Exclusive: Independent Artist Group has signed writer-producer Owen King, with an eye toward finding him opportunities as a writer in film and television, as well as in the areas of media rights and content creation.
King is perhaps best known for serving as a staff writer and producer on Paramount+’s series adaptation of The Stand, the acclaimed novel from his father Stephen King, which chronicles a battle of Biblical proportions between the survivors of a man-made plague. The nine-episode miniseries from Josh Boone and Benjamin Cavell starred Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden and many more, premiering in December of 2020.
The author of the novels The Curator and Double Feature, Owen teamed with Stephen King on the novel Sleeping Beauties, penning graphic novel Intro to Alien Invasion with Mark Jude Poirier. Most recently, he scripted the short film Let Me Go the Right Way, a psychological thriller about a...
King is perhaps best known for serving as a staff writer and producer on Paramount+’s series adaptation of The Stand, the acclaimed novel from his father Stephen King, which chronicles a battle of Biblical proportions between the survivors of a man-made plague. The nine-episode miniseries from Josh Boone and Benjamin Cavell starred Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden and many more, premiering in December of 2020.
The author of the novels The Curator and Double Feature, Owen teamed with Stephen King on the novel Sleeping Beauties, penning graphic novel Intro to Alien Invasion with Mark Jude Poirier. Most recently, he scripted the short film Let Me Go the Right Way, a psychological thriller about a...
- 2/6/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Starz has axed three existing drama series and one upcoming project.
The network has binned Heels, Run The World and Blindspotting as well as not moving forward with The Venery of Samantha Bird.
Heels, Run The World and Blindspotting all aired two seasons and The Venery of Samantha Bird paused production in May due to the strikes with two episodes left to film.
Heels revolves around the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals (Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig) war over their late father’s legacy. In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel. But in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind.
Alison Luff, Mary McCormack,...
The network has binned Heels, Run The World and Blindspotting as well as not moving forward with The Venery of Samantha Bird.
Heels, Run The World and Blindspotting all aired two seasons and The Venery of Samantha Bird paused production in May due to the strikes with two episodes left to film.
Heels revolves around the men and women who chase their dreams in the world of small-town pro wrestling. Set in a close-knit Georgia community, it follows a family-owned wrestling promotion as two brothers and rivals (Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig) war over their late father’s legacy. In the ring, somebody must play the good guy and somebody must play their nemesis, the heel. But in the real world, those characters can be hard to live up to — or hard to leave behind.
Alison Luff, Mary McCormack,...
- 9/25/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Roundtable Entertainment has announced that they’re teaming up with director Mark Pellington – whose credits include Arlington Road, The Mothman Prophecies, Henry Poole Is Here, The Last Word, The Severing, and Survive, among many other projects – for the adrenaline-fueled human trafficking revenge thriller Mom.
Scripted by Brent Jordan, Mom tells the compelling story of a single mother embarking on a daring cross-country rescue mission, piecing together clues in the search for her teenage daughter who has fallen victim to the horrors of human trafficking.
Casting Director Lisa Zagoria, who assembled the cast for the Best Picture winner Coda, will be handling the casting of this film as well.
Pellington had this to say about the project: “Mom is a fast-moving story of protection and revenge. The film explores the true price of violence and the cost of justice, when an ordinary mom is pushed to an extraordinary place. This is a muscular,...
Scripted by Brent Jordan, Mom tells the compelling story of a single mother embarking on a daring cross-country rescue mission, piecing together clues in the search for her teenage daughter who has fallen victim to the horrors of human trafficking.
Casting Director Lisa Zagoria, who assembled the cast for the Best Picture winner Coda, will be handling the casting of this film as well.
Pellington had this to say about the project: “Mom is a fast-moving story of protection and revenge. The film explores the true price of violence and the cost of justice, when an ordinary mom is pushed to an extraordinary place. This is a muscular,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
At times Bosnia and Herzegovina has looked like it was stuck in a bit of a no-man’s land when it comes to film production, lacking the financial fire-power to press forward, but its TV series business is booming.
The Southeast European country boasts two Oscar nominations – Danis Tanović’s “No Man’s Land,” which nabbed a statuette in 2002, and Jasmila Žbanić’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?,” which was nominated in 2021 – and its filmmakers have enjoyed success on the festival circuit, but it still hasn’t upped its meagre level of production, especially in terms of fiction features, with only one or two majority Bosnian films produced a year.
The problem lies in the “messy and unregulated model of audiovisual support in general,” according to producer-director Jasmin Duraković, whose film “The Glory of Unhappiness” screens in the Bh Film sidebar at Sarajevo Film Festival, which presents the recent crop of films with investment from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Southeast European country boasts two Oscar nominations – Danis Tanović’s “No Man’s Land,” which nabbed a statuette in 2002, and Jasmila Žbanić’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?,” which was nominated in 2021 – and its filmmakers have enjoyed success on the festival circuit, but it still hasn’t upped its meagre level of production, especially in terms of fiction features, with only one or two majority Bosnian films produced a year.
The problem lies in the “messy and unregulated model of audiovisual support in general,” according to producer-director Jasmin Duraković, whose film “The Glory of Unhappiness” screens in the Bh Film sidebar at Sarajevo Film Festival, which presents the recent crop of films with investment from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- 8/11/2023
- by Tara Karajica
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Starz’ The Venery of Samantha Bird has shut down production as a result of the writers strike.
Deadline understands that the drama series has paused filming with two episodes of its eight episode order left to shoot. The series shoots in Montreal.
It comes after Netflix’s Rob Lowe comedy series Unstable and HBO Max’s Hacks were shut down for similar reasons and writers rooms for shows such as Starz’ Power Book III: Raising Kanan, NBC’s Night Court, Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Showtime’s Yellowjackets and ABC’s Abbott Elementary also closed their writing rooms.
The series stars Katherine Langford in the title role and was created by Anna Moriarty.
It follows Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, Samantha Bird reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of this affair.
Deadline understands that the drama series has paused filming with two episodes of its eight episode order left to shoot. The series shoots in Montreal.
It comes after Netflix’s Rob Lowe comedy series Unstable and HBO Max’s Hacks were shut down for similar reasons and writers rooms for shows such as Starz’ Power Book III: Raising Kanan, NBC’s Night Court, Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Showtime’s Yellowjackets and ABC’s Abbott Elementary also closed their writing rooms.
