Storyville teams up with Converge

Betsy Schechter’s recently launched production outfit Storyville Entertainment has entered into a first-look partnership with production and branded content firm Converge Media Group.

The deal is the first coproduction agreement for both companies and will give Storyville access to develop and produce unscripted and branded opportunities for Converge’s clients.

Comedy-focused Converge was launched in 2013 by JB Smoove, Rick Dorfman, Conan Smith and Adam Benowitz and creates content around its talent. It has already produced Four Courses With JB Smoove for US net MSG and is looking to ramp up its original productions.

Storyville’s Schechter and Converge’s Smoove, Dorfman, Smith and Benowitz will serve as executive producers for all sales.

Schechter, the former co-president of US prodco Picture Shack Entertainment, launched New York-based Storyville in March with a focus on creating content for TV, film, branded and multimedia outlets.

She said: “Converge brings to the table brand-name comedic talent and in return we can offer first-rate development, a production infrastructure and access to both domestic and international television distribution.”

Dorfman, partner and co-founder of Converge, added: “Our goal is to connect the creative dots between talent, content and distribution across traditional television, digital initiatives and branded entertainment.”