TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Friday 23 August 2024
Germany backs Rasoulof for Oscars; Frasier returns; UK production struggles; Hollywood layoffs; Crow remake hits theatres; Doc funding; Lionsgate apology; California tax loss; TV diversity push.
Today’s Highlights:
Germany Selects Mohammad Rasoulof's 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' as Its Oscar Submission - Rasoulof's film, made in exile, reflects political tensions and has gained international recognition.
Screen Australia Allocates $3 Million to Fund 13 Documentary Projects - Significant investment to support diverse storytelling in Australia's documentary sector.
Aussie Documentary Sector Launches Political Campaign to Regulate Streaming Industry - A push for stricter regulation to protect and fund local content.
Lionsgate Pulls' Megalopolis' Trailer Due to Fabricated Critic Quotes - A major misstep in film promotion, leading to public apologies.
The TV Foundation's New Unit to Increase Working-Class Talent in Television - An initiative to diversify the industry's socioeconomic representation.
UK Production Companies Face Financial Struggles Due to Decreased Content Demand - Warning at the Edinburgh TV Festival about the economic pressures on independent producers.
Frasier Season 2 Trailer Released - The return of the iconic character with a Seattle-themed episode marks a significant moment in TV reboot culture.
The Crow Remake Finally Hits Theatres After 15 Years - A highly anticipated release after numerous failed attempts, starring Bill Skarsgård.
California Losing Film and TV Productions to States with Better Tax Incentives - A significant shift in the industry, impacting the Los Angeles entertainment market.
Summer of Layoffs in Hollywood Amidst Financial Struggles in the Industry - Paramount and other major studios face massive job cuts, reflecting broader industry challenges.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals, Executive Moves, In Development, Deals, Renewals, Opportunities, Events and Jobs with Warners, ITV, Searchlight, Tubi, Sony, DR, Netflix & ProSiebenSat.1.
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NEWS
International Oscar Race: Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘Seed of the Sacred Fig’ Selected by Germany
Germany has selected Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig as its Oscar submission. The film, which won the special jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival, was made while Rasoulof was in exile in Germany, having been sentenced to eight years in prison by Iran for the political content of his films. The story follows a newly promoted judge in Tehran who sides with the regime during a national protest, disrupting his family's balance.
From: Variety
Screen Australia Announces $3 Million Funding for 13 Documentaries
Screen Australia has allocated $3 million to support 13 documentary projects, focusing on a diverse range of stories across various platforms. These documentaries cover topics from social justice to personal stories, aiming to bring unique Australian perspectives to domestic and international audiences. The funding is part of Screen Australia's ongoing commitment to fostering documentary filmmaking in Australia.
From: Screen Australia
Aussie Doc Sector Starts Political Campaign to Regulate Streaming Industry
Australia's documentary sector has launched a political campaign advocating for stricter regulation of the streaming industry. The initiative seeks to ensure that streaming platforms contribute to the funding and distribution of Australian content, mirroring the obligations placed on traditional broadcasters. The campaign highlights concerns about the sustainability of local content production in the evolving media landscape.
From: C21Media
The TV Foundation Launches Unit to Attract More Working-Class Talent into Industry
The TV Foundation has introduced a new unit aimed at increasing the participation of working-class talent in the television industry. This initiative seeks to address the class divide within the industry by providing support, training, and opportunities for individuals from underrepresented socioeconomic backgrounds. The goal is to diversify the voices and perspectives in television production.
From: C21Media
Screen Australia to Close Producer Equity Program
Screen Australia has announced the closure of its Producer Equity Program, which has provided crucial financial support to low-budget documentary productions. The decision is part of a broader shift in funding strategies aimed at aligning with the current needs of the Australian screen industry. Filmmakers and producers are being encouraged to explore alternative funding opportunities.
