Category: English Entertainment

MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series

MUMBAI: GRB Entertainment, a trendsetter of unscripted, and scripted, alternative programming with a proven track record worldwide, announced a slate of new titles to debut at MIPCOM.

As the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s death approaches, GRB brings a documentary on his life and career with exclusive footage and over 50 interviews with celebrities, directors, and animators. WALT: The Man Behind The Myth is the official biography of Walt Disney, sanctioned by The Walt Disney Family Foundation. This 90 minute documentary is presented by Diane Disney Miller and narrated by Dick Van Dyke and is filled with never-before-seen color home movies shot by Walt himself.

Real-life crime is often more dramatic than fiction and GRB Entertainment owns many of the best series and docs in this genre. Occult Crimes takes a look inside the devilish minds of the most unpredictable and dangerous killers in history who take their orders from Satan to commit heinous murders. Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story tells the true story of the death of Andrew Burd, a four-year-old from Texas who died mysteriously of salt poisoning. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder and sent to prison for life. But is this churchgoing woman a vicious child killer or had the tragedy claimed its second victim?

Turning to music, Follow The Rules is a 12-part series following Grammy-nominated international rapper turned actor, Ja Rule, and the hectic household that he and his wife Aisha are trying to keep under control. With their two sons, daughter, and Ja’s mother and mother-in-law living under one roof, the house that Rule built is anything but quiet.

In Cleveland Hustles, NBA superstar LeBron James and longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter give four aspiring local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their business dreams while also helping to revitalize neighborhoods in their hometown of Cleveland.

GRB also brings a series of CNN documentaries from Soledad O’Brien. In Babies Behind Bars, follow the lives of female inmates in a remarkable program allowing them to raise their babies while they serve times. Black & Blue tells the shocking real-life stories of young black men facing persistent racial profiling and police brutality. In Black In America and Latino in America, both multi-documentary collections, Soledad O’Brien explores interpretations of race and cultural identity for people living in the United States.

“Our official doc on Walt Disney – an iconic man with a great impact on pop culture – offers amazing exclusive footage of his private life. We also have two fun and inspiring series featuring Ja Rule and LeBron James. We continue to bring riveting, real-life crime with Occult Crimes and Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story. We are also thrilled to represent a number of Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentaries, which span crime and human-interest,” said Michael Lolato, SVP of International Distribution, GRB Entertainment.

GRB is well-known for its gripping real-life crime series as well as intriguing and inspiring factual programs, and serves up both for the upcoming market. Intervention, GRB’s groundbreaking A&E series (200+ episodes), received two Emmy® Award nominations in 2016, a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in 2016, an Emmy® Award nomination in 2015, and an Emmy Award win in 2009 from the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences for Outstanding Reality Program.

October 5, 2016
MIPCOM: GRB announces new titles; Walt Disney doc, real-life crime, docu-series

MUMBAI: GRB Entertainment, a trendsetter of unscripted, and scripted, alternative programming with a proven track record worldwide, announced a slate of new titles to debut at MIPCOM.

As the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney’s death approaches, GRB brings a documentary on his life and career with exclusive footage and over 50 interviews with celebrities, directors, and animators. WALT: The Man Behind The Myth is the official biography of Walt Disney, sanctioned by The Walt Disney Family Foundation. This 90 minute documentary is presented by Diane Disney Miller and narrated by Dick Van Dyke and is filled with never-before-seen color home movies shot by Walt himself.

Real-life crime is often more dramatic than fiction and GRB Entertainment owns many of the best series and docs in this genre. Occult Crimes takes a look inside the devilish minds of the most unpredictable and dangerous killers in history who take their orders from Satan to commit heinous murders. Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story tells the true story of the death of Andrew Burd, a four-year-old from Texas who died mysteriously of salt poisoning. His foster mother, Hannah Overton, was charged with capital murder and sent to prison for life. But is this churchgoing woman a vicious child killer or had the tragedy claimed its second victim?