The series stars Katherine Langford in the title role and was created by Anna Moriarty.
It follows Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, Samantha Bird reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of this affair.
- 5/5/2023
- by Peter White and Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
After kicking ass and taking names in movies like Ready or Not, Guns Akimbo, and Mayhem, Samara Weaving is traveling through time to lay the smackdown on the era of high hair, neon windbreakers, and thrash metal! According to Deadline, Weaving will star in Bella, a 1980s-set action thriller from Larysa Kondracki.
Kondracki directs the feature, with Craig Flores producing through Bread & Circuses Entertainment alongside John Wick’s Chad Stahelski through his 87Eleven banner. Jason Spitz and Alex Young executive produce, with Jesse Wigutow writing based on Jason Markarian’s script.
Set during a 1980s crimewave in New York City, Deadline says Bella is a “hyper-stylized action thriller about a cop’s daughter who, after her father clings to life following an assassination attempt, goes on a rampage to unearth her father’s assassin and weed out deep-rooted corruption in the New York City Police Department.”
“Bella cleverly reinvents the...
Kondracki directs the feature, with Craig Flores producing through Bread & Circuses Entertainment alongside John Wick’s Chad Stahelski through his 87Eleven banner. Jason Spitz and Alex Young executive produce, with Jesse Wigutow writing based on Jason Markarian’s script.
Set during a 1980s crimewave in New York City, Deadline says Bella is a “hyper-stylized action thriller about a cop’s daughter who, after her father clings to life following an assassination attempt, goes on a rampage to unearth her father’s assassin and weed out deep-rooted corruption in the New York City Police Department.”
“Bella cleverly reinvents the...
- 3/28/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Fresh off this year’s Scream VI, Deadline reports today that genre heroine Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) will be starring in the upcoming action-thriller Bella for Paramount Pictures.
Larysa Kondracki is directing Samara Weaving in Bella, which is set in the 1980s!
“Jesse Wigutow is writing based on Jason Markarian’s script,” Deadline notes.
“Set against the backdrop of an unprecedented crime wave that gripped New York City in the 80’s, Bella is a hyper-stylized action thriller about a cop’s daughter who, after her father clings to life following an assassination attempt, goes on a rampage to unearth her father’s assassin and weed out deep-rooted corruption in the New York City Police Department.”
Producer Craig Flores tells the site, “Bella cleverly reinvents the female-lead action genre pairing a sexy and unapologetic rock n’ roll edge with the gritty heightened realism of 80’s New York City. Collaborating with...
Larysa Kondracki is directing Samara Weaving in Bella, which is set in the 1980s!
“Jesse Wigutow is writing based on Jason Markarian’s script,” Deadline notes.
“Set against the backdrop of an unprecedented crime wave that gripped New York City in the 80’s, Bella is a hyper-stylized action thriller about a cop’s daughter who, after her father clings to life following an assassination attempt, goes on a rampage to unearth her father’s assassin and weed out deep-rooted corruption in the New York City Police Department.”
Producer Craig Flores tells the site, “Bella cleverly reinvents the female-lead action genre pairing a sexy and unapologetic rock n’ roll edge with the gritty heightened realism of 80’s New York City. Collaborating with...
- 3/28/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Paramount Pictures is developing the action thriller Bella with Scream VI actress Samara Weaving set to star in the Larysa Kondracki-directed title.
Craig Flores is producing via Bread & Circuses Entertainment and Chad Stahleski is producing through his 87eleven Entertainment. Alex Young and Jason Spitz are executive producing via 87eleven.
Jesse Wigutow is writing based on Jason Markarian’s script.
Set against the backdrop of a crime wave that gripped New York City in the ’80s, Bella is a hyperstylized action thriller about a cop’s daughter who, as her father clings to life following an assassination attempt, goes on a rampage to unearth her father’s attacker and weed out deep-rooted corruption in the New York City Police Department.
Flores tells Deadline: “Bella cleverly reinvents the female-led action genre pairing a sexy and unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll edge with the gritty heightened realism of ’80s New York City.
Craig Flores is producing via Bread & Circuses Entertainment and Chad Stahleski is producing through his 87eleven Entertainment. Alex Young and Jason Spitz are executive producing via 87eleven.
Jesse Wigutow is writing based on Jason Markarian’s script.
Set against the backdrop of a crime wave that gripped New York City in the ’80s, Bella is a hyperstylized action thriller about a cop’s daughter who, as her father clings to life following an assassination attempt, goes on a rampage to unearth her father’s attacker and weed out deep-rooted corruption in the New York City Police Department.
Flores tells Deadline: “Bella cleverly reinvents the female-led action genre pairing a sexy and unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll edge with the gritty heightened realism of ’80s New York City.
- 3/28/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Starz’s eight-episode drama series The Venery of Samantha Bird has added Mission: Impossible actor Henry Czerny and Desperate Housewives actor Doug Savant in recurring roles.
Katherine Langford stars as Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart (Finn Jones) and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of this affair. The series is described as a haunting portrayal of addictive love and the repercussions that a relationship has on the families in a small New England town.
Related: 2023 Starz Pilots & Series Orders
Czerny will play Teddy, Samantha’s father and a former artist and teacher. Theodore “Teddy” Bird moves to Little Yorn with his wife, Nan, reuniting with their longtime friends, Al and Carol Minot.
Savant plays Al Minot, a sharp businessman who is deeply invested in maintaining the town of...
Katherine Langford stars as Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart (Finn Jones) and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of this affair. The series is described as a haunting portrayal of addictive love and the repercussions that a relationship has on the families in a small New England town.
Related: 2023 Starz Pilots & Series Orders
Czerny will play Teddy, Samantha’s father and a former artist and teacher. Theodore “Teddy” Bird moves to Little Yorn with his wife, Nan, reuniting with their longtime friends, Al and Carol Minot.
Savant plays Al Minot, a sharp businessman who is deeply invested in maintaining the town of...
- 2/7/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Starz is filling out the cast of its drama series The Venery of Samantha Bird, starring Katherine Langford.
