NETFLIX STREAMS MUSIC SPECIAL THE PASSION OUTSIDE US
Netflix had secured worldwide distribution rights to The Passion, a live TV musical event narrated by Tyler Perry about the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life, following Fox’s US broadcast Sun. The Passion aired on Fox on 2Oth Mar, 2O16 (Palm Sun), 8 – 10 pm ET live / PT delayed. On 22nd Mar, 2016 the special was available on Netflix internationally with the exception of Netherlands, where the format originated. The special aired in Netherlands on 25th Mar, 2016. Netflix acquired the rights to the special from Dick Clark Productions. Under the deal, it has streaming rights for 13 months for non – US territories. In the States, Fox is offering replays of The Passion to authenticated users of pay – TV partners. The Passion, written by Peter Barsocchini, tells the story of Christ from the “Last Supper” to his “Crucifixion” & “Resurrection”, set in the modern day. The 2 hour special features music sung by the cast and arranged by executive producer Adam Anders and will be shot at 9 locales in New Orleans before an audience of more than 25,000. Gospel singer Yolanda Adams kicked off the show with a special performance. The Passion cast members include Cuban -American singer Jencarlos Canela (Jesus Christ), Chris Daughtry (Judas), Prince Royce (Peter), Seal (Pontius Pilate), Trisha Yearwood (Mary, the mother of Jesus) and Christian singer/song writer Michael W. Smith as one of Jesus’ disciples. The Passion is produced by Dick Clark Productions; original concept creator Eye2Eye Media, whose production of The Passion has been Holland’s highest – rated live musical television event annually since 2011; and Anders Media.
FLAGSHIP ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS 12 CHINA MOVIES
Flagship Entertainment, the joint venture between Warner Bros., China Media Capital & broadcaster TVB, unveiled its first 12 movie projects to be made in China. Titles include: Crater, Chinese Wall Street, a Chinese remake of Miss Congeniality & Mission Milano & $150 million budget actioner MEG. The announcement was made in Hong Kong on Wed with Flagship’s topper Richard Fox, Warner’s Kevin Tsujihara & CMC’s Li Ruigang in attendance. The company was established last year with its legal headquarters in Hong Kong. Its mandate is both local & international. “We want Flagship to make high quality Hong Kong & Chinese films of every genre, for audiences around the world,” said Tsujihara, on Wed. “Flagship’s structure will be open to young film makers.” Also in attendance at the launch event were: film maker Andrew Lau; Dede Nickerson, the former Sony & Warner Bros. executive who now heads CMC’s in – house production operation Infinity Pictures; Christopher Bremble, CEO of Beijing based visual effects & production company BaseFX; producer Terence Chang; director Wong Jing; Media Asia owner Peter Lam; director/producer Wong Pak -Ming; producer Paco Wong; actor – director Stephen Fung; superstar actor -singer Andy Lau & Emperor group chairman Albert Yeung.
LINSEY NAMED AS THE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION DIVISION
The UK public broadcaster BBC has named Mark Linsey as the director of its in -house production division, BBC Studios. Linsey has been acting director of BBC Television since Oct, 2015 and spent more than 2 decades working in TV production before joining BBC, including roles at Central, LWT, Hat Trick Productions & Tiger Aspect. He was appointed as the BBC’s controller, entertainment commissioning in 2009 and was responsible for programs including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Road Show The Apprentice, Strictly Come Dancing & Graham Norton’s chat show on BBC One. In 2013, he also took on the role of deputy director of television. Tony Hall, BBC Director – General, said: “Mark Linsey is an exceptional program maker & a 1st class leader who makes things happen and gets the very best out of those who work around him. That combination is vital if BBC is to continue with the phenomenal run of critical & audience success, we are seeing with our program making. We are on a high and Mark is the right person to build on that success. He’s a real talent and the perfect choice for this role.”
WOLF HALL LEADS NOMINATIONS RACE FOR BAFTA TV AWARDS
Wolf Hall leads the race for the British Academy of Film & Television Arts’ Television Craft Awards, which honors the best behind – the – scenes talent working in UK television. The historical drama, in Mark Rylance plays the ambitious Thomas Cromwell during the reign of English King Henry VIII, leads the way with 6 nominations. It is nominated in the costume design, editing (fiction), make – up & hair design, photography & lighting (fiction), sound (fiction), & writer (drama) categories. It is followed closely, with 4 nominations, by Fortitude, the Arctic – set psychological thriller, magical fantasy Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell & espionage drama London Spy. The Sound of Music Live!, adapted from the musical theater production and filmed live in a studio, received 3 nominations, as does This is England ’90, the final chapter in Shane Meadows’ spin – off from his 2006 film of the same name.
