(Toronto – June 16, 2020) – Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Studios company, announces today the appointment of Melissa Williamson to SVP, Scripted Content. In a newly created role, Williamson oversees the development and production of all scripted series across comedy and drama. Based in Toronto, Williamson reports to Michael Kot, Managing Director of Saloon Media.
Williamson’s new role kickstarts Saloon Media’s strategic growth into the scripted space, while bolstering and diversifying its overall production slate. Saloon Media’s position as part of Blue Ant Studios gives Williamson access to the company’s global resources and relationships, including leveraging its in-house working relationships with the division’s L.A.-based studio.
“We’re committed to developing a diverse scripted slate amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Melissa’s sharp creative insight and wealth of industry relationships, in both Canada and L.A., are invaluable in setting up an impressive pipeline of compelling projects,” says Michael Kot, Managing Director, Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Studios company. “Melissa’s extensive experience steering high-level scripted series from development to delivery aligns with our strategy for bringing in premium stories with top creative talent.”
“Michael and the Saloon Media team have a long-standing reputation for producing top-quality content for the world. I already see how this track record is positively influencing our burgeoning scripted slate and new partnerships,” says Melissa Williamson, SVP, Scripted Content, Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Studios company. “I’m thrilled to be leading the scripted portfolio at Saloon and offering creators and partners a dynamic place to develop and collaborate.”
Prior to joining Saloon Media, Williamson was President of Toronto-based production company Pier 21 Films, most recently serving as Executive Producer on Pier 21’s award-winning news satire, The Beaverton for CTV. Williamson began her career in Los Angeles with leading independent production company Blueprint Entertainment before joining eOne’s television division in 2008.
Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Studios company, is a creative hub for compelling new television and digital productions. The founding partners have a wealth of experience in broadcasting and factual production, and a track record for delivering successful and award-winning programs to international clients. Saloon’s productions have broadcast on History, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Investigation Discovery, CMT, SBS, ZDF, Yesterday, Four, More4, and Netflix. Saloon is a specialist in international co-production, working with like-minded production partners around the world to produce top quality returning series and high-impact specials. Saloon Media is based in Toronto. saloonmedia.com
Blue Ant Studios is a leading international studio and production business. The business’ production companies are based in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and produce content in multiple genres, including Scripted, Documentary, Kids, Adult Animation, Factual Entertainment and Natural History. Blue Ant Studios works with all the major international streaming, cable and broadcasting companies as well as regional players in the markets it operates in. Blue Ant Studios, a subsidiary of Blue Ant Media, is based in Los Angeles with offices in New York.
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