TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Thursday 20 June 2024

'A Little Something Extra' leads French box office; Hurwitz settles fraud suit; London’s £9.5bn film boost; Mortensen honored; Netflix’s EU strategy; Malala cameo; Jon Hamm’s post-'Mad Men' roles.

Today’s Highlights:

• 'A Little Something Extra' Triumphs at French Box Office: This film, featuring actors with disabilities, has become France's biggest hit of the year and the highest-grossing French movie since before the pandemic.

• Justin Hurwitz Settles Fraud Suit: The Oscar-winning' La La Land' composer has settled his fraud lawsuit against his former agency, WME, over a touring concert deal. The settlement details are confidential.

• London's £9.5bn Investment in Film and TV: Film London's support is expected to generate £9.5 billion in investment and add over £1 billion in additional GVA over the next five years.

• Viggo Mortensen Honored at Karlovy Vary Film Festival: Mortensen will receive the KVIFF President's Award, and his film 'The Dead Don't Hurt' will open in the Czech Republic on July 4.

• MIP Junior 2024 Pitching Competition: MIP Junior has opened entries for its 2024 pitching competition, providing opportunities for global children's content creators.

• Francesca Sloane on Original Storytelling: At IndieWire Honors, Sloane emphasised the power of original storytelling, particularly in her work on Amazon Prime's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

• Malala Yousafzai Cameo in 'We Are Lady Parts': The show's second season features a cameo by Malala Yousafzai, inspired by a song title.

• Jon Hamm's Post-Mad Men Career: Jon Hamm reflects on his career post-Mad Men, discussing his new roles and personal growth.

• Netflix's European Production Strategy: Larry Tanz, Netflix's EMEA head, outlines the company's focus on offering the best European movies, both through original commissions and acquisitions.

• Riley Keough's 'Under the Bridge': Keough received the Maverick Award at IndieWire Honors for her role in the Hulu series 'Under the Bridge,' which explores the true story of the murder of Canadian teenager Reena Virk.

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NEWS

‘A Little Something Extra,’ Starring Actors With Disabilities, Dethrones ‘Dune 2’ at French Box Office and Sparks Remake Deals

A decade after “La Famille Belier,” which was remade as the Oscar-winning “CODA,” another comedy featuring protagonists with disabilities, “A Little Something Extra,” has stormed the French box office. It’s not only the year’s biggest hit so far but also the highest-grossing French movie since before the pandemic.

From: Variety

WME & ‘La La Land’ Composer Justin Hurwitz Settle Fraud Suit Over Alleged Agency Self-Dealing

The parties have settled over two years after Oscar winner Hurwitz sued his ex-agency for fraud over a touring “live-to-film concert” of the Damien Chazelle-directed movie. The agreement is confidential, and the size of the payout to Hurwitz has not been disclosed.

From: Deadline

London set for £9.5bn investment boost over next five years from Film London support for film and TV production

New figures estimate that £9.5 billion in investment in London will be generated over the next five years due to Film London’s support for film, TV and animation production. This, in turn, would add over £1bn in additional GVA for London over the same five-year period to 2028-29

From: British Cinematographer

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Celebrates Top Directors for 2024 Edition

Opening night at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival often lures a top talent to accept the KVIFF President’s Award. In this case, Viggo Mortensen, the writer/director/star of his sophomore film, Western “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” co-starring Vicky Krieps, will accept the award. The film will open in the Czech Republic on July 4.

From: IndieWire

‘Celebration’: first trailer for Karlovy Vary competition title

The first trailer for 'Celebration', Bruno Anković’s feature debut, will world premiere in the Crystal Globe Competition at this year’s Karlovy Vary film festival.

MIP Junior Announces Call Entries for Its 2024 Pitching Competition

MIP Junior announced that the Call for Entries is now open for the 2024 MIP Junior Pitch, the popular annual competition that gives an unrivalled opportunity to reach influential global, multi-platform children’s commissioners, to be staged live at the forthcoming International Kids Screenings & Co-Production Market (19-20 Oct 2024) in Cannes.

