International Insider: London Calling – KristenBellTattoos.com

Roll up, roll up, inside. The KristenBellTattoos.com International team is once again traveling the globe to bring you the latest news and analysis from the global film and TV biz, with both Mel and Zach based in the Middle East. Max and I actually found the TV world descending on London for once, so we didn’t have to go far for access. Read on

London Calling

Tighten these straps.: Straight to Max Goldbart with this report. As news of mass layoffs at a legacy of US media companies emerged this week, the most senior executives in the business faced tough questions about economic headwinds at a Content London event in the UK capital. fell According to Showtime Entertainment President Jana Winograd, who teased her Paramount-owned network’s approach to the global economic crisis: “Belt-tightening is coming” to fund low-budget shows but keep the tentacles. “Finding Creative Ways”. Warner Bros. TV Studios boss Channing Dungey agreed, saying people are “looking more at production costs,” who spent time “trapped in a cost bubble” that ended with the Covid-19 pandemic. Universal Studios Group chairman Perlena Egbokwe was less concerned, however, stating that “we haven’t seen the impact of the crisis yet” and stressing that big shows don’t necessarily cost $20M an hour. Igbokwe was due to unveil two deals for UK talent this week, as Dominic Buchanan and Bennett McGhee’s Universal ties with the home team and Cooking with the stars Producer South Coast. And she wasn’t the only one who had a slightly sunnier view of the gloom: Fifth Season co-CEO Chris Rice said the crash in media stocks meant more globally minded companies looking to program and film creatives. Likes perspective, they have a great opportunity to create new ones. Co-productions We constantly hear that international is the long-term future for entertainment, but it may also be the short-term answer.

Harry and Meghan spread the royal bans.

It will not be disputed: Is there any celebrity topic that divides opinion more than Prince Harry’s wedding? Suit Actress Meghan Markle? Almost certainly not. So, it’s unlikely that people will be talking about the couple’s Netflix doc series charting their relationship and their decision to step back from royal life in favor of creating California lifestyle podcasts and TV shows. will care about This week, we got a first look Harry and Meghanfrom the streaming document What happened, Miss Simone? Director Liz Garbus. Those who say Harry and Meghan are attention-seekers won’t be satisfied with the teaser trailer’s opening line, in which the Duke of Suss*x says: “I had to do everything I could to protect my family,” but it It is their chance to tell. More of their personal story and maybe change some minds. In theory, it won’t be long before the series ends, but Netflix is ​​only “coming soon.” Our Baz Bamig Boy had noted a November 9 launch date for the completion of Season 5.the crown At one point it was planned but controversy surrounding the latest run of the play meant it was pushed ahead. This was all unofficial, of course, as the project is kept secret. Click here to watch the trailer.

Change of the Red Sea

Stones in Saudi: Melgoodfellow is in Saudi Arabia and filed this report. It’s that time of year when the Middle Eastern festival circuit bursts into life. After Morocco, Egypt Cairo and Carthage, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival kicked off its second edition in the port city of Jeddah on Thursday. Running December 1-10, it coincides with the fifth anniversary of news breaking that the country is lifting a 35-year ban on movie theaters as part of broader reforms to open up the country’s economy and society. Attendance at the festival remains a hot topic in international film professional circles amid concerns over the country’s human rights track record. However, with the roster of high-profile guests touching down this week – including Sharon Stone, Spike Lee, Jackie Chan and Shah Rukh Khan – the mood around the festival appears to be melting. Jury president Oliver Stone declared at the opening ceremony that the country had been “misunderstood”, and that the critics needed to meet in person.

Too big to ignore? Apart from the stars, international industry executives are also making the trip. Ron Halpern and Lucas Webb of Working Title were in the audience for the opening film. What does love have to do with it?, on which he is an executive producer, while Elysian Film Group’s Danny Perkins, Wild Bunch International’s Vincent Marvel and Vine Alternative Investment Partner and COO Steve Kovacs are among the speakers lined up for the program of industry panels. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia’s potential is becoming too great to ignore. “Let’s not forget the market opportunities in Saudi Arabia right now. It is the largest market in the region for both production and consumption,” Red Sea Foundation CEO Jumna Al-Rashid told KristenBellTattoos.com at the launch of the fair. “The Red Sea is a great entry point and introduction to what’s happening across the region.” Full Red Sea coverage can be found here, including Diana chilling with Bollywood star Rukh Khan.

Screen Scotland saves Edinburgh… maybe

Define: The Edinburgh Film Festival broke up in October, along with the Scottish capital’s Filmhouse Cinema and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen, after the charity sued organizers. Things looked bleak for the much-loved festival but things may be looking up. National funding body Screen Scotland has acquired the festival rights and brand assets from FRP Advisory. However, no announcement was made immediately for the 2023 festival and instead Christie Matheson, who led the Edinburgh Film Festival as creative director this year, was tasked with assessing the possibility of an event next year. has been assigned. Funding for the work will come from a pot that was initially awarded to the festival’s previous owner, the Center for the Moving Image. The Edinburgh Film Festival holds the record as the world’s oldest continuously running film festival, so not only will Screen Scotland be securing a fantastic event in a beautiful city, they will also ensure that The event’s Wikipedia page will not need to be edited. That fact. There was more to Zack.

Shanghai Disneyland opens – then closes – doors

crack down: China remains committed to its hard-line ‘Zero Covid’ approach to the global pandemic, despite recent protests aimed at softening the stance. Shanghai Disneyland closed its doors at the end of October but reopened a week ago. However, the doors were closed again by Tuesday as the government cracked down on the surge in cases. The park has been closed several times since the pandemic began in March 2020, but the latest closure will be a huge disappointment for Disney, which still has to rebuild under returning CEO Bob Iger. has been, and something tells me Disney’s troubles in China don’t end there. Tom Tapp had more.

Essentials

hot one: Cynthia Ario and Renee Zellweger are teaming up for an Apple TV+ thriller series Raising the wildscoops per max.

another one: MGM is shopping the Jessica Lange and Ed Harris flick. A long day’s journey into night. Andreas on it.

Some more spice: Johnny Depp movie Chocolate Anger in the treatment of TV series.

stake: BBC Studios invested. A small axK Turbine Studios.

first sight: Maxine Peck as the late Russian journalist Anna Poltkovskaya ego. Andreas with him.

Trailer: Drops a teaser for Netflix. Harry and Meghan. It won’t be controversial…

Slate: Prime Video France unveiled a slate of movies and TV — and a union deal for good measure.