# MWM (entertainment company)

MWM (formerly known as Madison Wells Media) is an American diversified entertainment company. Founded by Gigi Pritzker and Clint Kisker in 2015, MWM produces film, television, live theater, podcasts, and interactive experiences.

## History

Pritzker sought to "take advantage of a landscape that was rapidly changing and valuing 'content' in new ways," to "focus on storytellers in a way content never has before." MWM intended to create films, theater productions, and VR experiences under one umbrella to "expand and grow the IP that was born in any one of those units" through cross-pollination. Named after Madison and Wells Streets in Chicago, where Pritzker's great-grandfather sold newspapers when he was 12, MWM launched in November 2015.
At the time of its founding, MWM operated under the banners of OddLot Entertainment (film and television), Reality One (interactive), and Relevant Live (theater). In 2017, to streamline its operations and increase flexibility across its multiple platforms, the divisions were brought together, and Reality One and Relevant Live were rebranded respectively as MWM Interactive and MWM Live. In November 2017, Oddlot was renamed MWM Studios. MWM Universe, an IP-focused division of MWM that acquires and develops properties across media including film, TV, gaming, comics and books, was established in 2018 when they partnered with Chicago-based artist Hebru Brantley and his Angry Hero Productions to create fully immersive storyworlds.

## MWM Studios

MWM Studios, a division of MWM, teams with storytellers to produce feature films and television programming and develops, finances and arranges global distribution for its original content. The studio, led by Rachel Shane, CCO, and COO Adrian Alperovich, has produced films such as the Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated Hell or High Water and the Emmy Award-winning television series Genius. Its adaptation of Jonathan Lethem's Motherless Brooklyn (written by, directed, and starring Edward Norton) was released in November, 2019.

### Filmography

Motherless Brooklyn 21 Bridges My Spy
Hell or High Water Drive Genius: Picasso
Landline
Genius: Einstein
Ender's Game
Rosewater
Rabbit Hole
The Way, Way Back
Genius: Aretha
The Eyes of Tammy Faye

## MWM Universe

Established in 2018, the IP-focused division of the company, MWM Universe, acquires IP and builds out franchisable story worlds, acts as a strategic partner to MWM investment companies including Wonderstorm.

### Projects

Voyage To The Stars The Dragon Prince Nevermore Park

## MWM Interactive

The interactive division, previously known as MWM Immersive, created and published video games and produces virtual reality experiences. MWM announced its expansion into video game publishing on September 4, 2019 and closed its doors on June 28, 2022.

### VR Projects

War Remains
Chained: A Victorian Nightmare Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son
SoKrispy Daydreams

### Game Titles

Creature in the Well
Mundaun

## MWM Live

MWM Live is the live global entertainment division of MWM. It is led by executive producer Jamie Forshaw, formerly the VP of Production for Andrew Lloyd Weber's Really Useful Group. MWM Live has developed and produced projects such as the Broadway musical, Hadestown, and Million Dollar Quartet, which inspired the CMT series Sun Records.

### Plays and musicals

Hadestown The Inheritance
Million Dollar Quartet
Company (2021 revival) Red Roses, Green Gold
Snapshots

## Selected awards and nominations
### Academy Awards

| Title and year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Picture | Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn | Nominated |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Supporting Actor | Jeff Bridges | Nominated |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Original Screenplay | Taylor Sheridan | Nominated |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Film Editing | Jake Roberts | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Sound Editing | Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis | Nominated |
| Rabbit Hole 2010 | Best Actress | Nicole Kidman | Nominated |

### British Academy Film Awards

| Title and year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Jeff Bridges | Nominated |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Original Screenplay | Taylor Sheridan | Nominated |
| Hell or High Water 2017 | Best Cinematography | Giles Nuttgens | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Film | Drive | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Director | Nicolas Winding Refn | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Supporting Actress | Carey Mulligan | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Editing | Matthew Newman | Nominated |

### Emmy Awards

| Title and year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
| Genius 2018 | Outstanding Limited Series | Genius: Picasso | Nominated |
| Genius 2018 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Antonio Banderas | Nominated |
| Genius 2018 | Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie | Mathias Herndl (for "Chapter One") | Won |
| Genius 2017 | Outstanding Limited Series | Genius: Picasso | Nominated |
| Genius 2017 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Geoffrey Rush | Nominated |
| Genius 2017 | Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special | Ron Howard | Nominated |

### Golden Globe Awards

| Title and year | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result |
| Motherless Brooklyn 2019 | Best Soundtrack for a Motion Picture | n/a | Nominated |
| Genius: Picasso 2018 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Antonio Banderas | Nominated |
| Genius: Picasso 2017 | Best Actor Miniseries or Television Film | Geoffrey Rush | Nominated |
| Hell or High Water 2016 | Best Screenplay | Taylor Sheridan | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Albert Brooks | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Director | Nicolas Winding Refn | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Hossein Amini | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Cinematography | Newton Thomas Sigel | Nominated |
| Drive 2012 | Best Original Score | Cliff Martinez | Nominated |