ITV

Category: Production House

  • Global Bulletin: WarnerMedia restructures EMEA leadership teams

    Global Bulletin: WarnerMedia restructures EMEA leadership teams

    MUMBAI: New WarnerMedia France and Benelux, Germany-Austria-Switzerland country manager Iris Knobloch has restructured her leadership teams across EMEA.

    Olivier Snanoudj, Eric Broet, Caroline Lang, Guillaume Coffin and Gregory Schuber will resume leadership positions for France and Benelux, with Willi Geike, Steffen Schier, Peter Schauerte, Sylvia Rothblum, Matthias Heinze and Tim van Dyk assuming leadership responsibilities for GAS.

    Snanoudj and Schier will overlook theatrical distribution for the France and Benelux and GAS markets, respectively, while Lang will head TV distribution for France and French-speaking territories with Rothblum seeing the same responsibilities for GAS and Israel.

    Home entertainment and consumer products in each region will consolidate under one leadership, handled by Broet along with the support of Yves Elalouf and Jérôme Ollagnier. Schauerte will oversee home entertainment and consumer products for GAS, supported by Veronika Tiedemann and Stefan Hausberg.

    Schuber and van Dyk will look after the marketing teams in the two territories including publicity, franchise management and data. Geike, who last worked on the position of country manager, will now head the company’s local theatrical production for GAS. Broet will supervise local theatrical production for France and Benelux.

    Meanwhile, Warner Bros TV Production UK Group company Twenty Twenty has appointed James O’Reilly as its new creative director. He will report to managing director Leanne Klein and work out of the company’s newly established Bristol offices which will serve as the company’s headquarters starting in 2021.

    O’Reilly will be responsible for overseeing the creation and production of new original content for the company’s slate, and to manage the company’s existing catalogue of ongoing series. He joins the company after more than a decade at Blast! Films, serving as creative director for the last four years.

  • UGC Writers Campus by Series Mania invites applications for 2021 edition

    UGC Writers Campus by Series Mania invites applications for 2021 edition

    MUMBAI: Series Mania has invited applications for its UGC Writers Campus, an immersive week-long writing workshop for 20 emerging TV drama writers from around the world. This, the fourth edition of UGC Writers Campus by Series Mania, will run from 27 May to 3 June 2021 in Lille, France. Deadline for submissions is 1 February 2021. 

    Eligible candidates are writers who have had at least one professional experience on a broadcast TV/digital series, short or feature film broadcast. The link for submitting applications can be found at:

    https://seriesmania.com/forum/en/ugc-writers-campus-2021/ 

    Over the course of one week, UGC Writers Campus will function as an incubator where writers will be immersed in an environment dedicated to their work with access to tutors, mentors and industry decision-makers.

    From 27-31 May, participants will have the opportunity to take part in workshops and masterclasses in the presence of experienced professionals who will serve and support them as mentors in the development of their projects. From 1-3 June, these emerging writers will be able to pitch their projects in front of the international industry professionals who will be in Lille for the forum. 

    "Today, we see an increasing demand from the industry toward screenwriters. In this context, Series Mania, with the UGC Writers Campus, is honoured to support and strengthen an international network of young writers who are able to offer high quality projects, while at the same time working together for the future of our audio-visual industry. The stories to come will certainly be local, but thus more open to co-production opportunities,” said UGC director, deputy MD Herszberg.

  • GoQuest Media to distribute Ukrainian dramas

    GoQuest Media to distribute Ukrainian dramas

    MUMBAI: US-based network provider Olympusat has acquired exclusive TV and digital rights for Latin America, Puerto Rico, the US and Canada for three Ukrainian romance dramas produced by Media Group Ukraine, following a deal with global distributor GoQuest Media.

    The deal sees Eclipse (8 x 45-minutes), Secrets (95 x 45-minutes) and Rainflower (8 x 45-minutes) all picked up by the US company.

