DreamWork’s AwesomenessTV has hired former Lionsgate executive Matt Kaplan to run the recently created Awesomeness Films, the digital media company announced Tuesday.
Kaplan — once the SVP Development and Production at Lionsgate — previously founded Chapter One Films, from which Awesomeness Films also recruited two more new team members, Robyn Marshall and Max Siemers.
The production company most recently produced Blumhouse horror flick, “The Lazarus Effect.” Before that, Kaplan produced “6 Miranda Drive,” starring Kevin Bacon.
Awesomeness Films aims to release between 12 and 15 films for theatrical and digital distribution. The company’s first feature, “Expelled,” hit No. 1 on iTunes after it was released in December. More projects in the pipeline include teen comedy “Shovel Buddies” and “Smosh: The Movie.”
Kaplan was also formerly at CBS as director of digital development, where he was responsible for developing and managing online programming for CBS Interactive.
“AwesomenessTV has made a major commitment to film production and we are looking to Matt with his strong track record in independent film to help us deliver on our very ambitious slate of films,” Brian Robbins, founder and CEO of AwesomenessTV, said in a statement. “Major Hollywood studios have largely ignored Generation Z.”