TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Weekend 7-8 September 2024
Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance shocks with body horror; Nick Hamm’s William Tell is a bloody epic; Eddie Huang chronicles Vice’s fall; Ben Stiller returns in Nutcrackers at TIFF.
Today’s Highlights:
Scrublands Sequel – Felicity Packard discusses the adaptation of Scrublands: Silver, exploring character development and media scrutiny in a coastal town murder mystery.
Bring Them Down – Chris Andrews' debut revenge drama Bring Them Down showcases Irish trauma and family conflicts, premiering at Toronto's Special Presentations.
Meet The Barbarians – Julie Delpy's anti-immigrant comedy Meet The Barbarians addresses prejudice through a humorous lens, premiering at TIFF.
Firebrand – Jude Law's transformation into Henry VIII in Firebrand involved innovative makeup techniques to capture the king's deteriorating health.
The Real Housewives in Africa – The Real Housewives franchise has become a major success in African cities, blending drama with local cultural elements.
Vice Is Broke—Eddie Huang's documentary chronicles the rise and fall of Vice Media, focusing on its corporate mismanagement.
Nutcrackers – Nutcrackers, starring Ben Stiller, was fully financed by Rivulet Films and marks Stiller's return to the screen after seven years.
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight—Embeth Davidtz directs Don't Let's, an adaptation of Alexandra Fuller's memoir about her childhood in Rhodesia.
Coralie Fargeat's The Substance, a body horror film starring Demi Moore, critiques aging and beauty standards with intense prosthetic work and grotesque transformations.
William Tell – Nick Hamm's William Tell, premiering at TIFF, reimagines the Swiss legend as a bloody epic, with Claes Bang leading a star-studded cast in a tale of rebellion and heroism.
Plus: Insights, Festivals & Markets, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Cancellations and Jobs with ITV, Paramount, CAA, Moonbug, UKTV, BBC, Prime, Disney, Vice, PBS, NBCUniversal, Red Bull, Plaion, Berlinale & Netflix.
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INSIGHTS
Lay of the Scrublands
Felicity Packard, head writer of Scrublands, discusses the Australian series' sequel, Scrublands: Silver, based on Chris Hammer’s novels. Set in a coastal town, the plot follows journalist Martin Scarsden as he investigates the murder of a childhood friend while his partner, Mandy Bond, becomes the prime suspect. The show explores media scrutiny and personal redemption. Packard highlights the challenge of adapting the novels and balancing character development with the mystery. Read More
“I wanted more rain”: the journey behind Irish revenge drama Bring Them Down
Chris Andrews’ debut feature, Bring Them Down, premieres at Toronto’s Special Presentations. The Irish-English revenge drama follows a farmer's son embroiled in a brutal conflict with another shepherding family. Starring Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan, the film was shot mainly in Ireland and explored themes of trauma and neighbourly grudges. Originally set in Cumbria, the film transitioned into an Irish setting with support from Screen Ireland. Read More
"It’s a left-wing feelgood movie": Julie Delpy on her French anti-immigrant comedy Meet The Barbarians
Julie Delpy’s Meet The Barbarians is a comedic take on the global refugee crisis and rising far-right nationalism. Set in Brittany, the mockumentary-style film follows a Syrian family navigating a reluctant French village. Delpy balances humour and political commentary, exploring prejudice while poking fun at all sides. The film premiered at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival and will screen at TIFF, with a French release set for September 18. Read More
How Jude Law was transformed into Henry VIII for Firebrand
For Firebrand, Jude Law underwent a significant transformation to portray Henry VIII without using prosthetics. Makeup artist Jenny Shircore used techniques like cheek "plumpers" and intense facial makeup to create the King’s deteriorating appearance. Law also wore a perfume replicating the smell of Henry’s leg wound. This attention to detail helped Law embody the pain and mood swings of the character, which was crucial to his portrayal of the infamous monarch. Read More
How Africa Embraced The Real Housewives
The Real Housewives franchise has become a sensation across Africa, with successful local versions in cities like Johannesburg, Durban, and Lagos. The African adaptations maintain the core glamour and drama but incorporate unique cultural elements, making the shows a hit with local audiences. These adaptations highlight the rise of reality TV in Africa, driven by local broadcasters and streaming platforms. The format's success has paved the way for future international partnerships in African media. Read More
Brazilian Magazine Show Leads August Wit List
The Brazilian magazine show Domingo Record topped the August Social Wit List with 977,000 Instagram followers. Hosted by Rachel Sheherazade, the show blends news and entertainment with in-depth reports. Acerte ou Caia came second with 361,000 followers, and Estrela da Casa, a reality singing competition, took third with 207,000 followers. The list also featured other international hits, including Love Island Israel and Mermaid Magic. Read More
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Rivulet Films Co-Heads Rob Paris & Mike Witherill Talk Fully-Financing David Gordon Green’s TIFF Opener ‘Nutcrackers’ With Ben Stiller
A year ago in Toronto, with writers' and actors' strikes still ongoing, Rivulet Films co-founders Rob Paris and Mike Witherill worked on a project with director David Gordon Green. When that fell through, Green presented them with Nutcrackers, a non-WGA script by Leland Douglas. The story follows Mike, a workaholic who cares for his nephews and finds a home with them after their parent's death. Ben Stiller stars, marking his first lead role in seven years. The film premieres at the Toronto Film Festival, and Rivulet fully financed and produced it with Green’s Rough House Pictures. Read More
