Fifth Season Launches Quite Contrary Pictures for Non-Scripted Productions

Fifth Season has officially launched Quite Contrary Pictures, a dedicated non-scripted and documentary production banner led by Emmy-winning executive Mary Lisio. This new entity will serve as the primary home for all of Fifth Season's non-scripted projects, including documentary features, docuseries, and reality formats. Lisio, who previously held the position of Executive Vice President of non-scripted development and production at Fifth Season, will oversee the new banner as its president.

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Mary Lisio will be joined by several senior executives from Fifth Season's nonfiction division, including executive producer Elissa Johnson. Together, they will collaborate with the studio's global team, which includes CEO Graham Taylor and long-time collaborator Ariel Richter. Taylor praised Lisio's expertise and vision, stating that her leadership is pivotal in scaling Fifth Season's non-scripted storytelling capabilities.

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Before her tenure at Fifth Season, Lisio held significant roles in the industry, including a senior executive position at Blumhouse Television and serving as Senior Vice President of nonfiction and branded content for Ridley Scott’s Scott Free and RSA Films. Her accolades include an Emmy Award for the History Channel feature “Gettysburg,” along with two additional nominations for National Geographic’s “Killing Jesus” and “Killing Kennedy.”

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Lisio articulated that Quite Contrary Pictures represents a natural evolution of Fifth Season's existing non-scripted work. She expressed optimism about the new banner's potential to create engaging content for broad audiences, emphasizing the importance of flexibility in navigating the fast-paced and evolving landscape of non-scripted media.

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Fifth Season has a history of successful non-scripted projects, including titles such as “Folktales,” “Death Cap: The Mushroom Murders,” and the forthcoming “Earth, Wind, & Fire” documentary. Other notable works from the studio include “McCartney 3, 2, 1,” “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” and “Superpower.”

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Graham Taylor remarked on the establishment of Quite Contrary Pictures, highlighting it as a strategic move to empower Lisio and the Fifth Season team in their non-scripted storytelling endeavors. Lisio echoed this sentiment, stating, “Moving forward, we’ll be better equipped than ever to create captivating non-scripted and documentary content for wide audiences.”

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With the launch of Quite Contrary Pictures, Fifth Season aims to expand its portfolio of non-scripted content, promising to deliver innovative and engaging storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences. The industry will be watching closely to see how this new venture unfolds under Lisio's leadership.

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