    Produced by Tri-ya-da production (Ukraine), Secrets explores hidden family secrets that tests the love and strength of Katya and Mykola, who have known and loved each other since childhood.

    Eclipse, meanwhile, follows Sergie’s one-sided love as it turns to obsession when he meets his childhood crush, Svetlana, after 20 years. The series is directed by Anton Azarov and produced by Irina Zarya.

    Rainflower is an adaptation of the Korean drama Tree of Heaven. Produced by Mamas Film Production (Ukraine) it is a coming-of-age adolescent tale of two stepsiblings, Nina and Andrey, who fall deeply and passionately in love with each other.

    GoQuest Media Europe and North America head Paula McHarg said, “These compelling Ukrainian romance dramas explore themes of love, romance, and optimism — underscored by tragic components — which makes them out of the ordinary and inspiring. We are thrilled to conclude our first package deal with Olympusat and bring these diverse stories to brand new audiences.”

    “Our mission in creating Olympusat TV platforms has always been to deliver the best of the best in entertainment content, and we are excited to add these three series, featuring dramatic characters that are proven winners and that audiences will love,” added Olympusat content acquisitions & strategy VP John Baghdassarian.

  • 20th TV & Touchstone merged under Disney TV restructure

    20th TV & Touchstone merged under Disney TV restructure

    MUMBAI: The shake-up in Walt Disney’s upper echelons continues, after the company announced large-scale streamlining of its content creation and distribution into separate and distinct global units earlier this year. Falling in line with CEO Bob Chapek’s vision of ‘strategic reorganisation’ in the wake of the tumult caused by Covid2019, other heads of businesses – namely general entertainment content chairman Peter Rice, and media and entertainment distribution overseen by Kareem Daniels – divvied up responsibilities, shuffled top-rung personnel, consolidated assets, and generally spruced up operations to make the multi-billion dollar enterprise more profitable in these troubled times.

    Last month, Disney-owned ESPN unveiled its own reshuffle of senior leaders, with content executive vice president Connor Schell leaving the company. Reports stated that the sports outlet is expected to reduce its workforce by 500 staffers.

    Now, ahead of Investor Day (scheduled for 10 December), Disney has undertaken another big round of restructuring to further consolidate its content creation across streaming and linear. Walt Disney Television chairman of entertainment Dana Walden has initiated a major reorganisation of the television production and original content businesses under her leadership. This includes Hulu’s longtime SVP content Craig Erwich adding oversight of ABC original content to his purview. He has been named president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment.

    He will take over responsibilities held by ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke who, after a successful stint at the network, is taking on a role as president of 20th Television, the combined operation of 20th Television and Touchstone Television. As the cable/streaming-focused studio is being folded into 20th TV, Disney TV Studios has now gone down to two divisions with ABC Studios and ABC Signature merger earlier this year. 20th TV will be run by Burke, and ABC Signature will be headed by president Jonnie Davis. Both Davis and Burke will report to Walden.

    Craig Hunegs will move from his role as president of Disney Television Studios to become Walt Disney Television entertainment president, working alongside Walden across all business units. He will oversee centralised business affairs, production, casting and creative talent development & inclusion teams.

    Touchstone TV (formerly Fox 21) president Bert Salke will bring transition to a multi-year overall producing deal with Disney Television Studios. During his time at the company, Salke looked after development and production at the studio, which included such shows as Homeland, Genius, Queen of the South and The Hot Zone. Together with FX Prods, the studio produced The Americans, Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C and more.

    Former 20th TV president Carolyn Cassidy will stay back at the studio as EVP, development. Touchstone TV’s Jane Francis will also stay put and become EVP – series for 20th TV. Both Francis and Cassidy will report to Burke.

    As part of the restructuring, 20th Animation, currently a division of 20th TV, will have its own unit, run by Marci Proietto. Additionally, Disney TV will launch a production unit for unscripted programming. Both divisions will be overseen by Hunegs.

    Tara Duncan will continue to oversee original programming for Freeform. She and Erwich will continue to report to Walden.

