LOS ANGELES – July 17, 2018 – Global independent studio Entertainment One (eOne)today announced a first-look deal renewal with renowned filmmaker, producer and show creator Datari Turner under his Datari Turner Productions banner. Building from the 2016 initial partnership which saw success with titles such as the hit WEtv series Growing Up Hip Hop and Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta, Turner will continue to create, produce and develop original programming.
“Datari has been an incredible partner to work with. Growing Up Hip Hop has turned into a successful franchise and both series have connected with audiences and found record ratings on WEtv. We are pleased to expand our relationship with Datari and continue the success we have fostered together,” said Tara Long, eOne’s EVP, Alternative Programming, Television.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to be able to continue and expand on the successful partnership that Datari Turner Productions has had with Entertainment One.” said Turner. “Tara Long, and the entire eOne team have been amazing partners. I’m excited about our current slate of new projects and to continue to produce more entertaining and ground-breaking content.”
Turner has produced over 200 hours of original programming for networks such as WEtv, BET, TvOne, Starz, Showtime, and Oxygen. Growing Up Hip-Hop is currently airing its forth season staring Angela Simmons and Romeo Miller, and ratings-hit Growing Up Hip-Hop Atlanta staring Bow Wow recently wrapped production on season two. Datari serves as Creator and Executive Producer for both series. With 20 years in the entertainment business, in addition to his work in television, Turner has produced almost 30 feature films, making him one of the busiest independent producers in the industry.
eOne’s Alternative Programming slate of successful series include the recently premiered Death Row Chronicles for BET; 2017 Emmy® nominee for LA Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later; Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G., the first biography to be authorized by the rapper’s estate for A&E; hit-series Ex on the Beach and Siesta Key for MTV; The Hollywood Puppet Sh!t Show from executive producer Wilmer Valderrama for Fuse; America Says with host John Michael Higgins on GSN; and Mary Mary for WEtv.
Turner will continue to work from his Los Angeles-based production office.
ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT ONE
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a global independent studio that specialises in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company’s diversified expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Through its global reach and expansive scale, powered by deep local market knowledge, the Company delivers the best content to the world.
Entertainment One’s robust network includes newly-launched MAKEREADY with Brad Weston; content creation venture Amblin Partners with Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; leading feature film production and global sales company Sierra Pictures; unscripted television production company Renegade 83; world-class music labels Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning digital agency Secret Location.
The Company’s rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 80,000 hours of film and television content and approximately 40,000 music tracks.
ABOUT DATARI TURNER PRODUCTIONS
Datari Turner Productions is a California-based Film and Television production company founded by Datari Turner in 2010. Follow @datariturner on Instagram and Twitter for more information.
ABOUT DATARI TURNER
One of the most prolific independent producers in film and television, Datari Turner is crafting a career like no other. As founder of Datari Turner Productions in 2010, he has produced 30 feature films, including six (6) films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: A Boy. A Girl. A Dream(2018); Gook (winner of the NEXT Audience Award in 2017), Ten Thousand Saints (2015), Luv (2012), Another Happy Day (2011) and Salvation Boulevard (2011). All told, his films have earned 98 festival award nominations.
Datari has worked with 4 Academy Award winners (Jennifer Connolly, Common, Marisa Tomei and Ellen Burstyn) and 13 Academy Award nominees, including Ethan Hawke, James Franco, and Ruby Dee.Possessing a keen eye for talent, Turner gave actors Ryan Destiny (“Star”) and Michael Rainey Jr (“Power”) their big screen debuts and cast rapper Common in his first lead film role (Luv).
On the television side, Datari has produced 100 hours of original programming for networks such as WE tv, BET, TV One, Starz and Oxygen. Datari is creator of the hit WE tv franchise “Growing Up Hip Hop,” currently in its 4th season and the network’s highest-rated program.
In 2015, Datari signed a first-look deal with CodeBlack/Lionsgate Films. In 2016, he signed a first-look deal with with Entertainment One to produce original, unscripted programming for the studio. He is currently executive producing a new Showtime series about the NBA Draft with Lebron James.
A native of Oakland, CA, Datari attended the University of Oklahoma on a full football scholarship and later became a model for top brands such as Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger and Sean John. An alum of the ABC/Disney program, Datari resides in Beverly Hills and sits on the board of The Blackhouse Foundation. He is repped by CAA.
