MY Entertainment, an independent production, packaging and consulting company
based in New York, has closed a raft of funded network development, option and
co-development deals with producers from Norway, France, Israel and Spain,
driving forward its recently launched international strategy to pursue co-development of original ideas with independent producers and distributors around
the globe.
Funded network development deals have been signed for two European-originated
shows: Average, optioned from DR in Denmark, is being adapted for a
cable network; and an original format from French producer Effervescence is in
development with female-skewed WE tv.
MY Entertainment has closed a second option deal with DR Denmark for
Messing With Your Mind, which won awards in Denmark when
it originally aired including Best New Entertainment Format, Best Cinematography at
the Danish TV Awards and Best Original TV Show at the Zulu Awards.
MY Entertainment is partnering with Mission Control Media to pitch the format
featuring mentalist Jan Hellesøe into the North American market. A similar deal has been signed with Tedy Productions in Israel for Seance: Live, a series of live-event specials.
The company has also signed deals to co-develop original ideas with Phileas
Productions in Spain for Hall Pass, a new relationship format, and with
Kim Bjornqvist in Norway for Brand Battles, a business/competition format. Both formats are simultaneously being pitched into the US and global markets, with the first sale for Brand Battles already closed with Cape Town-based producer Cooked in Africa films.
Over the past six months, David Auerbach, senior vice-president of International at MY Entertainment, has forged direct relationships with a number of European independents with the company funding the development of original ideas for specific networks, as well as identifying formats suitable for development for the US, which can then — with a US track-record behind them — be rolled out internationally.
Michael Yudin CEO of MY Entertainment, said: “Working with this kind of creative thinking and talented individuals, with a common goal and understanding, has been nothing but great for everyone involved. When David came on board we wanted to deliver on the promise we made when we launched our international division last year — to work with the best international independents to help feed the US pipeline with successful entertainment programming. We provide our international partners with a conduit to the US networks. We supply direction, contacts, reputation and resources; they supply great ideas. As these deals confirm, it’s not just a powerful formula and one that’s unique to MY Entertainment, but it is working.’
