Independent film production and distribution company, Cold Iron Pictures/The Film Arcade along with The Money Pool, are expanding to include television production. Their first venture will be Kit Williamson’s dark comedy series UNCONVENTIONAL, the follow up to his Emmy nominated series “EastSiders,” which premiered its fourth and final season on Netflix in December. Developed at the Sundance Lab, the first season of UNCONVENTIONAL has received a straight to series order of 9 half-hour episodes, with a writer’s room scheduled to start in June 2020 for production this fall. Williamson is attached to write, direct and star. The announcement comes today from CEO and Founder of Cold Iron Pictures/The Film Arcade, Miranda Bailey and Chris Miller, CEO of The Money Pool.
Written by Williamson, UNCONVENTIONAL is a dark comedy about two eccentric, queer siblings: Noah, gay and Margot, a lesbian, and their significant others trying to start an unconventional family while navigating their thirties, trying to come to terms with their professional limitations in a screwed up economy, trying to stay sane in a screwed up world and, most importantly, trying to hold on to the bond they share.
A unique voice in the LGBTQ entertainment space, Williamson is the creator, director and star of the LGBTQ series “EastSiders,” which most recently garnered eight Emmy nominations including Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series and Outstanding Writing. Throughout the series run, Williamson has received 6 Emmy nominations. This past May, HBO Max announced that Williamson is attached to write a feature film based on L.C. Rosen’s young adult novel Camp, produced by Dan Jinks (American Beauty, Milk). He is an alumnus of the Sundance Lab and has written projects for CBS, Legendary Television and MTV Studios. As an actor, he began his career on Broadway in the Tony-nominated revival of Talk Radio and played Ed Gifford on the final two seasons of Mad Men.
Williamson is represented by Buchwald and More/Medavoy.
“I’m beyond excited to partner with Cold Iron Pictures/The Film Arcade and The Money Pool to bring this unapologetically queer story to life, and to embrace the bold, unconventional spirit of independent television.”
“As longtime fans of Kit Williamson’s unique style and voice we are thrilled to have UNCONVENTIONAL be our first foray into television,” stated Bailey.
“We’re so excited to work with Kit on his second television series, where he will undoubtedly bring these complex, flawed, relatable 30-somethings to life,” added Jason Beck, Partner, The Film Arcade.
“We are thrilled to support an authentic storyteller like Kit Williamson. UNCONVENTIONAL and its lovable, dark, dysfunctional, 30 somethings will be a treat for all to watch,” added Chris Miller, The Money Pool.
UNCONVENTIONAL will be co-financed by Cold Iron Pictures/The Film Arcade and The Money Pool. Miranda Bailey and Amanda Marshall are executive producers for Cold Iron Pictures and Jason Beck is executive producer for The Film Arcade. Chris Miller and Shen of The Money Pool and Erwin More from More/Medavoy are also executive producers on the series.
Cold Iron Pictures and The Money Pool will produce the series. Worldwide sales are being handled by ICM Partners and More/Medavoy.
Cold Iron Pictures most recently started production on God’s Country starring Thandie Newton. The Film Arcade produced the Sundance 2019 documentary hit, The Amazing Johnathan, acquired by Hulu.