US production stalwart Villains has formed a partnership with Savant Films.
The deal will see executive producers Joby Barnhart and Jamie Miller reunited with Villains, with which they worked as head of production West Coast and staff producer respectively until the company split from its partnership with Smuggler in 2005.
The pair left to start Savant in September 2005, and have built the roster to include directing collective Waytion, Eric Hillenbrand, Richard Carroll, Jimmy Diebold, Matt Carter and Jake Knowles. The company has worked on projects with TBWAChiatDay and Wexley School For Girls among others. Villains will take no financial share in Savant and the company will be a distinct entity within Villains.
"I think this is a move that makes sense for both parties," said Miller. "We have a long and productive history with Villains, of course, and they with us. As you may know, John Marshall has recently secured full ownership of Villains, bringing on-board Nancy Osborne as executive producer. We are able to offer our production experience and perspective, which we hope will be of use to them as they undergo their current metamorphosis. And, conversely, we feel that the stability of a well-established production partner will allow us to overcome certain hurdles we experience as a young company."
Villains owner John Marshall said that the arrangement echoed that which he made with Smuggler when it first opened. "Opening Savant was a natural step for Joby and Jamie as young guys building their own roster," Marshall said, "and in this situation we're bringing some good friends back into the fold. We're mutually supportive, they know what we're about, and I hope we can be of benefit to them."
