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Vertical/microseries studio and platform aTwist, founded by TV vets Jana Winograde, Susan Rovner and Lloyd Braun, launched Thursday with a slate of scripted, unscripted and animation originals. As previously announced, the new company is launching with a wide range of genres — including comedy, drama, horror and romance — from producers like “The Bold and the Beautiful’s” Bradley Bell, as well as partnerships with programmers like BET and Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat shingle.
“I feel like we’re really well positioned to create a completely different business and consumer proposition,” Winograde, who serves as aTwist chief executive officer, recently told Variety.
Added chief creative officer Rovner: “We’re doing horror, we’re doing a musical, we’re doing thrillers, we’re doing a lot of different things. I think the thing that we’re finding, regardless of genre, is structure. The need to keep people engaged, the need to feel that pace, the need to really hook people in.”
Countries at launch include Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Philippines, United Kingdom and United States. The aTwist fare can be found at aTwist.com, as well as via its app, available for download across all major app stores. Microseries will launch new programs on Thursdays; users can watch episodes for free with ads, or view full seasons via coins or a subscription.
Here is the initial aTwist slate, with loglines:
“Buried Alive, Back For Revenge” (Scripted): “A blind heiress, buried alive by her husband and best friend on her wedding day, claws her way out of her grave to reclaim her company and destroy those who betrayed her.” Cast: Nicole Mattox, Nick Ritacco, Molly Anderson, Eric Guilmette, Jon Briddell.
“Cash Out” (Unscripted): “A heartbroken woman and her two best friends are gifted $50,000 to spend on experiences in Las Vegas in under 24 hours. Roadblocks crop up, her ex returns, chaos ensues. The Hangover meets Bridesmaids.” Cast: Violet Benson, Kristen Ochoa, Jaden Ashley, Christa Texeira.
“Hollywood Starlet” (Scripted): “Overlooked cleaner Starlet supports her abusive sister and mother until her acting talents are finally recognized by famous actor Jack as he falls for her and helps her kickstart her Hollywood career — all filmed on ‘The Bold & The Beautiful’ sets and back lot of Sunset Studios.” Producer: Bradley Bell. Cast: Bella Mraz, Eric Guilmette, Molly Anderson.
“I Fell in Love with a Dragon Prince” (Animation): “Abandoned and enslaved, when Sylvia meets and heals the injured Kiel, heir to the Sky Kingdom, their quests merge — will he regain his crown and she, her freedom? And are they meant for each other?” Cast: Jayme Mantos, Ted Evans, Cornelius Mohr, Kristen DiMercurio.
“I Swiped Right on a Serial Killer” (Scripted): “A pediatrician goes looking for love on the apps, but has no idea when she falls for a manipulator with a master plan to wife her, who’s willing to kill anyone who gets in his way.” Cast: Mariah Moss, Shayne Davis, Addison Bowman, Ali Badalov, Nick Ritacco.
“My Billionaire Kidney” (Scripted): “In this rollicking vertical spoof, a down-on-her-luck Cinderella-type becomes a pawn to her evil aunt and uncle and multiple absurdly powerful men as they fight for her kidney. Will she finally find a way to control the chaos and choose herself?” Producer: Jonathan Stern (Abominable Pictures). Cast: Hannah Pilkes, Nate Smith, Brandon Micheal Hall, Erinn Hayes, Steve Agee, Peter S. Kim.
“My Book Boyfriend Came To Life” (Scripted): “A love-averse librarian accidentally summons a romance novel hero into the real world to help her save her library.” Cast: Bella Grace Mraz, Cayman David Cardiff, Eric Ruof, Shannon Foster, Rebecca Ritz.
“Pretty Hurts And So Do I” (Scripted): “A bullied high school girl is hit by a bus, gets a major glow-up, and comes back for revenge on the mean girls who wronged her.” Cast: Kim Sandwich, Jake Ryan Nuttall, Caroline Abigail Rich, Shahadah Keyonna Abdullah.
“Something Is Alive In My Attic” (Scripted): “A woman returns home to her estranged, ailing mother to discover that something evil is alive in the attic.” Cast: Moriah N. Boone, Suzie Haines, Richard Trotter, Charing Draper, Triana Brown.
“Strangers, A Plane And A Deadly Game” (Scripted): “Two women on a plane joke about committing murder, but when one takes action, the other is drawn into a chaotic, deadly spiral — will there be any survivors?” Cast: Grace Swanson, Monaye Moyes, Sean McHugh, Madeleine Barnette, Myron Donley.
The Hartbeat deal will include serving as its exclusive home for original microseries, including LOL comedy and adaptations of Blake Karrington’s book series. The BET partnership includes developing and distributing projects. The pact with National CineMedia brings microseries to movie theater audiences.
Other upcoming projects include the musical microseries “Theater Kids vs. Zombies” from Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, along with choreographer Jamal Sims and songwriter Shane McAnally.
“One of the most surprising things has been sort of how many people have reached out from every aspect of the business,” Winograde said.” Everyone from Broadway musicals to huge recording artists to actors and actresses and directors and filmmakers, everybody is microseries curious.”
Said Rovner: “In anything, if something seems to be working, there’s going to be big competition, and everyone’s going to try to get their foot in the door. Some people will survive, and some people won’t. And I think ultimately, it comes down to content.”
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