Comedian/writer JB Smoove, who launched Converge Media Group (management, production and branded entertainment company) along with Rick Dorfman, Conan Smith and Adam Benowitz, has signed a first-look reality TV co-production deal with Storyville Entertainment, spearheaded by reality TV producer Betsy Schechter.
This first co-production deal for Converge and Storyville will allow the latter access to develop and produce content that is unscripted and branded, and will center around Smoove and other clients that include the likes of comedians Rich Vos, Lynne Koplitz, Pete Dominic, Carly Aquilino, Chris DiStefano, and producers Ryan Ling (Guy Code, Girl Code) and P.J. Morrison (Impractical Jokers) and writer Frank Santopadre (The View, The Joy Behar Show).
Storyville‘s Schechter says that the deal is “an ideal business venture for both parties,” and adds that Smoove’sConverge “brings to the table brand-name comedic talent and in return we can offer first-rate development, a production infrastructure and access to both domestic and international television distribution.”
Dorfman, partner and co-founder of Converge says that the goal of the deal “is to connect the creative dots between talent, content and distribution across traditional television, digital initiatives and branded entertainment,” adding that a partnership “with a leading producer like Betsy gives us a much wider range of opportunity to service our talent as well as our corporate clients.”
Schechter, along with Smoove, Dorfman, Smith and Benowitz will all serve as executive producers for all of the deal’s sales.
Smoove’s Coverage Media has been successful in the past by partnering with the marketing campaigns for global brands like Pepsi, Gillette, Microsoft and Verizon.
Source: Shadow & Act
