TV, Film & Media Industry News Roundup, Friday 5 July 2024
Future Vision unveils lineup; Duo One in Baltics; Cineworld closures; Emma Stone's new film; "Trigger Warning" on Netflix; Simon Pegg in "The Boys"; AI voices and Lee Jung-jae in "The Acolyte."
Today’s Highlights:
Future Vision Summit in Melbourne: Over 20 key speakers from the Australian screen industry, including representatives from Stan, Netflix, ABC, and Foxtel, will participate in the Future Vision summit from July 15-17, discussing topics like binge-worthy content and international comedy.
Duo Media Networks Launches Duo One: Duo Media Networks will launch the streaming service Duo One in September across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, bundling it with existing pay TV and streaming services.
Cineworld Plans to Close UK Cinemas: Cineworld is reportedly planning to close up to 25 underperforming UK cinemas, renegotiate rents on 50 others, and focus on its top 25 sites as part of a restructuring effort.
Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos Collaboration: Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos are working on a new film, "Kinds of Kindness," following the success of "Poor Things," for which Stone won her second Oscar.
Netflix's "Trigger Warning": The Netflix film stars Jessica Alba as a military veteran returning to action. Mouly Surya directs it in her English-language debut and offers a new take on the military revenge thriller genre.
Simon Pegg Joins "The Boys": Simon Pegg returns to "The Boys" in an emotional storyline involving his character Hugh Campbell Sr., who gains disastrous superhero abilities.
AI Collections Agency Proposal: Max Wiedemann suggests an AI collections agency for content owners to share in the profits generated by AI tools like those from OpenAI and Google, drawing parallels to the music industry's approach.
AI-Generated Celebrity Voice-Overs: ElevenLabs is using AI to create audiobooks narrated by deceased celebrities, including Judy Garland and James Dean, raising questions about AI's role in creative industries.
Lee Jung-jae in "The Acolyte": Korean actor Lee Jung-jae discusses his role in the Disney+ series "The Acolyte" and his experience transitioning from "Squid Game" to the Star Wars universe.
Daniel Brühl's New Projects: Daniel Brühl receives the Karlovy Vary Festival's President's Award, discusses his new tennis film, his role in HBO's "The Franchise," and his directorial debut "Next Door."
Plus: News, Insights, In Development, Deals, Cancellations & Jobs.
NEWS
Future Vision reveals Australian speaker line-up of writers, directors and decision-makers
More than 20 commissioners and creatives from the Australian screen industry, including representatives from Stan, Netflix, ABC, and Foxtel, are confirmed as speakers for the inaugural Future Vision summit in Melbourne this month. The event, organised by Australians in Film, Screen Australia, and VicScreen, will be held at ACMI from July 15-17. It will feature sessions for invited screenwriters and industry creatives, followed by a public conference on the third day. Speakers include Bruna Papandrea, Tony Ayres, John Collee, Kate Dennis, Robert Connolly, Nash Edgerton, Debbie Lee, Kitty Flanagan, Asher Keddie, Sarah Lambert, Sarah Scheller, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo. Topics include binge-worthy content, international comedy, market comparisons, and elevating quality.
From: IF
Duo Media Networks to launch Baltic streamer Duo One in September
In September, the baltic broadcast group Duo Media Networks will launch its streaming service, Duo One, which covers Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Duo One will be bundled with services from existing pay TV and streaming operators in Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Russian. Duo Media has signed content agreements with six or seven operators, including Lithuania's Telia, and is negotiating with others. Duo One will offer a mix of on-demand and live channels featuring top content on Duo Media's thematic channels.
From: C21
Cineworld is reportedly looking to close up to 25 UK cinemas
UK-based exhibitor Cineworld is reportedly planning to close up to 25 of its poorest-performing UK cinemas, renegotiate rents with 50 more, and protect its top 25 sites. Sky News reported that these proposals will be outlined to creditors in the coming months as the cinema giant, advised by restructuring specialists AlixPartners, aims to streamline its UK operations. The reports of significant cuts come amid rumours about equipment leaseback deals and unpaid rents at Cineworld sites.
