Genre News

Christopher von Uckermann, formerly one-sixth of Mexican pop phenom RBD, is working a different kind of magic on a new Fox series in Latin America.

?Kdabra,? which premiered in Brazil last week and debuts Thursday on Fox? cable network in the rest of Latin America, stars von Uckermann as Luca, a 17-year-old escape artist who runs away from his religious community and falls in with an urban tribe of magicians.

The 13-episode series was produced in high definition and shot in Colombia as a co-production of Fox International Channels, Movie City Pack and Fox Telecolombia. ?Kdabra? is Fox? first original drama produced in Latin America.

Von Uckermann is using the show as a springboard for releasing new music, namely the show?s theme song, ?Vivir So?ando??which was produced by Gil Cerezo and Ulises Lozano, members of the rock band Kinky. ?Vivir So?ando? will be featured on von Uckermann?s next album, along with another song synchronized in the show, ?Situacion Perfecta.?

Von Uckermann is managed by The Sixth House, headed by Guillermo Rosas and Richard Bull. The two formerly led Roptus, the company that promoted RBD?s tours. The company?s label, T6H Music, has released ?Vivir So?ando? digitally through IODA and also publishes the song with peermusic.

T6H plans to independently release von Uckermann?s EP in September and album in February, though a major could be brought in for a joint venture, license or other arrangement.

The video for ?Vivir So?ando,? which features clips from ?Kdabra,? was funded by Fox and is being promoted to video channels in the region. Meanwhile, von Uckermann has been promoting the show with concerts in Brazil and Mexico.

Bull says Fox sought out von Uckermann for the part, through Rosas? relationship with Emiliano Saccone, senior VP of Fox International Channels Global Content. Von Uckermann was able to bring along many fans from his RBD days who follow him on Facebook and Twitter, adds Bull.