Bi-Monthly, we will highlight our selected successful woman entrepreneur. Please take a moment to get to know her know her better and how she is succeeding.
Interview by Constance Drew (CD) with Shabnam Rezaei (SR)
SR: Big Bad Boo is a production and Distribution Company dedicated to teaching children culture through entertainment. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver, the company’s first animated TV series, Mixed Nutz, will debut on PBS and many other stations worldwide this January. The creative team's first direct-to-DVD product, Babak & Friends - A First Norooz, told the story of little Babak who is stuck between his Iranian and American life and featured Emmy Award winner Shohreh Aghdashloo. Big Bad Boo is currently in production on 26 episodes of a new series, 1001 Nights, and is launching its online retail distribution channel at oznoz.com.
At Big Bad Boo, we offer world class animation services to our clients with access to Canada's best animation talent, tax credits as well as the industry top writers, storyboard artists, voice-over actors and production crew. Big Bad Boo provides the full spectrum of pre-production, animation, and post production services and is the largest Toon Boom facility in Western Canada, employing an Emmy Award winning creative team.
CD: Who is your “Target” audience?
SR: We target children and parents who are interested world cultures and languages. These tend to be immigrant families but also pertain to families who are interested in their kids having a well-rounded upbringing. In this day and age, it is a real advantage to speak a second language and so we think every child should be exposed to this type of content.
CD: How long have you been in business?
SR: We started the business as a hobby in late 2005 with the name Norooz Productions. Our first production was “Babak & Friends – A First Norooz” which we self-distributed. The DVD did well and we managed to raise funds for the first TV series Mixed Nutz. In 2007, we decided to take it seriously and start our first major production. Big Bad Boo officially opened in January of 2008.
CD: Why did you decide to start your business?
SR: Because there is a real need in the market to entertain and educate children about the world. With Babak and Friends, we entered the NYU business plan competition and upon winning that we realized there was a gap in good cultural programming. This put us on the path to Mixed Nutz which is going to air on PBS in the coming months. We are currently working on our second series “1001 Nights” which is 26 X 11 min episodes and already placed 6 at the Cannes TV market among 1200 other children’s shows.
CD: What is the one “nugget” of advice you would give to other Women Business Owners?
SR: Never give up. Many doors will shut in your face and many people will laugh you out of the room. Don’t let it get to you. Back up your conviction with sound data and if you have the passion, you will get there.
To nominate a deserving woman entrepreneur for our "Pay It Forward" honor, please complete the nomination formand send in to us. We will contact you within 48 hours to discuss your nominee.
