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Tag: The Crown

  • Charlotte Moore takes over from Andy Harries as Left Bank Pictures CEO & SPT EVP

    Charlotte Moore takes over from Andy Harries as Left Bank Pictures CEO & SPT EVP

    MUMBAI: BBC’s chief content officer Charlotte Moore and one of the UK’s most influential media executives, is making a power move. Moore has been named CEO of Sony-owned Left Bank Pictures, the powerhouse behind hit shows like The Crown. But that’s not all-she’s also stepping into a newly created role as EVP, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) International Production Group creative director.

    A career-defining transition, Moore’s appointment places her at the helm of one of the UK’s most prestigious production houses while also shaping Sony’s broader global creative vision. She takes over from the Left Bank co-founder and long-time CEO Andy Harries, who is moving into an executive chair role after 18 years steering the company’s success.

    At Left Bank, Moore will oversee its award-winning slate, ensuring the studio remains at the forefront of premium storytelling. But her remit doesn’t end there. As EVP, creative director of SPT International Production Group, she will drive the creative direction for Sony’s expanding global content strategy, influencing projects across multiple territories.

    Moore expressed her enthusiasm for the challenge ahead, stating, “The opportunity to lead Left Bank Pictures, a studio with such an extraordinary legacy, while also shaping Sony Pictures Television’s international creative vision, is truly exciting. I look forward to working with the exceptional teams at both companies to continue delivering world-class storytelling.”

    Moore’s departure from the BBC marks the end of an era. She has been instrumental in shaping the corporation’s content strategy, overseeing major successes across drama, entertainment, and factual programming. Under her leadership, the BBC launched groundbreaking hits, strengthened its digital footprint, and reinforced its position as a global content powerhouse.

    At Left Bank Pictures, she inherits a studio with an enviable track record. Founded in 2007, Left Bank has delivered acclaimed titles such as The Crown, Outlander, and Three Pines. As Moore takes the reins, expectations are high for the studio’s next wave of premium productions.

    As Moore steps into this high-profile role, all eyes will be on how she shapes the next chapter for Left Bank Pictures and Sony’s international content ambitions. One thing is certain-Hollywood and beyond will be paying attention.
     

  • Ravi Ahuja to replace Tony Vinciquerra as president & CEO at Sony Pictures Entertainment

    Ravi Ahuja to replace Tony Vinciquerra as president & CEO at Sony Pictures Entertainment

    MUMBAI: Now here is another executive of Indian descent taking on the top leadership position in a global company. Ravi Ahuja, who was Sony Pictures Entertainment’s (SPE’s) chairman of global television studios and SPE president & COO will take over as the company’s president & CEO effective 2 January 2025. He will replace SPE’s current CEO  Tony Vinciquerra who will remain in an advisory role for SPE as non-executive chairman until the end of December 2025.

    Ahuja will report to Sony group chairman &  CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and Sony group  president, COO &  CFO Hiroki Totoki. The announcement was made Sony Group Corp and  SPE today.

    “The extraordinary turnaround at SPE over the last 10 years would not have been possible without Tony’s deep experience and expertise in the entertainment space, his strategic vision and his outstanding leadership,” said Yoshida. “Under Tony’s watch, SPE became a critically important part of our efforts to maximize the value of our IP and find synergies across all our entertainment and technology businesses, and it remains a key driver in Sony group’s ongoing corporate strategies to lean further into the creative and entertainment spaces. I want to thank Tony for his years of dedication and leadership at SPE, and for his invaluable support across the group companies during his successful career at Sony.”

    Yoshida continued, “Since joining SPE in 2021, Ravi has been at the center of Tony’s leadership team, navigating the unprecedented challenges of today’s media and entertainment environment and positioning SPE for further growth. Ravi brings with him years of experience from his time at some of the world’s most successful entertainment companies, and we look forward to working more closely with him in his new role as president & CEO of SPE.”

    Vinciquerra joined SPE in June 2017, and has led the company’s dramatic turnaround with five consecutive years of increasing profit by strengthening of SPE’s film slate, reimagining SPE’s television businesses, and with aggressive M&A in key growth areas, such as anime with the acquisition of Crunchyroll in 2021.

    Vinciquerra’s strategic decisions to divest most of SPE’s international cable networks as that market began to deteriorate, and to not jump into the overcrowded streaming space with a general entertainment streaming service, has kept SPE profitable during a time of unprecedented industry change.

