FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Issa Rae's Colorcreative And Columbia Pictures Sign Unique Multi-Picture Deal; Will Source And Incubate Diverse, Emerging Screenwriters
[Culver City, CA - December 11, 2018] - Issa Rae's production company, ColorCreative, has signed a multi-picture production deal with Columbia Pictures, and will source and incubate emerging, diverse screenwriters. Selected participants, to be announced in the Spring of 2019, will work with Rae and the studio to develop and write features based on their original ideas
"Issa is a force of nature, and a magnet for talented people," said Sanford Panitch, President of Columbia Pictures. "We couldn't be more excited to join her in her mission to pave the way for fresh and authentic voices."
"Working with Bryan Smiley and Columbia Pictures to further the mission ColorCreative set out to achieve four years ago in creating access for underrepresented writers, has been a dream come true," said Issa Rae. "All of the projects we are working on are fresh and promising and we can't wait to continue the work. We hope to set a precedent and inspire the industry at large to invest in undiscovered talent, original IP, and fresh stories and perspectives."
Bryan Smiley, vice president, production, Columbia Pictures shepherded the deal and will oversee production and development with ColorCreative for the motion picture group. Sara Rastogi, recently appointed as Vice President of Production for ColorCreative drives the company's partnership slate and will help oversee the deal with Columbia Pictures along with Deniese Davis, COO of ColorCreative
"Sara's commitment to discovering and elevating budding voices along with her out-of-the-box thinking has made her a perfect and insightful addition to our team," said Rae.
About ColorCreative
ColorCreative was founded to raise awareness for writers from diverse backgrounds, and to provide a springboard for their careers by producing and selling their work to digital, network and cable platforms. Since 2015, ColorCreative has partnered with Adaptive Studios, Sky Vision & Talos Films, BET, Anonymous Content, and HBO to identify new voices and fast track their scripts into development and/or production.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment:
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE's Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.
Media Contacts:
ColorCreative
Vanessa Anderson
AM PR Group
anderson@amprgroup.com
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Tahra Grant
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Tahra_Grant@spe.sony.com
