Banijay, Daniel Silver launch premium doc JV to ‘rival scripted genre films and series’
Banijay Americas has launched a new production label in collaboration with filmmaker and former Netflix and Disney+ exec Daniel Silver focusing on premium documentaries.
Dan Silver
BD4 will build on Silver’s 20+ years as a top documentary executive and aims to produce more talent-driven, brand-driven and other genre-specific documentaries.
The company will have a “strong presence” at film markets and manage a slate of both documentary films and series.
BD4 will “champion bold storytellers who approach documentaries through a commercial lens,” according to the production and distribution giant.
Led by Silver, it will focus on documentaries featuring cultural icons, athletes and performers that “incorporate familiar structures from mainstream film genres to enhance audience engagement.”
Silver said he hoped BD4’s projects will be able to rival scripted genre films and series in terms of entertainment.
At Netflix, Silver oversaw the team responsible for English-language feature documentaries, shepherding both Sly and The Redeem Team.
As the head of unscripted at Disney+, he built the documentary, unscripted format and variety special teams up to and through the launch of the platform.
His experience at Marvel Entertainment and ABC News Digital includes leading digital platforms and launching the Emmy award-winning digital short documentary brand, ABC News Features.
Silver began his career at ESPN Films, where he was integral to the critically acclaimed documentary series 30 for 30.
A division of Banijay Entertainment, Banijay Americas includes subsidiary production companies across North and Latin America.
This includes 51 Minds Entertainment, Bunim/Murray Productions, Endemol Shine North America, Stephen David Entertainment, and Truly Original in the US; Banijay Mexico and US Hispanic, Endemol Shine Boomdog and Wide Angle in Mexico; and the Brazil-based A Fábrica, Endemol Shine Brasil and Banijay Studios Brasil.
Ben Samek, CEO of Banijay Americas, said: “Silver captures stories with profound authenticity, revealing hidden lives and experiences.
“BD4 dives deeper by blending cinematic scope with intimate exploration to showcase untold stories of today’s cultural icons, athletes, and performers, resulting in surprising and more intimate experiences that resonate deeply with a broad audience.”
Silver added: “Over the past decade we have been energised to see documentary content becoming an undeniable component of the traditional Hollywood space and are equally driven by the desire to define the future intersection of creativity and business through the production of commercial documentary storytelling.
“My goal is for families to enjoy our projects all together for their Friday night movie, for couples to watch them on dates, and for anyone who watches one, to be exhilarated by a thrilling adventure, touched by a poignant love story or amused by a hilarious comedy, not just impressed by another documentary or doc series.”
