TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 10 October 2024
Pinewood's new indie hub, Channel 4's in-house shift, Apple TV+ on Prime, SPA's streaming push, AI's rise, Starlight's OTT move, Slow Horses success, AI ethics, LA production drop.
Today’s Highlights:
Pinewood to Open Hub for Indie Filmmaking at Buckinghamshire Studios Pinewood Group will launch a film hub for independent filmmakers in 2025, supporting UK filmmakers with facilities at Buckinghamshire Studios, following the approval of the Independent Film Tax Credit.
Channel 4 Redundancy Scheme Nears Completion Channel 4's restructuring plan is nearing completion. By 2026, the broadcaster will begin in-house production and shift away from external independent producers.
Apple TV+ to Be Available as Subscription Add-On Through Amazon Prime Video Apple TV+ will be offered as an add-on subscription via Amazon Prime Video in the U.S., expanding Apple and Amazon's collaboration in the streaming market.
SPA Presses Australian Government on Streaming Platform Content Quotas Screen Producers Australia urges the Australian government to enforce content quotas on streaming platforms, emphasising the need to invest in Australian productions.
AI Tools Gaining Ground in Hollywood AI is increasingly utilised in Hollywood for casting, script coverage, and preproduction, sparking debates about its impact on the industry's future workforce.
Starlight Media Expands into OTT Starlight Media is growing its presence in Ukraine's OTT market, appointing Mariia Kostina as chief content officer to streamline operations and enhance content offerings.
Hollywood's Business Managers Discuss Post-Strike Financial Challenges Top Hollywood business managers help clients navigate economic pressures after the strikes, manage investments, and address the impact of high interest rates.
Slow Horses Gains Popularity with Season 4 Apple TV+'s "Slow Horses" has achieved significant growth in viewership, received nine Emmy nominations, and consistently ranks high on the platform.
Justine Bateman and Edouard Harris Discuss AI Ethics Justine Bateman warns about AI's dangers to Hollywood jobs and the potential collapse of industry structures if ethical considerations aren't addressed.
Scripted Productions Decline in Los Angeles A new report by FilmLA shows a sharp decline in scripted TV and film production in Los Angeles, with only 18% of projects filmed locally in 2023.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations and Jobs with BBC, Netflix, Channel 4, Banijay, Hallmark, Sony, Paramount, CAA, Disney, Leonine & Prime.
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NEWS
Pinewood to Open Hub for Indie Filmmaking at Buckinghamshire Studios
The Pinewood Group is launching a film hub for independent filmmakers in the summer of 2025, following the UK Labour government's approval of the Independent Film Tax Credit (Iftc). Located at Buckinghamshire’s Pinewood Studios, the hub will provide sound stages, production offices, and workshop spaces, exclusively supporting UK filmmakers benefiting from the Iftc at an accessible price. Read More
Channel 4 Redundancy Scheme Nears Completion, In-House Production to Start in 2026
Channel 4’s redundancy scheme, part of its restructuring plans, is nearing completion. The broadcaster is also set to launch in-house production by 2026, marking a significant shift from its traditional model of commissioning programs from independent producers. Read More
Apple TV+ to Be Available as a Subscription Add-On Through Amazon Prime Video
Amazon and Apple are strengthening their partnership in the streaming space. Starting later this month, Apple TV+ will be available as an add-on through Prime Video in the U.S. for $9.99 monthly. This addition joins over 100 subscription options on Prime Video, including Max, Paramount+, Crunchyroll, and MGM+. Amazon's strategy is to offer a wide range of entertainment options that are accessible in one app with a single bill. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Getting Away With It
Welsh drama Cleddau (The One That Got Away) stars Elen Rhys and Richard Harrington as detectives—and former lovers—reunited to solve a series of murders. When a young nurse is found dead, a small-town community is shaken as a past conviction is questioned, suggesting a copycat killer. Writer Catherine Tregenna focuses on personal relationships, making the six-part series a forensic love story as much as a crime thriller. Returning home from The Mallorca Files, Rhys takes on her first leading Welsh-language role. Read More
SPA and Industry Take Australian Gov't to Task Over Lapse in Streamer Regulation
