Fugitive Films Co-Founder and Ex-MTV Director Create Rommi: A New Romance-Based Digital Studio

Jamie Gordon, co-founder of Fugitive Films, and Maggie Malina, the former head of scripted programming at MTV, have established Rommi; a brand new digital studio dedicated to producing romance genre content. Based in New York City, Rommi plans on sourcing original narratives from established and best-selling authors for on-screen adaptations even before their print debut. The studio's inaugural original vertical rom-com is "Drive Me Mad," slated for an October release. The film is based on an original concept by romance author Ali Rosen, writer of "Unlikely Story" amongst others.

In addition to new creative endeavors, Rommi is also tasked with bringing best-selling romance novels to the screen, including “The Mixtape” by Brittainy Cherry and “This Spells Love” by Kate Robb. Further projects in the pipeline are original stories by authors such as Emma Grey and Debbie Rigaud.

Gordon, serving as CEO, and Malina, acting as Chief of Content, have also collaborated with Morgann Book and Thomas Johnston from Bookish Media, a production firm specalizing in book-based content. According to Gordon, the objective of Rommi is to cater to the romance reading community who devour romantic narratives across different platforms.

Malina further emphasized the studio's mission to satiate the appetite for a regular supply of well-produced content that complements traditional media. “Rommi will bridge the gap between streaming and theatrical releases, providing viewers with romantic escapism regardless of location.”

An experienced producer, Gordon is responsible for overseeing Rommi's business and marketing strategy. Her career achievements include Emmy-winning series, box-office hits as well as Oscar-nominated dramas. She stated that the studio emphasizes the significance of the author's voice and is looking forward to collaborating with Bookish Media.

Malina will head content development at the studio, bringing romance narratives to the screen and working with authors and creators. The former MTV/VH1 executive produced a number of female-centric hits for the network and has recent credits on popular digital streaming platforms.