Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has announced the appointment of Elaine Sperber as the new Vice-Chair of Northern Ireland Screen and Professor Greg Maguire as Board Member after an open competition. They have been appointed with effect until 31 December 2018.
Elaine Sperber was Head of Family and Children’s Drama for Zodiak Media from March 2006 - 2013. Since then she has been Executive Producer on a number of her own productions for CBBC through Foundation and Zodiak Kids Studios. Most recently, she has created and Executive Produced two series of family comedy ‘Millie Inbetween’, five series of the hit children’s comedy ‘Dani’s House’, and three series of ‘Dani’s Castle’. Prior to taking up this post, she was Head of Drama at CBBC for over six years, where she executive produced more than 54 drama and comedy series – winning numerous BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast Awards for outstanding children’s and family drama. Her production of ‘Stig of the Dump’ also won the International Emmy.
Previously Elaine was Vice President of Production at HBO Pictures in the US, producing the HBO movies ‘Perfect Witness’ and ‘Framed’. She also produced the Walt Disney feature film ‘A Far off Place’ with Reese Witherspoon.
Greg Maguire is Professor of Animation at the Ulster University Belfast School of Art. He is actively involved in promoting a sustainable all-Ireland animation industry through his work with Creative Skillset, Northern Ireland Screen, Invest NI, Irish Film and Television Academy and the Visual Effects Society (USA). In 2010, he formed Northern Ireland’s largest animation cluster, Toody Threedy for students, researchers and industry which has enabled students to develop their practice with both local and US-based companies. In partnership with Northern Ireland Screen and Creative Skillset, Professor Maguire has developed a series of flexible learning programmes for industry which run concurrently with university taught content, ensuring content delivered is current and fit for purpose.
Greg served as R&D Supervisor, Character Supervisor and Creature Supervisor at two Lucasfilm Divisions. At Lucasfilm Animation since its formation in 2003 as a global digital animation studio and at Industrial Light & Magic on the Academy Award nominated ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, ‘Terminator Salvation’ and ‘Avatar’.
Prior to his role at Lucasfilm, Greg was Technical Animation Supervisor on Walt Disney Feature Animation’s first computer animated feature, ‘Dinosaur’. At Disney, he was responsible for creating and maintaining Dinosaur’s eighty diverse creatures.
Welcoming the appointments, the Minister said: “I am pleased to make these appointments as both Elaine Sperber and Greg Maguire will bring excellent skills and experience. Their contribution will allow NI Screen to maximise its impact within the local, national and international screen industry, while ensuring that opportunities are created for all, including those who are socially disadvantaged.”
