As a seasoned storyteller with a knack for unraveling tales of drama, comedy, and everything in between, I find myself captivated by the journey of Jillian Moorewood (Henson). Her life is a testament to resilience, a rollercoaster ride from a meet-cute-gone-wrong marriage to finding her footing amidst familial deception. Having spent years immersed in narratives that span the spectrum of human experience, I can’t help but empathize with Jillian’s plight.
As a long-time fan of comedy and a resident of Los Angeles, I can attest that Tuesday mornings in late July are particularly lively in the city’s Canoga Park neighborhood. The energy is palpable when you pass by a massive warehouse transformed into a production facility. On this specific day, it’s buzzing with the infectious laughter and camaraderie of none other than Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson, as they collaborate on discussions about the Summer Olympics. Just across the building, the deep, booming voice of Earthquake can be heard recording a podcast. The hustle and bustle outside this building, along with two others in the vicinity and another in West Hollywood, are a testament to the relentless work ethic and creativity of Hartbeat Entertainment’s teams.
You might not be aware that aside from being a popular comedian and movie star in films like “Ride Along,” “Central Intelligence,” and the newly released “Borderlands,” Kevin Hart is also making a name for himself as a production mastermind. In fact, this year, he has produced Netflix’s special event “The Roast of Tom Brady,” brought back “Comic View” on BET, and released various projects such as the action-thriller “Lift,” the comedy flick “Prom Dates,” and the documentary “Group Therapy.” Additionally, his production company, Hartbeat, is growing its podcast family with new shows from Punkie Johnson, Yamaneika Saunders, and others.
Regarding my career, I’m quite content with my accomplishments so far, but the idea of becoming even more famous isn’t on the table for me, Hart explains during a pause from filming the Olympics program. “In terms of increasing my fame, I believe this is as big as it gets. Instead, the goal is to establish something substantial – content we hope will be timeless and relevant in 20 years. The focus isn’t about me as a celebrity; rather, it’s about creating valuable intellectual property. If we can achieve that, then I’ll be at my happiest career point because building a business is challenging, but creating a successful one is even more so.”
Hartbeat, which emerged from the 2022 merger of Laugh Out Loud and Hartbeat Prods, has garnered $100 million in investments from firms like Peacock. This multitalented entity’s talk show “Hart to Heart” is currently airing its fourth season on Peacock, while the “Olympics Highlights Show” with Thompson is also being broadcast. Hartbeat has around five to six more projects in various stages of development at this streaming platform.
Preparing for an exciting turn of events, I’m ready to step into the spotlight for “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” a gripping period drama unfolding against the backdrop of Atlanta during Muhammad Ali’s legendary 1970 comeback fight. This enthralling Peacock series, premiering on September 5, brings together an extraordinary ensemble cast including myself, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, and Terrence Howard.
Hart explains, “This is the kind of venture our company aims to undertake. Frankly, ‘Fight Night’ is going to astonish everyone, leaving them craving for more. It’s not only the concept of ‘Fight Night’ that will leave them yearning, but also us as a company.”
EbMaster has discovered some aspects of the “additional” elements. The business is expanding its partnership with Henson to produce “Moorewood Family Rules,” a project inspired by HelenKay Dimon’s novel. Justin Simien (“Dear White People”) will direct and serve as an executive producer, while Henson is slated to star in this production, which is described as an “elevated, subversive family drama with a comedic edge.”
“A Con Artist’s Daughter: Breaking Free”
Bryan Smiley, President and Head of Content at Hartbeat (seen above with Hart), expressed that “Comedy will continue to be part of who we are. However, it’s not just about comedy anymore. In the future, you’ll notice us focusing more on culturally diverse shows aimed at a wide audience, mirroring the quality of stories we aim to share.”
In an unrehearsed context, Hartbeat, known for documentaries like the psychological journey “Group Therapy” (premiered at the Tribeca Festival), is collaborating with director Adam Bhala Lough (“Telemarketers”) on a docuseries delving into artificial intelligence. The series, inspired by New York Magazine’s reporting, will be financed entirely by Hartbeat and co-produced with Vox Media Studios.
According to the tagline of the project, this film aims to provide a humorous examination of AI’s potential and boundaries, posing the thought-provoking question: Are we nearing the end of human existence as we currently understand it? The production will be handled by Hartbeat, with Hart, Smiley, and Luke Kelly-Clyne at the helm. Meanwhile, Vox Media Studios will have Scoop Wasserstein, Dana J. Olkkonen, Mark W. Olsen, and Elizabeth Weil as executive producers.
As someone who has spent a significant amount of time working in the entertainment industry, I can attest to the fact that the perception of a production company like Hartbeat being solely focused on projects featuring its founder is often misleading. In my experience, many production companies, including Hartbeat, are constantly evolving and expanding their repertoire beyond just showcasing the founder. It’s fascinating to see that 85% of the projects in development at Hartbeat don’t have their founder in front of the camera. This trend suggests a forward-thinking approach to storytelling and content creation, which is crucial for staying relevant in today’s dynamic media landscape.
“Kevin’s presence in anything guarantees a quicker pace, as major buyers recognize his star influence. However, the main focus of Hartbeat, our brand, media company, and studio, will not be solely on Kevin Hart in the future. Instead, we are dedicated to nurturing emerging talents, whether they excel in comedy, writing, or filmmaking, across various formats. Our development teams are concentrating on this very aspect.”
Hartbeat offers diverse partnerships, such as collaborations on unscripted content for Peacock, a first-look feature film agreement with Netflix (currently working on the third of four movies together), a radio and podcast collaboration with SiriusXM, and a joint venture in audiobook production with Charlemagne tha God at Audible. Additionally, Hartbeat manages a FAST channel business.
Coming soon is the “Hartbeat Weekend” annual event taking place during Labor Day weekend at Resorts World in Las Vegas. This year’s lineup includes comedians like Hart, along with musical artists such as Lil Wayne and Ludacris. During this event, Hartbeat plans to film multiple comedy specials and showcase various audio and TV projects.
As someone who has spent decades in the entertainment industry, I can confidently say that we have achieved some remarkable feats in the past. However, I am beginning to question whether the market is still yearning for those same offerings. What I sense from our audience today is a demand for high-quality content, such as what we produced with “Fight Night.”
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2024-08-07 21:49