Exclusive: Avalon, the production company behind HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and FX/Sky comedy Breeders, has hired Jenelle Lindsay as Executive Vice President of Television.
Lindsay, who is based in LA, joins from Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media, where she was President.
She will oversee the creative team developing and producing scripted series for the studio, which had over 40 productions last year.
Reporting to Avalon’s Global CEO Laura Kennedy, Lindsay helped Curry’s bolster his production company with series such as ABC’s Holey Moley, Netflix animated series Good Times with Norman Lear and Seth McFarlane, and Apple+ film Underrated with producer Ryan Coogler as well as a comedy for NBC and films for Amazon and Disney+.
Prior to Unanimous, Lindsay served as SVP of Development and Production at Sony Pictures Television, and SVP of Development and Production at Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst Media, having...
Lindsay, who is based in LA, joins from Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media, where she was President.
She will oversee the creative team developing and producing scripted series for the studio, which had over 40 productions last year.
Reporting to Avalon’s Global CEO Laura Kennedy, Lindsay helped Curry’s bolster his production company with series such as ABC’s Holey Moley, Netflix animated series Good Times with Norman Lear and Seth McFarlane, and Apple+ film Underrated with producer Ryan Coogler as well as a comedy for NBC and films for Amazon and Disney+.
Prior to Unanimous, Lindsay served as SVP of Development and Production at Sony Pictures Television, and SVP of Development and Production at Ashton Kutcher’s Katalyst Media, having...
- 3/2/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Laura Kennedy took the reins of management-production firm Avalon as CEO about five months before the global pandemic upended all of the company’s businesses: talent representation, content production and live comedy tours.
The bumpiness of the past year has reinforced her faith in the company’s business model, which benefits from having a diverse mix of revenue streams, and operations spread in London, New York and Los Angeles.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Kennedy says Avalon takes good advantage of beneficial policies in the U.K., including pandemic insurance that was recently made available by the government and the broad copyright ownership protections granted across the pond to independent producers. That protects Avalon’s ownership of its well-received and widely licensed scripted comedy productions such as “Catastrophe,” which aired in the U.S. on Amazon, and “Everything’s Going to Be Okay,” now generating buzz for Freeform and Hulu.
The bumpiness of the past year has reinforced her faith in the company’s business model, which benefits from having a diverse mix of revenue streams, and operations spread in London, New York and Los Angeles.
On the latest episode of Variety podcast “Strictly Business,” Kennedy says Avalon takes good advantage of beneficial policies in the U.K., including pandemic insurance that was recently made available by the government and the broad copyright ownership protections granted across the pond to independent producers. That protects Avalon’s ownership of its well-received and widely licensed scripted comedy productions such as “Catastrophe,” which aired in the U.S. on Amazon, and “Everything’s Going to Be Okay,” now generating buzz for Freeform and Hulu.
- 4/8/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Avalon, the talent management and production company behind series including Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, is expanding. The company has acquired a majority stake in The Agency, which represents writers and directors including Gentleman Jack creator Sally Wainwright and A Very English Scandal writer Russell T Davies.
The Agency will continue to operate under the leadership and management of its partners. It was founded in 1995 and also reps theatire and children’s authors as well as the dramatic rights for authors including Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith and William Boyd.
Other clients including Doctor Foster creator Mike Bartlett, World On Fire’s Peter Bowker, Poldark’s Debbie Horsfield, Discovery of Witches’ Kate Brooke, The Last Kingdom’s Stephen Butchard, The Fall’s Allan Cubitt, Shameless creator Paul Abbott and House of Cards creator Andrew Davies.
The Agency was advised by Tom Manwaring of Helion Partners and Martin Wright of Charles Russell Speechlys Llp.
The Agency will continue to operate under the leadership and management of its partners. It was founded in 1995 and also reps theatire and children’s authors as well as the dramatic rights for authors including Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith and William Boyd.
Other clients including Doctor Foster creator Mike Bartlett, World On Fire’s Peter Bowker, Poldark’s Debbie Horsfield, Discovery of Witches’ Kate Brooke, The Last Kingdom’s Stephen Butchard, The Fall’s Allan Cubitt, Shameless creator Paul Abbott and House of Cards creator Andrew Davies.
