Northwell Studios builds on the health system's
track record of producing award-winning documentaries that have
reached millions of viewers worldwide across every major
platform
Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health system, today
announced the launch of Northwell Studios, a dedicated entity
focused on harnessing the power of storytelling and entertainment
to humanize health care and spark meaningful social
conversations.
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the full release here:
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Northwell Health has participated in five
documentaries so far, including the 2021 Oscar shortlisted “First
Wave.” (Credit: Northwell Health).
To help advance this mission, Northwell Studios has entered a
new development deal with award winning and Creative Artists Agency
(CAA) represented film and television production company,
CreativeChaos vmg, led by Ilan Arboleda and Tom Donahue, to develop
and co-produce both scripted and unscripted films. Together, five
new productions are underway, including stories about Northwell’s
clinical expertise, one-of-a-kind patient-centered programs,
innovative technologies and, most importantly, the brave and bold
employees and patients who are at the heart of every story.
“We recognize the immense power of storytelling to connect with
audiences on a deeper level,” said Ramon Soto, senior vice
president and chief marketing officer at Northwell Health.
“Northwell Studios represents a natural evolution of our commitment
to purpose-driven and movement thinking, a framework we’ve
pioneered to translate brand purpose into impactful real-world
initiatives. Through entertainment, we can break down the walls of
our hospitals, amplify the voices of our frontline heroes, and shed
light on critical health and societal issues.”
“Northwell and CreativeChaos have a shared vision and proven
track record of using media and storytelling to raise awareness
about the most pressing topics facing society today, to challenge
the status quo and to inspire change,” said Ilan Arboleda,
co-founder and co-CEO of CreativeChaos vmg. “Bringing our expertise
in entertainment, production, and brand collaboration to such an
innovative and respected organization is an exciting opportunity.
Together, we look forward to developing compelling content that
will resonate with audiences.”
In addition to partnering with CreativeChaos vmg on the
development of original content, Northwell Studios will continue to
partner with passionate filmmakers, writers and creative
visionaries who are driven to tell impactful stories that matter.
By opening the doors to its facilities and providing access to our
network of medical experts and consented patients, Northwell
Studios will work hand-in-hand with storytellers to develop and
produce compelling content. Furthermore, the studio is committed to
partnering with distributors to ensure these stories reach a wide
and engaged audience.
Building on the success of critically acclaimed documentaries
like the Netflix series Lenox Hill and Emergency NYC, created by
Yulari Films, and the Academy Award-shortlisted COVID-19
documentary First Wave directed by Matthew Heineman and now
available on National Geographic, Northwell Studios will develop a
diverse slate of video-focused productions, including docuseries,
scripted films, and other innovative video content.
“As New York's largest healthcare provider, Northwell has a
responsibility to lead not just in treating patients in our
communities, but in addressing the critical social issues that
impact our collective well-being,” said Michael Dowling, president
and CEO of Northwell Health. "Just as we’ve done with gun violence,
mental health, and other urgent challenges, Northwell Studios will
leverage the power of storytelling to change the conversation,
spark dialogue, and inspire action on a global scale.”
Since 2017, Northwell Health has collaborated with renowned
filmmakers and production companies on five documentaries,
garnering six Emmy Awards and an Academy Award shortlist, and
reaching tens of millions of viewers worldwide. The health system’s
most recent project, HBO’s One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit, was
created by Gidalya Pictures and premiered at the DC/DOX Film
Festival and HBO and is now streaming on Max. Filmed at Northwell’s
Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, NY, One South offers an
unflinching yet compassionate look at the lives of patients and
staff within a locked inpatient psychiatric unit.
Northwell Studios will continue to prioritize authenticity and
impactful storytelling by:
- Partnering with leading storytellers: Northwell Studios will
collaborate with established and emerging filmmakers who share the
organization’s commitment to creating high-quality,
thought-provoking content.
- Ensuring broad reach and distribution: The studio will work to
secure distribution partnerships that guarantee wide viewership and
engagement.
- Maintaining brand safety and privacy: Northwell Studios is
committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards,
prioritizing patient privacy and brand safety throughout the
production process.
- Upholding creative integrity: The studio will continue its
partnership model to ensure their stories are told genuinely and by
outside voices and talent.
About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care
provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900
outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians.
We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro
area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our
communities. Our 85,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,900
employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician
Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re
making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for
Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical
professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of
Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of
Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our
more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow
us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About CreativeChaos vmg
It’s been an incredibly busy period for the Creative Artists
Agency (CAA) represented CreativeChaos vmg, whose six part
docuseries Mafia Spies was released last month on Paramount+ and
Showtime to strong critical reviews and much fanfare. Produced
along with Danny Strong, Matt Jackson, and Susan Zirinsky, Mafia
Spies tells the incredible true story of how the CIA hired the
Chicago Mafia to Kill Fidel Castro. Just before that, the four-part
docuseries The Murder of God’s Banker was an international hit for
Paramount+. Earlier this year, 10 years after the release of their
classic Hollywood documentary, Casting By, the Academy Awards
finally created an oscar category for casting directors as a direct
result of the film. Other award recent winning films by the company
include: the Dean Martin biography King of Cool (TCM) with Leonardo
DiCaprio’s Appian Way, Martin Scorsese and Danny Strong
Productions; the gender discrimination documentary This Changes
Everything (Netflix) produced in partnership with Geena Davis, the
cautionary film Bleed Out (HBO); and the music documentary Los
Tigre del Norte at Folsom Prison (Netflix), which was nominated for
two Latin Grammys and won Album of the Year.
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Matthew Libassi mlibassi@northwell.edu 631-793-5325