TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Monday 9 September 2024
Jazmin Jones' documentary, Colombia’s film boom, Almodóvar's Venice win, Paak’s directorial debut, Hallmark streaming shift, Anderson’s career shift, and Oscar buzz for Henry at TIFF.
Today’s Highlights:
Jazmin Jones on "Seeking Mavis Beacon" and Digital Literacy – Jones explores the impact of Mavis Beacon on early computer users and its cultural significance.
How Colombia is Luring High-Profile International Productions – Colombia's tax incentives and diverse landscapes make it a key destination for global productions.
Rachel Morrison and Rodrigo Prieto on Transitioning from Cinematographer to Director – Both filmmakers share how their on-set experiences shaped their directorial debuts.
Hallmark Joins the Streaming Wars – Hallmark Media shifts its strategy to prioritise streaming for future growth.
Ontario Boom: Hollywood Collaboration Highlighted at DGC, TIFF – Ontario's tax incentives and skilled labour force boost international film production.
XYZ Films COO on Launching 'Daniela Forever' at TIFF – XYZ Films leverages TIFF to launch its latest sci-fi romance.
Anderson .Paak on His Directorial Debut "K-POPS!" – Anderson .Paak discusses his debut film, reflecting personal experiences and a father-son relationship.
Pedro Almodóvar's "The Room Next Door" Wins Golden Lion at Venice – Almodóvar's first English-language feature wins top honours at Venice.
Pamela Anderson's Career Transformation with "The Last Showgirl" – Anderson's raw and unglamorous role marks a significant shift in her career.
Brian Tyree Henry in "The Fire Inside" sparks Oscar buzz at TIFF. Henry's performance in "The Fire Inside" draws Oscar attention.
Plus: Insights, Festivals, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals and Jobs with Netflix, Sky, AGBO, Fubo, TikTok, FX, Disney, Leonine & UGC.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest updates in one place.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL.
Producers: Fifth Season, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Paramount Television International, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Keshet, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures, Spin Master, Stand By Me.
Also: Aarhus Series Festival, The Wit, Norwegian Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission, IMDA, MIA, Getty Images, Ottawa Film Office, Simkins, Harbottle & Lewis, Screen Brussels, Sheffield DocFest, FilmChain, Documentary Business, Zero Gravity Management, SXSW, MEA, DOC.
INSIGHTS
Jazmin Jones on Seeking Mavis Beacon and Digital Literacy
Director Jazmin Jones discusses her feature documentary Seeking Mavis Beacon, which explores the story behind Mavis Beacon, a fictional figure associated with digital literacy. Jones highlights the impact of Mavis Beacon on early computer users and how the character became a symbol of the evolving relationship between technology and education. The film delves into the mystery of who, or what, Mavis Beacon truly is and its cultural significance in the digital age. Read More
How Colombia Is Luring High-Profile International Productions
Colombia has become a key destination for international productions due to attractive tax incentives, government support, and diverse landscapes. Productions like Paddington in Peru and Netflix’s One Hundred Years of Solitude have taken advantage of Colombia’s rebates and incentives, which can cover up to 40% of production costs. The government’s Colombia Film Fund and efforts to decentralise productions beyond Bogotá are drawing more high-profile projects, making the country a major player in the global film industry. Read More
Why Using Colombian Talent Was Key for Netflix’s Adaptation of One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Netflix's adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude features Colombian talent. The production, which spans 15 Colombian towns, features mostly emerging actors and is led by a Colombian writing team to ensure authenticity. Directors Laura Mora and Alex Garcia Lopez helm the episodes, emphasising Colombian culture, locations, and language. The large-scale production involves local artisans, highlighting Colombia’s creative economy. Read More
In Conversation: Rachel Morrison and Rodrigo Prieto on Making the Leap from Cinematographer to Director
Cinematographers Rachel Morrison and Rodrigo Prieto discuss their transitions to feature film directing, with Morrison debuting The Fire Inside and Prieto helming Pedro Páramo. Both shared how their years of on-set experience informed their new roles, focusing on storytelling, collaboration with actors, and the challenges of managing entire productions. They emphasise how directing deepened their filmmaking understanding and strengthened their cinematographer skills. Read More
Hallmark Finally Joins the Streaming Wars
Over the past decade, while major entertainment companies like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery shifted focus from cable to streaming, Hallmark Media took a different approach. They increased original series and movie production for their linear channels. They kept their streaming service, Hallmark Movies Now, primarily a platform for library content that had already aired on cable. However, this strategy is about to shift, signalling a new focus on streaming for Hallmark. Read More
StoryCorps, Shoah Foundation, Lionsgate, and Kingdom Story Team Up for White Bird
In anticipation of the October 4 release of the WWII drama White Bird, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have partnered with StoryCorps Studios and the Shoah Foundation to share real-life stories of Holocaust survivors. Directed by Marc Forster and starring Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren, White Bird tells the story of a girl trying to escape Nazi-occupied France, based on the graphic novel by R.J. Palacio. In collaboration with Living Links, StoryCorps Studios will publish accounts from descendants of Holocaust survivors, focusing on themes of bravery and kindness. Read More
Ontario Boom: Hollywood Collaboration Highlighted at DGC, TIFF
Ontario's film and TV production sector is booming thanks to increased collaboration between Hollywood and Canadian talent. At TIFF, the Directors Guild of Canada highlighted Ontario's growing infrastructure, tax incentives, and skilled labour force, making it a preferred location for international productions. Local talent also benefits from high-profile projects being shot in the region, positioning Ontario as a key player in global film production. Read More
Anderson .Paak Discusses Directorial Debut K-POPS!
