Exclusive updated with additional details: Boomerang co-creator Ben Cory Jones has acquired the shopping rights to Brianna Peppins’ YA novel Briarcliff Prep for series development.
The project will be co-written by Jones and Peppins. Both will produce alongside Cultivate Entertainment Partners Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm.
Briarcliff Prep is a coming-of-age story set in a space where the expectations of gender and race collide, familial responsibilities are tested, and sisterhood may be a saving grace.
Per the book’s synopsis, “set at a luxe, aspirational Historically Black Boarding School inspired by the author’s alma mater Spelman College, Briarcliff Prep is a captivating celebration of the friends we choose, the family we protect, and the love we owe ourselves.”
The novel was published by Disney Hyperion in 2022. The sequel, Briarcliff Prep: Sophomore Year, will be published by Disney Hyperion in 2024.
Jones is a writer, director and producer best known...
The project will be co-written by Jones and Peppins. Both will produce alongside Cultivate Entertainment Partners Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm.
Briarcliff Prep is a coming-of-age story set in a space where the expectations of gender and race collide, familial responsibilities are tested, and sisterhood may be a saving grace.
Per the book’s synopsis, “set at a luxe, aspirational Historically Black Boarding School inspired by the author’s alma mater Spelman College, Briarcliff Prep is a captivating celebration of the friends we choose, the family we protect, and the love we owe ourselves.”
The novel was published by Disney Hyperion in 2022. The sequel, Briarcliff Prep: Sophomore Year, will be published by Disney Hyperion in 2024.
Jones is a writer, director and producer best known...
- 12/1/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Actor Nadji Jeter has signed with talent management company Cultivate Entertainment Partners for representation.
Jeter made his film debut in the 2006 feature Dirty Laundry, written and directed by Maurice Jamal. He went on to appear in films including Grown Ups 1 and 2, The Fifth Wave, Oscar-winning Wonder and most recently Miss Virginia and 2021’s The Runner.
On television, Jeter voiced Miles Morales in the Marvel/Disney Xd series Spider-Man. He previously voiced the Miles Morales character in the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse PlayStation game where he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Performer in a Leading Role. His additional television credits include guest-starring roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Everybody Hates Chris, Castle, Last Man Standing and Grown-ish, among others.
“We are delighted to welcome Nadji Jeter to our talented roster,” said Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm, co-founders at Cultivate Entertainment Partners. “Nadji’s remarkable talent and...
Jeter made his film debut in the 2006 feature Dirty Laundry, written and directed by Maurice Jamal. He went on to appear in films including Grown Ups 1 and 2, The Fifth Wave, Oscar-winning Wonder and most recently Miss Virginia and 2021’s The Runner.
On television, Jeter voiced Miles Morales in the Marvel/Disney Xd series Spider-Man. He previously voiced the Miles Morales character in the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse PlayStation game where he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Performer in a Leading Role. His additional television credits include guest-starring roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Everybody Hates Chris, Castle, Last Man Standing and Grown-ish, among others.
“We are delighted to welcome Nadji Jeter to our talented roster,” said Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm, co-founders at Cultivate Entertainment Partners. “Nadji’s remarkable talent and...
- 7/6/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Eric Benét and Sevyn Streeter, and HBO’s Ballers.
“Both Eric and Sevyn are phenomenal artists with a bright future ahead of them within the television and film world. We are very excited to have these two on Team Cultivate”, said Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm, co-founders of Cultivate, in a statement to Deadline.
Benét is also repped by Primary Wave Entertainment and Streeter is represented by APA.
“Both Eric and Sevyn are phenomenal artists with a bright future ahead of them within the television and film world. We are very excited to have these two on Team Cultivate”, said Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm, co-founders of Cultivate, in a statement to Deadline.
Benét is also repped by Primary Wave Entertainment and Streeter is represented by APA.
- 2/17/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Christian Robinson has signed with Cultivate Entertainment Partners for representation.
Robinson is an American actor of Panamanian and African American descent, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
He began his career co-starring in the Netflix original film Burning Sands, which was an official selection at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. He played Big Country in the drama project following students who pledge to a fraternity as illegal hazing has now moved underground. Additionally, he portrayed the character Capital A in the 2018 horror film The First Purge.
