Tag Archives: Blink Studios

Blink49 Studios plans TV adaptation of internationally bestselling author Marissa Stapley’s sophomore novel ‘Things To Do When It’s Raining’

March 15, 2022 Greg David

From a media release:

BLINK49 STUDIOS, the recently launched content venture-backed by global film and TV studio Endeavor Content, has pre-empted rights to New York Times bestselling author Marissa Stapley’s second novel, Things To Do When It’s Raining, a Canadian epic romantic drama.

Things To Do When It’s Raining, which will be set in Canada’s 1,000 Islands, centers around a woman who is driven by deception and despair to return home from the city to her grandparent’s inn. There, she encounters Gabe, the island-dwelling boy who was her companion as a child and her first love as a teenage girl, but then disappeared from her life without a trace. The ultimately life affirming story unravels the past and braids together three generations of love affairs. Things To Do When It’s Raining published with Simon & Schuster Canada and Graydon House US in 2018 and has since sold in Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, France, and Slovakia. Interest in the property renewed after Stapley’s 2021 novel Lucky became the first Canadian novel to be selected for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club.

BLINK49 STUDIOS will serve as the studio for the television adaption. Newman and Rankin will Executive Produce the series on behalf of BLINK49.

Marissa Stapley is the internationally bestselling author of four novels, most recently the New York Times bestselling Lucky (S&S Canada), which was selected as a Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick in December 2021. Her first novel was Mating for Life (published by S&S Canada, Atria US, Rowohlt Germany); then Things to Do When It’s Raining (S&S Canada, Graydon House US, multiple translation territories); followed by The Last Resort (S&S Canada, Graydon House, Allen & Unwin ANZ, and multiple translation territories). The Last Resort was named one of 2019’s Best Beach Reads by Oprah Magazine, New York Post and The Globe and Mail, and shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award (Best Crime Fiction Novel). Stapley recently teamed up with bestselling author Karma Brown (Recipe for a Perfect Wife), as the writing duo Maggie Knox to publish holiday romances, launching with The Holiday Swap, which was an instant bestseller and is already under option for TV (Putnam US/Penguin Canada/Hodder Books).

BLINK49 STUDIOS is a newly launched content venture with Endeavor Content as its anchor investor and lead strategic partner. Focusing heavily on a creative-first approach, BLINK49 STUDIOS is dedicated to partnering with best-in-class writers, creators and producers, as well as aggressively pursuing IP in Canada and throughout the world. Committed to applying significant resources to support new and diverse Canadian voices, the indie studio recently acquired the rights to “Hold My Girl”, the upcoming novel from emerging Canadian author Charlene Carr.

Blink Studios acquires the rights to Canadian author Charlene Carr’s upcoming novel ‘Hold My Girl’ for television series adaptation

January 20, 2022 Greg David

From a media release:

In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, BLINK STUDIOS, the recently launched content venture backed by global film and TV studio Endeavor Content, has acquired the rights to “Hold My Girl”, the upcoming novel from emerging Canadian author Charlene Carr. BLINK STUDIOS will serve as the studio for the television adaption, which marks the company’s first project since launching in November 2021. Academy Award® and Emmy® nominated producer Michael London and Shannon Gaulding of Groundswell Productions (Snowfall, The Magicians) will executive produce the series together with Carolyn Newman and Virginia Rankin for BLINK STUDIOS.

“Hold My Girl” is a heart-wrenching, dual narrative women’s fiction novel about two women whose eggs are switched during IVF, only to be revealed over a year later when one of them has been raising the wrong daughter, and the other has been grieving a stillborn child that wasn’t hers. Centred around a moral question, the emotional story features themes of motherhood, racial identity, betrayal and ultimately hope and healing. The premise of the novel was very much inspired by Charlene’s own life – a Black woman who gave birth to a visibly white child via IVF – and stemmed from her own fears of a mix-up, that one day she too would receive a call to say her daughter wasn’t hers. “Hold My Girl” will be published by Welbeck Publishing in the UK and Harper Collins in Canada, set to release in 2023.

“We are committed to working with and discovering great Canadian voices which is why we are delighted to partner with an emerging and brilliant talent like Charlene to help bring her novel to television. Her exceptional storytelling is authentic and universal, while also embracing her Canadian roots,” commented Carolyn Newman, Executive Vice President, Global Scripted and Virginia Rankin, Executive Producer, BLINK STUDIOS. “We’re thrilled to team with Michael and Shannon, who are truly passionate about this material.”

