TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Wednesday 25 September 2024
Bazmark, Netflix event, Wildflower Studios, Paramount layoffs, James Cameron, Lucky You, Midnight Family, Fantastic Fest, Outer Banks game, Mark Duplass, Venice TV winners, and YouTube growth.
Today’s Highlights:
Bazmark, Cutting Edge, and The Post Lounge Receive $5 Million Grant - Bazmark and post-production firms Cutting Edge and The Post Lounge received grants from Queensland's $5 million Capital Grants program for infrastructure and equipment upgrades.
Netflix to Present Transparency Plans to Top Agents - Netflix plans to present its transparency efforts and discuss potential changes to talent payment structures at an event with top agents and managers.
Robert De Niro's Billion-Dollar Gamble with Wildflower Studios—Robert De Niro partners with Adam Gordon to create Wildflower Studios, an innovative vertical soundstage studio in New York that addresses the city's film industry infrastructure needs.
Paramount Layoffs Phase Two Begins—Paramount continues its cost-cutting efforts by completing its second round of layoffs, part of a larger plan to reduce its U.S. workforce by 15%.
James Cameron Joins Stability AI Board—Director James Cameron has joined Stability AI's board, signalling a significant move for the visual effects industry and its connection to artificial intelligence.
Lucky You Expands Content Offering Globally - Lucky You presents new premium projects like "7 Wonders: Legendary Monuments" and "The Organic Revolution," reflecting its global expansion strategy.
Midnight Family Showrunner Natalia Beristain Shares Vision—Apple TV+'s first all-Spanish original series, Midnight Family, follows a Mexican medical student saving lives, and showrunner Natalia Beristain reflects on its impact.
Fantastic Fest 2024 Winners Announced - Bring Them Down wins Best Film, while Sister Midnight secures Best Director at the 2024 Fantastic Fest, highlighting genre films from horror to thriller.
Outer Banks Video Game Announced - Netflix reveals the upcoming Outer Banks video game, slated for October 29, expanding its original content into interactive formats.
Mark Duplass Opens Up on His New Netflix Show "Penelope" - Mark Duplass discusses his new Netflix series "Penelope," inspired by conversations with his children and showcasing his creative storytelling approach.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals and Jobs with WBD, BBC, Netflix, Sony, Disney, GSN, NBCUniversal, ProSiebenSat & Mediawan.
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NEWS
Bazmark, Cutting Edge, and The Post Lounge Among Recipients of $5 Million Grant
Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin's Bazmark, along with post-production firms The Post Lounge and Cutting Edge, are among the first recipients of Queensland's $5 million Capital Grants program. This initiative supports small-to-medium production and post-production businesses with grants of up to $750,000 for infrastructure and equipment upgrades. Bazmark will use the funds to establish a new headquarters, further solidifying the Gold Coast as a central filmmaking hub. Other recipients, including Pinnacle Films and Elysium Studios, will expand their operations and create new jobs. Read more
Netflix to Present Transparency Plans to Top Agents and Managers at Tuesday Event; Talent Payment Proposal Likely to be Discussed
Netflix is hosting a presentation for top agents and managers at the Tudum Theater, likely addressing its reevaluation of talent payment structures. Though not officially on the agenda, sources say Netflix may propose shifting from upfront cost-plus deals to a performance-based model, rewarding talent for hits. Agents from major firms like WME, CAA, and UTA are expected to attend, seeking more transparency on how the streamer compensates its talent. Read more
The Grierson Trust Announces Nominees for 2024 British Documentary Awards
In partnership with All3Media, the Grierson Trust has revealed the 2024 British Documentary Awards nominees. The BBC leads with 16 nods, Channel 4 follows with 12, and Netflix earned 11. Categories include a new award for popular culture documentaries, with top contenders like “Big Zuu Goes to Mecca” and “Milli Vanilli.” Notable nominees include Netflix’s “American Nightmare” and Oscar-winner “20 Days in Mariupol,” up for Best Cinema and Current Affairs Documentary. Read more
Robert De Niro’s Billion-Dollar Gamble with Wildflower Studios
New York's film industry, generating $82 billion and 185,000 jobs, has long faced challenges with its scattered studio infrastructure. Developer Adam Gordon recognised the demand for soundstages and decided to build vertically inspired by New York’s skyscraper innovation. Partnering with Robert De Niro, they founded Wildflower Studios, featuring 11 stacked, sound-independent stages. Read more
Finalists and Judging Panel Announced for AACTA Pitch: Focus
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has announced the five finalists for AACTA Pitch: Focus in partnership with Sony. This national short film initiative supports student filmmakers from universities like QUT, Macquarie, and AFTRS. The judging panel, including acclaimed filmmakers like Scarlett Koehne and Jeffrey Walker, will guide finalists as they compete for $15,000 in production funding and $20,000 in Sony equipment loans. Projects range from artificial memory implants to exploring themes of friendship, trauma, and identity. Read more
Paramount Layoffs Phase Two Begins
Paramount is conducting another major round of layoffs as part of its cost-cutting efforts. Co-CEOs George Cheeks, Brian Robbins, and Chris McCarthy announced that "phase two" of workforce reductions will be mostly complete by day's end, with 90% finished. This follows the company's plan to reduce 15% of its U.S. workforce to save $500 million. Previous cuts included Paramount TV Studios's closure and key executives' exit. Read more