Anderson .Paak opens up about his directorial debut K-POPS!, a film reflecting his experiences navigating the entertainment industry. Paak, who also stars in the film, touches on the unique challenges of transitioning from music to filmmaking and the joy of working with his son, who plays a pivotal role. The story centres on a father-son relationship set against the vibrant world of K-pop. Read More
Film That Lit My Fuse Finale: Maverick Kevin Costner On The Epics That Forged His Storytelling Vision & How ‘Horizon’ Can Wind Up A Win
As Horizon: An American Saga — Part 2 premieres at the Venice Film Festival, Oscar-winner Kevin Costner headlines the final instalment of The Film That Lit My Fuse. Launched during the pandemic, this video series featured top Hollywood figures discussing the influences that shaped their storytelling journeys. Read More
XYZ Films COO on Launching Henry Golding's Sci-Fi Romance ‘Daniela Forever’ at TIFF and How the Genre Specialist Became an Indie Studio
Los Angeles-based XYZ Films, known for its expertise in "elevated genre" films, has solidified its reputation with international hits like Gareth Evans’ The Raid and Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy, starring Nicolas Cage. Founded in 2008 by Aram Tertzakian, Nate Bolotin, and Nick Spicer, XYZ Films views the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as a critical market. This year, its sci-fi romance Daniela Forever, starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannò, is opening TIFF’s Platform competition. COO Maxime Cottray discussed how filmmaker-driven projects, like Nacho Vigalondo’s latest, align with the company's strategy to attract audiences beyond core genre fans. Read More
Max and Sam Eggers on Their A24 Film The Front Room
A24’s new horror film, The Front Room, takes audiences on a wild ride, blending genres and tones with remarkable skill. The film follows a young wife, played by Brandy Norwood, who finds herself in a harrowing spiritual and physical battle with her ailing mother-in-law, portrayed by Kathryn Hunter. Directed by twin brothers Max and Sam Eggers, the movie oscillates between social realism and hallucinatory nightmare, tackling economic horror and dark comedy themes. The Eggers brothers drew inspiration from their experiences caring for their dying grandfather, blending humour, fear, and sadness, much like Robert Aldrich’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Read More
How ‘Wild Robot’ Expands on — and Deepens — Peter Brown’s Book
In The Wild Robot, writer-director Chris Sanders explores the duality of AI companions, posing whether they are dystopian nightmares or emotional saviours. In this DreamWorks Animation sci-fi film, machines can be heartless and nurturing. Based on Peter Brown's bestselling novel, the story follows Roz, a robot voiced by Lupita Nyong'o, marooned on an island where she encounters anthropomorphic animals like a mischievous fox (Pedro Pascal) and a wry opossum (Catherine O’Hara). Read More
Share our publication with your network, and if one of your contacts subscribes, you’ll receive a 30-day upgrade to your subscription.