“I am beyond thrilled to have Blink Studios and Groundswell Productions working on the screen adaptation of ‘Hold My Girl’,” commented Carr. “I was blown away by their enthusiasm, emotional connection to the story, and clear desire to keep as true to the book as possible. It is an honour to have such vastly experienced, skilled and passionate producers championing this story!”

“Charlene Carr has written the rare novel that is both a page-turning ride and a moving piece of literature that explores issues of motherhood and race in a hugely relevant way. We’re thrilled that Blink shared our passion for the material and moved so quickly and aggressively on our behalf,” Michael London, Founder/CEO Groundswell Productions.

Charlene Carr is a lover of stories. Pursuing this life-long obsession, she studied literature at university, attaining both a BA and MA in English, including a study program at Oxford. Still craving more, she attained a degree in Journalism. A bit of a nomad, she’s lived in four countries and seven Canadian provinces. After travelling the globe for several years and working as a freelance writer, editor, facilitator, and running her own Communications business, she decided the time had come to focus exclusively on her true love – novel writing. She currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, where she splits her time between writing, building relationships with her readers, and trying to keep up with the energy and antics of her young daughter. Recently awarded a writing grant by Arts Nova Scotia, “Hold My Girl” is Carr’s first agented novel.

BLINK STUDIOS is a newly launched content venture with Endeavor Content as its anchor investor and lead strategic partner. Focusing heavily on a creative-first approach, BLINK STUDIOS is dedicated to partnering with best-in-class writers, creators and producers, as well as aggressively pursuing IP in Canada and throughout the world. The indie studio is committed to applying significant resources to support new and diverse Canadian voices.

Charlene Carr is represented by Hayley Steed and the deal was brokered by Hannah Ladds, Dramatic Rights Agent at the Madeleine Milburn, Literary, TV & Film Agency.

Industry News

Former Entertainment One executives launch new Canadian-based content indie Blink Studios with Endeavor Content as lead strategic investor

November 2, 2021 Greg David

From a media release:

Veteran executives John Morayniss (above), Patrice Theroux, Jeff Lynas and Nelson Kuo-Lee have reunited to launch a new content venture, BLINK STUDIOS with Endeavor Content as its anchor investor and lead strategic partner. Headquartered in Toronto with offices in Los Angeles, BLINK STUDIOS will operate as a full-service indie studio focused on the development, production and monetization of premium scripted and unscripted content for a global market. As part of Endeavor Content’s strategic relationship with BLINK STUDIOS, Endeavor Content will be BLINK STUDIOS’ priority distribution partner on a worldwide basis.

With its Canadian base of operations, BLINK STUDIOS will be deploying a significant portion of its capital to make investments in Canadian production companies focusing on both scripted and unscripted programming in all genres and formats. In addition, BLINK STUDIOS will put in place strategic deals with best-in-class writers, creators, producers and other related content enterprises, as well as aggressively pursue IP in Canada and throughout the world. As well, BLINK STUDIOS will apply significant resources to support new and diverse Canadian voices and will utilize its expertise, capital and extensive relationships to give diverse, unique and compelling stories an opportunity to reach a worldwide market.

“I am beyond delighted and energized to be partnering with my former colleagues, Patrice, Jeff and Nelson, in this new media enterprise,” said Morayniss. “And, of course, we couldn’t be more excited about launching Blink Studios with the commitment and support of Endeavor Content as our lead strategic investor. When we first began our discussions with Chris and Graham, we felt that there was an immediate understanding and alignment as to why we were so passionate about building a world-class Canadian indie and how we were going to achieve success with a new and improved creative-first approach and strategy. And, with Kirstine and Chris joining our board, we have some of the best strategic minds in the business. We can’t wait to get going!”

“We are thrilled to be in business with such a phenomenal team and to help support building a business that leans heavily into Canadian talent. Blink is set up to invest in both the most established producers and the incredibly exciting emerging voices coming from Canada – where huge opportunity exists,” said Chris Rice & Graham Taylor, Co-Presidents of Endeavor Content.

