TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 15 November 2024

Desi List finalists shine; Disney posts $321M profit; UK soaps decline; Jennifer Lawrence stars in Die, My Love; Netflix expands programs; Sweden's HVOD thrives; and ethical AI faces scrutiny.

Today’s Highlights:

• Desi List Finalists Announced by The Black List - The Desi List highlighted 12 projects from 346 submissions, chosen by industry professionals like Mindy Kaling and Riz Ahmed, showcasing diverse film and TV writing talents.

• Swedish Film Institute Awards $60,000 Wild Card Prizes - Olga Krüssenberg and Balder Ljunggren received SEK 800,000 to develop debut feature films through the Swedish Film Institute's Wild Card initiative.

• UK Trans+ Writers Lab The DarkRoom Announces Inaugural Participants - The DarkRoom, supported by the BFI, launched to nurture trans and non-binary storytellers, including talents like Elijah W Harris and Travis Alabanza.

• Disney Reports Strong Q4 Earnings with Streaming Profit Growth - Disney achieved $321 million in quarterly streaming profits, driven by hit films like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine.

• First Look: Jennifer Lawrence Stars in Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love - Jennifer Lawrence stars in Lynne Ramsay's Die, My Love, alongside Robert Pattinson and LaKeith Stanfield, in a dark psychological thriller.

• Netflix and Bus Stop Films Expand Attachment Program with Heartbreak High Placements - Netflix collaborates with Bus Stop Films, offering production opportunities for emerging creatives like Jack Kennedy on Heartbreak High Season 3.

• Sweden's Streaming Industry Booms with Affordable HVOD Options - Sweden's streaming market saw record growth, driven by affordable ad-supported tiers from platforms like Viaplay and Disney.

• The Shadow Scholars Explores AI, Education, and Ethical Challenges - Eloise King's documentary examines global essay-writing services, highlighting ethical dilemmas and socioeconomic disparities in academic ghostwriting.

• UK Soap Opera Cuts Impacting Film Industry - The decline of UK soap operas disrupts training opportunities for emerging talent and impacts regional economies reliant on these productions.

• Colman Domingo Stars in Netflix's Political Thriller The Madness - Colman Domingo leads The Madness, a Netflix thriller blending political conspiracy with a gripping personal redemption arc.

Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Cancellations and Jobs with Easy Tiger, CJZ, BD, Foxtel, ITV, Tubi, Prime, NBCUniversal & WME.

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NEWS

Desi List Finalists Announced by The Black List

The inaugural Desi List has announced its finalists, showcasing 12 projects selected from 346 submissions. The list features a balanced mix of film and television scripts, including works by notable talents such as Monisha Dadlani, a 2020 Black List recipient and writer for Apple TV+'s Wolfboy and the Everything Factory. The selection was made by a committee of 43 industry professionals, including Mindy Kaling, Riz Ahmed, and The Salon co-founders Nik Dodani, Bash Naran, and Vinny Chhibber. Read More

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Swedish Film Institute Awards $60,000 Wild Card Prizes

Scandinavian filmmakers Olga Krüssenberg and Balder Ljunggren have been awarded the Swedish Film Institute's Wild Card prize, sharing SEK 800,000 to develop their debut feature films. The Wild Card initiative supports recent graduates in their first feature projects. Krüssenberg's project, Late Blue Winter, follows a man forced to settle on Norway's Svalbard archipelago after being denied a European visa. An alumna of the Royal Institute of Art and Biskops Arnö, Krüssenberg has directed short documentaries such as Slowly I Move in Your Direction and Isblink. Read More

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UK Trans+ Writers Lab The DarkRoom Announces Inaugural Participants

The DarkRoom, the UK's first writers' lab for trans and non-binary talent, has announced its inaugural cohort, offering mentorship and development for authentic storytelling in film and TV. Supported by the BFI’s Creative Challenge Fund, the five-month program will include masterclasses, networking, and a pitch showcase at BFI Flare. Participants include Elijah W Harris, Shaznay Martin, Travis Alabanza, and other emerging voices in trans and non-binary storytelling. Read More

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Disney Reports Strong Q4 Earnings with Streaming Profit Growth

Disney's stock surged over 5% in pre-market trading on Thursday following a robust fiscal fourth quarter. The company's streaming segment reported a combined profit of $321 million for the quarter and $134 million for the full year, a significant turnaround from losses of $387 million and $2.6 billion in the respective prior periods. Overall revenue increased by 13% to $6.3 billion for the quarter and 14% to $24.94 billion for the year. The film studio also experienced one of its best quarters, bolstered by the success of "Inside Out 2" and "Deadpool & Wolverine."Read More

