Original Heyou Media Content – “Cooks Out There,” and “Your Move” Begin Production; “Heyou Memeo™” Launches
Heyou Media Holdings, Inc., a digital cross-platform visual entertainment media company founded by Emmy winner actor, writer and filmmaker Tom Skerritt, revealed it’s been busy the last six months fulfilling the company’s mission to bring fresh, meaningful and much needed mobile and digital original content to the world masses. The entertainment company also announced, today it continues to attract impressive industry executives with the addition of its most recent advisory board members, Founder and CEO of Rights Stuff, and former CANAL+ International CEO, Wendy Bernfeld, and seasoned content distribution executive and Managing Partner at Pioneer Venture Partners, Pete Bryant. The company also launched a new product “Heyou Memeo™” (www.heyoumedia.com/memeo) and reported its current Originals content slate is experiencing consistent, exponential growth in global viewer numbers.
“The worldwide appetite for mobile devices, online and multi-platform digital entertainment is only intensifying, since Heyou Media, Inc. started our journey, a little more than a year ago. With our efficient and economical production methodology, we are on point to help feed this demand. Our growing library of diverse and unique visual storytelling surprises, evokes and engages powerful emotion and delights,” said Skerritt, Founder and Chairman of Heyou Media, Inc. “Viewer numbers and ability to attract high-caliber talent like Wendy and Pete provide continued evidence that our business model is striking a cord with today’s fan base, content providers, digital platforms, industry communities and investors.”
Heyou Media announced pre-production has started on the following content and new product offerings. Promo spots and visual updates can be found on the company’s website and social media channels:
“Cooks Out There” – Initial culinary segments feature JAKE’S PICKUP, beloved Bainbridge Island, Washington chef, Jake Angel, who bakes and cooks with celebrities and leads us to interesting places and ingredient sources (www.heyoumedia.com/cooksoutthere).
“Your Move” – An original screenplay by Skerritt relays the shenanigans around serious chess with a New Jersey mobster (www.heyoumedia.com/yourmove).
“East of the Mountains” – Author David Guterson’s screenplay of his best-selling book, will shoot in Walla Walla, Washington and surrounding area in 2019 (www.heyoumedia.com/eastofthemountains).
“Heyou Memeo” launched today and joins the Heyou Media suite of diverse products. Heyou Media coined the term “Memeo” as a way to describe the more than 100 content pieces recently produced by the company, which run 10-15 seconds each, and are a hybrid between memes and videos. The new format offers a fresh delivery of the traditional meme and brings to life a burst of humor-related content featuring silent-era stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton. Initial releases of Heyou Memeo went viral, with millions of views and tens of thousands of shares and likes, in a matter of a few weeks.
“Heyou Reimagined Classics” product line, announced in February 2018, continues to experience prolific output with the team producing and distributing many remastered and reimagined short content segments of silent film classics, using modern Northwest music and current voice bubbles. With worldwide views now at more than 20 million, the numbers continue to multiply by the millions through online and social media distribution.
“We are energized by the growing support for, interest in and reaction to Heyou Media’s content approach and new product lines,” added Chief Technology Officer and leading filmmaker, Joseph Assi. “We’ve had an amazing year of growth and evolution, and it’s fulfilling to see that our digital media formats are engaging a wide-range of communities.”
Bernfeld and Bryant will join Pearl Jam manager, Kelly Curtis; Xbox Co-Creator, Ed Fries; global business executive, Douglas Shinsato; former Facebook and Amazon executive, Rudy Gadre; and digital technology executive, Bill Ruckelshaus on the company’s advisory board.
Bernfeld (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-bernfeld-31847), a Canadian, is Founder and CEO of Rights Stuff (www.rights-stuff.com), a Europe-based, international digital agency providing content strategy and licensing services – including content curation, acquisition, distribution and development for and to traditional and digital media. She brings more than 25 years of experience in film, Pay/TV, VOD/SVOD/OTT channel startup, program buying, digital distribution and Originals deals. She began her career as an entertainment lawyer before moving to the business side of several international PayTV/VOD networks and creative conglomerates, including The Movie Network, Alliance-Atlantis, CANAL+ International, Orange, Disney, Endemol, DivX and Sony. She is an expert on digital and cross-platform content, including film, on-demand, mobile and VR. Bernfeld has authored several high-profile industry articles and an acclaimed book about the digital sector buyers and funders, and is a frequent speaker at industry festivals and workshops, such as Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Toronto, IDFA, MIPCOM, among many other prestigious entertainment institutes and venues.
“Heyou Media brings a much-needed fresh and eclectic approach to content that can appeal to a broad genre and international audience,” said Bernfeld. “I look forward to helping contribute to the company’s direction and broadening their outreach to additional traditional, digital and multi-platform viewers and fans.”
Bryant serves as Managing Partner of Pioneer Venture Partners of Kirkland, Washington (www.pvpartners.com). Recently Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at VUBIQUITY, Bryant served multiple leadership roles at the company for more than 17 years across business development, operations, partnerships and distribution. VUBIQUITY was sold in February of this year and is now part of the Amdocs Media division of Amdocs.
“I continually evaluate game changers in the entertainment industry – from content to operations,” said Bryant. “Heyou Media’s innovative content and efficient business model will make a positive impact on the entertainment industry. I am pleased to play a role in a movement that will alter many forms of entertainment, due to their strategic and entertaining creations.”
Douglas Shinsato, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglasshinsato), who has participated as an advisor and board member since 2017, is serving as interim Chief Executive Officer of Heyou Media Holdings, Inc.
About Heyou Media Holdings, Inc.
Heyou Media, Inc. (www.heyoumedia.com) develops and distributes cross-platform visual entertainment, including long-form features and series, music, short-form video, web series, virtual reality and special interest videos. Products include “Heyou Reimagined Classics,” “Mini.Mobile.Movies.,” and “Heyou Features,” which includes such projects as David Guterson’s “East of the Mountains,” Skerritt’s “Your Move,” and “Stroller Gangs” web series, available on Amazon Prime and the Heyou Media website. All Heyou Media content will be produced in Washington State, USA and released to the world online, via ad-supported, transactional, subscription and other platforms and channels for the enjoyment of mobile media and home entertainment viewers.