Rainmaker conjures partnership, first look deal with Take Two Studios
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Editor
| 19 October 2022
International drama, factual and special-event programming distributor Rainmaker Content has announced a strategic alliance with independent production company Take Two Studios, a specialist in high-end, high-concept drama, documentaries and podcasts.

Take Two Studios was founded by chairman and creative director Eero Hietala and CEO Lasse Koskinen, together with chief operating officer Sara Norberg. It recently announced its first investment deal with Intervisio, one of Finland’s best known production companies. Intervisio is now a minority shareholder in Take Two Studios and has made a further strategic investment in new start-up Podzilla Studios. Under the strategic alliance between the three entities, Take Two Studios and Podzilla Studios have taken minority shares in each other’s businesses.

Under the terms of the deal, Rainmaker will engage in an advisory role on programming and strategy and be granted a first look on all Take Two output. The first collaboration from the new partnership is a commission from Nelonen/Ruutu for premium scripted series Dirty Snow (6 x 42’).

Set at the intersection of true crime and sport, Dirty Snow is inspired by the doping scandal that shocked the world of cross-country skiing at the 2001 World Championships in Lahti. The drama, told from the perspective of a fictional freelance reporter, chronicles the series of events that, ultimately, led to a turning point in the war on illegal drug use in sport. But while the protagonist is fictional, the story itself is firmly rooted in reality.

Remarking upon the deal with Take Two, Rainmaker CEO Greg Phillips said: “Finland is increasingly seen as a creative powerhouse and our partnership with Take Two gives us an all-access pass to one of the country’s most exciting production companies. Dirty Snow is brilliant project with which to kick off our collaboration. It’s not only a gripping story, but it’s a story with a strong and timely message for our post-truth world: cheating isn’t winning — it’s humiliation and disgrace.”

Hietala added: “I’ve known the Rainmaker team for years and I’m confident that they will be a great partner for Take Two. We’re still living a golden age of streaming content, but success requires being increasingly agile and choosing the right international strategy. Joining our forces in Dirty Snow is a perfect way to kick off our collaboration.”