Entropico, the creative studio known for Netflixโs โONEFOUR: Against All Oddsโ (2023), as well as advertising and entertainment storytelling with Google and YouTube, has appointed Sele Leota as a full-time sr. creative producer. Sele joins the team after freelancing with Entropico for nearly a year.
Leota boasts a rich background in unscripted television and audio storytelling. His initial roles at Bunim-Murray Productions saw him contributing to acclaimed series such as MTVโs โThe Real World,โ Lifetime Television Networkโs โProject Runway,โ and E! Televisionโs โKeeping Up with the Kardashians,โ including its numerous spin-offs. From 2016 to 2021, Leota served as one of the principal storytellers and key producers for โKeeping Up with the Kardashians,โ overseeing the showโs creative and narrative direction and collaborating with both the talent and the network to shape its narrative across multiple seasons.
In addition to his television work, Leota has achieved significant advances in the field of audio storytelling. He co-executive produced โBeing Transโ and โBeing Golden,โ two of Lemonada Mediaโs groundbreaking audio reality podcast series that won three Webby Awards in 2023. Collaborating with the cast and network, he developed the seriesโ narrative structure from pre-production to postproduction as lead creative on these projects.
Leota brings to Entropico exceptional storytelling prowess and a keen ability to manage both the artistic and operational facets of production. His versatility and creative talent are further evidenced by his leadership in postproduction for Netflixโs โComing Out Coltonโ at 3/Ball Jeff Jenkins Productions.
Harry Hunter, founder of Entropico, said, โSeleโs exceptional creative vision and operational acumen perfectly align with our commitment to producing innovative and engaging content. His extensive background in entertainment, combined with our expertise in crafting compelling advertising, creates a powerful synergy. We are excited about the potential this partnership holds for our clients and our team, and we look forward to achieving new heights together.โ
Christian Polsinelli, head of alternative & experiential at Entropico, said of Leota, โHis creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit is inspiring and invaluable as we continue to elevate our work and grow our originals slate.โ
Leota stated, โIโm a storyteller at heart and throughout my career have always tried to pursue projects that push my abilities as a creative producer. Iโm excited for the opportunity to contribute my experience to all that Entropico takes on in the future, but also for the chance to challenge myself through new and different types of projects.โ
Entropicoโs recent notable works include YouTubeโs โA Drag Adventure Story,โ starring performers and creators Trixie Mattel and Juno Birch; โEnter the Realm,โ a celebration of YouTubeโs Tabletop Roleplaying Games Community; and a suite of branding and video assets for Google Marketing Live. Entropico has also won a Webby for its work on โYouTube Game On: An Interactive Livestream Experience,โ and a Telly for its work on the main titles of โThe Clearingโ for Disney+/Hulu. Currently, the team is working on assorted projects including more films celebrating YouTubeโs communities, and a slew of original content.
CNN Films acquires Matt Tyrnauer’s “Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid”
CNN Films has acquired Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid, ahead of its world premiere at the 51st annual Telluride Film Festival. From director Matt Tyrnauer, the film chronicles 18 tumultuous months inside the 2024 election from the distinctive vantage point of one of the most influential, charismatic, and combative voices in the Democratic Party: James Carville. Produced by Altimeter Films, the film is set to release in theaters in the fall and will premiere Saturday, October 5, at 7pm ET on CNN.
โJames Carville redefined the art of political consulting and has retained household name status since teaching the Democrats how to win again in the 1990โs,โ said Tyrnauer. โWhile shooting this cinema veritรฉ film, he also emerged as a powerful change agent in the 2024 election, wielding his unique influence to upend the partyโs nomination process. We are thrilled that CNN Films is as excited as we are to share the story of this American original with audiences--we canโt think of a better partner.โ
โMatt artfully crafts the rich story behind James Carvilleโs humble beginnings in Louisiana to finding success after forty, revealing how he became one of the most significant forces in modern politics,โ said Amy Entelis, executive VP of talent, CNN Originals and creative development for CNN Worldwide. โBut the surprising heart of the film is Jamesโ marriage to Republican strategist Mary Matalin. CNN Films is proud to bring audiences this unlikely love story which offers a glimmer of hope in our highly polarized times.โ
Political luminaries including Bill Clinton, Al Hunt, Donna Brazile, George Stephanopoulos, Paul Begala, Mandy Grunwald, Reverend Al Sharpton, Mitch Landrieu, and Sidney Blumenthal trace the story... Read More