Seven actors — Finn Jones, Francesca Reale, Embeth Davidtz, Brenda Strong, Adam Faison, Shalini Bathina and Tyrone Marshall Brown — have joined 13 Reasons Why star Langford in the psychological thriller created by Anna Moriarty. Starz gave the project an eight-episode order in October.
Additionally, Larysa Kondracki (Better Call Saul, Power Book IV) has signed on to direct four episodes and will be an executive producer. Nicole Jefferson Asher (P-Valley) will be a co-exec producer.
The Venery of Samantha Bird follows the title character (Langford) as she visits family in New England. There she reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of the affair.
Jones (Iron Fist) will play Jake Minot, the aforementioned childhood sweetheart. Fearless and charismatic,...
Seven actors — Finn Jones, Francesca Reale, Embeth Davidtz, Brenda Strong, Adam Faison, Shalini Bathina and Tyrone Marshall Brown — have joined 13 Reasons Why star Langford in the psychological thriller created by Anna Moriarty. Starz gave the project an eight-episode order in October.
Additionally, Larysa Kondracki (Better Call Saul, Power Book IV) has signed on to direct four episodes and will be an executive producer. Nicole Jefferson Asher (P-Valley) will be a co-exec producer.
The Venery of Samantha Bird follows the title character (Langford) as she visits family in New England. There she reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their fever dream lurks a more unsettling interpretation of the affair.
Jones (Iron Fist) will play Jake Minot, the aforementioned childhood sweetheart. Fearless and charismatic,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Starz has rounded out the series regular cast for The Venery of Samantha Bird, its upcoming drama series starring Katherine Langford. Finn Jones (Iron Fist), Embeth Davidtz (The Morning Show), Brenda Strong (13 Reasons Why), Adam Faison (Everything’s Gonna Be Ok), Shalini Bathina (Little Voice) and Tyrone Marshall Brown (Love Is) join Langford in the series created by Anna Moriarty. Additionally, Larysa Kondracki has been added as executive producer and will serve as director on four episodes, including the pilot, and Nicole Jefferson Asher has joined as co-executive producer. Starz also confirmed the casting of Francesca Reale, whom we previously reported.
Related: 2022-23 Starz Pilots & Series Orders
The eight-episode series revolves around Langford’s Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart (Jones) and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their...
Related: 2022-23 Starz Pilots & Series Orders
The eight-episode series revolves around Langford’s Samantha Bird, who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart (Jones) and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But underneath their...
- 1/23/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Starz has added seven more to the cast of its forthcoming drama, “The Venery of Samantha Bird,” including Finn Jones, Francesca Reale, Embeth Davidtz, Brenda Strong, Adam Faison, Tyrone Marshall Brown and Shalini Bathina.
The new batch of series regulars joins previously announced star Katherine Langford, who will portray the show’s titular character.
The eight-episode drama follows Samantha Bird (Langford) who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But the couple’s picture-perfect love story isn’t as sweet as it seems on the surface.
Jones will play Jake Minot, Samantha’s former childhood sweetheart. While it’s been some time since the two has seen each other, they still manage to pick up like no time has passed after they reconnect during her trip.
Reale (“Stranger Things”) will play Ellie Bird, Samantha’s confident, intelligent and pleasantly outspoken youngest sister.
The new batch of series regulars joins previously announced star Katherine Langford, who will portray the show’s titular character.
The eight-episode drama follows Samantha Bird (Langford) who, while visiting family in New England, reconnects with her childhood sweetheart and falls headlong into a seemingly perfect storybook romance. But the couple’s picture-perfect love story isn’t as sweet as it seems on the surface.
Jones will play Jake Minot, Samantha’s former childhood sweetheart. While it’s been some time since the two has seen each other, they still manage to pick up like no time has passed after they reconnect during her trip.
Reale (“Stranger Things”) will play Ellie Bird, Samantha’s confident, intelligent and pleasantly outspoken youngest sister.
- 1/23/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
This article contains spoilers for Better Call Saul through season 6 episode 3.
Better Call Saul is one of the best shows in television history for a myriad of reasons. From the impeccable performances to the brilliant call backs to Breaking Bad, the spinoff has etched its name as one of the most artistic endeavors ever put on the small screen.
Of all the elements that makes the show special, however, the cinematography has got to be at the top of the list. Using a variety of Pov shots, pan-outs to the New Mexico skies, and brilliant uses of lighting, there is nothing quite like the type of filmmaking that is used on Better Call Saul.
With that in mind, let’s discuss the 15 best shots in the show below, most of which are sourced and compiled from the Better Call Saul (In Frames) Twitter account. Tell us if we missed any of your favorites!
Better Call Saul is one of the best shows in television history for a myriad of reasons. From the impeccable performances to the brilliant call backs to Breaking Bad, the spinoff has etched its name as one of the most artistic endeavors ever put on the small screen.
Of all the elements that makes the show special, however, the cinematography has got to be at the top of the list. Using a variety of Pov shots, pan-outs to the New Mexico skies, and brilliant uses of lighting, there is nothing quite like the type of filmmaking that is used on Better Call Saul.
With that in mind, let’s discuss the 15 best shots in the show below, most of which are sourced and compiled from the Better Call Saul (In Frames) Twitter account. Tell us if we missed any of your favorites!
- 5/4/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Advocating for appropriate policy reform to support Australian stories on screen will be among the chief priorities of the new Australian Directors’ Guild (Adg) executive director, Alaric McAusland.
Further, he hopes to support directors of underrepresented backgrounds through diversity and inclusion initiatives, and uphold the Adg’s now almost 40 year tradition of protecting the creative and economic rights of its members and their teams.
McAusland’s appointment was announced by the guild today, as well of that of Ana Tiwary, who will take on the new position of strategy and development executive.
Starting November 16, McAusland succeeds Diana Burnett, who departs to take up a new role as a studio manager at Animal Logic.
McAusland was most recently chief operating officer at Grace – A Storytelling Company in LA, and prior to that Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Anz MD for some nine years. He has also been the general manager of Atlab,...
Further, he hopes to support directors of underrepresented backgrounds through diversity and inclusion initiatives, and uphold the Adg’s now almost 40 year tradition of protecting the creative and economic rights of its members and their teams.
