TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 6 February 2025
ABC covers 'Lucky 13' prizes; Finnish crime comedy debuts; UK indie distributors share 2024 strategies; CW's Olander cites high US production costs; Ben Stiller reflects on 'Severance' return.
Today’s Highlights:
ABC Covers 'Lucky 13' Contestant Prizes After Show's Collapse – ABC is stepping in to pay $461,500 in winnings owed to 'Lucky 13' contestants after the game show's production company, Studio 1, collapsed financially.
Finnish Crime Comedy 'Queen of F*ing Everything' Explores Wealth, Crime, and Isolation – The Finnish series 'Queen of F*ing Everything' follows Linda, a top Helsinki real-estate agent who turns to crime after her husband disappears, blending humour with tragedy as she navigates the criminal underworld.
Four UK Indie Distributors Share Strategies Behind Their Highest-Grossing Titles of 2024—In 2024, UK indie distributors achieved major box office success with unique strategies, including Signature Entertainment's Terrifier 3, which gained viral buzz from extreme audience reactions.
The CW’s Heather Olander: Producing in the US Is Too Expensive—Heather Olander, the CW’s head of unscripted, says rising production costs in the US are forcing the network to film reality programming abroad to maintain financial viability.
Ben Stiller Reflects on His Filmmaking Journey as 'Severance' Returns—Ben Stiller discusses realising his cinematic ambitions by directing and executive producing 'Severance,' which returned for its second season on Apple TV+ after nearly three years.
Netflix's Oscar-nominated documentary, 'The Only Girl in the Orchestra, ' Spotlights Orin O’Brien’s Legacy. It explores her groundbreaking career as the first woman to join the New York Philharmonic in 1966.
Romantasy’s Rise: A Genre Poised for Hollywood Adaptation – The romantasy genre, blending romance and fantasy, has become a publishing phenomenon with sales surpassing $600 million in 2024, presenting a lucrative opportunity for film and TV adaptations.
Adrien Brody’s Comeback with 'The Brutalist' Puts Him Back in Awards Contention – Adrien Brody returns to the awards spotlight with 'The Brutalist', playing a Holocaust survivor navigating postwar America, earning critical acclaim and positioning him for a potential second Oscar win.
Unscripted TV Finance Models Evolve Amid Budget Constraints – With rising costs and declining ad revenue, unscripted TV executives prioritise financial sustainability through strategic funding, international deals, and advertiser collaboration.
Amazon MGM and Wheelhouse Push New Models for Monetising IP – Amazon MGM Studios and Wheelhouse executives emphasise leveraging diverse "on-ramps" for content monetisation across platforms, blending commerce, streaming, and social engagement to maximise IP value.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals & Jobs with UKTV, Paramount, Prime, Tubi. Waterloo Road, Netflix & BBC.
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NEWS
ABC Covers ‘Lucky 13’ Contestant Prizes After Show’s Collapse
ABC is stepping in to pay $461,500 in winnings owed to Lucky 13 contestants after the game show’s production company, Studio 1, collapsed financially. The series, hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and Gina Rodriguez, was funded through a revenue-sharing model that fell short of expectations, leaving contractors and participants unpaid. While not legally required, ABC is finalising a deal to ensure winners receive prizes. Read More
INSIGHTS
Finnish Crime Comedy ‘Queen of F*ing Everything’ Explores Wealth, Crime, and Isolation
Creator Tiina Lymi and executive producer Minna Haapkylä discuss Queen of F*ing Everything**, a darkly comedic Finnish crime drama about Linda, a top Helsinki real-estate agent who turns to crime after her husband disappears, leaving her in massive debt. Starring Laura Malmivaara, the six-part series blends humour with tragedy as Linda navigates the criminal underworld to maintain her lavish lifestyle, revealing themes of loneliness and self-worth. Read More
Four UK Indie Distributors Share Strategies Behind Their Highest-Grossing Titles of 2024
In 2024, UK indie distributors saw major box office success with unique strategies. Signature Entertainment's Terrifier 3 (£3.4M) gained viral buzz from extreme audience reactions. Black Bear’s Longlegs grossed £8.1M, while Sky Cinema’s Lee earned £4.5M. MetFilm Distribution’s Wilding (£655K) benefited from strong niche appeal. Read More
