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Made Up Stories (company)

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Made Up Stories
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2017
Founders
Number of locations
3 (Los Angeles, Sydney, London)
ServicesFilm production and Television production

Made Up Stories is a film and television development and production company founded in 2017 by producer Bruna Papandrea that claims to "[champion] women on and off the screen."[1] The company has offices in Los Angeles and Sydney.

History

[edit]

Made Up Stories was founded in 2017 by Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky. Matterson exited the company in April 2024, establishing her own company, Silent Firework.[2]

In 2012, Bruna Papandrea co-founded Pacific Standard with actress Reese Witherspoon, a production company focusing on creating films made by and about women.[3] Their first two projects at Pacific Standard were Gone Girl and Wild, both adapted from books whose rights were acquired before publication. Both films were released in 2014, receiving commercial success and extensive accolades. The company had finished production on Hot Pursuit (2015), by the time the first two pictures were released.

See also: List of accolades received by Gone Girl (film) and Wild (2014 film) § Accolades

In 2016, Papandrea and Witherspoon announced that they were ending their partnership, though they would continue to work on the projects that were in the middle of production, including the HBO series Big Little Lies which was received 16 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won eight, including Outstanding Limited Series.

Papandrea launched Made Up Stories in January 2017 to carry on her mission in championing female filmmakers, adapting female-written novels and creating stories featuring multi-faceted female characters.[4] The company is also committed to inclusivity in less-acknowledged departments behind-the-scenes such as transportation teams and gaffers.[5][6] Papandrea has expressed intent to start a foundation, Made Up Solutions, to provide opportunities for women from low socio-economic and diverse backgrounds.[7][8]

In January 2021, the company made history: it became the first ever Australian production company to have the top two films at the Australian box office (with Penguin Bloom and The Dry).[9]

In November 2023, founders Papandrea, Hutensky and Matterson along with Matterson's husband Michael Napthali (legal consultant to Made Up Stories), signed an online pledge on the Australian website, 'Say No to Antisemtism',[10] that cites The Executive Council on Australian Jewry's claim that antisemitism had risen '482%'.[11][12] Independent Australian media company Crikey refutes this data.[13]

Controversies

[edit]

In October 2017, The New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey reported on Made Up Stories Chief Operating Officer and Producer Steve Hutensky's historical involvement in silencing victims of Harvey Weinstein during Hutensky's time as an employee of Miramax and The Weinstein Company. The article described Hutensky's role in creating two nondisclosure agreements that protected Weinstein, including one that barred the victim from disclosing Weinstein's name even to a therapist. [14]

In December 2022, Hutensky's role was reported for the first time in the Australian Media. [15] Hutensky was also named in an April 2022 Rolling Stones article. [16]

Hutensky's Weinstein involvement was referenced in a scene in the 2022 feature film, She Said. The film, produced by Annapurna Pictures and Plan B Entertainment, was based on Kantor and Twohey's book of the same name and followed their investigation into Weinstein's abuse and sexual misconduct against women.

Current projects

[edit]

On the film side, Made Up Stories adapted The Dry based on the debut book of Australian novelist Jane Harper. The film, directed by Robert Connolly and starring Eric Bana,[17] was released in Australia on January 1[18] to a strong box office, making it one of the highest grossing Australian film opening weekends ever.[19] The film was released by IFC Films in North America on May 21, 2021.[20] The company also produced the film Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln, directed by Glendyn Ivin, based on the true story of the Bloom family from the book of the same name by Bradley Trevor Greive. It premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in Australia cinemas on January 21, topping the box office for its opening weekend,[21] and in other key countries, including the United States by Netflix on January 27.[22]

It was announced on February 22, that the company was adapting Jessica Knoll's novel Luckiest Girl Alive in partnership with Picturestart for film at Netflix. It will star Mila Kunis, and be directed by Mike Barker.[23]

