Former ITV Studios Execs Set Up Indie Production Outfit

LONDON: Amanda Wilson and Elliot Johnson, former ITV Studios and Avalon executives, have formed the new indie production company Sharp Jack Media, specializing in entertainment, factual entertainment and quiz formats.

The two will be joint managing directors of the U.K.-based indie. Wilson and Johnson served as creative heads of entertainment development at ITV Studios before exiting in September. Prior to ITV, they worked together at Avalon as heads of the format venture Tinderbox.

Sharp Jack Media has already landed distribution and development deal with BBC Worldwide, which will explore commercial opportunities for the company, including global distribution.

Johnson said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we achieved at ITV so it was a tough decision to leave, but it’s been a long term ambition to set up on our own and we felt the timing was right.”
 
Wilson added: “We love good ideas, be it a cunning quiz end game, or a funny factual entertainment premise. People all over the world are looking for shows that reflect their own lives but are louder and brighter and we think that’s exactly what Sharp Jack Media can provide.”
 
Matt Paice, BBC Worldwide’s executive VP of international production, commented: “Amanda and Elliot are proven hit-makers so we are delighted to be part of the Sharp Jack story from the beginning. Their launch slate already boasts big, bold multiplatform formats which we look forward to launching on the global stage."