TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 20 August 2024
UK Directors push for streaming royalties; Boy Swallows Universe sweeps Logies; Garland on 28 Years Later; Netflix splits seasons; Rising Scottish stars, Naomi Ackie, and Jon Hamm shine.
Today’s Highlights:
Directors UK Urges Residuals From Streamers - DUK seeks streaming royalties for British directors and threatens action if negotiations fail.
Boy Swallows Universe Wins Big at Logies - Netflix's series sweeps the TV Week Logie Awards with five wins.
Screen Unveils 2024 Rising Stars Scotland Lineup - Emerging Scottish film and TV talents highlighted by Screen Scotland.
Heaven or Helgoland - A German dystopian drama explores survival themes on Sky.
HBO's Struggles with Original Content - HBO faces criticism for relying on spin-offs rather than new, innovative shows.
28 Years Later Development Insights - Alex Garland and Andrew Macdonald discuss the upcoming sequel and the role of producers.
Julian Fellowes on The Gilded Age - Fellowes focuses on the societal shifts in the second season of HBO's The Gilded Age.
Naomi Ackie in Blink Twice - Ackie discusses her craft and role in the film Blink Twice, written by Zoë Kravitz.
Jon Hamm on Juggling Roles and Life - Hamm balances intense filming schedules and personal life while working on Fargo and The Morning Show.
Netflix's Binge TV Strategy Critique - The evolving strategy of splitting seasons into multiple parts on streaming platforms.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, and Jobs with Sky, National Geographic, Screen Ireland, Sony, France 3 Cinema, Banijay, France Télévisions, Hat Trick & Wise Owl.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest updates in one place.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL.
Producers: Fifth Season, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Paramount Television International, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, 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.
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.
NEWS
Directors UK Urges Residuals From Streamers & Threatens Action If They Don’t Come To The Table
The fight for improved streaming residuals in the U.S. has seen some success, but it’s just beginning in the UK. Directors UK (DUK), representing over 8,000 British directors, has recently written to major streamers, including Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Paramount, Apple, and Warner Bros. Discovery, seeking royalties for its members. DUK hinted that it could withhold members' copyrights if the streamers don’t negotiate. While some directors are well-paid, DUK argues they deserve additional royalties, similar to the improved streaming residuals secured by U.S. guilds. No such deal exists with streamers, unlike the agreement DUK has with UK broadcasters.
From: Deadline
Boy Swallows Universe Wins Big at Logies with Five Gongs
At the TV Week Logie Awards, Netflix's Boy Swallows Universe dominated, winning five awards, including Best Miniseries and two for teenage star Felix Cameron—Most Popular New Talent and Best Lead Actor in a Drama. Co-stars Bryan Brown and Sophie Wilde also won for supporting roles. ABC's Utopia followed with three wins, while RFDS and Bluey took top honours in their categories.
From: IF
Screen Unveils 2024 Rising Stars Scotland Lineup
Screen Scotland has revealed its 2024 Rising Stars, spotlighting ten emerging talents from the Scottish film and television industry. The list includes actors, directors, and writers recognised for their potential to contribute significantly to the creative industries. This initiative aims to support and promote the next generation of Scottish storytellers globally.
From: Screen Daily
Share our publication with your network, and if one of your contacts subscribes, you’ll receive a 30-day upgrade to your subscription.
INSIGHTS
Heaven or Helgoland
Helgoland 513, a German dystopian drama created by Florian Wentsch and Veronica Priefer, unfolds in 2039. A deadly pandemic has left just 513 survivors on the island of Helgoland. Under barbaric rules, the population is kept in check by requiring a life to be sacrificed for every new baby born. The show, released on Sky, explores survival and societal collapse themes, blending Dark, The Rain, and Black Mirror elements.
From: Drama Quarterly
For years, HBO set the standard – now it’s just repeats and spin-offs
HBO, once the gold standard of prestige TV, now struggles with a slate dominated by spin-offs and sequels rather than original content. Financial pressures and increased competition from Netflix and Apple TV+ have led to cost-cutting and fewer innovative shows. HBO’s reliance on established intellectual property risks diminishing its reputation as a leader in creative television, a concern highlighted by its current programming lineup.
From: The Sydney Morning Herald
Alex Garland and Andrew Macdonald Discuss 28 Years Later and the Importance of Producers
Alex Garland and Andrew Macdonald share insights into the development of 28 Years Later, the third instalment in the 28 Days Later franchise. They discuss casting challenges, the evolution of the indie film landscape, and producers' crucial role in shaping projects. Garland emphasises the importance of maintaining creative integrity in a rapidly changing industry, while Macdonald highlights the value of strong producer-director collaborations.
From: Screen Daily
Julian Fellowes on Writing Big First When it Comes to ‘The Gilded Age’: “I Don’t Really Spend Much Time on Budgets”
Julian Fellowes, known for his work on Downton Abbey, brings his expertise in aristocratic drama to The Gilded Age's second season on HBO, focusing on a fictionalised rivalry between the old-money-backed Academy of Music and the new-money Metropolitan Opera. While the outcome of this opera war might be predictable, Fellowes sees it as symbolic of the broader societal shifts of the time. He describes the new-money families as "juggernauts" who paved the way for the American Century, reflecting the unstoppable force of change during the Gilded Age.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
‘Blink Twice’ Star Naomi Ackie Wants You to Feel Her Performance for Yourself — Get Ready for a Rollercoaster
Rising star Naomi Ackie insists that acting is not therapy for her despite the emotional depth her roles often demand. In discussing her new film Blink Twice, Ackie views acting as her craft and a way to evoke emotions in the audience without using it as a personal outlet. Originally titled Pussy Island, the script was written by Zoë Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum. Ackie plays Frida, a 27-year-old New Yorker disillusioned with her life. She becomes obsessed with tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) and accepts an invitation to his private island—unaware of the dangers that await.
From: IndieWire
Jon Hamm on How He Tapped Into ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Fargo’ Roles Simultaneously and the Rise of the Elon Musk Character
While filming Fargo in Calgary, Jon Hamm used his one-hour commute to decompress, often by figuring out where to get dinner before everything closed at 9 PM. Juggling his role as the toxic Roy Tillman in Fargo, a part in The Morning Show, and planning his wedding, Hamm managed work and life all at once. Living alone in an Airbnb to immerse himself in the character's darkness, he balanced the intense filming schedule with practical concerns, like sourcing food and making wedding decisions.
From: Variety
Hey, Netflix: Stop Drawing Out Binge TV
As streaming services continue to reshape viewing habits, splitting seasons into multiple parts is becoming more common. Netflix's Emily in Paris recently released just five episodes of its fourth season, mirroring strategies seen with Bridgerton and Stranger Things. This tactic, designed to keep viewers hooked and stretch out content, reflects a broader shift in the industry. While film franchises have long used cliffhangers and sequels to build anticipation, streaming has transformed how TV is consumed, moving from weekly episodic releases to binge-watching sessions and, now, to staggered season drops that prolong the wait between episodes and seasons.
From: IndieWire
Snowman Productions' Michael von Würden on Format Creation and Franchise Management
Michael von Würden, managing director of Snowman Productions, discusses the continued success of Married at First Sight and the importance of format innovation. He highlights the role of casting, franchise nurturing, and duty of care protocols in maintaining the show's popularity, which has been sold in over 29 countries. Von Würden also shares insights into developing new formats like Stranded on Honeymoon Island.
From: TV Formats
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.