On the small screen, Robinson can currently be seen in Season 3 of the Starz hit drama series Bmf in the role of Tiny. He also recurred in the AMC+ series Interview With The Vampire portraying Levi. Other TV credits include HBO’s The Watchmen, IFC’s Brockmire, Tell Me A Story for CBS, and Tales for BET.
“Christian...
Robinson is an American actor of Panamanian and African American descent, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
He began his career co-starring in the Netflix original film Burning Sands, which was an official selection at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. He played Big Country in the drama project following students who pledge to a fraternity as illegal hazing has now moved underground. Additionally, he portrayed the character Capital A in the 2018 horror film The First Purge.
On the small screen, Robinson can currently be seen in Season 3 of the Starz hit drama series Bmf in the role of Tiny. He also recurred in the AMC+ series Interview With The Vampire portraying Levi. Other TV credits include HBO’s The Watchmen, IFC’s Brockmire, Tell Me A Story for CBS, and Tales for BET.
“Christian...
- 1/24/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Flame Monroe has signed with Cultivate Entertainment Partners.
Monroe is a comedian, entertainer, writer, producer, and emcee, best known as the host of Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast, Laugh & Learn with Flame Monroe on the iHeart Network and co-producing Netflix’s They Ready, with her episode receiving an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Director for a Variety series.
“It’s always a great moment when you can come to work for a client, you’re a fan of,” said Corey Simon, who was recently promoted to VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Cultivate.
Monroe recently wrapped as a featured performer on a new untitled Netflix comedy special with Dave Chappelle. Currently, she is developing a new TV series called HeSheWe Red Carpet Review and can be seen live every Wednesday night at the World-Famous Laugh Factory on Sunset with her own comedy show, Free Voices Produced by Laugh Factory founder,...
Monroe is a comedian, entertainer, writer, producer, and emcee, best known as the host of Charlamagne Tha God’s Black Effect Podcast, Laugh & Learn with Flame Monroe on the iHeart Network and co-producing Netflix’s They Ready, with her episode receiving an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Director for a Variety series.
“It’s always a great moment when you can come to work for a client, you’re a fan of,” said Corey Simon, who was recently promoted to VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Cultivate.
Monroe recently wrapped as a featured performer on a new untitled Netflix comedy special with Dave Chappelle. Currently, she is developing a new TV series called HeSheWe Red Carpet Review and can be seen live every Wednesday night at the World-Famous Laugh Factory on Sunset with her own comedy show, Free Voices Produced by Laugh Factory founder,...
- 9/27/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Filmmaker Ben Cory Jones (Black Spartans) has signed with Cultivate Entertainment Partners for representation.
Jones is a writer, director and producer best known for co-producing HBO’s acclaimed Issa Rae series Insecure and co-creating the BET series Boomerang with Lena Waithe. He has also written on shows like Games People Play (BET), Underground (OWN) and Ben Watkins’ Hand of God (Amazon), and is currently gearing up to direct his first feature Black Spartans, which goes into production in Atlanta this fall.
Exploring the explosive era of the mid-1960s where social upheaval paved the way for a new order in college football, Black Spartans will tell the story of the first fully integrated college football team. The film starring Neal McDonough and Casey Cott is inspired by the Michigan State Spartans team, coached by Duffy Daugherty, which forever changed the face of the sport. Jones will direct from his...
Jones is a writer, director and producer best known for co-producing HBO’s acclaimed Issa Rae series Insecure and co-creating the BET series Boomerang with Lena Waithe. He has also written on shows like Games People Play (BET), Underground (OWN) and Ben Watkins’ Hand of God (Amazon), and is currently gearing up to direct his first feature Black Spartans, which goes into production in Atlanta this fall.
Exploring the explosive era of the mid-1960s where social upheaval paved the way for a new order in college football, Black Spartans will tell the story of the first fully integrated college football team. The film starring Neal McDonough and Casey Cott is inspired by the Michigan State Spartans team, coached by Duffy Daugherty, which forever changed the face of the sport. Jones will direct from his...
- 8/19/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Director Drew Walkup, and writers Adam Armstrong and Marcus DeVivo—the creative team behind the upcoming indie thriller Endangered—have signed with Zero Gravity Management for representation.
