MWM (entertainment company) explained

MWM
Founded:2015
Founders:Gigi Pritzker, Clint Kisker [1]
Type:Private
Location City:Los Angeles, California
Location Country:U.S.
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:Entertainment
Divisions:MWM Studios; MWM Live; MWM Interactive; MWM Universe

MWM (formerly known as Madison Wells Media) is an American diversified entertainment company. Founded by Gigi Pritzker and Clint Kisker in 2015, MWM produces film, television, live theater, podcasts, and interactive experiences.[2] [3]

History

Pritzker sought to "take advantage of a landscape that was rapidly changing and valuing 'content' in new ways," to "focus on storytellers in a way content never has before."[4] MWM intended to create films, theater productions, and VR experiences under one umbrella to "expand and grow the IP that was born in any one of those units" through cross-pollination. Named after Madison and Wells Streets in Chicago, where Pritzker's great-grandfather sold newspapers when he was 12, MWM launched in November 2015.[5]

At the time of its founding, MWM operated under the banners of OddLot Entertainment (film and television), Reality One (interactive), and Relevant Live (theater). In 2017, to streamline its operations and increase flexibility across its multiple platforms, the divisions were brought together, and Reality One and Relevant Live were rebranded respectively as MWM Interactive and MWM Live. In November 2017, Oddlot was renamed MWM Studios.[6] MWM Universe, an IP-focused division of MWM that acquires and develops properties across media including film, TV, gaming, comics and books, was established in 2018 when they partnered with Chicago-based artist Hebru Brantley and his Angry Hero Productions to create fully immersive storyworlds.[7]

MWM Studios

MWM Studios, a division of MWM, teams with storytellers to produce feature films and television programming and develops, finances and arranges global distribution for its original content. The studio, led by Rachel Shane, CCO, and COO Adrian Alperovich, has produced films such as the Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated Hell or High Water and the Emmy Award-winning television series Genius.[8] Its adaptation of Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn (written by, directed, and starring Edward Norton) was released in November, 2019.[9]

Filmography

Motherless Brooklyn
21 Bridges
My Spy
Hell or High Water
Drive
Genius: Picasso
Landline
Genius: Einstein
Ender's Game
Rosewater
Rabbit Hole
The Way, Way Back
Genius: Aretha
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
The Thing About Jellyfish

MWM Universe

Established in 2018, the IP-focused division of the company, MWM Universe, acquires IP and builds out franchisable story worlds, acts as a strategic partner to MWM investment companies including Wonderstorm.[10]

Projects

Voyage To The Stars
The Dragon Prince
Nevermore Park

MWM Interactive

The interactive division, previously known as MWM Immersive, creates and publishes video games and produces virtual reality experiences.[11]

VR Projects

War Remains
Chained: A Victorian Nightmare
Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son
SoKrispy Daydreams

Game Titles

Creature in the Well

Mundaun

MWM Live

MWM Live is the live global entertainment division of MWM. It is led by executive producer Jamie Forshaw, formerly the VP of Production for Andrew Lloyd Weber's Really Useful Group.[12] MWM Live has developed and produced projects such as the Broadway musical, Hadestown, and Million Dollar Quartet, which inspired the CMT series Sun Records.[13]

Plays and musicals

Hadestown
The Inheritance
Million Dollar Quartet
Company (2021 revival)
Red Roses, Green Gold
Snapshots

Selected awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Title and yearCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)Result
Hell or High Water
2017
Best Picture and Julie Yorn[14]
Best Supporting Actor
Best Original Screenplay
Best Film Editing
Drive
2012
Best Sound EditingLon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis[15]
Rabbit Hole
2010
Best ActressNicole Kidman

British Academy Film Awards

Title and yearCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)Result
Hell or High Water
2017
Best Actor in a Supporting RoleJeff Bridges[16]
Best Original ScreenplayTaylor Sheridan
Best Cinematography
Drive
2012
Best FilmDrive[17]
Best DirectorNicolas Winding Refn
Best Supporting ActressCarey Mulligan
Best EditingMatthew Newman

