 has optioned the rights to author Jean Meltzer’s first novel, 

, with plans to develop as a feature film. Sugar23 will produce along with 

 Productions, Brett Gursky and Ben Savage. Michael Sugar, Sugar 23’s Ashley Zalta and Bass will serve as producers. Meltzer, Gursky, Lance Bass Productions’ Drew Pokorny, Savage and Sugar23’s Jillian Kay will serve as executive producers.

The book is an alternative holiday love story, follows chronically-ill Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt a “nice Jewish girl‚” with a secret: she loves Christmas. As the best-selling author of over twenty Christmas romance novels, and four made-for-TV movie spin-offs, she’s kept her stellar career secret from her observant Jewish family for over a decade. But when Rachel’s publishing house tells her they won’t renew her contract unless she writes them a Hanukkah romance, she’s desperate for inspiration. She finds it in the form of the Matzah Ball, a high-end Jewish music celebration scheduled for the last night of Hanukkah. There is only one problem: tickets are sold out and the only way to get one is direct from the ball’s creator, who just happens to be Jacob Greenberg, her summer camp arch enemy.

Sugar23 has optioned the rights to author Jean Meltzer’s first novel, 

, with plans to develop as a feature film. Sugar23 will produce along with Lance Bass Productions, Brett Gursky and Ben Savage. Michael Sugar, Sugar 23’s Ashley Zalta and Bass will serve as producers. Meltzer, Gursky, Lance Bass Productions’ Drew Pokorny, Savage and Sugar23’s Jillian Kay will serve as executive producers.

Sugar23 To Develop Jean Meltzer’s ‘The Matzah Ball’ As Feature Film, Lance Bass Productions Producing

, the upcoming docuseries from Time Studios, 

’s Day Zero Productions, Sugar23 and P&G Studios announced back in July, which is focused on the rapidly shifting developments that are promising to reshape our world.

 tells the unlikely first-person story of two remarkable narratives that come crashing together—that of the community of survivors of the deadly 2017 wildfires in Portugal, fighting to ensure what they’ve lived through can never happen again, and a revolutionary, world-changing scientific discovery which could help protect us all from the climate emergency.

h recently completed an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release and has also screened as part of the IDA Documentary Screening Series, spotlighting the most acclaimed documentary films of the year. See the poster below.

DiCaprio produced with Emmy and BAFTA winner Chloe Leland and two-time Emmy nominee Harri Grace of Grain Media. Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson exec produced with Ian Orefice and Alexandra Johnes of Time Studios. The film’s original song, “Hope For the Future,” was penned by five-time Brit Award winner and Grammy nominee, Bastille. Other notable contributors to the project include Emmy-nominated composer Patrick Jonsson and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer/photojournalist, Lynsey Addario.

Oscar winner Orlando von Einsiedel’s (

, the upcoming docuseries from Time Studios, Trevor Noah’s Day Zero Productions, Sugar23 and P&G Studios announced back in July, which is focused on the rapidly shifting developments that are promising to reshape our world.

‘From Devil’s Breath’: Docu Short From Oscar Winners Orlando Von Einsiedel & Leonardo DiCaprio Joins Trevor Noah Docuseries ‘The Tipping Point’

teaming up with experiential firm Blue Revolver

Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Principals in the deal told Deadline it is intended to help deliver more multi-faceted and immersive offerings as the media and entertainment industry emerges from the long shadow of Covid-19.

“It has become clear that a growing audience, especially in younger age ranges, really values experience,” Sugar told Deadline in an interview.

Sugar23 was founded in 2017 by Michael Sugar, who is known as an Academy Award-winning producer and talent manager with credits including 

. The company’s activities span content creation, books, podcasts and e-gaming, with projects including 

, works with clients such as Netflix, Disney, Nike, AT&T, Disney, Apple/Beats and Live Nation, specializing in activating the five human senses. Its recent projects for Netflix have included creating a setting tied to the premiere last spring of animated film 

, an experience featuring actual robots interacting with guests.

“We want to create joy through these one-of-a-kind experiences,” McAlister said. In emphasizing multi-sensory approaches, she noted food can often be a critical element, especially when it is not just added on the side but made a thematic centerpiece.

A little more than a year after teaming up with experiential firm Blue Revolver on technology for virtual events, Michael Sugar’s Sugar23 has bought a stake in the company.

Sugar23 Takes Stake In Experiential Firm Blue Revolver

, the management and creative platform from Oscar winner Michael Sugar, to launch a joint scripted division focused on developing and producing scripted projects for film and TV.

For the Emmy-winning documentary and immersive division of global media brand Time, the partnership marks a first major push into the scripted space.

In developing new projects with Sugar23, Time Studios will draw on Time’s archive of exclusive content from the last 98 years, as well as its trusted journalism, which reaches an audience of more than 100 million people around the world. Sugar23 exec Kaveh Veyssi will oversee projects under the umbrella of the new partnership, in the role of VP of Film & TV, Time Studios.

“At TIME Studios, truth-based storytelling that moves the world sits at the heart of our creative drive,” said Time Studios’ President, Ian Orefice. “There are no better partners than Michael, Kaveh and Sugar23 to launch this important next chapter of TIME Studios as we further that mission now with world-class scripted content.”

“TIME is an iconic and global brand and has already become a true force in unscripted documentary and television,” added Sugar. “We are immensely proud to announce our partnership with TIME Studios, Ian Orefice, and his incredible team at TIME as we aim to continue to bring impactful, entertaining stories to the mainstream, together.”

Time Studios and Sugar23 currently have a pair of scripted projects in development. Jon Wertheim and Jeff Pearlman will pen the first, which looks to spotlight the heroes that emerged from the tragic events at Sandy Hook, as well as the resilience of the human spirit. The second will examine the now-infamous container ship known as The Ever Given, and the chaos that unfolded, when it ran aground in the Suez Canal.

Time Studios has partnered with Sugar23, the management and creative platform from Oscar winner Michael Sugar, to launch a joint scripted division focused on developing and producing scripted projects for film and TV.

Latest

Sugar23 To Develop Jean Meltzer’s ‘The Matzah Ball’ As Feature Film, Lance Bass Productions Producing

‘From Devil’s Breath’: Docu Short From Oscar Winners Orlando Von Einsiedel & Leonardo DiCaprio Joins Trevor Noah Docuseries ‘The Tipping Point’

Sugar23 Takes Stake In Experiential Firm Blue Revolver

Time Studios & Sugar23 Team To Launch Scripted Division