TM
“
Inspiring children to celebrate difference and each other by introducing them to world languages and cultures through music, animation, and magical adventures around the globe.
”
.png)
.png)
The Executive Team
Howard Kazanjian - Having produced some of the largest blockbusters of all time, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Howard has achieved one of the most impressive track records in Hollywood history. His films have generated over $2 billion dollars at the box office alone while costing a mere $90 million to produce. As Vice President of Lucasfilm for over a decade, Howard oversaw the day-to-day operations of the company as well as the licensing and merchandising juggernaut of the Star Wars franchise. To this day, Star Wars continues to earn revenues in excess of $1 billion annually, and has generated more total revenue than any other entertainment property. Howard has worked alongside top film directors Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Peckinpah and others. Howard’s expansive list of over four decades of film and television credits also include: Finian’s Rainbow, The Wild Bunch, More American Graffiti, The Rockford Files, The Rookie, Demolition Man and JAG. In the animated children’s series category, he produced Danger Rangers for PBS, which is currently airing on CBS Saturday mornings. Howard has also co-authored several books on American icons such as Roy Rogers and John Wayne.
Mendel Tropper - An accomplished film producer, seasoned marketing/ advertising executive and serial entrepreneur, Mendel Tropper heads up the company's corporate strategy and is intimately involved in all aspects of business development, production, marketing and operations. Mendel served as Executive Producer of New Line’s 2009 hit film My Sister’s Keeper starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, and Alec Baldwin, which earned $100 million at the box office and garnered much critical acclaim. He spent several years as a marketing executive at Warner Brothers, where he handled corporate communications and public relations for some of The WB Television Network’s most successful series, including Aaron Spelling’s 7th Heaven, the hit comedy The Jamie Foxx Show and J.J. Abrams’ Felicity. Mendel was a member of the original team that built and launched the company’s revolutionary hi-tech network of over 100 affiliate stations across the country. He also served as a writer, producer and director, creating branding and image campaigns for The WB, its nationwide affiliate group, and for series such as Dawson’s Creek, Friends and Pokemon. Mendel then established a thriving advertising, marketing and production company that attracted many Hollywood clients including NBC, CBS, Fox and Sony Pictures and created memorable high-profile national TV campaigns, such as the launch of the hit series Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the global re-branding of Seinfeld, the syndicated launch of Just Shoot Me and the world premiere of the acclaimed miniseries Uprising. Mendel also co-founded Pocket Billboards, an innovative advertising company that counts amongst its clients American Airlines, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, Time Warner Cable, ESPN, Domino’s Pizza, Univision, Telemundo, Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures.
David Harvey - Producer, writer, and business executive. David has produced, written, and worked with a diverse group of celebrities and artists, having first established himself in the music industry, writing and producing songs for Atlantic Records. His talents caught the attention of A&R executives Jimmy Iovine and Al Kooper as he began working with the Pointer Sisters, Stephanie Mills, blues legend Finis Tasby, Fleetwood Mac, and Dr. Dre, among others. David has composed songs for feature films and co-produced the video Guitar for Warner Brothers featuring guitar legends such as Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Brian May, Mark Knofler, David Gilmour and B. B. King. He also co-produced shows for Rue McClanahan, Stefanie Powers, and Pat Boone. He provides his vast expertise to all aspects of Hey Wordy! production and to ensuring that our music creations are of the highest caliber in the industry. In addition to Hey Wordy!, David is currently developing the feature film action thriller Dragonfyre and the animated feature Spaceship Betty. He serves on various boards of directors, and has founded and managed several successful companies.
Kathleen Leos - With an impressive track record in the early childhood educational sector, Ms. Leos guides the Company to ensure that all of its content and products meet the highest standards and utilize the latest in educational neuroscience research. Ms. Leos was appointed by the President of the United States to serve as the Assistant Deputy Secretary and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of the United States Department of Education from 2002-2007. She is the CEO of the Global Institute for Language & Literacy Development and co-founder of the Education Neuroscience Foundation. Ms. Leos also serves as a board member to the MIND Research Institute commissioned by the National Academy of Science. Ms. Leos is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the 1995 International Altrusa Community Service Award, in which she was selected out of nominations from 200 countries around the world.