From: Screen Daily
INSIGHTS
‘Rules go out the window’: Why Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons can’t say no to Yorgos Lanthimos
When Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos were promoting Poor Things, where Stone played a reincarnated adult woman with the brain of a baby, they had already shot their next film, Kinds of Kindness. Lanthimos was filming by day and reviewing special effects for Poor Things by night. Stone admits it was hectic but necessary, fearing they wouldn't get funding after Poor Things' release. However, Stone won her second Oscar for her role as Bella Baxter and the film became an arthouse hit, winning numerous awards after its debut at the Venice Film Festival.
From: The Sydney Morning Herald
How ‘Trigger Warning’ Tweaks the Military Revenge Thriller for a New Era
Netflix's "Trigger Warning" is a solid thriller reminiscent of films like "First Blood," "Commando," and "Walking Tall," where a military veteran returns home seeking peace but is forced back into action by violent antagonists. In "Trigger Warning," the veteran is a woman (Jessica Alba), and the director is Indonesian filmmaker Mouly Surya, making her English-language debut. This is Surya's first American project and action movie. She aimed to provide the traditional genre thrills while exploring the significance of a woman in a role usually played by Stallone, Schwarzenegger, or The Rock.
From: IndieWire
Simon Pegg on Returning to ‘The Boys,’ Why a ‘Shaun of the Dead’ Reboot Would “Incense” Him
It took a few seasons, but Simon Pegg finally joined the violent chaos that makes "The Boys" unique last week. In episode five of season four, aired Thursday, viewers witnessed an emotional father-son moment. After a stroke, Hughie (Jack Quaid) desperately tries to save his father, Hugh Campbell Sr. (Pegg). He considers using Compound V but decides against it. However, his mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) injects it anyway, giving Hugh Sr. disastrous superhero abilities. He can phase shift through walls but ends up killing innocents by phasing into solid form inside people, causing the usual bloodshed typical of "The Boys."
From: The Hollywood Reporter
‘The Lives Of Others’ Producer Max Wiedemann Says A Collections Agency For Artificial Intelligence Would Allow Rights Holders To Share Upside – Munich International Film Festival
Influential German producer Max Wiedemann has called for companies like OpenAI and Google to allow content owners to share in the profits generated by new AI tools. “You have to let the rights holders participate in your productivity gains,” he said, suggesting a body similar to those in the music industry could redistribute some of the profits. “Maybe we need some kind of AI collection agency; those AI models that earn money from offering these tools have to pay the agency, and the money is distributed among the copyright owners.” Wiedemann, cofounder of Munich-based Wiedemann & Berg, spoke at a Munich Film Festival debate about AI's legal ramifications in film.
From: Deadline
Hollywood stars’ estates agree to the use of their voices with AI
Actress Judy Garland never recorded an audiobook of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," but soon you’ll hear her rendition of the children’s novel thanks to AI. ElevenLabs is bringing digitally produced celebrity voice-overs of deceased actors, including Garland, James Dean, and Burt Reynolds, to its new Reader app, which converts text into voice-overs. “We deeply respect their legacy and are honoured to have their voices as part of our platform,” said Dustin Blank, head of partnerships at ElevenLabs. The company made deals with the actors’ estates, highlighting AI's potential and raising questions about its use in creative industries.
From: CNN
“Documentaries remain integral to the Berlinale,” says Tricia Tuttle following the launch of fiction-only Perspectives
Berlinale festival director Tricia Tuttle has emphasised that feature documentaries will remain a core part of the festival program despite introducing Perspectives, a new international competition for feature-length fiction debuts. Perspectives will replace the Encounters competition and will be open to innovative fiction and documentary features. “Documentaries remain integral to the Berlinale,” Tuttle insisted, highlighting that the festival has run a best first feature award since 2006, for which documentaries have never been eligible.