GLOBAL ADVERTISING SPEND TO RISE 4.6% to $579 BILLION IN 2016
Global advertising expenditure is on course to grow 4.6% to $579 billion this year, up from 3.9% growth last year, media research agency Zenith Optimedia reported Mon. Its optimism is driven by the prospect of 3 special events this year, rapid recovery from the markets most affected by the eurozone crisis, and the emergence of fast – growing markets that are opening up to international advertising. “Rapid growth from countries that are relatively new to the international advertising market, combined with a resurgence of established markets that were damaged by the financial crisis, will keep the global ad market on track for healthy growth for at least the next few years,” said Jonathan Barnard, head of forecasting at ZenithOptimedia. Special events boosting ad expenditure this year include US residential election, the Summer Olympics & UEFA soccer championship in Europe.
3 MOVIES AMONGST WINNERS AT EMPIRE AWARDS
The Revenant won “Best Film” at Empire Awards in London, but it was Star Wars: The Force Awakens that ruled overall, taking 5 prizes, including “Best director” for J. J. Abrams, “Best Visual Effects, “Best Sci – Fi / Fantasy” & “Best Male” & “Best Female” newcomer for stars John Boyega & Daisy Ridley, who were both present to accept their trophies. Mad Max: Fury Road was close behind with 4 awards, including “Best Soundtrack”, “Best Costume Design”, “Best Make – up & Hairstyling” & “Best Production Design. Amongst the stars honoured at the ceremony were Matt Damon, who was in attendance to receive the “Best Actor” award for his performance in The Martian. Director Paul Greengrass, who has recently reunited with Damon on the upcoming Jason Bourne, presented the award to him on stage. Alicia Vikander was crowned “Best Actress” for The Danish Girl. Spectre won “Best British Film” & “Best Thriller” with the awards collected by director Sam Mendes. 3 honorary awards were bestowed by Empire: British actor -director Paddy Considine was presented with the Empire Inspiration award by long time collaborator & friend Shane Meadows & actor Stanley Tucci was named Empire Hero. Miranda Richardson, currently filming Churchill with Tucci, presented him with the award in recognition of his recent performances in high – profile films including the “Hunger Games” series & Spotlight. The late Alan Rickman was posthumously named this year’s Empire Legend by editor – in – chief of Empire Terri White and news editor Chris Hewitt, who commented on stage: “This is a heartfelt tribute from the Empire staff to an actor who touched us all with his extraordinary career.” Inside Out won for “Best Animation”, Amy for “Best Documentary” & The Big Short for “Best Screenplay”. “Best Horror Film” went to The Hallow & “Best Comedy Film” was awarded to Spy. The award for TV series, presented this year for the 1st time ever, went to This Is England ’90. Series director & co – writer Shane Meadows collected the award, alongside cast members Thomas Turgoose, Jo Hartley & Chanel Cresswell.
MOVIE THEATER OWNERS CLAIM SCREENING ROOM POSES MASSIVE RISK
The UK Cinema Association, which represents British movie theater owners, said Fri Screening room represents “a massive risk” to the industry. In a statement, the association said: “The Screening Room represents a massive risk to the future prosperity not only of this association’s members and their counterparts in other territories, but also of colleagues across the wider film industry.” The organization, which represents 90% of UK cinema operators, added: “It is difficult to envisage how this proposal, if adopted, could do anything other than present an unprecedented opportunity for film piracy while at the same time damaging the foundations of a cinema business which remains the key driver of revenue for the entire business.” The statement continued: “The cinema experience represents not only over 40% of total film revenues, but also generates ‘word of mouth’ marketing which benefits every other subsequent platform. This proposal would therefore inevitably lead to a loss in the overall income for the film industry. Screening Room, the brainchild of entrepreneurs Sean Parker & Prem Akkaraju, offers movies for $50 at the same time as they open in theaters.
WALDAU – ORTON – GLAU TO ATTEND COMIC CON
Game Of Thrones Kingslayer Nikolaj Coster -Waldau, WWE superstar Randy Orton & cult sci – fi actress Summer Glau are amongst the new names added to a high – profile rooster of guests recruited to attend the 5th Middle East Film & Comic Con to be held in Dubai from 7th Apr, 2016 to 9th Apr, 2016. They join previously announced Dead Pool co – creator Fabian Nicieza, veteran sci – fi & fantasy pics star Christopher Lloyd & Stan Lee, who created pretty much every major superhero in the Marvel Universe. Lee will appear in a live link – up from LA. Also making the trek to the growing event billed as the leading pop culture festival in the Middle East is prolific screen writer Max Landis who penned the script for hot upcoming Will Smith pic Bright. And American comic book writer & artist Whilce Portico, known for titles such as The Punisher, Uncanny X – Men, Iron Man, Wetworks” & Spawn. Landis who is a Dubai Comic Con aficionado, is also the author of DC Comics 7 episode comic book series Superman: American Alien, about how Clark Kent became the archetypal super hero known as Superman.
