Doc Maker Rocky Mudaliar Signs With Verve (Exclusive)

Rocky Mudaliar and his Abrupt Entertainment banner has signed with Verve for representation.

The move follows Mudaliar producing the true crime documentary Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story, a film that chronicles comedian Dane Cook’s rise to fame and the shocking financial betrayal by his own family.

The film about Cook — who at one time was the most successful stand-up anywhere, earning upward of $20 million a tour — debuted earned a Best True Crime Documentary nomination at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards on Oct. 13. Brett Harvey directed the Funny Money documentary that will start streaming on Netflix in November.

Vancouver-based Abrupt Entertainment specializes in premium documentaries and talent-driven nonfiction programming.

The signing with Verve for representation will look to help Abrupt expand its U.S. development and production operations. Other doc credits include the Unbreakable: The Dolph Lundgren Story and Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo, which was released through Universal Pictures.

Mudaliar also co-founded Stage Zero Entertainment alongside music icon Timbaland to bridge traditional entertainment with next-generation music and technology ventures. Mudaliar and his Abrupt banner are currently producing an untitled documentary about a major rock band, with Emmy-nominated and fellow Verve client Sam Lipman-Stern to direct.

As a Canadian company, Abrupt has a track record in international co-productions, production financing and tapping tax incentives and other soft money subsidies to get its documentaries made.