2 months ago
EXCLUSIVE: Two months aft Blair Fetter joined Amazon MGM Studios arsenic Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series, nan erstwhile Netflix executive has restructured nan department, resulting successful expanded responsibilities for Tom Lieber, reporting changes for immoderate members connected nan squad and respective departures, astir notably Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain who will beryllium leaving nan company.
Fetter unveiled nan changes successful a institution memo.
“As we look ahead, we’re evolving nan Worldbuilding Series statement to run pinch a flatter, much streamlined building — 1 designed to alteration leaders who are nimble and versatile capable to move fluidly betwixt improvement and existent production,” he wrote successful nan email, which you tin publication below. “This is astir positioning nan squad to move pinch greater autonomy arsenic we proceed processing nan ambitious, world bid our audiences love.”
The Worldbuilding & Genre Series section was formed arsenic portion of the large Amazon MGM Studios scripted squad realignment by caller Head of Global Television Peter Friedlander, announced successful precocious January. Previously divided by series’ ownership into Co-Productions and Wholly Owned, nan studio’s executive squad was restructured by genre into Drama & Comedy, Worldbuilding & Genre, Animation and Unscripted.
Fetter became Head of Worldbuilding & Genre. Melissa Wolfe is Head of Animation; Jenn Levy is Head of Unscripted. Search for Head of Drama & Comedy continues.
In nan genre-based reorg, 2 elder executives successful nan worldbuilding/genre arena joined Fetter’s team, reporting to him: Lieber, who was Head, Co-Production Genre Development and Current Series, and King, who was connected nan Wholly Owned side.
King is now leaving, pinch Lieber, who has overseen The Boys universe, Fallout and The Lord of nan Rings: The Rings of Power, now getting a caller title arsenic nan Head of Creative Affairs, Worldbuilding.
“Tom will proceed to activity intimately connected nan titles he is on, but we are empowering nan remainder of nan squad to return nan lead connected nan individual projects,” Fetter said. “In doing so, Tom will attraction connected really caller technologies tin meaningfully support existent and early worldbuilding series.”
While not spelled out, this is apt a reference to utilizing AI arsenic woldbuilding/genre bid are inherently very labor-intensive and costly to make, which is nan lawsuit pinch Prime Video’s Rings of Power and Fallout. Amazon successful August assigned a elder executive, VP Prime Video U.S. Albert Cheng, to spearhead “creating caller devices for our imaginative partners that harness nan powerfulness of AI,” arsenic Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, said astatine nan time.
Like King, O’Riain besides came from Amazon MGM Studios’ Wholly Owned programming operation.
“Matt and Adrienne person each been unthinkable partners and person fixed truthful overmuch to this team,” Fetter said. “Matt brought a chopped imagination to nan wholly owned improvement team, astir precocious pinch nan successful motorboat of 56 Days and nan upcoming bid Carrie and Criminal. Similarly, Adrienne besides delivered connected 56 Days and championed nan highly anticipated bid Elle. I’m profoundly grateful for their contributions and nan attraction they brought to Prime Video each azygous day.”
Also leaving Fetter’s squad is Liz Mackintosh but she is staying astatine Amazon. She will beryllium moving to Kara Smith’s team, wherever she’ll activity intimately pinch Alex Weinberger and Odetta Watkins. Mackintosh and Smith antecedently worked together successful Co-Productions. Smith is now 1 of 3 elder executives successful nan caller Drama & Comedy section who are presently reporting to Friedlander until a Head of nan portion is named.
In different org changes, Scott Farris and Max Taylor, who antecedently reported to King and Lieber, respectively, will now study to Fetter.
“This squad has built thing special, and these changes are rooted successful a genuine belief that a leaner, much focused building will let america to do our champion activity — for our customers, for our imaginative partners, and for each other,” Fetter said.
Here is his afloat memo:
Hi Team,
I want to return a infinitesimal to stock immoderate updates to our squad structure, and to admit nan group who person been cardinal to building what we person today. As we look ahead, we’re evolving nan Worldbuilding Series statement to run pinch a flatter, much streamlined building — 1 designed to alteration leaders who are nimble and versatile capable to move fluidly betwixt improvement and existent production. This is astir positioning nan squad to move pinch greater autonomy arsenic we proceed processing nan ambitious, world bid our audiences love.
With that, I person to stock that Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain will beryllium departing nan organization. I want to return a infinitesimal to convey them some for their difficult activity successful this organization. Matt and Adrienne person each been unthinkable partners and person fixed truthful overmuch to this team. Matt brought a chopped imagination to nan wholly owned improvement team, astir precocious pinch nan successful motorboat of 56 Days and nan upcoming series Carrie and Criminal. Similarly, Adrienne besides delivered on 56 Days and championed nan highly anticipated series Elle. I’m profoundly grateful for their contributions and nan attraction they brought to Prime Video each azygous day. Please subordinate maine successful wishing them some thing but nan champion successful what comes adjacent — I person nary uncertainty they’ll proceed to do awesome things.
Alongside these changes, I’m gladsome to stock a mates further updates:
Tom Lieber will beryllium expanding his scope, arsenic the Head of Creative Affairs, Worldbuilding. Tom will proceed to activity intimately connected nan titles he is on, and we are empowering nan remainder of nan squad to return nan lead connected nan individual projects. In doing so, Tom will attraction connected really caller technologies tin meaningfully support existent and early worldbuilding series.
Liz Mackintosh will beryllium transitioning to Kara Smith’s organization, wherever she’ll activity intimately pinch Alex Weinberger and Odetta Watkins to support nan Drama organization.
Scott Farris and Max Taylor will study straight to me.
Mark Ambrose and Andie Green will proceed to study to Tom.
This squad has built thing special, and these changes are rooted successful a genuine belief that a leaner, much focused building will let america to do our champion activity — for our customers, for our imaginative partners, and for each other. I’m proud of what you each person accomplished together and excited astir wherever we’re headed. Thank you for everything you bring to this team.
Blair
