The Story Collective Expands Investment Portfolio
The Story Collective has invested in ex-Shiny Button duo’s new comedy-drama production company Mighty Pebble Pictures, expanding its fast-growing investment portfolio, which already includes Maia Pictures and Artis Pictures.
Mighty Pebble Pictures has been set up and is led by James De Frond and Tom Davis, the award- winning team behind multiple shows including the hit BBC Three series Murder in Successville, which won a BAFTA for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme in 2018. The company plans to develop and produce drama, comedy and those projects that sit somewhere between the two, and has early active developments in the market. Mighty Pebble will be a vehicle for Tom’s and James’ own projects as creators, but also a welcoming and nurturing home for other talent and their shows, with a real focus on working class writers and their stories.
Their previous company Shiny Button, which was under the Banijay UK banner, produced a number of successful projects, including acclaimed comedy-drama series The Curse (the second season recently premiered on Channel 4), King Gary for BBC1, Action Team for ITV2, and the festive movie Your Christmas or Mine starring Asa Butterfield, Cora Kirk and Daniel Mays for Amazon Prime. Kate Heggie, producer of Your Christmas or Mine, is joining the new company to head up the development slate.
As well as investing, The Story Collective will support the company strategically, financially and commercially and will provide the infrastructure to help develop, produce and deliver its projects.
The deal has been shepherded and brokered by Humphrey Elles-Hill at Independent Talent Group.
CEO, Damian Keogh said: “Tom and James are brilliant, uniquely talented individuals. Put them together and that brilliance seems to expand exponentially. From both behind and in front of the camera, they bring wit, charm, warmth, humanity, drama and laughter to everything they’re involved in, and just as important, they are honest, generous and funny. Huge thanks to Humphrey for introducing us all and being instrumental in helping us pull it all together.”
Tom Davis and James De Frond said: “We are thrilled to be joining up with The Story Collective. It feels like such an exciting step for the both of us. Since meeting Damian and the team here, we’ve been blown away by their enthusiasm and support. We can’t wait to start this next stage of our journey alongside them. It’s also great to get some extra income on top of the scrap metal and dog minding businesses we’ve also set up. We’d like to thank Banijay UK / Tiger Aspect for their support over the last five years and collaborating with us on a number of shows that we are both immensely proud of.”