Flavor Unit
About Us
About Us
Flavor Unit
Entertainment
Flavor Unit Entertainment is a powerhouse of premium storytelling, founded in 1989 and co-led by Academy Award–nominated, Grammy- and Emmy-winning producer Queen Latifah and Executive Producer Shakim Compere. As equal partners, Latifah brings three decades of cultural influence, on-screen excellence, and brand power, while Compere brings more than 20 years of expertise packaging top-tier talent and delivering high-impact scripted television from greenlight to global distribution.
Together, they have produced ratings successes and cultural touchstones including The Equalizer (CBS), The Clark Sisters and Salt-N-Pepa (Lifetime), Bessie (HBO), and hit features such as Bringing Down the House and Beauty Shop.
Flavor Unit combines creative vision with disciplined execution—delivering bold, character-driven stories that align seamlessly with Lifetime’s audience and brand.
PARTNERSHIPS
Flavor Unit Entertainment maintains an exclusive U.S. licensing and first-look deal with Netflix, producing high-profile, hit films including the action thriller End of the Road.
Flavor Unit Entertainment and Procter & Gamble partnered to launch the QUEEN COLLECTIVE, a creative initiative with multi-year backing from P&G and Tribeca Studios to empower and elevate multicultural women directors.
OUR TEAM
Co-CEO, Flavor Unit Ent.
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is an Academy Award–nominated, Grammy- and Emmy-winning producer and co‑founder of Flavor Unit Entertainment. With three decades of acclaimed television and film projects for major networks, she leads creative strategy and talent relationships at Flavor Unit. For Lifetime, she delivers marquee visibility, proven story instincts, and premium, character‑driven television perfectly aligned with the network’s brand and audience.
Co-CEO, Flavor Unit Ent.
Shakim Compere
Shakim Compere is the co‑founder and executive producer of Flavor Unit Entertainment, with over two decades of experience delivering scripted hits for partners including Lifetime, HBO, BET, VH1, CBS, and Netflix. His producing credits span Emmy‑winning and nominated projects like Bessie and Flint and network series such as The Equalizer, Single Ladies, and Steel Magnolias, demonstrating a consistent ability to package top talent and steer complex productions from greenlight through delivery.
Head of Content, Flavor Unit Ent.
Loretha Jones
Loretha Jones is a veteran television executive and producer whose programming leadership has delivered some of cable’s highest-rated and most talked‑about scripted series and original events. As former President of Programming at BET Networks, she oversaw development, production, and acquisitions, building in‑house studios and launching hit scripted series that redefined the network’s brand. At Flavor Unit Entertainment, she brings this deep expertise in audience‑driven storytelling, network collaboration, and end‑to‑end series development to help Lifetime originate, refine, and deliver premium television movies and series that are built to perform.
risk mitigation and compliance
Flavor Unit Entertainment operates with studio-grade legal, insurance, compliance, and safety infrastructure—ensuring every production is fully protected, union-aligned, and network-ready from development through delivery.
CONTRACTING & LEGAL STRUCTURE
Every agreement is strategically structured to protect rights, IP, and delivery integrity.
GUILD & UNION ALIGNMENT
Full compliance with SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, and all applicable guild standards.
INSURANCE & PRODUCTION COVERAGE
Comprehensive E&O, General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Cast, and project-specific coverage — meeting network requirements.
ON-SET SAFETY & PRODUCTION STANDARDS
Disciplined safety protocols ensuring secure production environments for cast and crew.
REGULATORY & BROADCAST COMPLIANCE
Strict adherence to permitting, labor laws, and broadcast standards across all jurisdictions.
DATA SECURITY & CONTENT PROTECTION
Confidentiality-first workflows with NDAs and secure systems protecting network assets.
Current Development Slate