Turning to music, Follow The Rules is a 12-part series following Grammy-nominated international rapper turned actor, Ja Rule, and the hectic household that he and his wife Aisha are trying to keep under control. With their two sons, daughter, and Ja’s mother and mother-in-law living under one roof, the house that Rule built is anything but quiet.

In Cleveland Hustles, NBA superstar LeBron James and longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter give four aspiring local entrepreneurs the chance to realize their business dreams while also helping to revitalize neighborhoods in their hometown of Cleveland.

GRB also brings a series of CNN documentaries from Soledad O’Brien. In Babies Behind Bars, follow the lives of female inmates in a remarkable program allowing them to raise their babies while they serve times. Black & Blue tells the shocking real-life stories of young black men facing persistent racial profiling and police brutality. In Black In America and Latino in America, both multi-documentary collections, Soledad O’Brien explores interpretations of race and cultural identity for people living in the United States.

“Our official doc on Walt Disney – an iconic man with a great impact on pop culture – offers amazing exclusive footage of his private life. We also have two fun and inspiring series featuring Ja Rule and LeBron James. We continue to bring riveting, real-life crime with Occult Crimes and Until Proven Innocent: The Hannah Overton Story. We are also thrilled to represent a number of Soledad O’Brien’s CNN documentaries, which span crime and human-interest,” said Michael Lolato, SVP of International Distribution, GRB Entertainment.

GRB is well-known for its gripping real-life crime series as well as intriguing and inspiring factual programs, and serves up both for the upcoming market. Intervention, GRB’s groundbreaking A&E series (200+ episodes), received two Emmy® Award nominations in 2016, a Critics’ Choice Award nomination in 2016, an Emmy® Award nomination in 2015, and an Emmy Award win in 2009 from the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences for Outstanding Reality Program.

October 5, 2016
MIPCOM: Keshet gives New Form to digital scripts

MUMBAI: Global production and distribution powerhouse Keshet International (KI) and New Form, announced a partnership to distribute three of the latter’s millennial- and youth-targeted digital scripted series, launching them to buyers at MIPCOM. KI will seek out both linear TV and digital opportunities for the series internationally.

KI will offer New Form’s comedy, sci-fi adventure and dark thriller series, all of which are available or soon to premiere in the US on Verizon’s go90 mobile OTT platform, as part of a 20-plus title MIPCOM slate that is Keshet’s largest, most distinctive and diverse ever.

New Form produces content for mobile-friendly platforms and premium destinations hungry for high-quality content with great stories and value. In addition to go90, the destinations include Vimeo, Refinery29, Fullscreen, YouTube Red and CW’s The Seed.

“New Form has been at the forefront of creating original premium digital content for new OTT players in the US,” said Keshet International digital & acquisitions SVP Sebastian Burkhardt.

“With these three remarkable new series, we now have the unique opportunity to expand their reach beyond the booming US market to both linear TV networks – with reformatted 30- and 60-minutes versions – and OTT services throughout the rest of the world.”

“Partnering with Keshet on the international distribution of three of our signature series is a significant step forward for our long-term strategy of creating, producing and distributing high-quality programs that have wide millennial appeal across multiple viewing platforms around the world,” said New Form business development SVP JC Cangilla.

Two of the three New Form series appearing at MIPCOM have already premiered on go90 in the US: The high school comedy Mr. Student Body President – A charismatic student body president and his Machiavellian chief of staff give “high school politics” a new meaning as they battle for power over pep rallies, gossip, and grades, with all the ambition and fervor of hardened Washington operatives. Starring Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time, Parenthood, ParaNorman), Arden Rose (1.3 million YouTube subscribers) and Christina Moore (True Blood, That 70s Show, MADTV).

The Streamy Award-nominated sci-fi adventure MISS 2059 – An intergalactic sci-fi adventure about a beauty queen on Earth who is mistakenly selected to represent humanity in a life-or-death Galactic tournament. Starring Anna Akana (1.4 million YouTube subscribers, Ant Man, The Fosters), Nikki Soohoo (The Lovely Bones, Stick It, Private Practice) and Hartley Sawyer (Geek & Sundry’s “Caper”, The Young and the Restless, The McCarthys).

