Exclusive: Ben Cooley, the former chief executive of Lena Dunham and Jenn Konner’s Lenny Letter, has started a new media company with a focus on mysticism and spirituality practices.
He is one of the founders of Your Magic, which is kicking off its launch with an original podcast series for Spotify.
Lenny Letter was a digital media start-up run by the Girls and Camping exec producers between 2015 and 2018 that at its peak had around 500,000 readers.
Cooley has set up multi-platform media company Your Magic with former Lenny Letter editorial and creative director Molly Elizalde and writers Vera Blossom and Veronica Agard. The team, which was put together during quarantine includes staff across the U.S. from New York to Hawaii.
Its first project is the eponymous Your Magic podcast, hosted by author and Drag Queen Story Hour founder Michelle Tea. The Spotify Original series will launch on February 15 and...
He is one of the founders of Your Magic, which is kicking off its launch with an original podcast series for Spotify.
Lenny Letter was a digital media start-up run by the Girls and Camping exec producers between 2015 and 2018 that at its peak had around 500,000 readers.
Cooley has set up multi-platform media company Your Magic with former Lenny Letter editorial and creative director Molly Elizalde and writers Vera Blossom and Veronica Agard. The team, which was put together during quarantine includes staff across the U.S. from New York to Hawaii.
Its first project is the eponymous Your Magic podcast, hosted by author and Drag Queen Story Hour founder Michelle Tea. The Spotify Original series will launch on February 15 and...
- 12/23/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Lenny Letter, the feminist website and newsletter created by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner in 2015, is, as was widely expected and reported this week, will shut down today, the co-creators confirm.
The closure is addressed in an open letter posted on the site and credited to Dunham, Konner and editorial and creative director Molly Elizalde. “While there’s no one reason for our closure,” they write, “this change allows for growth and a shift in perspectives — ours and yours.” (Read the entire statement below).
“Be prepared for a day of unmitigated nostalgia!,” Dunham tweeted this morning.
The (once) twice-weekly newsletter is reported to have peaked with about 500,000 subscribers, though numbers dwindled at least through the past year.
The newsletter-website was a holdover from the professional partnership of Girls co-creators Dunham and Konner (their current HBO comedy Camping will apparently be their last). The duo split last June, with Konner...
The closure is addressed in an open letter posted on the site and credited to Dunham, Konner and editorial and creative director Molly Elizalde. “While there’s no one reason for our closure,” they write, “this change allows for growth and a shift in perspectives — ours and yours.” (Read the entire statement below).
“Be prepared for a day of unmitigated nostalgia!,” Dunham tweeted this morning.
The (once) twice-weekly newsletter is reported to have peaked with about 500,000 subscribers, though numbers dwindled at least through the past year.
The newsletter-website was a holdover from the professional partnership of Girls co-creators Dunham and Konner (their current HBO comedy Camping will apparently be their last). The duo split last June, with Konner...
- 10/19/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Syfy has expanded their lineup with a new comedy series. Deadline reports that the network has picked up Ghost Ghirls, a project created by Jeremy Konner, Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci and executive produced by Jack Black. The comedy is directed by Konner, and is reportedly a comedic take on shows like Medium and Ghost Whisperer. Lund and Blasucci respectively play “Heidi, who has self-proclaimed psychic abilities, and Angelica, who is a tech wiz. Together they attempt to solve paranormal mysteries each week while trying to prove to themselves and their customers that they are competent ghost hunters.”
Ghost Ghirls will be exec produced by Electric Dynamite’s Jack Black and Priyanka Mattoo with Ben Cooley, while Konner will serve as producer. This actually sounds like a fun show to me. My wife loves Medium and Ghost Whisperer and I have always found them ridiculously annoying, so a comic twist...
Ghost Ghirls will be exec produced by Electric Dynamite’s Jack Black and Priyanka Mattoo with Ben Cooley, while Konner will serve as producer. This actually sounds like a fun show to me. My wife loves Medium and Ghost Whisperer and I have always found them ridiculously annoying, so a comic twist...
