Debbie Elbin

Returning to independent production after her stints as VP Production and studio executive at SPTI, Debbie Elbin is starting post production on her first documentary feature, [STOL*PERN] = to TRIP, and developing two more: DECONSTRUCTING CASABLANCA and THE UPS AND DOWNS OF OK. She splits her time between New York and Berlin. At the 2008 Berlin Film Festival, Debbie launched PS:USA, Inc. Specifically targeted at international producers interested in accessing the US production incentives and tax credits, the company continues to offer consulting, co-production and co-financing services. In 2007, Debbie was based in Berlin, Germany, where she served as production consultant during the prep phase of the Wachowski Brothers' picture "Speed Racer". On tap for Joel Silver, Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow, she was asked to report on the January '07 German film incentive program, as well as local VFX capabilities. Prior to that, Elbin was based in Moscow, Russia, where she held the position of VP Production, Sony Pictures TV International for Russia and the CIS. Her mandate was to found a new Russian company for the studio and head it as General Manager. Other than investigating how to structure such an entity, this also entailed finding viable producing partners and building creative teams of local writers and directors. In addition to selling two comedy formats, one of which was "Bete La Fea", which subsequently rated #1 for CTC, she was in charge of six productions in various stages of development, production, or post production. Genre-wise, they ranged from telenovellas to comedy series and a game show. Among those were the highly rated Russian versions of "Married with Children" entitled "Happy Together", "The Nanny", and the original "Talisman of Love" and "Nastia". Fall 2004, Elbin had founded the Dutch production company, The N.L. Picture Company B.V. in Rotterdam, Holland. Created to develop and produce international film and TV co-productions as an EU partner, The N.L. Picture Company B.V. went on to produce"XTC", a US/Netherlands co-production, and "The Kitchen", a television comedy series, which was developed for WDR and Colonia Media. Debbie was Executive Producer of Germany's no. 1 rated prime-time series,_"Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" ("Good Times, Bad Times") for RTL and Grundy UFA. In the US, she served as Co-Executive Producer of Sidney Lumet's "100 Centre Street" (2001), A&E TV Networks first original drama series. This was the groundbreaker in 24p HDTV format production. Not only did the series receive critical acclaim, but it won the 2001 Koln Screenings Award for "Top Ten Dramas Worldwide". Elbin was subsequently a panelist on 24p HDTV production and distribution applications at the NAB and NATPE conventions of 2001 and 2002 and at the CineAlta booth at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001. For Los Angeles based Columbia Tristar International, she served as Executive in charge of Production at Columbia Tristar Film und Fernseh GmbH in Cologne, Germany, where she oversaw the production of the series "Geliebte Schwestern" (1997) and the development of "Post Mortem". Debbie produced the New York half hour pilots and series "War Room" with the Paltrow Group and Columbia Tristar TV; "Gabby" for Fred Silverman and Warner Brothers TV; "Future Stuff" for Laurel First Run; "The Dictator" for Lobell/Bergman and Touchstone/Walt Disney; "Everything's Relative" for Embassy; "Brothers Beeby" for Columbia Pictures TV; "National Hot Press" for Viacom Enterprises; "Washingtoon" for Telecom Entertainment and Showtime. Her New York work as AP and UPM include "More Patience" for SPE; "Trinity" for Warner Brothers TV; "The Nanny" Columbia Tristar TV; "919 Fifth Avenue"(1995) (TV) Tristar TV; "When You're Smiling" Columbia Pictures TV; "Baby Talk" Columbia Pictures TV; "Morton's By the Bay" NBC Productions; "Roxy" Reeves Entertainment Group; "Gimme a Break" Reeves Entertainment Group; "Love Long Distance" P&G Productions and "Search for Tomorrow" P&G Productions. She is a member of the DGA as Director and UPM, and for 10 years served as a member of the Directors East Coast Council and still works on sundry committees, including the Special Projects and Disciplinary Committees. She is the initiator of the Global Cinema Initiative. She is also one of the first members of the Dean's Council of New York University and is the founder of the Dramatic and Comedy Writing Awards for NYU Graduate and Undergraduate students.