From: Screen Daily
Force to be reckoned with
From Squid Game to Star Wars, Korean actor Lee Jung-jae shares his experience of using the Force in the Disney+ series The Acolyte and joining the legion of Jedi masters. A screen star in Asia for 30 years, Lee found global fame in 2021 with the Netflix sensation Squid Game, playing Seong Gi-hun in the dystopian survival thriller. With a second season of Squid Game set for release in December, Lee is also now starring in the latest Star Wars series on Disney+
From: Drama Quarterly
Daniel Brühl on His Role in HBO’s ‘The Franchise,’ a Horror Movie Idea, and Embracing His Midlife Crisis
The star, who received the Karlovy Vary Festival’s President’s Award before screening his directorial debut 'Next Door,' also discussed his new tennis film and the superpower he’d choose.
From: The Hollywood Reporter
Artificial Intelligence Takes Spotlight at Bucheon Fantasy Film Festival With Conference, Dedicated AI Competition
The event's key focus this year is the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the film industry. “The main issue of this year’s BIFAN is BIFAN+ AI. Generative AI can be an innovative tool to showcase talent with minimal expenses. I believe it will usher in an era where imagination, not budget, is key,” said festival director Shin Chul. The 15-title AI competition includes four South Korean films: Hansl Von Kwon’s “One More Pumpkin,” Park Sungwon’s “Under the Sign of the Moon,” Bae Junwon’s “Snowfall,” and Cha Sehwan’s “Final Scene.” The KRW15 million ($11,000) prizes will be awarded by a human jury comprising Ferdi Alici, Kim Tae-yong, Sten-Khristian Saluveer, and Shin.
From: Variety
Hollywood’s Newest Money Making Scheme Is….Books
Increasingly, blockbuster movies aren't just making waves at the box office or on streaming platforms; they're also resonating in bookstores. Many prominently displayed the Barbie and Oppenheimer screenplays as if they were popular new novels. In August, Variety reported that Nolan's biopic screenplay was selling out fast on Amazon. "I think it sold 19,000 copies in the first few months," says Walter Donohue, senior editor at Faber & Faber. Aspiring screenwriters often buy the scripts for inspiration, seeking details they might have missed while watching the films.
From: Inverse
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Roma Khanna To Exit Universal International Studios After Six Months In Post
Khanna, a veteran U.S. production executive who formerly ran Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ company and lived in LA, replaced David Donoghue late last year when he moved to 42. There’s no word from UIS on whether Khanna will be directly replaced or if the role will be eliminated. She reported to UIS President Beatrice Springborn. Upon her arrival, Universal Studio Group chair Pearlena Igbokwe praised Khanna’s “operational expertise in the global marketplace,” predicting it would boost the group's ambitions and footprint.
From: Deadline
New Zealand Film Commission Announces New Head Of Funding
The NZFC has appointed Ainsley Gardiner (MNZM) as Head of Funding. Gardiner, of Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāti Pikiao, and Te Whakatōhea descent, is an experienced producer and director with over two dozen short and feature films, documentaries, and TV dramas to her name. Gardiner's career began under the mentorship of Māori industry leaders Larry Parr, Merata Mita, and Cliff Curtis.
From: Scoop
IN DEVELOPMENT
Playtime boards ‘La Femme la Plus Riche du Monde’ starring Isabelle Huppert
Isabelle Huppert has begun filming in France, portraying a fictionalised version of billionaire Liliane Bettencourt, the L’Oreal heiress, in La Femme la Plus Riche du Monde, which Playtime has boarded for sales. Directed by Thierry Klifa, the film is loosely inspired by Bettencourt, who was embroiled in a social, financial, and political scandal when she gave a young artist hundreds of millions of euros. This led her daughter to launch an investigation, uncovering political corruption allegations involving former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
From: Screen Daily
‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Director Nag Ashwin Reveals Plans for Part 2, Including an Epic Face-Off Between Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan
Nag Ashwin's ambitious sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD has become a box office phenomenon, grossing over $84 million worldwide and debuting at No. 3 globally. With an estimated budget of $72 million, it’s one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Set in a dystopian future, it follows Bhairava (Prabhas), a mighty warrior with mysterious origins, who becomes entangled in an ancient prophecy. Amitabh Bachchan plays Ashwatthama, an immortal from the Mahabharata, while Deepika Padukone portrays Sumathi, pregnant with the unborn Kalki, an avatar of Vishnu. Kamal Haasan is the antagonist, Supreme Yaskin. The film blends Indian mythology with futuristic technology, culminating in epic physical and spiritual battles.
