TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 5 September 2024
Black List expands to novels; Corus buys debt time; Cherokee Film School opens; Disney disputes DirecTV; Tennis in Hollywood; TV writers shrink; Murphy’s TV slate; Martin warns of Dragon tweaks.
Today’s Highlights:
The Black List Expands Into Fiction: The Black List, known for unproduced screenplays, now accepts completed novels for awards and $10,000 grants for unpublished authors.
Corus Entertainment Debt Amendment: Corus secures more time to manage its debt as it grapples with financial instability in a challenging media environment.
Cherokee Nation Launches Film School: The Cherokee Nation opens the first tribally operated film school to increase Native American participation in the entertainment industry.
Disney and DirecTV Carriage Dispute: Disney accuses DirecTV of misrepresenting negotiations, with millions of subscribers losing access to Disney-owned channels.
Jeff Wachtel's Content Strategy at Future Shack: Wachtel discusses streamers' increasing demand for procedural shows and opportunities amidst industry challenges.
Hollywood Production Exodus: With other cities offering better tax incentives, filming in LA is declining, threatening Hollywood's longstanding dominance.
Gracie Glassmeyer's Transition from Tennis to Hollywood: Former tennis star Gracie Glassmeyer leverages her athletic connections to forge a successful writing career in Hollywood.
Evolving TV Writers' Rooms: The rise of streaming platforms has led to smaller "mini-rooms," reducing collaborative opportunities for aspiring writers in Hollywood.
Ryan Murphy's Fall TV Slate: Six of Murphy's new shows, including American Sports Story and Monsters, headline a packed 2024 fall TV schedule.
George R.R. Martin Criticizes' House of the Dragon' Changes: Martin expresses concerns over deviations from his book Fire & Blood that could potentially affect future House of the Dragon seasons.
Plus: News. Insights, Festivals & Markets, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations and Jobs with NBCUniversal, Sky, Little Dot, ITV, Endeavor, A+E, Disney, Fox & Leonine.
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NEWS
The Black List Website Expands Into Fiction, Including Awards for Unpublished Novels
The Black List, renowned for its annual most-liked unproduced screenplays list, is now expanding to include completed novels, regardless of publication status. Previously with the Center for Fiction and Slice Literary Magazine, Randy Winston will lead this new initiative. Writers can showcase their novels on blcklst.com, receive feedback, and submit manuscripts to various fiction programs. The Unpublished Novel Award will also offer $10,000 grants to support authors in genres such as YA, crime, mystery, horror, literary fiction, romance, sci-fi, and thrillers. Read More
Struggling Corus buys time with an amendment to debt repayment terms
Corus Entertainment has negotiated an amendment to its debt repayment terms, giving the company more time to address its financial struggles. The move allows Corus to focus on stabilising its business amidst a challenging media landscape marked by declining revenues and increased competition. Read More
Cherokee Nation Opens First Tribally Operated Film School: ‘We Need More Native Americans Working at Every Level of This Industry’
The Cherokee Nation has announced the launch of the Cherokee Film Institute, the first tribally operated film education program. Created through Cherokee Film, the institute offers a 120-hour curriculum focused on below-the-line production skills to enhance the entertainment workforce within the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma. While the program is primarily designed to support Native Americans in pursuing careers in the entertainment industry, it is open to anyone over 18. Read More
Disney Says DirecTV Is Misrepresenting Carriage Negotiations, There’s ‘Path to Fair and Flexible Agreement’
Amid the ongoing carriage dispute between Disney and DirecTV, Disney called out the distributor for allegedly misrepresenting their negotiations. Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro emphasised their commitment to reaching a fair deal that serves DirecTV and its customers while recognising the value of Disney's content and investment. Over 11 million subscribers have lost access to Disney-owned networks, including ABC and ESPN, since Sunday, but Disney believes a fair resolution is still possible. Read More
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INSIGHTS
No regrets
Friends Kyla Harris and Lee Getty share how their 20-year friendship inspired collaboration on the BBC comedy drama We Might Regret This. Drawing on their personal experiences, the series explores friendship and romance themes while championing disability representation on screen. Despite their different creative backgrounds—Harris as a visual artist and Getty as a writer—they previously avoided critiquing each other’s work, considering it a “danger zone.” Now, they’re united in breaking boundaries in TV storytelling. Read More
Future Shack's Wachtel keeps an eye on the blue skies
Jeff Wachtel, a pivotal figure in USA Network’s iconic ‘blue sky’ programming era, now discusses the evolving content strategy of his new company, Future Shack. He highlights streamers' increasing demand for procedurals and how the aggressive shift from linear to streaming has prematurely devalued still relevant US cable brands. Despite industry challenges like the dual Hollywood strikes and a TV commissioning downturn, Wachtel sees opportunities to produce returnable, lighter, and cost-effective series. Read More
TV Production Exodus: 'Misery in L.A.', Who's Getting 'Screwed' and What to Do About It
As cities and states offer lucrative tax incentives globally, filming in L.A. is becoming less common. A top talent lawyer laments that projects rarely scout L.A. while studio lots sit quietly. With rising labour costs and high interest rates, California’s tax breaks fall short. The California Film Commission insists the state still cares, citing economic benefits, though many fear Hollywood's dominance is waning. Read More