Actor Embeth Davidtz Knew the Story of ‘Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight’ in Her Bones — and Had to Direct It
When Embeth Davidtz sought to adapt Alexandra Fuller’s memoir Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, she passionately pitched the story to Fuller, stating, "I know it in my bones." Davidtz, known for her roles in Schindler’s List and The Morning Show, resonated deeply with the memoir, which recounts Fuller’s experiences growing up in Rhodesia during the country’s transformation into Zimbabwe. Although Davidtz hasn’t lived in Zimbabwe, her South African roots and memories of witnessing violence and racism mirrored those of the story’s protagonist, Bobo, played by newcomer Lexi Venter. Read More
Eddie Huang’s New Doc ‘Vice Is Broke’ Digs Into the Media Giant’s Downfall
Over the past year, Eddie Huang has reflected on the intersection of art and corporate ambition while making his documentary debut, Vice Is Broke, chronicling the rise and fall of Vice Media. Known previously as a restaurateur and author of Fresh Off the Boat, Huang began working with Vice in 2012, producing food and travel content. After years of waiting for unpaid residuals and witnessing Vice's bankruptcy, Huang’s film explores how the media giant went from a $6 billion empire to being sold for parts. Read More
Mark Eydelshteyn Had to Convince His Teachers to Let Him Star in Sean Baker’s Cannes Winner ‘Anora’
Talking to Russian actor Mark Eydelshteyn, it’s easy to see why Sean Baker cast him as Ivan in Anora, set to screen at TIFF. Eydelshteyn plays a likable goofball who marries a Brighton Beach sex worker and is the son of a Russian oligarch. Known for his quick wit and self-deprecating humour, Eydelshteyn reflects on his journey into acting, saying, “It’s the only thing I can do,” after struggling in other subjects like math and biology. He eventually met Sean Baker through a recommendation from co-star Yura Borisov, despite his initial nervousness about auditioning for an American film. Read More
Meet the New Cool Kids of Indie Filmmaking
Last year’s Sundance marked the festival's in-person return and the unofficial debut of 2AM, a production and management company led by Christine D’Souza Gelb, David Hinojosa, and Kevin Rowe. At the festival, 2AM premiered Past Lives and The Starling Girl, while their client A.V. Rockwell’s A Thousand and One won the Grand Jury Prize. Launched in 2020 during the industry’s upheaval, 2AM now represents talent like Jeremy O. Harris and Lukas Gage, with Past Lives earning an Oscar nomination. Read More
Steven Moffat on ‘Doctor Who’ Bosses Being “Chief Satan of the Nation” and How Not to Adapt British Series for the U.S.
Screenwriter and executive producer Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Sherlock) shared insights into his work and frustrations with the entertainment industry during a "Visionaries" session at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Moffat discussed reimagining beloved characters, the pitfalls of adapting British series for the U.S. and navigating windowing and release strategies in the digital age. Moffat’s commentary offered a deep dive into his creative process and industry challenges. Read More
Tomas Alfredson on Remaking Ingmar Bergman’s Steamy Infidelity Drama ‘Faithless’ as a TV Series
Faithless, a new six-part TV series from director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), revisits a familiar story for European arthouse fans. The series follows director David Howard, 73, and actress Marianne Vogler, 75, who confront the painful consequences of their decades-old affair. Based on an unproduced Ingmar Bergman screenplay, the original film was adapted by Liv Ullmann in 2000. Alfredson's adaptation, written by Sara Johnsen, expands on this tale of lust and betrayal, with Frida Gustavsson, August Wittgenstein, Gustav Lindh, and Jesper Christensen starring. Faithless premieres at the Toronto Film Festival. Read More
How Naomi Watts Prepared to Work With Bing, Her 145 Pound Great Dane Co-Star in ‘The Friend’
Naomi Watts has starred alongside many iconic actors—Sean Penn, Viggo Mortensen, Leonardo DiCaprio, and even King Kong—but none prepared her for Bing, the 145-pound Great Dane she co-stars with in The Friend. The drama, screening at the Toronto Film Festival, explores heartbreak, art, and the bond with a giant dog. Watts spent six weeks bonding with Bing, working with veteran animal trainer Bill Berloni, who required daily meetings to ensure she could handle the massive dog during filming in New York City. Read More
How Bruce Springsteen's Doc ‘Road Diary’ Captures Band’s Live Magic and Uncertainty About His Future
Bruce Springsteen sensed his current tour with the E Street Band would be unlike any before, and filmmaker Thom Zimny, who has worked with Springsteen for 24 years, felt the same. This led to Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, premiering at TIFF on Sept. 8 and streaming on Hulu and Disney+ from Oct. 25. The documentary captures the band shaking off the rust after six years and reflects Springsteen's reflections on mortality, health struggles, and gratitude for live performances. It features interviews with key collaborators, including Steven Van Zandt and Patti Scialfa. Read More
'Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist' Cast Talk Working on the Peacock Limited Series | THR News
The new Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist is based on the true story of an armed robbery during Muhammad Ali's 1970 comeback fight in Atlanta. The star-studded cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, Chloe Bailey, and Sinqua Walls. Several cast members recently spoke about their experience working on the highly anticipated series.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Blue Ant Media Expands Media Pulse with Senior Promotion and Key Hires
Blue Ant Media has promoted Deborah Gurofsky to SVP & Managing Director of Media Pulse, Canada’s exclusive CTV marketplace. Additionally, Taylor Farmer was
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