TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 8 August 2024
Disney restructures casting; Fox cuts costs; UK launches register for child actors; AI transparency demanded; Soundtrack nominees announced; Sony profits down; Belgium's tax shelter boosts projects.
Today’s Highlights:
Disney Entertainment Television Overhauls Casting Departments - Disney Entertainment Television restructures casting departments following layoffs.
Fox Corp to Reduce Entertainment Programming Costs - Fox Corporation aims to cut entertainment programming costs by 10-15% per hour.
New Chaperones and Tutors Register for UK Productions—The UK has launched a new register for chaperones and tutors to improve child actor welfare.
UK Creative Organisations Demand AI Transparency - UK creative organisations call for greater industry transparency and guidelines for AI use.
World Soundtrack Award Nominees Announced: "Barbie," "Wonka," and "Dune: Part Two" are nominated for the World Soundtrack Awards.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Profit Declines - Sony Pictures Entertainment reports a significant decline in first-quarter profit.
Belgium's Tax Shelter Program for Film and TV Projects - Belgium's tax shelter program attracts significant investment in local and international film and TV projects.
Animation Anger: Hollywood Artists in Crisis Over Contract Talks - Hollywood animation artists express frustration over contract negotiations, highlighting fair wages and job security.
Locarno: Stacey Sher on Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and the Films That Got Away—Stacey Sher will be honoured at the Locarno Film Festival for her contributions to 1990s indie cinema.
C21 Pitch: Content London Global Entertainment Format Pitch 2024 - C21Media invites submissions for innovative TV formats to discover new talent and ideas in the entertainment industry.
Plus: News, Festivals, Insights, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities and Jobs with BBC, ITV, Workhouse, Sony, Mubi, Paramount & CAA.
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NEWS
Sony Pictures Entertainment Profit Slides Down To $73M In First Quarter
Sony Pictures Entertainment reported a first-quarter operating income of $73M, down over 36% year-on-year. Revenues fell 7% from $2.32B to $2.17B for the quarter ending June 30, 2024, despite solid performances from films like The Garfield Movie and Bad Boys: Ride or Die and growth in streaming subscriptions. Sony attributed the financial declines to fewer theatrical releases and new TV season launches but noted that anime streamer Crunchyroll boosted income through increased paid subscriptions.
From: Deadline
Disney Entertainment Television Overhauls Casting Departments
Following recent layoffs affecting 140 staffers, Disney Entertainment Television has restructured its casting departments. The changes include consolidating casting operations across 20th Century, ABC Signature, Onyx, and Hulu. Stephanie Levinson will oversee casting for 20th TV and ABC Signature, while Felicia Joseph will handle casting for Hulu and Onyx. Barbara Florentino will transition to international casting, focusing on attracting global talent.
From: The Wrap
Fox Corp to reduce entertainment programming costs by 10-15% per hour
Fox Corporation plans to cut entertainment programming costs by 10-15% per hour. This move aims to streamline expenses while maintaining content quality. The reduction strategy is part of a broader effort to enhance efficiency and profitability across Fox's entertainment division.
From: C21
New chaperones and tutors register for UK productions unveiled
A new register for chaperones and tutors in UK productions has been launched to improve the welfare of child actors. This initiative ensures that qualified professionals are available to support young performers on set, enhancing safety and compliance with regulations.
From: Screen Daily
Disney reports Q3 2024 earnings
Disney has reported its Q3 2024 earnings, highlighting a mixed financial performance. While certain divisions grew, challenges in other areas, such as streaming, impacted overall results.
From: The Wrap
UK creative organisations demand transparency around AI in letter to significant tech firms
UK creative organisations have called for greater transparency around the use of AI in the industry. In a letter to major tech firms, they emphasised the need for clear guidelines and accountability to protect creative workers' rights and maintain ethical standards in AI deployment.
From: Screen Daily
'Barbie,' 'Wonka,' and 'Dune: Part Two' among World Soundtrack Award nominees
The World Soundtrack Awards have announced nominees, including "Barbie," "Wonka," and "Dune: Part Two." These films are recognised for their outstanding musical scores, highlighting the significant role of music in enhancing cinematic storytelling.
From: Screen Daily
C21 Pitch: Content London Global Entertainment Format Pitch 2024
C21Media has announced the Content London Global Entertainment Format Pitch 2024, inviting submissions for innovative and engaging TV formats. This event aims to discover new talent and ideas in the entertainment industry, offering a platform for creators to showcase their concepts to a global audience.
