BORSICZKY TO OVERSEE TV AT SHINGLE
Copyright 2002 www.variety.com

[ August 5th 2002 ]

jessika Borsiczky has been named VP for the Gavin Polone-led film and TV shingle Pariah. Borsiczky, most recently head of production for Jan De Bont's Blue Tulip Prods., will develop and oversee both TV and film projects at Pariah. Studio is expected to be particularly active on the small-screen side in the wake of its rich new overall deal with NBC.

Polone will remain in charge of his company on a day-to-day basis, with Borsiczky and Pariah vet Vivian Cannon serving as co-equal veeps in charge of two development teams. Rather than divide the teams between TV and film, Polone said Borsiczky and Cannon will each develop projects for both mediums. Michelle Kane, a former assistant at Endeavor, has joined Pariah as a creative exec working under Cannon. Jonathan Frank remains a creative exec at the company; he'll now work under Borsiczky.

As Pariah prepares to ramp up its development slate in TV, Polone said he was looking for an exec who had experience in television but also had a strong background in film. Most of the other candidates he considered were strong in TV but knew little about the film world. "Jessica was someone who had experience in both," Polone said.

Borsiczky and Polone first worked together when Polone produced the telepic "When Trumpets Fade" for HBO; Borsiczky then was director of development for HBO NYC Prods. "She was the first person who liked that project at HBO, and that showed some taste," Polone said. Borsiczky said she "had a great time working with Jan," but couldn't pass up a chance to work at a growing company like Pariah. "I've been able to see the rise of what Gavin is doing and it's really exciting," she said. "He's a very unique individual, which is in and of itself appealing to me. He's very motivated by all the things that make this business fun and exciting and lucrative."

Borsiczky said "the strength of Gavin's deal" with NBC was also "a real lure" for her to join Pariah. Peacock is committed to producing several skeins each year as part of the pact. What's more, Borsiczky said she hopes to give Pariah even more credibility in the film world. Indeed, Polone said Borsiczky's "skills are really in bringing projects in. She has a lot of great relationships with writers and directors that we'd like to work with," he said.

Since October 2000, Borsiczky had been head of production for Blue Tulip, where she worked on pics such as Minority Report and the upcoming Equilibrium and Tomb Raider 2. In television, Borsiczky helped developed the upcoming FX mini Eater and the USA original pic Thoughtcrimes. Before Blue Tulip, Borsiczky was VP of production at Disney-based Paul Schiff Prods. At HBO NYC, she helped develop Polone's Trumpets, along with If These Walls Could Talk, Cheaters and Miss Evers' Boys. Borsiczky said she'll remain involved with several Blue Tulip projects in development.