From: Screen Australia
Lionsgate Pulls ‘Megalopolis’ Trailer Offline Due to Made-Up Critic Quotes and Issues Apology: ‘We Screwed Up’
Lionsgate recalls the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola's film Megalopolis after discovering it featured fabricated quotes from renowned film critics. The company apologised, acknowledging the mistake and expressing regret to the critics, Coppola and American Zoetrope. The trailer, intended to position Megalopolis alongside Coppola's classics like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, included false quotes attributed to critics such as Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael, which were never part of their reviews.
From: Variety
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INSIGHTS
Now and Then
Swedish stars Alexandra Rapaport and Ella Hammarsten Liedberg join writer-director Martina Haag in "Det är något som inte stammer" (Little Did I Know), a Viaplay film inspired by Haag’s life and books. The drama explores the life of Petra, a woman reflecting on her teenage years while facing new challenges, including her husband's infidelity. The film alternates between the older and younger Petra, exploring themes of self-discovery.
From: Drama Quarterly
More UK Prodcos Will Go Bust Due to Lack of Demand for Content, ETVF Delegates Told
At the Edinburgh TV Festival, delegates were warned that more UK production companies are at risk of going bust due to a declining demand for content. The industry faces significant challenges as streamers and broadcasters cut back on commissions, leading to increased financial pressures on independent producers.
From: C21Media
Lygo Sets Out Indie Opportunities at ITV but Faces Tough Questions on Platforming Farage
ITV's Kevin Lygo discussed opportunities for independent producers at ITV during a recent event but faced tough questions regarding the network's decision to platform Nigel Farage. Lygo defended ITV's content decisions, emphasizing the importance of diverse viewpoints while highlighting the network's commitment to supporting indie production.
From: C21Media
TV Prodcos Urged to Invest in Online Formats Rather Than Unaffordable Creators
Industry experts advise TV production companies to focus on developing online formats instead of spending heavily on top-tier creators. With the rising costs of high-profile talent, investing in scalable and innovative online formats is seen as a more sustainable approach for future growth.
From: C21Media
Prodcos Can Supercharge Content Slates with AI Writing Programs, Says will.i.am
will.i.am has highlighted the potential for AI writing programs to revolutionize content creation, suggesting that production companies can use AI to enhance their content slates. He argues that AI can provide new creative opportunities and streamline the writing process, helping to generate fresh and innovative ideas.
From: C21Media
First Trailer for Sicilian Letters Starring Toni Servillo Released for Venice
Directed by Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza, this is their third film and first entry at Venice. Titled Iddu ("Him" in Sicilian dialect), it draws inspiration from fugitive Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. Elio Germano stars as the godfather in hiding, with Toni Servillo as his pen pal. Co-produced by Italy and France, Les Films du Losange handles world sales.
From: Screen Daily
How the North American Box Office Achieved a Remarkable U-Turn This Summer
The North American box office made a surprising recovery this summer, with several blockbuster hits reversing the downward trend seen in recent years. Strategic release schedules, a mix of genres, and pent-up audience demand contributed to this success, signalling a hopeful future for the industry.
From: Screen Daily
Serbian Director Vuk Ršumović on Dwelling Among the Gods: A Modern-Day Antigone
Serbian director Vuk Ršumović discusses his film Dwelling Among the Gods, which reimagines the ancient Greek tragedy Antigone in a contemporary setting. The film explores family, loyalty, and rebellion themes, bringing the timeless story into the modern era with a fresh perspective.
From: Screen Daily
Is Cable TV Dead? Hollywood's Future May Depend on It
Experts agree that major entertainment companies' recent write-down of linear assets signals the end of cable TV. While these assets generate billions in revenue, the final chapter of cable's decline unfolds as cable distributors face off against networks that have shifted their focus to streaming. Once vibrant channels like VH1 became a wasteland, they are now dominated by reruns of shows like "Cheaters" and "Living Single."