McAusland’s appointment was announced by the guild today, as well of that of Ana Tiwary, who will take on the new position of strategy and development executive.
Starting November 16, McAusland succeeds Diana Burnett, who departs to take up a new role as a studio manager at Animal Logic.
McAusland was most recently chief operating officer at Grace – A Storytelling Company in LA, and prior to that Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Anz MD for some nine years. He has also been the general manager of Atlab,...
- 11/5/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Larysa Kondracki, the director of Picnic at Hanging Rock, has inked a deal to become an executive producer on Amazon’s original horror event series Them: Covenant.
Kondracki, who signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios in 2018, also will direct multiple episodes of the Little Marvin-created show, including the pilot.
Her TV directing credits include Better Call Saul, Legion, The Americans, and The Walking Dead. Kondracki also directed and co-wrote her debut feature film The Whistleblower, starring Rachel Weisz.
Co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television, Them: Covenant‘s other executive producers are Marvin, Lena Waithe, Miri Yoon, Roy Lee and Michael Connolly of Vertigo Entertainment. David Matthews is the executive producer and showrunner.
Set in 1953, the series centers on Henry and Lucky Emory (Deborah Ayorinde and Ashley Thomas) who move their family from North Carolina to a seemingly idyllic all-white neighborhood in Los Angeles. But the tree-lined...
Kondracki, who signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios in 2018, also will direct multiple episodes of the Little Marvin-created show, including the pilot.
Her TV directing credits include Better Call Saul, Legion, The Americans, and The Walking Dead. Kondracki also directed and co-wrote her debut feature film The Whistleblower, starring Rachel Weisz.
Co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television, Them: Covenant‘s other executive producers are Marvin, Lena Waithe, Miri Yoon, Roy Lee and Michael Connolly of Vertigo Entertainment. David Matthews is the executive producer and showrunner.
Set in 1953, the series centers on Henry and Lucky Emory (Deborah Ayorinde and Ashley Thomas) who move their family from North Carolina to a seemingly idyllic all-white neighborhood in Los Angeles. But the tree-lined...
- 11/19/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Vesper talks about collaborating with the Larrain brothers, Michael Haneke, Paolo Sorrentino and Luca Guadagino.
Christian Vesper joined TV producer and distributor Fremantle as executive vice president and creative director, global drama, in 2016 as part of the Rtl-owned company’s ambitious strategy to become more greatly involved with the boom in high-end drama.
Vesper had spent the previous 14 years at Sundance TV where he oversaw prestige international productions including Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake and Hugo Blick’s The Honourable Woman, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based in London and New York and reporting to Sarah Doole, head of global drama,...
Christian Vesper joined TV producer and distributor Fremantle as executive vice president and creative director, global drama, in 2016 as part of the Rtl-owned company’s ambitious strategy to become more greatly involved with the boom in high-end drama.
Vesper had spent the previous 14 years at Sundance TV where he oversaw prestige international productions including Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake and Hugo Blick’s The Honourable Woman, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based in London and New York and reporting to Sarah Doole, head of global drama,...
- 4/6/2019
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
Vesper talks about collaborating with the Larrain brothers, Michael Haneke, Paolo Sorrentino and Luca Guadagino.
Christian Vesper joined TV producer and distributor Fremantle as executive vice president and creative director, global drama, in 2016 as part of the Rtl-owned company’s ambitious strategy to become more greatly involved with the boom in high-end drama.
Vesper had spent the previous 14 years at Sundance TV where he oversaw prestige international productions including Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake and Hugo Blick’s The Honourable Woman, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based in London and New York and reporting to Sarah Doole, head of global drama,...
Christian Vesper joined TV producer and distributor Fremantle as executive vice president and creative director, global drama, in 2016 as part of the Rtl-owned company’s ambitious strategy to become more greatly involved with the boom in high-end drama.
Vesper had spent the previous 14 years at Sundance TV where he oversaw prestige international productions including Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake and Hugo Blick’s The Honourable Woman, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based in London and New York and reporting to Sarah Doole, head of global drama,...
- 4/6/2019
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
Vesper talks about collaborating with the Larrain brothers, Michael Haneke, Paolo Sorrentino and Luca Guadagino.
Christian Vesper joined TV producer and distributor FremantleMedia as executive vice president and creative director, global drama, in 2016 as part of the Rtl-owned company’s ambitious strategy to become more greatly involved with the boom in high-end drama.
Vesper had spent the previous 14 years at Sundance TV where he oversaw prestige international productions including Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake and Hugo Blick’s The Honourable Woman, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based in London and New York and reporting to Sarah Doole, head of global drama,...
Christian Vesper joined TV producer and distributor FremantleMedia as executive vice president and creative director, global drama, in 2016 as part of the Rtl-owned company’s ambitious strategy to become more greatly involved with the boom in high-end drama.
Vesper had spent the previous 14 years at Sundance TV where he oversaw prestige international productions including Jane Campion’s Top Of The Lake and Hugo Blick’s The Honourable Woman, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based in London and New York and reporting to Sarah Doole, head of global drama,...
- 4/6/2019
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
Every streaming platform wants its in-house big names these days, and Amazon is no exception, as seen with Friday’s announcement that it had lured Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy, the creators behind HBO’s “Westworld,” away from Warner Bros. TV.
Per Variety, Nolan and Joy’s new exclusive deal is said to be $150 million over five years; the pair will still be working on “Westworld” for the rest of the show’s run (Season 3 goes into production soon) but will now develop original series for Amazon, including the already-announced series “The Peripheral,” based on William Gibson’s novel.
The scale of the deal is on the level of similar huge pacts that producers like Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes have made with Netflix. But Amazon has, like other platforms, been actively engaged in signing up other creators for exclusive deals, including Neil Gaiman, Reed Morano, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan...
Per Variety, Nolan and Joy’s new exclusive deal is said to be $150 million over five years; the pair will still be working on “Westworld” for the rest of the show’s run (Season 3 goes into production soon) but will now develop original series for Amazon, including the already-announced series “The Peripheral,” based on William Gibson’s novel.
The scale of the deal is on the level of similar huge pacts that producers like Ryan Murphy and Shonda Rhimes have made with Netflix. But Amazon has, like other platforms, been actively engaged in signing up other creators for exclusive deals, including Neil Gaiman, Reed Morano, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan...
