Global TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Monday 30 June 2025

Writer job cuts deepen; HBO revamps pay; Disney decentralises greenlights; Amazon eyes streaming hub role; Malta, festivals, and refugee drama drive global screen trends.

Today’s Highlights:

• Writers Face Deeper Job Cuts Despite Strike Ending – The WGA West’s latest report shows writer employment dropped further in 2024 despite the end of the 2023 strike.

• HBO Overhauls Talent Pay Structure – HBO has introduced a new bonus-based system tied to internal performance metrics, replacing traditional net profit backends for the first time in 20 years.

• Disney’s Brand-Led Greenlight Strategy Explained by Dana Walden – Dana Walden explains that Disney now allows individual brands, such as FX and Hulu, to greenlight their own projects, enabling them to better serve their audiences.

• Amazon Aims to Become Streaming’s Central Hub – Amazon Prime Video is promoting itself as the single platform for discovering and watching content across all major streaming services.

• Invite-Only Festival Events Raise Equity Concerns – Industry observers warn that exclusive events at festivals are limiting access for independent filmmakers and harming inclusivity.

• Malta Uses Mediterrane Film Festival to Attract Productions – Malta is using celebrity buzz and a generous tax rebate to position itself as a major international filming destination.

• Fireworks Explores Refugee Trauma in Australian Town – Ali Vaziri’s new bilingual film Fireworks tackles the legacy of conflict and trauma through the story of two former refugees.

• James Bond’s Avoidance of Big-Name Directors – The Bond franchise has consistently avoided marquee directors, with Sam Mendes' Skyfall being a rare exception.

• Doubt Wins Top Prize at Italy’s Global Series Festival – South Korean thriller Doubt won the top international drama award at Italy’s first Global Series Festival.

• Studio71 to Monetise Bud Spencer & Terence Hill YouTube Content – Studio71 will handle global YouTube marketing and monetisation for the popular Bud Spencer and Terence Hill film library.

Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations & Jobs with SAFC, Amazon MGM, Studio B, Berlin Film Festival & Netflix in Sydney, Adelaide, London & Berlin.

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• 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

Why Bond Has Never Had a Rockstar Director

With few exceptions, James Bond films have steered clear of marquee-name directors like Tarantino or Nolan. Most have been helmed by capable veterans or journeymen, with Skyfall marking a rare shift when Sam Mendes stepped in. While many praised it, the author felt Mendes' backstory-heavy take diluted Bond’s mystique. For them, Casino Royale, directed by the less heralded Martin Campbell, remains the series' modern high point. Read More

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Writers Face Deeper Job Cuts Despite Strike Ending

The Writers Guild of America West’s 2024 annual report reveals that TV and film writers saw even lower employment levels than during the 2023 strike, despite a slight rebound in earnings. The previous year’s 148-day strike had already impacted jobs and pay, but the continued decline in employment, even without a work stoppage, signals ongoing industry challenges. Read More

HBO Overhauls Talent Pay with New Bonus-Based Backend System

HBO has introduced a significant shift in how it compensates talent, replacing traditional “net profits” backends with a performance-based bonus system tied to internal success metrics. The new model, outlined in a 13-page document sent to agents and lawyers, marks the first overhaul in over 20 years. While it may curb lavish overall deals for mid-tier talent, HBO hopes the structure maintains trust by offering clearer, data-driven rewards for hits. Read More

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Amazon Pushes to Be the One-Stop Streaming Hub

The dream of a single streaming platform, where users can search, browse, and watch content from all services in one place, remains elusive. While it echoes the simplicity of old-school cable with DVR, competing platforms resist unification. Amazon Prime Video, however, is positioning itself as the solution, suggesting it could become the central hub for all streaming content. Read More

Ben Stiller Reflects on Returning for Meet the Parents 4

Casting is underway for Meet the Parents 4, with Owen Wilson rejoining Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, and newcomer Ariana Grande. Stiller says the timing felt right after realising he's now the age De Niro was in the original. “My kids are grown,” he shared at the film’s 25th anniversary screening, “and one is about to introduce their partner to the family, just like in the first movie.” Read More

The future belongs to the writer-producer

Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible series, Top Gun: Maverick) discusses the future of screenwriting and which storytelling techniques AI will never be able to replicate.

Eva Victor, Lucas Hedges, and Naomi Ackie Star in Sorry, Baby