TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Monday 27 January 2025
Eno reinvents film distribution; NBCUniversal restructures; Netflix taps YouTubers; Resident Evil reboot; Jacinda Ardern doc; Altadena fire destroys landmarks; Sundance tackles Stand Your Ground laws
Today’s Highlights:
Eno: Generative Documentary's Innovative Distribution - Gary Hustwit’s documentary on Brian Eno grossed over $1M theatrically and leveraged unique versions for each screening. Through a partnership with Art House Convergence, the film achieved $89,558 across 74 cinemas in two days, demonstrating a groundbreaking model for niche film distribution.
NBCUniversal Restructures Content Divisions - NBCUniversal reunites NBC, Universal Studio Group, and Peacock scripted content under Pearlena Igbokwe, while Frances Berwick oversees unscripted programming. This move reflects a return to vertical integration, streamlining operations amid streaming challenges.
Streaming Platforms' Retention Strategies—Streaming services rely on licensed library content to retain subscribers. Long-running TV series and procedurals dominate viewership, steering future investments away from fleeting trends like single-hit shows.
Sundance Doc Claims New Authorship of Iconic Photo—The Stringer at Sundance challenges the authorship of the Napalm Girl photo, with Vietnamese freelancer Nguyen Thanh Nghe asserting ownership. This has sparked debate over historical credit and photographic integrity.
Altadena Landmarks Destroyed by Eaton Fire—The Eaton Fire in California destroyed iconic film locations, such as the Hacks mansion and settings from Mad Men, This Is Us, and Scream 2, marking a devastating loss for Hollywood history.
Netflix Collaborates with YouTube Creators—Starting January 27, Netflix will integrate YouTube talent into its content, featuring compilations by educational creator Ms. Rachel. This highlights Netflix’s strategy to tap into social media's creative ecosystem.
Sundance Doc Explores Stand Your Ground Laws - The Perfect Neighbor investigates the killing of Ajike Owens and the broader impact of Stand Your Ground laws. Featuring police footage, it critiques the systemic failings enabling violence.
Tiger Aspect Shifts Focus to Comedy - Lucy Bedford exits Tiger Aspect to launch a drama label, while the company refocuses exclusively on scripted comedy, led by Tom Jordan, marking a shift in its creative direction.
Jacinda Ardern Documentary Premieres at Sundance - The Sundance documentary Prime Minister highlights Jacinda Ardern’s leadership journey, including her responses to gun laws, abortion, and COVID-19, while showcasing her post-leadership advocacy work.
Zach Cregger to Reboot Resident Evil—Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger will write and direct a fresh reboot of the franchise, sparking a bidding war among major studios and introducing new energy to the iconic series.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Opportunities & Jobs with WBD, Foxtel, NBCUniversal, Prime, ITV, Sony, BBC, & Paramount.
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INSIGHTS
Eno - Art House Days Reinvents Distribution for Generative Documentary
Gary Hustwit’s Eno, a generative documentary about artist Brian Eno, grossed over $1M theatrically and earned an Oscars shortlist spot for Best Documentary Feature. Using unique versions for each screening, the film faced logistical challenges, leading to Eno - Art House Days. Partnering with Art House Convergence, it brought the film to 74 cinemas across multiple countries, generating $89,558 over two days and showcasing innovative distribution strategies for niche films. Read More
NBCUniversal Restructuring: Analysis of Vertical Integration and Unscripted Content
NBCUniversal has restructured, reuniting NBC, Universal Studio Group (USG), and Peacock scripted content under Pearlena Igbokwe, USG chairman, marking a return to vertical integration amid streaming challenges. Frances Berwick will oversee Bravo and Peacock unscripted, while Lisa Katz is expected to continue leading NBC and Peacock scripted. The move reflects financial streamlining but raises concerns about losing independent checks between studio and network interests, echoing past industry approaches to integration. Read More
Streaming Retention Strategies: Combating Churn with Paid Libraries
Streaming platforms increasingly rely on licensed library content to retain subscribers, as data shows this "iceberg" beneath the surface accounts for a significant share of viewership. HBO’s former head, Richard Plepler, highlighted this, attributing much of HBO’s success to acquired content, which once drove over 70% of viewing. Despite the hype over anomalies like Squid Game, licensed TV procedurals and sitcoms remain dominant, guiding future streaming investments over fleeting trends. Read More
Cooper Raiff on Launching Hal Harper and Building the Indie TV Market