From: The Wrap
5x Media Touts "Talent as King" in New Industry Approach
5X Media, launched in January 2023 by film producer Scott Einbinder, merges production and talent management on an international scale. Co-CEOs Alon Shtruzman and Gil Goldschein, both seasoned TV executives, joined Einbinder earlier this year. The new studio aims to navigate the disruptions in the current marketplace by leveraging their combined expertise. Goldschein, formerly CEO of Bunim/Murray Productions, brings over two decades of experience in unscripted TV, while Shtruzman, with a long tenure as CEO of Keshet International, adds international programming expertise.
From: World Screen
The Wonder Woman Championing Diversity in Television
Wonder Women, founded by TV presenter Ria Hebden, is returning for its second annual conference at BAFTA in London this September. Hebden created the network seven years ago to elevate diverse women in TV and creative industries after experiencing exclusion as a woman of colour and working mother. The organisation now supports underrepresented women in overcoming barriers to senior leadership positions.
From: C21Media
‘The Crow’ Lives: How Director Rupert Sanders Escaped the Redo’s Curse
After 15 years of failed attempts, a remake of The Crow finally hits theatres, courtesy of Lionsgate. The original 1994 film, known for the tragic death of Brandon Lee, saw multiple actors like Bradley Cooper, Jason Momoa, and Luke Evans attached to previous versions that never came to fruition. Now, Bill Skarsgård stars as the title character, with FKA Twigs as his doomed fiancée, Shelly.
From: The Wrap
Summer of Layoffs: Paramount Television Studios Faces Major Cuts
Last year, Hollywood faced summer strikes; this year, it's enduring a brutal season of layoffs. Paramount Global is cutting 2,000 jobs, closing Paramount Television Studios, and moving shows under CBS Studios. Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney have also made significant cuts. Studios use the writers' and actors' strikes to justify reducing spending after losing billions in the streaming wars while the cable TV business crumbles.
From: Los Angeles Times
David Beckham: It Took Making a Docuseries for Me to Feel OK Again
When David Beckham retired in 2013, many people urged him to make a documentary about his life and career. At the time, he wasn’t ready to reflect, as he still had more to achieve. However, as the 10th anniversary of his retirement approached, Beckham felt it was the right time to embark on this journey. Meeting director Fisher Stevens convinced him that Stevens was the right person to tell his story, exploring beyond football and his marriage to delve into a deeper, more human perspective.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Tim Burton on Why the ‘Batman’ Films Have Changed and How ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Saved Him From Retirement After ‘Dumbo’: ‘That Could Have Been It’
Despite a career spanning over 40 years with numerous honours, Tim Burton never expected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His reaction to the news reflects the playful, macabre sensibility that has defined his 20 films, which have grossed nearly $4.5 billion worldwide. "I first thought they were gravestones before I knew what they were," Burton recalls. Recalling their collaboration on Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton highlighted Burton's unique vision, calling it brilliant and creatively fulfilling.
From: Variety
‘My Brilliant Friend’ Trailer: The Fourth and Final Season of Elena Ferrante’s Saga Returns to Naples
The fourth and final season of HBO's My Brilliant Friend returns to Naples for its concluding chapter. HBO has released the trailer for the last ten episodes based on Elena Ferrante's The Story of the Lost Child, the final book in her Neapolitan quartet. Created by Saverio Costanzo, this season is directed by Laura Bispuri. Alba Rohrwacher steps in as protagonist Elena Greco, with Irene Maiorino joining as her complex friend Lila. The season sees Elena returning to Naples after a turbulent romance with political writer Nino in France.
From: IndieWire
Zoë Kravitz Tried to Tap Into Something ‘Ancient’ with Her Feature Directorial Debut ‘Blink Twice’
Zoë Kravitz has long harboured a desire to write and direct, but the creation of Blink Twice emerged from instinct rather than a structured plan. "I started writing because I felt the emotion behind it," she says. Initially unaware she was crafting a screenplay, the writing process was a therapeutic exploration of her thoughts and feelings. Reflecting on the completed work, Kravitz realized its deeper meanings and metaphors. The project, which began in 2017 amid the success of Big Little Lies and before the #MeToo Movement, evolved into a seven-year journey. Her directorial debut, starring Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum, explores a descent into madness on an island vacation but was not directly inspired by #MeToo. Kravitz emphasizes that the film addresses overlooked themes, offering rich, personal characters and narratives.