On the television side, Made Up Stories produced the recent HBO miniseries The Undoing, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, which debuted on October 25, 2020, and became the most viewed show for the network in 2020.[24] The company also produced the Amazon Prime Video thriller drama series Tell Me Your Secrets, released on February 19, created by Harriet Warner, and starring Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, Hamish Linklater, and Enrique Murciano.[25] They also produced the new Hulu hit series, Nine Perfect Strangers, based on the book by Liane Moriarity. The series, written by David E. Kelley, stars Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy, along with numerous other high-profile actors,[26] debuted on August 18 with the premiere quickly becoming the most-watched Hulu original ever.[27]

The company is currently in production on two Netflix series. The first project, Pieces of Her, based on the book by Karin Slaughter, features an all-female creative team including director Minkie Spiro and executive producers Lesli Linka Glatter, Charlotte Stoudt and Bruna Papandrea.[28] The show stars Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote.[29] The second project is the six-episode anthology series, Anatomy of a Scandal, based on the book by Sarah Vaughan, created and written by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, and directed by SJ Clarkson.[30] The show is being produced in partnership with 3Dot Productions' Liza Chasin, and stars Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Friend,[31] and Naomi Scott.[32]

Additionally, the company is producing Long Slow Exhale for Spectrum Originals and BET, along with showrunner Pam Veasey, director Anton Cropper, and co-executive producer John Dove. The basketball drama series stars Rose Rollins.[33] The company also produced Roar for Apple TV+, based on the book by Cecelia Ahern and adapted as an anthology series by Glow creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch. Produced in partnership with Blossom Films, the series will star Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merritt Wever, and Alison Brie.[34] And the company is also producing the genre-bending series Wolf Like Me for Peacock in the US and Stan in Australia. The show is created and directed by Abe Forsythe, and is starring Josh Gad and Isla Fisher.[35] The company is also producing the seven-part dramatic series, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, based on Holly Ringland's debut novel, for Amazon Prime Video. The show is created and written by Sarah Lambert, directed by Glendyn Ivin, and stars Sigourney Weaver.[36]

Productions

[edit]
See also: Bruna Papandrea § Filmography

Films

[edit]
Year Title Director Gross (worldwide) Notes
2018 The Nightingale Jennifer Kent $988,687[37][38] Premiered in competition at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, winning two awards

Swept the 9th AACTA Awards including winning Best Film and Best Director

Distributed in the United States by IFC Films

2019 Little Monsters Abe Forsythe N/A - US box office not reported Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival

Released in the United States by NEON and Hulu

2020 The Dry Robert Connolly $17,051,620[39]

(AUS & NZ only)

Released in Australia by Roadshow on January 1, 2021

Releasing in N. America by IFC Films on May 21, 2021

Penguin Bloom Glendyn Ivin $6,039,513[40]

(AUS, NZ, Russia/CIS only)

Premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival

Released in cinemas in Australia by Roadshow on January 21, 2021

Released in N. America, U.K., France and select Asian countries by Netflix on Jan. 27, 2021

2022 Luckiest Girl Alive Mike Barker n/a Released by Netflix on Oct. 7, 2022[41]
2024 Force of Nature: The Dry 2 Robert Connolly To be released in Australia by Roadshow on February 8, 2024
TBA Ashley's War — — Distributed by Universal Pictures; co-production with Hello Sunshine[42][43]

Television series

[edit]
Year Title Network Notes
2018 Queen America Facebook Watch Created by Meagan Oppenheimer
2020 The Undoing HBO Created by David E. Kelley, based on a Jean Hanff Korelitz book

Nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Awards for Best Limited Series

Nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards including Best Limited Series or Television Film

2021 Tell Me Your Secrets Amazon Prime Video Created by Harriet Warner
Nine Perfect Strangers Hulu, Prime Video Created by David E. Kelley, based on the Liane Moriarty book
2022 Anatomy of a Scandal Netflix Created by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, based on the Sarah Vaughan book
Pieces of Her Created by Charlotte Stoudt, based on the Karin Slaughter book
Long Slow Exhale Spectrum Originals/BET Created by Pam Veasey
Roar Apple TV+ Created by Liz Flahive & Carly Mensch, based on the short story collection by Cecelia Ahern
Wolf Like Me Peacock, Stan Created by Abe Forsythe
2023 The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Amazon Prime Video Created by Sarah Lambert, based on the Holly Ringland novel

