‘Hernán’ Co-Creator Francisco ‘Curro’ Royo Signs With The Gersh Agency (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent“Hernan” co-creator and lead writer Francisco “Curro” Royo, one of the premier show runners in Spain and the Spanish-speaking world, has signed with The Gersh Agency and set up his own production company, Dystopia Media.Royo will be represented at Gersh Agency by partner Roy Ashton.Already readying its first slate of projects in development, Dystopia Media, which will be based out of Madrid, underscores the growing market muscle and ambition of Spain’s foremost screenwriters.“The next step is for writers and show runners to become producers,” said Royo, pointing to the example of Spain’s Alex Pina and Ramón Campos.“Money Heist” co-creator Pina set up his own label Vancouver Media in 2016, going on to co-produce “Money Heist” and sign an overall deal with Netflix in 2018.

Established by “Velvet” and “Cable Girls” creator Ramón Campos and producer Teresa Fernández-Valdés in 2007, Bambu Producciones has grown into one of the biggest TV producers in Spain.Dystopia Media, which has already attracted private-sector investment, will focus on project development, addressing one of the biggest challenges currently facing international production, Royo told Variety.The company launches as fast-growing OTT platforms are driving a huge demand for new series.“Now is the time for content, and development is key,” said Royo, arguing that a lot of development is being stopped because producers don’t have enough money to pay for pilots or need to raise more financing.Dystopia Media can count on “connections to produce,” Royo added.Signing with Hollywood and New York-based The Gersh Agency, the sixth largest in the U.S., is “a way to open up new opportunities, to work abroad on bigger.