Another Brainy Idea likes collaborating with others. It makes the development, financing and production more fun, and the movies and series better.

Meyer Shwarzstein has explored ways to employ new technology to bring movies to new audiences and to tell stories in new ways.  In the 1970s, he dropped out of engineering school to run a rock’n roll magazine, entered the film industry by selling video cassettes to record stores and, in 1980, he was hired by MGM to license films to pay and cable TV.  Shwarzstein was drafted by Atlantic Releasing (Valley Girl, Teen Wolf) in 1983 and has been an indie ever since. In 1990, at Image Organization, he made the first basic cable premiere deal for a theatrical film and, in 1995, he launched Brainstorm Media, a US distributor and producer. Brainstorm was an early pioneer of digital distribution and that helped the company evolve into a full-service theatrical distribution company. 

In 1993, Shwarzstein started working in development and production and, since then, he has developed, produced and/or financed dozens of movies and TV programs. Films and series he’s produced have been featured at the Sundance, Toronto and SXSW film festivals.

In 2023, when Shwarzstein’s daughter took over Brainstorm Media’s distribution business he founded Another Brainy Idea to develop, produce, and finance life-affirming projects. The company is currently working on over a dozen projects based on well-known books, true stories, and other IP. Shwarzstein has advocated for the independent film business in Washington DC, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and, when he’s not spending time with his family, he pursues diverse interests as a game designer, composer, publisher, and non-profit board member.

Nicole Guenthard is Vice President of Development and Production at Another Brainy Idea. Her latest credits include Executive Producer of “Friends and Family Christmas,’ Hallmarks first lesbian-focused Christmas romance. Previously, Nicole worked at Brainstorm Media where she has worked on various projects for Lifetime, BET, and Hallmark. She has worked with filmmakers from all over the world as well as the development and production of branded content for brands including Ford, Klondike, and Lincoln. She holds a degree in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.