EXCLUSIVE: Gianni Paolo and Michael Rainey Jr., who co-star in the Starz series Power Book II: Ghost, have formed Twenty Two Entertainment, which will develop films, television programmes, and multimedia projects.
Artists For Artists, the firm founded by Emmy-winning co-founder and SNL cast member Kenan Thompson and co-founder & CEO John Ryan Jr. in December, has completely funded Twenty Two Entertainment (former COO of FilmEngine, producer of Bill & Ted Face the Music and Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.).
Artists for Artists (AFA) is a 360-degree incubator that helps artists create and produce their own content, as well as a full-service production firm with a commerce division and bespoke management representation.
Artists For Artists (AFA) creates companies with artists and brands that they co-own, allowing artists to control their own content and commerce while collaborating with worldwide distributors.
Twenty Two Entertainment’s first project is The Crew Has It, a podcast that will debut in April on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Paolo and Rainey Jr. will talk about the Power world and the entertainment industry, as well as interview the Starz series’ cast and creators, as well as hip hop and R&B singers and actors.
“I’ve witnessed Gianni and Michael transition from actors to brands over the last couple of years,” Ryan Jr said.
“They have their finger on the pulse of pop culture and entertainment. Artists For Artists was founded by Kenan and me to encourage hardworking creators like Gianni and Michael, and we’re excited to share their diverse lineup of entertainment with you.”
” Paolo and Rainey Jr. said “We are excited to partner with John and Kenan at AFA. They are big supporters of artists, and they allow artists to have control and ownership of their work, which is important in this new multimedia wave of the industry.”
ICM, MGMT, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown, and Passman represent Paolo. ICM and Untitled Entertainment represent Rainey. Paradigm represents Artists For Artists. Thompson is represented by UTA and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano at Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano. Paradigm is Ryan Jr.’s manager.
CLICK HERE TO STREAM ‘POWER BOOK II: GHOST’
