EXCLUSIVE
Former WME agent John Fogelman has lost the primary investor in his new consulting firm — his former client, the producer J.J. Abrams — three individuals close to the company have told TheWrap.
Abrams' involvement was taking too much of the producer's time, one knowledgeable individual said.
Fogelman launched FactoryMade Ventures last September after precipitously leaving WME in the wake of the William Morris – Endeavor merger.
FactoryMade Ventures bills itself as "a hybrid entertainment, media business development and consulting firm that partners with leading creative talent and inspired companies to develop and deliver content across multiple platforms worldwide."
Also read: Did WME's John Fogelman Jump Before Being Pushed?
An individual familiar with the situation said that there is no acrimony involved, but that with Abrams running his own company, Bad Robot, directing the "Star Trek" sequel and writing and producing television shows, he didn't have time to devote to FactoryMade.
The individual said that Abrams hopes to collaborate with Fogelman on future projects. But for now, the investment was not a good fit.
Reached by TheWrap, Fogelman replied only that he was in a screening, and did not respond to the news of losing his principal investor.
Abrams had no comment.
Also read: John Fogelman Launches FactoryMade Ventures
When Fogelman announced the company in September, Abrams said, "I was immediately struck by his ability to identify creative opportunities and his determination and skill to actually realize them … I felt strongly about continuing to work with John, and this was a chance to support his latest ambitious enterprise, just as he has supported me over the years.”
According to the company's website, FactoryMade is currently developing projects with Michael Bay, Robert Rodriguez, Thom Beers and Whoopi Goldberg.
Fogelman, who left WME earlier this year, had been with the agency for 18 years. Along with Abrams, Bay and Goldberg, his clients included Kevin Spacey, Eric Bana and Courteney Cox.
It was unclear what the immediate implications would be for Fogelman's new company.