About the Show
Each week, Jay Leopardi will meet with another mogul of business in his journey to find out (with our viewers) what makes the highest achievers and the greatest business people succeed. We will have a Master Mind Board that will meet with Jay in each show and send him out with an introduction to the business icons.
Though Jay’s unique approach he comes back each week with another tip to the keys to greatness. Each Mogul will have a trait that stands out which we will key on, but in all of them we will find a “Common Denominator”. As each episode unfolds the picture will develop what made the most successful moguls succeed, who they are and how we as viewers can apply what we learn to our lives.
This is a reality show with real people, real moguls, real icons with real answers.At the end of each season we will publish a book called Common Denominator, which will layout what we have learned throughout the series.
The new weekly reality based TV show is modern day telling similar to the life path of Napoleon Hill as he set out to create the greatest self-help book ever written “Think and Grow Rich”.
"I met Jay on a set at Sony Studios in Los Angeles. It was instantly clear that Jay has the it factor, or shall I say Hit factor. The guy has a personality mix of Steve Jobs, Donald Trump and is Robert Downey Jr’s doppelgänger ”, said Steven Samblis, Chairman of IC Places, Inc. "As we talked outside the sound stage, studio tours where stopping and taking pictures of Jay obviously thinking he was Robert. As we talked about what Jay does in the arena of branding and his magnitude of experience I knew there something there.
All this time, in my mind was a TV show that took a modern day business man, guided by a mastermind group of business moguls, who sets out each week armed only with an introduction to meet with and discover within the greatest business people on the planet what made them successful and to find in them a common thread. This is what Napoleon Hill did in the 1930’s as he set out to create the best seller Think and Grow Rich.
I often thought that the journey Hill took armed with an introduction from steel management Andrew Carnegie which may have been one of the greatest journeys in journalism history. As he met with Edison, Ford and the great moguls at the time and formulated the essences of the book, how great would it to have been to be a fly on that wall watching and learning as it unfolded? What would a similar journey be like today?
I knew right away that Jay was the person to take that journey. In today’s modern world he is the one person with the skills, charisma and knowledge to step onto that path and deliver to us a show like we have never seen before.
A week after our meeting on the Sony lot in Los Angeles, CA, I phoned Jay and told him about the idea. He instantly got it. Thirty minutes after we finished the call and decided to create the show together, I received an email from Jay with the name of our new show ...Common Denominator”.
Our Production Team
STEVEN SAMBLIS - Executive Producer / Co-Creator
Steven, CEO and Founder of IC Places, Inc. Grew the company from one Las Vegas website to a multimedia conglomerate owning a TV network, Multiple web properties and a production company.
One of the top IPO Analysts, featured in Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, US New and World report as a frequent guest on many business related TV shows during the IPO boom of the 90’s.
Ranked as one of the top rookie retail brokers in the nation for one of America’s largest brokerage firm.
Host of The Investors Institute - delivering educational seminars to over 250,000 people in live seminars on investing in the markets across the US.
Advocate for shareholder rights speaking for T Boone Pickens’ “United Shares Holders Association” before congress on take over legislation.
The very first person to publicly call in the Wall Street Journal US and Asia for the rise of one the hottest IPO’s in market history Netscape.
Created the first Fax Marketing Company in history and later joined Chicken Soup for the Soul co-creator, Mark Victor Hansen to tell the story of its success in the audio program The World’s Greatest Marketing Tool.
JAY LEOPARDI - Executive Producer / Co-Creator / Host
Jay Leopardi is today's lifestyle and pop culture branding expert, who specializes in the growth and development of brands. His skills range from search engine monopolization to new business funding techniques; concept actualization, motivational speaking and product launch campaigns. Some of his entrepreneurial endeavors include product placement, licensing and integration as well as celebrity endorsements.
He launched his career at age 13 as a pop recording artist in Miami, Florida, landing his first record deal at age 17. Six weeks after releasing Jay's single, it became the top one hundred hit on the billboard charts, selling 60,000 copies. After the record label bidding began, Jay recognized that there were many other facets to the music industry. He then made the decision to become a music producer.
Growing up among top celebrities ranging from musicians to actors helped Jay recognize that the music business was much more intricate than what people heard on the radio. After years of producing albums, Jay decided to move to Cincinnati, Ohio to work alongside his father, Emmett C. Leopardi, who worked for the multinational corporation Procter & Gamble. There, Jay learned discipline and formal training from
several of the top leaders in the brand management industry.
Currently a visionary marketer, branding expert, and one of “The Shark” Daymond John’s right hand men at Shark Branding, Jay works closely with celebrities and companies in delivering brand management support. Jay has been dubbed “The Bad Boy Of Branding & technology guru”. Jay reinvented himself and brought his strategic marketing expertise online. He began signing clients and securing product placement. Jay now works closely with big names including Cedric the Entertainer, Kel Mitchell, and Miguel Nunez Junior, to name a few.
