Words + Pictures
 | |
| Company type | Production studio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film and television |
| Founder | Connor Schell and Chernin Entertainment |
| Headquarters | |
| Website | wordsandpictures |
Words + Pictures is a production studio founded by Connor Schell and Chernin Entertainment in 2021.[1]
Connor Schell, former ESPN content chief, is the CEO of Words + Pictures.[2] Libby Geist was promoted to President of the company in 2024 from her former role as EVP and head of documentaries.[3] Aaron Cohen, promoted from his previous position of EVP of Development at the same time as Geist, serves as Chief Creative Officer (CCO).[3] In 2021, Words + Pictures launched Full Day, a new production branch under the leadership of President and Executive Producer Dave Chamberlin, to focus on live entertainment, specials, and unscripted series.[4]
In 2022, it was announced that Peter Chernin would launch the North Road Company, a global content studio that would bring together Chernin Entertainment, Words + Pictures, and the U.S. assets of Red Arrow Studios, which includes Love Is Blind producer Kinetic Content.[5] Investors in Words + Pictures include Chernin Entertainment, Providence Equity Partners, Apollo, and QIA.[4][6][7]
Words + Pictures acquired Hock Films, founded by Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director and producer Jonathan Hock, in 2022, as well as Little Room Films, founded by Jason Hehir (director of The Last Dance), in 2023.[8][9]
Words + Pictures is currently partnered with NASCAR's Full Speed Entertainment, Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions, and Questlove and Black Thought's Two One Five.[10][11][12]
Words + Pictures is based in SoHo in New York City.[13]
Filmography
[edit]Words + Pictures has distributed its media across platforms like ESPN, ESPN+, Apple TV+, Max, Hulu, Prime Video, and Netflix.[14]
Film
[edit]In co-production with Misfits Entertainment and Passion Pictures, Words + Pictures financed and produced the feature-length documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024).[15] The documentary follows the life and legacy of actor, activist, director, and author Christopher Reeve.
Super/Man premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2023 and was acquired by Warner Bros. Discovery for distribution across Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films, and the streaming service Max. The documentary sold for roughly $15 million.[16] In November 2024, it won six Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Documentary Feature.[17]
Directed by Jason Hehir, Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (2021) tracks Inspiration4, the SpaceX Dragon mission that launched four civilians into space.[18] The film was produced by TIME Studios in association with Words + Pictures.
Giannis: The Marvelous Journey
[edit]Giannis: The Marvelous Journey is a 2024 documentary following Giannis Antetokounmpo's journey towards playing in the NBA, covering the struggles he and his family faced as Nigerian immigrants in Greece.[19] The documentary was directed by Kristen Lappas and produced by Words + Pictures. It streams on Amazon's Prime Video.[19]
Open Heart
[edit]Open Heart is a documentary feature film following New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and his struggle to return to hockey after heart surgery. The film was produced by Words + Pictures, directed by Jonathan Hock, and premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival as a Spotlight Documentary.[20]
The Lionheart
[edit]The Lionheart is a 2023 documentary film produced by Words + Pictures, Stardust Frames, XTR, and TIME Studios. The film covers the IndyCar crash that killed Dan Wheldon, two-time Indy 500 Champion, alongside the subsequent racing careers of Wheldon's sons Sebastian and Oliver.[21] It was acquired by HBO Sports Documentaries and premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.[22][21]
Ayenda
[edit]Ayenda is a 2023 documentary short film that tracks the evacuation of members of the Under-18 Afghan Women's Football Team after Kabul fell to the Taliban. It was produced by MSNBC Films, TIME Studios, and Words + Pictures.[23][24] Marie Margolius directed the film.[23]
Directed by Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (2022) is a documentary trilogy that charts the career of musical artist Kanye West over two decades. The series was produced with creative control by Words + Pictures, with Connor Schell as Executive Producer, in partnership with TIME Studios.[25] It streams on Netflix.
"Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot"
[edit]"Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot" is season 4 episode 19 of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Directed by Oliver Anderson and Louis Burgdorf, the documentary follows a group of college friends who turned filming YouTube videos of trick shots into a cultural and sports-comedy phenomenon.[26] It was produced by ESPN Films in association with Words + Pictures and premiered August 2024.