Cooper Raiff’s Hal & Harper, an 8-part dramedy starring Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo, and Betty Gilpin, aims to establish a market for independent TV at Sundance. Made for under $10 million, the series seeks to prove that indie TV can compete with streamer-made projects. Raiff fine-tuned the series to appeal to buyers, emphasizing binge-friendly cliffhangers and commercial appeal, with all eight episodes available online for potential acquisition. Read More
Sundance Doc Challenges Authorship of Iconic Napalm Girl Photo
At Sundance, The Stringer by Bao Nguyen shocked audiences with claims that the iconic 1972 Napalm Girl photo was taken not by AP photographer Nick Ut but by Vietnamese freelancer Nguyen Thanh Nghe. During a Q&A, Nguyen, now living in California, asserted, "I took the photo," challenging the Pulitzer-winning image's long-held authorship and sparking debate over its historical credit. Read More
Altadena’s Iconic Film Locations Destroyed by Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire devastated Altadena, a historic town near Hollywood, destroying iconic film and TV locations. Lost landmarks include the Hacks mansion, Altadena Town & Country Club (Mad Men, The Wonder Years), and the amphitheatre from American Pie 2. The McNally House (Entourage), Rubio House (This Is Us), and the Crank house (Matilda, Scream 2) were also reduced to shells, marking a tragic end for these cinematic backdrops. Read More
Sundance Satire 'Atropia' Explores Bizarre Military Training Camps
Hailey Gates' feature debut, Atropia, starring Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner, unveils the surreal world of Nevada’s fictional military training villages. Based on real-life Iraq War preparation camps, these mock towns were populated by actors and featured simulated IEDs, fog machines, and eerie Glade scents mimicking spiced teas and burning flesh. Initially envisioned as a documentary, Gates turned the concept into a darkly comedic narrative, blending Argo-style intrigue with satire. Read More
Sundance Drama 'Brides' Focuses on Friendship, Not Extremism
Nadia Fall’s debut feature, Brides, explores the powerful bond between Muslim schoolgirls Muna (Safiyya Ingar) and Doe (Ebada Hassan), who leave troubled homes for Syria, navigating a path often misunderstood as radicalization. Premiering at Sundance, the film delves into their shared struggles and humanity rather than political provocation, with Fall emphasizing its roots in friendship and compassion rather than sensationalism. Inspired by real headlines, Brides captures raw, relatable adolescence. Read More
Marlee Matlin on Not Alone Anymore at Sundance
Marlee Matlin, the first deaf performer to win an Oscar, is the subject of Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, premiering at Sundance. Directed by deaf filmmaker Shoshannah Stern, the PBS American Masters documentary explores Matlin's groundbreaking career and advocacy for disability rights. Matlin hopes the film inspires opportunities for deaf artists, while Stern aims to highlight their resilience and creativity. Their shared ICODA connection adds emotional depth. Read More
Sundance Doc The Perfect Neighbor Explores Stand Your Ground Laws Through Tragic Case
Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor, premiering at Sundance, delves into the murder of Ajike Owens, a Black mother killed by neighbour Susan Lorincz in Florida. Using police bodycam footage, the documentary traces how neighbourhood tensions escalated to tragedy, spotlighting the impact of Stand Your Ground laws. Executive producer Soledad O’Brien calls it a critical examination of laws that enable violence, with the film offering a raw look at systemic failings and community dynamics. Read More
Team Behind Bubble & Squeak Reflects on Blending Absurdity and Heart
Evan Twohy's debut feature, Bubble & Squeak, premiered at Sundance, offering a surreal yet poignant tale of a couple’s bizarre honeymoon. Twohy and stars Dave Franco, Himesh Patel, and Sarah Goldberg discussed the film’s blend of absurdity, melancholy, and humour. Patel and Goldberg focused on grounding their dynamic as a couple, while Franco embraced his eccentric role, including a scene where his character dons a bear skin. Read More
Train Dreams Debuts at Sundance With Joel Edgerton in Lead
Director Clint Bentley and writer Greg Kwedar premiere Train Dreams, based on Denis Johnson's novella, at Sundance following their Oscar nod for Sing Sing. Starring Joel Edgerton, Kerry Condon, and Felicity Jones, the film spans three decades, chronicling labourer Robert Grainier’s life amid Westward Expansion, personal loss, and resilience. Bentley’s grounded approach highlights emotional depth, masculinity, and vulnerability in this poignant, character-driven narrative. Read More
Netflix Explores YouTube Storytelling Talent
Netflix actively seeks to collaborate with YouTube creators to enhance its content offerings. The company's co-chief executives have identified social media platforms as a "breeding ground" for creative talent that can transition to larger projects on Netflix. A recent example of this strategy is Netflix's partnership with Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, a YouTube star who is celebrated for her educational content. Starting January 27, Netflix will feature curated compilations of her popular videos to attract younger audiences and compete with platforms like YouTube. Read More