KI will also offer Cold, set to premiere in the US on go90 this month on October 13:

Her mother brutally murdered… her father in prison for the horrific crime… 16-year-old Isla Wallis returns to her remote hometown to discover the truth about what really happened to her family. Now, alone and abandoned in the icy wilderness, Isla will be pushed to the edge of survival as she fights to expose the killer and save more than just her own life. Starring Annalise Basso (Captain Fantastic, New Girl, Ouija 1 & 2, Oculus, True Blood), Todd Lowe (Gilmore Girls, True Blood, Criminal Minds, NCIS), Jim True-Frost (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Hostages), and Marcus Johns (6.5 million Vine followers, Expelled, Rock of Ages)

Additionally, Keshet will be adding a homegrown series, Aces to the list of digital offerings on their full MIPCOM slate. Created by Moti Adiv, Yoni Zicholtz and Jonathan Bar Ilan and produced by Keshet Broadcasting, Aces quickly became Israel’s number one digital series and subsequently migrated to Keshet’s linear channel. The show provides a hilarious fly-on-the-wall peek into the world of five poker buddies when they let loose during their Friday night card game.

October 4, 2016
MIPCOM: Keshet gives New Form to digital scripts

MUMBAI: Global production and distribution powerhouse Keshet International (KI) and New Form, announced a partnership to distribute three of the latter’s millennial- and youth-targeted digital scripted series, launching them to buyers at MIPCOM. KI will seek out both linear TV and digital opportunities for the series internationally.

KI will offer New Form’s comedy, sci-fi adventure and dark thriller series, all of which are available or soon to premiere in the US on Verizon’s go90 mobile OTT platform, as part of a 20-plus title MIPCOM slate that is Keshet’s largest, most distinctive and diverse ever.

New Form produces content for mobile-friendly platforms and premium destinations hungry for high-quality content with great stories and value. In addition to go90, the destinations include Vimeo, Refinery29, Fullscreen, YouTube Red and CW’s The Seed.

“New Form has been at the forefront of creating original premium digital content for new OTT players in the US,” said Keshet International digital & acquisitions SVP Sebastian Burkhardt.

“With these three remarkable new series, we now have the unique opportunity to expand their reach beyond the booming US market to both linear TV networks – with reformatted 30- and 60-minutes versions – and OTT services throughout the rest of the world.”

“Partnering with Keshet on the international distribution of three of our signature series is a significant step forward for our long-term strategy of creating, producing and distributing high-quality programs that have wide millennial appeal across multiple viewing platforms around the world,” said New Form business development SVP JC Cangilla.

Two of the three New Form series appearing at MIPCOM have already premiered on go90 in the US: The high school comedy Mr. Student Body President – A charismatic student body president and his Machiavellian chief of staff give “high school politics” a new meaning as they battle for power over pep rallies, gossip, and grades, with all the ambition and fervor of hardened Washington operatives. Starring Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time, Parenthood, ParaNorman), Arden Rose (1.3 million YouTube subscribers) and Christina Moore (True Blood, That 70s Show, MADTV).

The Streamy Award-nominated sci-fi adventure MISS 2059 – An intergalactic sci-fi adventure about a beauty queen on Earth who is mistakenly selected to represent humanity in a life-or-death Galactic tournament. Starring Anna Akana (1.4 million YouTube subscribers, Ant Man, The Fosters), Nikki Soohoo (The Lovely Bones, Stick It, Private Practice) and Hartley Sawyer (Geek & Sundry’s “Caper”, The Young and the Restless, The McCarthys).