Projects in Development

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "How Australian producer Bruna Papandrea is championing women on and off screen". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-matterson-622396130/?originalSubdomain=au [bare URL]
  3. ^ Riley, Jenelle (7 October 2014). "Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Push for Female-Driven Material With Pacific Standard". Variety. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. ^ Hazelton, John. "How Bruna Papandrea is powering her production outfit with female-centric content". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. ^ Gallagher, Caitlin (22 February 2019). "Bruna Papandrea Didn't See A Space For Women In Hollywood, So She Created One Herself". Bustle. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Hollywood's Doors Are Finally Opening". Time. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  7. ^ Gallagher, Caitlin (22 February 2019). "Bruna Papandrea Didn't See A Space For Women In Hollywood, So She Created One Herself". Bustle. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Bruna Papandrea: From Adelaide to Hollywood". www.australiaunlimited.com. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  9. ^ "MADE UP STORIES SETS ALL-TIME RECORD AT AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE WITH TOP TWO FILMS". FilmInk. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  10. ^ https://www.saynotoantisemitism.org/ [bare URL]
  11. ^ https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Fno-citizen-is-safe-if-tide-not-turned-on-rising-antisemitism-says-peter-wertheim%2Fnews-story%2Fd6d1c119f8d5aacd7ee15f00f79f3193&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-1-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append [bare URL]
  12. ^ "» Antisemitism Reports".
  13. ^ "Anti-Semitism's capacity to spread is extraordinary, but it's dangerous to try to redefine it". 6 December 2023.
  14. ^ Kantor, Jodie; Twohey, Megan (5 October 2022). "Weinstein's Complicity Machine". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  15. ^ Quinn, Karl (1 December 2022). "How Harvey Weinstein's lawyer became one of Australia's biggest film and TV producers". The Age. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  16. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (22 April 2022). "Harvey's Cronies Are Making Bank Off of Weinstein Movies and Shows". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Eric Bana Signs to Star in Detective Thriller 'The Dry'". The Hollywood Reporter. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  18. ^ "'The Dry' and 'Penguin Bloom' raise hopes of a strong start to 2021 for Oz cinema". IF Magazine. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  19. ^ "THE DRY BREAKS THE DROUGHT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FILM BOX OFFICE". FilmInk. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  20. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (18 February 2021). "IFC Films Acquires Made Up Stories' Eric Bana Australian Hit 'The Dry'". Deadline. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  21. ^ "PENGUIN BLOOM SOARS TO NUMBER ONE". FilmInk. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  22. ^ "'The Dry' and 'Penguin Bloom' raise hopes of a strong start to 2021 for Oz cinema". IF Magazine. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Mila Kunis to Star in 'Luckiest Girl Alive' Film at Netflix". TheWrap. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  24. ^ Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (17 February 2021). "'The Undoing' Becomes HBO's Most-Watched Series of 2020, Surpasses 'Big Little Lies' Audience (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  25. ^ Petski, Denise (29 October 2020). "'Tell Me Your Secrets' Thriller Drama Series Heads To Amazon After Leaving TNT". Deadline. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (7 January 2020). "Melissa McCarthy Joins Nicole Kidman In 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Hulu Limited Series From David E. Kelley". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  27. ^ Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (24 August 2021). "'Nine Perfect Strangers' Premiere Sets Records For Most-Watched Hulu Original". Deadline. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  28. ^ Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (3 February 2020). "Toni Collette To Star In 'Pieces Of Her' Netflix Drama Series". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (26 February 2020). "Bella Heathcote To Star In 'Pieces Of Her' Netflix Drama Series". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  30. ^ Kanter, Jake (21 May 2020). "'Anatomy Of A Scandal': David E. Kelley, Melissa James Gibson Team For Netflix Anthology Series Based On Sarah Vaughan Novel". Deadline. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  31. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (23 September 2020). "'Anatomy Of A Scandal': Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery & Rupert Friend To Star In Netflix Series From 'Big Little Lies' Creator & Former 'House Of Cards' Showrunner". Deadline. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Naomi Scott to Star in Netflix's 'Anatomy of a Scandal' (Exclusive) | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  33. ^ White, Peter (9 February 2021). "Rose Rollins To Star In Women's Basketball Drama For Spectrum Originals & BET From Pam Veasey, Paramount TV Studios & Made Up Stories". Deadline. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  34. ^ Otterson, Joe (2 March 2021). "Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Merritt Wever, Alison Brie to Star in Apple Series From 'GLOW' Creators". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Josh Gad, Isla Fisher to Star in Peacock Rom-Com Series". The Hollywood Reporter. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  36. ^ White, Peter (18 May 2021). "Sigourney Weaver To Star In & EP 'The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart' Series Adaptation For Amazon; Made Up Stories, Amazon Studios & Endeavor Content To Produce". Deadline. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  37. ^ "The Nightingale (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  38. ^ "The Nightingale (2019)". The Numbers. IMDb. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  39. ^ "The Dry". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Penguin Bloom". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  41. ^ "Mila Kunis to Star in 'Luckiest Girl Alive' Film at Netflix". TheWrap. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  42. ^ Kroll, Justin (12 November 2020). "'Homeland' Director Lesli Linka Glatter To Direct Adaptation Of 'Ashley's War' For Universal; Molly Smith Metzler Penning Script". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  43. ^ Patten, Dominic (1 March 2021). "Coen Brothers, Eva Longoria & Steven Soderbergh Films Among 22 Features Allocated CA Tax Credits". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  44. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (28 November 2018). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories Lands JoAnn Chaney Thriller Novel 'As Long As We Both Shall Live'". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  45. ^ Petski, Denise (9 October 2018). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories Acquires Signe Pike's Novel 'The Lost Queen' For Television". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  46. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (22 June 2018). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories Acquires Jessica Knoll Novel 'The Favorite Sister' For Series". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  47. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (26 September 2017). "Bruna Papandrea Options Tina Brown's 'Vanity Fair Diaries' For Limited TV Series". Deadline. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  48. ^ "Lynette Howell Taylor, Bruna Papandrea Team for Cinderella Reimagining 'Stepsister'". The Hollywood Reporter. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  49. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (20 October 2020). "Endeavor Content Acquires Jennifer Donnelly Fantasy Novel 'Poisoned'; 51 Entertainment & Made Up Stories Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  50. ^ "How Australian producer Bruna Papandrea is championing women on and off screene". Vogue Australia. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  51. ^ Otterson, Joe (15 July 2020). "Bruna Papandrea to Develop Christina Baker Kline's 'The Exiles' as TV Series (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  52. ^ "Nina Dobrev to Star in 'Woman 99' Adaption Acquired by Bruna Papandrea's Production Banner". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  53. ^ Petski, Denise (10 September 2020). "'Warcross' Television Series Based On Book In The Works From Bruna Papandrea & John Cameron". Deadline. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  54. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (8 October 2020). "Made Up Stories & Snoot Entertainment To Adapt Novel 'To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars' Into Feature Film". Deadline. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  55. ^ Petski, Denise (15 December 2020). "'Clap When You Land' Novel In Works For Television By Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories". Deadline. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  56. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (11 March 2021). "Nicole Kidman & Bruna Papandrea Team On Feature Film Adaptation Of YA Novel 'Mice'". Deadline. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  57. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (13 May 2021). "Erin French Memoir 'Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story' Sells After 18-Bidder Auction To Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories & Endeavor Content". Deadline. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  58. ^ Perez, Lexy (9 June 2021). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories, Raelle Tucker Team for Adaptation of Novel 'The Change' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
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