TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Thursday 18 July 2024

Shogun leads Emmy nods; Axis Studios collapses; San Sebastian new directors; Ventana Sur moves; LA reality TV slump; Warner Bros. options; post-COVID box office; Besson's Dracula; Faithless debuts

Today’s Highlights:

• "Shogun" Leads the 2024 Emmy Nominations: "Shogun" tops the list with 25 nominations, setting multiple records. Other notable nominees include "The Bear" (23 nominations), "Only Murders in the Building" (21), "True Detective: Night Country" (19), and "The Crown" (18).

• Axis Studios Collapses: Scotland's leading animation studio, Axis, enters administration, leading to over 160 job losses.

• San Sebastian Festival's New Directors Selection: The San Sebastian International Film Festival announces its 2024 New Directors selection, featuring films from countries including the US, Spain, and South Korea.

• Ventana Sur Relocates to Montevideo: The 16th edition of Ventana Sur will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, marking a shift from Buenos Aires.

• Reality TV Production Declines in Los Angeles: Reality TV filming in Los Angeles drops significantly, continuing a decline from earlier in the year.

• Warner Bros. Discovery's Strategic Options: Bank of America analysts suggest Warner Bros. Discovery should explore asset sales, restructuring, or mergers to boost shareholder value.

• Box Office Projections Post-COVID: Global box office and cinema revenue are expected to exceed pre-COVID levels by 2026, but admissions may not fully recover.

• Luc Besson's "Dracula: A Love Tale": This gothic drama features Caleb Landry Jones in a significant role, and first-look details have been revealed.

• Baz Ashmawy's "Faithless": Baz Ashmawy's dark comedy series "Faithless" tackles themes of grief, parenthood, and identity, blending humour with tragedy.

• Career Optimism Among Underrepresented UK Film and TV Workers: A survey by Creative Access reveals low career optimism among underrepresented UK film and TV workers, with a call for bold actions to improve inclusivity.

Plus: News, Insights, In Development, Deals, Events & Jobs with Netflix, Skydance, CAA, ABC, BBC, Warners & All3Media.

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NEWS

Emmys 2024: List of Nominees

"Shogun" leads the 2024 Emmy nominations with 25 nods, including best drama series, setting multiple records. Other top nominees include FX's "The Bear" with 23 nominations (a comedy series record), Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" with 21, HBO/Max's "True Detective: Night Country" with 19, and Netflix's "The Crown" with 18. Overall, Netflix tops the list with 107 nominations across 35 programs, followed by FX with 93 (nine programs), HBO with 91 (29 programs), and Apple TV+ with 72 (16 programs).

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Scotland's most significant animation studio, Axis, collapses with 160 jobs lost

Axis Studios, Scotland’s top animation firm, has entered administration, resulting in over 160 job losses. Known for work on "League of Legends" and "A Man Called Otto," Axis faced business declines and rising labour costs. Despite high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, financial issues led to its closure. Interpath Advisory's administrators manage the wind-down process, seeking interest in live projects and supporting affected employees.

From: STV

San Sebastian festival unveils 2024 New Directors selection

The San Sebastian International Film Festival has announced its 2024 New Directors selection, featuring ten first and second features. Highlights include Michael Tyburski's "Turn Me On" from the US, Antón Álvarez’s documentary "La Guitarra Flamenca De Yerai Cortes," and Koya Kamura's "Winter In Sokcho." The selection includes films from Spain, Georgia, Turkey, South Korea, Argentina, and Thailand. The winning film will receive a €50,000 prize, split between the director and the Spanish distributor.

From: Screen Daily

Sky’s Julia Stuart, Anton’s Sébastien Raybaud and Stigma Films’ Matthew James Wilkinson join the Screen Summit

Sky’s Julia Stuart, Anton’s Sébastien Raybaud, and Stigma Films’ Matthew James Wilkinson will join Screen International’s 'The Future of UK Film' summit in London on September 24, 2024. The summit aims to discuss the UK independent film sector's growth, tax credits, financing, distribution, and the impact of AI. The early bird price is £215+VAT until August 16. The event will be held at BFI Southbank and aims to provide attendees with industry insights and intelligence. More speakers will be announced soon.

