Realscreen kicks off Global 100 Top Tens with top doc shops
May 6, 2024
This Machine Filmworks
HEADQUARTERS: Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY
NUMBER OF HOURS PRODUCED IN 2023: 20+
STAFF: 16
UPCOMING TITLES: Elton John documentary (Disney+); Untitled Martha Stewart Project (Netflix); Lee Soo Man: The King of K-Pop (Prime Video)
Founded by documentary filmmaker R.J. Cutler in 2020 and part of the SPT Nonfiction stable, This Machine Filmworks made significant strides in 2023, with several doc projects generating buzz and audiences. The Nicole Newnham–helmed The Disappearance of Shere Hite, about the author and feminist icon, was acquired by IFC after its Sundance premiere and appeared on several year-end critics' lists. Other highlights for the year included the Netflix four-parter Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul, produced in partnership with Amblin; and HBO's South to Black Power, directed by Llewellyn L. Smith and Sam Pollard. The label has also recently landed projects on Hulu (Anthem) and MGM+ (Murf the Surf).
On the slate for this year: a Disney+ doc following Elton John on his final tour; an as-yet-untitled Martha Stewart project for Netflix; and a feature exploring the history of Mad Magazine. BW
Staying true: "For a company like ours, the biggest challenge is staying the course and adhering to core principles rather than chasing the marketplace," says Cutler. "Staying creative in terms of financing our projects is also a key priority, but most of all we have found that being true to our defining vision has been our path to success. Not surprisingly, this is also our biggest opportunity."