- 11/21/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Exclusive: Syfy continues to build a comedy development slate as the cable network is yet to greenlight its first half-hour pilot. Syfy’s latest comedy buy is Ghost Ghirls, a project created by Jeremy Konner, Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci and executive produced by Jack Black. Directed by Konner, Ghost Ghirls is a comedic take on popular paranormal procedurals like Medium and Ghost Whisperer starring Lund and Blasucci (improv two-women show Beans!) as two women: Heidi, who has self-proclaimed psychic abilities, and Angelica, who is a tech wiz. Together they attempt to solve paranormal mysteries each week while trying to prove to themselves and their customers that they are competent ghost hunters. Electric Dynamite’s Jack Black and Priyanka Mattoo will executive produce with Ben Cooley, while Konner will serve as producer. Black and Konner previously worked together on Drunk History, the Derek Waters-created series of shorts, which Konner directed.
- 11/21/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Jack Black moves over from one comedy to another as he sinks his teeth into Michael Winterbottom's new feature "Bailout." The upcoming film is based off the novel "The Financial Lives of The Poets" written by Jess Walter who also ended up writing the script for the adaptation. Producing the film is Melissa Parmenter, Ben Cooley, Michael Besman, Priyanka Mattoo under Ealing Metro International and Jack Black."Bailout" centers on the story of one man's attempt to come back from the brink of financial ruin after meeting a couple of losers in a late night supermarket. Winterbottom will begin shooting "Bailout" this August somewhere in the United States.Michael Winterbottom is best known for his directing work in films like "24 Hour Party People," "A Mighty Heart" and "The Killer Inside Me." He's the same director who's handling the World War II-set film "The Promised Land" with a cast that includes Colin Firth,...
- 5/13/2011
- LRMonline.com
Jack Black and filmmaker Michael Winterbottom are set to team on the depression-themed comedy "Bailout" for Ealing Metro International and Prescience says Screen Daily.
Based on Jess Walter's novel "The Financial Lives Of Poets", Black plays a man who finds himself unemployed, crippled with debt, convinced his wife is having an affair and two weeks away from losing his home.
Michael Besman, Melissa Parmenter, Black, Ben Cooley and Priyanka Mattoo will produce. Shooting aims to kick off in August.
Based on Jess Walter's novel "The Financial Lives Of Poets", Black plays a man who finds himself unemployed, crippled with debt, convinced his wife is having an affair and two weeks away from losing his home.
Michael Besman, Melissa Parmenter, Black, Ben Cooley and Priyanka Mattoo will produce. Shooting aims to kick off in August.
- 5/12/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Jack Black is set to star in "Bailout," an indie comedy directed by Michael Winterbottom, Deadline.com reports from Cannes. The film centers on the recently unemployed, debt-ridden Matt Prior (Black), who suspicious of his wife's fidelity. Seemingly at the end of his rope, Prior encounters two strange men at the supermarket who extend him a mysterious business opportunity. "Bailout" was written by Jess Walter, based on his own novel "The Financial Lives of The Poets." Ballyhoo's Michael Besman is producing along with Melissa Parmenter of Revolution Films, Black and Ben Cooley and Priyanka Mattoo of Electric Dynamite. Black is in Cannes...
- 5/12/2011
- by HitFix Staff
- Hitfix
Jack Black is set to star in a comedy from director Michael Winterbottom called Bailout. The film is being financed by Ealing Metro International. They financed The King's Speech, and will sell worldwide rights. The film is based on the Jess Walter novel The Financial Lives of The Poets. Walter adapted his novel, which follows the "misadventures of Matt Prior (Black), who loses his job, is crippled with debt and is convinced his wife is having an affair. He's two weeks from losing his home when he meets two losers at the supermarket who offer him a strange business opportunity and his last chance to save himself." The project is being produced by Michael Besman of Ballyhoo along with Melissa Parmenter of Revolution Films, Black and Ben Cooley and Priyanka Mattoo of Electric Dynamite. Production is slated to begin in August.
This sounds like a great project for Black. I...
This sounds like a great project for Black. I...
- 5/12/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Ealing Metro International and The King's Speech financier Prescience will finance and sell worldwide rights on Bailout, a Michael Winterbottom-directed comedy that will star Jack Black. The film is based on the Jess Walter novel The Financial Lives of The Poets. Walter adapted his novel, which follows the misadventures of Matt Prior (Black), who loses his job, is crippled with debt and is convinced his wife is having an affair. He's two weeks from losing his home when he meets two losers at the supermarket who offer him a strange business opportunity and his last chance to save himself. Michael Besman of Ballyhoo is producing with Melissa Parmenter of Revolution Films, Black and Ben Cooley and Priyanka Mattoo of Electric Dynamite. Shooting will begin in August. Wme reps Black and Winterbottom, ICM reps Walter.
