Dan Levy, the Emmy winner behind the beloved sitcom Schitt’s Creekhad launched a production banner Not A Real Production Company, along with longtime publicist Megan Zehmer, who will serve as president of film and television.
With today’s announcement, Levy is also starting a new general television deal with Netflix, where he also has a first-look pact on the features side. With the studio, Levy has an already announced original self-titled film that will mark his directorial debut. Levy and Zehmer will produce with Sister’s Stacey Snider and Kate Fenske.
Zehmer will oversee all development and work to further expand the company’s slate. Zehmer was an integral part of the promotion of Schitts Creek, moving from cult status to powerhouse for awards, eventually taking Canadian comedy to multiple Emmy wins, including three for Levy, as creator, writer and star.
“Megan navigated the PR rollout for the Schitt’s Creek Emmy campaign with such an impressive level of skill, taste and ingenuity. Her work speaks for itself at this point, but what really impressed me during that process was her sensibility to never exploit,” Levy said. “Maintaining the integrity of the show has always been of the utmost importance to her, and that’s not always the case. It is a rare gift to be able to lead with heart and head. And that’s exactly the skills I was looking for in a partner for Not A Real Production Company – someone with impeccable taste who could approach our development with both an understanding of the business side of things and a genuine sensitivity to the humanity of it. creative process.”
Zehmer added: “Having the privilege of knowing Dan is knowing that his work is an accurate reflection of his heart. Watching him contribute an immeasurable amount of good to the world through Schitt’s Creek was easily one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and there is no one I believe in more than him. I happen to be quite fond of him too! Our foundation of mutual trust and respect, borderline telepathic shorthand and shared creative vision made this next step in our partnership almost inevitable. And the fact that our first project together is Dan’s film, for which he has written one of the most extraordinary scripts I’ve read in a long time, is overwhelming to say the least.”
The upcoming clapboard slate also includes HBO Max cooking competition series The big brunch and Hulu animated comedy standing by, co-created by Levy and Ally Pankiw, a satirical look at the lives of a group of eternally bound, disaffected guardian angels
Levy said: “Ultimately, my goal for this company is to continue to produce and create lofty projects across all media, genres and formats that resonate with people in meaningful ways. And I’m pleased to say that our current range projects exceed all our expectations.”
Levy and Not A Real Production Company are represented by WME, MGMT and Morris Yorn.
