Ex-Pilgrim Media exec Johnny Gould launches prodco backed by 3BMG

Veteran factual producer Johnny Gould, previously chief creative officer at Lionsgate-owned Pilgrim Media Group, has launched his own shingle as a joint venture backed by 3 Ball Entertainment subsidiary 3BMG.

Johnny Gould

LA-based Superluna Studios currently has more than 20 projects in active development across docuseries, history, competition and lifestyle.

Gould, a 16-year veteran of Pilgrim Media Group (2003-2019), where he oversaw development and worked on series such as Fast N’ Loud, Street Outlaws, Wicked Tuna, My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Bring It!, Battlefish and Car Kings, will serve as executive producer and president of Superluna Studios.

3BMG, launched by LA-based 3 Ball Entertainment to house joint ventures with indie producers, has supported the launch of several start-ups since January.

Among them are Jeff Jenkins Productions (JJP), Parabolic Content and Lost Arts Pictures, in addition to 3 Ball Productions, all of which operate as independent companies under the 3BMG banner, led by chairman and chief creative officer Reinout Oerlemans and CEO Ross Weintraub.

A pair of JJP’s factual titles, Bling Empire and My Unorthodox Life, both produced for Netflix, were recently renewed for second seasons, while 3 Ball Productions secured greenlights for competition series Come Dance with Me (CBS) and reality series Tampa Baes (Amazon).

“During a challenging time, 3BMG has been expanding, both here at home with JVs run by innovative, stand-out creatives, and abroad through our format business and partnerships. We’re delighted to bring Superluna into the fold as we continue leveraging our strong momentum and accelerate our plans for growth,” said Oerlemans in a statement.

“[Gould’s] experience, taste and robust relationships are unparalleled and a great complement to our growing roster of JVs. We couldn’t be more bullish on Johnny Gould and know that our buyers across all platforms will be eager to be in business with Superluna Studios,” said Weintraub.

Gould added: “The prestigious global machine that Ross and Reinout have built at 3BMG provides an incredible entrepreneurial opportunity for me to build and scale a diverse production business tailor made for the way audiences now consume content.

“There’s a voracious appetite among buyers for curated big swings, and this partnership allows me the opportunity to bring breakout content to networks, platforms and audiences across the globe.”