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Tag: Sarah Doole

  • FremantleMedia enters into creative partnership with 87 Films

    FremantleMedia enters into creative partnership with 87 Films

    Mumbai: FremantleMedia continues to build its roster of creative scripted partnerships with a new development deal with 87 Films. 87 Films was formed by Dudi Appleton and Jim Keeble, one of the leading writing teams in the UK drama industry, with executive producer Patrick Irwin joining the company. 

    Under the new agreement, the companies will collaborate on ambitious scripted projects for the international market alongside FremantleMedia’s global in-house producers. 87 Films is currently developing dramas with the FremantleMedia’s Wildside in Italy, Kwai in France, Miso across Scandinavia, and FremantleMedia North America in the US.

    FremantleMedia director of global drama Sarah Doole said, “Jim and Dudi are a creative force that will be a tremendous addition to FremantleMedia. They have an exceptional vision for stories that tie perfectly into our ambitions for our drama business. This key relationship will bring their talents to our global network of producers.”

    Appleton added, “Christian Vesper and Sarah Doole are hugely inspiring collaborators for us. We speak the same language. In an international television business that can seem increasingly corporate, they are passionate about great dramatic stories wherever they come from, wherever they lead. And telling those stories is what we do. Collaborating with FremantleMedia’s global producers, we are creating authentic new drama that breaks through traditional borders of culture, language, and place.”

    The agreement with 87 Films is the latest in FremantleMedia’s creative partnerships. Over the past few years, the company has invested in talented scripted creators, including Miso Film, Abot Hameiri, Dancing Ledge, Fontaram, Kwai, Wildside, Bend It TV and Easy Tiger, and has completed development deals with SLAM Films and Neil Gaiman.

  • FremantleMedia expands into scripted content, partners bestselling author Heather Lende

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia is further expanding its push into scripted content by teaming up with bestselling author Heather Lende to develop Find The Good, an uplifting drama series inspired by Lende’s memoir of the same name and her earlier memoir, If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name.

    FremantleMedia’s global drama director Sarah Doole and EVP – creative director, global drama Christian Vesper (Top Of The Lake and The Honourable Woman) have acquired the rights and will oversee the rollout of the adaptation.
     
    The books will serve as the inspiration for a TV drama about Heather, a small-town Alaska obituary writer who investigates the lives of her recently deceased neighbours. Her hometown of Haines (pop. 2,400) is as beautiful as it is perilous, and as a result, residents are just as likely to die from natural causes as they are from an avalanche, small plane crash or boat sinking.

    For Heather, each assignment begins a new investigation. Like a detective, she uncovers everything from past glory to family secrets, from intimate community connections to love, loss, and regret. Each journey not only informs how Heather navigates her own life – she is married with five children and six grandchildren – but also encourages us to understand our own.

    “Find The Good offers an honest, clear-eyed, optimistic worldview that today’s audiences are yearning for,” Vesper said. “Heather’s books are packed with authentic characters living real lives in this gorgeous yet sometimes harsh environment. Her writing reinforces our need for deep human connection and we’re looking forward to adapting the stories into a drama that the whole family can enjoy. Life. Death. Humanity. Heather’s stories have all of the elements of a successful, feel-good, multi-generational and multi-cultural drama with universal appeal.”

    “I’m excited to partner with Sarah, Christian, and a company like FremantleMedia,” author Lende said of the acquisition. “Some people may think that what I do is morbid, but compared to front-page news these days, obituaries are downright inspirational. I don’t write about death, I write about life—one person at a time, and I do it while living in community that is like a family. If I have learned anything, it is that what matters in the end are relationships. Did he do a little good? Was she kind? Was he brave? Will someone miss her? I think that matters, and mostly, the answer to those questions is yes.”

    Brian Pines of Hypomania Content and Ellie Altshuler of Nixon Peabody LLP brokered the deal. Lende is represented by Elizabeth Wales of the Wales Literary Agency. Find The Good and If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name were originally published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing Co.

    Heather Lende grew up on Long Island’s North Shore and attended private school and college before moving to Alaska 35 years ago. Lende has contributed to NPR, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, and others. She’s also a former contributing editor to Woman’s Day Magazine.