From: C21
FESTIVALS
TIFF’s Packed Documentary Slate Includes ‘Vice Is Broke,’ ‘The Last Republican’ and ‘No Other Land’
Documentaries about Vice, former Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, and disability rights activist Patrice Jetter are set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. TIFF’s Docs program, starting September 5, features 21 nonfiction films from 24 countries. The program will open with Eddie Huang’s “Vice Is Broke,” investigating the rise and fall of Vice Media, which filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after a 2017 valuation of $5.7 billion. Huang, a former Vice host and creditor, provides an insider account of the company's trajectory.
From: Variety
'Bookworm' wins the 2024 Fantasia Audience Award for best international film
"Bookworm," directed by Sebastien Simon and Forest Ian Etsler, has won the 2024 Fantasia Audience Award for Best International Film. The film, praised for its unique storytelling and visual style, captivated audiences at the Fantasia International Film Festival. The victory highlights the growing recognition of independent films in international festivals.
From: Screen Daily
'RUNT' screen adaptation to premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival
The family feature film "RUNT," starring Jai Courtney and Celeste Barber, will premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). Based on Craig Silvey's novel, the film follows eleven-year-old Annie Shearer and her dog Runt, who try to save their family farm by competing in a prestigious dog show in London. The film will be released in cinemas on September 19.
From: Señal News
Zurich Film Festival to Honor Kate Winslet
Oscar-winning British actress Kate Winslet will receive the Golden Icon Award at the 20th Zurich Film Festival. Winslet will attend the festival on October 7 to accept the award and present her latest film, Lee, directed by Ellen Kuras. The biopic explores the life of fashion model turned war-photographer Lee Miller. Winslet, who stars as Miller and co-produced the feature, will receive the honour in the presence of Miller's son, Antony Penrose, and co-producer Kate Solomon.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
HollyShorts Film Festival to Launch London Edition
HollyShorts Film Festival is launching a London edition. Celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, HollyShorts is one of the world's most prestigious short film festivals with numerous Oscar-qualifying categories. For the first time, the festival is BAFTA-accredited, allowing selected films to submit to the BAFTA awards. Previous HollyShorts winners include Guy Nattiv’s “Skin,” which went on to win an Academy Award.
From: Variety
SXSW 2025 film submissions are now open
SXSW has opened submissions for its 2025 film festival. Filmmakers are invited to submit their works for consideration. The festival provides a platform for diverse and innovative storytelling and is a significant venue for discovering new talent and celebrating creative achievements in film.
From: SXSW
INSIGHTS
Team Player
As "SEAL Team" returns for a seventh and final season, star David Boreanaz reflects on the show's impact, his breakout role in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and his multi-discipline approach to television. Boreanaz has been a TV staple for over two decades, starting as Angel in "Buffy" and its spin-off "Angel," followed by 12 seasons in "Bones" as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. He then transitioned to "SEAL Team," playing Jason Hayes, the intense leader of the Bravo team, in a series about the elite Navy SEALs.
From: Drama Quarterly
Belgium's tax shelter from the storm
Belgium's tax shelter program has become a vital tool for local producers and international partners. The scheme offers attractive incentives for investing in Belgian film and TV projects, boosting the industry and encouraging high-quality content production. The tax shelter program has attracted global interest, helping Belgian projects gain significant funding and exposure and strengthening the local creative economy.
From: C21
Disney, Comcast negotiating Hulu stake price
After an initial $8.6 billion payment to purchase Comcast’s 33% minority stake in Hulu, Disney may need to pay up to $5 billion more, pending an appraisal process to determine Hulu’s fair market value. NBCUniversal exercised its right for Disney to buy the stake in November, with a guaranteed floor value of $27.5 billion set by Disney. However, differing appraisals have led to arbitration, as Disney’s 10-Q filing revealed.
From: The Wrap
Why 'Simple Favor 2' isn’t going to theatres
When a sequel to Paul Feig’s “A Simple Favor” was greenlit with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick returning, it was revealed the movie would go straight to streaming. According to Feig, Amazon MGM made this decision because they wanted and would support it. The first film, released by Lionsgate in 2018, followed Mommy Vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) as she gets caught up in a mystery when her best friend Emily Nelson (Lively) goes missing.
