AIR FRANCE <> mas) me =)New Media Malik Paramount Digital, North America en 2» FoRMeR adman and home video exec for Lionsgate and MGM, Ducard snow one of the stidios leading digital dealmakers. He struck an innovative pact to put Paramount movies on new Dell computers, and hammered out the first commercial-goods arrangement between astudio anda virtual world (Habbo). Paramount is the only film studio with astand-alone digital division. “One ofthe things thet sets us apart i our comfort level with being an early mover” the Columbia gradand UCLA M.B.A. says. ‘Watching over content on a slew of digital platforms from Xbox to Amazon, Ducard say, “you've got tobe constantly {innovating how to sell product with them," Watt Disney Internet Group » or c.ue Penguin co- founder Merrifield, the $350 million acquisition ofthe kid centric virtual world by Disney last year marked both a new beginning as wellas areturn to his roots. "My first job was at Disneyland, where controlled crocodile ona float as it went down Main Street" he says, Merrifield later returned to his native Canada, holding several tech and marketing jobs before he and several colle launched the online: kids n 2005. Now back at the Mouse House, he runs all of Disney's virtwal-world initiatives from an office featuring aposter of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse ~ a reminder ofthe founder's focus on children. “There's a Jot of people entering virtual ‘worlds trly for financial reasons!’ he says. “But for us, ifit doesn’t matter to kids, then it doesn’t matter? » FYoustill think YouTube is just eats on skateboards, consider Strompolos' accomplishments in bringing high-end original content to the world’s top Web video destination. This year he struck a landmark deal for ‘Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane's breakout “Cavaleade of Cartoon, Comedy.” That wacky video with Diet Coke bottles exploding lke volcanos? He brought in Coke and Mentos as sponsors. “That opened up my eyes totying brands directly to content creators" he says. But ‘what really revs Strompolos’ engine isthe ability to build a massive audience for unknown talent ike YouTube sensation Fred, “It's really thrilling tome toseea15-year-oldkid in Nebraska do that: Safran Digital Group » zi Tow long enough in the studio system to know he ‘would have to operate outside ittoblaze new digital tails. So the former Fox Atomic exec joined manager-producer Peter Safran’s digital startup, shepherding lucrative pro- ramming deals lke Xbox's first-ever original series. “We ended up essentially creating a new market with Xbox? he says, Zim then raised eyebrows with comedy webisodes he put together for Spike.com called "PG Porn,” which teamed TV actors like Michael Rosenbaum (CW's “Smallille”) with real aadult-flm stars to lampoon ‘the genre sans actual coitus "eS for people who love everything about porn — except the sex) he jokes. Zim also takes his work home with him, blogging regularly at JakeZim.com on the evolution of the digital marketplace. Profiles reported by Nelle Andreeva, Matthew Ballon, Jay A. Fernandez Carolyn Giardina, Gregg Goldstein, Borys Kt Kimbery Nordyke, Ray Richmond, Leslie Simmons, ‘Andrew Wallenstein, Davi Ward and Steven Ziti THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER S17