Channel 4 Defends Go Back to Where You Came From
Channel 4's series Go Back to Where You Came From faces backlash from refugee charities, including Amnesty International and Care4Calais, for allegedly trivializing refugee hardships through its reality TV format. The show follows six Britons retracing refugee journeys from conflict zones like Somalia. Critics argue it fails to convey the genuine trauma of war and persecution. Channel 4 defends the series, saying it aims to foster empathy and understanding. Read More
Alison Brie and Dave Franco's Debut Horror Film at Sundance
Alison Brie and Dave Franco star in Together, a horror film premiering at Sundance's Midnight section, directed by Michael Shanks in his feature debut. The story explores a couple's strained relationship after moving to the countryside, facing supernatural encounters that alter their love and lives. Brie credits their real-life bond for navigating the film's intense physical demands. Shanks calls the opportunity "exciting" yet surreal, marking a career milestone. Read More
Sundance Features Olivia Colman in Jimpa Joy
Olivia Colman stars in Jimpa, a Sundance drama directed by Sophie Hyde, based on Hyde’s relationship with their non-binary child, Aud Mason-Hyde. The film explores generational LGBTQ+ perspectives as Colman's character reconnects with her father, played by John Lithgow, in Amsterdam. While addressing love, identity, and acceptance, the cast emphasizes the absence of traditional conflict, highlighting coexistence and complexity. Colman called the production a joyful, sustaining experience. Read More
Glenn Close Talks AI and Humanity at Sundance
Attending Sundance to honour Michelle Satter, Glenn Close voiced concerns about AI in Hollywood, stating, “I don’t want my image or voice to be reconstructed.” Reflecting on her indie film Albert Nobbs, she described the challenges of raising funds and emphasized the importance of human stories. Close highlighted the risks of AI replacing jobs and urged preserving the essence of human connection, saying, “We must cling to what it means to be human.” Read More
Jacinda Ardern Opens Up in New Documentary at Sundance
The Sundance documentary Prime Minister highlights Jacinda Ardern’s remarkable leadership journey. At 37, while pregnant, she faced scepticism about balancing motherhood and running New Zealand. The film evolves into a gripping portrayal of her championing a semi-automatic weapon ban, decriminalising abortion, and prioritizing lives during COVID-19. Now a climate activist and Harvard Fellow, Ardern inspires with her book A Different Kind of Power. Produced by Madison Wells, the documentary emphasizes female empowerment. Read More
Ugly Stepsister: A Dark Twist on Cinderella
Director Emilie Blichfeldt’s debut feature, The Ugly Stepsister, reimagines Cinderella as a feminist body horror, following Elvira’s grotesque quest for beauty through a tapeworm egg metaphorizing internalized objectification. Drawing from the Brothers Grimm’s gore-filled tale and David Cronenberg’s visceral style, Blichfeldt uses practical effects to craft a chilling exploration of societal beauty standards. She describes her film’s universal appeal: “There’s only one Cinderella; the rest of us are ugly stepsisters struggling to fit the shoe.” Read More
'Bunnylovr': Rachel Sennott Co-Stars In Cam Girl Sex Story
A drifting Chinese American cam girl struggles to navigate an increasingly toxic relationship with one of her clients while rekindling her relationship with her dying estranged father.
'The Ballad of Wallis Island': Carey Mulligan Sings!
Charles, a strange lottery winner who lives alone on a secluded island, tries to make his fantasies come true by getting his favourite singer, Herb McGwyer, to perform at a special, private event.
'Oh, Hi!': Logan Lerman and Molly Gordon Star In Sundance RomCom
Iris and Isaac's first romantic weekend getaway goes awry most unexpectedly.
'Rabbit Trap': Dev Patel Hears Terrible Things In Sundance Premiere
In British writer-director Bryn Chaney’s feature debut, he uses Celtic folklore and the intimacy of sound to unpack a darkness that some might struggle to put into words.
'Rebuilding': Josh O'Connor And Meghann Fahy Lead Midwest Drama
After wildfires take his ranch, a cowboy named Dusty winds up in a FEMA camp, finding community with others who lost homes, including his daughter and ex-wife.
'Sly Lives!': Questlove Brings New Doc To Sundance
'Sly Lives!: The Burden Of Black Genius,' Questlove's second documentary, levels up from "Summer of Soul," exploring Sly Stone's life and legacy in a kaleidoscopic and profound way.
Sundance 2025: Easterseals
Sundance 2025: Pee-wee as Himself
Q+A: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN at L.A. Times Talks
Jennifer Lopez, Bill Condon, and Tonatiuh spoke with Los Angeles Times editor Matt Brennan about their film Kiss of the Spider-Woman at Los Angeles Times Talks at the Sundance Film Festival.
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