    In recent years, Vinciquerra led SPE through some of the entertainment industry’s most challenging events such as the COVID-19 epidemic and the historic combined SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes of 2023, events which brought television and film production to a standstill. Despite these unprecedented events, SPE remains in a
    very strong and competitive position among its industry peers.

    “When I stepped into this role seven and a half years ago, I would’ve never imagined the extraordinary industry disruption and opportunity we’d face,” said Vinciquerra. “I’m filled with immense gratitude for this exceptional company and its profound legacy in Hollywood history. I’m consistently inspired by my brilliant and resolute colleagues. Together, against the odds, we achieved remarkable success and have consistently proven that this is a community built on passion and resilience. Thank you for making these past seven and half years the most gratifying of my career. My sincere appreciation goes to Kazuo Hirai for offering me this opportunity in 2017, and to Kenichiro Yoshida and Hiroki Totoki for their leadership and unwavering trust and support over the years. I have the utmost confidence that SPE will continue to thrive in the years ahead and know that Ravi is the right leader to take SPE forward.”

    Ravi Ahuja joined SPE in 2021 to oversee all production businesses for Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and the studio’s India business as chairman of global television studios. SPT and its production companies produce several award-winning and acclaimed television series including The Crown, The Boys, Gen V, Cobra Kai, Better Call Saul, The Last of Us, Outlander, For All Mankind, The Night Agent, Twisted Metal, The Wheel of Time, S.W.A.T., The Good Doctor, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, Shark Tank, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, 90 Day Fiancé, Octonauts, SuperKitties, and many more.

    Since joining SPE, Ahuja has also overseen SPE’s M&A activities, including the acquisitions of award-winning nonfiction entertainment company Industrial Media, leading UK production company Bad Wolf and VFX company, Pixomondo, as well as the sale of GSN Games to Scopely. 

    Prior to joining SPE, Ahuja was president of business Operations &  CFO of Walt Disney Television. Prior to that he was in positions of increasing authority, including CFO, at the Fox Networks group, and Virgin Entertainment group.

    “It is my privilege and honor to take the helm at SPE,” said Ahuja. “This is a special place — an iconic studio with an extraordinary 100-year history of storytelling. Thanks to Tony’s remarkable leadership, we have leading businesses with clear strategies and are set up for even greater success in the years to come. I am energized by the opportunities ahead and am lucky to work alongside thousands of talented colleagues around the world at SPE and at our Sony sister companies. I am grateful for Tony’s mentorship, guidance and friendship through the decades, and I thank Yoshida-san and Totoki-san for entrusting me with this important role.”

    Ahuja’s ascendancy to the top role at SPE comes at a time when there has been a change in leadership at Sony Pictures Networks India with NP Singh stepping down as CEO after a long successful stint and Star India executive Gaurav Banerjee taking up the role.

     

  • Netflix launches trailer for the fifth season of The Crown

    Netflix launches trailer for the fifth season of The Crown

    Mumbai: The official trailer for the fifth season of The Crown was released today, a first chance to see the new cast in their interpretation of the Royal Family characters that Peter Morgan first created in 2016.

    The new season launches globally on Wednesday 9 November.

    Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.

    With the new decade in its stride, the Royal Family are presented with possibly their biggest challenge to date; as the public openly question their role in 90s Britain.

    As Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton) approaches the 40th anniversary of her accession, she reflects on a reign that has encompassed nine prime ministers, the advent of mass television and the twilight of the British empire. Yet new challenges are on the horizon. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong signals a seismic shift in the international order presenting both obstacles and opportunities. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing closer to home.

    Prince Charles (Dominic West) pressures his mother to allow him to divorce Diana (Elizabeth Debicki), presenting a constitutional crisis of the monarchy. Rumours circulate as husband and wife are seen to live increasingly separate lives and, as media scrutiny intensifies, Diana decides to take control of her own narrative, breaking with family protocol to publish a book that undermines public support for Charles and exposes the cracks in the House of Windsor.

    Tensions are set to rise further, as Mohamed Al Fayed (Salim Daw)  arrives on the scene. Driven by his desire for acceptance of the highest order, he harnesses his self-made wealth and power to try and earn him and his son Dodi (Khalid Abdalla) a seat at the royal table.