    “This has been an incredibly challenging but successful year. Our television studios produce many of the top-rated shows in the industry. ABC is now the number one entertainment network and the Hulu Originals team launched their most successful slate yet of critically acclaimed, award-winning, high-performing shows. I am proud of our exceptional leadership team and all we have accomplished, but the media landscape is changing and this reorganisation better positions us for the future,” said Walden. “The changes we are announcing today are in service of three goals: rightsizing our organization, streamlining functions across our studios and original content teams, and strengthening our partnerships with the extraordinary creators who call Disney Television Studios their home.”

  • Filmlance acquires TV rights to Karin Smirnoff’s Jana Kippo trilogy

    Filmlance acquires TV rights to Karin Smirnoff’s Jana Kippo trilogy

    MUMBAI: Banijay has announced that scripted label Filmlance will adapt for television the critically-acclaimed Jana Kippo trilogy, penned by Swedish author Karin Smirnoff.

    The series of best-selling novels is set to be developed into a new Swedish drama with international potential.

    The producer is Anna Wallmark at Filmlance, who was behind the company’s most recent hit Top Dog, together with Teresa Alldén and Olof Spaak.

    The Jana Kippo trilogy has sold more than half a million copies in Sweden and has been translated in multiple European languages, including English.

    The story begins with Jana Kippo returning to her family village of Smalånger, moving into her childhood home to get Bror, her alcoholic twin brother’s life in order. The pair have a common childhood trauma and a death in the village takes a heavy toll. Maria was found dead in a forest glade and no one knows what happened, did she commit suicide or was she murdered? The longer Jana stays in her home village, the more she gets to know about both Maria and herself.

    Filmlance MD Hanne Palmquist said, “Karin Smirnoff is one of the most interesting Swedish authors around and we are incredibly proud to be working on what is sure to be a powerful, world-class television production. This unique story of love, betrayal, revenge and lust contains everything needed to create a gripping, exciting and constantly surprising drama.”

    Karin Smirnoff lives in Piteå, Sweden, and worked as a journalist before buying a wood factory. After a few years, she longed to return to writing and applied to Lund University’s writing school with what would become her debut novel I Went Down to My Brother, which was nominated for the August Prize 2018 for Fiction. The second book was published in the spring of 2019, and the third book in the spring of 2020.

  • Film shoots resume in Madhya Pradesh under Covid2019 norms

    Film shoots resume in Madhya Pradesh under Covid2019 norms

    MUMBAI: Madhya Pradesh has become the first state to permit film production post the unlock. The state is taking all necessary measures to ensure shooting takes place safely. The government has come out with a set of standard operating guiding principles that need to be followed at film sets and by the crew at all places where filming takes place.

    Moreover, Madhya Pradesh is a predominantly Hindi speaking state, making it more viable and manageable for Bollywood movies. The availability of production facilities, line producers, artists, local crew etc, makes it much more economical to shoot in.

    Till now, more than 200 projects including feature films, TV serial/series, TVCs and reality shows have been shot in Madhya Pradesh, such as Stree, Sui-Dhaga, Kalank, Manikarnika, Luka Chhupi, Padman, Toilet ek Prem Katha, Bajirao Mastani, Paan Singh Tomar, Lion, C, Aarakshan, and Raajneeti, to name a few.

    Recently, actors like Anupam Kher and Bhumi Phednekar have wrapped up filming in Madhya Pradesh for their movies. And a few shoots with actor Vidya Balan are in the pipeline around the last week of November.

    Anupam Kher said, “It is picture wrap for our movie #TheLastShow!! What an amazing, creatively satisfying and courageous journey it has been. We will miss this time together. But I think we have created something, the memories of which will last us for a lifetime. ‘Thank you’ is a small expression to express our gratitude. But we couldn’t have created this gem without the help of #MPGovt, local authorities and people of #Bhopal. Especially @mptourism dept. Jai Ho to you all.  #Film #PassionAndPaseenaFilms.”    

