Vet exec Lorenzo puts himself into Drive seat

Publish date: 2024-08-18

Co. to deal with TV, movie prod'n, talent management, legit

MADRID — Spain has a new and highly ambitious production company, Drive Entertainment, headed by Jose Manuel Lorenzo, one of the country’s best-known TV execs.

Backed by financial entities Gannet and Szekadin, Drive’s tentacles reach into TV, movie production, legit, music, live-entertainment and talent management.

Extrovert Lorenzo, 45, was the topper of Sogecable’s premium TV service Canal Plus Espana from June 1998 to January.

Launching Drive, Lorenzo can finally give full rein to his passion: production.

While at Canal Plus Espana, he formed TV production arm Produce Plus and was executive producer on Manuel Palacios’ film debut “Gypsy.”

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Drive bows at a good moment. The Spanish government has just announced that it will near double Spain’s ICAA central state subsidy fund to E63 million ($78.8 million) and in July passed regulations tightening up the application of local TV quotas for European film investment.

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Domestic TV production, especially of dramas, is on a roll. Per TV research company Corporacion Multimedia, only three of the 15 primetime series aired last season by broadcasters RTVE, Telecinco and Antena 3 rated below their channel averages.

Drive has already attracted high-profile top management. Eduardo Campoy (“The Girl of Your Dreams,” “Torrente”), former prexy of powerful producers’ trade lobby Fapae and of production company Cartel, will head up movie division Drive Cine.

His appointment comes as Cartel is wound up. Drive will take over some employees from Cartel, Lorenzo says.

Former Produce Plus general manager Macarena Rey has been tapped as director of Drive TV, and live entertainment exec Andres Torres will be Drive’s managing director.

David Serrano, helmer of last year’s smash hit movie “Soccer Days,” is the director of legit division Drive Teatro.

Per Lorenzo, Drive Cine aims to produce up to five features a year, some co-produced with European and U.S. companies.

Drive’s TV production will focus on high- to mid-end fiction and documentary production.

“Our aim is to gain respect as an upscale producer, making quality product with audience appeal,” Lorenzo says.

Drive’s first slate includes:

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