Manka Bros. To Spend $1 BILLION On Short-Form Content

Good morning.  This morning is much better than yesterday.  Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev finally left my house and we had the carpets and furniture steam cleaned. 

Last night, my friends David Geffen, Bob Iger, Hollywood super agent Ariel Emanuel and Wolfgang Puck came over to visit me.  They had read about my horrible night with the Prime Minister and wanted to cheer me up.  David even brought me some better pain medication than the doctor prescribed - good man!  Anyway, over cocktails and duck sausages (courtesy of Chef Puck), I mentioned that today (August 1st, 2008) I would have a huge announcement that would change the face of entertainment forever.  Well, this is it. 

MANKA BROS. IS GOING TO SPEND $1 BILLION (OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO) ON SHORT-FORM INTERNET CONTENT.  This is an amazing opportunity for our company and a big roll of the dice.  Every other studio seems to be doing it (not that that is why I do anything) and it's time for Manka Bros. to jump into this space with two feet.

My guests all started buzzing and I could tell they were beginning to understand the huge possibilities of the internet.  I wouldn't be surprised if Bob Iger ran back to Disney last night and started to work on an internet strategy for his company.  So it was a good night.

Plus, we've already had some considerable success in this space (i.e., our Award-Winning short Scoiattolo che mangia aranchio (Squirrel Eating Orange) and our original online series Forensics (based on the successful MBS series of the same name).

I'm sure many of my operational execs at Manka Bros. are reading this and wondering where the money will come from and, most important, who gets to spend it.  Ethan Rubidoux is the current President of the Manka Bros. Digital Distribution group - but there is no way I am giving that weirdo $1 billion to spend on little cartoons and short movies.  Myself and Lloyd Grohl will control the fund and spend it only on the best projects.  So get those pitches ready! 

We will either raise the money from one of our existing banks or just spend it from the cash we have on hand.  Those are details for David Chang to work out.  I'm just here to make the announcement.  So get ready for a bunch of fruit and muffin baskets arriving from over-zealous agencies.

And, don't worry, this will not affect our core businesses.  We will still be producing more movies, television and music than anyone else.  This is a just another new business.  A one billion dollar new business! 

So start thinking 'short' people.  This is a great day for Manka Bros. and a great day for our industry.

Khan Manka, Jr. - Chairman & CEO - Manka Bros. Studios