Author: Bryn Elise Sandberg

September 28, 2016 11:45am PT by Bryn Elise Sandberg

Courtesy of Photofest

‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’

Under the pact, UCP will develop anthology series ‘Welcome to Hitchock’ inspired on the filmmaker’s movies.

Universal Cable Productions has inked a deal with the Alfred Hitchcock Estate.

As part of the partnership, UCP will develop an anthology series called Welcome to Hitchcock based on the filmmaker’s most popular movies including The Birds and Psycho and television series Hitchcock Presents. The new show will focus on a single season-long mystery or crime in the vein of Hitchcock’s classic style. 

Vermilion Entertainment, the newly formed television production company from the founders of Cross Creek Pictures, will collaborate on the project, along with Chris Columbus’ 1492 Pictures/Ocean Blue Entertainment. The series marks Vermilion’s first foray into scripted television.

Columbus will direct the pilot and also serve as an executive producer on the series alongside Michael Barnathan, Timmy Thompson, Todd Thompson and the Hitchcock family. Casey Tebo will serve as a co-producer.

The deal marks the second time an NBCUniversal studio has created a series based on a Hitchcock property — the first being A&E’s drama Bates Motel, which is produced by UCP’s corporate sibling Universal Television and based on characters from Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho.

“Long after his death, Alfred Hitchcock continues to be one of the most celebrated directors and visionaries in the world, a master manipulator of the macabre,” said Dawn Olmstead, UCP’s executive vice president of development. “We’re honored that the Hitchcock Estate has put its trust in our studio to pay homage to his work.”

“Our grandfather always collaborated with the best and the brightest to help shape his vision,” said Katie O’Connell-Fiala on behalf of the Hitchcock Trust and MTK Corporation, which was founded by O’Connell-Fiala and her sisters Mary O’Connell-Stone and Tere O’Connell-Carrubba. “We’re confident that Universal Cable Productions will take great care in helping us to continue preserving his legacy.”

September 28, 2016 10:00am PT by Bryn Elise Sandberg

Brian Mosoff

James Shin

The former TriStar Pictures exec will serve as vice president of content development.

Scooter Braun’s SB Projects is bringing on a new executive to develop content.

The company that encompasses music, film, television, technology and social good has tapped James Shin as its new vice president of content development. Reporting to SB Projects’ chief operating officer Scott Manson, Shin will spearhead all original unscripted and scripted content development for film, TV, digital and theater.

Shin joins SB Projects from TriStar Pictures, where he served as a development executive. He worked on music-driven films such as the upcoming action comedy Baby Driver from director Edgar Wright and this year’s crime drama Money Monster. Prior to his role at TriStar Pictures, Shin operated as in-house music supervisor at Sony Pictures Television. There, he worked on music and soundtracks for series including Breaking Bad, Community and Masters of Sex. Shin began his career in entertainment at William Morris Agency in New York City working in the music and TV literary departments. 

“James is really smart, hard working and has outstanding taste. His combination of experience in both the music industry and at a major film studio, along with a variety of relationships which span the entire entertainment industry, is rare,” said Doug Belgrad, founder of 2.0 Entertainment and former president of Sony Motion Pictures Group. “He is ideally suited to work with Scooter and his impressive roster of artists to create compelling content and I can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

“We are thrilled to welcome James to SB Projects,” said Manson. “Our ambitions are high in the content world and we are excited for James to help lead the charge in building out our development pipeline, packaging our ideas with best-in-class partners, and further immersing himself in the creative community.”

“I am truly grateful for the 6 years at Sony with my peers and mentors whom I will always consider family. In looking forward, I am so thrilled to combine my experiences and work with Scooter, Scott, and the fantastic team they have built over the years,” said Shin. “SB Projects’ pulse on culture and ability to the move the needle in entertainment are undeniable, and the combination of resources and progressive vision to expand its reachinto content really makes it an exciting time in the company. I look forward to making great movies and shows with them, as they have done with their artists.” 

September 27, 2016 1:15pm PT by Bryn Elise Sandberg

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Sue Naegle

The HBO alum will serve as president of the Megan Ellison-led company’s newly created TV arm.

Annapurna Pictures is expanding into television.

The Megan Ellison-led film company has tapped veteran producer Sue Naegle to serve as president of its newly launched TV division. Together with Ellison, Naegle will spearhead Annapurna Television, a new production arm for the company behind Sausage Party and Everybody Wants Some!! that will focus on building out a television slate for broadcast, cable and digital platforms.

Naegle, who formerly served as the president of HBO Entertainment, joins Annapurna after three years of leading her own television and film production company Naegle Ink. She currently serves as an executive producer on Cinemax’s Robert Kirkman drama Outcast, and has a number of projects in development with various cable networks including HBO — all of which will now transition to Annapurna. Already in the works for the production company is a series for premium cable channel Epix written by Angela Robinson and Alex Kondrake about the intersecting lives of Hollywood icons and rivals Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.

Also making the transition to Annapurna with Naegle will be her top execs Kit Giordano and Ali Krug, who will serve as senior vice president and vice president, respectively. Prior to joining Naegle Ink in 2013, Giordano served as a vp for Illumination Entertainment and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films. Krug, for her part, previously worked alongside Naegle in series development and production at HBO before going with her to Naegle Ink.

“We are thrilled to further expand our television business and continue our commitment to all forms of storytelling,” said Ellison. “I could not be more excited to have the opportunity to work with and learn from Sue Naegle. She has such a passion and understanding of this medium, and has truly approached it from every angle. As I’ve gotten to know Sue, not only is she brilliant with an astonishing expertise both creatively and for the business, but also, she’s an incredible person to invite into this close-knit group of individuals over here at Annapurna. Her track record speaks for itself and her values could not be more aligned with our goals as a company.”

“I am so excited to join Annapurna and help spearhead the exciting future of Annapurna Television. Annapurna is a company that has been unwavering in their commitment to building distinctive and bold programming in a time of unprecedented production,” said Naegle, who was instrumental in shepherding top shows including Emmy-winning series Game of Thrones and Veep during her time at HBO. “Whether I’ve been an agent, network president or producer, defending and nurturing innovative, compelling narratives and aesthetic excellence has been my mission and privilege. I’m so thrilled to find partners like Megan and her incredible team that share the same core philosophy, and I hope that this alliance will yield indelible television shows that reflect and challenge our culture.”