Connor Schell

Connor Schell
Schell at the 70th Annual Peabody Awards
Alma materHarvard University (BA)
Columbia University (MA)
Occupation(s)TV and film producer
EmployerWords + Pictures
OrganizationPeabody Awards Board of Directors
Children3

Connor Schell is an American producer of television and film and founder of non-fiction production studio Words + Pictures. He is the co-creator with Bill Simmons and executive producer of the 30 for 30 series for ESPN.[1][2] Schell was also an executive producer of the Academy Award-winning documentary film O.J.: Made in America[3][4] and the Emmy Award-winning miniseries The Last Dance.[5]

Until early 2021, Schell was executive vice president and head of content at ESPN.[6] At ESPN, he oversaw the production of the NFL Draft, the College Football National Championship game, Wimbledon, the NBA Finals, and shows like College Gameday and SportsCenter.[7] He is a member of the Peabody Awards board of directors[8] and was inducted into the Sports Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame in 2012.[9]

Schell left ESPN to start a joint venture with Chernin Entertainment, founding the non-fiction production studio Words + Pictures in 2021.[10] Under the Words + Pictures banner, Schell has executive produced docuseries and films like Super League: The War for Football and an upcoming Christopher Reeve documentary.[11][12]

In 2021, Schell and Chernin launched Full Day to focus on live entertainment, specials, and unscripted series such as The ESPYS and NFL Honors,[13] as well as The Netflix Cup, the platform's first-ever live sports event.[14]

In 2022, Words + Pictures acquired Hock Films, producers of films such as The Best That Never Was, Survive and Advance, Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies, and Of Miracles and Men.[15]

In 2022, Schell sold Words + Pictures to Peter Chernin's The North Road Company. Schell currently sits on The North Road Company's Board of Directors.[16]

  1. ^ Sandomir, Richard (March 21, 2015). "Documentaries Are the Go-To Players of Sports Television". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  2. ^ Rose, Lacey (June 21, 2010). "Talking TV With ESPN's Connor Schell – Forbes". Forbes. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Watercutter, Angela. "The Epic Story of 'O.J.: Made in America's' Creation". Wired.
  4. ^ "'O.J.: Made in America' wins Academy Award". ESPN.com. February 27, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Connor Schell's studio details executive team". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. January 12, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Petski, Denise (June 16, 2017). "ESPN Revamp Continues With Connor Schell Named EVP Content". Deadline.
  7. ^ "Connor Schell: Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, ESPN Films and Original Content". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Kanter, Jake (December 11, 2019). "ViacomCBS's Chris McCarthy, ESPN's Connor Schell & Soledad O'Brien Among New Peabody Board Members". Deadline. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Forty Under 40 Class of 2017 revealed". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. February 20, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  10. ^ Steinberg, Brian (February 10, 2021). "Connor Schell, Chernin Entertainment Will Launch New Non-Fiction Studio". Variety.com.
  11. ^ "Apple announces new four-part documentary event "Super League: The War for Football" to premiere January 13". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Dalton2023-05-18T05:01:00+01:00, Ben. "'McQueen' filmmakers reunite for documentary about 'Superman' star Christopher Reeve (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved November 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Morfoot, Addie (March 26, 2022). "Connor Schell Has Rolled Out the Red Carpet for Live-Event Arm, Full Day Productions". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  14. ^ "What to Know About 'The Netflix Cup', the Live Sports Event You Never Saw Coming". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  15. ^ "Hock Films". hockfilms.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Weprin, Alex (July 6, 2022). "Peter Chernin Launching $1B+ Content Studio Rollup The North Road Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 6, 2023.