- Matti Leshem
-
Matti Phillip Leshem (born January 2, 1963) is founder and CEO of Protagonist, a Brand Energy company.
Contents
Early life
Born in the Belgian Congo, Leshem was raised in Jerusalem, Copenhagen and New York. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and was a directing fellow at the American Film Institute, where he received his Master of Fine Arts in film directing in 1993.
Leshem is the son of the late Moshe Leshem, who served as Israeli ambassador to the United Nations and several countries, including Zaire (today known as Democratic Republic of the Congo)[1] and Denmark.
Career
Early career
In 1996, Leshem founded Cobalt Moon, a seminal Los Angeles-based interactive entertainment company and the first outside producer at MSN, originating Second City Naked News, a daily updated news parody.[2]
The following year, Leshem was hired by Barry Diller as editor in chief of Silver King Broadcasting, where he was responsible for the development, production, scheduling and marketing of all programs on the Miami television station, WAMI.[3]
Later, Leshem started a community-driven studio on the web called AntEye.com, which was committed to changing the traditional development and creative process of filmmaking.[4]
In 2003, Leshem partnered with Michael Davies to form Diplomatic Productions. At Diplomatic, Leshem developed integrated brand shows, most notably Pepsi Play for a Billion, a two-hour summer special offering the chance for one player to win $1 billion. Leshem was also executive producer on several TV shows including USA Network's Smush and the documentary series Ultimate Reality on A&E.[5]
Protagonist
In 2003, Leshem formed Protagonist, a Brand Energy company.[6] Protagonist creates immersive, culturally relevant experiences for television, online and on-premise for blue-chip brands, including Bud Light, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, SoBe, Weight Watchers, MTV Networks, MySpace, and AOL.
USA Rock Paper Scissors League
In 2005, Leshem founded the USA Rock Paper Scissors League and launched a nationwide tournament in 300 markets across the country for Bud Light.[7] The League finals were broadcast on ESPN2 and made headlines around the world, declaring a $50,000 champion.
For three years, Bud Light partnered with the USARPS League to crown an annual $50,000 champion in tournaments airing on A&E, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period.[8]
The USARPS League went global with the Budweiser International Rock Paper Scissors Federation Championship in Beijing, held during the 2008 Summer Olympics.[9]
In February 2009, the League joined with AMP Energy to launch the first-ever USARPS College ChAMPionships. Following qualifying rounds at 20 campuses, Syracuse University's Jonathan "Naco" Monaco won $20,000 towards college tuition at mtvU's Spring Break in Panama City Beach, Florida.[10] Brittany Kraft, the 2010 USARPS College ChAMPionship winner from Eastern Illinois University, took home $25,000 courtesy of AMP Energy at the 2010 mtvU Spring Break in Acapulco, Mexico.[11] In 2010, the League will publish The Zen of Rock Paper Scissors with It Books, a division of HarperCollins.[12]
On-Air Career
Leshem made his television debut in the prime time soap opera, Falcon Crest. Later, he was cast as Dr. Dan Shae, appearing in more than 160 episodes of the 1988 television show, Family Medical Center.[13]
In 2004, Leshem was a judge on the new version of Star Search hosted by Arsenio Hall.[14]
References
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/08/opinion/l-don-t-judge-zaire-by-european-standards-708790.html
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/1997-03-17/business/fi-39285_1_cobalt-moon
- ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4921239-1.html
- ^ AntEye.com Road Show, Shift, June, 2000
- ^ http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-wb-&-pepsi-team-up-for-play-for-billion-potential-billion-dollar-giveaway-show-1165.php
- ^ http://adage.com/article?article_id=96366
- ^ http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.printEdition&art_send_date=2008-3-6&art_type=16
- ^ http://www.usarps.com/news/articles/view/2008-usarps-tournament-to-air-on-fox-sports-net/9/
- ^ http://www.usarps.com/news/articles/view/bud-lightusa-rock-paper-scissors-league-championship-offers-chance-at-50000-world-supremacy-cop/9/
- ^ http://www.usarps.com/news/articles/view/the-official-usarps-championship-press-release/9/
- ^ http://www.mtvu.com/tag/usarps/
- ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/21/business/fi-rockpaper21
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233698/fullcredits#cast
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085093/fullcredits#cast
External links
Categories:- 1963 births
- Living people
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