    Written by Peter Morgan, The Crown‘s fifth series stars Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as The Duke of Edinburgh, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Dominic West as Prince Charles, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles. Jonny Lee Miller takes on the role of John Major. Also featured is Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne, Marcia Warren as the Queen Mother, James Murray as Prince Andrew and Sam Woolf as Prince Edward. Playing the role of the young princes will be Timothée Sambor and Senan West as Prince William and Teddy Hawley and Will Powell as Prince Harry. Prasanna Puwanarajah is Martin Bashir, Salim Daw is Mohamed Al Fayed with Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed.

  • ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘The Crown’ win big at the 73rd Emmys

    ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘The Crown’ win big at the 73rd Emmys

    Los Angeles: Netflix’s “The Crown” and Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” have won the Emmy for the Outstanding Drama and Comedy series respectively at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, which returned with in-person glitz and glamour on Sunday, after going remote in 2020 due to the pandemic.

    The ceremony honored the best in the US prime time television programming from 1 June 2020 until 31 May 2021, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences highlighting much of what folks have been watching during the pandemic.

    Among the closely watched categories were those in outstanding comedy, where a whopping 75 per cent of the nominees were new to the category. The big winner was “Ted Lasso” taking home the award for comedy series, as well as comedy lead actor, supporting actor, and supporting actress. The freshman comedy with 13 nominations walked away with four awards in all.

    “The Crown” which bagged a total of 11 nominations, won in the outstanding lead actor, drama (Josh O’Connor), lead actress, drama (Olivia Colman), and outstanding directing for a drama series (episode: ‘War’, directed by Jessica Hobbs) categories, in addition to five other wins.

    “The Queen’s Gambit” took home the award in the closely watched Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series race. “Mare of Easttown” surprised some pundits with wins for lead actress, supporting actor and supporting actress in the Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category.

    Cedric the Entertainer, hosting for the first time, kicked off the ceremony with a strong opening hip-hop performance set to Biz Markie’s iconic song, “Just a Friend.” Cedric enlisted the help of a few A-listers to the act including LL Cool J, Lil Dicky, Rita Wilson and more. “TV, you got what I need!” the group sang, as seemingly everyone in the audience joined in. 

    After a few trophies were handed out, Cedric brought his comedy A-game to the night with an opening monologue taking on Nicki Minaj, who was trolled online for her anti-vax commentary, the Jeopardy! host fiasco and also the royal family. Noting so much talent in the room, Cedric retorted, “Lock the doors, we’re not leaving until we find a new host for Jeopardy!”

    Television Academy CEO and chairman Frank Scherma gave an impassioned speech as he took the stage to introduce and present the winner of this year’s Governor’s Award. “It’s so great to see that television and the stories we tell are finally becoming a reflection of every part of our society,” said Scherma.

    Although television programming has seen a definitive rise in the representation of diverse characters, this year’s Emmy Awards is already being scrutinised since it had its most diverse field of nominees yet but failed to deliver. By the end of the night, no actors of color or LGBTQ actors had won any of the major acting awards.

    Multi-talented actress and dancer, Debbie Allen accepted the 2021 Governor’s Award from Scherma and with tears in her eyes shared a heartfelt tribute to women in Texas and Afghanistan and called on women worldwide to let the moment resonate. “It is time for you to claim your power, claim your voice, say your song, tell your stories,” she said. Allen, a Black woman was one of only a few people of color who won an award.

    RuPaul, the host and executive producer of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” became the most-awarded Black artist in Emmys history with 11 wins after the VH1 series won the award for top competition program for the fourth year in a row during Sunday’s ceremony.

    The attendees were drastically scaled back to around a reported 500 and were required to follow Covid-19 protocols that mimic safety measures put in place on Hollywood sets. This included proof of vaccinations and requiring guests to wear masks when not on camera.

