Mark Schwahn inks trio of TV deals

Posted on October 6th, 2008 by blueaeryn

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‘One Tree Hill’ creator pacts with CBS Par, WBTV

By Nellie Andreeva

Oct 6, 2008, 01:00 AM ET

Mark Schwahn is mixing television and music with three new deals.

The “One Tree Hill” creator has inked a two-year exclusive overall deal with CBS Paramount Network TV and a pact with CBS Records to launch his own imprint.

Additionally, Schwahn has inked a one-year agreement with Warner Bros. TV, which co-produces “Hill” with Tollin/Robbins Prods., to continue as executive producer and showrunner on the CW series, a major step towards a potential seventh-season pickup for the ensemble drama.

Under the pact with CBS Par TV, which begins in June, Schwahn will develop new series projects. That is a long way from his early days as a filmmaker who never considered a career in television until he hit a brick wall trying to get a feature script made for a basketball-themed drama set in high school. Brian Robbins, Mike Tollin and Joe Davola of Tollin/Robbins — which produced two movies penned by Schwahn, “The Perfect Score” and “Coach Carter” — suggested he should try reworking the project as a TV series.

“The first thing out of my mouth was: ‘I don’t want to do TV,’ ” Schwahn said. “I was such a knucklehead feature writer.”

He later reconsidered, and the ill-fated feature script became “One Tree Hill.” Schwahn never regretted it.

“I really have embraced television,” he said. “The writer has creative control in television, and it’s very fulfilling to make a mini feature every nine days.”

“Hill” has been creatively reinvigorated this season with the series’ four-year jump into the future. And paired with “Gossip Girl,” it has turned Monday into a flagship night in the ratings for the CW, making a renewal for “Hill” a no-brainer. With Schwahn on board — CBS Par has agreed to loan him out to work on “Hill” one last season if it is renewed while developing for CBS Par — the only hurdle is signing the cast, with talks under way to lock them in.

Schwahn said he is happy to stay at WBTV to run the show he loves, but for his future TV endeavors, he felt CBS Par was the best fit.

“Warner Bros. has been a wonderful home, but CBS Paramount embraced the entrepreneurial spirit of what I’d like to do,” he said.

That entrepreneurial spirit includes venturing into the music business with his deal at CBS Records.

Music has always been close to Schwahn’s heart: He was once in a band and describes himself as “a frustrated musician who wasn’t good but wanted to be great.”

Music has had a very strong presence on “Hill,” whose episodes Schwahn names after songs. The show constantly features music and performances by artists like Gavin DeGraw, whose popularity skyrocketed after his track “I Don’t Wanna Be” became the show’s theme song. What’s more, “Hill” has a major music-themed plotline built around Payton (Hilarie Burton), allowing the introduction of aspiring musicians as recurring characters played by up-and-coming artists like Kate Voegele and Tyler Hilton.

Schwahn said he hopes to take his support for young musical talent up another level with his CBS Records deal, working with Larry Jenkins, head of CBS Records, and Amy Osler, head of CBS Par TV’s music division.

“It really comes from a pure place. I’m a fan of music, I feel I have a good ear for it and I would love to be able to help shine a light on new artists and new music even more than what I can do via ‘One Tree Hill,’ ” he said.

Music also will continue to be a big part of Schwahn’s TV projects. For instance, one of the series ideas he is looking to tackle under the CBS Par deal is set in the music industry.

Schwahn is repped by Endeavor and attorneys Jared E. Levine and Kevin Yorn.

Source

Mark Schwahn, One Tree Hill

27 Responses to “Mark Schwahn inks trio of TV deals”

Tutor Wife a.K.a LeytonOTH~Lucas: Peyton, you’ve helped me so much without saying a word. And I love you. Peyton: I love you. Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 9:07 am

That is awesome for Mark! he deserves it I hope we get a 7th season
leytonrox94 Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 9:15 am

Pls pls pls let uas get a seventh season
Steven Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 9:33 am

Looks like a Seventh Season is more probable at the moment than an end after the sixth season.
Anom Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:03 am