Winners of the 2024 Venice TV Award Announced
The 2024 Venice TV Award winners for excellence in television were presented to 29 countries, including the UK, USA, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. Notable winners include the UK’s “Hatton” (Best Documentary) and “Extraordinary Season 2” (Best Comedy), France’s “On The Run” (Best TV Film), and Brazil’s “Ayrton Senna” (Best Sports). The Special Jury Prize went to Germany's "The Zweiflers," while Marvel's "Loki Season 2" won Best Direction. Read more
James Cameron Joins Board of AI Firm Stability AI
In a significant move for Stability AI, renowned director James Cameron is joining its board of directors. Stability AI, the company behind the Stable Diffusion text-to-image AI model, is closely watched by Hollywood's visual effects industry. CEO Prem Akkaraju, formerly of WETA Digital, leads the firm, with Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster, recently joining as executive chairman. Read more
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INSIGHTS
Deeper Underground
Brian Munene, creator of Subterranea, introduces this groundbreaking Kenyan sci-fi series on Showmax. Produced by Kibanda Pictures and distributed by MultiChoice Studios, Subterranea is Kenya’s first-ever sci-fi drama series. The story follows eight individuals trapped in a bunker after a global catastrophe during an experiment. Directed by Likarion Wainaina, the series features a talented cast, including Melvin Alusa, Melissa Kiplagat, and Pauline Komu, and promises to resonate with audiences beyond its Kenyan roots. Read More
Lucky You Expands Content Offering Globally
Lucky You presented premium projects at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre, including 7 Wonders: Legendary Monuments, using CGI to recreate ancient monuments, and The Organic Revolution, marking 100 years of the organic agriculture movement. Upcoming titles include Napoleon the Third – The Bold and Beautiful and A Powerful Cycle, a film exploring the female cycle's impact on science. Reflecting on Lucky You’s 10th anniversary, founder Robert Salvestrin noted challenges due to global tensions and the absence of U.S. partners. Read More
Midnight Family's Showrunner Natalia Beristain Shares Vision
Midnight Family, a new ten-episode medical drama on Apple TV+, follows a medical student in Mexico City who saves lives with her family’s ambulance team. Based on the documentary of the same name, it is Apple TV+'s first all-Spanish original series. Showrunner Natalia Beristáin shares how the documentary inspired the series, which features an all-Hispanic cast and crew. Read More
GoQuest Media Highlights Serbian Dramas for Global Audiences
GoQuest Media's partnership with Telekom Srbija began in 2020 with Civil Servant, one of its most licensed espionage dramas. Following its international success, GoQuest has added two new Telekom Srbija series: Absolute 100 and South Wind: On the Edge. Absolute 100 follows Sonya, a young shooter entangled in a dangerous game after killing a criminal to protect her family, while South Wind delves into power struggles between a Belgrade drug lord and global forces. Read More
Lifestyle Channel Reboot Could Pave the Way for Corus Turnaround
After losing its Warner Bros Discovery trademark deal, Corus Entertainment has rebranded HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada as Home Network and Flavour Network. Co-CEO Troy Reeb discussed the company's efforts to rebuild program acquisition pipelines and broaden its commissioning. Corus has sourced 460 hours of new content through deals with Roku, PBS, and the BBC. Despite financial challenges, Reeb remains confident, emphasising Corus's expertise and legacy in lifestyle television while addressing rumours of a potential takeover by Quebecor. Read More
"Soundtrack to a Coup d’État" Unveils the Overlap Between Jazz and Politics
The Sundance-winning documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat explores how jazz legends like Louis Armstrong were unknowingly used as decoys in the CIA’s plot to assassinate Congo’s prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. The film, directed by Johan Grimonprez, examines post-colonial politics through a jazz lens, featuring archival footage and performances by icons such as Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Nina Simone. The documentary sheds light on the role of cultural ambassadors in 1960s Africa, highlighting the powerful women and Western powers involved in the tumultuous events surrounding Lumumba's assassination. Read More
YouTube Sees Growth in Living Room Viewing and AI Integration
In July 2024, YouTube made history by becoming the first streaming platform to top Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge chart and exceeding 10% of monthly TV usage. CEO Neal Mohan emphasised YouTube’s growing dominance in living rooms, noting that younger audiences increasingly turn to the platform for TV content. YouTube has expanded its offerings, including NFL Sunday Ticket and Coachella broadcasts, and creator earnings from living room views have grown 30%. YouTube plans to organise creator content into seasons and episodes, enhancing the platform's appeal to TV audiences. Read More
Mark Duplass Opens Up on His New Netflix Show "Penelope" Inspired by Conversations With His Children
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Trent Hubbard Joins Linden Entertainment
Veteran manager Trent Hubbard joins Linden Entertainment after four years at Echo
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