Lionsgate Enters Overall TV Deal With Producing Team Shumsky & Harris

SANTA MONICA/VANCOUVER: Lionsgate has signed an overall television deal with producing team David Shumsky and Mark Harris, who will create new original programming and formats for the alternative group through their Ohana Pictures banner.

Lionsgate will have the exclusive rights to unscripted TV produced by Ohana Pictures, as well as first-call on any scripted development. Kicking & Screaming, set to premiere in 2016 on FOX, is the first series order under this deal. This new eight-episode competition series was co-created with Matt Kunitz, who is also under an overall deal with Lionsgate Television.

Previously, Shumsky was VP of development for executive producer Matt Kunitz at FremantleMedia North America. Shumsky has had producing roles on a number of shows, including Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC and Last Comic Standing on NBC. He is a graduate of the USC School of Law. Harris has functioned in various capacities in the film world and has had his work screened at more than 50 film festivals worldwide, including the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and SXSW.

“Mark and David are spectacular producers, and come to us with a range of bold, fresh concepts to develop and fertile worlds to build,” said Jennifer O’Connell, the executive VP of alternative programming at Lionsgate Television. “We are delighted to have this creative duo at Lionsgate Television in an exclusive role, and look to them to help the studio accelerate its momentum and expand further in the unscripted arena.”

“We are excited to be cementing our relationship with Lionsgate Television,” added Shumsky and Harris. “The company’s success is tied to its visionary leadership and we look forward to working directly with Jen O’Connell and Brian Tannenbaum, who both have a keen sense of the market and a special knack for working with creatives. We anticipate continued success creating new, innovative projects for the Lionsgate alternative group.”