    Complete list of winners:

    Outstanding Variety Talk Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”

    Outstanding Competition Program: “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, “Hacks” 

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” 

    Outstanding Comedy Series: “Ted Lasso” 

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie: Ewan McGregor, “Halston”

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie: Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown”

    Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: “The Queen’s Gambit” 

    Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Olivia Colman, “The Crown” 

    Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Josh O’Connor, “The Crown”

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tobias Menzies, “The Crown” 

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Gillian Anderson, “The Crown” 

    Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown” 

    Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Julianne Nicholson, “Mare of Easttown”

    Outstanding Drama Serie: “The Crown”

    Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: “Saturday Night Live”

    Outstanding Variety Special (Live): “Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020”

    Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded): “Hamilton” 

    Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: “Hacks” (Episode: ‘There Is No Line’), Directed by Lucia Aniello

    Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: “The Crown” (Episode: ‘War’), Directed by Jessica Hobbs

    Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: “The Queen’s Gambit,” Directed by Scott Frank 

    Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: “Hacks” (Episode: ‘There Is No Line’), written by Lucia Aniello, Paul W Downs, and Jen Statsky

    Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: “The Crown” (Episode: ‘War’), written by Peter Morgan

    Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: “I May Destroy You,” written by Michaela Coel

    Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” 

  • The Crown producer Suzanne Mackie launches own production company

    The Crown producer Suzanne Mackie launches own production company

    MUMBAI: Suzanne Mackie, one of the executive producers behind the hit Netflix show The Crown, is all set to launch her own production company. Mackie is leaving UK-based Left Bank Pictures to set up Orchid Pictures.

    Mackie, a prominent force in British drama, will continue to remain as an EP on the Left Bank-produced The Crown for the period drama’s upcoming final two seasons, shooting for which begins next year.

    Orchid Pictures will be based in London and it will work on projects across both TV and film. Sky development co-ordinator Hannah Campbell will also be joining Orchid as part of its initial team, with the company engaged by Netflix to produce a slate of projects from emerging and established talent.

    During her tenure in Left Bank Mackie developed and executive produced projects such as Sky1’s Mad Dogs and BBC1’s The Replacement. She is also attached to executive produce on the upcoming Netflix series Behind Her Eyes.

    “Having spent 12 very happy and creatively fulfilling years working with Andy Harries and the team at Left Bank Pictures, starting my own company felt like an exciting next chapter in my career. The opportunity of further deepening my collaboration with Netflix presented an immensely exciting opportunity,” said Mackie.

    Left Bank Pictures CEO Andy Harries said, “I have enjoyed an amazing journey with Suzanne, from Mad Dogs to Misbehaviour with lots of The Crown on top. She is smart, wise and has great taste. I have no doubt she will create some classy new shows for Netflix as well as riding side-saddle with us on The Crown.”

  • Mira Nair speaks up on “A Suitable Boy”

    Mira Nair speaks up on “A Suitable Boy”

    MUMBAI: It was a best-seller when it was released a score and more years ago. Now, Vikram Seth’s "A Suitable Boy" is catching the attention in Britain as it airs as a six-part series on BBC One during primetime. Directed by Mira Nair, it has a cast of 110 Asian actors and at the time of writing, four episodes of the show had been aired.

    Nair, who is known to be pretty blunt when she speaks, has expressed that she wished she had the same production budget for A Suitable Boy as the makers of The Crown did. 

    According to published reports, the BBC invested pounds sterling 16 million (Rs 160 crore) on the six part series, making it about 2.67 million pounds (Rs 26-odd crore) an episode. As against that, The Crown had a budget of close to 10 million pounds an episode and about a 100 million pounds for the season.

    Speaking to the Economist last week, Nair said: “The show has the magnificence and sweep of The Crown. Let me tell with my 30 years of experiencing of making films about my part of the world for the world, you never get the budget of The Crown. You get what you get and you have to be so assured and have an amazing team so that we can achieve that sweep. Every moment of A Suitable Boy is shot on location in forts, crumbling palaces, old havelis and refurbished bridges..we did all this to create a sense of that layering of history. We did that more with our experience our sensibility, our taste, and much less with oodles of money.”

    She further added that she hoped that the BBC and media in England would reflect the diversity of its own people. “I have yearned for Goodness Gracious Me for over 20 years. It had such brilliant writing for television, yet it is not there anymore. And it’s not as if it is not there, but the talent exists in the British Asian scene. I don’t see it being fostered. Now, my British Asian friends are saying to now that the BBC has spent its wad on A Suitable Boy, they’ll say there’s no room for anymore this year. That’s the thinking that should sort of go away.”

    Nair also disclosed that three years were spent on adapting it, after experienced script writer Andrew Davies worked with author Seth to churnout the adaptation of the 1400-odd page book into a tight screenplay.