"American Son"
[edit]"American Son" is an episode of 30 for 30 produced by ESPN Films and Words + Pictures. Directed by Emmy-nominated correspondent Jay Caspian Kang, "American Son" reflects on Michael Chang's improbable rise to tennis stardom and his family's immigrant journey. The story is centered around 17-year-old Chang's upset of top-ranked Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French Open, a match that unfolded shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre in China. The episode came out in July 2024.[27]
"No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan"
[edit]"No Scope: The Story of FaZe Clan" follows the rise and fall of influential esports team FaZe Clan. The episode was directed by Justin Staple, produced by ESPN Films and Words + Pictures, and premiered in June of 2024.[28]
"Jeanette Lee Vs."
[edit]Directed by Ursula Liang, "Jeanette Lee Vs." chronicles the story of Jeanette Lee, the Black Widow, one of the most infamous billiards players of all time. The episode was produced by ESPN Films in association with Words + Pictures and aired in December of 2022.[29]
"Shark"
[edit]Directed by Jason Hehir and Thomas Odelfelt, "Shark" follows golfer Greg Norman as he looks back on his career and how it was shaped by one fateful day at the Masters in 1996.[30] The film was produced by ESPN Films in association with Words + Pictures.[31] "Shark" premiered in April of 2022.
All 30 for 30 episodes are distributed by ESPN and stream on ESPN/ESPN+.[32]
Television
[edit]Celtics City
[edit]Celtics City is an upcoming docuseries chronicling the Boston Celtics directed by Emmy winner Lauren Stowell. The series is a co-production between HBO Sports Documentaries, Ringer Films, and Words + Pictures, and will premiere on HBO and stream on Max in 2025.[33]
Game 7
[edit]Game 7 is a five-part anthology series chronicling iconic game 7s in sports history. Words + Pictures produced the series for Amazon's Prime Video.[34] It premiered October 22nd, 2024.
The Fight Life
[edit]The Fight Life is an upcoming docuseries that chronicles a year in the lives of five Top Rank Boxing stars: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor.[35] The Fight Life premiered October 7 on ESPN+ and aired on ESPN2 following its streaming run. ESPN produces the series with Words + Pictures and Top Rank.[35]
Full Court Press is a documentary series developed for ESPN+, produced by Words + Pictures and Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions and directed by Kristen Lappas.[36] The series features the collegiate careers of basketball players Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Kiki Rice.[37] It premiered in May 2024.
A joint production between Words + Pictures and NASCAR Studios, NASCAR: Full Speed is a documentary series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series.[38] The television series came out on Netflix in January of 2024. A second season is set to premiere in 2025.[39]
Super League: The War for Football
[edit]Super League: The War for Football is a 2023 four-part documentary television miniseries produced by Words + Pictures in conjunction with All Rise Films for Apple TV+.[40] Directed by Jeffrey Zimbalist, the series documents the power struggle that emerged when plans for a breakaway league in 2021 disrupted the world of European football.[41] The series won two Sports Emmy Awards in May 2024: Outstanding Documentary Series and Outstanding Graphic Design - Specialty.[42]
Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning is a three-episode 2023 docuseries that examines the murder of Carol Stuart, the ensuing police investigation, and the resulting sociopolitical tensions. The series was directed by Jason Hehir and produced by Little Room Films.[43][44]
Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team
[edit]Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team is a 2023 documentary miniseries that follows the U.S. Women's soccer team as they pursue their third consecutive World Cup. The series was produced by Words + Pictures in collaboration with TIME and streams on Netflix.[45]
Sue's Places
[edit]Sue's Places is a 2024 ESPN television program produced by Omaha Productions in collaboration with Words + Pictures.[46] The series follows former UConn basketball star Sue Bird as she explores places rich in the traditions of college basketball.
The King of Collectibles
[edit]The King of Collectibles follows sports card collector Ken Goldin and his team as they manage an auction house specializing in collectibles. The series was produced by Words + Pictures in collaboration with Omaha Productions.[47] Season one premiered on Netflix in April 2023, and season two was released in June of 2024.[48]
Algiers, America: The Relentless Pursuit
[edit]Directed by Jackson Fager (VICE News, HBO's Fighting ISIS), this five-part documentary tells the story of a successful high school football program in a community struggling with urban blight. Algiers, America was produced by Words + Pictures, Fager Films, and Andscape; it premiered on Hulu in April 2023.[49]
The Yankees Win (upcoming)
[edit]In February 2023, it was announced that Words + Pictures, Hock Films, Bad Robot, and Zipper Bros Films are partnering with Major League Baseball to produce an eight-part documentary series about the New York Yankees.[50] The series is being directed by Jonathan Hock.
