Weekly World News
Greg D’Alessandro, Weekly World News
– The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 628 Greg D’Alessandro
In 2019, Greg took the helm of Weekly World News, a media company that was founded in 1979. The brand has over 100,000 stories and 300+ characters in their library. Bat Boy is the most iconic Weekly World News character. Prior to that Greg served as a Senior Editor for Weekly World News and has written over 5,000 stories for the publication (in print and online). He is currently relaunching the brand online, on social media and back into print later this year. He is also developing projects for TV (The Frank Lake Report), two films (Zombie Wedding and Manigator), which he has written based on Weekly World News characters. He is overseeing a documentary on the history of Weekly World News and the company is launching a podcast set to launch in May of 2021.
Greg is prolific writer, producer, director and musician. He served as the head writer and co-executive producer of Zodiac Island, a popular Chinese children’s show (produced in Beijing, Hong Kong and L.A.), which aired in syndication in the U.S. He also served as executive producer and director of Club 11, an educational show about sports and soccer, which also aired in syndication in the U.S. He served as an executive producer of B In Tune Productions – a company providing educational programming to children (to the age of 18). He has written material for Sesame Street and for Nickelodeon shows including: All That, Kablam, Pete and Pete and Action League Now!
He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, who has optioned or sold projects to Mandalay Pictures, Parkchester Pictures, Alloy Entertainment, Warner Horizon, Sony Pictures. Greg wrote a short film, Ceiling, which won the National Philippine Film Competition and is now in production with Holy Cow Animation in Manila. He was a script consultant/doctor for over ten years. He recently wrote a TV pilot with Adam Eget (manager of The Comedy Store in LA) and adapted for film the book “Turbulence” (Annette Herfkens).
Greg is also a music producer/musician and his songs have been featured on the hit Freeform show Pretty Little Liars, as well as on independent radio stations across the country. He wrote over 75 children’s songs for Zodiac Island. He also released a song One World, One Dream, which became an unofficial theme song for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The song helped raise money for earthquake victims in Sichuan. He earned dual MFA’s in Screenwriting from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA’s School of Film Television and Theatre. He has taught Screenwriting, Comedy and Public Speaking in California, New York and New Jersey.
Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Greg D’Alessandro about relaunching Weekly World News.
Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:
● How the Weekly World News is a place where people can go that isn’t political.
● How the Weekly World News used to cover crazy true events and now creates news for entertainment.
● Why people are gravitating to overt fake news outlets for entertainment.
● How the Weekly World News needed to adapt their content to the changing times.
● Why it’s important to be open to new technologies and new forms of social media.
Connect with Greg:
Guest Contact Info
@weeklyworldnews
@weeklyworldnewsofficial
Links Mentioned:
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