- 4/5/2019
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Larysa Kondracki has signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios.
Kondracki recently served as the showrunner on the limited series “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” in addition to directing three episodes of the show.
“Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on ‘Picnic At Hanging Rock,” said Jennifer Salke, president of Amazon Studios. “She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time. By signing her to a first look deal, we have a triple threat player who will enthrall our Prime Video audience with whatever she does next.”
Under her new deal, she will develop and produce original series for Amazon Studios with the option to serve as director for select series. She will produce all of the projects through her Smadginelli Inc. banner.
“I am thrilled to be back in business with Amazon,” said Kondracki. “Jen Salke...
Kondracki recently served as the showrunner on the limited series “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” in addition to directing three episodes of the show.
“Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on ‘Picnic At Hanging Rock,” said Jennifer Salke, president of Amazon Studios. “She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time. By signing her to a first look deal, we have a triple threat player who will enthrall our Prime Video audience with whatever she does next.”
Under her new deal, she will develop and produce original series for Amazon Studios with the option to serve as director for select series. She will produce all of the projects through her Smadginelli Inc. banner.
“I am thrilled to be back in business with Amazon,” said Kondracki. “Jen Salke...
- 7/26/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Coming off her work on the Amazon limited series Picnic at Hanging Rock, multi-hyphenate Larysa Kondracki has signed a first-look television deal with Amazon Studios. Under the pact, the producer, director and writer will develop and produce original series for the studio, with the option to serve as director for select series. Kondracki, who was director-showrunner on Picnic at Hanging Rock, will produce the projects for Prime Video via her Smadginelli banner.
“Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on Picnic At Hanging Rock. She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “By signing her to a first look deal, we have a triple threat player who will enthrall our Prime Video audience with whatever she does next.”
Picnic at Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s classic Australian novel,...
“Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on Picnic At Hanging Rock. She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “By signing her to a first look deal, we have a triple threat player who will enthrall our Prime Video audience with whatever she does next.”
Picnic at Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s classic Australian novel,...
- 7/26/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon is locking down one of its key creatives.
The streaming service has signed a first-look television deal with producer-writer-director Larysa Kondracki, the showrunners behind Amazon's Picnic at Hanging Rock. Under the pact, she will develop new series for Amazon Studios via her Smadginelli Inc. banner, with the option to serve as director for select series.
"Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on Picnic at Hanging Rock. She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time," said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. "By ...
The streaming service has signed a first-look television deal with producer-writer-director Larysa Kondracki, the showrunners behind Amazon's Picnic at Hanging Rock. Under the pact, she will develop new series for Amazon Studios via her Smadginelli Inc. banner, with the option to serve as director for select series.
"Larysa has a unique, particular vision and we were blown away by her take on Picnic at Hanging Rock. She made the story seem modern, timeless and avant-garde all at the same time," said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. "By ...
- 7/26/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Larysa Kondracki, who co-wrote and directed the Rachel Weisz sex-trafficking drama The Whistleblower and is currently showrunner of Amazon’s just-released limited series Picnic At Hanging Rock, has signed with Wme. The director-writer-producer also helmed the pilot of the six-episode series starring Natalie Dormer as well as the next two episodes.
Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s Australian novel from distributor FremantleMedia International, chronicles the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine’s Day 1900. The narrative follows the investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students, families and staff of Appleyard College, and on the nearby township.
On the TV side, Kondracki most recently directed the pilot episode of ABC’s The Fix, on which Marcia Clark is co-writer and executive producer and Robin Tunney stars; the network ordered the pilot to series and it’s eyeing a midseason bow. Kondracki is...
Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay’s Australian novel from distributor FremantleMedia International, chronicles the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and one teacher on Valentine’s Day 1900. The narrative follows the investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students, families and staff of Appleyard College, and on the nearby township.
On the TV side, Kondracki most recently directed the pilot episode of ABC’s The Fix, on which Marcia Clark is co-writer and executive producer and Robin Tunney stars; the network ordered the pilot to series and it’s eyeing a midseason bow. Kondracki is...
- 6/11/2018
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Scream: The TV Series writer Brian Sieve’s horror drama Cul-De-Sac has put in development at NBC from director Larysa Kondracki, Blumhouse Television, and Universal Television. Cul-De-Sac as a possible first installment under the new an event series franchise banner called “Blumhouse Presents” reports Deadline. The series will be written and co-executive produced by Sieve, Kondracki […]
The post “Blumhouse Presents” Brian Sieve’s Mbc Horror-Drama Cul-de-sac appeared first on Dread Central.
The post “Blumhouse Presents” Brian Sieve’s Mbc Horror-Drama Cul-de-sac appeared first on Dread Central.
- 6/2/2018
- by Mike Sprague
- DreadCentral.com
NBC has announced that they're looking to scare up a great opportunity for Blumhouse Presents with their upcoming horror drama Cul-de-sac. The new TV series is currently being orchestrated by writer Brian Sieve (Teen Wolf), director Larysa Kondracki (The Fix), Blumhouse Television and Universal Entertainment. According to Deadline, Sieve will write and co-direct the program which is hoping to join the Blumhouse... Read More...
- 5/31/2018
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
NBC has put in development horror drama Cul-De-Sac from Scream: The TV Series writer Brian Sieve, director Larysa Kondracki (The Fix), Blumhouse Television and Universal Television.
I hear there is a branding idea for an event series franchise under the umbrella “Blumhouse Presents”, with Cul-De-Sac as a possible first installment under the “Blumhouse Presents” banner.
Written and co-executive produced by Sieve, Cul-De-Sac is a serialized drama about three families living in a suburban cul-de-sac who begin to experience terrifying events and come to realize there’s something sinister invading their perfect middle-class dream.
Kondracki executive produces and will direct the potential pilot. Chris Mills and Zack Tann executive produce for Magnet Management.
Sieve was a staff writer on MTV’s Scream: The TV Series and prior to that worked on the network’s Teen Wolf. His film Cadaver is set to be released by Screen Gems later this year. He is repped by Verve,...
I hear there is a branding idea for an event series franchise under the umbrella “Blumhouse Presents”, with Cul-De-Sac as a possible first installment under the “Blumhouse Presents” banner.