BLINK STUDIOS is in the process of assembling its creative and production team and will be announcing key hires in the coming weeks.

John Morayniss co-founded Canadian indie Blueprint Entertainment in 2002, and as CEO rolled up Blueprint with several other Canadian based media businesses that were then acquired by eOne in 2008 to launch eOne’s television business. John then led eOne TV, as its CEO, for a decade. Under his leadership, eOne established an unparalleled network of global television partnerships, delivered acclaimed scripted and unscripted series and grew its global sales operation to be among the best in the industry. Some of the most notable productions during his tenure include global hit series from The Mark Gordon Company The Rookie, created by Alexi Hawley; starring Nathan Fillion for ABC and Designated Survivor created by David Guggenheim starring Kiefer Sutherland for ABC and Netflix; as well as HBO’s Sharp Objects written/created by Marti Noxon, starring Amy Adams; Hell On Wheels, with Anson Mount for AMC; from Ilana Frank’s ICF Films Burden of Truth created by Brad Simpson, starring Kristin Kreuk for The CW and CBC as well as police procedural Rookie Blue created by Morwyn Brebner, Tassie Cameron and Ellen Vanstone for Corus and ABC; and non-scripted series including Naked and Afraid for Discovery; Siesta Keys for MTV; LA Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later for A&E; and worldwide distribution for AMC’s The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. His innovative deal-making, leadership and relationships worldwide resulted in the exponential growth of eOne’s television business in Canada and around the globe. Prior to Blueprint Entertainment, Morayniss was head of television at Alliance Atlantis, where he oversaw all development, production and co-production activities for the television division, including the mega-hit series franchise, CSI.

Patrice Theroux is one of the industry’s most respected film and television executives having built major distribution and production organizations for more than 30 years including Alliance Films, where he was Chief Executive Officer and Entertainment One where he served as President of Film and Television from 2007 to 2014 and guided the entry and growth of the company in all of its content initiatives. Having also produced more than 45 films and television programs, he is a member of the Producers Guild Association (PGA), the British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

Jeff Lynas was responsible for all of the day-to-day operations for eOne Television on a global basis before leaving the company after a decade. He also led business development for the division, establishing and structuring new business relationships across production, distribution, and digital media. Lynas supported the growth of eOne’s U.S. non-scripted business, worked on transformative deals including the initial acquisition of The Mark Gordon Company and a multi-series output deal with AMC networks. Lynas joined eOne in September 2008 when the company acquired Blueprint Entertainment, where he served as senior VP. Before the acquisition, he played a key role in establishing Blueprint’s business in the U.S. and building relationships with producers and broadcasters.

Nelson Kuo-Lee served as Executive Vice-President of eOne’s Film and Television business and also held positions of COO and CFO before departing in early 2020. Kuo-Lee joined eOne in 2007 as it planned its launch as a content studio and was instrumental in shepherding its growth into a leading global independent; as COO, leading its early M&A efforts and its entry into film production and most recently as CFO, overseeing its finance transformation initiative.

Kirstine Stewart is an internationally award-winning leader with deep expertise working at the intersection of media and technology, and a reputation for turning around revenue performance and driving new market expansion on a global scale. Her work spans executive leadership roles with Twitter, Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC), Crown Family Media/Hallmark, the World Economic Forum, as well as other media corporations and technology start-ups. Stewart is presently the Chief Revenue Officer of Pex, a technology company backed by Tencent and Universal Music Group. Formerly at the World Economic Forum, Stewart headed the Future of Media, Entertainment, & Sport division, collaborating with C-level leaders from multinational enterprises to address emerging issues. Prior to joining the WEF, she served as President and Chief Revenue Officer for TribalScale, a global innovation and digital transformation firm, after leaving her post as Chief Strategy Officer for Diply, an early-stage tech start-up and content publisher that ranked #1 in Deloitte’s Fast50 Tech Growth Companies in Canada. Stewart initially entered the tech industry as the Founding Head of Canada for Twitter before taking on the role of VP Media for all of North America. As a prolific broadcasting industry leader, she was credited with catapulting ratings and launching into the digital market as CBC’s Head of TV, Radio & Digital. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President to grow the subscriber base for Alliance Atlantis, a media company with a portfolio of Canadian lifestyle channels including HGTV, Food Network, BBC Canada, National Geographic, History, and many others.