First J Productions
JOSHUA MANDEL – Production Accountant / Executive Producer
Born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated Landmark West and attended University of Southern California. While in high school, he had an internship at Boss Film Studios where he worked on such films as Starship Troopers, Air Force One, Desperate Measures, and Turbulence. He also assisted the multi academy award winner wizard Mr. Richard Edlund. After college, he started working as a production assistant on films such as Rebound, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Little Miss Sunshine, Heartbreak Kid and the TV show The Loop. After working in production and post-production, he moved to freelance production accounting. He worked as a production accountant on the films Tropic Thunder, Surrogates and Real Steel. He is currently working as a production supervisor on 21 and Over.
“First J Productions is proud to be a part of this great team. We aim to show the viewers some serious, but very unique experiences. Jay is one of the most entertaining guys I have spoken to and should have been on TV along time ago... Joshua Mandel
MANOLIN VIDVILLA http://www.manolinvidvilla.com/
Manolin VidVilla Studios develops and produces a wide range of reality based programming, scripted series, international formats, syndication, talk shows, documentaries, video-on-demand, specials, sitcoms, web based interactive fare and made-for-TV movies, all in an effort to build a leadership position. The company focuses on key market segments outside the realm of the major studios by developing, producing, and delivering cost-effective programming to networks hungry for original programming.
CAL BOYINGTON – Executive Producer
Cal Boyington launched his media shingle Manolin Studios in early 2008 in a strategic move to develop and produce his own fare. He also serves as Executive Producer of HD Net’s award-winning documentary series “Baker Boys,” Comedy Central’s much hyped new scripted comedy series “Workaholics,” currently airing after “South Park,” and “Trapped in Paradise,” for VH-1.
Boyington is an accomplished executive who, while forming Manolin, jointly served as the President of TV for QED International, a movie production/international sales company. Manolin sold numerous shows including: “Freshman” with Lil Romeo at MTV, “E.S.U.” at Discovery, “R5 Sons” a family-docu at TLC, and “That’s Rich” hosted by Mo Rocca at the E!. Manolin also produced a ground-breaking web-series for GoArmy.com entitled “Sports Explorers.”
Prior to producing, Boyington was the Head of Paradigmʼs Alternative Television Division as well as a veteran talent agent at ICM for several years. As an agent, Boyington put together Animal Planetʼs hit show “Whale Wars” and ABC’s “The Next Best Thing.” Some of Boyington’s other TV sales that debuted included, “Father Hood,” the Snoop Dogg family reality sitcom on E! and “6 Months” at A&E, a show chronicling families as they dealt with ailing family members. He sold “Sunday Morning Shootout” to AMC, which ran for over 250 episodes and airs in several territories around the world.
Additionally, Boyington participated in the sales of “Intervention” for A&E, “The Osbournes” for MTV, “Anna Nicole Show” for E!, A&Eʼs “Sons of Hollywood,” BETʼs “Baldwin Hills,” “TV Land Awards,” “US Poker Championship,” “Knight School” with Coach Bobby Knight, and “Bound For Glory” for ESPN. He was integral in the success of “The Apprentice,” “Americaʼs Next Top Model” and the revived “Last Comic Standing.”
In addition to Television development, Boyington has an indie-film in pre-production through Manolin titled, “The Pure Life,” which won the American Zoetrope Award for Best Screenplay.
Boyington has had consistent success in producing, packaging, and selling TV shows for Broadcast, and in series format development, acquisition and production. The Hollywood Reporter selected him for “The Next Generation of 2006.” Boyington is a member in good standing of The Academy of Television Arts and NATPE. He is experienced in contract negotiations, analyzing market trends and capitalizing on global market opportunities. He has specific experience in leveraging advertising monies as well as licensing and merchandising platforms for programs. High visibility in the entertainment community with continued success in deriving partnerships and innovativemedia solutions through extensive personal relationships.
"We are very excited to be joining the project. We look forward to co-producing a highly compelling and amazing show around such a great personality as Jay Leopardi. Viewers will be captivated by the questions, the answers and the entertainment of Common Denominator, and with a point of view unparalleled by any other television series. “Cal Boyington”
JASON BERGENFELD – Executive Producer
Born and raised in Southern California, Jason has always had a passion for many aspects of multimedia programming. What started as watching sports and Saturday cartoons has turned into a career in television lasting more than a decade.
Jason’s creative abilities as well as his business sense have enabled him to become a leader in his field. Known as a go-getter, Jason started his career working for the Oscar Award Winning company Kopelson Entertainment, until moving into the music video space during the boom with FM Rocks.
After moving back into television production, Jason produced shows for NBC, FOX, ABC, TruTV, GSN, BET, AOL TV, A & E, MSNBC, CCTV, Phoenix Television, and many more.
Before joining forces with Manolin Studios, Jason worked as SVP of Development & Acquisitions with Xonger Global Media/C4 Pictures where they produced such hits has Baldwin Hills (BET), Barbershop 1 & 2 (MGM Studios), Meet Joe Jackson (A & E), and many more films and television programs.
