The little production company that could
'Queer Eye' creators take TV, film worlds by storm
By Kendis Gibson
CNN Headline News
(CNN) -- Perhaps soon, David Collins will need no introduction.
"I produce a show called 'Knock First' for ABC Family," he says. "A show called '24w/' and 'Face Time' for Trio and a little show called 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.' "
With several successful television shows, Collins and the company he co-founded, Scout Productions, are becoming a force in the entertainment business.
"Scout," says Collins, "started as a small company with three people. A small ... television film development company."
Success didn't come overnight for Collins and his business partner Michael Williams. The Boston, Massachusetts-based company had minimal success in the mid-1990s. The tide started turning less than a year ago.
One of its first forays into television, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," became an instant success. It's become so big, it seems to have no boundaries.
Collins calls it the "world domination of 'Queer Eye.' "
"There's a CD, there's the calendar, the book... . There's going to be an Australian Fab Five, a Swedish Fab Five, a French, Spanish, a German Fab Five," he says.
In the United States, the Fab Five continue to have dual success on Bravo and NBC. Up to 40 episodes will be produced this season. "It's very humbling," Collins says. "There's always the moment in every day when you connect and I'm like, 'Wow!' "
But the company's newfound success isn't limited to "Queer Eye." Partner Williams' was a producer for "The Fog Of War," which took home this year's Academy Award for best documentary and which continues to win over moviegoers.
"I think that's probably the greatest thing Oscars brought is that the audience is actually going out to see it at theaters and not waiting to watch it on DVD," Collins says.
And now following in the footsteps of Jerry Seinfeld, Tiger Woods and Martin Scorsese, Collins is the latest spokesman for American Express. Everything seems to be looking up for him and his small company.
