Producers Tony Hernandez and Lilly Burns Launch Counterpart Studios with Elise Henderson
Former Jax Media executives Tony Hernandez and Lilly Burns have joined forces with Elise Henderson, former MRC TV president, to establish Counterpart Studios.
The trio has been working together under the Counterpart banner for the past year, with Hernandez as CEO, Burns as chief creative officer, and Henderson as president. Sarah Madigan, who previously held senior positions at Jax Media and Imagine, has also come on board as the chief operating officer.
The team’s extensive experience in production and industry relationships will be pivotal in driving business to Counterpart. The company will offer production services for third-party projects while also focusing on its in-house development initiatives.
“We believe that high-quality, efficient production is the key to creative success, and we have built a company around that model,” Hernandez, Henderson, and Burns stated. “Our process revolves around the artist/creator, remaining agile, and delivering premium content to buyers at the right price.”
Over the past year, Counterpart has already made significant strides with projects like “Dexter Original Sin” and “Dexter: Resurrection” for Paramount+/Showtime, as well as the darkly comedic thriller “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” for Apple TV+, starring Tatiana Maslany. Additionally, they are working on a comedy series “Free Bert” for Netflix.
Counterpart also has several internal projects in the pipeline, including an international action crime thriller, an erotic thriller, and a workplace comedy, all set to premiere on various streaming platforms.
Hernandez and Burns previously sold Jax Media to Imagine Entertainment in 2018, with Imagine acquiring the remaining interest in January 2023, coinciding with Hernandez and Burns’ departure. Hernandez originally founded Jax Media in New York in 2011.
Henderson brings her expertise from her time as a literary agent at William Morris Agency and UTA, as well as her experience as a development executive at Universal Cable Prods. before joining MRC in 2019.
Counterpart currently operates out of offices in both New York and Los Angeles, solidifying its presence on both coasts.
(Image: Counterpart’s Elise Henderson, Lilly Burns, Tony Hernandez, and Sarah Madigan)
