Erik Pack

After spending years working at companies specializing in high-quality television mini-series and movies, such as RHI Entertainment and Power, Erik Pack is transferring his experience in international distribution to the new company Iostar Plc.

Based in London, Iostar will concentrate on two main programming genres, high-end drama and documentaries. “We are co-producing U.S. network TV movies with U.S. producers and we’ll do eight a year,” says Pack. “In addition to that we will be doing a great deal of U.K. drama—everything from two-hour movies and mini-series to series.”

While Pack admits that British series can be a tough sell on the international market because they usually contain a limited number of episodes, Iostar is looking at drama product that does appeal to broadcasters around the world. “Two-part mini-series or even wheels of movies—movies with recurring characters that come back maybe two or three times—travel much better than a six-episode series,” he says.

At MIPTV, Pack will be offering buyers three TV movies in the suspense/thriller genre, in addition to Iostar’s factual programming. Break In stars Kelly Carlson (Nip/Tuck) and tells the story of a couple’s perfect honeymoon, which is turned upside down when their secluded villa is stormed by a gang of armed intruders looking for $10 million that is hidden in the villa’s safe. Stranded, with Erica Durance (Smallville), is about Carina and her friends, who leave their luxury hotel in search of a day of fun and adventure and laugh off the sinister warnings of their guide. And Vanished stars A.J. Cook (Criminal Minds) as Hope, whose husband suddenly and mysteriously disappears during a romantic weekend away.

On the documentary side, Pack will have the three-part Animals Are Amazing, which reveals some of the most intriguing secrets of the animal kingdom; the six-part Last Chance To See, which finds extraordinary creatures on the verge of extinction; and the 90-minute Stairway To Heaven, which documents efforts to rebuild the vandalized al-Aqsa mosque and rekindle centuries-old skills and workmanship.

Launching a brand-new production and distribution company in today’s crowded media landscape can be daunting, but Pack is ready for the challenge. “To be perfectly honest,” he explains, “a lot of it had to do with the people. Iostar has put together, in all aspects of this business, very talented and fun people—people I just like to work with. Dawn [Airey, the former managing director of Sky Networks], the CEO of Iostar, is one of those. And Mark Grenside, [formerly with Crown Media] who is the CEO of the international business, brought me into Iostar and is a very old friend of mine.”

Pack is looking forward to this new chapter in his career. “For me it’s the challenge of starting from the beginning and using my experience to get involved with product that I think is going to work.”