TV, Film & Media Industry International News Roundup, Weekend 28-29 September 2024
MK2 faces backlash; Comcast sues Warner Bros.; Universal unveils campus; Pamela Anderson shines; Sony expands comedy; Valkyrae launches studio; Stephen Graham joins Springsteen film.
Today’s Highlights:
MK2 Faces Backlash Over Box Office Hit Kaizen: MK2's documentary about a French YouTube star climbing Mount Everest became a box office sensation, but it exceeded France's screening limit, risking a €45,000 fine.
Comcast's Sky Sues Warner Bros. Discovery Over Harry Potter Series: A legal battle arises over Warner's alleged failure to offer Sky co-production opportunities, particularly regarding the upcoming Harry Potter series.
Universal's Campus Upgrade Designed to 'Sustain the Next 100 Years': NBCUniversal unveiled a massive new office campus designed to foster a long-term creative community.
Lilyhammer Creators Return to Netflix with Billionaire Island: Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad's new series for Netflix centres on two families battling for control of Norway's salmon farming industry.
FilmBox Launches Enhanced Version: FilmBox+ debuts an upgraded version with new functionalities and a refreshed look for users in Poland, Hungary, and Romania.
Stephen Graham Joins Bruce Springsteen Film Project: Stephen Graham joins the cast of Deliver Me From Nowhere, a film about the making of Springsteen's Nebraska, starring Jeremy Allen White.
Pamela Anderson's The Last Showgirl Acquired by Roadside Attractions: Roadside Attractions secures North American rights for The Last Showgirl, a career-defining role for Pamela Anderson.
Sony Expands Comedy Slate with Multiple First-Look Deals: Sony Pictures Television signs first-look deals with nine writers and comedians to expand its comedy division.
YouTube Star Valkyrae Launches Anime Media Company HiHi Studios: Rachell Hofstetter, aka Valkyrae, launches HiHi Studios to develop anime-inspired content across graphic novels, TV, and film.
Phars Film Acquires International Distribution Rights for Singham Again: Phars Film has acquired overseas distribution rights for Singham Again, the latest instalment in Rohit Shetty's cop universe.
Plus: News, Insights, Executive Moves, Festivals & Markets, In Development, Deals, Cancellations and Jobs with BBC, Paramount, Netflix, Channel 4, Wondery, ITV, CAA, Prime, Disney, Sony, Hulu & TV2.
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NEWS
MK2 Faces Backlash Over Box Office Hit Kaizen
Mk2’s documentary about a French YouTube star climbing Mount Everest became a box-office sensation in France, selling 368,000 tickets in 24 hours. The film bypassed France's usual media rules with an "exceptional visa" from the Cnc, allowing up to 500 screenings. However, it exceeded this limit, risking a €45,000 fine. A French court will determine the final sanctions. Read More
Ruben Östlund and David Wnendt Receive Support from Medienboard
Palme d’Or-winning director Ruben Östlund’s upcoming film The Entertainment System Is Down received €500,000 in production support from Berlin-Brandenburg’s regional film fund. The project, starring Daniel Brühl, Kirsten Dunst, and Keanu Reeves, is among 30 films and series sharing over €7.2m in Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg's latest funding round. Produced by Philippe Bober’s Essential Filmproduktion, the film is set on a long-haul flight where the inflight entertainment system fails. Read More
Universal's New Campus Upgrade Designed to 'Sustain the Next 100 Years,' Say Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and NBCU Content Chief Donna Langley
NBCUniversal unveiled its new campus on Sept. 18, designed by Lever and Field Operations and led by real estate chief Ed Chuchla. The 350,000-square-foot office offers views of the San Gabriel Mountains and the under-construction “Fast & Furious” roller coaster. The campus includes an 84,000-square-foot commons, a 10,000-square-foot green space, and Silicon Valley-style perks like outdoor meeting pavilions and the Peacock Grill. The design aims to connect the studio lot and foster a creative community for NBCU. Read More
Comcast’s Sky Sues Warner Bros. Discovery Over Harry Potter Series
