What Words + Pictures does

Words + Pictures is a New York-based premium production studio founded in 2021 by Connor Schell in partnership with Chernin Entertainment, operating under The North Road Company umbrella. The studio specializes in documentary films, docuseries, and live events, with a portfolio that includes The Last Dance, O.J.: Made in America, Super/Man, The Kingdom, and NASCAR: Full Speed. Production is organized through a hybrid model that combines an in-house creative team with affiliated director-led banners such as Little Room Films (Jason Hehir) and Hock Films (Jonathan Hock), enabling the studio to scale slate volume while preserving auteur-driven creative quality.

The studio's business model is centered on producing premium non-fiction content for major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, ESPN/Disney+, HBO/Max, Apple TV+, and TNT Sports, alongside sports rights holders NASCAR, NWSL, NFL, and NBA. Revenue is generated through production fees, IP licensing, and back-end participation, with a notable joint venture, Full Speed Entertainment, with NASCAR anchoring the motorsports vertical. The company is being acquired by Mediawan as part of The North Road Company transaction, which is expected to provide international distribution leverage across 15 countries.

The studio is led by an Emmy-and-Peabody-credentialed management team: Connor Schell (CEO), Libby Geist (President), Aaron Cohen (CCO), Nickole Tara (Chief Business Officer), and Dave Chamberlin (President of Full Day Productions). Operating with 11-50 employees, the studio competes as a high-end boutique in a market dominated by diversified production groups, with its competitive position anchored by talent pedigree, marquee IP, and multi-platform buyer relationships.

Name

Words + Pictures

Legal name

Words and Pictures Productions, LLC

Website

https://wordsandpictures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Words + Pictures is a New York-based premium documentary and live-events production studio founded in 2021 by Connor Schell with Chernin Entertainment, producing content for major streaming platforms and sports leagues including Netflix, ESPN, HBO, and NASCAR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonfiction Film and Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Feature-Length Documentaries (MPADADAA), Broadcast/Recording for Live Events (OB, Multicam, Livestream Capture) (MPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Docuseries content production
• Nonfiction television production
• Live event production
• Post-production services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Documentary Film Production: Produces feature-length documentary films for major streaming platforms and broadcasters. Revenue generated through production fees, licensing, and backend deals with platforms including Netflix, HBO, Prime Video, ESPN.
2. Docuseries Production: Creates multi-episode docuseries for streaming platforms covering sports, entertainment, and cultural subjects. Works with platforms like Netflix, ESPN, Prime Video, HBO.
3. Live Events Production (Full Day): Through Full Day subsidiary, produces live entertainment events, specials, and cultural moments including NFL Pro Bowl Games, ESPY Awards, Oscars Red Carpet, Netflix Cup, Netflix Slam.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Words + Pictures creates, develops, and produces documentary films and multi-part docuseries for streaming platforms, broadcasters, sports networks, and leagues. Through its Full Day Productions subsidiary, it also produces live entertainment events, award-show segments, specials, and character-based unscripted series.