From: Variety
‘Xoftex’ Director Noaz Deshe Works on Ukraine Documentary With Pussy Riot’s Pyotr Verzilov, ‘House of Cards’ Creator Beau Willimon
Noaz Deshe, whose Xoftex premiered this week at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, is in post-production on his next project. Deshe's new film is a documentary set in Ukraine, made in collaboration with Russian dissident Pyotr Verzilov, a member of Pussy Riot, and House of Cards creator Beau Willimon. Deshe, a Romanian citizen with Ukrainian heritage, describes the documentary as "about intimacy and love in a time of love and dreams."
From: Variety
Umay Ayaz: “'Celebrity Teacher' Can Be Adapted According to Each Territory's Culture”
During the last Mipcom, Udea Media presented "Celebrity Teacher," an edutainment series by director and producer Cetin Yılmaz, founder of Be Content. The show was later showcased at NATPE Budapest. Umay Ayaz, founder of Udea Media and The Format TV in Türkiye, discusses the format of "Celebrity Teacher," where iconic figures teach three children a task related to their profession in a few hours, offering a child's perspective and creating fun and sympathetic moments. Ayaz described it as "an innovative and heartwarming show combining the glamour of celebrity life with the importance of education."
From: Señal News
Silence is Golden with U&Dave entertainment format from Richard Bacon
UK multichannel operator UKTV has ordered a comedy entertainment format created by Richard Bacon for its U&Dave channel (formerly Dave). Silence is Golden (6×60’) is presented by Bacon and produced by his Yes Yes Media. At the start of each episode, the studio audience is given £250,000 (US$319,000), which they can keep if they stay silent. A green room of 30 acts, led by three comedian captains, including Katherine Ryan, tries to make the audience laugh. Every sound the audience makes reduces the prize pot, and if it reaches zero, the entertainers donate the money to charity. Bacon and Yes Yes Media's head of entertainment, Mark Sidaway, are executive producers, with Tim Dean as series producer. The show will air on U&Dave and stream on U next year, with international distribution by UKTV’s parent company, BBC Studios.
From: C21
DEALS
MGE and Latina TV Signed a Deal For The Distribution Of Unscripted Formats
MGE, an independent distributor based in Miami, and Latina TV from Peru have added Word of Honor (Palabra de Honor) to their existing international distribution agreement for entertainment formats. This agreement already includes the cooking reality show The Great Chef (El Gran Chef) and competition reality shows Brave Land (Tierra Brava) and Win or Serve (Ganar o Servir). Patricio Hernández, CEO of Latina TV, and Ignacio Corvalán lead the creation and direction of these projects' content.
From: Formatbiz
Off The Fence taps field biologist and filmmaker Dan O’Neill for wildlife copros
Factual producer and distributor Off The Fence (OTF) is collaborating on multiple co-productions featuring field biologist, wildlife filmmaker, and TV presenter Dan O’Neill. A rising star in natural history, O’Neill will present Wild Talk (5×50′), a coproduction between OTF, its parent company ZDF Studios, and European broadcaster Arte. The series delves into the rapidly evolving science of animal communication, showcasing that many species are as talkative as humans. Leading scientists use AI, next-generation sensors, and recording technology to decode complex animal communication systems.
From: C21
OneGate Media tells the Dangerous Truth in a political thriller series pick-up
German distributor OneGate Media has secured global distribution rights for the political thriller series Dangerous Truth (Das zweite Attentat). Bravado Equity, led by Eric Welbers, handles financing for the 6×45’ series, produced by Eikon Media, WDR, ARD Degeto Film, and Deal Productions for German broadcaster ARD. Inspired by true events before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Dangerous Truth follows 35-year-old Alexander Jaromin, who has been living in Athens under assumed identities in a witness protection program after his father and sister were killed in a terrorist attack in 2003.
