Film Roman, the children's animation outfit which recently expanded to produce live action TV series, specials and feature films, has retained the services of Eileen Bastianelli to create a worldwide presence for the company. Bastianelli, based in Paris, has been engaged as a consultant to form co-productions and establish other strategic international relationships as well as accessing financing and identifying overseas properties which will be viable for the US market.

Bastianelli will be working on both TV and feature film projects. Her media consultancy Zimax Productions has recently put financing together for projects from CBS, ABC and Showtime. She was previously head of international co-productions for Paris-based production company Chrysalide Films.

"We needed someone on the ground in Europe and Eileen Bastianelli is one of the best at what she does," said Film Roman COO Jon Vein. "She's aggressive, smart and very well respected."

Film Roman recently produced feature film My First Mister starring Albert Brooks and Leelee Sobieski for Total Film Group and Paramount Classics and is developing a feature film of the classic TV series The Greatest American Hero for The Walt Disney Co.