SANTA MONICA, June 5, 2018 — Polygram Entertainment, the film and television division of Universal Music Group (UMG), today announced that Daniel Inkeles has been named Vice President, Scripted Film & Television.
In this newly created role, Inkeles will help accelerate scripted feature film and television projects. Inkeles, who will be based at UMG’s global headquarters in Santa Monica, will work closely with the company’s labels, Universal Music Publishing Group, as well as media companies, digital partners and film and television studios and production companies. He reports to David Blackman, UMG’s Head of Film & Television Development and Production.
In making the announcement, David Blackman said, “I’m thrilled to welcome Daniel to Polygram Entertainment, where we’re working closely with UMG’s artists and labels to develop film and television projects that engage fans around the world. We have only scratched the surface of what’s possible and with Daniel’s help, we will be able to expand our slate of scripted and animated features.”
“At a time when music has never been more central to our daily lives, I couldn’t be more excited to work with some of the most successful and creative artists in the world to tell the fascinating stories of their art,” Daniel Inkeles said. “Universal Music and Polygram continue to lead the music industry in developing the very best in entertainment that engages artists’ fans in new and exciting ways. I’d like to thank David, Michele Anthony and Jody Gerson for this wonderful opportunity.”
Inkeles joins Polygram Entertainment from Studiocanal, a sister Vivendi company to UMG, where he served as Vice President of International Production and Development. His projects at Studiocanal included the upcoming Liam Neeson thriller, Hard Power, and the Aardman Animations film Early Man.
Previously, Inkeles served as a development executive at Sony Pictures Animation, where he worked on Hotel Transylvania 2, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, Open Season: Scared Silly and Smurfs: The Lost Village. Prior to Sony, Inkeles worked in franchise development at DreamWorks Animation. He began his career with the story and editorial departments on Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After.
