Hall’s Warehouse 51 unveils first projects

Former Parthenon Entertainment and Sky Vision boss Carl Hall has unveiled the first projects from his new firm, Warehouse 51, and a business model more akin to film financing than television.

Shows currently in production include Area 51: The CIA’s Secret Files, a 1x60mins special for National Geographic in the US that Warehouse 51 is coproducing with Hall’s former employer, Sky Vision.

Hustlers Convention is a theatrical documentary about a famous event in hip-hop history. Warehouse 51 is coproducing with Riverhorse, with funding coming from Creative England and which Kaleidoscope Films is distributing.

Finally, Nature’s Treasure Islands is a 4x60mins coproduction with Redfern Natural History Productions, which Sky Vision is selling at MIPCOM. A presale to SBS in Australia has already been secured.

Warehouse 51 is also working on “several projects” for Animal Planet, which announcements forthcoming, the company said.

Hall said the firm, news of which first came soon after he exited Sky Vision, was founded on a business model that is more similar to those used in film than in television. This focuses on building project-by-project partnerships with creative individuals to help them get their shows made, retain creative control and benefit from IP retention.

Warehouse 51 will provide deficit funding, legal and business affairs, help with distribution and production expertise in return for a share of the rights as a coproduction partner.

“Warehouse 51 is a new type of media company in a world increasingly dominated by super indies and traditional distributor-producer relationships. We’re not looking to tie in execs to staff jobs or buy companies,” said Hall.

“Instead, we will work as genuine partners with directors and producers who want to get their projects made without losing control of their creativity or rights.”

“Getting projects off the ground these days can be incredibly difficult, with complex co-production and financing and rights requirements from by broadcasters, let alone the creative input needed as a director producer. Our expertise across distribution, financing and production and willingness to bring in the best partners to achieve this on a project-by-project basis means we can offer an entirely new and different choice.”

Hall launched Warehouse 51 after exiting Sky Vision in November last year, though MIPCOM is the firm’s first official market.