Written and co-executive produced by Sieve, Cul-De-Sac is a serialized drama about three families living in a suburban cul-de-sac who begin to experience terrifying events and come to realize there’s something sinister invading their perfect middle-class dream.
Kondracki executive produces and will direct the potential pilot. Chris Mills and Zack Tann executive produce for Magnet Management.
Sieve was a staff writer on MTV’s Scream: The TV Series and prior to that worked on the network’s Teen Wolf. His film Cadaver is set to be released by Screen Gems later this year. He is repped by Verve,...
- 5/31/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
(Spoiler alert: Read at your own risk if you haven’t seen all of Amazon’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock.”)
By the end of the Amazon limited series “Picnic at Hanging Rock” audiences still don’t know what happened to the girls who went missing at the beginning. But showrunner and director Larysa Kondracki hopes her “enchanted chiller” will give fans an “emotionally satisfying conclusion” nonetheless.
If that’s not good enough for you, Kondracki told TheWrap she has her own “cockamamy idea” about what happened to the young ladies at the center of the TV adaptation based on Joan Lindsay’s iconic Australian novel of the same name, which the director describes as “‘Heathers’ meets ‘The Breakfast Club,’ with a little bit of ‘The Shining.'”
Also Read: 'Picnic at Hanging Rock': Natalie Dormer Tells Us Why It Was 'Delicious' to 'Unravel' in Adaptation
Former...
By the end of the Amazon limited series “Picnic at Hanging Rock” audiences still don’t know what happened to the girls who went missing at the beginning. But showrunner and director Larysa Kondracki hopes her “enchanted chiller” will give fans an “emotionally satisfying conclusion” nonetheless.
If that’s not good enough for you, Kondracki told TheWrap she has her own “cockamamy idea” about what happened to the young ladies at the center of the TV adaptation based on Joan Lindsay’s iconic Australian novel of the same name, which the director describes as “‘Heathers’ meets ‘The Breakfast Club,’ with a little bit of ‘The Shining.'”
Also Read: 'Picnic at Hanging Rock': Natalie Dormer Tells Us Why It Was 'Delicious' to 'Unravel' in Adaptation
Former...
- 5/29/2018
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Peter Weir’s 1975 film “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” much like the geologic formation named in its title, casts a very long shadow. Based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay, the movie adaptation tells the story of three young women and a teacher from Appleyard College, who go missing during a Valentine’s Day outing in 1900.
Considered a masterpiece of Australian filmmaking and an achievement in Weir’s early career, the movie created a haunting Victorian aesthetic that is still referenced in films, fashion, and other art forms to this day. Because of this impact, the movie looked as if it would be one of the few classics that would remain untouched by the latest wave of remakes and reboots. Then a group of women came along to change that.
Showrunner and director Larysa Kondracki and star Natalie Dormer spoke to IndieWire about why they dared to...
Considered a masterpiece of Australian filmmaking and an achievement in Weir’s early career, the movie created a haunting Victorian aesthetic that is still referenced in films, fashion, and other art forms to this day. Because of this impact, the movie looked as if it would be one of the few classics that would remain untouched by the latest wave of remakes and reboots. Then a group of women came along to change that.
Showrunner and director Larysa Kondracki and star Natalie Dormer spoke to IndieWire about why they dared to...
- 5/25/2018
- by Hanh Nguyen
- Indiewire
When writer Beatrix Christian and director Larysa Kondracki first set out to adapt Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” there was a sense of “Is it necessary to tell this story again?” In fact, Kondracki says, “the press protested me and were constantly saying, ‘Why do this?'”
After all, the story about four schoolgirls who disappear during a picnic in the 1900s was legendary among the Australian audience, and it had already been turned into a story for the screen by Peter Weir (in 1975) — a project both women say was “perfect on its own.”
But after reading the book again, both felt it was necessary to tell this story again — albeit this time for the smaller screen — because they had a chance to go deeper with characters and bring a quintessential Australian tale into the international world.
“The book is really ahead of its time. It’s kind of got true crime,...
After all, the story about four schoolgirls who disappear during a picnic in the 1900s was legendary among the Australian audience, and it had already been turned into a story for the screen by Peter Weir (in 1975) — a project both women say was “perfect on its own.”
But after reading the book again, both felt it was necessary to tell this story again — albeit this time for the smaller screen — because they had a chance to go deeper with characters and bring a quintessential Australian tale into the international world.
“The book is really ahead of its time. It’s kind of got true crime,...
- 5/24/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
After canceling a swath of outré, female-centered shows to focus on high-budget fantasy epics, Amazon Prime has picked up…another outré, female-centered show. And they’re all the better for it! FremantleMedia’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” miniseries, starring Natalie Dormer, is an awesomely eclectic adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel that sets itself apart from Peter Weir’s classic 1975 film. The series’ greatest strength is its unparalleled ability to sniff out subtext, as directors Larysa Kondracki, Amanda Brotchie, and Michael Rymer twist this low-budget epic into an eye-popping, surreal mystery with complex characters and consummate camp.
- 5/24/2018
- by Lena Wilson
- The Playlist
ABC has released some of the trailers for its new comedies and dramas as part of the 2018-19 series orders. You can watch the first seven below.
The Kids Are Alright — Comedy
Produced by ABC Studios. From writer/executive producer Tim Doyle and director/executive producer Randall Einhorn.
Single Parents — Comedy
Produced by 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. Writer writer/executive producer J.J. Philbin, executive producers Liz Meriwether, Katherine Pope and Jason Winer, who also directs.
The Fix — Drama
Produced by ABC Studios and Mandeville. From writers/executive producers Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain and Marcia Clark and executive producers David Hoberman Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks and director Larysa Kondracki.
Grand Hotel — Drama
Produced by ABC Studios, UnbeliEVAble and Beta. From writer/executive producer Brian Tanen and executive producers Eva Longoria, Ben Spector, Oliver Bachert, Christian Gock, Ramon Campos, Teresa Fernandez-Valdes and director Ken Olin.
A Million Little Things...
The Kids Are Alright — Comedy
Produced by ABC Studios. From writer/executive producer Tim Doyle and director/executive producer Randall Einhorn.
