Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Wednesday 2 July 2025
AI divides film schools, YouTube dominates TV, Wētā expands in Australia, piracy case hits Supreme Court, and Artists Equity faces big test, plus bold new dramas and major studio moves.
Today’s Highlights:
Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Case on ISP Liability for Piracy – A potential precedent-setting case with global ramifications for copyright enforcement, ISPs, and media companies.
YouTube Tops U.S. TV Viewership, Redefines Streaming Strategy – YouTube’s dominance signals a fundamental shift in how audiences consume television, impacting networks and platforms worldwide.
AI Sparks Generational Divide at Film Schools – The clash over AI adoption among creators reveals deep fault lines in the future of creative labour and education in screen industries.
Can Artists Equity Grow Beyond Ben Affleck and Matt Damon? – A test case for sustainable, creator-first film financing amid Hollywood volatility.
Wētā FX Joins Ausfilm, Expands Melbourne Studio – Strengthens Australia’s global production footprint and supports local job growth in high-end visual effects.
Gareth Edwards on Jurassic World: Rebirth – Reflects the tension between auteur filmmaking and franchise expectations in blockbuster cinema.
Dhar Mann Builds a Social Video Empire on Inspirational Stories – Demonstrates the power of mission-driven content and new distribution models outside traditional film and TV.
Global Agency’s Red Roses Breaks New Ground in Turkish Drama – A bold, internationally significant series challenging cultural norms and championing women's rights.
Neon to Distribute Chloe Domont’s Legal Thriller A Place in Hell – A key acquisition reflecting the growing appetite for female-driven prestige thrillers.
Elstree Studios Celebrates 100 Years with Major MBS Group Partnership – Historic studio secures future relevance through modernisation and global collaboration.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with Netflix, Apple TV, Flying Bark, Sony, Prime, BBC. ITV & Channel 4 in Tokyo, London, Sydney & Leeds.
Our subscribers receive one clear, concise daily bulletin that distils the latest global TV, film, and media headlines, deals, exec moves, and job listings.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET, Cineverse.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL, TVNZ, SRF, Kanal D, UKTV, Ceská Televize, FOX.
Producers: Fifth Season, Sony Pictures Television, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, Universal Pictures International Australasia, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me, Halcyon Studios, DPG Media, Envision, Rive Gauche, Blue Ant Media, Squareone, Great Southern Studios, Collective Media Group, New Dominion Pictures, RAW TV, Optomen, Magpie Pictures, KOJO, ShinAwiL, WildBrain, Nine Daughters, Amazon/MGM Studios, October Films, Legendary Entertainment, Bad Wolf, Mediapro, Bron, Red Arrow.
Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC, Attraction Distribution, Kaplan Stahler Agency, Passion Distribution, Audible, Screen Queensland, Canada Media Fund, My Smash Media, Artists First, Grey Seal Media, Screenforce Finland, BAFTA, IMAX.
