or


[06/09/22 - 11:32 AM]
Academy Award Winner Octavia Spencer's Orit Entertainment Partners with ID and Discovery+ and October Films in An Expansive Production and Development Deal for Premium Unscripted True Crime Content
Production on the deal's first two projects is underway, with additional titles in development.

[via press release from Investigation Discovery]

ACADEMY AWARD (R) WINNER OCTAVIA SPENCER'S ORIT ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH ID AND DISCOVERY+ AND OCTOBER FILMS IN AN EXPANSIVE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT DEAL FOR PREMIUM UNSCRIPTED TRUE CRIME CONTENT

Orit Entertainment and October Films to Produce Multiple Series and Specials for ID and discovery+ with Spencer to Executive Produce

(New York, NY) - ID, the leading true crime and justice network, and discovery+ announced today an expansive partnership and dedicated development deal with acclaimed Academy Award (R) winning actress and producer Octavia Spencer and her production company, Orit Entertainment, and leading producer October Films to develop and produce multiple projects for ID and discovery+, with Spencer set to executive produce. Production on the deal's first two projects is underway, with additional titles in development. The first title announced under the agreement is HIGHWAY 20 (wt).

"As an avid fan of true crime, to now be partners with ID and October Films is a dream," said Octavia Spencer. "Everyone at Orit Entertainment is committed to shedding light on the most fascinating cases and crime stories with a unique perspective. We are thrilled to launch our collaboration with HIGHWAY 20 (wt), an incredible series of cases that took place over decades, only recently connected into a larger story - and this is just the beginning."

"Octavia is a creative force who brings a level of unparalleled curiosity and honesty to every story she tells. Upon learning that she and her amazing team at Orit share a deep passion for crime and investigative content, and had joined forces with our trusted partners at October, we knew this was a relationship we wanted to invest heavily in," said Jason Sarlanis, President of Crime and Investigative Content, Linear and Streaming. "This unique collaboration brings together one of the best production entities in the business, a superstar talent who also happens to be a super-fan with Octavia and Orit, and the biggest brand dedicated to the true crime genre. HIGHWAY 20 is an incredible event series and exemplifies the powerful stories we look forward to telling through this amazing partnership."

HIGHWAY 20 (3x60 wt), begins with the case of a missing 13-year-old girl and spirals into a decades long true crime odyssey. Inspired by the award-winning work of journalist Noelle Crombie, videographer Dave Killen and photojournalist Beth Nakamura of The Oregonian, and directed by Arianna Lapenne, the series unpacks the dark secrets of a ghostly stretch of Oregon's US Highway 20, where many women and girls went missing, were raped or murdered from the 1970s to the 1990s. As the discovery of numerous unsolved crimes sparks fear in the local community, attention focuses on the possibility that a serial killer has been roaming the highway for decades. Asking poignant questions of our society's treatment of women - then and now - HIGHWAY 20 delivers a gripping, unfolding documentary event.

Matt Robins, Creative Director October Films added: "We're delighted to bring a blossoming creative partnership to such a fantastic platform. Octavia and Orit's passion for telling true crime stories in a fresh and illuminating way was abundantly clear from our very first conversation. The Warner Bros. Discovery group has encouraged and enabled us to think big as we build a blockbuster slate of premium documentary series. To begin that journey with the remarkable HIGHWAY 20 is a rare and meaningful opportunity."

Octavia Spencer executive produces HIGHWAY 20. Additional executive producers are Orit Entertainment's Brian Clisham and Stephanie Kluft, October Films' Gillian Pachter and Matt Robins, Advance Originals' Marsha Oglesby, Circle of Confusion's Susan Solomon and ID's Lorna Thomas.

About ORIT

In 2019, Octavia Spencer launched her production company, ORIT Entertainment which she runs with partner and producer Brian Clisham and Head of Production and Development Stephanie Kluft. Projects under the ORIT Entertainment banner include Truth Be Told for Apple, Self-Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker (produced with LeBron James and SpringHill Ent) for Netflix (for which Spencer also received her first Emmy nomination) and their award winning documentary short, Right to Try. ORIT currently has a three-year overall deal with ABC Signature.

About OCTOBER

October is one of the most prestigious and respected brands in the documentary sector. A transatlantic and fully independent company, October operates from offices in London, Los Angeles and New York and owns a burgeoning regional studio facility in the UK. October has won over 100 awards for its work including Emmy, Prix Italia and BAFTA. Recent and notable productions include Beanie Mania for HBO Max, Diana for CNN Originals, First Ladies for CNN Originals and Getaway Driver for discovery+.

About INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY

Investigation Discovery (ID) is the leading crime and justice network on television, delivering the highest-quality programming to approximately 80 million U.S. households. Viewers can enjoy their favorite shows anytime, anywhere on discovery+, the definitive non-fiction, real-life subscription streaming service. ID's true crime programming is also available via the network's aggregated TV Everywhere offering, IDGO, where fans can access thousands of episodes from the Discovery family of networks. For exclusive web content and bonus material, fans can follow ID on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or check out the network's true crime blog, CrimeFeed. ID is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a leading global media and entertainment company available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others.





  [june 2022]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· LOST WOMEN OF HIGHWAY 20 (ID)





[02/20/25 - 01:22 PM]
Lifetime Announces Two New Original Movies for This Spring
Look for "Taken at a Basketball Game," starring D.B. Woodside and Claire Qute, on March 15; followed by "Wife Stalker," starring Keshia Knight Pulliam, on March 29.

[02/20/25 - 01:01 PM]
Leighton Meester to Guest Star in "Nobody Wants This" Season 2
She'll be playing Kristen Bell's middle school nemesis who Joanne crosses paths with as an adult.

[02/20/25 - 12:30 PM]
Hulu Renews Hit Drama Series "Paradise," from Dan Fogelman and Starring Sterling K. Brown, for a Second Season
Following the season one finale on Hulu on March 4, "Paradise" will air a full first season run on ABC beginning Monday, April 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

[02/20/25 - 12:00 PM]
Feature Documentary on Popular Dutch Actor Rutger Hauer "Like Tears in Rain" Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, March 13, 2025 on Viaplay
Through private, never-before-seen footage and candid interviews with family, friends and colleagues, his goddaughter Sanna Fabery de Jonge uncovers his intimate world in the revealing, acclaimed documentary.

[02/20/25 - 12:00 PM]
CBS Renews Nine Additional Series for the 2025-2026 Season
Additionally, the network has ordered two more seasons of hit comedy "Ghosts," taking the series through the 2026-2027 season.

[02/20/25 - 11:30 AM]
Presenters Announced for the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
The only awards show for actors, by actors, the SAG Awards will feature a star-studded lineup of presenters, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who will present the SAG Life Achievement Award to two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, author, and activist, Jane Fonda.

[02/20/25 - 11:00 AM]
What's New on Max This March
This March, stream March Madness live from the opening tip-off of the First Four all the way to the Elite 8.

[02/20/25 - 11:00 AM]
Prime Video Unveils First-Look Images and Release Date for Devilish New Series "The Bondsman," Starring Kevin Bacon
All eight episodes will be available on April 3, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[02/20/25 - 10:11 AM]
Omar Sy to Star in a High-Octane Series Set in the "Extraction" Universe at Netflix
Executive produced by The Russo Brothers and Sam Hargrave, the series follows a mercenary as he navigates a dangerous mission to rescue hostages in Libya and finds himself trapped between warring factions and ruthless killers.

[02/20/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "The Righteous Gemstones" Season 4 - Official Trailer - Max
They're raising holy hell one last time.

[02/20/25 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "The Twister: Caught in the Storm" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In May 2011, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri. With pulse-pounding firsthand footage, this documentary goes inside a deadly twister.

[02/20/25 - 09:07 AM]
Discovery Channel Renews Five Freshman Series
Set to return this year, "Expedition Files," "Hustlers Gamblers Crooks," "In the Eye of the Storm," "The Last Woodsmen" and "Mud Madness" were each top three cable series among Men 25-54 in their respective timeslots, excluding news and sports, and each reached at least 8.5 million viewers.

[02/20/25 - 09:03 AM]
NBC Orders Second Season of Its Hit Comedy Series "Happy's Place"
The pilot episode of "Happy's Place" is now up to 17.6 million viewers across all platforms, +338% from its initial airing on October 18.

[02/20/25 - 09:01 AM]
Date Announcement Hulu Original "Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special"
Matteo Lane's comedy is like catching up with your old friend at brunch. In his latest special, he shares a glimpse into his travels, unique family background and friendships.

[02/20/25 - 09:01 AM]
Apple's New Sci-Fi Series "Murderbot" to Make Global Debut May 16, 2025
Based on Martha Wells' bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series of the same name, "Murderbot" is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients.