Former HBO Europe executives Johnathan Young and Ioanina Pavel have launched a new production company, May One, aiming to develop and produce high-end TV drama in Romania for local and international audiences.
The veteran TV execs have been involved in several high-profile HBO productions shot in Eastern Europe, including the award-winning Polish series Wataha (The Pack), the Romanian-German
thriller Hackerville, and HBO Max’s Cold War espionage drama Spy/Master, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival last year.
‘Spy/Master’
Max
As VP of Original Production at HBO Europe, Young oversaw HBO’s slate of original local language series in the region. Pavel began as a development executive at HBO Romania, working on such series as the gangster drama Umbre and Hackerville, before going on to produce a variety of shows, from the romantic drama RUXX to Spy/Master.
May One will be based in Bucharest and plans to develop, produce and co-produce high-end series to shoot in Romania, working both with local and international talent.
The company’s first commission, Subteran, for Netflix, is currently shooting. The crime drama, a co-production with Spy/Master producer Tudor Reu of Mobra Films, is from The Bill writer Steve Bailie and follows a mother working in IT who ends up fighting undercover against a group of Bucharest criminals.
“Romania is a hot-bed for creativity, and the country provides an enticing and fascinating backdrop for TV,” says Young. “With our knowledge and network in this vibrant, exciting space we want to be a hub for local talent, to attract collaborations, and create high-quality drama that brings a different flavor to international audiences.”
“Here in Romania we have ideas that won’t be found anywhere else, and the creative talent to back them up,” says Pavel. “Our aim is to elevate these for local and global audiences, tapping into our unique vision and landscape to create bold, genre shows that feel unique and distinctive, but have broad appeal.”
