Sky Atlantic ups content push
8 December, 2011 | By Alex Farber, Jake Kanter

Sky Atlantic has commissioned its highest-profile UK content yet, including an adaptation of Robert Wilson’s Javier Falcón novels and two landmark series on Britain from Jane Root’s Nutopia and Morgan Spurlock.

The Blind Man of Seville and The Silent and the Damned will each play out over two 60-minute episodes, which will be entirely shot in the detective’s home of Seville. It will aim to capture the shadowy, atmospheric and vibrant city of the novels.

It is effectively the UK version of Nutopia’s America: The Story of Us, which represented History’s biggest-ever commission and was introduced by US president Barack Obama.

It will tell the story of some unsung heroes of history through drama and CGI, and will sweep across the UK to show how it has evolved over time.

A swathe of celebrities are being lined up to contribute to the series, although their names are being kept under wraps. The US version featured Meryl Streep and Donald Trump.

Great Britain: Our Story will be executive produced by Root and Ben Goold for Nutopia, and Celia Taylor for Sky. Sam Starbuck and Michael Waterhouse are the series producers.

Nutopia, the documentary and reality production company founded by Jane Root, Laura Franses, Michael Jackson and Peter Bazalgette, has significantly expanded its senior management team.

The Televisual post can be found by clicking here

Nutopia has hired five senior executives across the production and commercial arms of the business, in a move to bolster the company’s growth.

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London, 1 December 2011 – Nutopia, the mould-breaking documentary and reality production company founded by Jane Root, Laura Franses, Michael Jackson and Peter Bazalgette, has significantly expanded its senior management team it was announced today. Reflecting the company’s increase in major commissions as it moves into its next stage of growth, Nutopia has made a range of new hires across its production and operations teams.

Nick Metcalfe, formerly a senior member of the Darlow Smithson creative team, joins as Executive Producer, overseeing Nutopia’s epic five-part series How We Invented the World. Working with Nick on this Discovery Networks International commission will be Josh Wilkins. Currently Series Line Producer on a major Nutopia project for the History Channel in the US, Josh takes on the additional role of Deputy Head of Production responsible for the company’s large scale projects. Also joining the Nutopia team is factual programming specialist Fiona Scott, who takes the position of Head of Development.

In addition, in order to deal with the significant growth of its business and legal requirements, Nutopia has appointed Harvey Shackleton, previously Director of Finance, Non Fiction at ITV Studios, as Chief Financial Officer; whilst Rupert Frisby, previously Commercial Director at talkbackTHAMES, joins as Legal and Business Affairs Consultant.

Jane Root commented today, “Since we launched Nutopia two years ago, our business has grown at an exciting pace and we are delighted to expand our team with these new senior level appointments. All bring fantastic experience in the development and production of pioneering and ambitious projects and their knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to realize our goal of creating groundbreaking content for global audiences.”

Most recently a member of the senior creative team at Darlow Smithson, Nick Metcalfe’s previous credits include Infested! for Animal Planet, Seconds From Disaster for NGCI and Richard Hammond’s Engineering Connections for BBC and NGCI. Previously Nick was a freelance Series Producer and Director working on output for UK and US broadcasters, from Time Team to Discovery Atlas.

Josh Wilkins joined Nutopia over the summer to work on a major project for the History Channel in the US. After producing specialist factual television in the US, Josh spent four years overseeing big budget, multi-series drama at Darlow Smithson and Blast Films, including The Queen for Channel 4. A factual programme maker for more than ten years, Fiona Scott has previously worked at Icon Films, Darlow Smithson and the BBC, with recent development credits including Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day for Channel 4 and Atlantis: End of a World, Birth of a Legend for BBC1.

At ITV Studios, Harvey Shackleton oversaw a large factual and entertainment slate including Dancing on Ice, Come Dine With Me and Tonight. Previously Financial Controller for ITV Worldwide overseeing production offices in the US, Australia and Germany and Head of Finance for the English National Opera, Harvey Shackleton started his media career at BBC Worldwide and Granada Productions.

Previously Commercial Director at talkbackThames, where he led deal negotiation and content exploitation, Rupert Frisby also gained more than seven years Board level experience at the company. Now running his own consultancy specializing in commercial advice to companies across the media sector, he joins Nutopia to run their commercial and business affairs.

For further information contact:

UK:
Debbie Lawrence
The Lippin Company
+44 203 008 5406
dlawrence@lippingroup.com

US:
Kevin Goldman
Hiltzik Strategies
+1 212-792-9337
kgoldman@hstrategies.com

“How We Invented the World,” to be produced by Nutopia, is a five-hour docu that will be customized for four international regions with local stories and experts, setting a template for the cable web’s global strategy.

Click here for Variety cover of this exciting story

The cable network, overseen by president Eileen O’Neill, has given the green light to a project exploring the most iconic inventions and breakthroughs of the modern age — from the cell phone to the airline black box.

Click here for The Hollywood Reporter article!

Nutopia has reached 20th position in the Production 100 rankings, Televisuals annual survey of the UK’s independent sector!
Please click here for the story by Michael Deacon