It’s perfect: Two months after Blair Fetter joined Amazon MGM Studios as Head of Worldbuilding & Genre Series, the former Netflix executive reorganized the department, resulting in increased responsibilities Tom Lieberreporting changes to other members of the group and several departures, in particular Matthew King again Adrienne O’Riain who will leave the company.
Fetter outlined the changes in a company memo.
“Looking forward, we’re evolving the Worldbuilding Series to work with a leaner, more streamlined structure — designed to enable leaders who are lean and flexible enough to move between development and current production,” he wrote in the email, which you can read below. “This is about putting the team in a position to move with greater flexibility as we continue to develop a global series that our viewers love.”
The Worldbuilding & Genre Series department is being formed as part of Amazon’s MGM Studios major scripted group in a reorganization by new Head of Global Television Peter Friedlander, announced in late January. Previously divided by series ownership into Co-Productions and Wholly Owned, the studio’s executive team was reorganized into Drama & Comedy, Worldbuilding & Genre, Animation and Unscripted.
Fetter became Head of World and Type Architecture. Melissa Wolfe is Head of Animation; Jenn Levy is Head of Undocumented. The search for a Head of Drama & Comedy continues.
In a genre-based reorg, two top executives in the architecture/genre arena joined Fetter’s team, reporting to him: Lieber, Former Head, Integrated Genre Development and Current Series, and King, who was on the Whole Owners side.
Now King is leaving, with Lieber, in charge Boys the whole place, It falls again The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, he now gets a new title as Head of Creative News, Worldbuilding.
“Tom will continue to work closely on the titles he is in, but we are giving another team the power to lead each job,” said Fetter. “In doing so, Tom will focus on how new technologies can visibly support the future world-building chain.”
Although not specified, this may be referring to the use of AI as the woldbuilding series/genre is inherently labor intensive and expensive to produce, such is the case with Prime Video’s. Rings of Power again It falls. Amazon in August assigned a senior executive, VP Prime Video US Albert Cheng, to lead “the creation of new tools for our creative partners that use the power of AI,” Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, said at the time.
Like King, O’Riain also appears in the Amazon app MGM Studios’ Wholly Owned.
“Matt and Adrienne have been great partners and have given so much to this team,” Fetter said. “Matt has brought a unique perspective to the entire development team, most recently with the successful launch of 56 days and the upcoming series Carrie again A criminal. Similarly, Adrienne also contributed 56 days and fought for the highly anticipated series Elle. I am so grateful for their contributions and the care they bring to Prime Video every day. “
And leaving Fetter’s team Liz Mackintosh but you live in Amazon. He will move to Kara Smith’s team, where he will work closely with Alex Weinberger and Odetta Watkins. Mackintosh and Smith previously worked together on Co-Productions. Smith remains one of three senior executives in the new Drama & Comedy department currently reporting to Friedlander until a new Division Head is named.
In other org changes, Scott Farris and Max Taylor, who previously reported to King and Lieber, respectively, will now report to Fetter.
“This team is building something special, and these changes are based on a true belief that a leaner, more focused structure will allow us to do our best work — for our clients, for our creative partners, and for each other,” Fetter said.
Here is his full memo:
Hello Team,
I want to take a moment to share updates on our team structure, and recognize the people who have been at the core of building what we have today. Looking ahead, we’re evolving the Worldbuilding Series to work with a leaner, more flexible architecture – designed to enable leaders who are lean and flexible enough to move slowly between development and current production. This is about putting the team in a position to move with greater autonomy as we continue to develop a global series that our viewers love.
With that, I have to share that Matthew King and Adrienne O’Riain will be leaving the organization. I want to take a moment to thank both of them for their hard work in this organization. Matt and Adrienne have been great partners and have given so much to this team. Matt has brought a unique perspective to the fully managed development team, most recently with the successful launch of the 56 days and the upcoming series Carrie again A criminal. Similarly, Adrienne also contributed 56 days and fought for the highly anticipated series Elle. I am so grateful for their contributions and the care they bring to Prime Video every day. Please join me in wishing them both the best for what’s next — I have no doubt they’ll go on to do great things.
Along with these changes, I’m happy to share a few more updates:
Tom Lieber will be expanding his scope, as Head of Creative Affairs, Worldbuilding. Tom will continue to work closely on his topics, and we’re empowering the entire team to lead on individual projects. In doing so, Tom will focus on how new technologies can logically support the future world-building chain.
Liz Mackintosh will transition to Kara Smith’s organization, where she will work closely with Alex Weinberger and Odetta Watkins to support the Drama organization.
Scott Farris and Max Taylor will report directly to me.
Mark Ambrose and Andie Green will continue to report to Tom.
This team is building something special, and these changes are based on the true belief that a leaner, more focused structure will allow us to do our best work – for our customers, our smart partners, and each other. I’m proud of what you’ve all accomplished together and I’m excited about where we’re headed. Thank you for everything you bring to this group.
Blair
