Cinemax Reorganizes Drama Department, Earns Film Executive Michael Ellenberg As SVP

EXCLUSIVE: Feature executive Michael Ellenberg has became a member of Cinemax as SVP, Cinemax Entertainment. He'll run the pay cable network's drama department, confirming to Cinemax Entertainment leader Sue Naegle and dealing carefully with Gina Balian, additionally a recently minted SVP, Cinemax Entertainment. Balian, that has been at Cinemax for ten years, is just one of several drama professionals who've lately been marketed, together with Francesca Orsi and David Levine, each of them upped to Vice president. The reorganization of HBO's drama department was precipitated through the recent departure of Vice president Jocelyn Diaz. But rather than taking a direct alternative, Cinemax brass elected to usher in somebody senior to guide the drama department. For using a film versus. network executive, I hear your decision turned from HBO's positioning to be between TV and film and the requirement to have somebody aboard you never know well the gamers within the feature world as a lot of filmmakers do series for Cinemax nowadays, including Boardwalk Empire's Martin Scorsese, Luck's Michael Mann and Bet on Thrones' David Benioff. Furthermore, HBO's development model is nearer to features rather than the standard broadcast cycle. Ellenberg spent the final 4 years at Ridley and Tony Scott's Scott Free Prods as SVP. He just finished manufacture of the Ridley Scott-directed Prometheus. He also done the company's films Robin Hood and Cyrus, in addition to such projects in development because the Passage with director Matt Reeves, Child 44 compiled by Richard Cost, Shadow Divers with director Robert Schwentke, Red-colored Riding and Forever War. Before Scott Free, Ellenberg spent 3 years at Scott Rudin Prods in La as Vice president. Coincidentally, Rudin is really a major series player at Cinemax when they have an offer and many projects within the works, including Aaron Sorkin's drama pilot More Because This Story Evolves. Drama is getting a revival at Cinemax, with each of the network's new series, Boardwalk Empire and Bet on Thrones, landing best drama Emmy nominations.