EXCLUSIVE: A+E Studios enters into deals with Curate Management and its founder Britton Rizzio. The studio has signed a first-look deal with the company to develop scripted series for airing and streaming in the US and internationally. According to Curate, the deal reinforces the company’s commitment to producing content that reflects unique perspectives and stories.
Curate, one of the few female-led literature management companies in the city, was founded by film and TV literature manager Rizzio in 2021 with a focus on film, television and book creators. The company saw significant growth with the addition of literature executive Courtney Conwell as a partner and the hiring of Becca Rodriguez as book and IP executive. Additionally, Curate acquired Zipa Entertainment and brought partner Sofia Escallon to the team. The acquisition expanded Curate’s reach into Mexico, where Escallon is based, with a focus on bilingual and bicultural showrunners, writers and directors in Latin America.
“Our first look deal with A+E Studios is a milestone for Curate Management,” said Rizzio. “It presents us with an exciting opportunity to leverage our expertise and activate all the facets we have built productively. We look forward to working with A+E Studios and finding shows that are authentic, bold and compelling.”
In the theater field, Curate has recently started working with George Strus from New York and will act as a theater scout to adapt playwrights and plays for film and television. Strus founded Breaking the Binary Theatre, a center for new work development and community building for transgender, non-binary and Two-Spirit+ artists. They also currently serve as Artistic Producer at The Sol Project and as Seasonal Producing Manager at The Public Theatre.
Curate’s client list includes Jac Schaeffer (Wandavision, Agatha: Circle of Chaos), Sarah Lampert (Ginny and Georgia), Cody Heller (Dummy, jury duty), Oren Uziel (The Lost City), Emily Carmichael (Jurassic World: Dominion), Our Lady J (Attitude, AHS), Emily St. John Mandel (station eleven), Fernanda Eguiarte (La Flor Mas Bella), Heather Quinn (Werewolf at night), Laura Eason (Three women) and Heidi Schreck (What the Constitution means to me) and Natalia Leite (Black cake, maid’s tale). Rizzio produced, among other things, the Emmy-winning miniseries The act for Hulu, where she was an executive producer, Crime Shimmering Lake and action comedy American Ultra.
“We are thrilled to be in business with Britton Rizzio and Curate Management. Rizzio’s prudent management approach is consistent with how we do business at A+E Studios,” said Tana Nugent Jamieson, EVP, Creative Affairs, A+E Studios. “Our shared values combined with the company’s global reach make this an ideal partnership. We are excited about what lies ahead.”
A+E Studios, the studio behind David E. Kelley’s hit drama series The Lincoln Attorney for Netflix, currently has first-look deals with Alyssa Milano, Vendetta Productions, Driver+Kent Media, Fineman Entertainment and a strategic partnership with Range Media Partners.