TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Thursday 21 November 2024
Brit List scripts shine; Louisiana cuts tax credits; Netflix, Meta sued; SSA launches board; Hall in The Listeners; Ken Burns on da Vinci; FilmRise expands; short-form booms; India-UK collaborations.
Today’s Highlights:
Brit List 2024 Unveils Top Unproduced Scripts by Emerging UK Screenwriters
The Brit List 2024 features 13 unproduced scripts, including The Rubber Faced Men by Faebian Averies. Nearly 25% of the listed scripts have gone into production, with past successes like The King’s Speech.Louisiana Senate Committee Approves Slimmed-Down Film Tax Credit
Louisiana reduces its film tax credit cap to $125M annually, extending the program to 2031. The legislation awaits full Senate approval and Governor Jeff Landry's signature.Netflix and Meta Sued Over Alleged Anticompetitive Agreement
Netflix and Meta face a lawsuit claiming an anticompetitive deal to hinder Facebook Watch, allegedly reducing competition and enabling Netflix to raise prices.Sustainable Screens Australia Announces Inaugural Board
SSA launched its first board, co-chaired by Adam Liaw and Sara Horn, aiming to drive sustainability in the Australian screen industry.Rebecca Hall and Janicza Bravo Discuss BBC Drama The Listeners
Rebecca Hall explores isolation in The Listeners, a BBC drama directed by Janicza Bravo, focusing on connection through the metaphor of a mysterious hum.Ken Burns Explores Leonardo da Vinci in New PBS Documentary
In a two-part PBS documentary, Ken Burns delves into Leonardo da Vinci's timeless genius and imagines his modern-day innovations.FilmRise Focuses on International Expansion
FilmRise plans global growth using AI-enhanced dubbing and localised content, launching FAST channels and targeting Europe and Latin America.The Rise of Short-Form Streamers
DramaBox and ReelShort succeed where Quibi failed. They monetise short-form videos via pay-per-view and amass $28M in revenue.India’s Growing Collaboration with UK Filmmakers Highlighted at Film Bazaar
UK-India collaborations flourish with boosted Indian incentives of up to 45%, spotlighting co-productions like Santosh and Sister Midnight.Next-Gen Talent 2024: Hollywood’s Rising Stars to Watch
Emerging stars like Kit Connor, Sophie Wilde, and Aaron Pierre redefine Hollywood's future, balancing indie projects with major franchises.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals and Jobs with Disney, BBC, ITV, Paramount, Sony, WBD, Netflix & MUBI.
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NEWS
Brit List 2024 Unveils Top Unproduced Scripts by Emerging UK Screenwriters
The Brit List 2024 highlights 13 unproduced scripts by 15 emerging British screenwriters, led by Faebian Averies' The Rubber Faced Men, with 28 recommendations. Set in 1983 West Wales, the TV crime drama follows a man and his stepson dismantling a drug ring. Curated through industry recommendations, past Brit List successes include The King’s Speech, Paddington, and The Favourite. Nearly 25% of the listed scripts have gone into production. Read More
Louisiana Senate Committee Approves Slimmed-Down Film Tax Credit
Louisiana's Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee has approved a reduced version of the state’s film and TV tax credit. The annual cap drops from $150M to $125M, with residual claims at $125M, down from $180M. The program, offering 25%-40% credits, remains popular with producers and is extended until 2031. The bill now requires full Senate approval, a House vote, and Governor Jeff Landry's signature. Read More
Netflix and Meta Sued Over Alleged Anticompetitive Agreement
Netflix and Meta are facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging an anti-competitive agreement to hinder Facebook Watch, thereby benefiting Netflix's streaming dominance. The suit, filed in Illinois federal court, claims that in 2017, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who was also a Facebook board member, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg conspired to limit Facebook's streaming ambitions. This purported agreement involved Facebook reducing its investment in original programming for Facebook Watch, effectively ceding the streaming market to Netflix. In return, Netflix allegedly provided Facebook with valuable consumer data and increased its advertising spending on the platform. The lawsuit contends that this arrangement harmed consumers by reducing competition and enabling Netflix to raise prices unfairly. Read More
Sustainable Screens Australia Announces Inaugural Board
Sustainable Screens Australia (SSA) has announced its inaugural board, co-chaired by TV presenter Adam Liaw and Dreamchaser COO Sara Horn. Members include AFTRS CFO Joanne Herron, Matchbox Pictures co-founder Helen Panckhurst, Docklands Studios Melbourne CEO Antony Tulloch, Netflix EHS leader Mark Brogan, lawyer Katrina Bullock, ESG strategist Phil Brown, and producer Anna Kaplan. The board aims to drive sustainability initiatives within Australia's screen industry. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Rebecca Hall and Janicza Bravo Discuss BBC Drama The Listeners
Rebecca Hall and director Janicza Bravo discuss The Listeners, a four-part BBC drama exploring connection and belonging. Hall plays Claire, whose life unravels after hearing a mysterious ‘hum’ audible only to her. Attracted by Bravo’s work on Zola and the show’s societal themes, Hall says, “It’s a potent metaphor about isolation and how it separates people from their communities, leaving them vulnerable.”Read More