From: The Wrap
Animation anger: Hollywood artists in crisis over contract talks
Hollywood animation artists express frustration over contract negotiations, highlighting fair wages, job security, and working conditions. The artists' discontent reflects broader concerns within the industry about the treatment of creative professionals and the need for better labour practices to ensure a sustainable working environment.
From: The Wrap
Prime Video app update: Interview with Amazon's Kam Keshmiri
Prime Video’s new user interface rolled out globally this week after a preview in July. The changes, driven by customer feedback, aim to help users discover content more quickly and mark the platform’s first major UI overhaul. Kam Keshmiri, VP of design at Prime Video, said, "We have so much available to our customers, and managing that experience in a contained way has become increasingly challenging."
From: The Wrap
Locarno: Stacey Sher on Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh and the Films That Got Away
Few filmmakers have shaped an era like producer Stacey Sher in the 1990s indie cinema boom. Locarno Film Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro highlights her impact, noting her involvement in many memorable films of the decade. Sher, honoured with Locarno's 2024 Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award, began under producers Deborah Hill and Linda Obst, contributing to films like Adventures in Babysitting and The Fisher King. At Jersey Films, she championed directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Ben Stiller, defining a generation.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
How Disney Plans to Grow Its Streaming Profit
Disney announced its first streaming profit on Wednesday. CEO Bob Iger attributed the success to the company's solid creative output, including 183 Emmy nominations and popular shows like Shogun, The Bear, and Abbott Elementary. Iger anticipates further growth with new streaming initiatives and upcoming price increases. Disney+ ad-supported and ad-free tiers will rise by $2 monthly starting October 17, making the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+ and Hulu, a more attractive option for consumers. This follows Disney's agreement to buy complete control of Hulu from Comcast.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Slow Horses showrunner Will Smith on nine Emmys nominations and working with “brilliant” Gary Oldman
Apple TV+'s "Slow Horses" has garnered nine Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and lead actor nods for Gary Oldman. Showrunner Will Smith reflects on the show's success, the challenges of balancing humour with action, and the collaboration with Oldman, who brings depth to his character, Jackson Lamb. Smith credits the series' improvement each season to the solid performances and evolving storylines inspired by Mick Herron's books.
From: Screen Daily
‘Disclaimer’ Teaser: Cate Blanchett Has a Dark Secret in Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ Adaptation
Cate Blanchett stars in the upcoming Apple TV+ limited series "Disclaimer," trying to suppress literary notes on her past scandals. Alfonso Cuarón writes, directs, and executive produces the psychological thriller based on Renée Knight’s 2015 novel. Blanchett plays investigative journalist Catherine Ravenscroft, whose reputation is questioned by a mysterious novel paralleling her darkest secrets. The cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen as her husband, Kodi Smit-McPhee as their son, and Kevin Kline and Lesley Manville as grieving parents. Leila George and Louis Partridge feature in a novel-within-the-novel story, with Hoyeon also co-starring.
From: IndieWire
‘Good One’ Breakout Star Lily Collias Is Just Starting a Great Career
Rising star Lily Collias's past 18 months have been eventful. "I graduated high school, worked on the movie, moved here for college, and then Sundance happened". The movie in question is India Donaldson’s feature debut, “Good One,” which premiered at Sundance and is set for a limited release from Metrograph Pictures. Other milestones include changing college plans, attending Cannes, and signing on for her next feature in Winnipeg.
From: IndieWire
Sony Says a Deal For Paramount “Does Not Fit Well With Our Strategy”
Even though Shari Redstone has inked a deal with David Ellison’s Skydance Media to relinquish control of Paramount Global, the company has until Aug. 21 to consider other takeover options during a "go-shop" window. However, Sony has reiterated it won't make another proposal. Sony president Hiroki Totoki stated that acquiring Paramount is risky and doesn't align with their strategy. Earlier, Sony had engaged Apollo Global Management about a joint bid.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Who Is Ted Black? How A Top Hollywood Agent Inspired ‘Suits L.A.’
Picked up to series just a day after the 20th anniversary of the Entourage premiere, NBC’s Suits: L.A. shares more than just a Los Angeles setting with the HBO showbiz comedy. Both series feature main characters inspired by and named after top Hollywood agents. Entourage's Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) is modeled after Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. Similarly, Suits: L.A. centres on Ted Black, played by Arrow alum Stephen Amell, inspired by CAA agent and former ICM Partners managing director Ted Chervin, with the project’s original title being Ted.
From: Deadline
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