From: C21
Cannes Award Winner ‘Grand Tour’ Travels to Several Additional Territories
The Match Factory has sold the rights to Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes’ Grand Tour in several critical territories following its premiere in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it won the best director prize. The film tells the poignant tale of Edward, a British civil servant played by Gonçalo Waddington, and his fiancée Molly, played by Crista Alfaiate, as she embarks on an adventurous pursuit across Asia. Deals have been closed in Spain (Avalon Distribucion Audiovisual), Benelux (Imagine Film Distribution), Poland (New Horizons Association), Greece (Weird Wave), former Yugoslavia (MCF MegaCom Film), the Baltics (Scanorama), Romania (Voodoo Films), Bulgaria (Beta Film), Australia and New Zealand (Potential Films), CIS excluding Ukraine (Mauris Film), South Korea (M&M International), Thailand (Movies Matter), and Indonesia (PT Falcon).
From: Variety
WildBrain launches Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake FAST channels in Australia, NZ
Canada-based WildBrain has launched FAST channels for children’s shows Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Sonic, and Super Mario on Samsung TV Plus in Australia and New Zealand. It plans to launch 27 more channels in other territories, including the UK, Brazil, Mexico, and Italy. WildBrain already operates 29 channels on Samsung TV Plus in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, and over 100 FAST channels globally, achieving 7.5 billion minutes watched in 2023.
From: C21
CANCELLATIONS
‘Outer Range’ Cancelled By Amazon After 2 Seasons
Prime Video has decided not to renew the sci-fi/neo-western drama "Outer Range," starring Josh Brolin, for a third season. This decision comes almost two months after the seven-episode second season was released on May 16. The show had solid early US ratings, ranking #3 on the Nielsen Streaming Originals chart for the week of May 20 with 476 million hours viewed and #8 for the week of May 27 with 314 million hours. "Outer Range" followed rancher Royal Abbott (Brolin) as he battled for his land and family after discovering a mysterious dark void at the edge of Wyoming’s wilderness.
From: Deadline
JOBS
Scripted Assessment Specialist - SBS - Sydney
Junior Producer - Intermission Film - London
Trainee Film Trailer Editor - Silk Factory - London
Director, Business Affairs, Sony Pictures Television International Production - London
Assistant Script Editor (EastEnders) - BBC - London
Director, Warner Bros. Productions - Leavesden, Hertfordshire
Development Producer - BBC - London
Executive Producer - Netflix - Remote
Counsel - Sony Pictures Entertainment - LA
Vice President, Creative Development - DC Studios - Burbank
Manager, Film, Central and Eastern Europe - Netflix - Warsaw
Legal Counsel Content - Viaplay - Copenhagen
Want to stay informed with the latest in TV, film, and media?
Subscribe to our daily news roundup for exclusive insights, early access to industry news, and the convenience of having the latest updates in one place.
Our subscribers include executives from:
Streamers: Netflix, Apple, Viaplay, SkyShowTime, Amazon Prime.
Broadcasters: NBC Universal, France Televisions, Sky, ABC, Channel 4, ITV, A+E Networks, CBC, TV2, SVT, ARTE, RTBF, SBS Play.
Producers: Fifth Season, Banijay, Fremantle, Endemol Shine, Gaumont, Pathé, Warner Bros Television Productions, UFA Fiction, Vivendi, Entertainment One, BBC Studios, Paramount Television International, Warner Bros Discovery, Talpa Studios, Tiger Aspect, Wild Bunch TV, Red Planet Pictures, Go Quest Media, Eureka Productions, The Ink Factory, Nordisk Film, Reel One Entertainment, Bunya Productions, Beach House Pictures, Beyond, The Global Agency, Esha Bargate Productions, blue Entertainment, Paper Plane Productions, Paprika Studios, Playmaker, Off the Fence, Goalpost Pictures.
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.