KI will also offer Cold, set to premiere in the US on go90 this month on October 13:

Her mother brutally murdered… her father in prison for the horrific crime… 16-year-old Isla Wallis returns to her remote hometown to discover the truth about what really happened to her family. Now, alone and abandoned in the icy wilderness, Isla will be pushed to the edge of survival as she fights to expose the killer and save more than just her own life. Starring Annalise Basso (Captain Fantastic, New Girl, Ouija 1 & 2, Oculus, True Blood), Todd Lowe (Gilmore Girls, True Blood, Criminal Minds, NCIS), Jim True-Frost (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Hostages), and Marcus Johns (6.5 million Vine followers, Expelled, Rock of Ages)

Additionally, Keshet will be adding a homegrown series, Aces to the list of digital offerings on their full MIPCOM slate. Created by Moti Adiv, Yoni Zicholtz and Jonathan Bar Ilan and produced by Keshet Broadcasting, Aces quickly became Israel’s number one digital series and subsequently migrated to Keshet’s linear channel. The show provides a hilarious fly-on-the-wall peek into the world of five poker buddies when they let loose during their Friday night card game.

October 4, 2016
‘The Martian’ to premiere on Star Movies

MUMBAI: The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it, but sometimes, life takes you on a rollercoaster ride that tests your perseverance. This underlying thought has been captured by the acclaimed director Ridley Scott in the movie The Martian starring Matt Damon. The Martian will premiere for the first time on 9 October at 1pm and 9 pm.

Based on the best-selling book by Andy Weir, The Martian chronicles the story of an astronaut, Mark Watney, who is mistakenly presumed dead and is left behind by his crew on planet Mars, but is later found to have survived the fierce storm. Faced with isolation and fear, the astronaut learns to survive on the hostile planet all by himself. He uses his ingenuityand wit to find a way to communicate back to Earth and what follows are a series of efforts made by NASA to bring him back alive.

The Martian gives audiences a glimpse into space while narrating the saga of a man’s fight to never give up and adapt to his surroundings. The film earned two Golden Globe Awards and received seven nominations at the 88 Academy Awards.

October 3, 2016
‘The Martian’ to premiere on Star Movies

MUMBAI: The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it, but sometimes, life takes you on a rollercoaster ride that tests your perseverance. This underlying thought has been captured by the acclaimed director Ridley Scott in the movie The Martian starring Matt Damon. The Martian will premiere for the first time on 9 October at 1pm and 9 pm.

Based on the best-selling book by Andy Weir, The Martian chronicles the story of an astronaut, Mark Watney, who is mistakenly presumed dead and is left behind by his crew on planet Mars, but is later found to have survived the fierce storm. Faced with isolation and fear, the astronaut learns to survive on the hostile planet all by himself. He uses his ingenuityand wit to find a way to communicate back to Earth and what follows are a series of efforts made by NASA to bring him back alive.

The Martian gives audiences a glimpse into space while narrating the saga of a man’s fight to never give up and adapt to his surroundings. The film earned two Golden Globe Awards and received seven nominations at the 88 Academy Awards.

October 3, 2016
Sony Pix to air best films from James Bond franchise

MUMBAI: Envy him for his sophisticated gadgets or love him for his charming attitude, you definitely cannot ignore this iconic secret agent, who will sweep you off your feet with his impeccable style and wit. The name’s Bond…James Bond – the panache that remains unparalleled since 1962. Catch the most complicated cases getting solved by code name 007 only on Sony Pix with Bond PIXathon. Watch some of the best films from the James Bond franchise back-to-back all day long on 2 October from 10 am onwards.

Bond movies have succeeded in keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats. While the oh-so-charming Pierce Brosnan, will keep you enthralled with his back-to-back three movie marathon, Tomorrow Never Dies at 10 am, The World Is Not Enough at 12:30 pm and Die Another Day at 3:15 pm, there is more in the offing. The channel will then move on to satiate your appetite by showcasing movies of the drop dead gorgeous, Daniel Craig- Casino Royale at 6 pm and Quantum of Solace at 9 pm.

The Bond series have a lot to offer – from the well suited Bond style and the theme tune, to the gadgets used and the quintessential dialogues. What started as a fictional character by novelist Ian Fleming in the year 1953, went on to become a successful 26-movie series with 6 actors playing the title character of James Bond till the year 2015. The franchise has grossed nearly $7 billion to date, making it the third-highest-grossing film series.