Emmy Awards

Title and yearCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)Result
Genius
2018
Outstanding Limited SeriesGenius: Picasso[18]
Outstanding Lead Actor in
a Limited Series or Movie
Antonio Banderas
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited
Series or Movie
Mathias Herndl
(for "Chapter One")
Genius
2017
Outstanding Limited SeriesGenius: Picasso
Outstanding Lead Actor in a
Limited Series or Movie
Geoffrey Rush
Outstanding Directing for a
Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Ron Howard

Golden Globe Awards

Title and yearCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)Result
Motherless Brooklyn
2019
Best Soundtrack for a Motion Picturen/a
Genius: Picasso
2018
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series
or Motion Picture Made for Television
Antonio Banderas
Genius: Picasso
2017
Best Actor Miniseries or Television FilmGeoffrey Rush
Hell or High Water
2016
Best ScreenplayTaylor Sheridan
Drive
2012
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Albert Brooks
Best DirectorNicolas Winding Refn
Best Adapted ScreenplayHossein Amini
Best Cinematography Newton Thomas Sigel
Best Original Score Cliff Martinez

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gigi Pritzker & Clint Kisker Rename Company MWM, Pulling All Brands Under One Umbrella In New Company Strategy. Busch. Anita. 2017-11-28. Deadline. en. 2019-10-30.
  2. Web site: Madison Wells Media: Most Innovative Company. Fast Company. en-US. 2019-10-31.
  3. Web site: Gigi Pritzker & Clint Kisker Rename Company MWM, Pulling All Brands Under One Umbrella In New Company Strategy. Busch. Anita. 2017-11-28. Deadline. en. 2019-10-30.
  4. Web site: Cofounder Of One Of The Most Innovative Hollywood Firms Shares Her Vision. Caprino. Kathy. Forbes. en. 2019-11-19.
  5. Web site: Gigi Pritzker Finds New Paths. WSJ. en-US. 2019-11-19.
  6. Web site: 'Genius' Producer Gigi Pritzker on New Company and Tougher Road for Women in Hollywood. The Hollywood Reporter. en. 2019-11-19.
  7. Web site: MWM Pacts With Artist Hebru Brantley And His 'FlyBoy' IP For Upstart Universe Division, Hires Former Hulu Exec. Busch. Anita. 2018-02-01. Deadline. en. 2019-12-12.
  8. Web site: 'Code Of Silence': Tina Mabry To Adapt Chicago PD Whistleblower Tale For MWM Studios. Hipes. Patrick. 2018-02-27. Deadline. en. 2019-11-05.
  9. Web site: Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin Board Edward Norton's 'Motherless Brooklyn'. McNary. Dave. 2018-02-05. Variety. en. 2019-11-20.
  10. Web site: Lucasfilm's Diana Williams Joins Gigi Pritzker and Clint Kisker's MWM. The Hollywood Reporter. en. 2019-11-20.
  11. Web site: MWM, developer behind VR installment Groundhog Day 2, rebrands as game publisher. finance.yahoo.com. en-US. 2019-11-04.
  12. Web site: Jamie Forshaw Tapped as Executive Producer of MWM Live (EXCLUSIVE). Lang. Brent. 2019-06-20. Variety. en. 2019-11-20.
  13. Web site: 'Million Dollar Quartet' renamed 'Sun Records'. Mehr. Bob. The Commercial Appeal. en. 2019-11-20.
  14. News: Oscars: 'La La Land' Ties Record With 14 Nominations . Kimberly . Nordyke . . January 24, 2017 . January 24, 2017.
  15. Oscar Nominations: Complete List . . January 24, 2017 . January 24, 2017.
  16. Web site: BAFTA Awards: 'La La Land' Leads Nominations . Alex . Ritman . January 9, 2017 . . January 10, 2017.
  17. British Academy Film Awards
    • News: Baftas 2012 shortlist: the full list of nominations . . January 7, 2012 . April 17, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161118043002/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/17/baftas-2012-shortlist . November 18, 2016 .
    • News: The Artist Dominates at BAFTA Awards . . February 12, 2012 . April 17, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162259/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/12/idUS48227207120120212 . September 24, 2015 .
  18. Web site: Genius – Awards & Nominations. Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 16, 2018.