TIME Studios unveils first-ever Kids & Family programming arm and expands award-winning Documentary division with eight-figure production commitment and new hires
Los Angeles, CA (NOVEMBER 18, 2021) – TIME Studios, the Emmy Award®-winning television and film production division of TIME, which launched in 2020, is expanding its creative ranks, departments and overall production spend. Since launching in early 2020, TIME Studios has generated more than $70M in revenue, including approximately $50M in 2021 alone. Within the last 12 months, more than 20 projects from TIME Studios have been sold to streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon, Paramount+, as well as to TV networks and other distributors, including HBO, Showtime, Nickelodeon, CBS, PBS, ABC, NBC, A&E, Magnolia and CNN Films.
With over 13 Emmy ® nominations, including three wins to date, TIME Studios has become home for the world’s most impactful storytelling and top creative voices. Fueled by early success with over 25 projects in production and 100 projects in active development, TIME Studios tapped Alexandra Johnes and Loren Hammonds to lead its Documentary division and Maria Perez-Brown to spearhead its new Kids & Family programming arm. Additional creative new hires and promotions include Rebecca Teitel as VP of Documentary, Rebecca Gitlitz as Director and Showrunner and Jeff Smith as Executive Producer and Showrunner.
For the first time, TIME Studios is investing in Kids & Family programming with a new division dedicated to bringing innovative and informative storytelling to young viewers and their families. Like the TIME for Kids brand, which has delivered information and education to millions of kids around the world for the last 25 years, this new division of TIME Studios aims to amplify the vibrant world that kids inhabit, engage their curiosity and inspire them to take action. TIME Studios Kids & Family expands on success in the space with the Daytime Emmy® Award-nominated Kid of the Year television special, which will return to Nickelodeon in early 2022 recognizing extraordinary young leaders who are making amazing contributions in a range of fields. TIME Studios Kids & Family has also sealed a deal with Canadian premier animation studio Nelvana to co-produce an animated preschool series. Also in development is an in-house project, TFK’s The Scoop, a news magazine series featuring Puppet Kid Reporters who bring news and current events to young kids in tangible, entertaining and age-appropriate ways.
Building on the success of its fast-growing documentary division, TIME Studios today announced the launch of a new eight-figure commitment to greenlight and produce original documentary work, as well as invest in aligned external productions. Led by Co-Heads Johnes and Hammonds and VP of Documentary Rebecca Teitel, the division will deficit finance and support productions that further TIME’s mission to provide trusted guidance for humanity and tell stories about the people and ideas that shape and improve the world. With more than 20 documentary projects currently in production, TIME Studios will continue to serve as a home to the world’s most talented creatives while empowering the next generation of filmmakers.
“We are thrilled to bring this group of talented creators together to continue to bring forth the inspiration and passion of TIME Studios projects, solidifying our mission to impact the world,” said TIME Studios President Ian Orefice. “Our growth since launching a little over a year ago has been a remarkable team effort, and we are proud of all we are accomplishing with our incredible partners.”
As previously announced, the Scripted division of TIME Studios will be run by Kaveh Veyssi, VP of Film & TV, TIME Studios, as part of a strategic alliance with Sugar23.
TIME Studios’ new hires and promotions include:
Maria Perez-Brown, Head of Kids & Family
Alexandra Johnes, Head of Documentary
Loren Hammonds, Head of Documentary
Rebecca Teitel, VP, Documentary
Rebecca Gitlitz, Director/Showrunner
Jeff Smith, Executive Producer/Showrunner
As part of its mission to deliver impactful storytelling that illuminates larger societal and global issues, TIME Studios has announced several recent and upcoming projects:
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About TIME Studios
From one of the most globally iconic brands, TIME Studios is an Emmy Award®-winning television, film and immersive studio focusing on the development, production and distribution of truth-based premium unscripted and scripted storytelling that moves the world. With technical innovation and a brand defining visual language that dates back 98 years, TIME Studios aims to impact communities and the world at large with ideas that forge true progress. Combining the industry’s leading creators with TIME, one of the most trusted brands that reaches an audience of over 100 million people globally, TIME Studios is uniquely positioned to bring massive audiences to the world’s most impactful stories. Recent projects include: Jeen-Yuhs (Netflix), Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (Netflix), Katrina Babies (HBO), Black Gold (Paramount+), Big Vape (Netflix), John Lewis: Good Trouble (CNN Films), Amazing Grace (Neon), Right to Offend (A&E), Ricky Powell: The Individualist (Showtime), Mass Effect: The Story of YouTube, Kid of the Year (Nickelodeon/CBS), TIME 100 (ABC) and the first scripted project for TIME Studios, Women of the Year (Amazon).
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