Full Day
[edit]Full Day, the live production label of Words + Pictures, is led by President and Executive Producer Dave Chamberlin.[51] Chamberlin is an Emmy Award-winning producer. Full Day creates live events such as the Oscars Red Carpet Show, the Emmys Red Carpet Show, NFL Honors, the ESPYS, Netflix Slam, the Netflix Cup, and the Savage X Fenty shows.[4]
Awards
[edit]| Year | Project | Awarding Body | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story | Critics Choice Association | Best Documentary Feature | Won | [52] |
| Best Director | Won | ||||
| Best Editing | Won | ||||
| Best Score | Won | ||||
| Best Archival Documentary | Won | ||||
| Best Biographical Documentary | Won | ||||
| 2024 | Super League: The War for Football | National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards) | Outstanding Documentary Series - Serialized | Won | [42] |
| Outstanding Graphic Design | Won | ||||
| 2024 | King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch | National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards) | Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program | Nominated | [53] |
| 2024 | Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage, and Reckoning | National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards) | Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary | Won | [54] |
| Best Documentary | Nominated | [55] | |||
| Outstanding Editing: Documentary | Nominated | ||||
| Peabody Awards | 84th Annual Peabody Awards | Nominated | [56] | ||
| Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Nonfiction Series | Nominated | [57] | ||
| 2024 | Algiers, America: The Relentless Pursuit | International Documentary Association | Best Multi-Part Documentary | Nominated | [58] |
| 2023 | The Lionheart | Tribeca Film Festival | Best Documentary Feature | Nominated | [59] |
| Heartland International Film Festival | Audience Choice Award | Won | |||
| 2023 | Ayenda | Doc NYC | Directing Award, Shorts | Won | [60] |
| Venice Fullshot Film Festival | Jury Prize, Best Documentary Short | Won | |||
| 2023 | Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy | Cinema Eye Honors | Outstanding Broadcast Cinematography | Nominated | [61] |
| 2022 | National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards) | Outstanding Documentary or Non-Fiction Series | Nominated | [62] | |
| Hollywood Critics Association | Best Streaming Docuseries or Non-Fiction Series | Nominated | [63] | ||
| MTV Movie and TV Awards | Best Music Documentary | Nominated | [64] |
References
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- ^ White, Peter (2021-02-10). "Former ESPN Content Boss Connor Schell Sets Up Unscripted Venture With Chernin Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ a b White, Peter (2024-06-14). "Connor Schell's Words + Pictures Promotes Libby Geist & Aaron Cohen". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ a b c Morfoot, Addie (2022-03-26). "Connor Schell Has Rolled Out the Red Carpet for Live-Event Arm, Full Day Productions". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ Weprin, Alex (2022-07-06). "Peter Chernin Launching $1B+ Content Studio Rollup The North Road Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (2023-01-31). "Peter Chernin's North Road Receives $150 Million From Qatar Government Investment Fund". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2022-07-06). "Peter Chernin Pacts With Providence Equity and Apollo to Launch North Road Co". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ White, Peter (2023-11-15). "Peter Chernin's The North Road Company Acquires 'The Last Dance' Director Jason Hehir's Little Room Films". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ White, Peter (2023-11-15). "Peter Chernin's The North Road Company Acquires 'The Last Dance' Director Jason Hehir's Little Room Films". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (2023-05-18). "Chernin's North Road Co. Buys Stake in Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ White, Peter (2023-11-07). "Peter Chernin's North Road Acquires "Significant" Stake In Questlove & Black Thought's Two One Five Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Dunn, Jack (2024-09-30). "'Full Speed' Lands Second Season at Netflix as NASCAR Partners With Words + Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Words + Pictures". www.wordsandpictures.com. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
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- ^ Dunn, Jack (2024-07-31). "Full Day Productions Names David Chamberlin as President (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
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- ^ Ayenda (Short 2023) - Awards - IMDb. Retrieved 2024-10-24 – via www.imdb.com.
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