Dany Levy Launches New Production Banner, Taps Megan Zehmer

Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy has launched a new production banner, Not A Real Production Company. Levy has also tapped long-time publicist Megan Zehmer to serve as its president of film and television. In the role, she will oversee all development and work to expand the company’s slate.

The launch comes as Levy officially begins an overall deal with NetflixNFLX
. Levy had previously signed onto a first-look feature film deal with the streaming giant. In addition, Levy had already announced an original untitled film for Netflix. The project will be his feature directorial debut and he is set to produce with Zehmer, Stacey Snider and Kate Fenske.

Zehmer is a long-time collaborator for Levy. She was integral in the PR campaign that took Schitt’s Creek from a cult darling to a comedy powerhouse, complete with a barrage of Emmy wins.

“Megan navigated the PR roll-out for the Schitt’s Creek Emmy campaign with such an impressive level of skill, taste, and ingenuity… Preserving the integrity of the show was always paramount for her, and that’s not always the case. It’s a rare gift to be able to lead with both heart and head,” Levy explains. “And that’s precisely the skillset I was looking for in a partner for Not A Real Production Company – someone with impeccable taste who could approach our development with both a savvy understanding of the business side of things and a real sensitivity to the humanity of the creative process.”

The two have high praise for each other. “To have the privilege of knowing Dan is to know that his work is an accurate reflection of his heart. Watching him contribute an immeasurable amount of good to the world through Schitt’s Creek was easily one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and there’s no one I believe in more than him. I also happen to be fairly fond of him!” says Zehmer. “Our foundation of mutual trust and respect, borderline telepathic shorthand, and shared creative vision made this next step in our partnership all but inevitable. And the fact that our first project together is Dan’s film, for which he has written one of the most special scripts I’ve read in a long time, is overwhelming, to say the least.”

The company already has an impressive slate across several major streaming brands. The Big Brunch on HBO Max will be the first show to debut later this year. The Big Brunch is a cooking competition show produced alongside Boardwalk Pictures. Also in development is the adult animation comedy, Standing By on Hulu. Standing By, co-created by Levy and Ally Pankiw, is a comedy about disgruntled guardian angels.

“At the end of the day, my goal for this company is to continue to produce and create elevated projects across all mediums, genres, and formats that resonate with people in meaningful ways,” says Levy. “I am thrilled to say that our current slate of projects surpasses all our expectations.”