The Agency was advised by Tom Manwaring of Helion Partners and Martin Wright of Charles Russell Speechlys Llp.
- 10/20/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Laura Kennedy has joined Avalon Group, the management, events, and production business that makes shows including “Catastrophe” and “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.” Kennedy will be CEO and on the board at Avalon. She started this week and will work out of the U.K.- and U.S.-based firm’s L.A. base.
With Kennedy on board, company founders Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner become co-executive chairmen.
The new recruit joins Avalon after working at Lionsgate for more than a decade, most recently as COO of its TV division. During her tenure at Lionsgate, Kennedy, who featured in the Variety Power of Women L.A. Impact Report in 2018, led transactions such as its acquisitions of Debmar-Mercury, Pilgrim and 3 Arts.
“Laura’s record at Lionsgate speaks for itself. She is an exceptionally talented executive, and we are delighted she has chosen to return to Avalon,” said Thoday. “It...
With Kennedy on board, company founders Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner become co-executive chairmen.
The new recruit joins Avalon after working at Lionsgate for more than a decade, most recently as COO of its TV division. During her tenure at Lionsgate, Kennedy, who featured in the Variety Power of Women L.A. Impact Report in 2018, led transactions such as its acquisitions of Debmar-Mercury, Pilgrim and 3 Arts.
“Laura’s record at Lionsgate speaks for itself. She is an exceptionally talented executive, and we are delighted she has chosen to return to Avalon,” said Thoday. “It...
- 10/2/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver producer Avalon Television has hired Lionsgate Television Group COO Laura Kennedy as Global CEO.
Kennedy will also become a member of the Board of Directors and her appointment sees Avalon founders Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner become Co-Executive Chairmen of the company.
Having started at Avalon as a talent manager, Kennedy has been with Orange Is The New Black producer Lionsgate for over ten years in roles including Evp of Television Operations & Corporate Development and COO. She most recently headed up operations, strategy and planning for the television division and oversaw M&a activity, reporting to Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs.
She has been instrumental in a broad range of transactions including the acquisitions of syndication business Debmar-Mercury, the television channel Pop, a majority stake in leading reality producer Pilgrim Media and the recent investments in U.K. production companies Primal Media and Potboiler Television.
Kennedy will also become a member of the Board of Directors and her appointment sees Avalon founders Jon Thoday and Richard Allen-Turner become Co-Executive Chairmen of the company.
Having started at Avalon as a talent manager, Kennedy has been with Orange Is The New Black producer Lionsgate for over ten years in roles including Evp of Television Operations & Corporate Development and COO. She most recently headed up operations, strategy and planning for the television division and oversaw M&a activity, reporting to Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs.
She has been instrumental in a broad range of transactions including the acquisitions of syndication business Debmar-Mercury, the television channel Pop, a majority stake in leading reality producer Pilgrim Media and the recent investments in U.K. production companies Primal Media and Potboiler Television.
- 10/2/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Avalon Group, the comedy powerhouse, talent agency and producer of shows including HBO's Last Week Tonight With Jon Oliver and Amazon's Catastrophe, has appointed Laura Kennedy as its CEO.
Kennedy, who began her career with Avalon after graduating from Harvard, joins from Lionsgate's TV group, where she was COO, heading operations, strategy and planning and directed all TV-related mergers and acquisitions. During her 12-year tenure at Lionsgate, Kennedy helped scale the television operations to over $800M in annual turnover and led many transactions, including the company’s acquisitions of Debmar-Mercury, Pilgrim and 3 Arts. ...
Kennedy, who began her career with Avalon after graduating from Harvard, joins from Lionsgate's TV group, where she was COO, heading operations, strategy and planning and directed all TV-related mergers and acquisitions. During her 12-year tenure at Lionsgate, Kennedy helped scale the television operations to over $800M in annual turnover and led many transactions, including the company’s acquisitions of Debmar-Mercury, Pilgrim and 3 Arts. ...
