Putting Big Idea Back Together

All the prayers asking God to save Big Idea may have been answered after all. The company, now owned by Classic Media, emerged from bankruptcy with its debts wiped out. It is again producing half-hour VeggieTales episodes.

Eric Ellenbogen, CEO of Classic Media, says that returning to the basics of telling biblical stories with quirky humor is the "best way to nurse the company back to financial health."

While Classic Media is not a Christian-owned company, Ellenbogen says it does support the values Big Idea stands for. Ellenbogen adds he will not try to shape the creative content of VeggieTales. That will be left to people like Mike Nawrocki, Tim Hodge, and Kurt Heinecke, who have been working for Big Idea for years. Ellenbogen knows that "slapping a Big Idea label" on a video doesn't guarantee success.

"What makes VeggieTales special is that they stand for something," he says. "You know exactly what you are getting."

As for any future feature films, Ellenbogen is taking a wait-and-see approach. Even if Jonah had been a bigger hit, it might not have saved Big Idea from bankruptcy. "Sometimes having a huge success is the worst thing that can happen," Ellenbogen says. "You start to believe you have a secret formula for making movies that no one else has. Then you make a second feature, and it's a flop and you lose everything. There is no secret formula."

—Bob Smietana

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Related Elsewhere:

The main article to this sidebar discusses Phil Vischer's attempt to turn creative again.

Christianity Today has followed Big Idea for years. Here are more articles on the company:

VeggieTales Born Again | Big Idea primes itself for recovery with a new owner. (Jan. 21, 2004)

Weblog: VeggieTales Sold for $19.3 Million (Oct. 31, 2003)

VeggieTales Creators File for Bankruptcy | Bob the Tomato and friends sold to company that already has Lassie, Lone Ranger, and Rudolph. (Aug. 04, 2003)

Weblog: Veggies for Sale | Big Idea Productions says it's looking for a buyer (Jul. 16, 2003)

Big Idea Loses Suit | Jury says creator of VeggieTales owes $11 million to ex-distributor. (June 20, 2003)

Big Idea Responds to CT Article | Phil Vischer, CEO and founder, issues a statement regarding company's financial status. (Oct. 4, 2003)

Big Trouble at Big Idea | Former workers worry that Jonah could sink the company. (Oct. 4, 2003)

The Top Tomato | Phil Vischer's tenacious campaign to dominate family entertainment. (Oct. 4, 2003)

Runaway Asparagus | Big Idea's Jonah is both wholesome and hip. (Oct. 4, 2003)

(The Voice of) Larry the Cucumber Speaks | "Nobody thinks growing up that they're going to be a cucumber." (Oct. 4, 2003)

The Serious Business of Silly Songs | The director of music for the VeggieTales talks about bringing musical depth to the score. (Oct. 4, 2003)

The Serious Business of Silly Songs | The director of music for the VeggieTales talks about bringing musical depth to the score. (Oct. 4, 2003)

Jonah Bags Boffo Box Office | But Big Idea lays off 30 in 'heartbreaking' cuts. (Nov. 01, 2002)

(The Voice of) Larry the Cucumber Speaks | "Nobody thinks growing up that they're going to be a cucumber." (Oct. 04, 2002)

Christianity Today sister publication Books & Culture discussed Big Idea's video series in "What's Cooking When Martha Stewart Meets the VeggieTales?"

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