Story Syndicate
 | |
| Industry | Film industry |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 2019 |
| Founder | |
| Headquarters | |
| Website | storysyndicate |
Story Syndicate is an American film production and television production company founded in 2019 by Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan. The company primarily features documentary films and television series.
They have produced such films as All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020), Fauci (2021), Becoming Cousteau (2021), Take Care of Maya (2023), and Titan: The OceanGate Disaster (2025). They have also produced the television series The Innocence Files (2020), I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020–21), Nuclear Family (2021), Harry & Meghan (2022), Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York (2023), and Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (2025).
History
[edit]In June 2019, it was announced Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan would launch Story Syndicate, a production company, producing documentary and narrative film and television series.[1][2]
The company has produced such films as All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020) directed by Garbus and Lisa Cortés,[3] Fauci (2021), directed by John Hoffman and Janet Tobias,[4] Becoming Cousteau (2021), directed by Garbus,[5] Britney vs. Spears (2021), directed by Erin Lee Carr,[6] and Mayor Pete directed by Jesse Moss.[7]
The company has also produced multiple documentary series including Harry & Meghan (2022), Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023),[8] Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York (2023), Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (2025), and One Night in Idaho: The College Murders.[9][10][11]
In October 2023, Story Syndicate launched a scripted film and television division, signing a first-look deal with Tomorrow Studios.[12]
Controversy
[edit]In August 2023, it was announced employees of Story Syndicate had secured voluntary union recognition, to be represented by the Writers Guild of America East and Motion Pictures Editors Guild.[13][14] The deal with Writers Guild of America East was finalized in June 2025.[15] In November 2024, following eight months of bargaining, a petition by the unions stressed the company to finalize a fair deal for employees, with signatures from Lilly Wachowski, John Walsh, Tom Fontana, and Josh Gondelman.[16]
In June 2025, Motion Pictures Editors Guild held a protest at the premiere of Titan: The OceanGate Disaster at Tribeca Festival, distributing fliers bringing attention to alleged anti-union conduct by Story Syndicate. Motion Pictures Editors Guild previously in March 2025, brought charges against Story Syndicate to the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of refusing to bargain and bad faith bargaining.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Thompson, Anne (June 17, 2019). "Documentarians Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus Launch New Production Company — Exclusive". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (June 17, 2019). "Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan Launch Production Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 17, 2020). "Amazon Studios Acquires Stacey Abrams Untitled Voting Rights Documentary; Eyes Theatrical Release Before Election". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 1, 2021). "Dr. Anthony Fauci Documentary In Works At Nat Geo From Oscar And Emmy Winners; Watch First Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "National Geographic Documentary Films and Picturehouse to Release Liz Garbus' "Becoming Cousteau" on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021". BusinessWire. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (September 21, 2021). "Britney Spears Conservatorship Documentary From Netflix Declares "It's Enough" In First Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (February 22, 2021). "Pete Buttigieg Doc 'Mayor Pete' Lands at Amazon Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Mass, Jennifer (November 28, 2022). "Hulu Sets Sarah Lawrence Sex Cult Docuseries as 'God Forbid' Becomes Its Most-Watched Doc Film Ever (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ "HBO Original Docuseries LAST CALL: WHEN A SERIAL KILLER STALKED QUEER NEW YORK Debuts July 9". Warner Bros. Discovery. June 21, 2023. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Richards, Amanda (January 17, 2024). "Untitled Gilgo Beach Doc Series Will Shed Light on a Case Unfolding in Real Time". Netflix. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ Jones, CT (June 12, 2025). "New Docuseries Reveals the Untold Story of the Idaho Murders". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (October 12, 2023). "Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan's Story Syndicate Launches Scripted Division Led by Nellie Reed (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ Cho, Winston (August 8, 2023). "Story Syndicate Workers Win Voluntary Union Recognition From Management". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ "Workers at Story Syndicate Successfully Unionize". Writers Guild of America East. August 8, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Campione, Katie (June 24, 2025). "WGA East Ratifies First Union Contract With Nonfiction Producer Story Syndicate Nearly 2 Years After Organizing Workers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ Campione, Katie (November 14, 2024). "WGA East & Motion Picture Editors Guild Petition 'Harry & Meghan' Producers Story Syndicate To Finalize Fair Contract". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
- ^ Campione, Katie (June 6, 2025). "Editors Guild Protests Against Nonfiction Producer Story Syndicate At Tribeca Premiere Of OceanGate Submersible Documentary 'Titan'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 7, 2025.