Jesse Eisenberg Reflects on Filmmaking Lessons Ahead of A Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg shared insights from his directorial debut When You Finish Saving the World, on IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. A prominent editor critiqued his film for lacking audience access points to the characters, advice Eisenberg initially resisted but later embraced. Reflecting on the experience, Eisenberg plans to apply these lessons to his next film, A Real Pain, ensuring a deeper connection between the characters and the audience. Read More
Ken Burns Explores Leonardo da Vinci in New PBS Documentary
Ken Burns, daughter Sarah Burns, and son-in-law David McMahon step beyond American history for a new PBS documentary on Leonardo da Vinci. The two-part film examines da Vinci’s genius, whose works like "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper" remain cultural staples. Burns notes da Vinci’s timeless curiosity, imagining him thriving in the modern era with questions like, “How did you handle the gravity thing?” Read More
FilmRise Focuses on International Expansion
FilmRise's Johnny Holden, promoted to Chief Strategy Officer, discusses expanding the company’s 20,000-title library internationally by leveraging cost-effective strategies, including AI-enhanced dubbing and localised content. Recent launches include six global FAST channels and exclusive U.S. digital rights to The Outpost. FilmRise aims to grow in Europe and Latin America, focusing on premium acquisitions and aligning with CEO Danny Fisher’s early AVOD/FAST vision. Read More
The rise of short-form streamers: Quibi’s successors soar
DramaBox and ReelShort thrive where Quibi failed, turning the short-form video into a lucrative business. They’ve amassed $28 million in combined revenue and outranked platforms like Netflix and Hulu by offering feature-length stories in minute-long clips. Unlike Quibi’s subscription model, these apps use pay-per-view strategies to monetise impatience. Their success highlights changing viewer habits as audiences embrace snackable soaps and thrillers tailored for mobile consumption. Read More
Has Netflix Overlooked New Zealand Content?
The opening of Netflix’s ANZ office in Sydney has left New Zealand’s screen industry feeling overlooked, with commissioning focused almost exclusively on Australian content. While Netflix leaders praised Australian storytelling and crews, New Zealand was mentioned only as a filming location for international productions. SPADA NZ president Irene Gardiner criticised the neglect, stating that New Zealand is "not just a service centre" and urging greater recognition for local talent and stories. Read More
WBD's Vanessa Brookman questions Skibidi Toilet's staying power
Vanessa Brookman, WBD’s general manager of kids content, expressed scepticism about the viral animated YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, which has surged to over 40 million subscribers. While its bizarre concept captivates audiences, Brookman questioned its longevity, emphasising WBD's focus on enduring content. Industry figures noted the series' unconventional approach defies traditional kids' TV norms. Meanwhile, Skibidi Toilet is reportedly being developed by Michael Bay and Adam Goodman for TV and film. Read More
India’s growing collaboration with UK filmmakers highlighted at Film Bazaar
This year marked a milestone for Indian cinema as All We Imagine As Light won the Cannes Grand Prix, while UK-India coproductions Santosh and Sister Midnight debuted at the festival. These projects showcase India’s boosted filming incentive, now offering up to 45% in rebates. Despite no official UK-India coproductions yet completed, the groundwork is being laid, with BFI fostering collaborations and Indian producers increasingly targeting the international market. Read More
Next-Gen Talent 2024: Hollywood’s ten rising stars to watch
From Netflix-to-Broadway standout Kit Connor to DC's Aaron Pierre, this year’s top young talent is making waves. The list features stars like Josh Rivera (West Side Story), D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Aronofsky’s latest), Katy O’Brian, and Sophie Wilde, balancing indie projects and blockbuster franchises. Following in the footsteps of Florence Pugh and Paul Mescal, these actors are redefining the future of Hollywood with award-season buzz and breakout roles. Read More
The American Viewer: Rethinking Audience Assumptions
Entertainment Strategy Guy’s in-depth analysis of American viewers reveals surprising truths about age, race, gender, and geography, challenging Hollywood's programming strategies. His data shows Americans often misjudge the size of minority and majority groups, exposing a disconnect between perception and reality. Following a pivotal election, this study invites the entertainment industry to reevaluate audience targeting, emphasising overlooked demographics like bicultural Latinos and cross-generational viewers for better representation and engagement. Read More
Baz Luhrmann, Sarah Snook on what Australian stars bring to Hollywood | 60 Minutes
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