Single Parents — Comedy
Produced by 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. Writer writer/executive producer J.J. Philbin, executive producers Liz Meriwether, Katherine Pope and Jason Winer, who also directs.
The Fix — Drama
Produced by ABC Studios and Mandeville. From writers/executive producers Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain and Marcia Clark and executive producers David Hoberman Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks and director Larysa Kondracki.
Grand Hotel — Drama
Produced by ABC Studios, UnbeliEVAble and Beta. From writer/executive producer Brian Tanen and executive producers Eva Longoria, Ben Spector, Oliver Bachert, Christian Gock, Ramon Campos, Teresa Fernandez-Valdes and director Ken Olin.
A Million Little Things...
- 5/15/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Coming on the heels of a tremendously successful 2017-18 season that boasts the No. 1 show on television (Roseanne), the No. 1 new drama (The Good Doctor) and the No. 1 reality show launch (American Idol), ABC announced its slate of programming for the 2018-19 season on Tuesday
"We enter the new season bolstered by success and the stability that it affords us," said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. "The new shows we unveil today strengthen an already-vibrant schedule of some of the best television has to offer. These shows, with their compelling characters and aspirational storytelling, will keep our momentum going."
ABC's fall prime-time schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific).
Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
10:00 p.m. The Good Doctor
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Roseanne
8:30 p.m. The Kids Are Alright
9:00 p.m. black-ish
9:30 p.m. Splitting Up Together
10:00 p.
"We enter the new season bolstered by success and the stability that it affords us," said Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment. "The new shows we unveil today strengthen an already-vibrant schedule of some of the best television has to offer. These shows, with their compelling characters and aspirational storytelling, will keep our momentum going."
ABC's fall prime-time schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern/Pacific).
Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
10:00 p.m. The Good Doctor
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. Roseanne
8:30 p.m. The Kids Are Alright
9:00 p.m. black-ish
9:30 p.m. Splitting Up Together
10:00 p.
- 5/15/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
ABC unveiled its Fall 2018 schedule on Tuesday ahead of its annual upfront ad sales event. Among the highlights, freshman sitcom “The Kids Are Alright” scored the highly coveted “Roseanne” lead-in. “Single Parents” will follow “Modern Family,” while “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Speechless” have been banished to Fridays.
Additionally, “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors” and the newly retitled “Alec Baldwin Show” will air on Sundays.
First-year dramas “The Rookie” will close Tuesdays and “A Million Little Things” is set to cap off Wednesdays.
Also Read: Fox Upfront: 7 Takeaways From Beacon Theatre Presentation to Advertisers
“American Housewife” and “Child Support” fans will want to note their new time slots.
Interestingly enough, “Goldbergs” spinoff “Schooled” will have to wait until midseason, which means it likely won’t be paired with (at least much of) the original Adam Goldberg sitcom.
“We enter the new season bolstered by success and the stability that it affords us,...
Additionally, “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors” and the newly retitled “Alec Baldwin Show” will air on Sundays.
First-year dramas “The Rookie” will close Tuesdays and “A Million Little Things” is set to cap off Wednesdays.
Also Read: Fox Upfront: 7 Takeaways From Beacon Theatre Presentation to Advertisers
“American Housewife” and “Child Support” fans will want to note their new time slots.
Interestingly enough, “Goldbergs” spinoff “Schooled” will have to wait until midseason, which means it likely won’t be paired with (at least much of) the original Adam Goldberg sitcom.
“We enter the new season bolstered by success and the stability that it affords us,...
- 5/15/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
The tide is finally turning for female helmers vying to break into the male-dominated field of broadcast drama directing.
This pilot season marked a breakthrough with 14 of the 42 broadcast drama pilots going to female directors, reversing an alarming trend –four pilots directed by women in 2015, two in 2016 and just one last year.
Eight of the 14 drama pilots, or 57%, went to series. That includes ABC’s The Fix (Larysa Kondracki and The Rookie (Liz Friedlander), CBS’ Red Line (Victoria Mahoney), Fox’s Proven Innocent (Patricia Riggen), NBC’s New Amsterdam (Kate Dennis), The InBetween (Charlotte Sieling) and The Village (Minkie Spiro), and the CW’s Roswell, New Mexico (Julie Plec). Of the eight helmers, three were first pilot directors, and only one, Friedlander, had previously helmed a broadcast pilot.
Meanwhile, 46% of the drama pilots directed by men this year (13 out of 28) were picked up to series..
Drama pilots traditionally have been one of the toughest directing gigs to land, with the networks and studios imposing very high standards for level of accomplishments required for it. Drama pilots are a risky bet, costing $7 million-$8 million and sometimes as much as $15 million, and networks have been very conservative, handing jobs to either a big feature helmer or a veteran TV pilot director with a proven track record.
The problem with the dearth of broadcast drama pilots directed by women was trifold — there weren’t enough well-established female directors — in features or drama series — who would be getting straight pilot offers; there weren’t that many female episodic drama directors who have enough experience to land open pilot-directing assignments; and there wasn’t strong enough will on the part of the networks to give such helmers assignments.
All of that started to change over the past 1-2 years with Initiatives like NBC’s Female Forward, designed to give female directors the opportunity to get training and helm episodes of NBC series, and Ryan Murphy’s Half, aiming to hire 50% female directors to work on all his television shows, as well as series like Ava DuVernay’s Own drama series Queen Sugar, which employs all female directors, almost all of whom are women of color.
Exemplifying the progress is NBC, which was in the back of the pack last year when none of its 13 drama and comedy pilots was directed by a woman. This year, out of NBC’s 15 pilots, almost half, seven — three dramas and four comedies — were directed by women. What’s more, all three NBC drama pilots directed by women went to series, a 100% success ratio.
There have been a string of milestones for female directors over the past year, including Patty Jenkins setting a new boxoffice record with Wonder Woman and Victoria Mahoney, who just got her Red Line pilot picked up to series by CBS, recently becoming the first African American woman to direct a Star Wars movie when she was tapped as Jj Abrams’ second unit director on Star Wars: Episode IX.
The strong showing for female drama directors this broadcast season is just the next step toward an even playing field.