From: Señal News

INSIGHTS

Francesca Sloane Talks the Power of Original Storytelling at IndieWire Honors

The writer/producer/co-creator of Amazon Prime's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," who redefined the original movie's IP, acknowledged the importance of original storytelling at IndieWire Honors.

From: IndieWire

Manifesting Malala

The return of We Are Lady Parts for a second season about the titular Muslim punk band brought a standout cameo from Malala Yousafzai. Series creator Nida Manzoor explains how a song title led to the activist arriving on set for a Western-themed music sequence.

From: Drama Quarterly

Jon Hamm Doesn’t Want to Be Your Leading Man

A decade after 'Mad Men,' the 53-year-old star is still wrestling with Don Draper's demons. But therapy, a new marriage and an avalanche of plum roles have helped smooth his ride.

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Netflix’s EMEA head, Larry Tanz, outlines film strategy and European production ambitions

Tanz says the streamer cares more about offering the best European movies than prioritising original commissions over acquisitions.

From: Screen Daily

Riley Keough Starred in and Produced ‘Under the Bridge’ Because She Wanted to Delve into ‘The Gray Area’

Keough received the Maverick Award at IndieWire Honors for her work on the Hulu series, which tells the true story of the murder of Canadian teenager Reena Virk.

From: IndieWire

‘Clipped’ Star Jacki Weaver on Donald Sterling’s Affairs, Finding Empathy for Shelly and Drinking Half-and-Half to Nail Her Voice

Jacki Weaver had always wanted to play Lady Macbeth. In an interview with The Guardian, the celebrated Australian actor shared her wishes to play the role, with the caveat that, being in her 70s, she may have aged out of the part. But now, with FX’s “Clipped,” Weaver gets an opportunity close to it: She plays Shelly Sterling, the wife of a modern-day Macbeth, in the power-obsessed, narcissistic land baron Donald Sterling (Ed O’Neill).

From: Variety

Hollywood’s Checkered History With D.C. Hires — A Cautionary Tale For WBD’s Bet On Robert Gibbs

David Zaslav can now boast of having a former Press Secretary to the President of the United States among his corporate inner circle. However, even with Robert Gibbs's trophy now on his shelf, the Warner Bros Discovery CEO may do well to remember that the transition from DC to Hollywood has proved full of pitfalls over the years.

From: Deadline

USA: Streaming Bundles Will Need to Go Beyond Entertainment

Across all categories -premium video, social video, gaming, music, podcasts, and digital reading- the average consumer in the U.S. uses 13 different sources of entertainment, according to new research by Hub Intel. With all those sources, simplicity is a virtue that many are willing to pay for. The company also highlighted that 59% of respondents said they would pay for an app or service that let them manage and use all their subscriptions in one place – even if that service didn’t include any content of its own.

From: Señal News

Raindance artistic directors on bolstered industry programme and “testing the waters” with June date

Martyna Szmytkowska and Malaika Bova’s second edition sees them double down on support for emerging filmmakers.

From: Screen Daily

What’s on Moguls’ Minds at Sun Valley 2024: Disney Succession, AI Controversies and Trump’s Possible Return

The sultans of media and tech will break out their windbreakers and puffy vests for Allen & Co.’s annual Sun Valley conference next month. It’s a chance for these high-net-worth individuals to look “oh so casual” as they discuss the state of their industries and the world.

From: Variety

Yorgos Lanthimos Says He’s Not Trying to Make Audiences Uncomfortable with ‘Kinds of Kindness’

And yet he just might, as his triptych film co-written with Efthimis Filippou feels like a callback to the body horror days of "Dogtooth."

From: IndieWire

Shari Redstone Goes for Broke: Can Paramount Pick Up the Pieces?

The mogul came close to selling her empire, then backed away for now. New suitors have emerged amidst the chaos. But can the studio be saved?

From: The Hollywood Reporter

Why ‘Baby Reindeer’ and Other ‘True Story’ Netflix Shows Keep Landing in Legal Trouble

Where was the oversight from a company with a market cap of $283 billion?

From: Variety

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