WarnerMedia & Banijay Americas strike unscripted creative pact

Karla Pita Loor

WarnerMedia has struck a pact with Banijay Americas to create a program designed to develop unscripted series from more diverse sources.

The partnership will incubate original projects with a focus on docuseries and is the brainchild of Axel Caballero, who leads WarnerMedia OneFifty, and Karla Pita Loor, EVP of enterprise inclusion & social responsibility at Banijay Americas.

Each of the selected creators will receive a grant from WarnerMedia OneFifty in addition to development deals with participating Banijay Americas’ production studios to support their projects and prep them to sell to potential buyers.

Up to five creators will be selected and there will be a submission process, details of which will be shared a later date. At the end of the incubation period, which is yet to be determined, Banijay Americas will partner with WarnerMedia OneFifty to pitch the projects with first right of refusal given to WarnerMedia properties.

Axel Caballero

WarnerMedia OneFifty is housed within the company’s ‘corporate social responsibility’ department and funds and acquires domestic and international projects across genres.

Banijay Americas is home to The Challenge firm Bunim/Murray Productions and Ink Master outfit Truly Original, as well as 51 Minds Entertainment, which is behind Below Deck.

“Creating these types of partnerships will ensure that WarnerMedia OneFifty achieves its goals of uncovering creativity and untold stories with content from undiscovered artists,” said Caballero.

Loor added: “Having our colleagues at 51 Minds, Bunim/Murray and Truly Original participate will ensure that selected storytellers have the support and expertise they need to develop, sell and produce their series.”