During his tenure as ABC’s head of entertainment, Paul Lee helped shepherd hits for the network including “Black-ish,” “Scandal,” and “How to Get Away With Murder,” but he missed having a free hand in content creation. He has that now, he told TheWrap’s Office With a View.
At Wiip, the production company behind HBO murder mystery “Mare of Easttown,” “our special sauce is that we can break the rules,” Lee said. “We can bring in voices that are more distinctive and different from those within their own studios.”
Lee co-founded the independent studio in 2018 with Matteo Perale, the former head of strategy and corporate development at CAA. Besides the Emmy-winning “Mare,” Wiip has also produced Amazon Prime Video’s hit YA series adaptation “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and HBO’s upcoming comedy series “White House Plumbers” with Woody Harrelson.
“We had a fantastic time at ABC. It...
At Wiip, the production company behind HBO murder mystery “Mare of Easttown,” “our special sauce is that we can break the rules,” Lee said. “We can bring in voices that are more distinctive and different from those within their own studios.”
Lee co-founded the independent studio in 2018 with Matteo Perale, the former head of strategy and corporate development at CAA. Besides the Emmy-winning “Mare,” Wiip has also produced Amazon Prime Video’s hit YA series adaptation “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and HBO’s upcoming comedy series “White House Plumbers” with Woody Harrelson.
“We had a fantastic time at ABC. It...
- 4/20/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
“I wanted to subvert the expectation of what an office space should look like,” explains Paul Lee, the CEO of production company wiip, which has produced a slew of acclaimed fare including Mare of Easttown, Dickinson and The Summer I Turned Pretty since its founding in 2018. “Plus, if I’m being honest, I’d spent far too long in the cold corridors of corporate life.”
Lee, who previously helmed ABC Entertainment Group, launched wiip alongside Matteo Perale, CAA’s former head of strategy and corporate development. Backed by the agency, the boutique production company — whose name is an acronym of “word,” “idea,” “imagination” and “production” — had originally been based at CAA’s Century City offices.
But Lee decided to move wiip and its 32 employees to a much different space in the heart of Hollywood in 2020, just before the onset of Covid-19. (The next year,...
“I wanted to subvert the expectation of what an office space should look like,” explains Paul Lee, the CEO of production company wiip, which has produced a slew of acclaimed fare including Mare of Easttown, Dickinson and The Summer I Turned Pretty since its founding in 2018. “Plus, if I’m being honest, I’d spent far too long in the cold corridors of corporate life.”
Lee, who previously helmed ABC Entertainment Group, launched wiip alongside Matteo Perale, CAA’s former head of strategy and corporate development. Backed by the agency, the boutique production company — whose name is an acronym of “word,” “idea,” “imagination” and “production” — had originally been based at CAA’s Century City offices.
But Lee decided to move wiip and its 32 employees to a much different space in the heart of Hollywood in 2020, just before the onset of Covid-19. (The next year,...
- 7/30/2022
- by Abigail Stone
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rome’s growing Mia market, dedicated to international TV series, feature films and documentaries, has secured a rich roster of fresh international product in various stages and announced a clutch of prominent U.S. and European execs set to make the trek for the mostly in-person Oct. 13-17 event.
While companies such as ITV Studios, Banijay and Fremantle are either bowing out or reducing their presence at the Oct. 11-14 Mipcom market in Cannes — and the AFM has gone entirely online — Mia seems to be succeeding in luring a robust group of international industry heavyweights. They are also boasting a 30% increase in completed films screening on its film market side while some 80 new European film, TV and doc projects will be pitched to prospective partners.
Joe Russo, who with his older brother Anthony became the creative superheroes of the Marvel Universe with a string of four blockbusters climaxing with 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,...
While companies such as ITV Studios, Banijay and Fremantle are either bowing out or reducing their presence at the Oct. 11-14 Mipcom market in Cannes — and the AFM has gone entirely online — Mia seems to be succeeding in luring a robust group of international industry heavyweights. They are also boasting a 30% increase in completed films screening on its film market side while some 80 new European film, TV and doc projects will be pitched to prospective partners.
Joe Russo, who with his older brother Anthony became the creative superheroes of the Marvel Universe with a string of four blockbusters climaxing with 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,...
- 9/23/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The success of HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” couldn’t have come at a better time for Wiip, the boutique production company behind Kate Winslet’s limited series. The murder mystery was nominated for 16 Emmys this year, earning raves for its unique storytelling and performances — and also for its twisty, satisfying ending.