    Madhya Pradesh Tourism department is liable to coordinate with the different concerned departments for shoot permission on behalf of filmmakers. The state is working on a Film Tourism Policy to simplify the process of securing permission for shoots.

    The vision of this policy is to make Madhya Pradesh a major filmmaking hub and generate a number of employment opportunities in the state.

    MP tourism provides the following facilities to producers/directors:

    •      Dedicated film facilitation cell shall work as a nodal agency to ease out the shooting permissions through single window clearance system.

    •      Authentic shooting locations

    •      Film friendly authorities and strong government support

    •      Easy permissions

    •      Modern infrastructure and omnipresent hotels

    •      Favourable law and order condition

    •      Cost-effective infrastructure, crew, local talent and other skilful workforce

    •      Hindi speaking people, food/cuisine flexibility and ideal climate

    Comfort of filming in MP:

    ·        A dedicated online film web portal shall be created to provide a single-point interface and time bound clearance mechanism for filmmakers intending to shoot in Madhya Pradesh.

    ·        All the applications shall be received through online mode by the film facilitation cell and action shall be taken in coordination with the concerned department for permission.

    ·        The portal shall also act as a platform for information dissemination related to film tourism policy and shall also act as a forum for the dissemination and the rules, regulations, also provide information on grants and other utility services.

  • Banijay confirms internal data theft in cyber attack

    Banijay confirms internal data theft in cyber attack

    MUMBAI: Independent production company Banijay has admitted that internal data was stolen in a cyber attack last week, potential impacting hundreds of current and former employees.

    The company said that certain personnel data as well as commercially sensitive information may have been compromised. This follows after the attackers leaked some of the stolen documents online.

    As per media reports, the hackers targeted the systems of the Endemol Shine International network and part of the Endemol Shine Group network in Amsterdam. Banijay acquired Endemol Shine for $2.2 billion this summer.

    The global group is currently investigating the incident with independent specialists, and to date, has reported the issue to the relevant local authorities in both the Netherlands and the UK – the territories affected by the ransomware attack. It is trying to figure out how its technology was breached, who was affected, and what information has been exposed. It is also following guidance from the information commissioner’s office in the UK.

    Banijay Rights CEO Cathy Payne has written to former employees this week, including some who left the Endemol Shine group years ago, to warn them about the incident.

    Banijay is continuing to take the appropriate steps to protect its employees, past and present. If it identifies any cases of data being taken or misused, the production house will contact the affected individuals directly.

  • Comcast-owned Sky signs deal with eOne

    Comcast-owned Sky signs deal with eOne

    MUMBAI: Sky, Comcast’s European pay-TV giant, has entered into a “long-term” partnership with Entertainment One to give its customers in the UK and Ireland access to hundreds of Hasbro’s films.

    The deal includes nearly 200 titles from eOne’s library, such as the Twilight saga and Dallas Buyers Club, whereas new releases will be telecast exclusively by Sky. This includes upcoming titles like the holiday rom-com Happiest Season starring Kristen Stewart, which skipped the UK theatrical release.

    eOne international distribution president Stuart Baxter said, “A partnership of this size is one of the largest strategic deals we have made this year. We are confident that they will be a great marketing partner for our content and will work with us throughout its lifecycle. “

    Sky has significantly improved its content offering this year through contracts with Disney, Sony, DreamWorks Animation and Discovery.

    Sky UK and Europe CEO Stephen van Rooyen said, “Our business with eOne is just another example of how we listen to customers and bring them more of what they want.”

  • Synpronize enters into multiple key African content deals in Ghana, South Africa, and for pan-Africa

    Synpronize enters into multiple key African content deals in Ghana, South Africa, and for pan-Africa

    MUMBAI: Nitin Michael and Hasnaa Descuns, co-founders of Synpronize, a Dubai-based content distribution and production company, announced that multiple program deals were entered into for Africa with eTV, Onua TV, and StarTimes. 

