TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 18 October 2024
Jerskin Fendrix wins big, Channel 4 boosts careers, Netflix's Territory debuts, SVT limits AI, LA production drops, Apple TV+ struggles, Ron Howard premieres Eden, and Brian Cox directs Glenrothan.
Today’s Highlights:
Jerskin Fendrix Wins at World Soundtrack Awards - Fendrix, composer for Poor Things, won Film Composer of the Year and Discovery of the Year at the 2024 World Soundtrack Awards.
Channel 4 Doubles 4Skills Program - Channel 4 increased its 4Skills training and development funding to £10m, launching initiatives to boost UK production careers.
Adam Elliot’s New Stop-Motion Film - Memoir of a Snail, marks Oscar-winning animator Adam Elliot’s latest stop-motion feature, continuing his acclaimed career.
Netflix's Outback Drama Territory—Netflix’s Territory, directed by Greg McLean, explores family struggles and succession battles against a vast Northern Territory backdrop.
Apple TV+ Marketing Struggles - Despite critical success, Apple TV+ faces marketing challenges, as shown by confusion over Loot’s viral scene on Hot Ones.
SVT's AI Guidelines for Documentaries - SVT introduced strict guidelines limiting AI use in documentaries, focusing on authenticity and transparency in factual content.
Los Angeles Production Decline - FilmLA reported a 5% drop in Q3 2024 production in Greater Los Angeles, reflecting ongoing industry slowdowns.
Blumhouse Partners with Meta on AI Film Tools—Blumhouse filmmakers are testing Meta's new AI tool, Meta Movie Gen, which integrates AI into short films.
Ron Howard’s Eden to Open Torino Film Festival - Ron Howard’s survival thriller Eden will have its international premiere at the Torino Film Festival.
Brian Cox Completes Directorial Debut Glenrothan - Brian Cox wrapped production on Glenrothan, a family drama set in Scotland’s whisky distilleries.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities and Jobs with Disney, Banijay, Moonbug, Sony, AMC, Marvel, Paramount, ProSiebenSat.1, Audible & ITV.
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NEWS
Poor Things Composer Jerskin Fendrix Wins Big at 2024 World Soundtrack Awards
Jerskin Fendrix, composer for Poor Things, emerged as the big winner at the 2024 World Soundtrack Awards, taking home both Film Composer of the Year and Discovery of the Year honours. The awards were presented on October 16 during the closing night of Film Fest Gent. Poor Things marked Fendrix’s first film score, and his collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos continued with Kinds of Kindness, which earned him these prestigious nominations. Read More
Channel 4 Doubles 4Skills Program to £10m, Launches New Initiatives to Boost UK Production Careers
Channel 4 has doubled its 4Skills training and career development program to £10m annually to strengthen regional production clusters across the UK. A key initiative is the £6m Accelerate programme, which fully funds mid- and senior-level production roles to support over 100 people’s career progression. Additionally, Channel 4 will launch an assistant commissioning editor programme in its hub cities, invest in independent production companies, and develop new series with regional screen agencies. This expansion follows Ofcom’s increased production spending requirements for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Itziar Ituño Reflects on La Casa de Papel and Discusses New Drama Uzal
As production continues for the Spanish-language drama Uzal, star Itziar Ituño shares her experience on the project and reflects on the global impact of La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), which launched her international career. Ituño, best known as Raquel Murillo (Lisbon) from the hit Netflix series, now stars in Uzal, playing Naja, a woman caught in her father’s obsessive treasure hunt in the South Pacific. Produced by Motor Films and Tharsis Films, Uzal follows a group of desperate fishermen on a perilous search for the legendary gold of the Spanish galleon Uzal. Read More
Adam Elliot's Journey to Memoir of a Snail: A Reluctant Animator’s Path to Success
Oscar-winning filmmaker Adam Elliot’s latest stop-motion feature, Memoir of a Snail, arrives 15 years after his acclaimed Mary and Max. Despite initially resisting stop-motion, Elliot’s journey began with an unexpected call from the Victorian College of the Arts after a failed interview. His background in hand-painted T-shirts and his father’s hardware shop ultimately led him to stop-motion. Elliot reflects on his path, noting that success often comes from being in the right place at the right time without a strict plan. Read More
Territory: Netflix's Big-Budget Outback Drama Set Amid Family Struggles and Vast Landscapes
