TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Monday 30 September 2024
Netflix faces defamation claims, Die Bully Die wins awards, Boy Swallows Universe shines, Hollywood slows, MrBeast's show chaos, and Botswana boosts film production with Steve Harvey.
Today’s Highlights:
Netflix Fails to Dismiss Defamation Claim in Baby Reindeer Lawsuit - A defamation claim against Netflix proceeds over its portrayal of Fiona Harvey in Baby Reindeer, with concerns about the “true story” label.
Die Bully Die and DAD Win at Sony Catchlight Film Festival—Nick and Nathan Lacey’s Die Bully Die and Jones Riley Eli’s DAD won fiction and nonfiction prizes at the festival, which celebrates Australian and New Zealand filmmakers.
Boy Swallows Universe Dominates 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards—The Australian series won six national awards, including Best Actor for Felix Cameron and Best Supporting Actress for Sophie Wilde.
UK Triumphs at Venice TV Awards - The BBC wins big with three Gold Medals, alongside Sky UK and Apple TV+, marking global television excellence.
Spain's Public Investments in International Productions Pay Off—A study shows that 165 international productions generated over 1.32 billion euros in spending, reinforcing Spain's appeal as a production hub.
Hollywood Slows as Strike Impact Deepens—Following the writers' strike, Hollywood's production downturn continues, with significant layoffs and cancelled projects across the industry.
MrBeast’s Reality Show Faces Chaos Allegations—Contestants report unsafe conditions and crew inexperience during the production of MrBeast’s latest reality show, drawing comparisons to Fyre Fest.
Anna Sawai's Emmy Win for Shogun and Her Future Projects—Sawai becomes the first Asian-descent actor to win an Emmy for Lead Actress, with additional roles in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Pachinko.
Mubi Acquires Alex Ross Perry's Pavements Documentary—Following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Mubi secures North American rights for the documentary-musical-biopic about the '90s band Pavement.
Botswana to Launch Film Fund With Steve Harvey’s Help - Botswana partners with Steve Harvey Global to establish a national film commission and boost its film sector with new studios and a TV academy.
Plus: News, Insights, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Cancellations, Opportunities and Jobs with BBC, Google, Crunchyroll, Sony, New Regency, Amazon & Netflix.
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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.
NEWS
Netflix Fails to Dismiss Defamation Claim in Baby Reindeer Lawsuit
A federal court has allowed a defamation claim against Netflix over its portrayal of a woman in Baby Reindeer while dismissing other allegations. Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that Netflix may have defamed Fiona Harvey by labelling the series “based on a true story” despite concerns. The court stated this could suggest a reckless disregard for the truth. Read More
Die Bully Die Dad Triumphs at Sony Catchlight Film Festival
Nick and Nathan Lacey’s Die Bully Die and Jones Riley Eli’s DAD won the fiction and non-fiction prizes at the Sony Catchlight Film Festival. Die Bully Die explores a man’s horrific grudge against his high school bully, while DAD follows three children coping with their father's brain cancer diagnosis. Now in its fourth year, the festival celebrates Australian and New Zealand filmmakers using Sony cameras.
Read More
Boy Swallows Universe Dominates 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards
Australia and New Zealand showcased their creative strength at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACAs), with Boy Swallows Universe securing six national wins. Fresh off his Logie win, Felix Cameron earned Best Actor in a Leading Role. Sophie Wilde won Best Actress in a Supporting Role, while Simon Baker took home Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The series will compete at the Grand Awards in Singapore this December. Read More
UK Leads in Venice TV Award Winners
The 2024 Venice TV Award winners have been announced, with the UK leading the pack. The BBC won three Gold Medals for The Eurovision Song Contest, A Bear Named Wojtek, and Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods. Sky UK won Best Documentary for Hatton, while Apple TV+ UK triumphed in Children & Youth with Lovely Little Farm. International winners included Globo TV Brazil, ZDF Germany, and France’s TV One, showcasing global excellence in television. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Spain: Public Investments in International Productions Yield High Returns
Spain became a significant audiovisual production hub thanks to its diverse locations, favourable climate, and skilled workforce. An Economic Impact Study by the Spain Film Commission found that 165 international productions benefiting from tax incentives between 2019 and 2022 generated over 1.32 billion euros in spending and contributed nearly 1.8 billion euros to the national economy. Spain’s tax incentive offers up to 30% deductions, making it a competitive choice for global productions.
