Ex-Darlow Smithson, Atlantic execs join UK prodco

Former Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP) senior exec Ulla Streib Atlantic Productions’ Ruth Roberts are joining at UK-based producer Talesmith.

Streib has been named COO, having joined the factual-focused prodco in a consulting capacity in January 2016. She previously spent 16 years as Endemol Shine Group-owned DSP as part of its senior management team.

More recently, she worked at UK prodcos Lightbox and Caravan.

Roberts is leaving her role as head of development at factual specialist Atlantic to become development executive producer.

Doc filmmaker Martin Williams (Galapagos 3D, David Attenborough’s Kingdom of Plants 3D) launched Talesmith in 2015, focusing on using pioneering technology such as VR to help create nature and specialist factual programming. He has also worked at DSP.

Its credits include Monkeys: An Amazing Animal Family, and Flyride 4D, which is produced under the guise of Flyride Films, a special purpose vehicle with Moonraker VFX.

Streib’s credits include Touching the Void, Into the Univrse with Steohen Hawking (which Williams also worked on) and Thriller in Manilla.

Roberts has worked on Atlantic shows such as Natural History Museum Alive, David Attenborough’s Rise of Animals and Mission Galapagos with Liz Bonnin.

“At Talesmith we are always pushing to produce the most ambitious glossy natural history content, specialist factual films and compelling documentary series,” said Williams, who runs Talesmith as creative director.

“Ulla and Ruth are two hugely experienced industry names and I am thrilled to strengthen our team with this exciting restructure as we expand our portfolio and continue to cover previously unchartered waters.”

Talesmith received backing from the Indielab initiative in 2016.