TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Wednesday 20 November 2024
Bad Sisters returns; AI reshapes Hollywood; Netflix expands; Egypt thrives as filming hub; women directors underrepresented; kids' media evolves; TelevisaUnivision, GenAI, and Disney lead change.
Today’s Highlights:
Bad Sisters Returns to Apple TV+ for Season 2
The hit show returns and Faye Dorn discusses its continuation. In eight episodes, the Garvey sisters navigate new comedic challenges.AI and Robotics Revolutionise Hollywood Labor Dynamics
Tesla’s Optimus Robot, showcased at Warner Bros., raises concerns about AI's growing impact on Hollywood’s creative and operational workforce.Netflix Unveils Apple Cider Vinegar
A vibrant true-crime-inspired series starring Kaitlyn Dever explores wellness fraud and social media culture with sharp humour and visual flair.Guillermo Borensztein on Spanish-Language Representation
TelevisaUnivision's SVP outlines strategies for expanding Spanish-language content globally through the VIX platform amidst evolving business models.Respect Collective Introduces Code for Depicting Sexual Assault
A new French initiative promotes accurate and respectful portrayals of sexual assault in media while ensuring safer production practices.Women Directors Represented Only 27% of French Films in 2023
A report calls attention to ongoing gender disparities in the French film industry and urges more support for female filmmakers.Andrew Robinson on GenAI for Drama Pitches
GenAI enhances efficiency in drama pitching, enabling cost-effective production of storyboards and sizzle reels guided by ethical principles.Netflix Showcases Global Content Expansion
Netflix unveils major international projects, including Squid Game Season 2 and One Hundred Years of Solitude, emphasising local talent investment.Egypt Emerges as Global Filming Hub
The Egypt Film Commission attracts major productions with streamlined permits, featuring historic and modern locations in high-profile films.Rob Doherty on the Future of Kids’ Content
Kids’ media evolves with interactive storytelling and social gaming, transforming engagement and empowering younger generations as creators.
Plus: Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals, In Development, Deals and Jobs with WBD, BBC, Fox, Legendary, WME & ProSiebenSat.1.
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest TV, Film & Media updates in one bulletin.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime, Marquee TV, Paramount Television International, MTV Entertainment Group, BET.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play, TCL FFalcon, RTL, TVNZ.
Producers: Fifth Season, Sony Pictures Television, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, Universal Pictures International Australasia, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, 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, Halcyon Studios, DPG Media, Envision, Rive Gauche, Blue Ant Media, Squareone, Great Southern Studios, Collective Media Group, New Dominion Pictures, RAW TV, Optomen, Magpie Pictures.
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, Attraction Distribution, Kaplan Stahler Agency, Passion Distribution, Audible, Screen Queensland, Canada Media Fund, My Smash Media.
INSIGHTS
Bad Sisters Returns to Apple TV+ for Season 2
As Bad Sisters returns to Apple TV+, Faye Dorn, head of drama at producer Merman, reflects on continuing the award-winning series. The first season, which followed the Garvey sisters as they navigated the aftermath of Grace’s abusive husband JP’s death, won acclaim, including Bafta and Peabody awards. The second season revisits siblings Eva, Grace, Ursula, Bibi, and Becka, continuing their darkly comedic journey across eight new episodes. Read More
AI and Robotics Revolutionise Hollywood Labor Dynamics
Elon Musk recently showcased Tesla's AI-powered Optimus Robot on the Warner Bros. lot, demonstrating human-like interactions, from pouring beer to answering existential questions. While it was later revealed that the robots were teleoperated, the event fueled fears about the future role of humanoid robots in Hollywood. As robotics funding surpasses $4.2 billion this year, industry professionals worry these advancements could extend AI’s reach beyond creative roles to blue-collar jobs on film sets. Read More
Netflix Unveils First Look at Apple Cider Vinegar, a Colourful True-Crime-Inspired Series
Netflix has teased Apple Cider Vinegar, an Australian limited series based loosely on Belle Gibson’s infamous wellness fraud. Starring Kaitlyn Dever, the series explores the rise and fall of a social media influencer who claimed to cure brain cancer naturally. Created by Samantha Strauss (Nine Perfect Strangers), the show blends humour, vibrant aesthetics, and sharp commentary on wellness culture, medical arrogance, and the social media era of the early 2000s. Read More
Share Further&Better with your network, and if one of your contacts subscribes, you’ll receive a 30-day upgrade to your subscription.