Love-Love: How Tennis Took Over Hollywood (and Dealmaking)
Gracie Glassmeyer, a former tennis star who once considered going pro, transitioned to Hollywood writing after Hurricane Katrina halted Tulane’s tennis program. With an overall deal at CBS Studios, her credits include The Neighborhood and Ghosts. Her first break came as a production assistant on Do Not Disturb, which led her to a tennis group featuring industry notables like Rainn Wilson, Theodore Melfi, and Gilmore Girls exec producer David S. Rosenthal, creating key connections in Hollywood. Read More
Inside the evolving dynamics of TV writers' rooms
A streaming revolution has profoundly shaken the Hollywood film industry, the Covid pandemic, and crippling strikes, with the impact felt most in writers' rooms. Once collaborative hubs with large teams creating 22-episode seasons, these spaces now rely on smaller "mini-rooms" of just a few writers due to streaming platforms like Netflix. This shift has reduced training opportunities for young writers and minimised the collaborative, on-set experience that was once invaluable for career growth. Read More
Fall TV Preview: 65 of the Most-Anticipated New and Returning Shows of 2024
This fall TV season is packed, with 65 shows debuting, partly due to a fuller schedule from broadcast networks following the writer’s and actors ’ strikes. Ryan Murphy alone has six shows premiering, including American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Exciting spinoffs like Agatha All Along on Disney+ and The Penguin on Max join new series like Disclaimer (Apple TV+), while long-awaited returns, such as Yellowstone, add to the buzz. Emotional finales for What We Do in the Shadows and Somebody Somewhere marks the season. Read More
How ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ Paved A Yellow Brick For Director Susanne Bier: The Film That Lit My Fuse
Director Suzanne Bier’s latest project is The Perfect Couple, a Netflix limited series starring Nicole Kidman and Eve Hewson, which debuts Thursday. Bier’s career began in Denmark, transitioning from music videos and commercials to hit feature films like The One and Only, Open Hearts, and After the Wedding. She later won an Oscar for In A Better World. In Hollywood, Bier directed Things We Lost in the Fire and achieved global success with Bird Box. She also helmed series like The Night Manager, The Undoing, and The First Lady. Bier credits The Wizard of Oz for inspiring her path to directing. Read More
Andra Day Almost Turned Down the Lead Role in ‘The Deliverance.’ This Is What Changed Her Mind
When Andra Day was offered the lead role of Ebony in Lee Daniels' The Deliverance, she consulted God and her mom. Initially hesitant about the film's satanic themes, Day's mother prayed with her but ultimately decided not to watch it, preferring lighter fare like Disney+. The Deliverance, now streaming on Netflix, stars Mo'Nique, Glenn Close, and Caleb McLaughlin. Read More
Isabella Rossellini on Hollywood Ageism, Playing a Scene-Stealing Nun in ‘Conclave,’ and Becoming a Long Island Farmer
Isabella Rossellini shares how she captured a key moment in her new film Conclave, set in the Vatican. Playing Sister Agnes, a nun navigating a darkened hallway, Rossellini conveys tension through her breath and subtle gestures. Despite having few lines, she nearly steals the film with her quiet, observant presence, holding her own against stars like Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, and Stanley Tucci, who dominate with bluster and debate over the next pope. Read More
Danielle Deadwyler Struck All the Right Notes With Denzel’s ‘The Piano Lesson’ (and She Won’t Be Snubbed Again)
Though not yet a household name, Danielle Deadwyler has garnered critical acclaim for her standout performances. She shined in HBO Max’s Station Eleven and Netflix’s The Harder They Fall, and her portrayal in Till sparked outrage after the Oscars snubbed her. Her latest role in The Piano Lesson, set to debut at the Toronto Film Festival, showcases her as Berniece, a complex character torn between her past and future. The film features a star-studded cast, including Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington. Read More
George R.R. Martin Calls Out ‘House of the Dragon’ Changes and Warns: ‘There Are More Toxic’ Tweaks to Come Based on What’s ‘Being Contemplated for Seasons 3 and 4’
In a since-deleted blog post titled "Beware the Butterflies," Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin shared his critiques of House of the Dragon Season 2, particularly changes made from his original book Fire & Blood. He pointed out the omission of Prince Maelor, Aegon and Helaena Targaryen's youngest son, from the "Blood & Cheese" plotline. Martin expressed concerns that this deviation could significantly affect the show's future as upcoming seasons move away from key aspects of his story. Read More
Kyanna Simone On Unabashedly Embracing Her Agency And The Joys Of Creating Found Family In ‘The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat”
Hulu's The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, based on Edward Kelsey Moore's bestselling novel, is a heartfelt drama reminiscent of Waiting to Exhale and Steel Magnolias. The film follows lifelong friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis/Kyanna Simone), Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan/Tati Gabrielle), and Clarice (Uzo Aduba/Abigail Achiri), who, over four decades, face love, marriage, loss, and grief. When illness and heartbreak threaten their friendship, they must navigate life’s challenges with resilience and courage. Read More
FESTIVALS & MARKETS
TIFF:
Buzziest TIFF 2024 movies to watch for
As the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off Thursday, it brings a robust lineup of buzzy sales titles starring big names like Ben Stiller, Sydney Sweeney, Jude Law, and Tom Hiddleston. While TIFF won’t officially launch a sales market until 2026, it's long
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