Indie film distributor Ryan Krivoshey of Grasshopper Films will team on a new venture with brand strategist Andy Marks and his eponymous consulting agency.
Krivoshey and Marks, along with Grasshopper Global’s Beata Gutman, will form Grasshopper+Marks, an indie studio that will bring filmmakers and artists together with brands to create issue-based projects.
“When connecting content creators with brands and causes, to produce branded entertainment … everyone wins,” said Marks in a statement, adding that the company’s “emphasis is on quality storytelling and artistry to profoundly move audiences.”
The new company is currently in production on a feature length documentary that it will take on the festival circuit in 2017. Future projects will be developed with nonprofits, foundations and movements.
“What we are looking to do is tell stories in a way that hasn’t been done before,” added Krivoshey. “The aim is to produce work that pushes against itself, work as concerned about artistry as it is about impact, work that resonates across genres, platforms and borders. I can’t think of a more necessary time for such an endeavor.”
As a distribution engine, Grasshopper Films will still handle releases across all platforms.