Magna Studios has officially embarked on its journey, co-founded by Marisa Clifford and Davud Karbassioun. This new venture aims to make a significant mark in the industry, leveraging their extensive experience and connections.

Spanning across various sectors including film, non-fiction, commercials, branded entertainment, and music content, Magna Studios has been operating quietly behind the scenes for over a year. Both Clifford, who previously co-founded Pulse Films before exiting in early 2022 after its acquisition by Vice, and Karbassioun, the former global president of Pulse, have been diligently establishing this new enterprise in major hubs like London, New York, and Los Angeles.

Now, with a talented roster of individuals, a well-structured team of department heads, and an impressive pipeline of productions ready to roll, the duo is excited to officially launch Magna and announce its upcoming projects. This includes a feature film recently premiered in Berlin and a highly anticipated documentary focused on the band Oasis.

“What we achieved at Pulse was to create something truly exciting with a wealth of talented individuals,” Clifford reflects. “However, this presented us with a chance to innovate, to gather all the best people we’ve encountered over our years in this industry, and form a team of exceptional talent across our various divisions while also signing top-notch creatives.”

In addition to Clifford and Karbassioun, the Magna team features several former executives from Pulse, including James Sorton (managing director of commercials), Olly Calleja (SVP of non-fiction), Louis Mole (creative director of non-fiction), Sam Bridger (head of music documentaries), and Tim O’Shea (group director of commercial & business affairs).

Clifford emphasizes that Magna has launched with “substantial capital,” receiving funding from Lumina, an investment platform established last year by her Pulse co-founder Thomas Benski, who also holds the position of chairman at Magna.

“What sets this venture apart was our access to financial resources,” she explains. “It’s crucial to have the ability to invest, finance intellectual property, and fund development. Spending all your time navigating development deals with various networks can be a lengthy process, which is counterproductive.”

Clifford points out that waiting for projects to be commissioned isn’t what they envisioned for Magna.

“It was essential for us to secure significant funding so we could invest in our own projects and in the talent we represent,” she asserts, highlighting their proactive approach to production.

The inaugural feature project from Magna Studios is titled “Straight Circle,” which marks the feature film debut of London filmmaker Oscar Hudson. This dark comedy explores the absurdities of war and has been produced with the expertise of renowned creators 2am, known for hits like “Past Lives” and “Babygirl.” The film recently made its debut at the European Film Market in Berlin, with Film Constellation managing sales.

“We assisted in developing, packaging, and producing it, and it is currently in post-production,” reveals Karbassioun. “I genuinely believe it’s an exceptional project. It’s a highly conceptual piece from a filmmaker whose work we’ve admired for years.”

Hudson is among the talented individuals Magna is collaborating with across its various divisions. He, like several of the directors associated with Magna, previously worked at Pulse, where he earned the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions for a Nike commercial. Other notable talents include Asif Kapadia and James Marsh, both of whom have won Oscars and continue to thrive in the industry. Recently, Magna also signed Brady Corbet.

Corbet made headlines earlier this year during awards season when he revealed that he had yet to earn a dollar from his epic feature “The Brutalist,” which ultimately went on to win three Oscars.

“I just directed three commercials in Portugal,” he shared with Marc Maron on the WTF podcast. “It’s the first time I’ve made any money in years.”

Interestingly, these commercials were produced for Bloomberg and created by Magna, showcasing their ability to diversify talent income streams.

“I had to chase him for his invoice, and I received this incredible message from him saying, ‘This is my first paycheck,’” recalls Karbassioun. “Meanwhile, he’s at the Oscars, winning Best Director at the BAFTAs. It’s truly insane and highlights a fundamental issue within the system.”

In the meantime, Magna is pleased to provide such auteur filmmakers with essential revenue streams between their feature projects. Karbassioun notes that Corbet is planning additional projects with them.

Branded entertainment is another vital focus for Magna, as the company collaborates with brands that are eager to embrace an entertainment mindset, as explained by Karbassioun, moving away from conventional commercials and product placements.

Among the projects in development is a feature film that will feature a significant lead casting role, substantially financed by a brand.

“They recognize the value of it from both a branding and relationship perspective, and they’re also invested, ensuring a commercial return on that investment,” explains Karbassioun. As Clifford emphasizes: “It’s about discovering ways to finance opportunities, and brands are increasingly interested in funding projects.”

Alongside the brand-funded feature, another major film is also in development at Magna. Additionally, as announced earlier this year, Magna is producing a highly anticipated documentary documenting the upcoming Oasis reunion tour, in collaboration with Steven Knight, the creator of “Peaky Blinders.” Due to a plethora of NDAs, very little can be disclosed about the film at this time.

“It’s an exciting project, extremely compelling, and quite unique,” Karbassioun remarks, albeit cautiously.

The Oasis documentary—which will be distributed by Sony Music Vision—is directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, which brings Magna back to its foundational roots. Back in 2012, Southern and Lovelace directed the LCD Soundsystem film “Shut Up and Play the Hits,” a significant early success for Pulse Films that marked its entry into the realm of music documentaries and, eventually, scripted projects.

In many respects, Magna Studios—already operating within the commercial, branded, unscripted, and scripted spaces while boasting a library of established and emerging talent—feels like an advanced version of Pulse.

“It’s interesting to embark on this journey again,” Clifford reflects. “When we initiated it the first time, we were youthful and inexperienced, running around without a clear roadmap. Now, embarking on this second venture, there are numerous expectations from ourselves and others regarding our objectives and what differentiates this endeavor. However, we also possess a wealth of knowledge, allowing us to navigate potential pitfalls more effectively.”

As she notes: “I believe we have genuinely embraced the challenge of building it in a more streamlined, intelligent, and rapid manner while focusing on profitability. This enables us to secure financing opportunities while assembling an extraordinary team of talented individuals.”