    Drama series Cello was licensed to Onua TV in Ghana. This intriguing tale explores an indecent proposal, following what happens when compelling circumstances prevent a cellist and her pianist husband from starting their life-long dream business project, an unscrupulous businessman steps in with an unscrupulous offer, and the couple find themselves torn between integrity and their desire for money. Cello is originally an Arabic production that aired on MBC which is the Middle East’s leading broadcast network. 

    eTV licensed romantic drama series Piya Naam Ka Diya (aka All for Love) that talks about a simple girl who falls in love with the wrong man without seeing true love that was right in front of her. It takes us on her journey of discovering her feelings, her goals and finding a balance in life.

    A deal was done with major African Pay TV platform, StarTimes for two drama series — Swaragini (aka A Tale of Two Sisters), a tale about the life of two half-sisters bought up witnessing the fierce rivalry of their family, especially their grandparents; and Gathbandhan (aka The Odd Couple) – a gripping story of two opposites: a gangster and a police officer and how their lives intertwine. These programs were originally in Hindi and telecast on one of India’s top-rated TV channels Colors.

    Hasnaa Descuns stated: “ Synpronize is thrilled to have such a great reception for our premium dramas in several African countries with great partners such as eTV, StarTimes, and Onua TV. Synpronize is expanding further into Africa and these partnerships are indicative of the great relationships that help us build our company reach and the high-production and compelling dramas will delight and engage audiences everywhere.

    Media General GH LTD, Ghana programs head Joel Hammond stated: “We are grateful to Nitin and Hasnaa for bringing us Cello for Onua TV. Synpronize is a trusted partner in the region and we look forward to a long and fruitful association. Our audiences are sure to enjoy this superbly produced drama series.”

    eTV content specialist Marli Schulze   added, “We are continuously scouring the globe in search of uplifting stories that will resonate with our discerning viewers. We are excited to test Piya Naam Ka Diya as a fine example of Pakistani-produced content.”

  • Cineflix Rights CEO Chris Bonney to retire in 2021

    Cineflix Rights CEO Chris Bonney to retire in 2021

    MUMBAI: Cineflix Rights CEO Chris Bonney is set to step down from the company next year, after eight years in the role.

    Bonney, who joined Cineflix Media’s sales and acquisitions arm in 2012, will retire mid-2021 following an extended period of transition when the London-based distributor will appoint a successor.

    Prior to this he was at Warner Bros International Television Production as SVP sales & acquisitions. He has also served stints as MD of Outright Distribution and a board member at UK-based Shed Media.

    Under his leadership, the company has grown into one of the UK’s largest indie TV content sales firms with a catalogue of more than 5,000 hours of scripted and factual content.

    During his tenure at Cineflix Rights, Bonney increased the company’s third-party slate to almost 50 per cent of its overall portfolio, developed financing models to help partners including Cineflix Productions.

    Cineflix Media co-founders and co-CEOs Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck said: “Over the last eight years, Chris has played a pivotal role in positioning Cineflix Media as a global content powerhouse. Under his skilful leadership, he has assembled a phenomenal team at Cineflix Rights and has drawn up a solid blueprint for enduring momentum and success.

    “Chris is very well-respected by his colleagues and peers alike, and we’re sad that he will be stepping down. However, we are grateful that he will continue to drive the company forward while we recruit his successor. And of course, Chris will always remain part of the Cineflix family.”

    Bonney added, “Cineflix Rights is now well placed as a distributor with a highly successful scripted business alongside its longstanding factual operations. After 35 years in the industry, it feels like the right time for me to make a move to a new phase in life, and for a new hand to take the company to its next stage.”

    “I’ve really enjoyed working with such a talented and friendly team over the past eight years, as well as the many incredibly creative producers and broadcasters I’ve had the opportunity to deal with during my time here. I’d also like to thank Glen and Katherine for all their support over the years. As I’ll be around for a while yet, it’s more The Long Goodbye than Short Cuts before I head off to the golf course and experience parts of the world I’ve always wanted to visit.”