CAKE and international animation and live action producer Kickstart Entertainment have announced their new venture CakeStart, a full-service production company that will develop and produce kids’ and family live action projects for the global market.
Former Head of Current/VP Original Series at Disney Branded Television, Kory Lunsford will take the helm at CakeStart as President and Partner. Responsible for developing and producing some of Disney’s biggest hit series over the last 20 years, including Hannah Montana, Emmy-Award-winning Wizards of Waverly Place and Even Stevens, Lizzie McGuire, Good Luck Charlie, Liv and Maddie, Jessie, Bunk’d, The Proud
Family, Andi Mack and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Kory has worked with leading talent including Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Hilary Duff, and Zendaya to launch series that have resonated with global audiences and spanned generations.
Kickstart Entertainment’s proven track record in creating award-winning live action productions (Amazon hits The Boys and AMC’s Preacher) combined with CAKE’s production and distribution expertise (Angelo Rules, Total Drama, Mush-Mush & The Mushables and Mama K’s Team 4 and Angry Birds: Summer Madness currently in production for Netflix) have laid the groundwork for the partnership. Combining the reach of both companies, CakeStart will have studio operating capabilities across four countries, including soundstages in the US, allowing them to produce and co-produce anywhere in the world. CAKE will handle global distribution on all CakeStart productions.
‘Kory Lunsford has developed and produced amazing content over the last 20 years and he has extensive relationships with creators, writers, filmmakers, and talent,” said Kickstart Founder and CEO Jason Netter. ‘Bringing those talents together with CAKE and Kickstart will give us the foundation to grow our ability to create and exploit global live-action content in the kids and family space’.