The trio’s debut feature centers on an aspiring architect, who spends her evenings trying to make ends meet as a ride-share driver. While wrapping up her shift, she decides to take on one last passenger – only to find herself in unexpected danger when she discovers the mysterious stranger is not who he appears to be. The film was released on VOD on July 26th, after a successful 2020/2021 festival run, and currently holds a 100 ‘Fresh’ Rotten Tomatoes score.
Walkup, Armstrong and DeVivo have also previously partnered on the creation of short films, branded entertainment and TV series, including multiple projects for the beloved Japanese superhero, Ultraman. Upcoming projects from the creative team include the horror film Sundown at Solstice Canyon, set against...
The trio’s debut feature centers on an aspiring architect, who spends her evenings trying to make ends meet as a ride-share driver. While wrapping up her shift, she decides to take on one last passenger – only to find herself in unexpected danger when she discovers the mysterious stranger is not who he appears to be. The film was released on VOD on July 26th, after a successful 2020/2021 festival run, and currently holds a 100 ‘Fresh’ Rotten Tomatoes score.
Walkup, Armstrong and DeVivo have also previously partnered on the creation of short films, branded entertainment and TV series, including multiple projects for the beloved Japanese superhero, Ultraman. Upcoming projects from the creative team include the horror film Sundown at Solstice Canyon, set against...
- 7/29/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
AllBlk has greenlit the new anthology series Snap co-created by Eric Benet and Devin Hampton.
Production on the six-episode project— described as in the vein of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone—is set to begin in mid-March with Benet portraying one of the leads. It’s slated to premiere in December.
Snap follows a perfectly imperfect god named A.O. who serves as the “moral compass” for the protagonist of each episode. When A.O. comes across a protagonist facing an unexpected scenario, he/she/they challenge(s) them to see themselves from the outside looking in…which in a “snap” will change the beliefs they’ve held onto for most of their lives.
“A truly original series that we haven’t really seen before is a perfect addition to our programming slate as we continue to expand and diversify our content offering at AllBlk,” said Brett Dismuke, General Manager of AllBlk & We tv.
Production on the six-episode project— described as in the vein of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone—is set to begin in mid-March with Benet portraying one of the leads. It’s slated to premiere in December.
Snap follows a perfectly imperfect god named A.O. who serves as the “moral compass” for the protagonist of each episode. When A.O. comes across a protagonist facing an unexpected scenario, he/she/they challenge(s) them to see themselves from the outside looking in…which in a “snap” will change the beliefs they’ve held onto for most of their lives.
“A truly original series that we haven’t really seen before is a perfect addition to our programming slate as we continue to expand and diversify our content offering at AllBlk,” said Brett Dismuke, General Manager of AllBlk & We tv.
- 2/10/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cultivate Entertainment Partners has hired Devorah Moos Hankin as a producer, promoting Robert Szertics to VP of Management.
In her new role at Cultivate, veteran film and TV producer Hankin will continue producing, while overseeing the management and production company’s growing development slate. As a representative of Swedish descent, Szertics will continue to bridge the gap between Scandinavia and Hollywood for the company partially based in Oslo, concentrating on the crossover market for artists in television and film, while managing traditional talent.
“We are super excited to have Devorah joining our continued success building Cultivate,” said the company’s CEO, producer and co-founder Patrick Strøm. “Her broad experience and great eye for amazing stories is something we appreciate, and we look forward to developing and producing stories we care about and that will impact the audience.”
“Robert has proven himself to be an extremely focused and hard worker...
In her new role at Cultivate, veteran film and TV producer Hankin will continue producing, while overseeing the management and production company’s growing development slate. As a representative of Swedish descent, Szertics will continue to bridge the gap between Scandinavia and Hollywood for the company partially based in Oslo, concentrating on the crossover market for artists in television and film, while managing traditional talent.
“We are super excited to have Devorah joining our continued success building Cultivate,” said the company’s CEO, producer and co-founder Patrick Strøm. “Her broad experience and great eye for amazing stories is something we appreciate, and we look forward to developing and producing stories we care about and that will impact the audience.”
“Robert has proven himself to be an extremely focused and hard worker...