From: IndieWire
California vs. the World: The Race to Nab Film and TV Productions
Last year, New York awarded $124 million in tax credits to Paramount Global for ten projects, including Clifford the Big Red Dog and Blue Bloods, which generated nearly $425 million in local spending. Meanwhile, California saw just $71 million in spending from Paramount, down from $295 million three years prior. This reflects a trend of productions moving to regions with better tax incentives, causing a decline in Los Angeles' film and TV industry share.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Carrie Coon on Filming ‘White Lotus’ and ‘Gilded Age’ Back to Back, Morgan Spector Being a ‘Zaddy’ and Why Self-Tapes Can Be ‘Disrespectful’ to Actors
Carrie Coon has had a busy year. She's nominated for an Emmy for her role as Bertha Russell in The Gilded Age and recently returned from Thailand after filming the third season of The White Lotus. Just 48 hours after landing, she was back on The Gilded Age set, transitioning from swimsuits to corsets. Coon also reprised her role in Ghostbusters and will next star in Netflix's His Three Daughters.
From: Variety
Primetime TV Sees Ad Dollars Fall in Upfront for Second Year, but Streaming Lends Boost
Advertisers increasingly pull dollars from primetime TV, once Madison Avenue's favourite media vehicle. According to Media Dynamics Inc, this year's upfront market saw ad commitments for primetime broadcast TV drop 3.5% to $9.34 billion, and for cable, a 4.8% decline to $9.065 billion. In contrast, ad commitments to streaming video rose by 35.3% to $11.1 billion, marking the first time streaming has surpassed primetime broadcast and cable in ad revenue.
From: Variety
Venice-Bound ‘Little Jaffna’ Director Lawrence Valin on Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora Experience in France, Clip Unveiled
Lawrence Valin’s feature directorial debut, Little Jaffna, is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, with the first clip now released. Co-written and starring Valin, the film delves into the Tamil diaspora in France, focusing on gang culture in Paris's Little Jaffna, named after the Sri Lankan city. Set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war, Valin's project was influenced by his work on Jacques Audiard’s Dheepan, which also explored the Tamil experience in France.
From: Variety
Venice Winner Péter Kerekes Returns to Lido With Astrology-Themed ‘Wishing on a Star,’ Debuts First Clip: ‘Everyone’s Looking for Love’
Slovak filmmaker Péter Kerekes returns to the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section with his latest film, Wishing on a Star. Kerekes, who won the Horizons award for best screenplay in 2021 for 107 Mothers, didn't immediately embrace the opportunity to follow Luciana de Leoni D’Asparedo, a Neapolitan astrologer who advises her clients to embark on life-changing trips on their birthdays for a sense of rebirth.
From: Variety
‘Frasier’ Season 2 Trailer: Kelsey Grammer Is Back on the Air — and in Seattle
Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) is back on the airwaves in the second season of the Paramount+ reboot Frasier. The season features Frasier's return to hosting a radio show at KACL in a Seattle-themed episode. The series, produced by CBS Studios and filmed in front of a live studio audience at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, continues to follow Frasier as he navigates new challenges in Boston. The season also sees the return of director James Burrows for two episodes.
From: IndieWire
Peacock Hit It Big With the Summer Olympics. Here’s How It’s Using That Momentum to Boost New and Returning Shows
Steph Curry left Paris with an Olympic gold medal and a rising comedy on Peacock. The streamer is capitalizing on the Olympics momentum to launch new and returning series, with Curry's Mr. Throwback already benefiting. The show debuted on August 8, coinciding with Curry's role in securing gold for the U.S. basketball team. Peacock reports that around 77% of Mr. Throwback viewers had watched Olympic basketball, likely influenced by the show's promos during the games.
