Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited is a new venture focused on producing original genre entertainment that specifically engages enthusiasts and “makes it fun to be a fan again.”
Robert Meyer Burnett
July 5, 2024 – Robert Meyer Burnett and Mike Bawden – two, self-professed “imagination connoisseurs” – have launched a new venture focused on producing original genre entertainment that specifically engages enthusiasts and “makes it fun to be a fan again.”
Entertainment industry veteran, writer-producer-director Burnett (FREE ENTERPRISE, WHITE DEVILS, THE HILLS RUN RED) and Bawden, a relative newcomer to the entertainment business, with over 30 years’ experience in marketing, public relations, and business management, have teamed up to launch their new venture, Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited, LLC (ICU).
A focus on fans
Mike Bawden
“ICU’s focus will be on finding and partnering with creators who have fresh ideas and work with them hand-in-hand to produce new, genre entertainment projects that both entertain and engage fans on a whole new level,” explained Bawden. “Rob (Burnett) brings decades of experience and authority into the genre entertainment space, having worked on a variety of projects from sci-fi to horror to fantasy and animation.”
“My job is to make sure we understand the fan base around each genre so well that we can produce these highly focused creative projects on a tight budget and make sure they connect,” he continued.
“Our business model is built on finding ways to create high-value engagement with smaller, well-defined fandoms that result in long-term, highly profitable relationships. Fans being fans, will come back to you and pay for more multiple opportunities to engage and be entertained by your IP franchise, provided you treat them with respect and reflect an understanding of their interests in the material you produce.”
“The big studios can keep their big blockbuster productions and multi-billion-dollar franchises,” said Burnett. “Our interest is in finding new stories to tell and making sure the original creators of that intellectual property are actively involved in the ongoing development of their creations.”
“We have very high standards for the kinds of material we want to produce and the production values we intend to maintain on the projects we present to the public.”
The two plan on announcing their first project – expected to release in September of 2024 – later this month.
Latest News …
ICU, LLC launches new website and Patreon campaign.
Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited, LLC (ICU) debuted its new website and unveiled an on-going campaign on Patreon designed to both raise funds for the fledgling production company and engage fans who want to take a “deep dive” into the business of creating new, genre entertainment.
ICU, LLC enters into a production agreement with author Max Alan Collins
ICU, LLC has entered into a production agreement with best-selling author Max Allan Collins (ROAD TO PERDITION, MS. TREE) to develop his Nathan Heller series of detective/crime novels for various media.