- 2/7/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Los Angeles and Oslo based management and production company Cultivate Entertainment has made a pair of hires.
Corey Simon joins the company after several years running his own outfit before transitioning into management. He brings with him clients including Zola and Straight Outta Compton actor Jason Mitchell, Vida actor J. J. Green, and Broadway actress Stakiah Lynn Washington. Cultivate said Simon will look to continue building his roster and represent unrepresented voices around the world.
Robert Szertics joins having begun his career at Red One Productions, where he worked with recording artists including Ava Max, Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj. In his new role he will concentrate on the crossover market for music artists in TV and film, as well as managing traditional talent.
Simon will be based in LA and Szertics will be based in LA and the Nordics. Both the new hires will work under Talent Heads...
Corey Simon joins the company after several years running his own outfit before transitioning into management. He brings with him clients including Zola and Straight Outta Compton actor Jason Mitchell, Vida actor J. J. Green, and Broadway actress Stakiah Lynn Washington. Cultivate said Simon will look to continue building his roster and represent unrepresented voices around the world.
Robert Szertics joins having begun his career at Red One Productions, where he worked with recording artists including Ava Max, Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj. In his new role he will concentrate on the crossover market for music artists in TV and film, as well as managing traditional talent.
Simon will be based in LA and Szertics will be based in LA and the Nordics. Both the new hires will work under Talent Heads...
- 7/21/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: AMC Networks-owned streamer Umc has ordered a legal drama from Adam Starks (On My Block), Tracy Grant (Lincoln Heights) and Kemy Time Productions.
The subscription service, dedicated to Black film and TV and a rival of ViacomCBS’ BET+, has handed Lace a six-episode order for its first season.
The series will follow a prolific Los Angeles attorney who often blurs the lines between right and wrong to protect her rich and powerful clientele.
It is currently casting and the producers are in talks with Jamal Hill, who helmed Netflix feature Deuces, to direct. It was created by Katrina Y. Nelson, co-founder of Kemy Time Productions along with Michelle Ebony Hardy, Starks and Grant.
Nelson and Hardy will serve as co-showrunners and will executive produce alongside Starks and Grant. Brett Dismuke, Chief Content Officer of Umc, and VP of Development & Production, Nikki Love, will serve as executive producers for Umc.
The subscription service, dedicated to Black film and TV and a rival of ViacomCBS’ BET+, has handed Lace a six-episode order for its first season.
The series will follow a prolific Los Angeles attorney who often blurs the lines between right and wrong to protect her rich and powerful clientele.
It is currently casting and the producers are in talks with Jamal Hill, who helmed Netflix feature Deuces, to direct. It was created by Katrina Y. Nelson, co-founder of Kemy Time Productions along with Michelle Ebony Hardy, Starks and Grant.
Nelson and Hardy will serve as co-showrunners and will executive produce alongside Starks and Grant. Brett Dismuke, Chief Content Officer of Umc, and VP of Development & Production, Nikki Love, will serve as executive producers for Umc.
- 8/12/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cultivate Entertainment, the Los Angeles and Oslo based management and production company, has launched a podcast division.
The new wing of the company expands on Cultivate founders Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm’s work executive producing the Showtime podcast series All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. The show, featuring guests including the late Kobe Bryant and Jamie Foxx, has garnered more than 50 million views on Youtube and a further 25 million downloads on iTunes.
Cultivate Digital will be run by Anniken Aalbu, whose background includes developing sports shows in Norway, being a PGA tour reporter, and working as a producer for Michelle Khare’s YouTube series Challenge Accepted.
It is already in development on two true crime podcasts with Charles King’s Macro, and is also planning to launch a new show that will explore sports, tech, and real estate and will be fronted by former...
The new wing of the company expands on Cultivate founders Sean Mik’ael Butler and Patrick Strøm’s work executive producing the Showtime podcast series All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. The show, featuring guests including the late Kobe Bryant and Jamie Foxx, has garnered more than 50 million views on Youtube and a further 25 million downloads on iTunes.
Cultivate Digital will be run by Anniken Aalbu, whose background includes developing sports shows in Norway, being a PGA tour reporter, and working as a producer for Michelle Khare’s YouTube series Challenge Accepted.