- 5/12/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Exclusive: Adult Swim has handed a pilot order to Shredd: The Jon Johnsonsen Story, a live-action comedy starring Jason Lee from Reveille and Jack Black's Electric Dynamite. Luke Watson and Jason Lee co-wrote the script for the 11-minute pilot, with Lee also set to direct. Shredd centers on Jon Johnsonsen (Lee) who, as a 17-year-old superstar skateboarder in 1985 was on top of the world until a risky skate move landed him in a coma for 25 years. When he wakes up, he is 42 but stuck in the 1980s mindset of a teenage boy and must cope with all the changes in his life. Lee and Watson are executive producing the project alongside Carolyn Bernstein, Todd Cohen and Howard T. Owens of Reveille and Black, Ben Cooley and Priyanka Mattoo of Electric Dynamite. This marks the first pilot pickup to come out of Electric Dynamite’s two-year TV overall deal with Reveille.
- 12/14/2010
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Jack Black is going deeper and deeper into the TV world. As part of his deal with production company Reveille earlier this year, the "Nacho Libre" actor would be producing a half-hour animation called "Tiny Monsters" which is now developing under Fox.
"Monsters" was tentatively brewing as "Little Bitches" before the title was erased from the script. According to NY mag, the cartoon is about junior-high mean girls. Alexandra Rushfield, who created ABC's short-lived comedies "Help Me Help You" and "In the Motherhood" has been tapped to write for the pilot. No release date has been set up yet.
It is also unknown whether Black would voice a character in the series. He has had such experience in several installments of "Kung Fu Panda" and an episode of "The Simpsons".
Black is executive producing along with his Electric Dynamite partners Ben Cooley and nm3339192 autoPriyanka Mattoo[/link] as well as Reveille's Carolyn Bernstein.
"Monsters" was tentatively brewing as "Little Bitches" before the title was erased from the script. According to NY mag, the cartoon is about junior-high mean girls. Alexandra Rushfield, who created ABC's short-lived comedies "Help Me Help You" and "In the Motherhood" has been tapped to write for the pilot. No release date has been set up yet.
It is also unknown whether Black would voice a character in the series. He has had such experience in several installments of "Kung Fu Panda" and an episode of "The Simpsons".
Black is executive producing along with his Electric Dynamite partners Ben Cooley and nm3339192 autoPriyanka Mattoo[/link] as well as Reveille's Carolyn Bernstein.
- 11/1/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
HollywoodNews.com: Jack Black is getting animated.
His production shingle Electric Dynamite has landed its “Tiny Monsters” cartoon at Fox TV.
The toon was written by Ali Rushfield (“In the Motherhood”) and centers on a click of mean chicks in junior high. Variety had the news.
Executive producers include Black, Electric Dynamite president Ben Cooley and the firm’s TV executive Priyanka Mattoo. Carolyn Bernstein of Reveille is also producing.
Other TV projects Electric Dynamite has in the works include “My Life as an Experiment” at NBC which is based on the A.J. Jacobs book.
Jack Black’s next film is also with Fox, “Gulliver’s Travels” which bows on December 22 in 3D. Film is a modern take on the classic Jonathan Swift book and co-stars Emily Blunt and T.J. Miller.
pd
Photo credit: PR Photos
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Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards,...
His production shingle Electric Dynamite has landed its “Tiny Monsters” cartoon at Fox TV.
The toon was written by Ali Rushfield (“In the Motherhood”) and centers on a click of mean chicks in junior high. Variety had the news.
Executive producers include Black, Electric Dynamite president Ben Cooley and the firm’s TV executive Priyanka Mattoo. Carolyn Bernstein of Reveille is also producing.
Other TV projects Electric Dynamite has in the works include “My Life as an Experiment” at NBC which is based on the A.J. Jacobs book.
Jack Black’s next film is also with Fox, “Gulliver’s Travels” which bows on December 22 in 3D. Film is a modern take on the classic Jonathan Swift book and co-stars Emily Blunt and T.J. Miller.
pd
Photo credit: PR Photos
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards,...
- 11/1/2010
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
Jack Black is entering the TV producing business, inking an exclusive production deal with Reveille for TV and online scripted comedies, unscripted and animated projects.
Under the two-year pact, Black's production company Electric Dynamite will set up offices at Reveille with former WME agent Priyanka Mattoo joining Black and partner Ben Cooley.
Shine International will handle international distribution for the series and formats to come out of the deal.
"The company is called Electric Dynamite and we've found the perfect home with the like-minded trailblazers at Shine and Reveille," Black said. "Don't worry TV...Help is on the way!"
