Buyer Database · Production Company · Updated
101 Studios
101 Studios is building a prestige TV portfolio through high-profile overall deals and collaborations, anchored by the Taylor Sheridan franchise and a new multiyear partnership with George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures.
Current mandate
101 Studios is actively expanding its prestige television footprint through overall deals and co-production partnerships that place projects with premium distributors and networks. The company's strategic identity is built around raw, unfiltered stories of resilience and redemption, with a particular appetite for memoir-based material and narratives with built-in audiences, including those drawn from bestselling books and popular podcasts. What distinguishes 101 is its ability to attach marquee creative partners and route projects to top-tier buyers: recent work lands at HBO, Showtime, and Paramount Network, not mid-tier cable. The company aligns with the broader industry trend of adapting proven IP with existing fan bases rather than developing from scratch.
On the production side, 101 Studios' TV portfolio includes the Taylor Sheridan hit dramas Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown. The company has teamed with Smokehouse Pictures on an upcoming docuseries about the Ohio State University athletic department abuse scandal, with HBO distributing. It is also producing The Department alongside MTV Entertainment Studios and Smokehouse Pictures, which received a straight-to-series order from Showtime. The multiyear overall television deal with Smokehouse TV, announced in February 2023, signals a sustained commitment to co-production as a primary development engine.
Writers and producers seeking access to 101 Studios should note the company's preference for projects that carry demonstrable audience proof points. Material rooted in true stories, with strong personal narratives and existing platform traction, is most aligned with the current mandate. The Smokehouse partnership suggests that projects with established creative attachments will receive the most direct consideration.
Signature peaks
- Multiyear Smokehouse Overall Deal — TV partnership with Clooney/Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures, announced Feb 2023
- HBO + Showtime Premium Distributor Access — Recent projects placed at HBO (OSU docuseries) and Showtime (The Department, straight-to-series)
- 12 Decision Makers Tracked — Active signals across tracked executives as of latest data pull
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Access through representation is the standard pathway. Literary agents and entertainment attorneys with existing relationships at 101 Studios or its creative partners, particularly Smokehouse Pictures, are the most direct route. Projects should arrive with strong IP foundations, including memoir adaptations, true stories, or content with documented audience traction from podcasts or bestselling books.
- Deal structure
- 101 Studios structures development through multiyear overall television deals with established creative partners, as demonstrated by the Smokehouse Pictures arrangement. Co-production with entities such as MTV Entertainment Studios is also part of the model. Budget terms on recent deals are not publicly disclosed. Projects are routed to premium buyers including HBO and Showtime, typically with straight-to-series or distribution commitments in place.
Recent productions and projects
-
Multiyear overall television deal with Smokehouse TV
-
Multiyear overall TV deal with Smokehouse TV
-
Ohio State University abuse scandal docuseries distribution
-
The Department (straight-to-series order)
-
TV deal with Smokehouse Pictures
Market context
"The quality of content coming out of Smokehouse is second to none and we are absolutely delighted they chose to make 101 their home." — David Glasser, CEO, 101 Studios
Aligns with industry trend of adapting popular memoirs and podcaster/influencer stories into film; leverages built-in audiences from successful podcasts and bestselling books
Common questions about 101 Studios
Does 101 Studios accept unsolicited scripts or pitches?
101 Studios does not have a publicized open-door policy for unsolicited submissions. The company's recent activity, anchored by overall deals with established partners like Smokehouse Pictures and collaborations tied to the Taylor Sheridan franchise, suggests development is primarily driven through existing relationships and attachments. Writers without representation or a prior relationship with the company should seek access through a literary agent or entertainment attorney before submitting material.
How does 101 Studios attach to and develop projects?
101 Studios develops through structured overall deals and co-production arrangements with established creative partners. The multiyear overall television deal with Smokehouse Pictures (George Clooney and Grant Heslov) is the clearest recent example: the company provides a production home and distribution infrastructure while the creative partner drives development. Projects are then routed to premium buyers. Material with strong existing IP, built-in audiences from memoirs or podcasts, and attachable talent is most consistent with this model.
What is 101 Studios currently producing?
101 Studios is currently producing The Department alongside MTV Entertainment Studios and Smokehouse Pictures, which received a straight-to-series order from Showtime. The company is also producing an upcoming docuseries about the Ohio State University athletic department abuse scandal in partnership with Smokehouse Pictures; HBO is set to distribute. These projects sit alongside an existing TV portfolio that includes the Taylor Sheridan hit dramas Yellowstone, 1923, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown.
Who leads 101 Studios and makes acquisition decisions?
David Glasser serves as CEO of 101 Studios and is the most publicly visible decision maker, having spoken on record about the Smokehouse Pictures overall deal. The company tracks 12 decision makers across its executive ranks according to recent data, though specific titles and acquisition roles below the CEO level are not detailed in available public reporting. For the most current executive roster, industry directories such as IMDbPro or the company's official communications are the recommended reference points.
How do you get a project to 101 Studios?
The most viable pathway to 101 Studios is through representation, specifically a literary agent or entertainment attorney with existing relationships at the company or with its creative partners, including Smokehouse Pictures. Given the company's mandate around memoir-based content and stories with built-in audiences, projects that arrive with proof of platform traction, such as a bestselling book, a popular podcast, or a high-profile true story, are most likely to generate interest. Cold outreach is not a documented pathway.
Is 101 Studios actively acquiring new projects right now?
Activity metrics show 23 total records in the past 12 months, with the latest signal recorded in March 2026, indicating the company remains active in the market. Unique deal activity in the most recent 30- and 90-day windows registers at zero in current tracking data, which may reflect a consolidation period following the Smokehouse overall deal rather than a pause in development. The straight-to-series order for The Department and the upcoming HBO docuseries confirm active production commitments are in place.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Hello Sunshine — Hello Sunshine is a scripted-focused production company navigating a structural reset, shedding its
- Chernin Entertainment — Chernin Entertainment is actively producing seven films simultaneously across Netflix, Apple TV+, A2
- LuckyChap — LuckyChap is scaling its creator-driven production model into the U.K. and Europe through LuckyChap
- Federation Studios — Federation Studios is a Paris-based production and distribution group actively seeking a major capit
Related reading
Match your script to 101 Studios
This is a public snapshot of 101 Studios, kept current from trade-press signals. Inside ScriptMatch, upload your script to see whether 101 Studios fits, why, and exactly how to reach them. Start a free 7-day trial or try the free buyer-match tool.