Olympian Allison Baver Sets Film and TV Slate for Her New Production Company (EXCLUSIVE)

Lee Isaac Chung is maybe not a filmmaker that you’re familiar with yet, but after you watch “Minari,” you’re definitely going to want to see everything he works on in the future. While not his first feature film, “Minari” is the big breakout feature that is sure to launch the indie director into the Oscar discussion as we end 2020 and enter 2021.

German studio Leonine is acquiring Munich-based production company SEO Entertainment effective January 1, 2021.

Veteran agent Jay Schachter has been promoted to the Head of the Film & Television Departments at Stewart Talent New York.

British writer Charlie Mackesy is teaming with Oscar-nominated producer Cara Speller (Pear Cider And Cigarettes) to form production company NoneMore Productions, which will focus on developing his works for the screen.

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival is going to be different than any other previous version of the event. Due to its winter schedule, this year, the American festival was able to come in right before COVID-19 took hold in the US and canceled a bunch of other film events in 2020.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film WriterNBCUniversal has given executive Jimmy Horowitz a big boost across its content portfolio.Horowitz has been named Vice Chairman, NBCUniversal Business Affairs and Operations, effective immediately.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorAnthony Padilla, one of YouTube’s OG creators, rose to internet fame with Smosh — performing goofy, comedic sketches with his longtime friend Ian Hecox.In the three years since exiting Smosh, Padilla has been a solo act on his YouTube channel, which just hit 5 million subscribers.

Range Media Partners has signed CrichtonSun, the LA-based archive, publishing and production company of late author Michael Crichton which is overseen by President Sherri Crichton and her producing partner, Laurent Bouzereau.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPR vets Carleen Donovan, Chloe Walsh and Jen Appel have announced the launch of the Oriel Company, which is described as a “modern creative lab and idea house handling media relations, integrated communications, and entertainment consulting.” for musicians, actors and brands.Its initial client list includes Kelsea Ballerini, André “3000” Benjamin, Arctic Monkeys, Phoebe Bridgers, the Killers, Lenny Kravitz, Zoe Kravitz, Adam Levine and Maroon 5, Juliette Lewis, Old

With two fairly successful films under his belt in the “Kingsman” franchise, filmmaker Matthew Vaughn is still prepping his prequel film, “The King’s Man” for release sometime…in the future? Honestly, with how movie theaters are doing right now, we have no idea where/when we’ll see “The King’s Man.” That said, it appears that Vaughn’s production company, MARV, is far, far, FAR from done with the franchise and has several new sequels and spinoffs in the works.

Ryan Seacrest just opened his 11th hospital broadcast studio, with help from Justin Bieber.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group is committing $250 million over the next three years to nurturing content from women- and BIPOC-owned and operated production companies, by providing them with funding, production infrastructure, services and staff.Unscripted executive producers Lashan Browning and Adam Gonzalez, who last year inked overall deals with MTV Studios, will create their own third-party production ventures with an equity investment from MTV Entertainment.

MTV Entertainment Group has launched a new initiative to fuel the creation of more content from production companies owned and operated by BIPOC and women. They have commited $250M over three years in production to bolster the next generation of creative leaders and business owners.

Jimmy Fallon is gearing up for Christmas and has some gift ideas in mind for his famous friends.While he believes pal Drew Barrymore could do with a sleeping bag to sneak in naps now that’s she getting up early for her new talk show, he would buy comedian Amy Poehler a ski hat. “When I first met her, she was doing improv and was a little punk kid wearing this giant ski hat.

BBC Studios has introduced an “inclusion rider” for all new productions, which will mean that all new productions have to meet a 20% diversity target.

Emiliano Granada Grasshopper Film has picked up North American non-theatrical and digital distribution rights to Mo Scarpelli’s “El Father Plays Himself,” as the documentary of the Italian-American director and cinematographer screens at the 33rd IDFA Best of Festivals Selection – after having won a special mention for best international feature at Switzerland’s Visions du Réel.The New York based distributor is looking to release the title on digital markets in early 2021.A doc feature that

Jay-Z has continued his foray into the marijuana industry, becoming the Chief Visionary Officer of a new cannabis company.Last month, the rapper revealed his new new cannabis brand called Monogram, and was named Chief Brand Strategist for California-based cannabis company Caliva last year.The deal comes as the SPAC have acquired Caliva and another company called Left Coast Ventures, a cannabis and hemp producer.

French execs Valérie Billaut, Stéphane Cadoch and Hugues Laigneau are launching Paris-based production company Taleseed.

Shawn Mendes, along with his longtime manager Andrew Gertler, have announced their entry into original content with Permanent Content, a new film and television production company that will develop scripted and documentary projects “focused on issues that impact or are important to today’s youth.”Among its first projects is the Netflix Original documentary, “In Wonder,” which chronicles Mendes’ rise to the top strata of pop music.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeBunim-Murray Prods. chairman/CEO Gil Goldschein is leaving after a 20-year run at the pioneering unscripted production company.