Lifetime Networks Bolsters Original Movie Department With Industry Veteran Tanya Lopez Joining as Senior Vice President and Nancy Bennett Serving as Vice President
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 -- Lifetime Networks, which produces
more original movies than any other broadcast or cable network, has named
respected industry veterans Tanya Lopez as Senior Vice President, Original
Movies, and Nancy Bennett as Vice President, Original Movies, effective
immediately. Both will be based in Los Angeles.
In her new role, Lopez will be responsible for developing and
overseeing all original movies for Lifetime and sister network, LMN
(Lifetime Movie Network), the two most-watched women's basic cable
networks. Lopez will report to Lifetime's President of Entertainment,
Susanne Daniels. Bennett will report to Lopez.
In making the announcement, Daniels said, "I'm delighted to have Tanya
join our team. She has excellent taste in material, has incredible
negotiating skills and is extremely well-respected in the industry."
Adding, "She's the perfect choice to lead Lifetime's growth and expansion
in the original movie area as we continue to be a destination for the
industry's top creative talent."
Ranked #1 in primetime households and total viewers among this year's
original basic cable movies, Lifetime Original Movies received two 2007
Emmy Award nomination, with "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy"
garnering a nod for Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Gena Rowlands
for Outstanding Actress in "What if God Were the Sun?"
Lopez joins Lifetime from ICM, where she was a television packaging
agent from 1987-2006. At ICM, she successfully packaged and sold movies and
miniseries to both broadcast and cable networks. She also developed both
comedy and drama series, representing such programs as "That's Life,"
"American Family" and "Life with Bonnie." During her tenure at ICM, Lopez
worked with such notable talent as Lauren Graham, Minnie Driver, Calista
Flockhart, Christina Ricci, Heather Locklear and Jada Pinkett-Smith, to
name a few.
Prior to ICM, she was Vice President of Drama Series at CBS, from
1995-96, where she oversaw such programs as "American Gothic," "Nash
Bridges" and "The Client." Lopez began her career at William Morris.
Lopez is also very dedicated to community service. In 1982, she helped
to found "One Voice," a Los Angeles non-profit organization devoted to
helping families, living at the poverty level, maintain their independence.
In addition, she currently serves on the Board of the California Women's
Conference, appointed by California's first lady, Maria Shriver. Lopez
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State
University at Northridge.
Bennett joined Lifetime this past May from Mattel Entertainment, where
she was Supervising Producer/Director of Entertainment from '03-'06. At
Mattel, she oversaw the development and production of the "American Girl"
movie franchise, including: "Samantha: An American Girl Holiday,"
"Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" and "Molly: An American Girl on the
Homefront."
Prior to Mattel, from '00-'02, Bennett was Vice President of
Production, Movies and Miniseries for ABC Entertainment, where she
developed and produced such movies as "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Miracle
Worker." Prior to ABC, Bennett spent four years at The Walt Disney Company
as Director of Development for Disney Telefilms, where she developed movies
for "The Wonderful World of Disney" franchise. Bennett's extensive
background also includes stints at Cosgrove-Meurer Productions and
Green/Epstein Productions.
Bennett holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University.
Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime
is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and
their families. Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, and Lifetime
Digital (http://www.lifetimetv.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a
50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
SOURCE Lifetime Networks
http://www.lifetimetv.com/
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