From: Variety
Development Fees For Writers On The Rise Amid Depressed TV Buying: “We Call It Schmuck Insurance”
A strong pitch is essential for selling a show, which is why TV writers invest significant effort into preparing one. Increasingly, they are seeking payment for this work. Since the pandemic and following the strike, many writers now earn fees ranging from $5K to $25K to develop a series pitch. Traditionally, "if come" deals guaranteed script fees only if the project sold, but as selling shows has become more challenging, especially post-strike, writers are pushing for compensation for the high-risk effort of pitch preparation.
From: Deadline
‘Peaches Goes Bananas’ Trailer Drops: Marie Losier’s Documentary Charts Rise of Feminist Queer Icon
Best Friend Forever has released the trailer for Marie Losier’s documentary Peaches Goes Bananas, set to have its world premiere at the Venice Days sidebar. The film explores the life of Merrill Nisker, better known as Peaches, a pioneering feminist, queer icon, musician, and producer. The documentary captures Peaches on and off stage, highlighting her concerts, relationship with her sister Suri, and creative process. The project is also a testament to the deep friendship between Losier and Peaches, with Peaches expressing her gratitude for the sacred moments the film preserves, especially following the loss of her sister and father.
From: Variety
Lisa Henson Says the Family Turned Down a Number of Filmmakers for a Jim Henson Documentary Until Ron Howard Came Along
When Lisa Henson first saw Jim Henson: Idea Man, the Ron Howard-directed documentary about her legendary puppeteer father, she knew it was a success. “It was wonderful to see that Ron had landed it,” Lisa says. She appreciated how Howard captured the creativity of Jim Henson and The Muppets by bringing sketches to life with animation, using stop-motion, and employing a creative storytelling style. The documentary earned eight Emmy nominations, including outstanding documentary and directing for Howard, along with nods for cinematography, editing, and writing.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Martin Short on His Crazy Career, His “Friend” Meryl Streep and Whether His Comic Tug of War With Steve Martin Has Ever Gone Too Far
Martin Short's embrace of "weirdness" has earned him widespread admiration and success, from his iconic SCTV characters like Ed Grimley to his role in the cult classic Clifford. Now 74, Short is more commercially successful than ever, primarily due to his partnership with Steve Martin, with whom he's touring and starring in Only Murders in the Building. Despite fan hopes, his on-screen romance with Meryl Streep remains fictional.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Jason Schwartzman Is the American Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Actor on ‘Between the Temples,’ ‘Queer,’ and the Coppola Dynasty
Jason Schwartzman has been a cinematic icon for so long that it’s hard to separate the actor from his roles. From his breakout as Max Fischer in Rushmore to various characters like writers, husbands, and detectives, Schwartzman has spent 25 years showcasing his versatility. His latest film, Between the Temples, continues this trend, with Schwartzman playing Benjamin, a cantor mourning his late wife, who bonds with Carla (Carol Kane), a fellow widow seeking a long-overdue Bat Mitzvah. With a sharp script by Nathan Silver and C. Mason Wells, the film pairs the two in a uniquely compelling partnership.
From: IndieWire
‘In the Summers’ Trailer: A Father and His Growing Daughters Bond in Sundance U.S. Grand Prize Winner
For most independent filmmakers, winning any prize at Sundance with a debut feature would be a dream, but Alessandra Lacorazza went further, claiming both the U.S. Grand Prize and Directing Prize at the 2024 festival for her first film, In the Summers. The semi-autobiographical film stars Puerto Rican rapper Residente as a divorced father spending summers with his daughters in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The daughters are recast multiple times, highlighting their growth while the setting remains constant. Critics praised Lacorazza's sensitive direction and the film's fragmented narrative structure.
From: IndieWire
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