CATCHPLAY LAUNCHES ASIAN MOVIE STREAMING SERVICE
Taiwan based film distributor & producer,
Catchplay is launching a video streaming service that it hopes will take on rival platforms in Asia and reverse piracy. Its Catchplay On Demand service launches initially in Taiwan, with Singapore & Indonesia set to follow in the 2nd quarter of the year. The company, which through a deal with New Regency, is one of the financiers of The Revenant, says the new service has a mix of content that has more new releases than rival platforms and delivers them quicker. It will be available in transactional video on demand & subscription VoD modes. “In recent years, Catchplay has quietly & purposefully expanded its business from theatrical distribution to film financing & production, aggregating digital content for many leading digital platforms and the operation of our own movie channel,” said Harvey Chang, Catchplay chairman in a statement.
DISCOVERY & NOS INK OLYMPIC GAMES DEAL
Dutch broadcaster NOS has secured TV & multiplatform broadcast rights to 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games from Discovery Communications. The pact will allow NOS to sub – licence the rights from Discovery, which owns Eurosport and holds exclusive multimedia rights to Olympic Games for 50 countries & territories in Europe through 2024. As such, NOS viewers will gain access to both 2018 Pyeong Chang & 2020 Tokyo Games across multiple platforms. Eurosport, meanwhile, retains exclusive live rights to 2018 & 2020 Olympic Games, including ice hockey for 2018 Pyeong Chang Olympic Winter Games. NOS will be able to broadcast the highlights. Through this agreement with NOS,Discovery aims to expand viewership for Olympic Games across an unprecedented number of screens & digital products in Europe.
BERLUSCONI CONFIRMS TALKS BETWEEN MEDIASET & VIVENDI
Silvio Berlusconi on Mon confirmed that talks are under way between his Mediaset group & French media giant Vivendi to forge an alliance in content creation but denied more far – ranging discussions, downplaying speculation in Italian press about a possible outright purchase by Vivendi of his entire TV empire. “Vivendi is very interested in Italy,” Berlusconi told Italian radio RTL 102.5. “I’ve been friends with Bollore for years, and he has shown interest in some of the things we do, absolutely not an interest in acquiring Mediaset, but in our ability to make products for TV, in varied formats. Vivendi has a vision for the future of Europe, and it is possible we shall find means to collaborate,” the former Italian prime minister went on to say. Vivendi chairman Vincent Bollore is clearly eying Italy as a key plank of his expansion plan. He recently raised Vivendi’s stake in Italian telco Telecom Italia to 24.9%, forcing its Italian CEO Marco Patuano to resign on Mon.
TF1 AQCUIRES LICENSING RIGHTS TO THE SMURFS
French commercial network group TF1 has acquired licensing rights to The Smurfs brand for France and is prepping varied events such as a musical show and an exhibit. The deal was inked between TF1 Licences & Véronique Culliford’s IMPS. Both companies have worked before. TF1 Video has been a partner of IMPS for the last 10 years. Besides TF1 Video, The Smurfs has so far attracted about 700 partners, including Le Lombard, Dupuis, Hachette, De Agostini – Altaya, Panini, PEZ, Chupa Chups, Ferrero, Haribo, McDonald’s, Delacre, Oreo, H & M, Zara, Benetton, Women’s Secret, MegaBrands, Ubisoft, Capcom & Tesco. “We are happy & proud to collaborate with TF1 Licences, an experimented & audacious agent with a large experience in exploiting classic brands. We’ll be able to create synergies with the brands within the different divisions of the group, said Culliford, the daughter of The Smurfs creator Pierre Culliford aka Peyo.
KERING & CANNES FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCH 2ND PROGRAM
François – Henri Pinault’s Kering, one of world’s most powerful luxury companies, is partnering up again with Cannes Film Festival to roll out 2nd edition of their Women in Motion program. Women in Motion has been developed jointly by Kering & Cannes to highlight women’s achievements in film and encourage more diversity within the industry. The program will keep the same format, featuring a series of recorded talks with high – profile talent & executives. As part of the Women in Motion initiative, 2 awards will be handed out during a gala dinner hosted during the festival on 15th May, 2016, with Cannes’ artistic director Thierry Fremaux & president Pierre Lescure in attendance, along with jury members and other high – profile guests. Last year’s Women in Motion honorees were Jane Fonda & Megan Ellison. The idea behind the awards is to celebrate a talent or industry player who has either served as a role model to other women and / or whose career choices have allowed women to shine whether in front or behind the camera. A 2nd award will be given to an up & coming talent, director or producer. The 69th Cannes Film Festival will take place from 11th May, 2016 to 22nd May, 2016.