- 10/2/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Global content leader Lionsgate today kicked off its CinemaCon presentation to exhibitors by announcing a joint venture with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, partner James Weaver and their Point Grey Pictures (Pgp) to produce multi-platform content.
Pgp is the successful multi-genre film and television production company behind hit films such as Blockers, Neighbors,Sausage Party, The Night Before, This is the End, the television shows “Future Man,” “Black Monday,” and “Preacher,” as well as Lionsgate’s highly-anticipated Rogen and Charlize Theron romantic comedy event of the summer Long Shot, which won the Audience Award in the Headliners section of SXSW and will be released in the Us and select markets on May 3 before expanding worldwide.
Pgp will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver’s leadership while working closely with Lionsgate’s executive teams to develop content for the Company’s motion picture, scripted and unscripted television, digital and location-based entertainment businesses.
Pgp is the successful multi-genre film and television production company behind hit films such as Blockers, Neighbors,Sausage Party, The Night Before, This is the End, the television shows “Future Man,” “Black Monday,” and “Preacher,” as well as Lionsgate’s highly-anticipated Rogen and Charlize Theron romantic comedy event of the summer Long Shot, which won the Audience Award in the Headliners section of SXSW and will be released in the Us and select markets on May 3 before expanding worldwide.
Pgp will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver’s leadership while working closely with Lionsgate’s executive teams to develop content for the Company’s motion picture, scripted and unscripted television, digital and location-based entertainment businesses.
- 4/5/2019
- by Andrew Wendowski
- Age of the Nerd
Seth Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures has a signed a multi-platform production deal with Lionsgate, the company announced on Thursday at its CinemaCon presentation.
Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and partner James Weaver are behind the firm, which has produced titles like “Blockers,” “Neighbors,” and the raunchy animated hit “Sausage Party.” The new deal will serve as an incubator for content like motion pictures, TV packages, and potential programming for Lionsgate’s cable channel Starz.
Rogen and partners will retain autonomy over Point Grey. Their first collaboration will be “Long Shot,” the romantic comedy starring Rogen and Charlize Theron, which hits May 3.
“Lionsgate is a leader in entertainment with few equals,” said Rogen, Goldberg, and Weaver. “Over the years we have developed some of our biggest hits with Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane — they have been among our biggest supporters. We are thrilled to be partnering with them, alongside Kevin Beggs in TV,...
Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and partner James Weaver are behind the firm, which has produced titles like “Blockers,” “Neighbors,” and the raunchy animated hit “Sausage Party.” The new deal will serve as an incubator for content like motion pictures, TV packages, and potential programming for Lionsgate’s cable channel Starz.
Rogen and partners will retain autonomy over Point Grey. Their first collaboration will be “Long Shot,” the romantic comedy starring Rogen and Charlize Theron, which hits May 3.
“Lionsgate is a leader in entertainment with few equals,” said Rogen, Goldberg, and Weaver. “Over the years we have developed some of our biggest hits with Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane — they have been among our biggest supporters. We are thrilled to be partnering with them, alongside Kevin Beggs in TV,...
- 4/4/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
‘Long Shot’ to launch in Us on May 3.
Lionsgate used its platform at CinemaCon on Thursday (April 4) to offer the crowd a flavour of what to expect from Rian Johnson’s upcoming murder mystery Knives Out starring Daniel Craig at the head of an all-star cast.
Footage revealed Craig to be one of two sleuths alongside Lakeith Stanfield who arrive at a mansion to investigate the apparent murder of the patriarch (Christopher Plummer) of a hateful family.
The clip contained many familiar tropes from the genre and boasted much dark comedy as Chris Evans spits bile at his relatives, telling...
Lionsgate used its platform at CinemaCon on Thursday (April 4) to offer the crowd a flavour of what to expect from Rian Johnson’s upcoming murder mystery Knives Out starring Daniel Craig at the head of an all-star cast.
Footage revealed Craig to be one of two sleuths alongside Lakeith Stanfield who arrive at a mansion to investigate the apparent murder of the patriarch (Christopher Plummer) of a hateful family.