    “I got into the party much later. They did a fabulous job distilling the massive tome. I wanted it to be less Pride and Prejudice and more the world that I wanted to evoke at that time..to shift the balance. I wanted to integrate the politics so it reflects the India of now to integrate the politics of now,” she expressed. “The search for lover, the search for who we are, the search for who we would spend our lives with, those are universal searches. The story is timely but the politics of it is also remarkably timely. Remember at that time the Hindu Muslim community were so syncretic in their song, in their culture, their language, in their friendships and that is so sadly and in a targeted fashion being obliterated slowly and surely in the fabric of our Indian society.”

    A Suitable Boy will air on Netflix later this year. It boasts a stellar cast: Tabu, Ishan Khattar, Tanya Maniktala, Rasika Duggal, Mahira Kakkar, Ram Kapoor, Gagan dev Riar, Vivek Gomber, Vivaan Shah, Shahana Goswami, Mikhail Sen, Namit Das, Randip Hooda, Amir Bhashir, Ranvir Shorey, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Vinay Pathak and Manoj Pahwa.

    The series follows the story of four families held together by Mrs Rupa Mehra’s desire to find a good match for her daughter Lata in 1951-52. Interwoven is the story of a newly-independent India with all the pulls and pressures of its first general election and Hindu-Muslim religious strife.

    It was shot on location in Lucknow, Maheshwar and Kanpur. Aradhna Seth’s Lookout Point was  the production partner. Andrew Davies and Vikram Seth share the writing credits while the Hindi, Urdu and Awadhi dialogues are by Hriday Lani. The series is being distributed by Viniyard Films and the BBC.

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  • View Netflix offline now, or YouTube & Amazon

    View Netflix offline now, or YouTube & Amazon

    MUMBAI: Netflix fans in India are in a state of euphoria. The subscription-based VOD service will now allow its users to download some of its shows and films, and watch them offline.

    Users can download and keep select television shows and movie for offline viewing. Not every show and movie in its catalogue is included, however. Considering the poor internet connectivity issues in India, this addition by Netflix comes as a boon for its subscribers. According to an official announcement, the feature is rolling out worldwide, and Netflix won’t be charging anything extra for the download.

    Many of its series and films are available for download, including originals like Stranger Things, Orange Is the New Black, The Crown and House of Cards.

    Though, shows like BBC’s Sherlock series or the Disney’s animated hit Zootopia or Netflix originals like The Little Prince film, etc. aren’t available to watch offline. Netflix said more downloadable titles are on the way.

    Rivals with offline viewing such as YouTube, Amazon Prime and Hungama Play have become more competitive. Hungama Play offers the same feature where viewers can enjoy content on the go and offline which was introduced in August 2016. Apart from its diverse content library, the video-on-demand platform aims to add five original series by March 2017.

    As for Netflix, members need to update their app and look for an arrow symbol next to a title to indicate downloading. Subscribers can also look to a new category on the Netflix app’s side menu called “Available for Download,” which collects all the programs you can watch offline.

    The app update is available for both Apple iOS and Google Android devices.

  • View Netflix offline now, or YouTube & Amazon

    View Netflix offline now, or YouTube & Amazon

    MUMBAI: Netflix fans in India are in a state of euphoria. The subscription-based VOD service will now allow its users to download some of its shows and films, and watch them offline.

    Users can download and keep select television shows and movie for offline viewing. Not every show and movie in its catalogue is included, however. Considering the poor internet connectivity issues in India, this addition by Netflix comes as a boon for its subscribers. According to an official announcement, the feature is rolling out worldwide, and Netflix won’t be charging anything extra for the download.

    Many of its series and films are available for download, including originals like Stranger Things, Orange Is the New Black, The Crown and House of Cards.

    Though, shows like BBC’s Sherlock series or the Disney’s animated hit Zootopia or Netflix originals like The Little Prince film, etc. aren’t available to watch offline. Netflix said more downloadable titles are on the way.

    Rivals with offline viewing such as YouTube, Amazon Prime and Hungama Play have become more competitive. Hungama Play offers the same feature where viewers can enjoy content on the go and offline which was introduced in August 2016. Apart from its diverse content library, the video-on-demand platform aims to add five original series by March 2017.

    As for Netflix, members need to update their app and look for an arrow symbol next to a title to indicate downloading. Subscribers can also look to a new category on the Netflix app’s side menu called “Available for Download,” which collects all the programs you can watch offline.

    The app update is available for both Apple iOS and Google Android devices.