From: Screen Daily

Tyler Perry Is the Next Star to Receive the Paley Honors Award

Following the premiere of his latest Prime Video film "Divorce in the Black," Tyler Perry has more to celebrate. The Paley Center for Media has selected him as the latest recipient of its Paley Honors Award. Perry’s illustrious career will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. PT at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

From: IndieWire

It’s Official: Ventana Sur 2024 Relocates to Montevideo, Uruguay

Ventana Sur organisers have confirmed that the 16th edition will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from Dec. 2-6, 2024. This marks a departure from the event's first 15 years in Buenos Aires since its launch in 2009. The agreement was struck by Cannes Marché du Film, the Cannes Festival, and Argentine and Uruguayan state film-TV agencies INCAA and ACAU. Organisers stated that Uruguay will host this year's edition, "providing a unique opportunity for the country to welcome key players from the international audiovisual industry."

From: Variety

INSIGHTS

Emmy Nominations: FX Eclipses HBO, Trails Only Netflix With Record Turnout

In a TV awards cycle dominated by HBO and Netflix, FX and Hulu emerged as top contenders in the Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. FX secured the second spot with 93 nominations across nine programs, driven by Shogun (25) and The Bear (23). This marked FX's highest-ever total, surpassing HBO by two nominations. Netflix led with 107 nominations, while Apple had its best year with 72. HBO faced challenges due to the 2023 strikes but still placed third with solid showings from True Detective: Night Country and Hacks. Amazon Prime Video garnered 37 nominations, excelling in the drama category.

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Reality TV Filming Plummets in Los Angeles in Major Production Slowdown

Filming for reality television in Los Angeles dropped significantly in Q2 2024, continuing a decline from earlier in the year despite expectations of a post-strike rebound. According to FilmLA, on-location reality TV shoots fell nearly 57% to 868 days compared to the same period in 2023. Notable shows like Selling Sunset and American Idol were filmed in the area, but overall television production dropped by 28%. The Writers Guild of America strike in 2023 had already impacted scripted production.

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Bank of America Analysts: Warner Bros. Discovery “Is Not Working,” Should Explore Strategic Options

The M&A rumour mill focuses on Warner Bros. Discovery, questioning its asset mix post-2022 spinoff from AT&T to Discovery. The mix of linear cable brands like TNT and TBS seems ill-suited for the industry's shift to streaming. With a two-year Reverse Morris Trust lockup expired, CEO David Zaslav hinted at potential deregulation for consolidation. Bank of America analysts suggest the current structure needs to be fixed, advocating for asset sales, restructuring, or mergers to boost shareholder value as the stock price is down 30% year-to-date.

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Box Office Grosses May Surpass Pre-COVID Levels in 2026. That’s the Good News…

Global box office and cinema revenue will exceed pre-COVID-19 levels by 2026, but admissions won't recover in the next five years. Streaming service subscriptions will grow at a 5.6% CAGR from 2023 to 2028, outpacing a 4% gain in streaming revenue. Advertising revenue will surpass $1 trillion in 2026, becoming the fastest-growing category. PwC's “Global Entertainment & Media Outlook” reports a 5% revenue increase in 2023 to $2.8 trillion, with a projected 3.9% CAGR adding $597 billion by 2028, stressing the need for business model reinvention amid uncertainty.

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Luc Besson Gives A Tour Of His ‘Dracula: A Love Tale’ Set, Talks New Muse Caleb Landry Jones & Rewatching His “Mad” Movie ‘Valerian’; First Look Revealed

Caleb Landry Jones, adorned with a bejewelled hand, arrives on the set of Luc Besson’s gothic drama Dracula: A Love Tale. Unrecognisable after four hours in makeup, Jones’s already tall frame is further enhanced by platform shoes, making him tower over Besson and the crew. Staying in character with a thick Transylvanian accent, he praises the makeup artist, saying, "They have done incredible… this man back here, he makes everything."

From: Deadline

Baz Ashmawy’s Darkly Comic Series ‘Faithless’ Is Picking Up The Irish Comedy Baton And Running With It

The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have produced many comedy hits, including The Young Offenders and Derry Girls. The latest is Virgin Media Television’s Faithless, created by Baz Ashmawy. It follows an Irish-Egyptian man trying to rebuild his family life after his wife is tragically killed by an ice cream truck. Left to raise three daughters, his irresponsible brother moves in to help. The black comedy tackles grief, parenthood, gender roles, identity, and acceptance, blending humour with tragedy. Ashmawy aims to show how humour can be found even in the darkest moments, creating a rawness similar to Catastrophe or Fleabag.

From: Deadline

Anonymous no more

French actress Marilyn Lima discusses her diverse acting roles and desire to avoid typecasting, highlighted by her work in the true crime drama Brigade Anonyme. Based on a real-life kidnapping case, the series features Lima as Charlie, aiding the search for a missing girl. Lima values variety in her career, having starred in "Skam France". She emphasises the importance of surprise in her roles, and the creative freedom directors allow.