The clip contained many familiar tropes from the genre and boasted much dark comedy as Chris Evans spits bile at his relatives, telling...
- 4/4/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
‘Long Shot’ to launch in Us on May 3.
Lionsgate kicked off its CinemaCon presentation by announcing a joint venture with Point Grey Pictures’ Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver to produce multi-platform content.
Point Grey Pictures produced SXSW audience award winner Long Shot, the comedy starring Rogen and Charlize Theron that Lionsgate screened to show attendees on Thursday afternoon (4), and the company’s credits include Sausage Party, Neighbors, and Blockers, as well as TV shows Future Man, Black Monday, and Preacher. Long Shot opens in the Us on May 3.
The company will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver,...
Lionsgate kicked off its CinemaCon presentation by announcing a joint venture with Point Grey Pictures’ Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver to produce multi-platform content.
Point Grey Pictures produced SXSW audience award winner Long Shot, the comedy starring Rogen and Charlize Theron that Lionsgate screened to show attendees on Thursday afternoon (4), and the company’s credits include Sausage Party, Neighbors, and Blockers, as well as TV shows Future Man, Black Monday, and Preacher. Long Shot opens in the Us on May 3.
The company will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver,...
- 4/4/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Point Grey Pictures (PG), along with partner James Weaver, have partnered with Lionsgate to produce multi-platform content, the studio announced during its CinemaCon presentation to exhibitors Thursday.
Pgp will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver’s leadership, but will work closely with Lionsgate’s executive teams to develop content for its movie, scripted and unscripted TV, digital and location-based entertainment businesses.
Pgp is also behind the Rogen and Charlize Theron rom-com “Long Shot,” arriving from Lionsgate this summer. The film won the Audience Award from the Headliners section of SXSW and opens on May 3.
Also Read: Why Lionsgate Needs 'Hellboy,' 'John Wick 3' and a Charlize Theron-Seth Rogen Rom-Com to Work
“Lionsgate is a leader in entertainment with few equals,” Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver said in a statement. “Over the years we have developed some of our biggest hits...
Pgp will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver’s leadership, but will work closely with Lionsgate’s executive teams to develop content for its movie, scripted and unscripted TV, digital and location-based entertainment businesses.
Pgp is also behind the Rogen and Charlize Theron rom-com “Long Shot,” arriving from Lionsgate this summer. The film won the Audience Award from the Headliners section of SXSW and opens on May 3.
Also Read: Why Lionsgate Needs 'Hellboy,' 'John Wick 3' and a Charlize Theron-Seth Rogen Rom-Com to Work
“Lionsgate is a leader in entertainment with few equals,” Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver said in a statement. “Over the years we have developed some of our biggest hits...
- 4/4/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Today at CinemaCon, Lionsgate announced a joint venture with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, partner James Weaver and their Point Grey Pictures (Pgp) to produce multi-platform content.
The two companies recently worked together on the Charlize Theron-Rogen pic Long Shot which opens on May 3.
The Point Grey/Lionsgate partnership allows Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver to develop new programming for every platform in Lionsgate’s 360 entertainment ecosystem, including Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, Lionsgate Television, and Starz. Point Grey Pictures will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver’s leadership while working closely with Lionsgate’s executive teams to develop content for the Company’s motion picture, scripted and unscripted television, digital and location-based entertainment businesses.
“Lionsgate is a leader in entertainment with few equals,” said Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver. “Over the years we have developed some of our biggest hits with Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane— they have been among our biggest supporters.
The two companies recently worked together on the Charlize Theron-Rogen pic Long Shot which opens on May 3.
The Point Grey/Lionsgate partnership allows Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver to develop new programming for every platform in Lionsgate’s 360 entertainment ecosystem, including Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, Lionsgate Television, and Starz. Point Grey Pictures will continue to operate autonomously under Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver’s leadership while working closely with Lionsgate’s executive teams to develop content for the Company’s motion picture, scripted and unscripted television, digital and location-based entertainment businesses.
“Lionsgate is a leader in entertainment with few equals,” said Rogen, Goldberg and Weaver. “Over the years we have developed some of our biggest hits with Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane— they have been among our biggest supporters.