Orlando Bloom on Weight Loss for The Cut
In The Cut, directed by Sean Ellis, Orlando Bloom plays a boxer on the verge of a breakdown, desperate to drop weight before a fight, guided by a shady coach played by John Turturro. Bloom underwent a dramatic physical transformation, losing 52 pounds over three months to prepare for the role. At Variety's Toronto Film Festival Studio, Bloom discussed the gruelling process, saying, “I dropped quite a lot of weight... and I was very mentally challenged as well,” reflecting on his extreme diet of tuna and cucumber leading up to filming. Read More
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Writers Break Down The Sequel’s ‘Terrible Men’ and Epic 7-Minute Musical Number
The writers of the Beetlejuice sequel reveal how the film's themes were inspired by Richard Harris' classic song MacArthur Park, known for its metaphorical lyrics about love and loss. This connection helped shape the film's narrative, blending surrealism with emotional depth. They share insights into the creative process and how they balanced fan expectations while pushing the story in new directions. Read More
Christopher Andrews on Bring Them Down with Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan
When Paul Mescal dropped out of Bring Them Down, debut filmmaker Christopher Andrews replaced him with another Oscar-nominated Irish star, Barry Keoghan. The tense revenge thriller, premiering at TIFF on September 8, also stars Christopher Abbott and explores a conflict between two rival sheep farming families in rural Ireland. Originally set in the UK, the production shifted to Ireland’s Wicklow to benefit from tax credits, with Andrews striving for authenticity by having much of the film spoken in Irish, despite Abbott being one of the few Irishmen in the cast. Read More
Megan Park on My Old Ass with Aubrey Plaza
Writer-director Megan Park’s upcoming film My Old Ass marks a shift from her 2021 feature The Fallout, though both films focus on teenage perspectives. Bought by Amazon MGM Studios for $15M at Sundance, My Old Ass follows a young woman in a picturesque Canadian lakeside town who, after getting high on mushrooms, meets her older self for a life-altering conversation. Despite its seemingly light premise, the film resonates deeply, reducing audiences to tears by exploring themes of time’s fleeting nature and missed opportunities. The film stars Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza, produced by LuckyChap. Read More
Dakota Johnson ‘Basically Overdosed’ on Caffeine While Filming Her Directorial Debut ‘Loser Baby
Dakota Johnson made her directorial debut with Loser Baby, a 23-minute short film premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. Johnson experienced a creative surge during the shoot, which she initially attributed to being in the zone. However, she later realised it was due to overdosing on caffeine from Celsius energy drinks and mistaking them for natural supplements. The film, written by and starring Talia Bernstein, follows a queer woman reflecting on her relationship. Johnson, known for roles in Fifty Shades of Grey and Suspiria, admits she didn't originally intend to become a director but embraced the challenge. Read More
Pamela Anderson Weighs in on Being Minimised by Hollywood Until ‘Last Showgirl’: ‘I Underestimated Myself Too’
Despite decades in Hollywood, Pamela Anderson had never been offered a significant role like Shelley, the protagonist of The Last Showgirl, a struggling dancer facing job loss due to age and changing tastes in Las Vegas. Anderson admitted she underestimated herself. Her career transformation in 2023, marked by the Emmy-nominated documentary Pamela, A Love Story and her memoir Love Pamela, aligned perfectly with this opportunity. The film, which premiered at TIFF, showcases Anderson in a raw, unglamorous role, revealing a new emotional depth under director Gia Coppola's guidance. Read More
Elisabeth Moss and Max Minghella on Their TIFF Film Shell
Shell, directed by Max Minghella, is a self-aware, genre-bending dark comedy and body horror film premiered in the Special Presentations lineup at the Toronto Film Festival. Starring Elisabeth Moss as a struggling actress and Kate Hudson as a glamorous wellness CEO hiding a sinister secret, the film delivers a mix of thrills, scares, and humour. With a supporting cast including Kaia Gerber, Arian Moayed, Este Haim, and Elizabeth Berkley, Shell tackles society’s obsession with youth and beauty. Moss, speaking about the film, emphasised the goal of creating entertaining, well-made cinema that offers audiences a fun, rollercoaster-like experience. Read More
Rising Star Kauchani Bratt on Acting Debut With Netflix’s ‘Rez Ball’ and Uncle Benjamin Bratt’s Advice
Two years ago, Kauchani Bratt, then a philosophy student at UC Santa Cruz, was unsure about his future. Today, he's starring in Rez Ball, a Netflix drama premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, marking his first acting job. Bratt discovered an open casting call for the LeBron James-produced film on Instagram despite having no acting experience beyond a few college courses. His basketball background and Native heritage (Quechua and Coahuiltecan Nation) made him a perfect fit. Rez Ball, directed by Sydney Freeland and inspired by Michael Powell's Canyon Dreams, follows a Native American high school basketball team's journey for a state championship. Bratt stars alongside Jessica Matten, Julia Jones, and Amber Midthunder. The film hits Netflix on September 27. Read More
‘Conclave’ Director Edward Berger On The Power Of Self-Doubt, His Long Road To The A-List & Those Pesky Rumors He’ll Revive 007
Edward Berger's new thriller Conclave, based on Robert Harris's novel, examines the election of a new pope amid political intrigue that mirrors modern polarising politics. The Vatican faces a choice between reverting to conservative, exclusionary policies or embracing inclusivity for marginalised Catholics. Following his Oscar-winning film All Quiet on the Western Front, Berger showcases his storytelling prowess, drawing comparisons to directors like Sam Mendes and Christopher Nolan. Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and is set for an awards-season release by Focus Features. Read More
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Unscripted Indie Deep Fusion Hires AI Lead
Deep Fusion Films, a leader in ethical AI for television and film, has appointed Christian Darkin as Head of Creative AI. Darkin will oversee the development of AI-
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Further&Better to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.