ZQ entertainment
ZQ ENTERTAINMENT is a development and production company founded by former CAA agent and producer Ara Keshishian.
ZQ’s first projects include the JohnGrisham book CALICO JOE that is being adapted by George Clooney and Grant Heslov for Clooney to direct. They are also in partnership with Anonymous Content onthe the upcoming book THE DEVIL’S PLAYBOOK, currently being written by former Bloomberg reporter Lauren Etter, about the rise and fall of the Juul vaping company.Other projects include GOD’S COUNTRY with producer Matt Reeves, and they are in development on a tv series with Simon Kinberg and Stephen King based on King’sshort story OBITS.
Keshishian began his entertainment career at CAA in 2000. As a motion picture agent at CAA, Keshishian’s clients included Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas, KateHudson, Jeffrey Wright, Kerry Washington, Lena Headey, and Liev Schreiber. He also worked closely to help put together acclaimed independent films such as BLACKSWAN, MUD, and MARGIN CALL. He worked closely with various studios in helping package such films as IRON MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, THOR, and MARLEY AND ME.
In 2011 Keshishian became President of Lotus Pictures, where he produced the Lionsgate/Roadside release MAGGIE starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well asNOVEMBER CRIMINALS starring Ansel Elgort and Chloe Moretz; directed by Sacha Gervasi based on Steve Knight’s screenplay. In addition, he oversaw production andexecutive produced the the Lionsgate/Roadside release Z FOR ZACHARIAH with Margot Robbie, Chris Pine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, the Aviron thriller KIDNAP starringHalle Berry, and the sci fi thriller REPLICAS with Keanu Reeves. Keshishian has helped raise over 100m of financing for films.
In 2018 Keshishian produced the highly acclaimed Zac Efron starrer EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE which Netflix debuted in May of 2019. The filmwent on to be the 8th most watched film on the platform in 2019.
In 2019, Keshishian produced the Blacklist screenplay WHAT IS LIFE WORTH which stars Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan, and was directed by SaraColangelo. The film just sold to Netflix in a multi million dollar deal for Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground.
Keshishian has a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Fresno and holds a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School where he received the AmericanJurisprudence award for International Law.