INSIGHTS
Skye P. Marshall on Reimagining Matlock and Fighting for Justice
Skye P. Marshall reflects on joining CBS's Matlock reboot, where Kathy Bates leads as Madeline ‘Matty’ Matlock, a retired lawyer returning to uncover the truth behind her daughter’s death. Marshall plays Olympia, a justice-driven attorney who guides Matty through a powerful firm with hidden secrets. Marshall hopes future series explore real-world institutions like ICE to provoke critical conversations. Read More
Gareth Edwards on Jurassic World: Rebirth: “It’s Not a Bad Karaoke Number”
Known for reinventing major franchises like Godzilla and Rogue One, Gareth Edwards admits Jurassic World: Rebirth was a different challenge. On the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast, he shared that, unlike past projects, this time he leaned less on personal vision and more on honouring the iconic legacy, calling the film “not a bad karaoke number” in his typically humble style. Read More
Vincent Grashaw on the Breakout That Launched His Career
In 2011, Vincent Grashaw made waves with the production of Bellflower through the Coatwolf collective. The gritty indie premiered at Sundance’s NEXT section and was acquired by Oscilloscope within a week. “That was when Adam Yauch was still alive and David Fenkel was there,” he recalled. The film’s success opened industry doors, connecting him with agents, managers, and paving the way for a career in filmmaking. Read More
Finding the Perfect Forest for The Narrow Road to The Deep North
When director Justin Kurzel described his vision for the jungle setting in The Narrow Road to The Deep North, location manager Chris Reynolds immediately thought of Illawarra, south of Sydney. Kurzel sought a moody, shadowy forest to reflect both his filmmaking style and the inner world of protagonist Dorrigo Evans, a place, Reynolds said, “that drops off into nothingness.” Read More
Coffs Harbour Studio Pushes for Bypass Noise Wall to Proceed
Backers of the $650 million Pacific Bay Resort Studios in Coffs Harbour are urging the NSW Government to install a noise wall along the $2.2 billion bypass, a step they say is crucial for construction to begin. First announced by Russell Crowe and partners in 2021, the studio has strong industry support but remains stalled due to unresolved negotiations over the required sound barrier. Read More
TV Cultura’s Fabiana Quinteiro on What Content They’re Seeking Internationally
Fabiana Quinteiro, Acquisitions Coordinator at TV Cultura shares insights into the broadcaster’s current content needs and how staying ahead of global entertainment trends is essential to meet audience demand and strengthen their international catalogue. Read More
Dhar Mann Builds a Social Video Empire on Inspirational Stories
From his 125,000-square-foot studio in Burbank, Dhar Mann has emerged as a significant presence in scripted social video. With over 137 million followers across 83 channels, his content, focused on moral lessons and underdog victories, resonates across generations. His YouTube channel releases five new 25-minute episodes each week, cementing his brand of mission-driven storytelling as a cornerstone of the digital media landscape. Read More
How This Is Spinal Tap Rocked Its Way Into the National Film Registry
Once an unlikely candidate for the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry, This Is Spinal Tap defied expectations. What began as a comedy sketch grew into a fully improvised mockumentary about a fictional British rock band’s disastrous U.S. tour. Shot on 16mm, the cult classic owes its lasting impact to the comedic and musical talents of its cast and director, Rob Reiner. Read More
Asian Producers Share Micro-Drama Insights as Western Interest Grows
At APOS in Bali, Chinese and Korean micro-drama producers shared their expertise as Western interest in short-form scripted content continues to rise. Professor Kenneth Kim of Hanyang University highlighted Korea’s global content boom and the shift toward micro-dramas driven by rising production costs. “Prominent directors have started to create short-form content,” Kim explained, reflecting a strategic pivot in a rapidly evolving industry. Read More
Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Case on ISP Liability for Piracy
The U.S. Supreme Court will review a pivotal case challenging whether internet service providers can be held liable for users' piracy. The precedent has supported years of lawsuits from music and media companies against ISPs for failing to act on repeat copyright infringement. A $1 billion verdict against Cox Communications, handed down in 2019, was overturned on appeal, prompting a high-stakes legal showdown. Read More
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud Brings Tech Horror to a Bold New Frontier
In Cloud, Kiyoshi Kurosawa fuses his signature techno-paranoia with Western thriller elements, crafting his most ambitious action sequence yet. Starring Masaki Suda as Yoshii, a shady internet reseller, the film builds to a tense climax with the chilling line, “Hell is waiting for you. I’ll be your nightmare forever.” Opening July 18 via Sideshow/Janus Films, Cloud marks a thrilling evolution in Kurosawa’s acclaimed filmography. Read More
Global Agency’s Red Roses Breaks New Ground in Turkish Drama
Led by CEO Izzet Pinto, Global Agency continues to push boundaries with Red Roses, hailed as “the most daring drama ever broadcast in Turkey.” Produced by Gold Film for NOW, the series follows Meryem, a woman forced into marriage at 14, as she fights to protect her daughter from the same fate. Pinto calls it a powerful story of female resistance, individual freedom, and the universal right to education. Read More
Eva Victor on Writing Sorry, Baby: “It Was the Script No One Asked Me to Write”
While locked down during the COVID pandemic, comedian Eva Victor wrote "Sorry, Baby," a deeply personal script born not from commission but necessity. “It was the movie I wanted to write if I died tomorrow,” Victor shared on the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. Though they envisioned playing protagonist Agnes, Victor hesitated to direct and star in their debut, fearing it might dilute both roles, yet exploring outside direction brought clarity. Read More
AI Sparks Generational Divide at Film Schools as Students Fear for Jobs
At Chapman’s Dodge College, senior Betsy Siegel created a fully AI-generated thesis film, earning praise from professors and industry pros, but backlash from classmates who accused her of undermining creative jobs. While educators at USC, AFI, and Chapman embrace AI as essential to future storytelling, many students fear it threatens their careers. The result: a growing rift between those who are adapting to AI and those who are resisting it. Read More
Can Artists Equity Grow Beyond Ben Affleck and Matt Damon?
