FROM 8-BIT GAMES TO 24 FRAMES™, STORY KITCHEN specializes in Franchise Farming™ — adapting videogames and other ‘non-traditional’ IPs into FILM and TV. Launched in 2022 by SONIC THE HEDGEHOG producer & dj2 Entertainment Founder, Dmitri M. Johnson, and former IAG agent/partner, Mike Goldberg, alongside senior exec Timothy I. Stevenson and creative exec, Elena Sandoval.

Dmitri M. Johnson has been at the forefront of successfully connecting videogame IP to Hollywood long before it became mainstream. Having previously founded dj2 Entertainment, and considered the first producer solely focused on videogame adaptations; Johnson built the roadmap that Story Kitchen now runs with. All starting when Johnson unlocked SEGA’s SONIC THE HEDGEHOG fifteen years ago, which is now greatly responsible for the incredible videogame adaptation explosion taking place today.

Complementing Johnson's trailblazing spirit is Mike Goldberg, previously an agent/partner at APA (now IAG). Goldberg represented hot IP / IP creators such as the “Master of Horror” John Carpenter, Atari, SEGA, Square Enix, Macmillan Publishing, Andrews McMeel Publishing, the JOHN WICK franchise, and the NY Yankees. Goldberg was part of Variety’s 2020 “Hollywood’s New Leaders”, and he was considered Hollywood’s top agent for videogame adaptations (80+ deals).

Driving the creative engine of Story Kitchen is Timothy I. Stevenson, head of production, bringing over two decades of expertise in physical production. More than a producer, Stevenson is a translator of vision, an advocate for creators, and a steward of IP with lasting potential. Fueled by curiosity, he has been at the forefront of pioneering solutions in filmmaking, pilot-testing emerging technologies such as VR, binaural sound, and volume stages, continuously pushing the boundaries of how stories can be brought to life.

Creative executive, Elena Sandoval, grew up in Seattle’s vibrant creative community, launching her career with an internship at an animation production company. There, Sandoval refined her skills in rotoscoping and video editing, contributing to projects for clients such as Microsoft and Brooks Running, while gaining hands-on production experience with brands including MTV. After relocating to Los Angeles, she joined dj2 Entertainment as an intern, quickly proving herself as a creative force and being promoted to creative executive in 2024.

Story Kitchen is spearheading adaptations of TOMB RAIDER (Amazon MGM & Netflix), JUST CAUSE (Universal), SEGA's 90s classics’, STREETS OF RAGE (Lionsgate), SHINOBI (Universal) and TOEJAM & EARL (Amazon MGM). Story Kitchen is also bringing acclaimed indie/AA games to the screen, including genre mashup game SPLIT FICTION (Amazon MGM), IT TAKES TWO (Amazon MGM), SIFU (Netflix), and RUINER (Universal).

Story Kitchen holds a television first-look deal at Amazon MGM Studios and an animated film first-look deal at DreamWorks Animation.