Neil Kaplan is the Chief Business Development Officer of Essential Entertainment.  His primary responsibilities include new business opportunities, managing acquisitions and co-productions, overseeing the creative process of Essential productions, sourcing content, and managing relationships with talent, agents and producers.

Prior to his position at Essential, Kaplan worked in the film and television industry for over 12 years, during which he primarily packaged and financed motion pictures. Most recently, Kaplan was President/CEO of Trilogy Entertainment Group, which has produced over 400 hours of television and over 20 feature films.  He spearheaded the acquisition and sale of many of Trilogy’s 30+ feature films which are now in various stages of development at several different studios. Kaplan was also in charge of managing the day-to-day production of Trilogy’s feature and television projects.

Kaplan had previously entered into a co-venture with 20th Century Fox for the purpose of financing and co-producing 15 feature films over a five year period. 

Kaplan began his entertainment career in television, forming the animation company, Digitainment, which produced over 100 hours of television animation and financed and produced films for his own company Filmworx.