EXCLUSIVE: Here’s the scoop on the newest shop in town: Ex-BET exec Marvin Neil and indie film financier Kevin Weisberg have launched Inaugural Entertainment.
The L.A.-based independent studio will look to produce, acquire and distribute commercially-driven films from underrepresented voices and debuts with Whippin’ the Work from debutant director Allen Maldonado (Heels). Working alongside the founders is Ryan D. Adams, who has been named as Chief Operating Officer.
Whippin’ the Work is billed as a heartfelt drama following Jay Hussle, a recently released inmate and former street hustler who attempts to rebuild his life and open a restaurant in his old neighborhood with his daughter, who refuses to leave behind the very streets that led her father to prison. Production begins this summer ahead of a planned theatrical release in early 2026. Cast details haven’t been released yet.
Former BET and Paramount exec Neil will lead development and production at Inaugural and will aim to produce two or more films per year. He held a variety of roles at Paramount before switching to the studio’s BET network, where he was Vice President, Content & Programming Strategy and Original Productions at BET+ until July last year. In that role, he exec produced the likes of RSVP, Haus of Vicious and The Deadly Getaway.
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Weisberg, a financier and producer of more than 40 indie pics, will oversee the slate. He was previously CEO of Plymouth Boulevard Productions and co-founder and Chairman of media marketing firm Optimal.
Inaugural, which is independently financed and operated, will look to release 6-12 titles per year across theatrical, transactional, streaming, and television platforms. More titles for 2025/26 are to be announced in coming weeks.
“There’s never been a more urgent moment to champion bold, diverse voices in commercial filmmaking,” said co-founder Marvin Neil. “At Inaugural Entertainment, we’re building a home for powerful, entertaining stories that reflect the real-world richness of communities too often left out of the spotlight. With Whippin’ the Work, we’re excited to give global audiences a heartfelt experience and work with the incredibly talented Allen Maldonado.”
“We’ve spent our careers learning how to connect films with audiences in meaningful ways,” added Weisberg. “This company is the culmination of that work, and a personal mission to expand access, opportunity, and visibility for a new generation of filmmakers. We’re looking for stories like Whippin’ the Work – with a unique point-of-view and a stellar cast.”
