Julie Ann Sipos

Julie Ann Sipos got an early start in children's entertainment. First appearing on stage as a singing bunny in "Little Red Riding Hood," she devoted childhood summers to the California State University at Northridge Teenage Drama Workshops. At 14, she began appearing as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II at the Southern California Renaissance Faires. She co-owned a comedy improv club just out of college; and shortly thereafter made her network television debut guest starring on "Miami Vice."Transitioning into writing and photography, she traveled extensively in Eastern Europe and Latin America. While covering the Summer Theater Festival in former Yugoslavia, she wrote a feature-length screenplay, "Adios, Dubrovnik," honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowships.She was selected to study the half-hour sitcom format under studio executives of "Friends" and "The Drew Carey Show" in the prestigious Warner Brothers Writers Workshop; and went on to write for ABC's "Recess" at Walt Disney Television Animation, voiced by Dabney Coleman, John Astin and Allyce Beaseley.Growing a loyal social media following while blogging about her steep uphill climb through the Hollywood trenches, she earned a mid-career MFA at UCLA, where she returned on visiting faculty to executive produce, market and distribute a self-funding, cross-platform digital series awarded the 2004 College Emmy.She grew an innovative, story-forward creative consultancy with a strong focus on family-friendly entertainment, growing iconic characters and brands across most every entertainment, digital and product platform imaginable and as-yet-to-be imagined.She serves on multiple caucuses and committees of the Writers Guild of America, SAG/AFTRA, Women in Animation, the Producers Guild of America New Media Council and Women in Film.In 2014, Julie Ann relocated to Madison, Wisconsin to lead American Girl's story team. She was more recently named Manager of Character Entertainment under parent company Mattel Creations. Show less «