Ex-Sirens Media President Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh Launches Production Company Maven With Boat Rocker Studios

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-nominated director-producer Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland) has teamed with executive/Emmy-winning producer Cheryl Bloch (Northern Exposure) to launch Backyard Pictures. The new company will be based at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, with a first-look deal. Under the pact, Backyard Pictures will develop new television series spanning broadcast, cable and streaming. They already have multiple projects in the works.

EXCLUSIVE: Regina Hall has brought on Foxcatcher and Mud executive producer Tom Heller to serve as President of her production shingle, Rh Negative Entertainment, which recently sealed a first-look television deal with Showtime as well as a six-picture feature deal with ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group.

Doug Schwalbe has launched The Co-Production Company, a boutique production firm specializing in finance and distribution arrangements for international productions.

Taiwan's four largest movie theater chain companies are joining forces to get into the production business. The companies have united to form Bole Film, through which they plan to produce three to five theatrical films per year.

Endeavor Content partner and executive vice president Lorenzo De Maio is stepping down from the company to launch his own production venture. The L.A.-based De Maio Entertainment, announced Monday, is back by an exclusive long-term partnership deal with global TV powerhouse Fremantle.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterEndeavor Content partner and executive vice president Lorenzo De Maio is exiting the company to launch a new venture, De Maio Entertainment, which has backing from Fremantle through an exclusive long-term partnership deal.Based in Los Angeles, De Maio will work closely with both Fremantle’s senior leadership team and a broader group of independent labels and producers to grow the company’s scripted at factual slate and explore new strategic opportunities with

Shares in Orphan Black producer Boat Rocker Media have begun trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange after the indie studio cut the price and size of the offering to complete a $170.1 million initial public offering. On Wednesday, stock in Boat Rocker traded down 47 cents, or just over 5 percent, at $8.53 after the Toronto-based indie studio dropped its share price and the size of the offering ahead of its market listing.

Boat Rocker Media, the entertainment company behind Orphan Black, Dino Ranch, and Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry has closed an $170 million initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Sarah Monteith has been named CEO of Baby Cow, the TV and film production company founded by Steve Coogan. Monteith, a veteran Brit TV exec who joins from BBC Studios, replaces Christine Langan, who stepped down last year after four years to set up her own venture.

Natalka Znak, who recently produced Fox competition series Ultimate Tag, is setting up a new venture.

Home Team, the UK indie production house founded by Dominic Buchanan and Bennett McGhee, has hired Jessica Hill as Senior Development Executive.

Paris Hilton is getting into business with Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, signing an exclusive two-year overall deal with the studio.

the company said in a statement posted on Twitter. “We are proud of the talented cast and crew behind COLOR OUT OF SPACE.

Tencent Games, the video game division of China's media conglomerate Tencent, has partnered with Its Just Us Productions to expand cross-promotional opportunities inPlayerUnknown's Battleground Mobile. The Los Angeles-based Its Just Us, an independent production and finance company, will identify opportunities for PUBG Mobile'sin-game and offline platforms.

Boat Rocker Studios and former Sirens Media and USA Network executiveJessica Sebastian-Dayeh are teaming to launch a production and media company called Maven. The new venture will initially focus on unscripted content, developing for all platforms and emphasizing female-led stories and projects from emerging voices.

EXCLUSIVE: Golden Globe-nominated writer Liz Hannah (The Post, The Girl From Plainville) has signed an overall deal with MRC Television and Civic Center Media, a joint venture between UTA and MRC. Under the pact, Hannah will develop and produce television projects with the indie studio partnership through her newly launched company, Happy Friday Productions.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly found someone to lead their production company. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the royal duo has tapped Ben Browning to lead Archwell, their company through which they’ll produce content for Netflix.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have found a leader for their production company Archewell in Ben Browning, president of film and television production at FilmNation Entertainment, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. A veteran in film financing and the international marketplace, Browning joined FilmNation in 2014.

Natalie Oganesyan editorOscar Isaac and Elvira Lind’s first film under Mad Gene Banner, the Academy Award-shortlisted short film “The Letter Room,” has set a North American premiere with First Look Media’s streaming service Topic worldwide distribution to be led by Salaud Morisset.