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INSIGHTS

In Too Deep

As Silo returns to Apple TV+ for season two, showrunner Graham Yost and Tim Robbins, Common, and Harriet Walter discuss the sci-fi show’s success and the challenges of filming underground. Based on Hugh Howey’s novels, Silo follows Earth’s last 10,000 people living in a mile-deep bunker. Season two, premiering tomorrow, promises to delve further into the mysteries surrounding their confinement and the dangers of uncovering the truth. Read More

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Netflix and Bus Stop Films Expand Attachment Program with Heartbreak High Placements

Netflix has expanded its collaboration with Bus Stop Films by appointing Jack Kennedy as a production attachment for the third season of Heartbreak High. Kennedy will spend 6-8 weeks on set, receiving one-on-one mentoring. This initiative follows the placement of Mia Talbot on the set of The Survivors, where she primarily worked with the art department and shadowed various roles. A post-production attachment for Heartbreak High Season 3 will be announced soon. Read More

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First Look: Jennifer Lawrence Stars in Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love

Jennifer Lawrence returns to her darker roots in Die, My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay. The thriller, based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel, centres on a woman (Lawrence) at the crossroads of love and madness. Robert Pattinson plays her husband, with LaKeith Stanfield as her lover. Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte also co-star. This marks Ramsay's first feature since 2017’s You Were Never Really Here. Read More

Sweden's Streaming Industry Booms with Affordable HVOD Options

The Swedish streaming market has added 600,000 subscriptions in the past year, driven by affordable, ad-supported options introduced by platforms like Viaplay, Max, and Disney. Ad-supported tiers are gaining traction, with households now holding an all-time high of nearly three subscriptions on average. Despite this growth, 90% of subscriptions remain ad-free. Mediavision’s CEO, Marie Nilsson, highlights this shift as a positive trend after a slow period. Read More

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Udea Media Charts Global Growth with Strategic Expansion

Udea Media, led by founder Umay Ayaz, emphasises sustainable growth and meaningful partnerships over rapid revenue gains, focusing on tailored solutions for broadcasters and producers. The boutique distribution arm, The Format TV, selects high-value projects with global appeal, bridging creators and broadcasters while prioritising trust and collaboration. Recognised for the success of Celebrity Teacher at NATPE Budapest, Udea Media eyes expansion in Europe, MENA, Latin America, and Asia, aligning content with cultural nuances and market demands. Read More

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The Shadow Scholars Explores AI, Education, and Ethical Challenges

Eloise King's documentary The Shadow Scholars delves into the global essay-writing industry, highlighting the ethical complexities of this multi-billion-dollar sector. The film follows Oxford Professor Patricia Kingori, the youngest Black female professor in the university's history, as she investigates how overqualified yet underemployed Kenyans earn a living by writing essays for students worldwide. Executive-produced by Steve McQueen and filmed across three continents, the documentary offers a nuanced perspective on academic integrity and socioeconomic disparities. Read More

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Colman Domingo Stars in Netflix’s Political Thriller The Madness

In The Madness, Colman Domingo plays Muncie Daniels, a political consultant turned TV pundit who, during a writing retreat, becomes the sole witness to the murder of a white supremacist and is subsequently framed. On the run to clear his name and expose a global conspiracy, Muncie navigates disinformation and reconnects with his family. Created by Stephen Belber and directed by Clement Virgo, the series also stars Bradley Whitford, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Gabrielle Graham. Read More

UK Soap Opera Cuts Impacting the Film Industry

The recent decline in UK soap operas significantly affects the broader film and television industry. Cancelling long-running series like Doctors has disrupted traditional training grounds for emerging talent, limiting opportunities for actors, writers, and crew members to gain essential experience. This shift forces many freelancers to seek work in other sectors, altering employment dynamics and potentially diminishing the industry's talent pool. Additionally, the reduction in soap opera production impacts local economies that rely on these shows for economic activity, further changing the landscape of regional television production. Read More

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Avi Himatsinghani and Sandie Lee Discuss Rewind Networks’ Growth

Rewind Networks, led by CEO Avi Himatsinghani, has expanded its portfolio with the launch of HITS NOW, a channel offering current US television content. Building on the success of HITS and HITS MOVIES, which feature classic series and films, HITS NOW has secured carriage in six markets, reaching 14 million homes across Asia. This strategic move addresses a gap left by significant media companies pivoting to streaming, providing audiences with curated, first-run programming. Executive VP Sandie Lee emphasises a programming approach that includes popular franchises like American Idol, Survivor, and America's Got Talent, aiming to deliver content that resonates with viewers seeking nostalgia and contemporary entertainment. Read More

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Emily Watson Talks Dune: The Prophecy and Season 2 Plans

To prepare for her role as Valya Harkonnen in the sci-fi series Dune: Prophecy, Emily Watson drew inspiration from historical figures like Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Anne Boleyn. She studied their portraits at London's National Portrait Gallery, noting their ability to project control and navigate male-dominated societies. Watson observed that these women, often surrounded by intrigue and danger, maintained a composed demeanour, which she aimed to embody in her portrayal of Valya. Read More