Cineflix joins Charles Tremayne on launch of real life-focused First Story Productions

Charles Tremayne

Marcella and Tehran firm Cineflix Media has linked up with veteran TV executive Charles Tremayne on the launch of his nascent outfit First Story Productions.

The prodco has been founded by Tremayne – previously president of Cineflix Productions – and will create factual and scripted content based on true stories, along with TV movies for global audiences.

He will be based out of New York and will head up the company with fellow Cineflix alum Caroline Grist, who is joining the prodco as development executive.

American Pickers

A number of projects have already been set up with networks including Lifetime, National Geographic International, Discovery Science, and Syfy. Tremayne is also working with writer and showrunner Ric Burns on the development of a limited scripted series titled Donner Party for the History Channel.

Cineflix first in line

The partnership gives Cineflix Media the first option to co-produce First Story’s original content, with Cineflix Productions – which is headed by president JC Mills – providing services and development support on projects.

Cineflix Rights has exclusive first-look to distribute First Story’s content internationally.

The announcement comes a year after Tremayne left his role as president of Cineflix Productions to take up the new role of chair of the Cineflix Content Group. He will continue to hold that position while building First Story Productions.

During his tenure at Cineflix Productions, Tremayne worked on shows such as American Pickers and Mayday: Air Disaster, as well as documentaries including Sinking Cities and fact-based drama Gangland Undercover.

Before that, Tremayne was executive producer in charge of RDF’s East Coast production base that produced Wife Swap for ABC. He has also worked for UK commercial broadcaster ITV and co-created the long-running First 48 for A&E.

Marcella

Grist, meanwhile, developed investigative crime series such as The Clown And The Candyman, as well as the global franchise Homicide: Hours To Kill.

Tremayne said the prodco would allow him “to focus solely on the projects that I really love – strong, personal true stories that reveal a bigger truth. There has never been more opportunity to tell these stories, and so many ways to present them to a new generation of viewers.”

Glen Salzman, co-founder and co-CEO at Cineflix Media, added that the company marked further expansion of “its community of talented creatives…”

The launch comes two months after Marcella and Tehran firm Cineflix Media appointed former Banijay Rights CEO Tim Mutimer to head up the company’s global distribution business, ahead of the retirement of Chris Bonney.

Bonney revealed in November he would be stepping down from the UK-based sales company in 2021 having led the division for eight years.