I hope to god the cast doesn’t sign on for a 7th. I’m hoping for a miracle. This show already is a mess and a 7th will just be disaster in the making. Without Chad this show is going to suck big time and will not last in ratings lol!, and I’m not watching if there’s is a 7th, One Tree Hill doesn’t need a 7th season, 6 season is enough already. No more than to drag out the show than need to be, all 7 will do is fck everything up with out some of the cast.
OTHfan Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:08 am

They should make a spin-off!
and BROOKE as the lead star, the story is about struggling on clothes over bros’..
Kaitlin Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:15 am

Normally I would agree with Anom, however, I feel like it would be hard for them to wrap everything up in this season. Even though the 7th season will probably be sub-par, I’d still like it to happen just for closure purposes.
Niisu Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:58 am

I’m worried for Leyton if there’s a 7th season :/
ErinG Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:58 am

There is plenty of time to wrap the show up this season, a 7th season would be awful and would totally ruin the show in my opionion. The whole cast is already past the point of being bored with this show. The only reason a 7th season is being disired is for $$$$$. I want this show to go out with some dignity, and that won’t happen is there is a 7th season. Plus, I guarantee, not all the actors would renew their contracts.
PETER Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

Let’s be honest, if there is a seventh you know your all watchin’, & I am too.

I get the ‘what if they drag out the show?’ questions, but come on, this is the show where the creator decided to be different from every other high school drama & skip ahead past the college years. Making the show so fresh and new and AWESOME.

I hate that everybody underestimates the writers cause I know Mark wouldn’t bring it back for another year to kill it, he’d bring it back cause he has more ideas that he hasn’t had time to put to paper just yet.

What I think? Christmas, New Year’s, Snowball fights after road tripping to a colder place with the Scotts & friends…so many ideas left. Just because Luke & Peyton or Brooke or Lindsey or Whitey are together doesn’t mean the shows done. Same for Naley & Jamie.

Just because Luke & Peyton are together most of you girls don’t want to see a 7th cause you think somethings gonna’ happen between them. & incase this sounds mean to Leyton fans, cause I don’t want it to, I love you all
You gotta’ admit most of you are thinkin’ that.

You gotta’ think about it like this

Lucas and Peyton haven’t been together since a couple episodes in Season 4, then the 4 year jump which they barely saw each other..which I think makes Brucas the longer running relationship.

I’m just saying, theres so much more to see in ‘Tree Hill’

let’s not say STOP, no S7 when this season isn’t even over yet cause I bet Mark has something big happening in the finale which would force a seventh
Christy Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:20 pm

I want a 7th season!
Ash Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

I agree with ErinG. There is plenty of time to wrap of everything with S6. The first of half the show and we are only up to Episode 6 next week and it’s still going by fast, and it seems to be getting boring as hell already. We haven’t even reach finish the first half of the season and I’m getting bored and tired with all the storylines. We have 17 more Episodes to go into the Season, and I have no idea what the hell they will do, it is starting to become boring as it is already. Just imagining a 7th is really awful and without all of the actors not renew just makes it more sad to even think about how 7 will be. Wow!

All CW is looking at is $$$ I agree and it’s the only way that it’s even being renew in the first place, because OTH doing 3 million is really not saying something and to think it’s enough to get a renewal is kinda sad. But all I know is that 7th season will just be ruining the show more than it already is, and will really become a Joke if it already is not, and what more can they do more recycling storylines over and over and over again. It is already getting tiring as it is with the reuse of Psycho, triangles, Dan maybe dying every season, etc… It will just be disaster.
Steven Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:35 pm

I totally agree with PETER. Mark would never ruin the show. If there is a seventh season, mark will have plenty ideas. And i`m sure that there won’t be a seventh season, if not all main actors are in. I think: If there is a seventh season it’s great. If not, it is also great.
charlene aka (Cha Cha) Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

Well said peter and I agree Marks gotta have some things up his sleeve for a 7th season to happen
Cody Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

If Mark didn’t have more of the story to tell he wouldn’t continue it - he isn’t solely doing the show for money. The show doesn’t make as much profit as it is due to the high production costs with filming on location so if the CW wanted it just for more money they wouldn’t continue doing it - I believe that if there is a season 7 the CW wants to promote the other related shows in hopes of having OTH fans watch more shows in the channel as some/most people only watch the CW for OTH.