From: Drama Quarterly

Time to face up to the YouTube threat, CMC attendees told

At the Children's Media Conference (CMC) in Sheffield, experts discussed YouTube's impact on kids' content and urged the UK government to support the sector. Executives called for reversing arts education cuts, competitive tax incentives, and relaunching funds for children's content. They highlighted the challenges posed by YouTube and social media, stressing the need for regulatory measures to ensure the availability of UK-produced public service content.

From: C21

‘Doctor Who’s Regeneration: Has The Disney Gamble Paid Off?

At Disney’s upfronts in May at the North Javits Center, attendees enjoyed clips and appearances from stars of The Acolyte, Welcome to Wrexham, Abbott Elementary, and ESPN sports shows, reflecting a massive combined budget. However, Doctor Who, co-produced by Disney+ and the BBC, was notably absent from the spotlight. Despite being part of a significant global TV deal, the iconic British sci-fi series received minimal attention, possibly indicating its lower priority for Disney nearly three years after the deal was made.

From: Deadline

UK exhibitor Manero Cinemas head talks expansion plans, sector challenges and the Gail’s Bakery rule

Tony Mundin, head of Manero Cinemas, outlines expansion plans, including a new cinema in Sale, Greater Manchester. Manero aims to open locations near upscale businesses like Gail’s Bakery. Despite sector challenges like content shortages and rising costs, Mundin is optimistic about future releases. The family-run business focuses on small, luxury venues and is cautious about debt. Mundin also highlights the potential impacts of government policies on their operations.

From: Screen Daily

Fantasia’s Mitch Davis on how genre films are 'speaking truth to power'

Mitch Davis, artistic director of Fantasia International Film Festival, highlights how genre films directly address social issues, citing Jayro Bustamante’s "Rita" and Pedro Kos’s "In Our Blood" as examples. The festival features over 125 films showcasing diverse cultural perspectives. This year’s event includes premieres like "Bookworm" and "Ababouine," with awards for notable contributors like Mike Flanagan. Despite challenges from streaming platforms and budget constraints, Davis emphasises the importance of live screenings with filmmakers.

From: Screen Daily

Career optimism among under-represented UK film and TV workers at a low ebb, survey finds

A Creative Access survey reveals that only 32% of underrepresented UK film and TV workers feel optimistic about their careers, the lowest among creative sectors. Optimism drops to 13% for those with disabilities. The survey highlights inadequate mid- and senior-level diversity efforts, with only 50% of employers reporting increased representation. Lack of well-being support and adverse work conditions also impact mental health. Bold actions are needed to foster inclusivity across all career stages.

From: Screen Daily

Formats in Australia: Why Gladiators and The Traitors flopped down under

Asif Zubairy analyses the failure of "Gladiators" and "The Traitors" in Australia, noting issues like cultural differences and timing. Despite success elsewhere, these international formats struggled to resonate with Australian audiences. Zubairy suggests localised content and innovative approaches to revitalise the format landscape. The article discusses potential strategies and lessons learned for future format adaptations in the Australian market.

From: Broadcast

Film at Lincoln Center and Locarno Celebrate Mexican Cinema with ‘Spectacle Every Day’ Retrospective

Fans of classic Mexican cinema can indulge in the Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) retrospective “Spectacle Every Day: Mexican Popular Cinema” from July 26 to August 8. Curated with the Locarno Film Festival and sponsored by MUBI, the series features 22 midcentury Mexican films from the 1940s to the 1960s. It includes horror, film noir, comedies, Westerns, lucha libre superhero movies, and early 3D cinema. Many films are debuting new restorations or screening theatrically in the U.S. for the first time, having been part of the 2023 Locarno Film Festival's original 36-film retrospective.

From: IndieWire

‘Red Rooms’ Trailer: The Cyber Thriller That ‘Out-Finchers Fincher’ Is a Festival Favorite

The thriller Red Rooms, about a voyeuristic model, Juliette Gariépy, obsessed with a high-profile murder trial, won four prizes at last year’s Fantasia festival in Montreal, including Outstanding Performance for Gariépy, Best Screenplay for Plante, Best Score for Dominique Plante, and Best Film. It also competed for the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The film follows Kelly-Anne (Gariépy), who attends the trial of Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos), accused of murdering three teenage girls, with gruesome videos of two crimes surfacing on the dark web. She bonds with another voyeur, witnesses the victims' families' emotional decline, and struggles to balance her life with her obsession, which intensifies as new evidence emerges.

From: IndieWire