Netflix's outback drama Territory, set on the sprawling Tipperary Station, delves into family dynamics and succession battles within the powerful Lawson family. The six-episode series, directed by Greg McLean (Wolf Creek), shot in the breathtaking Northern Territory, follows the fallout after the eldest son’s death. McLean describes the series as a generational family drama akin to Succession and Game of Thrones. The production faced extreme heat on set, with McLean taking unconventional measures to endure the long, hot days. Read More
Crafting the Right Pitch Package: Start with the End
How filmmakers and creators perfect their pitch packages, emphasising the importance of clarity, structure, and targeting the right audience, highlighting industry insights on what makes a successful pitch and shares practical tips on appealing to potential investors or partners. The goal is to craft a pitch that sells the project and resonates emotionally with stakeholders. Read More
Meaghan Oppenheimer Reflects on Life and Her Hulu Series Tell Me Lies
Hollywood showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer, now balancing life as a wife, mother, and stepmom, reflects on her past, including the last time she cried at a bar—a decade ago at Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood. Oppenheimer channels her memories into her hit Hulu series Tell Me Lies, a dark, sexually charged drama based on Carola Lovering’s novel. The show follows toxic relationships among college students, with characters hiding secrets like date rape, affairs, and drunk-driving deaths, concluding its gripping second season. Read More
Apple TV+ Faces Challenges Marketing Hit Shows Like Loot Despite Critical Success
Hot Ones, the viral spicy chicken-wing talk show, unexpectedly boosted Maya Rudolph’s Apple TV+ series Loot after a clip of her character from the show circulated online. However, many viewers didn’t realise it was a scene from Loot, highlighting Apple TV+'s marketing struggles. Despite high-profile creators like Alfonso Cuarón and stars like Cate Blanchett, Apple TV+ struggles to generate viewer awareness, with just 0.2% of total U.S. TV viewership. While known for prestige programming, the platform may need to rethink its marketing strategy as its cultural impact lags behind its content quality. Read More
SVT Gets Tough on AI Use in Documentaries, Demands Authenticity
Swedish public broadcaster SVT has introduced strict guidelines to limit the use of AI in documentaries. The network emphasises the importance of authenticity and transparency, particularly in representing real events and people. SVT's pushback reflects growing concerns in the industry about the potential ethical issues surrounding AI-generated content, particularly in factual programming. Read More
Greater Los Angeles Production Falls 5% in Q3 2024 Amid Industry Slowdown
Production in the Greater Los Angeles area dropped by 5% in the third quarter of 2024, with 5,048 total shoot days, marking the weakest quarter of the year and a 36.4% decrease from its five-year average, according to FilmLA. The decline follows expectations of a rebound after strike disruptions earlier in the year. FilmLA president Paul Audley noted that the fall season will be critical in determining the year’s overall production recovery. Read More
Prime Video Australia’s The Office Adaptation: Interview with Hwei Loke
Hwei Loke, recently appointed head of Amazon Prime Video Australia and New Zealand, is overseeing the highly anticipated launch of The Office Australia, debuting globally (except in the U.S.) on October 18. With a 15-year marketing background at Disney, SBS, and Nickelodeon, Loke steps into the role as Prime Video ANZ enjoys critical success with local originals like Deadloch and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. The Office Australia, the first female-led version of the iconic comedy, is already drawing significant international attention, with its trailer amassing 2.2 million views in four weeks. Read More
The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire: Director Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich’s Vision
New York artist Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich creates films centred on the inner lives of Black women. Her works include A Gentleman’s War, about a Caribbean cricket league in Brooklyn, and A Quality of Light, which examines the dual challenges of being Black and a woman through a unique blend of music theory and West African performance. Her first feature, The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire, debuted this year, spotlighting the Martinique-born writer and pioneer of Afro-Caribbean surrealism and the Négritude movement. Read More
YouTube Creators: The New Hollywood, Says Arcade Media’s Schwarzenberger
Arcade Media's co-founder Dan Schwarzenberger claims that YouTube creators are now the new Hollywood, as they increasingly produce high-quality content with broad appeal. Speaking at a media conference, Schwarzenberger highlights how digital platforms are reshaping the entertainment industry, empowering creators with more control over their work and reaching global audiences. Read More
Family Secrets and Personal Growth Lead Trends in Arabic Movies and Series, Says AI Report