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  • FremantleMedia Global Drama appoints Vesper as Executive Vice President

    FremantleMedia Global Drama appoints Vesper as Executive Vice President

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia, has announced the appointment of Christian Vesper as Executive Vice President, Creative Director, Global Drama. His job responsibilities will involve working closely FremantleMedia’s production companies as a development partner with a focus on bolstering the international scripted development slate. He will have the platform to connect leading international writers, producers, directors and actors with FremantleMedia’s production teams to develop high quality scripted programming. He will also have liberty to develop his own project. Vesper will report to FremantleMedia’s Director of Global Drama, Sarah Doole, while maintaining a base in both London and New York. 

    Christian Vesper said, “I’ve been a fan of Sarah Doole and the FremantleMedia team for quite some time. I’m impressed by what they’ve done in the drama space to date and can’t wait to continue this work with them. FremantleMedia has real global ambition with some of the best creative talent in the business around the world, and I look forward to helping bring FremantleMedia’s vision for drama to global broadcasters and audiences.”

    The director of the house is delighted to have Christian on board. Expressing the same, Global Drama FremantleMedia director Sarah Doole, added: “It’s a real coup to have Christian join FremantleMedia’s Global Drama team. He is one of the most creative and editorially talented drama executives working in the business today, with a contact book that is brimming with the industry’s best-known and most-respected names. I’m thrilled that he’s joining us, and know he will bring his brilliant experience and expertise to the role, helping us to build our international drama portfolio even further.”

    Vesper is a highly experienced media executive with a track record in identifying projects with broad international appeal and developing highly successful partnerships. He holds a long list of experience with 14 years at Sundance TV. His credits include The Last Panthers, with Sky Atlantic and CANAL+; Rebellion, with Zodiak Rights, RTÉ and Touchpaper TV; The A Word, with BBC One and Keshet and the critically acclaimed Deutschland 83 with UFA Fiction and FremantleMedia.

  • FremantleMedia Global Drama appoints Vesper as Executive Vice President

    FremantleMedia Global Drama appoints Vesper as Executive Vice President

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia, has announced the appointment of Christian Vesper as Executive Vice President, Creative Director, Global Drama. His job responsibilities will involve working closely FremantleMedia’s production companies as a development partner with a focus on bolstering the international scripted development slate. He will have the platform to connect leading international writers, producers, directors and actors with FremantleMedia’s production teams to develop high quality scripted programming. He will also have liberty to develop his own project. Vesper will report to FremantleMedia’s Director of Global Drama, Sarah Doole, while maintaining a base in both London and New York. 

    Christian Vesper said, “I’ve been a fan of Sarah Doole and the FremantleMedia team for quite some time. I’m impressed by what they’ve done in the drama space to date and can’t wait to continue this work with them. FremantleMedia has real global ambition with some of the best creative talent in the business around the world, and I look forward to helping bring FremantleMedia’s vision for drama to global broadcasters and audiences.”

    The director of the house is delighted to have Christian on board. Expressing the same, Global Drama FremantleMedia director Sarah Doole, added: “It’s a real coup to have Christian join FremantleMedia’s Global Drama team. He is one of the most creative and editorially talented drama executives working in the business today, with a contact book that is brimming with the industry’s best-known and most-respected names. I’m thrilled that he’s joining us, and know he will bring his brilliant experience and expertise to the role, helping us to build our international drama portfolio even further.”

    Vesper is a highly experienced media executive with a track record in identifying projects with broad international appeal and developing highly successful partnerships. He holds a long list of experience with 14 years at Sundance TV. His credits include The Last Panthers, with Sky Atlantic and CANAL+; Rebellion, with Zodiak Rights, RTÉ and Touchpaper TV; The A Word, with BBC One and Keshet and the critically acclaimed Deutschland 83 with UFA Fiction and FremantleMedia.

  • FremantleMedia to launch 45 years of classic characters at MIPCOM

    FremantleMedia to launch 45 years of classic characters at MIPCOM

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International is celebrating its drama heritage with launch of 45 years of classic characters, Comedy and Drama. Featuring some of the most iconic titles and legendary characters, the classic collection will be launched to buyers at the upcoming MIPCOM.

     

    From much loved British sitcoms such as Goodnight Sweetheart and Birds of a Feather, to action packed cop dramas The Sweeney and Minder, to internationally renowned favourites such as the unforgettable Baywatch and the laugh out loud Benny Hill, FremantleMedia International’s eclectic portfolio boasts much-loved characters and TV gems.