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) is pressing the Australian government to fulfil its commitment to enforce content quotas on streaming platforms despite missing the June 30 deadline. At SPA's annual Screen Stories dinner in Canberra, attended by politicians and industry leaders, CEO Matthew Deaner emphasised the need for streaming platforms to invest in Australian content, aligning with practices in other countries. Deaner highlighted the risk of international projects overshadowing local productions and called for regulatory action to protect Australia's screen ecosystem and cultural identity. Read More
AI in Hollywood: Studios Using AI for Casting, Script Coverage, and Preproduction
As the entertainment industry grapples with AI's implications, there's a growing, albeit reluctant, acceptance that AI tools are here to stay without fully taking over. A prime example is AI script coverage, which has evolved rapidly. Just as a script reader climbs the ranks, AI is progressing quickly—achieving in months what takes humans years. While the future hasn't fully arrived, the pace of change is faster than anticipated, prompting the industry to adapt to this evolving landscape. Read More
Plimsoll’s Dr. Martha Holmes Talks Ethical Tech in Natural History Filmmaking
Dr. Martha Holmes, chief creative officer of natural history and adventure at ITV Studios-owned Plimsoll, discusses the company’s evolving approach to wildlife filmmaking and concerns about AI. Plimsoll, the world’s largest independent producer of natural history content, is known for series like A Real Bug’s Life and Tiny World. While embracing innovations like micro-drones in Incredible Animal Journeys, Holmes emphasises the company’s cautious stance on using artificial intelligence in their productions. Read More
Starlight Media Goes OTT to Shine More Brightly in Ukraine
Starlight Media’s strategy focuses on developing partnerships with OTT platforms, leading to the creation of a chief content officer role filled by Mariia Kostina in July. Kostina aims to centralise efforts previously spread across marketing, premium channel distribution, and VoD sales, reflecting the growing OTT segment in Ukraine, driven by blackouts and infrastructure challenges. She emphasises the importance of understanding viewer preferences, with platforms like Megogo, Kyivstar, and Sweet TV creating FAST channels, playlists, and VoD content. Read More
Slapstick Comedy Global Breakout with Fremantle
In the Japanese format Freeze, contestants must stay still while facing distractions like loud noises, jumps, comedy acts, and robot arms—all designed to make them move and lose money. Distributor Fremantle successfully expanded the format by securing three-season commissions in Portugal just six months after adding it to their catalogue. Read More
Hollywood's Top Business Managers & Accountants
Hollywood’s top business managers are more than financial advisers—they often serve as confidants, fixers, and even therapists for their high-profile clients. Michael Ullman, CEO of Platinum Financial Management, describes the close, family-like relationships he builds with stars like Margot Robbie. Amid post-strike financial challenges, these managers guide clients through tough decisions, from navigating high interest rates to understanding the potential impact of the presidential election on their investments. Michael Karlin of NKSFB notes, “Everyone’s working harder for less.” Read More
The Time to Go Fast?
AVOD and FAST platforms are creating significant opportunities for distributors, especially in the U.S. and Europe, with the factual programming segment benefiting greatly. Patrick Hörl from Autentic, Mike Gould from Cineflix Rights, and Jamie Schouela from Blue Ant Media discussed the launch and programming of factual FAST channels, highlighting the growing demand and potential for factual content in these markets. Read More
Scripted Productions Flee Los Angeles
A new FilmLA report reveals that only 18 per cent of scripted TV and film projects in 2023 were made in greater Los Angeles, down from 22 per cent in 2022. Despite 27 per cent of industry workers residing in L.A., productions continue to move elsewhere, such as the UK and Georgia. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes further impacted the industry, and FilmLA predicts an even worse report for 2024 as the decline in local projects continues. Read More
Brett Goldstein Discusses Shrinking and Ted Lasso
Brett Goldstein, best known for his Emmy-winning role as Roy Kent on Ted Lasso, juggles multiple projects, including his stand-up tour, podcast Films to Be Buried With, and roles in Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder and Netflix's upcoming Office Romance with Jennifer Lopez. Despite his success, Goldstein downplays discussions of craft, preferring to "just do the work." He also co-created Shrinking, which returns Oct. 16, where he takes on a darker role alongside Jason Segel and Harrison Ford. Read More
Slow Horses Becomes a Hit with Season 4