With a new Sony deal and its mission to share profits with creatives, Artists Equity faces pressure to scale beyond its founders. However, internal tensions surfaced when Ben Affleck championed "Kiss of the Spider Woman", a passion project starring Jennifer Lopez, which failed to sell after the Sundance Film Festival. As the company evolves amid Hollywood headwinds, the question looms: Can it expand its vision without compromising its ideals? Read More
AI-Generated Videos Blur Reality, Sparking New Misinformation Fears
New tools like Google’s Veo 3 can create eerily lifelike videos with dialogue, making it more challenging than ever to spot fakes. A New York Times quiz showed how easily viewers were fooled. While minor glitches remain, experts warn that AI-generated content, created in minutes, could spread misinformation on a large scale. Detection tools and watermarking are in development, but the rise of synthetic media is accelerating faster than the development of safeguards to counter it. Read More
Vodcast Boom Blends Storytelling with Visual Engagement
Vodcasts are transforming the podcasting landscape, with platforms like YouTube surpassing Spotify in monthly podcast viewership. Shows like the BBC’s The Traitors: Uncloaked and indie hit Down the Caff illustrate how visuals can deepen storytelling and audience connection. While production quality varies, vodcasts thrive on shareable clips and immersive settings, signalling a shift toward hybrid formats that merge podcast intimacy with visual appeal. Read More
YouTube Tops U.S. TV Viewership, Redefines Streaming Strategy
YouTube has become the top U.S. TV platform, capturing 12.5% of all big-screen viewing in May, beating Netflix and Disney for the fourth straight month. Its long-term push into living rooms via smart TV partnerships, episodic content, and YouTube TV features, such as multiview, has paid off. With plans to enhance UI and expand traditional offerings, YouTube is positioning itself as the all-in-one hub for modern television. Read More
MDIF Shows the Way to Sustainable, Independent Media Growth
The Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) combines grants, loans, and equity to support independent media, particularly in emerging markets. Its Nigerian arm, NAMIP, has supported outlets like Communiqué and HumAngle, offering capital and hands-on advisory support. MDIF’s model proves media can be both impactful and profitable, making a strong case for replicating its patient, ecosystem-driven approach worldwide. Read More
Inside ‘Squid Game’ Season 3’s Haunting Jump Rope Challenge
The Jump Rope game in Squid Game Season 3 transforms playground nostalgia into a harrowing test of survival. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk says it symbolises a warped longing for home, while Lee Jung-jae describes the physical strain of leaping across platforms with a baby doll strapped to him. From Chae Kyoung Sun’s poisonous plant-inspired VIP lounge to Jung Jaeil’s percussion-only score, every detail heightens the dread and emotional weight.
Corey Mandell on Why Screenwriting Formulas Fail and What to Do Instead
Renowned screenwriting teacher Corey Mandell argues that rigid story formulas are stifling originality and setting writers up to fail. In his masterclass, he explains why today’s market demands emotionally authentic, non-formulaic storytelling and how writers can develop the creative tools to deliver it. Whether you're a writer or exec, Mandell’s approach reframes structure as a flexible design, not a checklist.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Further&Better to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.