FOUNDERS

 

Stephen Ellis

Co-Founder

President & CEO

BDMV_Stephen_SherertzBio.png

Clark Bunting

Co-Founder

Director

BDMV_Clark_SherertzBio.png

BirdDog Media Ventures co-founder Stephen Ellis is a veteran Canadian documentary producer and thought leader in the independent media production industry. He is best known for the output and global distribution of family owned and operated Ellis Entertainment for over 35 years; a company founded by his father, Ralph C. Ellis, one of the true pioneers of independent film and TV. The library of 600 titles they produced have garnered 100 international awards and have been seen in over 100 countries, including their signature production, Profiles of Nature, Canada’s longest running natural history series.

He is a past Chair of the Canadian Media Production Association, and continuing public policy influencer in the development of Canada’s robust production incentive programs. He also co-founded three non-profit societies, the largest of which, the Canadian Retransmission Collective, has generated over a quarter of a billion dollars for producers in its 30 year history. Peer recognition includes the CMPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Douglas James Dales Industry Builder Award.

BirdDog Media Ventures co-founder Clark Bunting is a veteran of U.S.-based factual content production, centered on a long and storied 25 years with Discovery Communications Inc., from its earliest days.

Career milestones with Discovery featured leadership roles as President & GM of Discovery Channel; founding President & GM of Animal Planet; President of Discovery Studios; as well as responsibility for the portfolio of Emerging Networks, including Investigation Discovery, Science Channel, Military Channel, HD Theatre, Discovery Health and Planet Green.

Under his watch, some of Discovery Network’s most memorable and critically-acclaimed series were launched, including Deadliest Catch, Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs, Gold Rush, American Chopper, the Crododile Hunter series, Emergency Vets, and the epic miniseries Life and Frozen Planet, among many other titles. The deep programming portfolio created by talented producers under his network leadership has received numerous Emmy Awards, Dupont and Peabody Awards, and an Oscar.