Documentarian Eddie Schmidt Lands Overall Deal at Universal TV

Universal Television has signed documentarian and producer Eddie Schmidt to an overall deal.

The pact with the Oscar and Emmy nominee encompasses both unscripted projects under Universal Television Alternative Studio and scripted ones via Universal TV. 

“We are thrilled that a filmmaker of Eddie’s caliber is joining our studio family after seeing his impressive work firsthand on History’s In Search Of,” Meredith Ahr, president of Universal Television Alternative Studio, said Monday in a statement. “With his directorial eye and documentary storytelling instincts, he brings a fresh perspective and breadth to our studio’s development slate, and we can’t wait to collaborate with him on his next big ideas.”

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Added Schmidt: “Since I was an 11-year-old-boy going door to door with a petition to save Harper Valley PTA from cancellation (note: 78 signatures), I’ve always felt a connection to NBCUniversal. As a grown-up content maker, I couldn’t be more excited to partner with Meredith and her incredible team to explore a full range of innovative storytelling opportunities in unscripted and beyond. I’m never more delighted than when new ideas are cooking, and it’s wonderful to have a home for them.”

Schmidt is an executive producer and director on In Search Of, History’s update of the 1977-82 series about mysterious phenomena. He earned an Oscar nomination in 2005 as a producer on the Kirby Dick-directed Twist of Faith and three News & Documentary Emmy noms in 2014 as a producer of HBO’s documentary Valentine Road.

He also has worked as a producer and director on unscripted shows ranging from Ugly Delicious to Chelsea Does and Newlyweds: The First Year.

Schmidt is repped by ICM Partners, Dialed-In Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman.