TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Tuesday 27 August 2024
Lionsgate drops consultant over AI fiasco; Disney+ expands in Europe; Foxtel sale considered; Netflix struggles with ads; Selena Gomez in Emilia Perez; The Block and Betty La Fea reboots make waves.
Today’s Highlights:
Lionsgate parts ways with marketing consultant over Megalopolis trailer fiasco - Lionsgate ends its relationship with Eddie Egan after AI-generated quotes in the Megalopolis trailer misled audiences.
How The Block was pitched to Nine - The conception and rapid approval of the popular TV show The Block, which almost had a different title due to legal concerns.
Foxtel's future in question as News Corp considers sale - News Corp explores selling Foxtel, facing challenges from a declining pay-TV base and rising competition.
Disney ad-supported plans to expand across Europe - Disney+ introduces new ad-supported tiers in Europe, expanding its market reach with significant advertising partnerships.
How Laika's Coraline became the re-release hit of the year - The successful re-release of Coraline highlights the commercial potential of nostalgic films in the current market.
How 'Betty La Fea' Amazon reboot was brought to life for Prime Video - The revival of Betty La Fea on Prime Video taps into the growing demand for international content in the streaming wars.
Over a year and a half later, Netflix still has a long road ahead to get advertisers on board - Despite gains, Netflix continues to face challenges in attracting advertisers due to competition and its pricing model.
Anubhav Sinha Talks Taking Flight With Netflix's 'IC 814' Hijack Drama - Indian filmmaker Anubhav Sinha returns to long-form storytelling with a Netflix series on the 1999 Kandahar hijacking.
Selena Gomez stars in Netflix's 'Emilia Perez' trailer. Following its Cannes debut, Netflix's Emilia Perez, starring Selena Gomez, emerged as a major awards contender.
'The Line' Teaser Trailer: Alex Wolff Leads the Most Suspenseful Fraternity Drama Ever Made - The upcoming release of The Line, a suspenseful fraternity drama starring Alex Wolff, is set to hit theatres in October.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Cancellations, Opportunities and Jobs with National Geographic, Sony, Prime, Canal+ & Warners.
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NEWS
Lionsgate parts ways with marketing consultant over Megalopolis trailer fiasco, AI-generated quotes
Lionsgate has parted ways with marketing consultant Eddie Egan after pulling a trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which included fake quotes attributed to famous critics. The studio did not comment, but sources confirmed Egan compiled review snippets believed to be from Coppola’s early work, only to discover they were AI-generated and misleading. Read More
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INSIGHTS
How The Block was pitched to Nine
The Block was conceived and commissioned in under a week. It was originally almost named Blockbuster before legal concerns led to the final title. Creators Julian Cress and David Barbour pitched the idea in 2002, inspired by shows like Survivor and Melrose Place. Nine's Peter Meakin and CEO David Gyngell quickly approved the pitch, leading to the show's successful debut in 2003 and its ongoing popularity. Read More
Foxtel's future in question as News Corp considers sale
After receiving a third-party offer, News Corp is considering selling its Australian pay TV subsidiary, Foxtel. Despite boasting 1.2 million subscribers and owning streaming services Binge and Kayo Sports, Foxtel's declining pay TV base and competition from international streaming giants pose challenges. Potential buyers include Telstra, Optus, Nine Entertainment, and Comcast, all attracted by Foxtel’s extensive sports rights and growing streaming business. However, the declining cable business presents significant risks. Read More
Disney ad-supported plans to expand across Europe
Disney+ is expanding its ad-supported plans in Europe, introducing "Standard with Ads," "Standard," and "Premium" options in Finland, Holland, and Portugal from October 17, starting at €5.99 ($6.65). Already available in several other European countries, the ad-supported plan has gained strong momentum. Deborah Armstrong, SVP at Disney, highlighted new marketing partnerships with brands like L’Oréal Paris and Uber One, emphasising Disney+'s appeal to advertisers with its premium content and beloved brands. Read More
How Laika's Coraline became the re-release hit of the year
US studios are increasingly re-releasing modern classics in cinemas, targeting films that resonate with audiences from 10 to 20 years ago. The recent success of the 15-year reissue of Laika's stop-motion animation Coraline, distributed by Fathom Events in North America and Trafalgar Releasing internationally, has drawn significant attention in both distribution and exhibition sectors, highlighting the commercial potential of these nostalgic reissues. Read More
Comment: Five Fall Festival Titles that will become awards contenders – and why
This fall's film festivals have spotlighted five titles expected to make waves during awards season. The films stand out for their compelling narratives, innovative direction, and strong performances, positioning them as frontrunners for top honours. The analysis delves into what sets these films apart and why they will likely resonate with critics and audiences. Read More
SBS's Bethan Arwel Lewis
Earlier this year, SBS launched a search for its most daring and boundary-pushing factual format, offering up to A$50,000 in development funding for impactful unscripted series ideas. Bethan Arwel-Lewis, SBS’s commissioning editor of factual, discusses the broadcaster’s pursuit of bold and innovative formats to deliver diverse and engaging stories that resonate with Australian audiences. Lewis highlights the importance of local content and SBS's role in bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront. Read More
How 'Betty La Fea' Amazon reboot was brought to life for Prime Video
Reboots are common in Hollywood, but Prime Video's Betty La Fea: The Story Continues has tapped into a renewed enthusiasm for beloved Latin American IP, proving the value of international expansion amid the streaming wars. Created by Fernando Gaitán for Colombia's RCN, Yo soy Betty, la fea follows Beatriz Pinzón Solano, a secretary with an awkward appearance, who falls for her playboy boss, Armando Mendoza. Read More
Over a year and a half later, Netflix still has a long road ahead to get advertisers on board
In the first quarter of the year, Netflix’s ad chief, Amy Reinhard, met with GroupM executives in London, learning that their office serves as the gateway to global deals. Despite a 150% surge in ad dollars during Netflix's second upfront, challenges remain, including competition and limited scale. Netflix's high ad prices and opt-in model reflect a long-term strategy, but the market's competitiveness, especially after Amazon’s move to ad-supported streaming, underscores ongoing hurdles. Read More
Anubhav Sinha Talks Taking Flight With Netflix’s ‘IC 814’ Hijack Drama
After a 27-year break from television, veteran Indian filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is making his streaming series debut with Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The six-episode thriller, based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, marks Sinha’s return to long-form storytelling since his early TV days with Sea Hawks. Adapted from the book Flight Into Fear, the series delves into the crisis from multiple perspectives, including tense negotiations in Delhi, diplomacy in Taliban-controlled Kandahar, and the harrowing experiences of the passengers and crew. Read More
‘The Line’ Teaser Trailer: Alex Wolff Leads the Most Suspenseful Fraternity Drama Ever Made
You may think you’ve seen it all when it comes to college fraternity films, but The Line, directed by Ethan Berger, offers a fresh and gripping take on the genre. Released by Utopia, the film hits select theatres on October 18, with wider expansion on October 23. Unlike typical frat comedies or moralistic dramas, The Line is a profoundly absorbing character study that evolves into a suspenseful thriller. Starring Alex Wolff as Tom, a working-class student rising in his fraternity at a prestigious Southern college, the film explores the allure of frat life as a path to success. As Tom takes charge of recruitment, he encounters tension with the new pledge, Gettys O’Brien (Austin Abrams), leading to unexpected and thrilling complications. Read More
‘Three Women’ Author Lisa Taddeo’s Crash Course in Hollywood Chaos
When Lisa Taddeo received the call in early 2023 that Showtime had cancelled her series Three Women, she didn’t answer—she was exhausted after a long day that included a flat tyre on her birthday. The next day, she learned that the 10-episode adaptation of her 2019 nonfiction bestseller would no longer air, leaving her to break the news to her cast, including Shailene Woodley and the real women who inspired the characters. However, a few weeks later, Starz picked up the series, now set to premiere on September 13. Despite this turn of events, Taddeo remains sceptical of the industry, expressing frustrations about her worth and adaptation challenges. Read More
David Lowery Teases His ‘Weird, Weird Movie’ ‘Mother Mary’ and Acting for Luca Guadagnino in His ‘Queer’
Over the weekend, director David Lowery shared details about his upcoming film Mother Mary at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The film, which completed its fourteen-month production in Germany this July, delves into the relationship between Anne Hathaway, portraying a fictional pop star, and Michaela Coel, playing a fashion designer tasked with creating a dress for her. The cast includes F.K.A. Twigs, Hunter Schafer, and Alba Baptista, with original Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX music. Hathaway called the experience "extraordinary and transformative," while Lowery described the film as "a weird, weird film." Read More
Can the Camera Actually Help People Heal?
In the documentary Sugarcane, co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat confronts his father, Ed Archie NoiseCat, about the unspoken trauma he endured at a Canadian Indian residential school and its impact on their relationship. This deeply personal moment, described by co-director Emily Kassie as one of the most visceral experiences of her life, highlights the ongoing efforts of Native communities, like Williams Lake First Nation, to reconcile with the painful legacy of these schools. Read More
Selena Gomez stars in Netflix's 'Emilia Perez' trailer
As awards season approaches, Netflix has unveiled its major contender, Emilia Pérez, a "musical epic" that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film, directed by Jacques Audiard, won the Cannes Jury Prize. It made history with a shared Best Actress award for its three leading ladies: Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Karla Sofía Gascón. Described as an "audacious fever dream," the story follows the journeys of four women in Mexico as they pursue their happiness. Read More
'Alien: Romulus' Cinematographer Breaks Down Shooting the Horrifying Chestburster Scene
The director of photography for 'Alien: Romulus', Galo Olivares, breaks down his influence of the video game 'Alien: Isolation' in shooting the cockpit xenomorph chest buster scene of the newest Alien film.
A Place Called Music director Enrique M. Rizo and producer Cathia Cuevas | BFI Q&A
Director Enrique M. Rizo and producer Cathia Cuevas discuss their documentary on the musical collaboration between Philip Glass and Mexican Wixarika musician Daniel Medina. The film showcases their rehearsals and performances worldwide, highlighting how music is a powerful expression and the primary communication between the two artists.
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