BET, a unit of Paramount, signs Jeni Rice-Genzuk Henry to overall deal for BET Studios, an unprecedented studio venture launched in September 2021 powered by the infrastructure and financing of BET and Paramount. The venture was designed to supply the increased demand for premium content from Black creators across an array of internal buyers, including Paramount+, SHOWTIME, CBS, Nickelodeon, BET+ and BET, in addition to select third-party platforms that seek best-in-class content from both leading and rising Black creatives.
“As BET aligns with the evolving media landscape, BET Studios provides storytellers creative autonomy, leaving room for more veritable representation of Black culture on screen,” said Aisha Summers Burke, Executive Vice-President, and General Manager, BET Studios. “It is important to work with a team that was not only the best in their fields, but incredibly tuned into the complexities of the Black experience and we found this—and much more—in Jeni. Her industry acumen, creativity and innovation coupled with her ability to deeply connect with viewers are such powerful resources that will help take our rapidly growing BET Studios venture to new heights.”
Among Rice-Genzuk Henry’s projects in development with BET Studios are “Snatched,” an hour-long dramedy for SHOWTIME; and “Unlikely Stepmom,” a French format about a 25-year-old woman who falls in love with a middle-aged man, who, after a whirlwind romance reveals that he has a six-year-old daughter.
“Throughout BET’s 40-year legacy, the brand has been a leading force in providing a platform for quality Black storytelling that showcases the breadth of talent that our community has to offer,” says Rice-Genzuk Henry. “In collaborating with BET Studios, I am proud to be amplifying our voices through storytelling, and to uphold BET’s commitment to represent Black culture, authentically and unapologetically.”
Rice-Genzuk Henry is a talented writer who was previously an Executive Producer/Co-Showrunner on Freeform’s hit series “Grown-Ish” for four seasons, Co-Executive Producer on “Black-Ish” for three seasons, and an Executive Producer on BET’s very own long running comedy series “The Game.” Prior to becoming a writer, Rice-Genzuk Henry toured the country with the likes of Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child as a successful pop singer.
Rice-Genzuk Henry is represented by Michael Pelmont at The Nacelle Company, Scott Schwartz at Vision Art Management, and attorney Bob Getman at Jackoway Tyerman et al.
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