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9 months ago
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EXCLUSIVE: Former Blue Ant Media execs Solange Attwood and Asha Daniere have launched an “internationally-focused, next generation studio business” out of Canada.
Serial Maven Studios has been launched around a strategy of unscripted IP ownership, with Attwood CEO and Daniere the President. The company will focus on finding new models for development, financing, production, distribution and content monetization.
“We are a next generation studio whose primary purpose is intellectual property,” Attwood told Deadline. “We are headquartered in Canada with global reach, and ultimately, we provide big company experience in a bespoke and solution-driven size.”
Attwood was previously EVP of Blue Ant International, building Blue Ant’s sales and co-productions business from scratch and leading the strategic direction of the unit. She oversaw office launches in Toronto, London, New York, Singapore and Australia.
She exited Blue Ant in September after a ten-year stretch at the company, just before Canada’s Drag Race producer Blue Ant unveiled a new studios and rights operation that incorporates the assets of the recently acquired MarbleMedia.
Daniere held as EVP-level legal and business affairs role at Blue Ant during at eight-year run that ended in 2020. She holds several board-level roles, including as lead director of Reginald the Vampire firm Thunderbird Entertainment, and is considered an expert in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, corporate governance and transformational transactions.
The execs have reunited to form Serial Maven, which they say will use a “customized 360-degree approach to access co-financing, co-production and commissioning opportunities.”
“The combination of having a bone fide track record of building strong business from inception to globally recognized and highly profitable enterprise and a dislocated and disrupted industry provides an opportunity-rich marketplace for those that have a trusted global network of financiers, access to the best creative talent and sophisticated dealmaking ability,” said Attwood. “Our ultimate goal is to provide solutions for all.”
The distribution market is very much in flux right now, with streamers and U.S. studios licensing more as they pull away from international originals, but costs coming down in the line with the global economy. Many distributors have pushed into areas such as FAST channels to make the most of their owned IP and entered into co-financing and co-productions to secure rights for projects. These are all areas Serial Maven is likely to target.
Attwood declined to say who is backing the business, but added: “We look forward to sharing more news in the coming months.”
“We are inherently builders and innovators, but we will do so thoughtfully,” she added. “Our ambition is big and growth is in our DNA but we get to approach that growth without needing to take on any legacy ways of operation. We believe that is a key differentiator and helps us be able to say ‘yes’ to opportunities.”
