Storyland Studios Welcomes Executive Producer Jonathan Bonner to its International Team
Amersham, England, UK – International experience design and production firm Storyland Studios is welcoming themed entertainment professional Jonathan Bonner to its UK team as Executive Producer.
As a themed entertainment and attraction producer and project manager, Bonner has extensive experience in business development and will come alongside the UK team in its international outreach and client management efforts. This development comes as Storyland Studios is increasing its global presence.
“With ongoing themed attraction projects now on five continents, this was the perfect opportunity to introduce an Executive Producer to our international team,” said Ben Thompson, Chief Strategy Officer, Partner and Head of Global Clients at Storyland Studios. “We’re excited to work with Jonathan as we continue to develop and secure projects for the global market.”
Bonner will be jumping into some of Storyland Studios’ most notable international projects and partnerships, including Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya, Brasil’s Grupo Cataratas, France’s Ubisoft attraction at Studios Occitanie, and many more.
“I’m incredibly excited,” Bonner said. “I’ve been a fan of Storyland’s from the sidelines for quite a while now. The team seems great to work with–really collaborative–and they’re passionate about the industry.”
As Executive Producer, Bonner will oversee not only project budgets and schedules, but also managing each project’s creative intent from start to finish.
“I’ll be ensuring that the client’s story stays protected as and as it should be throughout the process,” Bonner said.
Over the course of his career, Bonner has been involved in attraction design and build projects with Walt Disney Imagineering, The LEGO® Group, Warner Bros., Europa-Park, Merlin Entertainments, EMAAR Entertainment, Al Hokair Group, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, and many more. He has worked across every project stage in the themed attractions industry.
Bonner has served distinguished names in the industry, including Paragon Creative Ltd, THEME3, and, most recently, Katapult. He is also a former member of the Themed Entertainment Association’s EME Division board.
He became fascinated with the themed entertainment world from a young age after a family trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
“I’ve been a theme park geek and lover since I was about 11 years old,” Bonner said. “I just completely fell in love with that kind of world and these amazing attractions.
“I didn’t realise, growing up in the UK, that you could actually make a career out of this kind of thing until I was much older.”
Bonner jumped headlong into the themed entertainment industry through Paragon Creative Ltd, where he began in a business development role that expanded to involvement in project management and executive production. Through Paragon, Bonner worked alongside Walt Disney Imagineering on the Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom Manor ride refurbishments at Disneyland Paris. At Katapult, he was involved in multiple LEGOLAND® projects with The LEGO® Group, in addition to a number of prominent, recognisable IPs.
Now, he’s looking forward to beginning the next adventure in his career with Storyland Studios.
“I’m thrilled about working with the international team,” Bonner said. “It feels like we’re very much a new chapter in Storyland’s development. To be a part of that is really exciting.”
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About Storyland Studios
Storyland Studios imagines, designs and creates immersive experiences and environments that lift the spirit. The firm was recently slated to design the first-ever Ubisoft Entertainment Center at France’s Studios Occitanie, the first in its ongoing partnership with Ubisoft. Storyland is heading up master planning for the first-ever Sports Illustrated resorts, design for Storyville Gardens, an interactive, story-driven theme park based in Middle Tennessee, and much more. For more information, visit www.storylandstudios.com.
In addition to the firm’s exciting recent projects, Storyland has worked alongside some of the world’s most well-known IPs over its twenty-year history. Some of their most notable work includes concepts, designs, scenic fabrication, and themed environments for Marvel, Star Wars, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, The Walt Disney Company, LEGO®, and Trillith Studios. For more information, visit www.storylandstudios.com.
Contacts:
Ben Thompson, Storyland Studios International
Email: ben@storylandstudios.com
International Phone: 0044 1494 732414
Mel McGowan, Storyland Studios West Coast
Email: mel@storylandstudios.com
U.S. Phone: +1 800-218-1932
Matt Ferguson, Storyland Studios East Coast
Email: mattf@storylandstudios.com
U.S. Phone: +1 800-218-1932