Most of the people who don’t want there to be a S7 are LPers thinking that Mark will end with BL which is a little selfish.
Ash Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Mark already ruin the show. Have you guys not seen the recycling of Storlines already?? OTH has become a Joke really, I would rather it leave with dignity than become more ridiculous than it already is. It is surviving because of loyalty of OTH fans, I can grantee that this show hasn’t been what it use to be.

I just don’t see all of cast signing on, They look bored as it is, and you can totally see it in the past few Episodes and I think they just want to move on. You can see that they are not even getting excite for their storlines. I can’t blame them really, because they are not being given anything, especailly Hilarie/Chad/Jame and Joy. I feel sorry for them. Chad barely is on the screen, Hilarie barely gets anything to even have passion for. James I don’t know what Nathan does really and Joy same thing.

How can Mark end it with BL with out CHAD??? It’s not whether LP fan think that or not, there are plenty of NH fans and BL fans that don’t want a S7. With a 7th LPers wouldn’t give a fck, because there’s no Chad and without Chad means no LP or for that matter no BL…. and without Joy there surely isn’t any NH.

So to make a statement on that is really ridiculous, everyone knows, NOT ALL OF THE CAST IS GOING TO RESIGN.
Debra Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 1:05 pm

I agree with Peter there is no way Mark would bring OTH back for a 7th season if he didn’t have ideas for storylines and plots already. He’s often said OTH is his baby he’s not going to let it just suck. Also of course a 7th season would be motivated by money. TV is an inducstry the whole point of which is to make money and actors like to get paid. Acting is such a fickle industry you really can’t fault an actor for wanting a steady paycheck. But I don’t know that they’d make a season 7 if not all 5 of the main characters were on board. They could I just don’t know if they would. At this point Brooke would be the easiest to write out if Sophia dodn’t want to come back.

As for the Leyton stuff. I choose to look at it this way a season 7 could equal a pregnant Peyton/an LP baby. Mark has said Lucas and Peyton are soul mates he’s not really going to take that back and break them up…but he will give them bumps and add drama to their lives. He doesn’t really do happy couples.

As for the longer relationship…if measured in time (like years) it would be Leyton if measured in show time (like how many episodes they were together) it would be Brucas.
leyton4ever Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

one tree hill is awsome…i dont think its boring and i would definately watch a seventh series…i dont think Mark could ever ruin the show!!! seventh series
Debra Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

I think you mean re-sign not resign. One means to sign again and one means to quit.
Ash Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

re-sign, resign, come back, quit whatever….. People know what was said.
charlene aka (Cha Cha) Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 1:35 pm

Yes OTH is awesome and I would totally watch a 7th season
charlene aka (Cha Cha) Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

Yey my new icon is finally working hey tutor wife I like your new icon
Kenzie137 Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

I luv OTH…n I am so crazy after it that i can watch the whole season the whole night. I surely want a 7th season…..da sixth is so amazing!
i wish sumtin gr8 happens l8r.
oh n i want luc n brooke to b together!
n haley n nathan wid jamie
n millie n mouth
deb n skills!

god its one of the two shows i crave to watch includin gossip girls!
Tutor Wife a.K.a LeytonOTH~Lucas: Peyton, you’ve helped me so much without saying a word. And I love you. Peyton: I love you. Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

haha thanks i like it too
bia Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

are you kidding when you say the actors arent excited?
in a recent interview with hilarie burton i think from buddy tv not sure, she says how excited she was that they were bringing back her dad! she said she researched the actor, and found out how much of a music legend he was and got totally pumped! most people on here dont know what they are talking about, so dont speak unless you know for sure.
Carline ---Can a text message change your life? ---I believe it can! XD Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

I totally agree with you, Debra!
Mark still has a few tricks up his sleeves.. soo..
Like Peter said, we all would still watch. haha cuz i know i would..

Whatever happens, i’m behind OTH all the way. haha
One Tree Hill BR » Blog Archive » Mark Schwann Dá Um Grande Passo Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:47 pm

[...] OTHBlog Por [...]
Alexandria..Leyton=Endgame Says:
October 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm

i lovve one tree hill, and of course i want a seventh season. that is more time for leyton to be together and have a cute little leyton baby. and i agree with peter, im sure that mark wouldnt have another season without good storylines!!!
I WANT A SEASON 7!!!!!!