Blumenfeld, Bodle create £3m incubator

Veteran execs Remy Blumenfeld and Justin Bodle have created a £3 million (US$4.3 million) production vehicle that will house ten indies.

The Hot House will act as an incubator for producers and off-screen talent that does not wish to be part of a consolidated production group.

Former ITV and Endemol senior exec Blumenfeld will now pool his prodco, Thinking Violets, within The Hot House, which is backed by Bodle’s new investment vehicle, Purecom Entertainment International.

Former ITV Studios production manager Jo Juson will be the company’s head of production.

Companies operating with The Hot House will work from its London-based office, with Blumenfeld and Bodle providing access to strategic production and distribution partners.

“By capitalising the business and operating a unique partnership model, The Hot House intends to provide senior innovators with leading expertise in this arena, strong motivation and the best possible environment in which to create content,” said Bodle.

Talks have begun with indies, creative and ad agencies ahead of what has been described as a “series” of acquisitions for Purecom, which plans to act as a management vehicle for Hot House.

Drama producer Bodle is the former CEO of UK-based indie Power, which was put up for sale by its South African owners in October last year.

Formats creator Blumenfeld, meanwhile, left ITV Studios in 2011 and launched his own theatre and TV prodco two years later. His first company, Brighter Pictures, sold to Endemol in 2004.

He said: “The idea came out of conversations with friends and former colleagues who love developing, pitching and producing shows but currently feel constrained.

“The UK is a recognised centre of excellence for content creation, but there is little support out there for creative entrepreneurs. This is all about literally hot-housing talent for the first years until they are self-sustaining.”