The N Commences Production on Makaha Surf In Hawaii

The N Commences Production on Makaha Surf In Hawaii

20 New Episodes of New Teen Drama Produced By MarVista Entertainment and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment Slated to Premiere in April 2006

David Chokachi (Baywatch) To Star As Coach of the Female Surf Squad

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The N, the nighttime network for teens, has commenced production on Makaha Surf, a new original teen series produced by MarVista Entertainment and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (BME). The announcement was made today by Michael Jacobs, MarVista's President, Production and Distribution and Kenny Miller, Vice President, Programming and Production, The N. The N has picked up 20 episodes of the new half-hour series which is currently being shot on location in Oahu, Hawaii. Makaha Surf will premiere in April 2006 on The N.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050922/NYTH139 )

"The N is totally stoked to be producing this series with MarVista and Brookwell McNamara," said Kenny Miller, Vice President, Programming and Production, The N. "Makaha Surf promises to take our audience on a ride they won't soon forget."

"We developed the creative for this show to directly address the needs of The N's growing teen demographic," commented Michael Jacobs President, Production and Distribution, MarVista Entertainment. "The scripting and pacing complemented by a young and energetic cast set the edgy tone for the series."

Created by Michael Jacobs and BME's David Brookwell and Sean McNamara (That's So Raven, Even Stevens, Raise Your Voice), MarVista and BME will both serve as producers for the new half-hour series with MarVista handling the worldwide distribution. Writers on the series include Matt Dearborn who served as the co-producer of Beverly Hills 90210 and whose previous writing credits include Just for Kicks and Romeo for Nickelodeon, Phil of the Future, Even Stevens and The Secret World of Alex Mack.

The cast includes: David Chokachi as Justin (Baywatch, Witchblade), Natalie Ramsey as Lacy (Cruel Intentions 3, Cherry Falls, Children of the Corn 666, Pleasantville), Suzie Pollard as Dawn (Abel Ferrara's Mary), Ross Thomas as Bailey (Cutting Edge 2/MGM/Sony, What's Bugging Seth) and newcomers Jason Tam as Shoe, Tiffany Hines as Birdie and Sonya Balmores as Kai.

Makaha Surf is an intense dramatic series that drops in on the world of four passionate girls and one dream -- to shred on the waves as world-class professional surfers. Despite their drastically different backgrounds, the girls develop an intense closeness as they live, surf and learn what it takes to be a woman in a male dominated sport. The series is to be complemented by the music of some of today's hottest surf bands.

Makaha Surf is the first series to go into production under the September 2004 multi-series production and development deal signed between MarVista Entertainment, BME and The N. Executive Producers of the series are Michael Jacobs, Fernando Szew, David Brookwell, Sean McNamara and Matt Dearborn.

ABOUT THE N

The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 45 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. The N's mission is to be the authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant, topical programming on-air and online at the network's web site www.the-n.com. The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

ABOUT BROOKWELL MCNAMARA ENTERTAINMENT, INC

Brookwell McNamara Entertainment is a full service production company focused on the development and production of family theatrical feature films and television series. Recently, BME partnered with Whoopi Goldberg to produce "Just for Kicks" for Nickelodeon and just completed photography on Cutting Edge 2 for MGM/Sony which company partner Sean McNamara also directed. In the last year BME produced and McNamara directed "Raise Your Voice" starring Hilary Duff, John Corbett, Rita Wilson, and Rebecca DeMornay for New Line Cinema. The company also produced the prime time Emmy nominated success "That's So Raven" as well as the Emmy and BAFTA winning comedy series "Even Stevens" both for the Disney Channel.

ABOUT MARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT

Founded by Joseph Szew and Fernando Szew, Porch Light Entertainment's former SVP, Worldwide Sales and Executive Producer Michael Jacobs and George Port, former President/Founder of Anchor Bay Entertainment, MarVista is the beneficiary of the Whamo Entertainment library, which contains 3000 hours of television programming including 45 animated feature films. During the company's first years of business, adding new and quality programming to its roster and forming strategic alliances to spearhead future growth have been of paramount importance. Since the company's formation in September of 2003, MarVista has acquired 175 half hours of episodic television series and over 25 television movies. MarVista has signed several key alliances:

-- In March 2004, MarVista signed a three series co-production and worldwide distribution deal with Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (Even Stevens, That's So Raven) which resulted in a September 2004 Production and Development deal with The N, the nighttime network for teens. The first series to be produced under the deal is Boarding School for broadcast in the US in Spring 2006.

-- In March 2005, MarVista signed a multi-year, multi-picture development, production and distribution agreement with Waterfront Pictures for six $1 million budget animated specials.

-- Previously, MarVista signed a unique alliance with Canada's Alberta Filmworks to provide a new, boutique distribution option for Canadian producers, by offering them a CTF (Canadian Tele Film) approved distribution company. April 2005 saw an expansion of this arrangement when the two companies signed a co-venture agreement to produce a live- action/CGI tween series for Canada's Family Channel.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050922/NYTH139 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: The N

CONTACT: Jodi Davis, +1-212-654-6646, or jodi.davis@noggin.com; or Sharyn Traub, +1-212-654-6632, or Sharyn.traub@noggin.com, both of The N; or Carol Holdsworth of MarVista, +1-805-252-1848, or carolholdsworth@cox.net

Web site: http://www.nick.com/ http://www.the-n.com/

------- Profile: Ent