Tyler Perry Studios Hires Michelle Sneed as President of Production and Development

Sneed, who most recently served as director of physical production at BET Network, will oversee both film and television.

Story by Hollywood Reporter
Written by Tatiana Siegel

Tyler Perry Studios has hired veteran production executive Michelle Sneed as president of production and development, a post that will encompass both film and television.

Sneed, who most recently served as director of physical production at BET Network, has spent the majority of her 12-year career in both scripted and unscripted television.

At BET, Sneed served as a bridge between creative and production throughout the development, green light, production and promotional and marketing processes. During her tenure at BET in original programming and news, Sneed’s in-house contributions included more than 100 packages of shortform content, original docuseries and multiple television specials and tentpole programming.

The move to the Georgia-based Tyler Perry Studios marks a homecoming for Sneed as she spent six years with the company from 2009-15 in production management. She was a member of the original production team at Tyler Perry Studios’ former Greenbriar location, which produced more than 400 episodes of TV during her tenure. She will take over the position from Will Areu, who formed the Atlanta-based studio Areu Bros. with his brother Ozzie earlier this year.

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Michelle back to the studio,” said Tyler Perry in a statement. “She has always been someone who embodies the values of TPS, from the diligent work she’s done in development and production execution to identifying and curating talent both in front of and behind the camera. Similar to how I’ve always operated in my film and television projects, during her career she has provided opportunities to those whose diverse experiences and stories are often overlooked and untold.”

Added Sneed: “I am ecstatic to be returning ‘home’ to Tyler Perry Studios where so much of my career was shaped and developed. To have this new opportunity to work alongside Tyler in senior leadership is an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s bigger than me — it’s for the culture.”

In 2017, Perry signed a mega-deal with with Viacom to produce original drama and comedy series across the its networks, including BET. The deal also includes a first-look feature film pact with Paramount Pictures. The first movie under the deal is Paramount’s Nobody’s Fool, starring Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter, which is set to open in theaters in November.