A legal battle has erupted between Comcast's Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery over a 2019 deal for exclusive rights to shows. Sky claims Warners failed to meet its obligation to offer co-production opportunities, particularly for the upcoming Harry Potter series, as it focuses on launching its Max streaming service in Europe. Warner calls the lawsuit a "baseless attempt" to gain leverage, while Sky insists it's protecting its rights. Read More
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INSIGHTS
Fish Feud
Lilyhammer creators Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjørnstad return to Netflix with Billionaire Island, a comedy-drama about two families battling to control Norway’s salmon farming industry. Inspired by shows like Succession and Billions with a soap opera twist, the series blends drama and humour while exploring the lives of rival wealthy families in a picturesque Norwegian setting. Read More
From Ramsay Street to Jaipur
After graduating from RMIT Screenwriting in 2010, writer Mithila Gupta pitched the idea of introducing the Kapoor family to Neighbours, bringing Indian and Sri Lankan heritage to the show in 2011. Though it faced criticism, this experience shaped Gupta's career. She later wrote for popular shows like Winners & Losers and Home & Away. Now, her series Four Years Later, an 8-episode romance, will premiere on SBS, produced by Easy Tiger. Read More
Secrets of SBS
SBS is known for documentaries on subjects like the Titanic, Egypt, and Hitler and shows featuring "Secrets" in the title. SBS Head of Network Programming Peter Andrews uncovers the network’s programming strategies and why they resonate well with audiences. Read More
FilmBox Launches Enhanced Version
FilmBox+ has unveiled an upgraded version of its streaming service, featuring a refreshed look and new functionalities for a more user-friendly experience. The service offers live streaming, smart channels, and an expanding library of series, films, and documentaries in Poland, Hungary, and Romania. The new interface improves usability and content browsing, including enhanced parental controls, user profiles, and alerts for favourite shows. Patrycja Gałązka-Struzik of SPI International highlighted the upgrade's goal of offering accessible and engaging entertainment at an attractive price. Read More
Ross Killeen on Cinema's Struggles with Documentaries
Filmmaker Ross Killeen shares his thoughts on the difficulties of drawing audiences to cinemas for documentaries. He highlights the unique challenge of competing with streaming platforms, where documentaries tend to perform better. Killeen emphasises that despite critical acclaim, documentary films often struggle to capture large audiences at the box office. He discusses the need for more creative marketing strategies to entice viewers into theatres for documentary screenings. Read More
How JunaFilm Became a Go-To Partner for Genre and Family Films
Hamburg-based Junafilm celebrates its 15th anniversary with the world premiere of Spirit In The Blood, an English-language thriller, at Filmfest Hamburg. Canadian-born, Hamburg-based Carly May Borgstrom directed the film and has strong local ties. It was supported by Filmfest Hamburg’s new director, Malika Raballah, in her previous role as head of funding at the regional fund Moin. Read More
Amazon UK's Originals Chief Discusses IP Strategy
The head of Amazon UK Originals, Tara Erer, discusses a flexible intellectual property (IP) ownership approach. Unlike traditional studios, Amazon doesn't necessarily need to own all the IP for their original programming. The company focuses on building relationships with creators and fostering innovation, with more emphasis on content quality than ownership. This allows Amazon to work with independent creators and production companies, maximising the creative freedom of its partners while still delivering premium content to audiences globally. Read More
Rising Egyptian Star Yasmina El-Abd on Gen Z Female Empowerment and Returning as Zeina in Netflix’s Finding Ola
Rising Egyptian star Yasmina El-Abd, whose acting career began at age 12, embodies the growing theme of female empowerment in Arab film and TV. Born in Switzerland, El-Abd studied acting in London and gained attention in The Shadow of Cairo. Since then, she has starred in Daughters of Abdul-Rahman, HBO Max's Theodosia, the musical Sukkar, and Netflix's Finding Ola, where she plays Zeina, a surrogate daughter to the show's protagonist. Read More
