Warren Franklin, CEO of Rainmaker Entertainment, announced that veteran animation producer and creative executive Catherine Winder has joined Rainmaker Entertainment as President. Winder was most recently at Lucasfilm Animation, where she set up the studio and produced the Cartoon Network series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as the animated feature version which was released by Warner Bros. last summer. Kim Dent Wilder is also being added to the management team as Senior Vice President of Production and Operations. Tara Kemes will join Rainmaker as Manager of Talent Development.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to have Catherine join us as Rainmaker further positions itself to build its creative infrastructure to develop and produce its own family content and expand its service based business,” states Franklin. “Catherine is an executive whose track record I’ve greatly admired and it’s very exciting for Rainmaker to have someone with her inventive creativity, broad animation experience and production depth to lead our team.”
“I’m thrilled to be at the helm as we refocus and reinvigorate the studio toward family-oriented content in a wide variety of genres, in addition to continuing our successful service based business. Building on the great work that has been done over the years, Rainmaker, formerly Mainframe, has a talent base and innovative pipeline that is well poised to re-position itself and regain its place as a leader in our industry,” Winder comments. “I look forward to establishing our own creative brain trust where we inspire, support and encourage excellence. Plus, to be teamed up again with Warren and to work side by side with the incredible management team we’ve put in place is a terrific opportunity for me. I’m thrilled that Kim Dent Wilder, a highly talented and seasoned animation executive, has agreed to return to Rainmaker to oversee Production and Operations. The new role of Talent Development that Tara Kemes is taking on symbolizes our commitment to nurturing the teams of people that produce our projects.”
Rainmaker’s executive team also includes Jennifer Twiner McCarron continuing as Vice President of Production, managing the day-to-day production of Rainmaker’s various movies, DVDs, games and series work; Tony Pelle, Director of Technology; and Ron Stinson, Director of IT and Operations. McCarron, Pelle and Stinson, along with Kemes, will report to Wilder. Kimberly Dennison, who joined the studio from Disney as Director of Development last year, will continue to work directly with Winder to develop the slate of in-house projects.
Winder, who has been consulting with Rainmaker, has set the studio on a new trajectory. “There is exceptional creative talent here,” she explains. “What makes it especially remarkable is the legacy of efficiency and flexibility that Rainmaker is also known for. As we proceed with all the pipeline improvements already underway, we envision our future to be very bright.” One of Winder’s first new steps at Rainmaker is the production of an original short feature animation project, Luna, based on a concept from in-house producer Luke Carroll, and directed by Pixar alumnus Jon Mead. Luna will begin production this summer.
Prior to Rainmaker, Winder oversaw both development and production of the first animated Star Wars adventure, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a feature film which was released last summer. Over her distinguished career in animation, Winder has worked in feature films, home video and television, in addition to running her own industry consulting business. She was Senior Vice President of Production at Fox Feature Animation, where she oversaw the production of the Oscar-nominated hit Ice Age. Winder has produced such series as Spawn and Spicy City for HBO and Aeon Flux for MTV. She began her animation career in Asia, working for Walt Disney Television Japan, followed by positions at Hanna-Barbera/Turner Pictures in both Taiwan and Los Angeles. Winder also co-authored Producing Animation, which is used as a reference text in animation schools.
Kim Dent Wilder rejoins Rainmaker after a three year break, during which time she was Chief Operating Officer of Nexon Publishing North America (NPNA), a Vancouver-based global online entertainment company. During her previous stint at Rainmaker, she was Vice President of Production. Prior to that, she was the company’s Executive Producer. In her new position, Wilder, reporting directly to Winder, will oversee all studio production operations including the ongoing service-based projects.
Tara Kemes was most recently Manager of Recruitment at NPNA. Prior to this she was a senior gaming recruiter at Relic Entertainment/THQ. She is a former member of the Mainframe family, having worked there as a recruiter and HR advisor from 2001-2005. Kemes will bring her extensive artist connections and resources to Rainmaker, bolstering its commitment to talent development and creating an increased artist-friendly environment.
Currently in production at Rainmaker is Escape From Planet Earth, a theatrical feature with The Weinstein Company; and new installments in Mattel’s Barbie and Max Steel franchises. Rainmaker is also in the process of developing their classic series ReBoot into a family-friendly series of feature projects. The Nutty Professor, featuring the voice of Jerry Lewis, was recently released.
About Rainmaker Entertainment
Rainmaker Entertainment Inc. is one of the Canada’s largest producers of CG animation. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the studio employs over 250 people. Originally established in 1993 as Mainframe Entertainment, Rainmaker has produced many feature length DVDs, game cinematics and television shows based on top international brands such as Barbie, Max Steel, Casper, Popeye, Tony Hawk, Stuart Little, Hot Wheels, Spider-Man, and Inspector Gadget and more. Rainmaker’s clients include Mattel, The Weinstein Company, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Sony, Electronic Arts and MTV. In addition to garnering many prestigious awards for their work, Rainmaker is currently developing a diverse slate of DVDs and feature films including a movie based on their classic series ReBoot. Currently in production at Rainmaker: Escape From Planet Earth, the company’s first theatrical feature with The Weinstein Company; and new installments in Mattel’s Barbie and Max Steel franchises. Recently completed productions include an animated sequel to The Nutty Professor.