Wme-repped Black got his start in TV series, as the co-creator/star/executive producer of HBO's "Tenacious D."
He segued into the big screen, while occasionally making memorable TV guest appearances, most recently on NBC's "The Office," which is co-produced by Reveille, and "Community."...
Under the two-year pact, Black's production company Electric Dynamite will set up offices at Reveille with former WME agent Priyanka Mattoo joining Black and partner Ben Cooley.
Shine International will handle international distribution for the series and formats to come out of the deal.
"The company is called Electric Dynamite and we've found the perfect home with the like-minded trailblazers at Shine and Reveille," Black said. "Don't worry TV...Help is on the way!"
Wme-repped Black got his start in TV series, as the co-creator/star/executive producer of HBO's "Tenacious D."
He segued into the big screen, while occasionally making memorable TV guest appearances, most recently on NBC's "The Office," which is co-produced by Reveille, and "Community."...
- 4/7/2010
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
By Josef Adalian
Exclusive
Jack Black and his Electric Dynamite production unit are expanding into television, partnering with Reveille for an exclusive production deal, people familiar with the deal said.
Priyanka Mattoo -- currently at William Morris Endeavor -- will run day-to-day TV activities for Electric Dynamite, working with Black and Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley. Black's company will have offices at Reveille, with Mattoo working with Reveille managing directors Howard T. Owens and Mark Koops.
<img style="margin:15px 15px 15px 15px;height:300px;w...
Exclusive
Jack Black and his Electric Dynamite production unit are expanding into television, partnering with Reveille for an exclusive production deal, people familiar with the deal said.
Priyanka Mattoo -- currently at William Morris Endeavor -- will run day-to-day TV activities for Electric Dynamite, working with Black and Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley. Black's company will have offices at Reveille, with Mattoo working with Reveille managing directors Howard T. Owens and Mark Koops.
<img style="margin:15px 15px 15px 15px;height:300px;w...
- 4/7/2010
- by Adalian
- The Wrap
Jack Black will once again venture into the animated world with a pitch from Jason Micallef centering on Cryptozoology that is being preemptively picked up by Illumination Entertainment, based over at Universal. There's no word as yet on what it's about, however, it is set in the world of Cryptozoologoy which is the study of mythic and legendary creatures including the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, etc. Black will produce with his Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley as well as Illumination’s Chris Meledandri. No word as to whether he will voice any character as yet.
- 12/7/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Jack Black is developing a comedy pitch by Jason Micallef into a feature for Illumination Entertainment says The Hollywood Reporter.
Story details are being kept under wraps but it will deal with cryptozoology, the study of mythic and legendary creatures such as the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster.
Black, Ben Cooley and Chris Meledandri will produce. At this point Black is not set to star or voice a character.
Story details are being kept under wraps but it will deal with cryptozoology, the study of mythic and legendary creatures such as the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster.
Black, Ben Cooley and Chris Meledandri will produce. At this point Black is not set to star or voice a character.
- 12/6/2009
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Jack Black is developing a comedy pitch by Jason Micallef into a feature for Illumination Entertainment says The Hollywood Reporter.
Story details are being kept under wraps but it will deal with cryptozoology, the study of mythic and legendary creatures such as the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster.
Black, Ben Cooley and Chris Meledandri will produce. At this point Black is not set to star or voice a character.
Story details are being kept under wraps but it will deal with cryptozoology, the study of mythic and legendary creatures such as the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster.
Black, Ben Cooley and Chris Meledandri will produce. At this point Black is not set to star or voice a character.
- 12/6/2009
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Chris O'Dowd has been cast in the Fox comedy "Gulliver's Travels."
The actor joins Jack Black, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet and Emily Blunt in the big-budget adaptation of the classic Jonathan Swift story.
The modern version is about the adventures of travel writer Lemuel Gulliver, who while on a Bermuda Triangle assignment gets sidetracked to the secret island of Lilliput. O'Dowd will play Edward, Black's Lilliputian nemesis.
Rob Letterman ("Monsters vs. Aliens") is directing from a screenplay originally penned by Joe Stillman ("Shrek 2"), with additional work done by Nicholas Stoller ("Yes Man") and Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant ("Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian").
Black, John Davis and Ben Cooley are producing.
O'Dowd, who is repped by UTA, Gordon & French in the U.K. and 3 Arts Entertainment, had roles in the feature "The Boat That Rocked" and in the British series "The It Crowd."...
