EXCLUSIVE: Entertainment veterans Elisabeth Rohm and Kara Feifer have partnered to launch Rohm Feifer Entertainment, a film and television production company that will look to tell inspirational, female-forward stories steeped in true crime and true narratives that resonate with audiences of all kinds.
Already, the company with offices in L.A. and New York has made a deal with Village Roadshow Television to develop the series I Will Be Good, inspired by Bryan Smith’s article for Chicago magazine. Written by Karen Croner, it will tell the story of a $53 million bamboozle: how Rita Crundwell, the trusted comptroller of the small Illinois town of Dixon, pulled off the biggest municipal embezzlement in U.S. history to date without anyone noticing.
Rohm and Feifer are also taking an IP-based procedural out to market this year, led by Ed Bernero (Criminal Minds), based on the Willie Cuesta book series by Pulitzer Prize winning author John Lantigua about a Miami private detective. Rohm and Feifer will exec produce alongside Sam Sokolow (Nat Geo’s Genius), Carlos V. Gutierrez and Abdel Tornes.
At present, Rohm Feifer also has two projects in development at A+E Studios and A+E Factual Studios.
In a joint statement to Deadline, the company’s founders explained that it was “after years of starting projects independently but always ending up collaborating” that they decided to formalize their partnership. “We came to the realization that we’re stronger together,” added the duo. “We are aligned in our taste but most importantly we share a value system. We have each other’s backs….you know, the girl code. We are excited to create a brand that provokes conversation and promotes women.”
Best known for her role as ADA Serena Southerlyn on Law & Order, Rohm is also a frequent collaborator of David O. Russell’s, having appeared in both the Oscar-nominated American Hustle and the Golden Globe-nominated Joy. Active behind the cameras as the director of projects including Girl in the Basement, Switched Before Birth and Girl in Room 13, she is also known for her thought forum, The RESPECT Project, and as one of the founders of the entertainment networking platform, Creatricity. In addition to 2013’s Baby Steps: Having the Child I Always Wanted (Just Not as I Expected), Rohm previously penned the novel Nerissa, which is in development as a feature at Village Roadshow, with Rohm attached to direct and Greg Jordan penning the script.
Feifer has previously exec produced several films for Lifetime including Tempting Fate starring Alyssa Milano, To Have and To Hold, and Family Pictures, on which she and Rohm ignited their friendship and business relationship. Feifer is also the executive producer of the podcast She Wants More at iHeart Podcasts, about women and their stories of infidelity. She currently has a number of scripted and unscripted projects in development, including the Christmas movie Finding Atticus, which she will produce alongside Brad Krevoy, with Lorenzo Nardini exec producing. Boris Kodjoe is attached to direct from a script by Jennifer Maisel, and Nicole Ari Parker is attached to star.
Rohm Feifer Entertainment is repped by Buchwald. Rohm is with Buchwald, Luber Roklin and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Feifer with attorneys Nicole Page and Daniel Ain at Reavis Page Jump LLC.