Behind the Scenes of The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot director Chris Sanders felt lost after his 2020 live-action film The Call of the Wild faced challenges, released just before the pandemic shut theatres. Despite working with renowned cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and directing Harrison Ford, the film was a disappointment. However, DreamWorks Animation, where Sanders created hits like How to Train Your Dragon and The Croods, brought him back to animation. Read More
Self-Financing TV Production: A Growing Trend
Mark Duplass, known for playing Chip on The Morning Show and as a veteran indie film and TV producer, recently discussed his experiences self-financing his new show Penelope. He highlighted his enthusiasm for the business side of production, including financing, distribution, and marketing. Duplass emphasised the importance of creative producers embracing turbulence and new business models to thrive in today’s market. He also discussed the growing trend of film financiers investing in TV, predicting more opportunities for riskier and innovative content to emerge in the coming years. Read More
Writers' Struggles Continue One Year After WGA Strike Ends
WGA West Executive Director Ellen Stutzman reflected on the gains writers made after 148 days of striking while acknowledging the challenging year for those who couldn’t work. Even before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, industry-wide cost-cutting measures affected writers, especially mid- and lower-level staff. With shrinking episode orders and fewer jobs available, many writers have struggled to find work. Though the WGA fought for staffing minimums, the changing economics of TV production continue to make it challenging for many writers to secure positions.
Read More
Micro-Drama Series Shakes Up Global Entertainment
Jeffrey Katzenberg's Quibi, launched in 2020, may have been ahead of its time, shutting down after six months and losing nearly $1.5 billion. Fast forward to today, and the global market for micro-dramas, or ultra-short fiction content for mobile devices, is now worth $2 billion annually, expected to double by 2025. China leads the way, with revenues of $5.2 billion in 2023. Platforms like Kuiashou and Douyin dominate this fast-growing sector, fueled by the demand for mobile-first, scrollable content. Read More
Natasha Rothwell Reflects on How to Die Alone
Natasha Rothwell’s How to Die Alone, part of Onyx Collective, blends humour, honesty, and self-reflection to create a heartwarming series. Drawing from her journey of self-love, Rothwell didn’t hold back in her first show. She shares how her fear of dying alone inspired the series, but after years of therapy, she realised the true fear was “dying lonely.” Rothwell serves as creator, co-showrunner, and star of the show.
Read More
Hideo Kojima On Death Stranding Movie Plans
At 61, Japanese game developer Hideo Kojima, creator of Death Stranding and Metal Gear, is expanding his influence beyond gaming into Hollywood by signing with talent agency WME. Ahead of the Tokyo Game Show, Kojima discusses his plans for upcoming games like Death Stranding 2, Physint, and a collaboration with Jordan Peele titled OD. He also provides updates on the Death Stranding movie adaptation while reaffirming his commitment to independent game development at Kojima Productions. Read More
Bong Joon Ho Talks Horror Inspirations for Sleep
Jason Yu’s feature debut, Sleep, is a supernatural domestic thriller about a South Korean couple, Soo-jin and Hyeon-soo (played by Jung Yu-mi and Lee Sun-kyun), whose lives unravel due to his dark sleepwalking habits. As they welcome a baby, Soo-jin investigates the cause of her husband’s terrifying behaviour. Yu, mentored by Bong Joon-ho during the filming of Okja, credits him and the late Lee as significant influences. Yu discussed the blending of family drama and horror and key advice from Director Bong. Read More
So Long Marianne Moves Global Buyers
The love story between Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen, portrayed in the film So Long Marianne, has captured the attention of global buyers. Execs from C3 Media and Cineflix Rights discuss the copro model behind the Leonard Cohen series and the reduced reliance on U.S. distribution. Read More
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