The actor joins Jack Black, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet and Emily Blunt in the big-budget adaptation of the classic Jonathan Swift story.
The modern version is about the adventures of travel writer Lemuel Gulliver, who while on a Bermuda Triangle assignment gets sidetracked to the secret island of Lilliput. O'Dowd will play Edward, Black's Lilliputian nemesis.
Rob Letterman ("Monsters vs. Aliens") is directing from a screenplay originally penned by Joe Stillman ("Shrek 2"), with additional work done by Nicholas Stoller ("Yes Man") and Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant ("Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian").
Black, John Davis and Ben Cooley are producing.
O'Dowd, who is repped by UTA, Gordon & French in the U.K. and 3 Arts Entertainment, had roles in the feature "The Boat That Rocked" and in the British series "The It Crowd."...
- 6/11/2009
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emily Blunt and Jason Segel may join Twentieth Century Fox's "Gulliver's Travels" starring Jack Black. Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale," "Monsters vs. Aliens") is directing the new take of the classic Jonathan Swift tale. John Davis and Ben Cooley will produce. Blunt has been offered the role of Black Widow in "Iron Man 2," however, she may not have that option due to "Gulliver's Travels." Apparently, Fox holds an option on the actress and the studio may use it&...
- 1/31/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Emily Blunt and Jason Segel may join Twentieth Century Fox's "Gulliver's Travels" starring Jack Black. Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale," "Monsters vs. Aliens") is directing the new take of the classic Jonathan Swift tale. John Davis and Ben Cooley will produce. Blunt has been offered the role of Black Widow in "Iron Man 2," however, she may not have that option due to "Gulliver's Travels." Apparently, Fox holds an option on the actress and the studio may use it&...
- 1/31/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Jason Segel is in negotiations and Emily Blunt has been offered to sign up for "Gulliver's Travels," Fox's Jack Black-starring modern re-imagining of Jonathan Swift's classic tale.
Rob Letterman is directing the story of free-spirited travel writer Lemuel Gulliver (Black), who on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious yet tiny people.
Blunt would play the island's princess and the love interest of Horatio, Segel's character, a Lilliputian who befriends Gulliver.
Nicholas Stoller, who directed Segel in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," wrote the screenplay with Joe Stillman.
John Davis is producing with Black and his Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley.
Steve Asbell is overseeing project for Fox, and Brian Manis is overseeing for Davis.
Principal photography begins in March.
Segel, one of the stars of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," next appears on the big...
Rob Letterman is directing the story of free-spirited travel writer Lemuel Gulliver (Black), who on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious yet tiny people.
Blunt would play the island's princess and the love interest of Horatio, Segel's character, a Lilliputian who befriends Gulliver.
Nicholas Stoller, who directed Segel in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," wrote the screenplay with Joe Stillman.
John Davis is producing with Black and his Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley.
Steve Asbell is overseeing project for Fox, and Brian Manis is overseeing for Davis.
Principal photography begins in March.
Segel, one of the stars of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," next appears on the big...
- 1/29/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jack Black is reuniting with "Kung Fu Panda" writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger for an untitled live-action action comedy at Universal.
Black will produce with his Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley.
A sort of comedic "The Bourne Identity," the story sees Black as an American who finds himself washed up the shores of Cuba with no idea of who he is and how he got there. He comes to the conclusion that he must be a superspy, though in reality he is far from one.
"On the other hand," Berger said, "if he did turn out to be a superspy, this wouldn't be a 'comedic Bourne Identity,' but just 'The Bourne Identity,' and apparently Universal has already made that movie, several times."
Universal picked up the project as a pitch in a seven-figure deal.
Aibel and Berger worked with Black for months in the recording sessions for DreamWorks Animation's "Panda,...
Black will produce with his Electric Dynamite partner Ben Cooley.
A sort of comedic "The Bourne Identity," the story sees Black as an American who finds himself washed up the shores of Cuba with no idea of who he is and how he got there. He comes to the conclusion that he must be a superspy, though in reality he is far from one.
"On the other hand," Berger said, "if he did turn out to be a superspy, this wouldn't be a 'comedic Bourne Identity,' but just 'The Bourne Identity,' and apparently Universal has already made that movie, several times."
Universal picked up the project as a pitch in a seven-figure deal.
Aibel and Berger worked with Black for months in the recording sessions for DreamWorks Animation's "Panda,...
- 10/1/2008
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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