Family secrets, misadventures, hidden pasts, and personal growth are the fastest-growing themes in Arabic films and series this year, according to an AI-powered report by Dubai-based Rise Studios. The report highlights how these themes reflect the evolving societal dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa, where traditional values meet modern challenges. Amanda Turnbull, CEO of Rise Studios, will discuss the cross-border drama series at Mipcom. The report, Exploring Emerging Themes and Topics in MENA’s Streaming Landscape, analyses trends across 12 streaming platforms over the past year. Read More
No Luggage: A Global Travel Documentary Series Highlighting the Beauty and Diversity of the World
No Luggage is a long-running documentary series that explores the richness of the world through 800 episodes, spanning continents like Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, and Europe. Produced by Art Winner Productions and led by creator Billyana Trayanova, the series delves into diverse topics such as history, culture, cuisine, wildlife, and adventure. Known for its spontaneous, unscripted storytelling, No Luggage takes viewers on an immersive journey from the Amazon jungle to the rainforests of Uganda. The series is distributed by TVF International and airs on various global platforms, appealing to a broad audience of travel, adventure, and culture enthusiasts. Read More
Blumhouse Partners with Meta to Test AI Film Tools with Aneesh Chaganty, The Spurlock Sisters, and Casey Affleck
Blumhouse has partnered with Meta to have filmmakers experiment with the tech giant’s new AI tool, Meta Movie Gen. The AI tool, designed to generate videos and sounds and edit existing footage using simple text prompts, is still in development and will be integrated into public products on Facebook next year. As part of a pilot program, filmmakers Aneesh Chaganty, The Spurlock Sisters, and Casey Affleck are testing the AI for short films, incorporating AI elements generated by Movie Gen. Read More
Hallmark Media Embraces New Ideas Amid Industry Turbulence with NFL Partnership and Holiday Cruise
Hallmark Media is reimagining its future with fresh initiatives as the entertainment industry faces layoffs and budget cuts. Heading into its busiest season, Hallmark is surprising audiences with a series of new experiences, including an NFL partnership, an app, elaborate fan events, and the first-ever holiday-themed cruise. Executives at Hallmark recognise that to keep their brand thriving, they must continue to innovate while maintaining their signature feel-good content. Read More
Variety and TikTok Host Third Annual Variety Culture Catalysts Dinner Celebrating Film and TV Marketers
Variety and TikTok held their third annual Variety Culture Catalysts Dinner, spotlighting top marketers in film and television. The event featured a panel discussion with Disney Entertainment TV’s social media executives, including Brittany Mehciz (Hulu), Whitney McGowan (Onyx Collective), Megan Wahtera (Freeform), Blen Blatt (ABC Entertainment), and Abby Ho (Disney Branded Television). The conversation, moderated by Variety TV editor Michael Schneider, focused on leveraging social media trends to engage audiences authentically. Ho emphasised the importance of adapting trends aligning with a brand’s identity and audience, ensuring organic conversation participation. Read More
Industry Pragmatism Creates Opportunities Amid Peak TV Decline, Say Leading Executives
Despite a tough year of show cancellations, commissioning downturns, and financial struggles, media executives see opportunities emerging from the industry’s return to pragmatism. FOX Entertainment Studios’ Fernando Szew highlights the shift towards creating value-driven, high-quality content that balances cost and audience demand. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer acknowledges the need to work harder to close deals and find new buyers, while Mediawan Pictures CEO Elisabeth d’Arvieu emphasises Europe’s ability to produce ambitious stories with controlled budgets, benefiting from soft money systems. Read More
Hallie Meyers-Shyer Reflects on Nepotism and Legacy Ahead of 'Goodrich'
Hallie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of filmmakers Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, embraces her unique perspective as a second and third-generation director. Growing up viewing directing as a "woman’s job" shaped her path, she says, as she readies her second film, Goodrich. The family dramedy, starring Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis, echoes her parents' mid-budget, character-driven movies, telling the story of Andy Goodrich (Keaton), who must care for his children while mending his relationship with his older daughter. Read More
Anora's Mikey Madison & Director Sean Baker Break Down a Scene
Disclaimer: Stars Leila George & Louis Partridge Dish on Cate Blanchett and Deep Drama
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