Former Anderson Media Corporation CEO Charlie Anderson and creative executive/executive producer Mike Camello are partnering to launch a new production and distribution company titled Charlie Mike Productions. Upon the launch they signed a first multi-picture deal with Strong Eagle Media. Charlie Mike will fund and distribute Strong Eagle Media’s first two military films Citizen Soldier and Danger Close, both of which are in production and slated to be released in 2016.
SyFy Ventures has launched SyFy Films, a new company that will develop and acquire original science fiction films for release on theatrical, digital platforms, and select independent theaters through partnerships such as with XLrator Media. SyFy Films’ first film is the psychological thriller 400 Days scheduled for release on January 12, 2016 with plans to air on the Syfy network later in the year. Syfy Films includes a grouping of businesses to expand the brand’s global reach, among them digital platforms, licensing and merchandising, and video games.
Jon Stewart has inked a four-year production deal with HBO to include topical short-form digital content for HBO Now, HBO Go and other platforms as well as a first-look option for other film and TV ventures. This marks Stewart’s first deal since stepping down from The Daily Show earlier this year after a 16-year run.
Andrew Kreisberg has inked an overall deal with WBTV to develop new projects for the studio. He will continue to serve as showrunner on The Flash and Supergirl and executive produce Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. The deal is Kreisberg’s first overall. His credits also include working with Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim on Eli Stone as well as on David E. Kelley’s Boston Legal, The Simpsons and Hope & Faith.
The Chernin Group has partnered with private-equity firm KKR to invest in media and entertainment companies across Asia and to launch Emerald Media, to focus on providing growth capital ranging from $15 million-$75 million to take stakes in or ownership of media, entertainment and digital media businesses in the region. Chernin Group’s Rajesh Kamat and Paul Aiello will lead Emerald Media, which will have offices in Mumbai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
McG and his Wonderland Sound & Vision have inked a two-year overall deal with ABC Family/Freeform, ABC Studios and its cable/digital division ABC Signature, under which McG will direct and develop drama and comedy series and produce digital content for various platforms. McG is currently executive producing Freeform’s upcoming drama series Shadowhunters and the current Kevin From Work. This is the first TV studio agreement for Wonderland Sound & Vision since the it left Warner Bros. TV in 2013.
IMAX Corporation and Twentieth Century Fox have entered into a long-term, multi-picture agreement. Marking the two companies’ first joint multi-picture agreement, the deal includes future tentpoles from the Fox slate, including Deadpool, Independence Day Resurgence, Maze Runner: The Death Cure and the studio’s untitled Wolverine project. The IMAX release of each film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX Digital Re-mastering technology.
Former President of Paramount Pictures Adam Goodman has started Dichotomy that will produce films in a new model that will finance projects in increments. His company will fund $2 million over 20 days of production per film and then test the footage on an audience. If the project shows promise he will continue to invest in the film in increments up to $5 million. The company has a first-look deal with Paramount. He will focus on films outside of comic-book movies and pre-branded franchises and streamline the filmmaking process from development through post-production.
As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, Liberty Global, the largest cable company in the world, with 27 million customers across 14 countries, has extended their distribution deal with A+E Networks and is also launching two new HD channels in the UK. The deal covers A+E Networks’ UK channels on Liberty Global platforms across Europe. Lifetime and H2 will be also now be available in HD in both the UK and Ireland for the first time.
Emmy winner and The Beasts of No Nation director Cary Fukunaga and his banner Parliament of Owls have inked a two-year deal with Paramount TV that gives the studio exclusive rights to produce and distribute scripted programming directed, written and/or produced by Fukunaga for broadcast, cable and streaming services.
Reality producer Oliver Bogner and his Bogner Content banner have inked an overall deal with All3Media America to develop and produce unscripted content for both broadcast and cable. This is one of the first moves for Greg Lipstone as All3Media’s CEO. Bogner was a former client of his while Lipstone was at ICM. Bogner Content will be based out of the All3Media America Los Angeles headquarters.
As reported in Exec Shuffle on Monday, Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group have extended their long-term partnership with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films for another five movies, some of which will be distributed through Lionsgate’s newly launched Premiere label. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films’ slate includes The Heist, The Extraction and The Marauders.