“Mare” has become a nice calling card for Wiip, which former ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee launched with the backing of CAA in 2018. “It is a landmark moment,” Lee says. “The genre is something that’s been done for a long time but never with that level of sophistication and with an ending that surprised and then surprised and then surprised again.”
The young company found success early with Apple TV Plus’ “Dickinson,” a sly, contemporary take on a period piece starring Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson, and was also behind Quibi’s “Dummy,” a short-form series starring...
“Mare” has become a nice calling card for Wiip, which former ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee launched with the backing of CAA in 2018. “It is a landmark moment,” Lee says. “The genre is something that’s been done for a long time but never with that level of sophistication and with an ending that surprised and then surprised and then surprised again.”
The young company found success early with Apple TV Plus’ “Dickinson,” a sly, contemporary take on a period piece starring Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson, and was also behind Quibi’s “Dummy,” a short-form series starring...
- 8/12/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
wiip formed in 2018. Credits include Dickinson.
South Korean TV drama producer Jtbc Studios Co has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Mare Of Easttown producer wiip as CAA becomes a minority shareholder.
CAA was previously a majority owner of the company. Media and entertainment-focused private equity firm Atwater Capital is to sell its stake.
wiip was formed in 2018 by Paul Lee and Matteo Perale and its shows have been picked up by Apple TV+, HBO and Amazon.
Recent series include Mare Of Easttown starring Kate Winslet, which wiip produced with HBO, and Dickinson starring Hailee Steinfeld.
Jtbc Studios CEO...
South Korean TV drama producer Jtbc Studios Co has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Mare Of Easttown producer wiip as CAA becomes a minority shareholder.
CAA was previously a majority owner of the company. Media and entertainment-focused private equity firm Atwater Capital is to sell its stake.
wiip was formed in 2018 by Paul Lee and Matteo Perale and its shows have been picked up by Apple TV+, HBO and Amazon.
Recent series include Mare Of Easttown starring Kate Winslet, which wiip produced with HBO, and Dickinson starring Hailee Steinfeld.
Jtbc Studios CEO...
- 6/1/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
CAA has sold a majority stake in Wiip, the producer behind HBO’s Mare of Easttown and Apple’s Dickinson, to Korean company Jtbc Studios. It marks the first sale of an agency-backed studio after CAA and the other agencies agreed to end their standoff with the WGA and sell a majority interest in their content divisions.
CAA, which was previously the majority owner of wiip, will remain a minority shareholder in the Paul Lee-led company.
Deadline understands that CAA had been shopping the stake around a number of traditional U.S studios but there were no takers. It comes as others such as WME are still looking for a buyer for an 80% stake in Endeavor Content.
Private equity company Atwater Capital, which took a stake in wiip in 2020, will also sell its stake.
Wiip was founded in 2018 by former ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee and Matteo Perale, formerly head...
CAA, which was previously the majority owner of wiip, will remain a minority shareholder in the Paul Lee-led company.
Deadline understands that CAA had been shopping the stake around a number of traditional U.S studios but there were no takers. It comes as others such as WME are still looking for a buyer for an 80% stake in Endeavor Content.
Private equity company Atwater Capital, which took a stake in wiip in 2020, will also sell its stake.
Wiip was founded in 2018 by former ABC Entertainment chief Paul Lee and Matteo Perale, formerly head...
- 6/1/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Wiip, the independent studio behind recent HBO hit “Mare of Easttown” and Apple TV Plus’ breakout “Dickinson,” has been acquired by South Korean TV drama production firm Jtbc Studios.
Jtbc Studios will take a majority ownership in wiip, while CAA, which had previously been the majority owner of the company, will now move to a minority stake. Exiting the partnership is private equity firm Atwater Capital, which is selling its stake as part of the deal.
The deal comes following the talent guilds agreed to sell their production arms as part of a deal with the Writers Guild of America to end their long standoff. As part of the CAA-wga negotiation, CAA agreed to transfer its ownership to a blind trust. Under the side letter agreement, the trust was required to divest the stake to conform to a 20% ownership cap.
CAA, which was previously the the majority owner of wiip,...
Jtbc Studios will take a majority ownership in wiip, while CAA, which had previously been the majority owner of the company, will now move to a minority stake. Exiting the partnership is private equity firm Atwater Capital, which is selling its stake as part of the deal.
The deal comes following the talent guilds agreed to sell their production arms as part of a deal with the Writers Guild of America to end their long standoff. As part of the CAA-wga negotiation, CAA agreed to transfer its ownership to a blind trust. Under the side letter agreement, the trust was required to divest the stake to conform to a 20% ownership cap.
CAA, which was previously the the majority owner of wiip,...
- 6/1/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.