No Joke Entertainment, the production company owned by Christian Comedian Akintunde and his wife, manager and producing partner, Eunissa Warnock have confirmed that Akintunde Live: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But has been picked up by Entertainment One (Mary-Mary/ Hunger Games) for television and home video distribution.
The standup comedy film is the first film under the comedian’s REBIRTH OF COMEDY brand, and was produced in partnership with Arrow Global Entertainment, Executive Produced by Pastors Creflo & Taffi Dollar, Directed by Leo Marshall with Akintunde and Eunissa Warnock serving as Co-Executive Producers. Under the agreement, Entertainment One will handle any and all television, digital and home video distribution for the project.
Allen Blackwell, Entertainment One VP of Urban Film and Comedy Programming has landed the television special at BET. Entertainment One will release the film into major retail outlets in 2014 as a special edition DVD.
Says Akintunde, “This is the first of what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship”. Akintunde and Eunissa are currently developing several television projects under their No Joke Entertainment/ Rebirth of Comedy brands. In addition to the distribution deal, Akintunde will be given his own channel on Entertainment One’s soon to be launched Certified Funny web channel. The space will include comedy videos featuring Akintunde and short films created by his NJE production company, as well as, video clips from other Comedians who operate within the Urban Faith Comedy genre.
The announcement comes fresh off two high profile appearances this past weekend at Bishop TD Jakes Megafest 2013, which saw Akintunde featured Friday on the Just Churchin comedy show (with Cedric the Entertainer, Michael Jr., David Mann, Lavell Crawford), which played to a packed house, and doubled as a television taping produced by Foxx King Entertainment. On Saturday night, Akintunde opened the Woman Of Purpose concert (with Mary-Mary, Baby Face, Jennifer Hudson). Akintunde will kick off the second leg of his 2013 Rebirth Of Comedy Tour this fall in support of the television special and home video debut. Look for Akintunde on the stand up comedy television series, Off Da Chain with Rodney Perry. The episode will debut this fall on the Bounce TV network.
[AKINTUNDE]
Akintunde is a 20 year stand up comedy veteran with scores of national television appearances across cable and Christian broadcast networks (BET, TBN, WORD NETWORK, TBS). He is a frequent ghost writer for some of the biggest names in comedy, and served as Monologue Writer, Producer and Head Writer for the BET networks series, The Mo’Nique Show. He is the first comedian to be signed as an Artist to Atlanta’s Arrow-Records.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
