Bill Thompson Launches Management & Production Company Artists Group | Unscripted

Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
·2 min read

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran unscripted agent and producer Bill Thompson, former Head Of Unscripted Television at Verve, is launching his own management and production company, Artists Group | Unscripted.

“In the past twenty years, I’ve never seen disruption like we are having now. But disruption breeds opportunity and now is the time to be nimble and pivot away from the traditional way of doing things,” Thompson said. “With a focus on forging new pathways, AGU will bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the unscripted television industry. Additionally, AGU will be heavily focused on representing and working with international IP/Format creators to tap into the global demand for fresh content”.

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The list of international content creators signed by Thompson include the creator of The Masked Singer, Wonwoo Park, and his Seoul-based Diturn Productions.

AGU also will continue to represent longtime Thompson executive producer/showrunner clients including five-time Emmy-winning Mark Bracero (Queer Eye/Netflix), Kealohi Lee (America’s Got Talent/NBC), Tiff Winton (Doomsday Murders/Discovery ID,) Amy Elkins (Bargain Block/HGTV,) Jack Tarantino (Real Housewives/Bravo,) Justin Booth (The Challenge/ Paramount Plus,) Academy Award nominee Lauren Lazin, (Tupac: Resurrection,) and Austin-based Backroads Entertainment, currently in production on the third season of Shorty’s Dream Shop on the Motortrend Network.

Thompson, who was most recently at Vital Artists Agency, was the first Head of Unscripted Television at Verve, launching the department and packaging such shows as USA’s Barmegeddon with Blake Shelton and Disney+’s Pants on Fire.

Thompson was previously a producer with overall deals at Critical Content and Brian Graden Media. His independent shingle, Bill Thompson Productions, partnered with actor/producer Mark Wahlberg on Breaking Boston, Big Brew Theory and Teamsters series at A&E. In the 2000s, Thompson spent eight years at Rebel Entertainment Partners where he rose to SVP, Television Packaging and International Sales. His resume also includes a stint as head of unscripted development at New Wave where he executive produced Pretty Wild for E!

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