Pinewood Targets TV Dramas with New Production Venture

LONDON: Pinewood Group has teamed up with Peter Gerwe’s StoryFirst to establish Pinewood Television, which will specialize in high-end drama series.

The new venture will create, develop and finance drama series for television. Pinewood Television is expected to be both an originating producer and a co-producing partner for major drama projects looking for deficit funding.

Helen Gregory has been appointed creative director to lead the company. Gregory is an award-winning producer of drama and comedy for BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky and was previously a commissioning editor for drama at Channel 4. She is also the co-creator and co-executive producer of The Catch, a new U.S. series for Shondaland/ABC.

Ivan Dunleavy, the chief executive of Pinewood Group, said: “The global demand for high-end television continues to rise dramatically and, with HETV fiscal incentives available, the Pinewood television business will participate in this growing market. Pinewood Television’s offering will build on the financing experience that Pinewood and StoryFirst has developed to date.”

Gerwe, the CEO of StoryFirst, said: “I am delighted to be in partnership with Pinewood which, with its iconic and internationally recognized brand, long history and global infrastructure will bring considerable value and a wealth of experience to this joint venture. We are fortunate to have such a strong Board of Directors comprising highly experienced industry executives to guide and build the business. We are immensely pleased that we have been able to recruit such a high profile and talented creative team. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Pinewood, developing and building Pinewood Television into world-class originator and owner of high-quality television drama.”

Gregory added: “This partnership is uniquely set up as a valuable new content creator of real scale. I am thrilled by the opportunity to provide robust editorial and financial support to the ambitions of world-class talent and believe Pinewood Television will be welcomed by the creative community and buyers alike.”