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USA: 35% of Millennials Spend Over $100 Monthly on Subscriptions
The Bango Generational Report reveals distinct subscription trends across U.S. generations. Gen Z prioritizes TV, music, and gaming services but spends less due to limited income, with 70% preferring an all-in-one management app. Millennials, the "subscription generation," lead in spending, with 80% desiring a unified platform. Gen X values convenience but is budget-conscious, with 74% supporting bundled services. Boomers have fewer subscriptions and are more budget-conscious, with most unwilling to pay for bundles. Read More
Hollywood's big boom has gone bust
Hollywood’s booming business slowed dramatically after the writers' strike in May 2023, the first time since the 1960s that writers and actors joined forces. A year later, production has significantly declined, with cancelled projects, layoffs, and reduced jobs across the industry. Paramount recently laid off 15% of its workforce ahead of a merger with Skydance, while unemployment in film and TV hit 12.5% in August, likely underestimating the actual impact. Read More
‘A Fyre Fest Feeling’: Behind the Chaos of MrBeast’s New Reality Show
In Las Vegas and Toronto, contestants on MrBeast's new reality show reported unsafe conditions, including withheld medication, injuries, and sleeping on stadium floors. Crew members described the production as disorganized, with inexperienced staff handling a project of unprecedented scale. Internal documents, NDAs, and set photos obtained by Rolling Stone suggest a chaotic environment, with one crew member comparing it to “a Fyre Fest kind of feeling.” Read More
Netflix’s New Compensation Model Clashes with Talent Agents
As Netflix prepares to launch its new contingency compensation model, executives continue promoting the company's marketing and hit-making potential. However, talent representatives believe a more honest conversation about aligning interests would benefit everyone involved. Read More
Anna Sawai Reflects on 'Surreal' Emmy Win for 'Shogun,' Heartbreak in 'Pachinko,' and Future Singing Roles
“It’s been a very good week,” says Anna Sawai after her groundbreaking Emmy win for lead actress in a drama for her role as Toda Mariko in Shōgun, making her the first actor of Asian descent to win the category. Sawai is back to work in Australia, filming Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, but she's also starring in Pachinko, where her character Naomi Ichizaki faces a romantic setback in the current season. Read More
Sophie Turner Stars in ITV & CW Drama Joan
Sophie Turner shines in Joan, a new drama about a notorious jewellery thief known as "the Godmother" in Britain’s criminal underworld. The series, premiering in the U.K. on ITV and in the U.S. on The CW, is as much about maternal love as heists. Turner, a mother of two, connected deeply with this aspect, discussing the challenges of filming and meeting the real-life inspiration for Joan. Read More
Adapting The Nickel Boys: Joslyn Barnes and Dede Gardner's Vision
Nickel Boys (Amazon/MGM/Orion), opening the New York Film Festival, owes its existence to producers Dede Gardner (Plan B) and Joslyn Barnes (Louverture Films). Gardner, known for Moonlight and 12 Years a Slave, and Barnes, acclaimed for Strong Island, teamed up with director RaMell Ross to adapt Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Together, they crafted a visually stunning and emotionally immersive film that captures the harrowing story of Florida’s Dozier School for Boys.
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Shogun and The Bear Drive High Demand for Hulu
Hulu remains a strong player in the streaming market, boasting the third-largest TV and total catalogue among SVOD platforms. A key part of Hulu's success is its licensed cable network shows, with FX titles particularly influential. While FX content accounts for 3-4% of Hulu’s catalogue, it generates 6-7% of demand, often doubling its impact and underscoring FX’s importance in Hulu’s strategy, especially as part of the Disney Bundle. Read More
Paddington Expands with Fourth Film and New TV Series
At the Brand Licensing Europe 2024 convention in London, StudioCanal executives highlighted the business success of the globally beloved Paddington brand. Françoise Guyonnet and Sissel Henno discussed Paddington’s journey from a classic character to a global phenomenon ahead of the November release of Paddington in Peru. They also teased future projects, including a new TV series and a movie set for 2027-2028, marking the franchise's 70th anniversary. Read More
The Art of Editing Reality TV Shows
In reality TV, social media buzz often dictated who stayed in the spotlight, but the production and post-production teams turned shows into hits. Network executives pushed for drama, crafting 80% of the content through editing tricks like sound effects, manipulated footage, and fabricated scenes. Audiences were fed "counterfeit drama" to boost ratings and profits. However, a noticeable shift in the industry is now challenging this approach. Read More
The Last of Us Season 2: Inside the Next Chapter
Neil Druckmann, creator of The Last of Us and head of Naughty Dog, understands the challenges of adapting video games into TV or film. He’s seen filmmakers fail by either misunderstanding the game’s essence or sticking too closely to the original storyline. Druckmann emphasises that adaptations must recognise each medium's different strengths and weaknesses to succeed rather than attempting a direct translation from game to screen. Read More
RTÉ’s Secret Deal Maker Behind Top TV Shows
A behind-the-scenes profile of Dermot Horan, the man responsible for negotiating some of Ireland’s most beloved TV shows for RTÉ. Known for striking lucrative content deals, Horan has played a pivotal role in shaping the Irish television landscape. His work includes acquiring global hits like Normal People and negotiating international partnerships that ensure Irish programming resonates with a worldwide audience.
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The Surge of Mystery TV Shows: Ushering in a New Era of Entertainment
Mystery TV shows have surged in popularity, driven by the global success of The Traitors, distributed by All3media. Launched in the Netherlands in 2021, the format's mix of social manipulation and suspense has led to over 25 international adaptations. ITV Studios’ A Party to Die For follows this trend, which also embraces the "whodunit" style. In France, Les Loups-garous de Thiercelieux, a game show adaptation of a popular board game, adds to the rise of mystery-based formats. Read More
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