The CW’s Heather Olander: Producing in the US Is Too Expensive
The CW’s head of unscripted, Heather Olander, said even reality programming is now too costly to produce domestically, forcing the network to film abroad. Speaking at the RealScreen Summit, she noted Nexstar’s shift from scripted drama to unscripted was driven by cost-cutting, with financial viability now the primary factor in greenlighting shows. Olander acknowledged it’s unfortunate to move production overseas, but incentives and lower costs make it unavoidable. Read More
Ben Stiller Reflects on His Filmmaking Journey as Severance Returns
Ben Stiller, inspired by childhood visits to film sets with his father, Jerry Stiller, has realised his cinematic ambitions through directing and executive producing Severance, which returned for its second season on Apple TV+ after nearly three years. The show, praised for its tension and visual style, has been a critical hit, with Stiller refining his storytelling craft. Meanwhile, he’s finalising a documentary about his late parents, set for release this year. Read More
The Only Girl in the Orchestra Spotlights Orin O’Brien’s Legacy
Netflix’s Oscar-nominated documentary The Only Girl in the Orchestra, directed by Molly O’Brien, explores Orin O’Brien’s groundbreaking career as the first woman to join the New York Philharmonic in 1966. O’Brien spent 55 years shaping classical music as a revered double bassist and educator. The film highlights her enduring influence, featuring a score by Oscar nominee Laura Karpman and executive produced by Errol Morris. Read More
Romantasy’s Rise: A Genre Poised for Hollywood Adaptation
Romantasy, blending romance and fantasy, has become a publishing phenomenon driven by Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm. With sales surpassing $600 million in 2024, the genre’s success mirrors past YA franchises like Harry Potter and Twilight. Despite Hollywood optioning titles like A Court of Thorns and Roses, adaptations have yet to materialise. Given its dedicated audience and merchandising potential, romantasy presents a lucrative opportunity for film and TV. Read More
Adrien Brody’s Comeback with The Brutalist Puts Him Back in Awards Contention
Despite winning a Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist in 2003, Adrien Brody never fully secured A-list status. Now, at 51, he returns to the awards spotlight with The Brutalist, playing a Holocaust survivor navigating postwar America. The film’s epic scope and Brody’s powerful performance have earned him a Golden Globe and critical acclaim, positioning him for a potential second Oscar win after 22 years. Read More
Unscripted TV Finance Models Evolve Amid Budget Constraints
With rising costs and declining ad revenue, unscripted TV executives prioritise financial sustainability. At Realscreen Miami, The CW’s Heather Olander and A+E Networks’ Elaine Frontain Bryant emphasised strategic funding through partnerships, international deals, and advertiser collaboration. Returning series like Duck Dynasty: The Revival help mitigate risks, while flexible rights models and social media-driven talent boost profitability. As budgets tighten, innovative financing is becoming essential. Read More
Amazon MGM and Wheelhouse Push New Models for Monetising IP
Amazon MGM Studios and Wheelhouse executives emphasise leveraging diverse "on-ramps" for content monetisation across platforms. Amazon’s Wish List and Ring Nation illustrate how retail-driven IP can fuel engaging TV formats. Wheelhouse's Ed Simpson highlights YouTube’s iterative model as a cost-effective way to refine content for mainstream audiences. As digital-first strategies evolve, studios increasingly blend commerce, streaming, and social engagement to maximise IP value. Read More
Fatima Salaria: Co-Productions Are an Opportunity to Take Risks and Experiment
Fatima Salaria, a prominent figure in the television industry, advocates for using co-productions to embrace risk-taking and foster innovation. Producers can merge various perspectives and experiences by collaborating with diverse partners, creating bold and fresh ideas. This approach enriches the content and allows for experimentation that might not be feasible within traditional production frameworks. Read More
The Last Musician of Auschwitz Q&A with director Toby Trackman
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