It is already in development on two true crime podcasts with Charles King’s Macro, and is also planning to launch a new show that will explore sports, tech, and real estate and will be fronted by former...
- 8/11/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Former Los Angeles Laker and NBA champion Matt Barnes has signed with ICM Partners in all areas. Barnes, who retired in 2017 after 14 seasons in the NBA, is currently an ESPN analyst, executive producer and podcast host.
His Showtime basketball podcast, All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, launched last year. It featured the last exclusive interview with Kobe Bryant prior to his death, and has featured several prominent guests including current and ex-players Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett and Dwyane Wade, rappers Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg, and activist Sean King.
More from DeadlineESPN And NBA Team For 'H.O.R.S.E' Competition Featuring Coronavirus Idled Basketball TalentsICM Signs Cooper Raiff, Filmmaker Behind SXSW Jury Prize Winning Narrative 'Shithouse'icm Partners TV Lit Agent Laura Gordon Joining CAA
Along with Sean Butler and Patrick Strøm, his producing partners and managers from Cul∙ti∙vate Entertainment,...
His Showtime basketball podcast, All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, launched last year. It featured the last exclusive interview with Kobe Bryant prior to his death, and has featured several prominent guests including current and ex-players Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett and Dwyane Wade, rappers Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg, and activist Sean King.
More from DeadlineESPN And NBA Team For 'H.O.R.S.E' Competition Featuring Coronavirus Idled Basketball TalentsICM Signs Cooper Raiff, Filmmaker Behind SXSW Jury Prize Winning Narrative 'Shithouse'icm Partners TV Lit Agent Laura Gordon Joining CAA
Along with Sean Butler and Patrick Strøm, his producing partners and managers from Cul∙ti∙vate Entertainment,...
- 4/24/2020
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Poorna Jagannathan, Nikohl Boosheri (Freeform’s The Bold Type) and newcomer Catharine Daddario will star in Alia’s Birth, an indie drama from Sam Abbas. It’s about a rocky relationship between a female couple that forces them to spend the night apart. Abbas will producer under his company ArabQ Film, an Arab-based Lgbtq-focused production company, along with Tatiana Bears, Nicole Townsend, and Neal Kumar. This marks the second feature from ArabQ Film after making its debut with The Wedding, which also starred Boosheri. Anacrónica, a newly formed production company in Bolivia led by actors Quim Del Rio and Nakai Mirtenbaum, will team with ArabQ Films on this project. Executive producers are Randelson Floyd, Suki Sandhu, David Klein, Josh Jupiter, Jorge Quintero, Lucky Cheng, Quim Del Rio, and Nakai Mirtenbaum. The project is set to begin shooting this summer in New York.
- 4/24/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Catch up with the key news and projects from the Goteborg Film Festival and Nordic Film Market.A warm ‘Welcome’ ahead of Efm
One of the hottest premieres in Goteborg was Welcome To Norway!, the immigration-themed dramedy that was the first film to sell out and later won the Audience Award for best Nordic film. Its industry and press screenings were also packed, setting the film up well as it heads to Berlin’s Efm, where Beta Cinema handles sales.
Director Rune Langlo Denstad said he had the project in mind for more than ten years after he visited a centre for asylum seekers while working on documentary projects. A decade later, the film couldn’t be more topical.
The story follows Primus (Anders Baasmo Christiansen), a desperate and somewhat racist hotel owner in a remote Norwegian village who wants to turn his hotel into a home for asylum seekers to cash in on government funding. Of course...
One of the hottest premieres in Goteborg was Welcome To Norway!, the immigration-themed dramedy that was the first film to sell out and later won the Audience Award for best Nordic film. Its industry and press screenings were also packed, setting the film up well as it heads to Berlin’s Efm, where Beta Cinema handles sales.
Director Rune Langlo Denstad said he had the project in mind for more than ten years after he visited a centre for asylum seekers while working on documentary projects. A decade later, the film couldn’t be more topical.
The story follows Primus (Anders Baasmo Christiansen), a desperate and somewhat racist hotel owner in a remote Norwegian village who wants to turn his hotel into a home for asylum seekers to cash in on government funding. Of course...
- 2/8/2016
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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