Guillermo Borensztein on Spanish-Language Representation and TelevisaUnivision’s Strategy
Guillermo Borensztein, SVP of International Content Licensing at TelevisaUnivision, highlights the underrepresentation of Spanish speakers on global platforms. As the largest Spanish-language content producer, TelevisaUnivision has expanded its reach with the VIX platform launched two years ago. Borensztein discussed the company’s strategy to navigate shifting business models and leverage the growing global demand for Spanish-language content in an evolving market. Read More
Respect Collective in France Introduces Code for Depicting Sexual Assault
France’s Respect Collective has launched a code of conduct to guide the depiction of sexual assault in film and television. Covering every stage from scriptwriting to production, the initiative seeks to ensure respectful and accurate portrayals while fostering safer production environments for cast and crew. Read More
Women Directors Represented Only 27% of French Films in 2023
A new report highlights that women directed just 27% of films produced in France in 2023. This statistic reflects the ongoing gender disparity in the French film industry, calling for more initiatives to support female filmmakers. Read More
Andrew Robinson on Using GenAI for Drama Pitches
Andrew Robinson, Director of Runningbird and Mindcorp, explains how Generative AI (GenAI) is revolutionising the drama pitching process, streamlining tasks from synopsis creation to pitch decks, storyboards, and sizzle reels. Robinson outlines four ethical principles guiding AI use in production: no pretending AI-generated content is real, obtaining permission for asset use, ensuring fair compensation for rights holders, and respecting ownership of all utilised assets. These principles, Robinson says, build trust for AI projects. For pitches, however, Robinson highlights AI’s agility in crafting compelling presentations quickly and cost-effectively, making it a powerful tool for securing funding without committing to production-level assets. Read More
Netflix Showcases Global Content Expansion
Netflix highlighted its growing international content slate at its first international showcase in Los Angeles. Chief content officer Bela Bajaria unveiled footage from highly anticipated projects, including Squid Game Season 2, set to premiere on Dec. 26, with a third and final season confirmed. Other titles showcased included Colombia’s adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude. Bajaria emphasised Netflix’s commitment to fostering local talent and productions, resulting in globally resonant hits. Read More
Disney Leads Streaming Profitability Push Amid Industry Shifts
Disney has emerged as the leader in the streaming race, making significant progress toward profitability in the latest earnings quarter. While competitors like Warner Bros. Discovery are advancing, they lag in closing the financial gap as traditional cable TV declines. Disney CEO Bob Iger’s strategic efforts have positioned the company ahead in adapting to the changing media landscape, though the broader industry faces challenges in balancing growth and profitability. Read More
Rob Doherty on the Future of Kids’ Content: Social Gaming and Interactive Storytelling
Rob Doherty, founder of Relevant Content, highlights the shift in kids’ media from passive viewing to active participation, driven by social gaming and interactive storytelling. These formats redefine engagement, allowing children to co-create their entertainment rather than consume it. Traditional media must adapt to remain relevant as platforms like YouTube empower Gen Z, with 65% identifying as content creators. Doherty sees this as a transformative moment, emphasising interactivity as the cornerstone of the kids’ industry’s future. Read More
Egypt Emerges as Global Filming Hub with Major 2024 Releases
Egypt is becoming a global filming hub, with the Egypt Film Commission (EFC) facilitating international productions through streamlined permits and state ministry coordination. Upcoming 2024 releases include “Wicked Part Two” and Guy Ritchie’s “Fountain of Youth”, which utilised Egypt’s historic landscapes, and Neil Burger’s modern Cairo-set thriller “Inheritance”. These projects highlight Egypt’s blend of ancient and contemporary appeal, showcasing its potential as a premier destination for international filmmakers. Read More
Steve McQueen’s new film shows the Blitz through the eyes of a child
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.