Topic Studios restructures TV division amid ‘evolution of staffing & structure’

100 Foot Wave (Source: Amplify)

100 Foot Wave producer Topic Studios is laying off a swathe of employees and restructuring its standalone TV division.

More than 20 staff are leaving the producer, which is owned by First Look Media and which has also been behind Max’s docuseries Nuclear Family.

Its development slate includes adaptations of Amanda Montell’s novel Cultish and a remake of Israeli drama Nehama, as well as adult thriller Savannah for Amazon Freevee.

100 Foot Wave, the hugely popular HBO doc tracking the exploits of big-wave pioneer Garrett McNamara, is into its third season and is produced with Amplify Pictures.

TBI understands that while the TV arm of the company will no longer exist as a separate entity, the company will continue to produce series for streamers and broadcasters, with the restructure not affecting development or production slates.

A Topic spokesperson told TBI: “Topic Studios continues to produce television programmes. This week’s staff changes have not impacted the multiple scripted and non-scripted television projects in production and development.

“While our scripted television strategy will be evolving, we plan to increase investment in this area.”

Topic Studios had earlier told US trade Deadline, which broke the news, that the layoffs were as a result of ongoing turbulence across the media landscape.

“After significant disruption across our industry, Topic Studios is reallocating and reinvesting resources to deliver more world-class projects. While this process involved evolving our current staffing and structure, we are dedicating more resources directly to the creation of content.

“We will continue to bring exceptional stories to screens and strongly support and elevate our creative partners across movies, documentaries, TV, and podcasts.”

The cuts come nine months since US-based First Look struck a joint venture deal that saw its Topic-branded streamer moved into a new company co-owned by distributor Kino Lorber.

This article has been updated since publication with comment from Topic Studios.