GREG GEROSKY – Executive Producer
Prior to being an Executive Producer and partner of VidVilla LLC and Manolin VidVilla Studios LLC, Greg spent 5 years as a Producer and the Head of Post Production for Reveille Studios, now a division of Shine Group owned by Fox / Newscorp.
Greg built a large post division for Reveille with over 50 edit bays including online/finishing in as many as 4 separate locations across Los Angeles.
Greg has Produced and Co-Produced many shows including Masterchef USA (FOX), American Gladiators 1 & 2 (NBC), The Biggest Loser 12 (NBC) Tabatha’s Takeover 1-4 (BRAVO), Shear Genius 1-4 (BRAVO), The Buried Life 1 & 2 (MTV), Losing It With Jillian Michaels (NBC), One Born Every Minute 1 & 2 (LIFETIME), Gone Too Soon (Documentary for the TV GUIDE CHANNEL), and numerous other TV programs. Greg has also contributed largely to dozens of Web series projects for MSN and Yahoo, and both scripted and non-scripted development.
Prior to joining Reveille, Greg owned and operated a small production company based in South Florida producing local programming and commercial spots for local businesses. Greg is also a composer and has achieved several successes including a large national campaign for our nation’s Border Patrol and underscore for dozens of Reveille shows
Product Placement
KAREN S. NEASI
One of the premiere executives in the world of product placement, Karen started off as the Executive Assistant to Kevin S. Bright (Bright/Kauffman/Crane Production), on Dream On, Friends, Veronica’s Closet and Jesse. From there Karen moved into product placement for some of the most successful directors in Hollywood on films including;
• EMPIRE STATE (IN PRODUCTION) starring Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson and Emma Roberts.
• THE TOMB (IN PRODUCTION) starring Sylvester Stallone , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Vincent D'Onofrio , Jim Caviezel , Sam Neill, Vinnie Jones and 50 Cent.
•LOVELACE (IN PRODUCTION) starring Amanda Seyfried, James Franco, Juno Temple , Sharon Stone, Chloë Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker.
• THE MAGIC OF BELLE ISLE Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Morgan Freeman.
• THE DESCENDANTS Winner of the Oscar, Golden Globe and BFCA awards in 2012, starring George Clooney.
• SON OF NO ONE starring Al Pacino, Channing Tatum, Ray Liotta and Katie Holmes.
•CEDAR RAPIDS starring Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Sigourney Weaver.
•THE MECHANIC starring Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn and Donald Sutherland.
• FATHER OF INVENTION starring Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle and Heather Graham.
•THE EXPENDABLES starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, David Zayas, Giselle Itié, Charisma Carpenter, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke.
• SOLITARY MAN starring Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon , Danny DeVito, Mary- Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer, Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg.
• WHIP IT Directed by Drew Barrymore, starring Ellen Page and Jimmy Fallon. • THE ROAD starring Viggo Mortensen, Guy Pearce and Charlize Theron. • THE WACKNESS starring Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck and Famke Janssen.
About IC Places:
IC Places is a New Media company that produces weekly entertainment content for several different mediums. In 2012 it hit a milestone of signing partnership agreements to place its content before more then 300 million people a month, giving the company one of the largest distributions foot prints on the planet. This foot print includes online partnerships with Mevio.com and terrestrial partnerships which delivers it’s content to Checkout TV Network, HDTV Network, Dining Network, Bright House on demand and two upcoming new networks launching in July of this year.
At the core, IC Places is a network of 350 city based entertainment websites. This foundation allows IC Places the unique advantage having a built in fan based for the TV and New Media programs it produces.
Each IC Places City website offers a virtual keyhole view of life in each community. Every unique aspect of a city’s social, business, and cultural life is available right at each city’s IC Places homepage. IC Places provides the entire community a place to talk, do business and get connected. Businesses are given amazing tools to tell their stories in the best way possible and visitors get unfettered access to businesses, events and people in each city. To see one of the IC Places City sites in action, please visit http://www.icPlaces.com.com/orlando.
About Punch Television Networks
Launched on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, shortly after Columbus Day, Punch TV is, in many ways, also an explorer. Instead of spending the normal costs of $100 million to launch, Punch TV spent $10 million. Rather than launching by airing re-runs of popular and loved shows, Punch TV offers 70% original programming to it’s viewers.
And now, Punch TV Network extended its originality even further when in May of this year the company introduced its Fall lineup of shows to prospective advertisers and/or their representatives. The success of the Up-Front resulted in commitments of twelve million dollars in advertising dollars to Punch TV’s fall line-up of shows.
At Up-Front, Punch TV Network introduced 17 of its roster of 36 new dramas, comedies, variety shows, talk shows, children’s shows, and inspirational entertainment. The event was attended by a number of celebrities including Blair Underwood, Bill Duke, Dawnn Lewis, Obba Babatundé, Omar Gooding, Damian Hall, Fonzworth Bently, Kiki Shephard, Lorraine Toussaint, and many others.
Punch TV Network, with a presence this Fall in more than 100 cities, does, indeed, personify the spirit of independent television. Punch TV! “Are you thirsty yet?”
IC Places Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.