Wind Sun Sky expands leadership team
October 4, 2023
The Wind Sun Sky content team continues to expand with the appointment of several key new members to the team including Robin Hays who has joined the company in a newly created role as Vice President Creative, Kids; and Bernice Vanderlaan who has signed on as Future Chicken Universe Executive Producer and Head Writer. In preparation for the global launch of Future Chicken scheduled for Fall 2023, 10Star Media has also signed-on as the exclusive distribution agent under the leadership of managing partner Craig McGillivray. 10Star Media will assume responsibility for driving the initiative’s multi-platform and format global sales at the upcoming MIPJr and MIPCOM marketplace, in addition to representing a number of other Wind Sun Sky Entertainment projects.
Reporting to recently appointed Managing Director, Kids, Jo Redfern, Hays in her role as Vice President Creative, will be responsible for the strategic development and execution of kids’ content creation across various projects and format types including animation, live action and hybrid projects. Collaborating with the studio’s artists, directors, executives, stakeholders, and partners, she will drive the creative implementation of concepts through completion with a focus on innovative storytelling with an initial focus on the Future Chicken Universe in addition to supporting WSS’s renewed expansion of its existing multi-platform property, Camp Bonkers.
Hays is an award-winning independent filmmaker, director and producer with a highly commercial and innovative approach to multi-platform filmmaking. Prior to joining WSS, she worked as an independent filmmaker, directing, writing and producing short and long-form films. Some of her credits include Anthem starring Juliette Lewis, Cameron Monaghan and Peyton List, her animated film Post No Bills and producing Neill Blomkamp’s Alive in Joburg, Adicolor Yellow and Tempbot. She has worked with global brands including Visa, Adidas, Honda, Nestle, Danon, The IOC, Treehugger and Spin Master. Her work has been featured in multiple festivals including TIFF, Mill Valley, Santa Barbara and Shots YDA in Cannes. Hays reports to Jo Redfern and is based out of the WSS Vancouver offices.
WSS has also expanded the role of Bernice Vanderlaan who has signed on as Future Chicken Universe Executive Producer and Head Writer. An Emmy nominated writer, Vanderlaan initially joined WSS to develop the Future Chicken multi-platform universe story bible in collaboration with the co-creators, Catherine Winder (CEO/EP/Founder, WSS) and Annabel Slaight (founding chair of the Ontario Water Centre educational charity, and co-founder of the widely acclaimed OWL kids’ magazine empire). In her new role as Future Chicken Universe Executive Producer and Head Writer, Vanderlaan will collaborate with Winder, Slaight and WSS’s Managing Director, Kids, Jo Redfern to ensure the many narrative extensions of the universe are produced in alignment with the project’s guiding principles, education and entertainment goals to bring ecotainment fun and learning to kids. Vanderlaan has written for a multitude of kids series including The Magic School Bus Rides Again (Netflix), and Alma’s Way (PBS), and has developed, written and story-edited a swath of kids’ programming, including award winning series Nina’s World (NBCUniversal), Rovio’s Angry Birds Stella and Blues shorts, Life with Derek (Family Channel/Disney), and Hello Mrs. Cherrywinkle (Family Channel/PBS). Vanderlaan reports to Winder, and is based in Toronto.
Under the guidance of Winder and Redfern, Craig McGillivray, 10Star Media has been appointed as the exclusive distribution agency for WSS’s slate of properties for kids, families and adults available in the marketplace. The agency will shoulder the responsibility of managing global sales and is set to showcase the innovative Future Chicken’s multiple content extensions including series, shorts and podcasts at the forthcoming MIP Jr. and MIPCOM marketplace. 10Star Media is a boutique sales and production company based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2022, the company specialises in the sales, pre-sales, and financing of Children’s, Factual, and Scripted content. Working with WSS, their primary goal will be international sales.
“I am thrilled about Wind Sun Sky’s continued growth and our dedication to delivering meaningful content. With the addition of Robin and the expansion of Bernice’s role, our creative bench strength continues to deepen. As we prepare to introduce Future Chicken and an exciting slate of content to the MIP marketplace under the guidance of our esteemed partner, 10Star Media, led by Craig McGillivray, we are poised to make a significant impact in the world of entertainment.”, said Catherine Winder, CEO of Wind Sun Sky Entertainment.