- 4/4/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate has taken a majority stake in management-production powerhouse 3 Arts Entertainment, a deal that reflects in the entertainment industry’s push to marry premium content providers with global distribution assets.
Lionsgate said 3 Arts would continue to be led by partners Erwin Stoff, Howard Klein, Michael Rotenberg, Molly Madden, Dave Becky, David Miner, and Nick Frenkel. The company was founded in 1991 by Stoff, Klein and Rotenberg. Lionsgate said it would assemble an operating board to oversee the company.
“We’re excited to be partnering with a best-in-class talent management company that shares our entrepreneurial culture and vision for the future,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “This deal checks all the boxes — a strategic and accretive transaction for our shareholders and a win/win partnership for both companies. It enables us to deepen our already successful relationship with 3 Arts and allows them to offer a richer palette of opportunities to their clients.
Lionsgate said 3 Arts would continue to be led by partners Erwin Stoff, Howard Klein, Michael Rotenberg, Molly Madden, Dave Becky, David Miner, and Nick Frenkel. The company was founded in 1991 by Stoff, Klein and Rotenberg. Lionsgate said it would assemble an operating board to oversee the company.
“We’re excited to be partnering with a best-in-class talent management company that shares our entrepreneurial culture and vision for the future,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “This deal checks all the boxes — a strategic and accretive transaction for our shareholders and a win/win partnership for both companies. It enables us to deepen our already successful relationship with 3 Arts and allows them to offer a richer palette of opportunities to their clients.
- 5/30/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
As Deadline exclusively revealed in April would happen, Lionsgate Entertainment has bulked up its asset base of content generating and client representation by completing a majority stake purchase for top management/production company 3 Arts Entertainment. We reported last month that the deal was in the works, and that Lionsgate is in talks to buy 50% of 3 Arts with an option to acquire the remaining 50% in five years. The numbers we heard pegged 3 Arts’ valuation at $300 million at the least, with some sources indicating it could be closer to $350 million.
The management/production company’s leadership would be staying put after the transaction. That includes 3 Arts partners Erwin Stoff, Michael Rotenberg, Howard Klein, David Miner, Dave Becky, Nick Frenkel and Molly Madden.
Lionsgate and 3 Arts had no comment at the time.
Lionsgate had indicated that it was on the market for acquisitions, and had been looking at several management/production companies...
The management/production company’s leadership would be staying put after the transaction. That includes 3 Arts partners Erwin Stoff, Michael Rotenberg, Howard Klein, David Miner, Dave Becky, Nick Frenkel and Molly Madden.
Lionsgate and 3 Arts had no comment at the time.
Lionsgate had indicated that it was on the market for acquisitions, and had been looking at several management/production companies...
- 5/30/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate has acquired a majority stake in 3 Arts Entertainment, the Jon Feltheimer-led company said on Wednesday. 3 Arts will continue to operate under the leadership of its partners with an operating board, Lionsgate specified.
Negotiations between the two entities heated up last month, when Lionsgate offered between $300 million and $350 million for 50 percent of the TV and film production house. Specific financial terms of the now-closed deal were not officially disclosed, though it stands to reason that the dollar range holds and the percentage has grown to 51 percent.
“We’re excited to be partnering with a best-in-class talent management company that shares our entrepreneurial culture and vision for the future,” Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said in a media release. “This deal checks all the boxes – a strategic and accretive transaction for our shareholders and a win/win partnership for both companies. It enables us to deepen our already successful relationship...
Negotiations between the two entities heated up last month, when Lionsgate offered between $300 million and $350 million for 50 percent of the TV and film production house. Specific financial terms of the now-closed deal were not officially disclosed, though it stands to reason that the dollar range holds and the percentage has grown to 51 percent.
“We’re excited to be partnering with a best-in-class talent management company that shares our entrepreneurial culture and vision for the future,” Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said in a media release. “This deal checks all the boxes – a strategic and accretive transaction for our shareholders and a win/win partnership for both companies. It enables us to deepen our already successful relationship...
- 5/30/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
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