Production Bios Timothy O. Johnson
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
‘FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE’ PRODUCTION BIOS TIMOTHY O. JOHNSON (Executive Producer) – Timothy O. Johnson is among the most active and reliable producers in the business, thanks to top rate productions and an “on time, on budget” reputation. Previously, he managed the production of ABC's “The Days.” Prior to forming Johnson Production Group and Ignite Entertainment, he served as Head of West Coast Programming and launched the successful series “Doc,” “Sue Thomas,” “FBI,” “Mysterious Ways,” “Just Cause,” “Ponderosa,” “It’s a Miracle” and “Miracle Pets.” Johnson is also responsible for producing the international hit series, “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” for more than five seasons. During his 100 episode tenure, he also launched “Live From the Ranch” with Orson Bean - a nationally syndicated talk show focusing on family values in America. Johnson also developed and produced the original docu-drama “Cold Case” for CBS network, which was the first program to integrate television with the internet. Most recently, Johnson was the executive producer of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies “June in January,” “Three Weeks, Three Kids,” “How to Fall in Love,” “Naughty or Nice” and “A Bride for Christ- mas.” ### MAURA DUNBAR (Executive Producer) - Maura Dunbar has more than 22 years of exten- sive television programming experience as a senior level broadcast/cable executive, a creator and producer of original programming and a highly successful media consultant. Dunbar’s rich and diverse experience has made her a recognized expert in programming strategies, develop- ment, packaging and production of original programming. Dunbar has a proven track record of identifying, buying, developing and overseeing production of more than 250 television movies and mini-series, as well as an expertise in building community around programming using new media and marketing platforms. As former Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development for Hallmark Chan- nel, Dunbar launched the channel’s franchise of original two hour movies with hits such as “Love Comes Softly.” In conjunction with the heads of distribution, marketing and sales, she helped grow the channel’s distribution from 32 to 57 million homes and drove the channel to the distinction of being the #1 Basic Cable Network in HH% in 2002. Prior to Hallmark Channel, Dunbar worked for 16 years as a creative executive in the program development department of ABC Network. There, as VP of Miniseries and Special Projects, she developed and produced programs that were among the network’s highest rated programming. Dunbar garnered numerous Emmy® nominations as well, including “Me and My Shadow: The Judy Garland Story,” Stephen King’s “Storm of the Century,” “The Stand,” “The Shining,” “Rear Window” and “The Beat Goes On: The Sonny and Cher Story.” Also during her tenure at ABC, she had oversight of such highly rated franchises as ABC Saturday Mystery including “Columbo,” (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE’ – Production Bios – Page 2 “Kojak” and “B.L. Stryker,” along with the ABC Saturday Family Movie. Beyond her network ex- ecutive experience, Dunbar now feeds her entrepreneurial spirit by maintaining her own pro- gramming consulting/production banner, In Promptu Media. Her impressive list of clients in- cludes Faith & Values Media, The Discovery Network, Lions Gate Television, The Learning Channel, Crown Media Holdings and O Marketing. She also created and produced 44 episodes of the one-hour reality drama “What Should You Do?” for Lifetime Television in association with Forty Four Blue Productions. In addition to her professional career, Dunbar serves the television industry through her profes- sional outreach, and is currently serving on the Steering Committee for The Caucus of Produc- ers, Writers and Directors. She has also served four terms on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Chaired the Primetime Emmy Awards for two seasons, and Chaired Loyola Marymount’s School of Film and Televisions “Inaugural Film Festival.” ### MARITA GRABIAK (Director) – Writer/Director Marita Grabiak was born in Ambridge, Penn- sylvania, and attended Chatham College for Anthopology studies and Carnegie Mellon for thea- ter. After a brief stint working in off Broadway theater in New York City, she moved to Los An- geles, where she graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Motion Picture Television. A versatile director, Grabiak has strength in drama, action and CGI, and a reputation for elevat- ing performances of young actors, and bringing production in on time and within budget. Her extensive experience in the entertainment industry ranges from production and editorial work on the historical documentary, “The Silk Road in Central Asia” to directing the 2013 romantic comedy “Christmas in the City” for Lifetime Television, which was the highest-rated premiere for the network since 2010. In addition to this, Grabiak has been a script supervisor on 27 fea- ture films, and directed episodes on the long-running NBC drama, “ER.” Grabiak is currently writing and developing several film scripts. ### BARBARA KYMLICKA (Writer) – Barbara Kymlicka has written more than a dozen feature length screenplays of various genres, many of which have been recognized by notable screen- writing contests. She has worked with such companies as Insight Film and Video, Regent En- tertainment (both of which co-produced Barbara’s script “Killer Bash,” which starred Glee’s Cory Monteith) and Capital Film Studios. Kymlicka made her directorial/screenwriting debut with the 35mm short film “Bluehair,” which enjoyed a very successful film festival run, including The Palm Springs International Festival of Short Film and the Rhode Island International Film Festival. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE’ – Production Bios – Page 3 “Bluehair” took home top prizes at the Rochester International Film Festival, The Hollywood Un- derground Film Festival and the Toronto Online Film Festival. Kymlicka recently penned several Hallmark Channel Original Movies, including “A Bride for Christmas,” starring Arielle Kebbel; “Holiday Engagement,” starring Bonnie Somerville and Shel- ley Long; and “Every Second Counts” starring Stephen Collins. Kymlicka also wrote Lifetime’s “Dear Santa” starring Amy Acker. ### DIANN HUNT (Author) – Diann Hunt was the best-selling author of 26 books. She won the American Christian Fiction Writers's prestigious Carol Award for her novel Hot Tropics and Cold Feet, and has been on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists multiple times. Hunt lived in Indiana forever; had been happily married forever; and loved her family, choco- late, her friends and her dog. Diann Hunt passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, following a long battle with cancer. She was 58. She loved to laugh and to encourage other people. -- HALLMARK CHANNEL -- .