery Woman, starring Kellie Martin, which premiered as Hallmark Channel's all-time second-highest rated original film and has since spawned multiple sequels. He has also supervised development and production of Playmakers, ESPN's first original dramatic series, honored as one of AFI's top ten shows of the year, winner of a GLAAD Award for outstanding drama series, and nominated for a CSC Award; and Tilt, ESPN's gritty series set around the world of professional poker. He has spearheaded several high-profile projects in various media, including "10 Dates from Hell", an internet series produced for TBS which premiered on the network's web site in Feb. 2008; and an animated series at Disney Channel. Recognized as a leading producer, he has given multiple presentations at SDSU's Writers' Conference, and has been a guest lecturer for UCLA's producing program and for AFI's and LMU's screenwriting classes. Previous to his position at Dick Clark Productions, he was president of Orly Adelson Productions. He will conduct consultation appointments for screenplays and present "Development Needs for Network and Cable Television," "How a Producer Thinks," and "Rules of Truth."

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