SCOUTING: Untapped Content for Gripping and Original Productions
While traditional scouts are all chasing the same material, at History Studio we have access to deep troves of untapped material and riveting untold stories. As scholars and writers, we’re immersed in these narratives and pull our clients into this rich world of story ideas. We excavate these bold and brilliant stories buried between the footnotes, and transform them into spectacular, original stories. We work with writers, creators, and producers in story development across a number of genres from documentaries to scripted series, historical or contemporary. Clients tell us what subject, genre, or period they’re interested in developing—or similar to what recent film or tv series—and we identify story ideas.
History Studio supports writers and creators by digging up rich resources and new leads, tapping into sources behind academic paywalls, and fueling ideas for story threads, characters, scenes, and even sensory experience.
DEVELOPMENT: Research and Consulting for Story Development
History Studio provides research consulting when a project is in the crucial developmental stage. Our teams understand that creative process. We support writers and creators by digging up rich resources and new leads, tapping into sources behind academic paywalls, and fueling ideas for story threads, characters, scenes, and even sensory experience. We answer specific research questions but can also provide a holistic sense of time, place, people, and events. We also help creators go beyond optioned material by drawing from new sources on the person or event, combing through additional documents and sources to suggest the most powerful moments and memorable characters that might be included in the production. Our expert consultants enable writers and producers to exercise creative license without sacrificing accuracy or authenticity.
We can provide a comprehensive timeline, dossier, or analysis of the real-life events and figures, fact check any situation or individual, or suggest related story threads and characters. We scour all relevant books, memoirs, photographs, archival documents and interviews.
SCRIPT REVIEW: for Authenticity
Authenticity reviews are always conducted by a team of experts, headed by a History Studio partner. Our team vets for authenticity and accuracy. We review every detail, while also assessing the project’s overall context and cultural representation. Our authenticity reviews include two work products: a fully annotated script with detailed comments and suggestions, and a report that synthesizes the team’s overall assessment of the project.
SCRIPT REVIEW: for Cultural Sensitivity
Every project needs to appeal to as wide an audience as possible and not unwittingly invite bad reviews for its portrayal of certain characters or controversial events. Are characters portrayed as authentically and sensitively as they need to be? Are depictions of groups or individuals in line with how those groups or individuals would represent themselves? Are certain characters developed more fully than others, based on unwitting racial or gender blind spots? Is a controversial event considered from multiple vantage points?
History Studio is committed to bringing its multi-racial, international perspective to every script review. Cultural sensitivity reviews are always conducted by a team of experts, headed by a History Studio partner. We vet for representations of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual identity, disability, and other areas of concern to our clients. Our team provides both a fully annotated line-edit of the script, including detailed comments and suggestions, as well as a final report that synthesizes the team’s overall assessment of the project.
History Studio is committed to bringing its multi-racial, international perspective to every script review. We vet for representations of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual identity, disability, and other areas of concern to our clients.
General Research
History Studio provides creative professionals with the research needed to make every project as gripping, powerful, and accurate as it can be. No question is too big or too small for our team of award-winning experts. History Studio handles any research question, drawing on our training to mine archives, libraries, and other resources available only to credentialed academics. We ensure our research is based on the most cutting-edge, reputable material out there.
ON-CAMERA EXPERTS
Drawing on our vast network of experts and subject specialists from around the globe, History Studio identifies and vets on-camera talent. We ensure productions feature the most relevant and reputable voices in the field.