Former agent Michael Gruber, who ankled the Creative Artists Agency nearly a year ago, has resurfaced as a producer, launching SideStreet Entertainment, a partnership with New Wave Entertainment.
Production shingle, formed with Matthew Walden, has already inked a first-look deal at MGM to develop films.
SideStreet will work closely with New Wave to develop television series and specials as well as expand the company’s foray into films.
Privately held New Wave is best known as a Burbank-based post-production facility that creates trailers, television commercials and other marketing materials for Hollywood’s major studios and TV webs.
“We are excited about our future with Matt and Michael, as we fully commit our resources and talent to the creation of television and film projects that SideStreet will develop,” said New Wave partner Paul Apel.
New Wave experienced
New Wave has already created several projects for cablers and network broadcasters including “Lindbergh Flies Again” for the History Channel, “Giants” and “Boomer Nation” for A&E and “M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs of Fear” for ABC. Michael Meadows has headed up New Wave’s TV efforts since 1999.”Our existing television division has had incredible success producing original television shows and DVD special features,” New Wave partner Alan Baral said. “SideStreet significantly accelerates the growth of our content business.”
At CAA Gruber repped such clients as thesps George Clooney and Ice Cube and directors Steve Carr and Brett Ratner. He ankled the tenpercentery in October 2002.
Gruber is producing MTV series “The Wade Robson Project.”
‘Friday’ knight
His other producing credits include New Line’s “Next Friday,” the sequel to the studio’s “Friday,” both of which starred former client Ice Cube.
Gruber began his entertainment career at the William Morris Agency, where he started out in the mailroom and moved up to head the shop’s motion picture talent department, where he first repped Clooney. He left the agency in 1999.
“I am very excited about this opportunity,” Gruber said. “Because of our forward-thinking partners at New Wave Entertainment and the incredible team at MGM, Matt and I will be able to use the resources we have to bring quality content to the public.”
Walden most recently served as a consultant to a number of film and television companies, including Fox, Mandalay Entertainment, David E. Kelley Prods., RCA and Paramount.
Before that, he was senior veep of Arista Records, responsible for the company’s West Coast operations. Walden also served as senior veep of music at Fox, where he oversaw “The Simpsons,” “The X-Files” and the pics “Romeo + Juliet” and “Waiting to Exhale.”
