‘Lizzie Bennet’ Creator Bernie Su, David Tochterman Launch Canvas Media Studios

Bernie Su is applying his knowledge of the online video world to a brand new venture. The creator of popular web series such as The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Frankenstein, M.D., and Emma Approved has teamed up with former television executive for That ‘70s Show and president of management/consulting firm Versatility Media, David Tochterman to create Canvas Media Studios.

Canvas Media’s goal (as described in a press release) is to “develop original, scripted, and multi-platform entertainment properties for brands, publishers, and traditional media companies.” To maximize the impact of Canvas’ work for these brands, Su and Tochterman plan to utilize the power of social media integration, as well as a transmedia cross-platform storytelling method, which made Su’s past web series with Pemberley Digital studio so engaging to fans.

“Canvas is an entertainment studio that designs narratives for any and every ‘canvas’,” Su explained. “We’re storytellers, whether we’re telling an original, adapted, branded, experimental, social, long form, or short form story, we are both hands-on showrunners and strategists who design narrative experiences that transcend multiple platforms.”

“As the entertainment industry adjusts to the seismic shift of content consumption across multiple platforms, Bernie Su is the only true digital creator/producer who has mastered how to design platform-specific original content, which brands, marketers, and media companies are hungry for,” said Tochterman. “Together we are well positioned to extend ‘branded entertainment’ into more brand-meaningful programming franchises combined with a great user experience to drive engagement and audience integration, and build brand value.”

Canvas will announce its first official web series along with partner StyleHaul during the YouTube multi-channel network’s Digital Content Newfronts presentation on May 5, 2015.