Product overview

Words + Pictures is a nonfiction documentary and docuseries production studio founded in 2021 by Connor Schell and Chernin Entertainment (part of Peter Chernin's The North Road Company). The company produces premium documentary films and series across major streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, ESPN, HBO/Max, Apple TV+, and others. Their portfolio includes feature documentaries such as Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Max), Giannis: The Marvelous Journey (Prime Video), and Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter (Prime Video); documentary series including The Kingdom (ESPN/Disney+), Celtics City (HBO), NASCAR: Full Speed (Netflix), Full Court Press (ESPN), and Court of Gold (Netflix); and live events through their Full Day Productions arm producing the ESPY Awards, NFL Pro Bowl Games, Netflix Cup, and Netflix Slam. The company operates notable director-led production companies including Little Room Films (Jason Hehir, 8-time Emmy winner) and Hock Films (Jonathan Hock, 11-time Emmy winner), and is led by former ESPN executives who co-created the 30 for 30 documentary series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Documentary film and docuseries production End-to-end creation, development, and production of premium nonfiction documentary films and multi-part docuseries for streaming platforms, broadcasters, sports networks, and leagues.
• Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Feature documentary chronicling Christopher Reeve's personal and professional life before and after his 1995 paralysis accident, using his own words and interviews with people who knew him.
• Giannis: The Marvelous Journey Documentary following Giannis Antetokounmpo's journey from immigrant origins in Athens to becoming a two-time league MVP and NBA champion.
• GAME 7 Five-part Prime Video anthology series revisiting iconic Game 7 moments in sports history through first-hand accounts from participating athletes.
• The Kingdom Six-part ESPN Original Series chronicling the Kansas City Chiefs' pursuit of a historic three-peat Super Bowl championship and the franchise's modern-day football dynasty.
• Celtics City Multi-part HBO documentary series chronicling the Boston Celtics' history from their founding through the 2024 championship, including rivalries and societal forces that shaped the franchise.
• NASCAR: Full Speed All-access Netflix docuseries following the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and championship race, with access to drivers including Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Joey Logano.
• NASCAR: Full Speed Season 2 Second season of the Netflix docuseries produced through Full Speed Entertainment, the production partnership between NASCAR Studios and Words + Pictures.
• Full Court Press ESPN Original Series following elite women's college basketball players, including Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Kiki Rice, through the 2024 season.
• For the Win: NWSL Four-part Prime Video docuseries providing behind-the-scenes access to the 2024 National Women's Soccer League playoffs and championship.
• Court of Gold Netflix documentary series providing behind-the-scenes access to leading men's basketball medal contenders at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
• Hulk Hogan: Real American Four-episode Netflix documentary series featuring Hulk Hogan's final interviews, produced in association with WWE and covering his career and personal life.
• Under Pressure Netflix docuseries following the U.S. women's national soccer team during its pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup title at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
• Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter Feature-length Prime Video documentary chronicling Novak Djokovic's life and career from war-torn Belgrade to becoming a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
• Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley Netflix documentary exploring Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback special and his return to live performance after years away from the stage.
• Open Heart Netflix documentary following former New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's career and recovery from major heart surgery.
• jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy Netflix docuseries charting Kanye West's career over two decades, filmed by Coodie Simmons and following his development from recording artist into a global brand.
• Super League: The War for Football Four-part Apple TV+ series documenting the battle over European football's proposed breakaway Super League and the conflict between sporting tradition and commercial interests.
• King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch Netflix series following Ken Goldin and his team at a collectibles auction house and showcasing rare collectible items and memorabilia.
• Sue's Places ESPN documentary series in which UConn legend Sue Bird explores college basketball history and traditions through conversations with former players and coaches.
• Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space Netflix docuseries chronicling the SpaceX Dragon mission that launched four civilians into orbit, from training through landing.
• Gonzaga: The Slipper Still Fits Tubi documentary examining how Mark Few transformed Gonzaga's basketball program into a national powerhouse with 27 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
• Miracle: The Boys of '80 Netflix documentary revisiting the 1980 U.S. hockey team's Miracle on Ice victory over the Soviet Union through previously unreleased 16mm footage.
• Full Day Productions Words + Pictures' live-events arm producing entertainment specials, award-show coverage, cultural moments, and character-based unscripted series.
• Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning Max documentary series examining race-based hostilities in Boston against the backdrop of the 1989 Charles Stuart case.
• The McKenna Project TNT Sports documentary presenting a coming-of-age portrait of hockey prodigy Connor McKenna and examining pressure, ambition, and identity in the social media era.
• Rabil's Places ESPN five-episode docuseries following Premier Lacrosse League co-founder Paul Rabil as he explores lacrosse's indigenous origins, history, and rise.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Last Dance was a 2020 cultural phenomenon winning Emmy for Outstanding Documentary Series
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Five Guys RestaurantsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborating on an upcoming docuseries following crew members competing in the Five Guys Games finale. Lost Tribe Creative also involved in the project.
• Full Day Productions / GSE WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Full Day (Words + Pictures subsidiary) associated with Connor Schell and North Road Co., partnering with GSE Worldwide to produce 'Spikes Under the Lights' women's college volleyball showcase event.
• Full Speed Entertainment (NASCAR Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with NASCAR Studios to form Full Speed Entertainment, a new production partnership that develops and produces racing documentaries, series, special events, studio shows and podcasts. First project was Season 2 of NASCAR: Full Speed on Netflix.
• Full Day ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Launched Full Day in 2021 as a subsidiary focused on live entertainment, specials, and unscripted series. Full Day has produced major events including NFL Pro Bowl Games, ESPY Awards, Oscars Red Carpet, Netflix Cup, and Netflix Slam.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NFL Films: Long-established documentary and content arm of the NFL. Direct competitor for premium football storytelling; Jonathan Hock (Hock Films at W+P) spent 11 years at NFL Films before starting his own shop.
• Skydance Sports: Premium sports-focused production label co-founded by Jesse Sisgold and Jay Ellis (formerly NFL Media). Produces high-profile sports documentaries and docuseries for streamers including Apple TV+ and Netflix; competes for the same premium sports nonfiction projects.
• Higher Ground Productions: Production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama producing premium nonfiction and documentary content (including American Factory). Co-produced Court of Gold with W+P on 2024 Paris Olympics basketball, evidencing they co-bid and partner on premium sports documentary projects.
• Religion of Sports: Athlete-led (Tom Brady, Michael Strahan) premium sports documentary and series production company. Closely comparable in model - talent-driven, premium, multi-platform sports nonfiction - and a direct competitor for athlete access and streaming commissions.
• TIME Studios: Premium nonfiction production arm producing documentaries and series for streamers and broadcasters. W+P's EVP of Production Alexa Conway was formerly Co-Head of TIME Studios; competes for the same Emmy/Peabody-caliber nonfiction commissions.
• ESPN Films: ESPN's in-house documentary production unit and originator of the 30 for 30 series. The most directly comparable peer - Words + Pictures was founded by former ESPN Films executives, continues to produce 30 for 30 projects, and competes for the same sports documentary commissions.
• Mandalay Sports Media: Premium sports-focused documentary and series production company producing content for Netflix, ESPN, Showtime and others. Directly competes for the same streamer commissions and athlete access as Words + Pictures.

Emerging players

• Uninterrupted (LeBron James/The SpringHill Company): Athlete-led premium storytelling company co-founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. Emerging competitor in premium sports/athlete documentaries with similar platform relationships and athlete access advantages.

Broad incumbents

• Netflix Documentary (in-house): Netflix's substantial in-house documentary team. A major customer of Words + Pictures (NASCAR: Full Speed, Court of Gold, Under Pressure, Hulk Hogan) but also a competing in-house producer of premium sports and nonfiction content.
• HBO Sports Documentaries: Long-running in-house premium sports and nonfiction documentary unit at HBO/Max. A direct customer of Words + Pictures on projects like Celtics City and Murder in Boston, but also an in-house producer of competing content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/words-pictures
• Instagraminstagram.com/wordsandpicturesprod

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Words + Pictures