BBC Studios cuts deal with fledgling LA-based production company Jolly Octopus
Left to right, Jolly Octopus Media’s Ollie Brack, James Longman
BBC Studios (BBCS) has agreed a partnership deal with Jolly Octopus Media, a fledgling production company founded by Emmy and BAFTA winners Ollie Brack and James Longman.
With backing from BBCS Global Entertainment, Jolly Octopus will develop entertainment formats that will appeal to audiences around the globe. In return, BBCS will share IP of these formats along with distribution rights.
Jolly Octopus has also signed an agreement with Matisse, Nick Curwin and Scarlett Ewens’ UK-based indie advisory service, which has a minority stake in the new venture and will be providing strategic and commercial support.
Both from the UK and now living in the US, Brack and Longman first met each other while working at MTV in 2001.
Longman went on to become a two-time Emmy winning executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, Carpool Karaoke: McCartney Live from Liverpool and the Jamie Foxx Netflix special What Had Happened Was. Before moving to LA he was head of programmes at Talkback Productions.
BAFTA winning executive producer Brack was head of entertainment and comedy at Monkey Kingdom, where he co-created, sold and oversaw a slate of returning shows and international format sales.
These included The Question Jury, Don’t Hate The Playaz and The Emily Atack Show. He then moved to LA to launch and run Monkey’s first US office.
The deal was brokered on behalf of BBC Studios by Sumi Connock, creative director and Daniel Thomas, head of commercial and acquisitions; and on behalf of Jolly Octopus by Sarah Lazarides, partner, and Minty Hamer, associate, Harbottle & Lewis.
The duo said in a joint statement: “This company is something very special to us and we’re thrilled to be launching in partnership with BBC Studios to make joyful, entertainment formats with our colleagues and partners in London and LA.
“We have always believed TV has a big part to play in people’s lives and we have big ambitions to build a production studio with a creative-first culture that producers, talent and partners want to work with and bring their creativity to.”
Matt Forde, MD at BBCS Global Entertainment, added: “Ollie and James are brilliant creatives and bring to the partnership a great track record in developing entertaining content with top tier talent that appeals to all audiences. BBC Studios are delighted to be joining forces with Jolly Octopus in this new venture and look forward to working together on some exciting new projects.”