Slow Horses is finally gaining momentum, consistently ranking near the top of Apple’s original series since its Season 4 premiere. It secured nine Emmy nominations for Season 3, including a win for Best Writing in a Drama Series. As measured by Google Trends, interest in the show nearly doubled between Seasons 2 and 3, peaking in Season 4. Despite Apple’s low overall streaming rankings, Slow Horses continues to attract a growing audience. Read More
Zoe Saldana Stars in Dovecote
Zoe Saldaña’s remarkable 2024 continues with the release of Dovecote, a poignant short film produced by and starring Saldaña. Directed by her real-life partner, Marco Perego, the visually striking film is set in a women’s prison, where Saldaña’s character spends her final hours before release. Filmed at a prison in Giudecca, Venice, Dovecote features Saldaña alongside 20 real inmates serving time. Read More
Justine Bateman and Edouard Harris Discuss AI Ethics
Filmmaker and AI regulation activist Justine Bateman warned of AI's dangers to Hollywood during TheWrap’s TheGrill conference. Speaking at the DGA Theater Complex, Bateman argued that AI could lead to widespread job losses, potentially eliminating entire departments, and predicted that the industry's structure could collapse. She emphasised that current discussions and investment decisions around AI overlook human beings' crucial role in the industry’s future. Read More
All We Imagine as Light Trailer Released
Payal Kapadia’s critically acclaimed narrative debut, All We Imagine as Light, explores the tight-knit community of women in intergenerational nursing. Following two hospital roommates, Prabha and Anu, and their coworker Parvaty, the film delves into personal struggles, from romantic tensions to housing issues. Kapadia, known for her award-winning documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, made history as the first Indian filmmaker in 30 years to compete at Cannes, where the film won the Grand Prize. Read More
Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal on La Máquina
La Máquina is Hulu’s first Spanish-language original, a limited series 15 years in the making by longtime collaborators Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal. The show follows aging Mexican boxer Esteban "La Máquina" Osuna (played by Bernal) as he navigates a comeback, familial responsibilities, a quirky manager (Luna), and a mysterious criminal underworld. Luna describes boxing as a metaphor for exploring the complexities of success and how it can become a trap. Read More
Female Producers Talk Industry Challenges
Dune: Part Two producer Mary Parent discussed women's challenges in breaking into big-budget productions, noting it's "harder to get in" now than when she started. At The Wrap’s Grill conference, Parent highlighted the historical male dominance in large film projects and how traditional entry paths have disappeared. The panel, moderated by Laura Holson, also featured producers Lucy Fisher (Gladiator II) and Sue Naegle (Nightbitch), who discussed the lack of progress for female producers in the industry. Read More
Marty Supreme's Vintage Cars and Timothée Chalamet's Nostalgic Connection
Last week, a surprising array of 1950s European cars, including a Jaguar XK120, Allard K2, and Citroen models, lined Lexington Avenue for a film shoot outside French bistro Orsay in New York City. The production is for Marty Supreme, a new feature by Josh Safdie starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Fran Drescher, and Tyler, the Creator. Though plot details are scarce, rumours suggest the film centres on a 1950s professional ping-pong player, with Chalamet sporting a Jean-Paul Sartre-inspired look. Read More
WME's Dan Limerick Talks Megamergers and Tech Giants in Hollywood
WME chief operating officer Dan Limerick discussed Hollywood's consolidation and the rise of tech giants during The Hollywood Reporter's Power Business Managers event. Comparing the current industry landscape to the 2000s, Limerick noted how tech companies are helping address issues caused by mergers and acquisitions. He acknowledged that while industry contraction poses challenges, tech firms have injected significant funding into Hollywood, leading to more content creation. Limerick also emphasised the importance of data transparency in gauging what studios value in viewership and engagement. Read More
Hollywood Faces an AI "Allergy" as Artificial Intelligence Sparks Debate
As Hollywood navigates the rise of artificial intelligence, CAA is stepping up to protect its artists by creating the CAA Vault. Spearheaded by Alexandra Shannon, CAA’s head of Strategic Development, the Vault, launched in September 2023, uses Veritone technology to capture and store digital likenesses and voices. This initiative allows artists to own and control their authenticated digital versions, safeguarding them from potential AI abuse. Read More
Jeff Sagansky and Peter Guber on the State of the Industry | Spotlight Conversation at TheGrill 2024
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