A+E Studios has signed a multiyear exclusive overall television deal with Emmy-nominated writer, producer, director and UNREAL co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, it was announced by Tana Nugent Jamieson, Senior Vice President of A+E Studios. Under the pact, Shapiro will continue her duties as writer and executive producer on UNREAL - the first scripted series fully financed and owned by A+E Studios - while also working closely with the A+E Studios team to develop, create and produce new original programming for the A+E portfolio of networks, as well as outside buyers.
"Sarah is an extraordinarily talented writer, producer and director," said Jamieson. "Her unique voice has made UNREAL a cultural phenomenon, and we are thrilled to continue this prolific partnership at A+E Studios." "I'm honored and excited to be solidifying my partnership with the incredible creative team at A+E Studios," said Shapiro. "Launching UNREAL together has been the highlight of my career thus far, and I'm looking forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration." Shapiro is the co-creator and executive producer of A+E Studios' critically-acclaimed hit series UNREAL on Lifetime, which she developed and sold based on the SXSW award-winning short film she wrote and directed, Sequin Raze. Starring Shiri Appleby and Emmy-nominated Constance Zimmer, UNREAL gives a fictitious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program, Everlasting. During its first season, UNREAL received multiple awards, including a prestigious Peabody Award and an AFI Program of the Year Award. UNREAL was also honored with two Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the pilot episode written by Shapiro and co-creator and executive producer Marti Noxon. Shapiro directed the seventh episode of the second season and also wrote and directed a series of shorts, "The Faith Diaries," which follow UnREAL's beloved Season 1 contestant, Faith (Breeda Wool). The third season of UnREAL, which features Everlasting's new female "suitress," Serena (Caitlin FitzGerald), is currently in production in Vancouver.Videos