     

    FremantleMedia director of global drama Sarah Doole said, “For the past few years we’ve put a lot of focus on strengthening our drama portfolio, but little does everyone know that we’ve actually been producing scripted content for quite a while and are very lucky to have some real crown jewels of drama and comedy in our back catalogue. With classic characters, timeless storylines and iconic talent, these shows have entertained and influenced generations. With something for every taste, we’re thrilled to be presenting some of our extensive back catalogue at MIPCOM.”

     

    The 45 Years of Classic Characters: Comedy and Drama also includes shows like The Bill, Homicide: Life on Street, Lovejoy, Bless This House, Man About The House, George and Mildred, Robin’s Nest, Kate and Allie, Family Affairs, Love Hurts, Shine On Harvey Moon, Jack the Ripper, Murder Investigation Team, Fresh Fields and Covington Cro

  • FremantleMedia International and Roland Joffe to develop ugly

    FremantleMedia International and Roland Joffe to develop ugly

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) and the Oscar nominated film director and writer, Roland Joffe (The Killing Fields, The Mission), today announced a co-development partnership for TV series Ugly. Joffe will write the vividly emotional and imaginative retelling of the world famous French gothic Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Played out against the political economic and social explosion of early 17th Century France, the series follows the life of Ugly, the physically impaired hero of the piece and features a cast of extraordinary characters.

    Roland Joffe said, “It’s a cruel conundrum that beauty – much as it is desirable and desired – may be a prison both for those who have it and those who want it. At one level we all think we know what beauty is, but there are as many different kinds of beauty as there are varieties of love. Though physical beauty may encourage the continued expansion of the population at large, it may only be inner beauty that guarantees it’s continued and continuing existence. In our story, Ugly is beautiful and much of what passes for beauty is ugly. Such is life, and life and love, cruelty and compassion, morals and money, are the subjects of our story.”

    Sarah Doole, Director of Global drama, FremantleMedia said, “FremantleMedia International are beyond excited about the opportunity to work with the extraordinarily talented Roland Joffe. Ugly is truly captivating and exactly the type of project that we have been seeking in our efforts to grow our creation of high end scripted dramas. We are looking forward to discussing the project with the broadcasters at MIPTV.”

    In 1695 in the chateau of the Comte de Chateaupers a baby is born. Joy at the baby’s birth is quickly extinguished as it is discovered that the baby boy is deformed. At first sight, his grandmother hurriedly brings a pillow to spare the child from a life of pain and despair, but something in the child’s eyes stops her. Hours later a troupe of travelling actors discover a basket and within lies the newborn baby of surpassing ugliness. Meanwhile, the intemperate Comte de Chateaupers is presented with an heir, never knowing that the child has been hastily bought from a poor woman of the village. The series embarks on a heart-felt journey and shows what it means to be human regardless of your outward appearance. To wrestle with greed, insecurity and fear, to discover the force of compassion, the pain and power of love and the finding of beauty where it is least expected.

    Joffe is universally praised for his international style of moviemaking. Beginning his career in British theater, Joffé was the youngest director at the National Theatre before entering the world of television via Granada, Thames and the BBC. Having worked across successful shows such as Coronation Street, The Stars Look Down and Bill Brand, he had the opportunity to hone his craft. Joffe found his initial success with two episodes of Play for Today, namely The Spongers, winner of a prestigious Prix Italia award and the Best Drama accolade at the Prague Festival, and United Kingdom, featuring Colin Welland. For the latter show, Joffe was nominated for a BAFTA and this laid the groundwork for his first film, The Killing Fields, a frighteningly realistic depiction of a Cambodia torn apart by war and terrorism. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences acknowledged Joffe with his first Best Director nomination. Nominations for the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Critics Circle Awards bear testimony to his outstanding work on this film. The director’s second feature, The Mission, was hailed as a sweeping, cinematically beautiful historical drama about an 18th-century Jesuit mission in the Brazilian jungle. The film was the recipient of seven Oscar nominations, including one for Best Director. It was also awarded the coveted Palme d’Or as best motion picture at the Cannes Film Festival and won Italy’s Michelangelo Prize.

    Visit FremantleMedia at MIPTV 2014 at Stand No. C11.A1 (Croisette 11, Aisle 1), 7 – 10 April.