September 30, 2016
Sony Pix to air best films from James Bond franchise

MUMBAI: Envy him for his sophisticated gadgets or love him for his charming attitude, you definitely cannot ignore this iconic secret agent, who will sweep you off your feet with his impeccable style and wit. The name’s Bond…James Bond – the panache that remains unparalleled since 1962. Catch the most complicated cases getting solved by code name 007 only on Sony Pix with Bond PIXathon. Watch some of the best films from the James Bond franchise back-to-back all day long on 2 October from 10 am onwards.

Bond movies have succeeded in keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats. While the oh-so-charming Pierce Brosnan, will keep you enthralled with his back-to-back three movie marathon, Tomorrow Never Dies at 10 am, The World Is Not Enough at 12:30 pm and Die Another Day at 3:15 pm, there is more in the offing. The channel will then move on to satiate your appetite by showcasing movies of the drop dead gorgeous, Daniel Craig- Casino Royale at 6 pm and Quantum of Solace at 9 pm.

The Bond series have a lot to offer – from the well suited Bond style and the theme tune, to the gadgets used and the quintessential dialogues. What started as a fictional character by novelist Ian Fleming in the year 1953, went on to become a successful 26-movie series with 6 actors playing the title character of James Bond till the year 2015. The franchise has grossed nearly $7 billion to date, making it the third-highest-grossing film series.

September 30, 2016
GoQuest, Arre tie up for content syndication

MUMBAI: GoQuest Media has tied up with Arre, a multi-format, multi-genre digital media brand co-founded by B Sai Kumar, Ajay Chacko and Sanjay Ray Chaudhuri to distribute and monetize Arré’s vibrant content offering with the digital players & re-broadcasters across the world.

Commenting on the association, GoQuest Media managing director Vivek Lath, said, “GoQuest Media has in the last few years generated great value in content monetization to some of the leading Indian broadcasters in GEC space. To continue to add value to our partners, we are glad to associate with Arré to distribute and syndicate its quality shows like Official Chukyagiri, A.I.SHA – My Virtual Girlfriend, I Don’t Watch TV and Arre Ho Ja Re-Gender which have gathered great response from the viewers in a very short span of time. Our aim is to best optimize revenue potential of such shows from Arre in the years to come through our network of affiliates and distribution partners across the world”.

Arre co- founder and CEO Ajay Chacko stated, “We’re committed to bring quality infotainment and entertainment content to our audiences. Our recent video offerings across fiction, reality as well as our documentaries have shown very good traction with young audiences in India. Through this partnership, we hope to reach out to a wider and varied set of viewers in India as well as globally, across linear and non-linear platforms.

September 30, 2016
GoQuest, Arre tie up for content syndication

MUMBAI: GoQuest Media has tied up with Arre, a multi-format, multi-genre digital media brand co-founded by B Sai Kumar, Ajay Chacko and Sanjay Ray Chaudhuri to distribute and monetize Arré’s vibrant content offering with the digital players & re-broadcasters across the world.

Commenting on the association, GoQuest Media managing director Vivek Lath, said, “GoQuest Media has in the last few years generated great value in content monetization to some of the leading Indian broadcasters in GEC space. To continue to add value to our partners, we are glad to associate with Arré to distribute and syndicate its quality shows like Official Chukyagiri, A.I.SHA – My Virtual Girlfriend, I Don’t Watch TV and Arre Ho Ja Re-Gender which have gathered great response from the viewers in a very short span of time. Our aim is to best optimize revenue potential of such shows from Arre in the years to come through our network of affiliates and distribution partners across the world”.

Arre co- founder and CEO Ajay Chacko stated, “We’re committed to bring quality infotainment and entertainment content to our audiences. Our recent video offerings across fiction, reality as well as our documentaries have shown very good traction with young audiences in India. Through this partnership, we hope to reach out to a wider and varied set of viewers in India as well as globally, across linear and non-linear platforms.

September 30, 2016