Following up last week’s article, on Brendan Deneen’s move from agenting to editing, Colleen Lindsay at FinePrint Literary Management tells us that Pouya Shahbazian has joined the firm as a literary manager/producer, specializing in book-to-film and TV deals for FinePrint and other literary agents. In addition to his duties at FinePrint Literary Management, Shahbazian will also be heading FinePrint Productions, where he will be producing and packaging film and television projects.
Shahbazian’s entertainment experience is predominantly in representation of screenwriters and playwrights. After working as an attorney in Los Angeles, Shahbazian entered the entertainment industry at Warner Brothers and later joined The Broder-Webb-Chervin-Silbermann Agency, specializing in motion picture literary representation. He co-founded ManDown Pictures & Management in February 2007.
FinePrint CEO Peter Rubie said “Bringing in fresh talent has allowed us to reexamine and refine how we’re handling book-to-film and TV at FinePrint, and what it is we intend to do with FinePrint Productions, the development company that Brendan and I put together and that Pouya will now be running. While we’re sad to see Brendan leave us, we’re delighted to welcome Pouya Shahbazian into the dramatic rights hot seat.”
As to the future of Deneen’s FinePrint clients, Rubie went on to say, “As you may realize, Brendan’s departure caught us all a little by surprise. Several of Brendan’s clients have already been reassigned to other FinePrint agents and we’re doing our best to reach out to all the others but it does take time.”