Leveraging Entertainment Industry Expertise & Leadership
Griff Entertainment was cofounded by Maria Calabrese, J.D. (former CEO/Founder of MC Squared Entertainment) and Ronnie Ward (former President of Merv Griffin Entertainment), who recognized early on the disruptive potential of providing OTT services – essentially delivering film and television content through the Internet, without requiring traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions. Collectively, the company’s cofounders bring more than a half century of entertainment industry experience – from management, marketing and law, to traditional and new media management, to content production and distribution.
Expanding New Media and Cross-Digital Platforms
Looking to target the more than 78% of U.S. consumers streaming at least one OTT service industry today, Griff Entertainment is focused on driving audience migration for online content creators who want to increase profitability, branch into mainstream broadcasting, and/or maximize their presence in the digital space.
As a full-service production company, Griff Entertainment produces and manages all creative, distribution and monetization aspects of programming, each on its own branded channels. They showcase emerging talent and content in both the traditional and new media spaces, while also producing and co-producing their own in-house original programming exclusively for their platform.
Empowering Content Creators and Producers
Griff Entertainment also extends these services and platform to clients planning to create and produce their own content. This supports the company’s mission to increase advertising and video-on-demand (VOD) revenue by liberating clients from the randomness and noise of social video platforms where individual content creators don’t “own” their audience (and thereby seldom see any income).
Rather than succumbing to the content and advertising control of video-sharing goliaths like YouTube or Netflix, media producers can now have a more direct communication path to their audiences via Griff’s management and services.
Partnering with Innovative Tech Studios
Having established a strategic tech partnership with dotstudioPRO, Griff offers the tools, services and technologies that put control directly in the hands of those wanting to build their own branded online channel(s), cross over to traditional TV and film, choose a combination of ad-serving and VOD…and earn profit. This means a lot more flexibility, scalability and cross-platform support (Roku, Smart TVs, Facebook, Mobile, Micro-sites) for content owners worldwide.
Launching Branded Channels and Original Programming
In 2017, Griff Entertainment announced the launch of its first OTT network, Green Bee Life, which promotes diversity within the modern cannabis lifestyle. Green Bee Life is currently in production with original programming and is offering channel and brand partnerships that will yield unparalleled video monetization solutions.
Do you have a vision?
We have a passion for people like you by supporting creative projects with purpose and helping them get the exposure they deserve.
Maria Calabrese
Co-Founder
Maria Calabrese, J.D., former CEO/Founder of MC Squared Entertainment, thrives off giving a voice to artists and helping them get the exposure they deserve. Her education and entertainment experience include marketing, law, cross-cultural communications, traditional TV/film management, branding, and production. Collaborating with raw talent to produce groundbreaking work is what has kept her deeply seated in the entertainment industry for over twenty years. During this massive shift from traditional television to new media, her focus has remained on the empowerment, management, and profitability of content creators and talent across all mediums. Like traditional broadcasting, she believes new content does not need just to compete for eyeballs, it can say something and can be commercially viable at the same time.
Maria is excited to help artists and brands grow within the digital space and tear down walls once created by entrenched entertainment industry gatekeepers. She feels we are at the beginning of a new wave of celebrity, where fame and influence can be channeled to produce entertaining yet social-conscious content that still benefits the client, the artist, audience, and advertiser. Her endless energy and enthusiasm has resulted in many awards and dinstinctions, including recently being honored as Mentor of the Year 2016, from LA Team Mentoring, a Non-Profit organization that provides services for at-risk youth.
Ronnie Ward
Co-Founder
Ronnie’s career began as a night watchman for Merv Griffin Studios at the world famous corner of Hollywood and Sunset. Throughout the years, Ward became involved in virtually every aspect of the organization resulting in a unique collaborate position with the media giant. Throughout his thirty-year career, he has kept his finger on the pulse of what makes people pay attention.
As the Vice Chairman of The Griffin Group, Ward oversaw all original programming and feature films. He shares Maria Calabrese’s passion for seeing the potential in a person or project before it “hits” and works to cultivate a strong and specific target audience that will grow and sustain itself over the years. In a world where attention spans have shortened, and audience loyalty is rare, he brings the secret sauce to every project, growing it into a long-lasting, moneymaking enterprise.
In his 2003 autobiography, Merv: Making the Good Life Last, Merv Griffin said of Ronnie Ward, “After more than twenty years of working with him, I’ve now concluded that typing is the only skill Ronnie lacks. He can handle any situation, from employee problems to business decisions. Nothing rattles him, not even Donald Trump.”