Snow Patrol
Siobhan Finnigan and Judith King have joined forces to launch new scripted production company, Witchery Pictures, it has been announced today.
Witchery Pictures is backed by All3Media and umbrella-ed by New Pictures, whose CEO Charlie Pattinson will co-exec Witchery Pictures’ shows in their early years.
Witchery Pictures’ first project is a rom-com musical set in 90s Dublin, with original music from multi-platinum selling band Snow Patrol and scripted by rising star Aoife Crehan.
Finnigan and King said of their first project: “We wanted to create a series with the same dry wit and warm heart as Irish classics The Commitments, or Once for a new generation – and the combination of Gary Lightbody’s iconic songwriting and Aoife’s utterly original voice has produced something that’s absolutely nostalgic and escapist yet unlike anything we’ve seen before.”
The duo met while working together at Red Planet Pictures, where they originated and won BBC and ITV script commissions for projects with Andrew Davies, James Dormer, David Harrower and Peter McKenna.
Previously, King headed development at Five Minutes Of Heaven producer Big Fish Films, whilst Finnigan worked at ITV Studios where she developed and script exec-ed shows including Andrew Davies’ Mr Selfridge and the second series of Peter Morgan’s The Jury.
Finnigan and King said of their new venture: “We are thrilled to be working with the stellar teams at All3Media and New Pictures, who hold unparalleled reputations in their fields.”
Jane Turton, All3Media Chief Executive Officer added: “Witchery Pictures is a perfect example of what All3Media is all about. We’re thrilled to welcome these creative, talented women to the group and excited to see what they will no doubt achieve under the expert guidance of Charlie and the New Pictures team.”