Red Production Company Explained

Red Production Company Limited
Type:Subsidiary
Genre:Production company
Founder:Nicola Shindler
Location:MediaCityUK
Location City:Manchester
Location Country:United Kingdom
Industry:Television
Parent:StudioCanal

Red Production Company Limited[1] [2] is a British independent television production company owned by StudioCanal.[3]

Background

Red Production Company was formed in 1998 by Nicola Shindler, a television producer who had worked on Our Friends in the North and Cracker. Based at MediaCityUK in Manchester in the north of England, Red's first production was the controversial drama Queer as Folk, written by Russell T Davies and based on the lives of three gay men in the city. This was screened on Channel 4 in early 1999 and drew much comment and praise.

The same year, Red followed this up with another series for Channel 4, an anthology of six half-hour plays about love entitled Love in the 21st Century. Queer as Folk 2 arrived in 2000, and since then Red has expanded to produce dramas for nearly all of the main British television channels. The company's success led to an attempt by Granada Television – in whose Quay Street building the company rented offices – to buy it, but Shindler turned down their offer, wanting to retain control of her own company.

In 2013, Red moved into the MediaCityUK complex in Manchester.[4] RED is now based in offices at Ancoats since 2022, with CEO Patrick Schweitzer (Previously from Tall Story Pictures) at the healm.

Partnerships

In December 2013, it was announced that Shindler had sold a majority stake in Red to the French media company StudioCanal.[5] [6]

In 2015, it was announced that Shindler would provide creative guidance and management oversight to a new production company called Guilty Party, founded by the actor Simon Bird, Jonny Sweet, and Spencer Millman.[7]

In 2016, Shindler went into business with author Harlan Coben to form the US-based production company, Final Twist Productions. Shindler is Co-CEO with Coben. StudioCanal will provide distribution services.[8]

Programmes

For BBC One
For BBC Two
For BBC Choice
For BBC Three
For ITV
For Channel 4
For E4
For Sky One
For Sky Atlantic
For Netflix
For Amazon Prime Video

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1997-12-24 . RED PRODUCTION COMPANY LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . 2023-09-01 . . en.
  2. Web site: Front Page - Red Production Company . 2023-09-01 . Red Production Company.
  3. News: Perraudin. Frances. Happy Valley producer: Gritty north? 'I get very cross about that phrase'. The Guardian. 24 July 2016.
  4. News: Begum. Shelina. RED Production Company moves to MediaCityUK. Manchester Evening News. 2 October 2013.
  5. News: Sweney. Mark. Last Tango in Halifax producer sells majority stake to French company. The Guardian. 5 December 2013.
  6. News: Barraclough. Leo. Keslassy. Elsa. Studiocanal Ramps Up TV Series Biz with RED Acquisition. Variety. 5 December 2013.
  7. News: Ritman. Alex. StudioCanal Launches U.K. TV, Film Banner with 'Inbetweeners' Star. The Hollywood Reporter. 14 October 2015.
  8. News: Barraclough. Leo. Harlan Coben Launches U.S. Production Company Final Twist With Red's Nicola Shindler (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. 8 March 2016.