This pilot season marked a breakthrough with 14 of the 42 broadcast drama pilots going to female directors, reversing an alarming trend –four pilots directed by women in 2015, two in 2016 and just one last year.
Eight of the 14 drama pilots, or 57%, went to series. That includes ABC’s The Fix (Larysa Kondracki and The Rookie (Liz Friedlander), CBS’ Red Line (Victoria Mahoney), Fox’s Proven Innocent (Patricia Riggen), NBC’s New Amsterdam (Kate Dennis), The InBetween (Charlotte Sieling) and The Village (Minkie Spiro), and the CW’s Roswell, New Mexico (Julie Plec). Of the eight helmers, three were first pilot directors, and only one, Friedlander, had previously helmed a broadcast pilot.
Meanwhile, 46% of the drama pilots directed by men this year (13 out of 28) were picked up to series..
Drama pilots traditionally have been one of the toughest directing gigs to land, with the networks and studios imposing very high standards for level of accomplishments required for it. Drama pilots are a risky bet, costing $7 million-$8 million and sometimes as much as $15 million, and networks have been very conservative, handing jobs to either a big feature helmer or a veteran TV pilot director with a proven track record.
The problem with the dearth of broadcast drama pilots directed by women was trifold — there weren’t enough well-established female directors — in features or drama series — who would be getting straight pilot offers; there weren’t that many female episodic drama directors who have enough experience to land open pilot-directing assignments; and there wasn’t strong enough will on the part of the networks to give such helmers assignments.
All of that started to change over the past 1-2 years with Initiatives like NBC’s Female Forward, designed to give female directors the opportunity to get training and helm episodes of NBC series, and Ryan Murphy’s Half, aiming to hire 50% female directors to work on all his television shows, as well as series like Ava DuVernay’s Own drama series Queen Sugar, which employs all female directors, almost all of whom are women of color.
Exemplifying the progress is NBC, which was in the back of the pack last year when none of its 13 drama and comedy pilots was directed by a woman. This year, out of NBC’s 15 pilots, almost half, seven — three dramas and four comedies — were directed by women. What’s more, all three NBC drama pilots directed by women went to series, a 100% success ratio.
There have been a string of milestones for female directors over the past year, including Patty Jenkins setting a new boxoffice record with Wonder Woman and Victoria Mahoney, who just got her Red Line pilot picked up to series by CBS, recently becoming the first African American woman to direct a Star Wars movie when she was tapped as Jj Abrams’ second unit director on Star Wars: Episode IX.
The strong showing for female drama directors this broadcast season is just the next step toward an even playing field.
- 5/13/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
ABC has given a series order to legal drama The Fix, from Marcia Clark, toplined by former Mentalist star Robin Tunney. The series, from ABC Studios, joins previously ordered The Rookie, A Million Little Things and Grand Hotel — all from ABC Studios — and Whiskey Cavalier, from Warner Bros. TV. Here are more details:
Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces a new legal drama about Maya Travis, an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington. Eight years later when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya Travis is lured back to the Da’s office for another chance at justice. This legal thriller is executive produced/co-written by Clark, Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, and is from Mandeville TV and ABC Studios.
Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces a new legal drama about Maya Travis, an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington. Eight years later when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya Travis is lured back to the Da’s office for another chance at justice. This legal thriller is executive produced/co-written by Clark, Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, and is from Mandeville TV and ABC Studios.
- 5/11/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
ABC has ordered dramas “Grand Hotel,” “Whiskey Cavalier,” and “The Fix” to series.
“Grand Hotel” is set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.
Demian Bichir stars as Santiago Mendoza with Roselyn Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz as Alicia Mendoza, Bryan Craig as Javi Mendoza, Wendy Raquel Robinson as Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes as Danny, Shalim Ortiz as Mateo, Anne Winters as Ingrid, Chris Warren as Jason, Feliz Ramirez as Carolina and Justina Adorno as Yoli.
Brian Tanen serves as writer and executive...
“Grand Hotel” is set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.
Demian Bichir stars as Santiago Mendoza with Roselyn Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz as Alicia Mendoza, Bryan Craig as Javi Mendoza, Wendy Raquel Robinson as Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes as Danny, Shalim Ortiz as Mateo, Anne Winters as Ingrid, Chris Warren as Jason, Feliz Ramirez as Carolina and Justina Adorno as Yoli.
Brian Tanen serves as writer and executive...
- 5/11/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s something to be cautiously optimistic about: “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” one of the best, most enigmatic films of the ’70s, is getting a second life as an Amazon miniseries. Larysa Kondracki’s six-episode project is an adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel rather than a remake of Peter Weir’s 1975 movie, but the latter’s legacy will loom large when the new “Picnic” premieres late next month.
Natalie Dormer, who’s starring in the series, doesn’t seem worried. “Who the fuck are these women? This is amazing,'” she recalls thinking to herself when she first read the script.
“There was something in those first few scripts, but the way Larysa spoke of her vision, tonally, it just felt so fresh, so brave [and] courageous in the mashing of genres and strong visual tone that was going to be atmospheric and sophisticated in its nonlinear storytelling,” Dormer continues in her Variety interview.
Natalie Dormer, who’s starring in the series, doesn’t seem worried. “Who the fuck are these women? This is amazing,'” she recalls thinking to herself when she first read the script.
“There was something in those first few scripts, but the way Larysa spoke of her vision, tonally, it just felt so fresh, so brave [and] courageous in the mashing of genres and strong visual tone that was going to be atmospheric and sophisticated in its nonlinear storytelling,” Dormer continues in her Variety interview.
- 4/29/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Natalie Dormer knew “Picnic at Hanging Rock” was the perfect next project for her when she received a personal letter from director Larysa Kondracki.
“It said, ‘I need this woman not to be an archetype. I need her to be three-dimensional, psychological, littered with flaws and fears. And I need the humanity of her so that she’s not just a bitch,’” Dormer tells Variety of the note.
Kondracki also wrote, “nobody would be able to do that like Natalie Dormer.”
It was a “seductive” pitch for Dormer, who then hopped on a video chat to further talk through the vision for the six-episode limited series based on Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel. (The story was previously adapted for the big screen in 1975.)
The plot centers on the mysterious disappearance of four young women from an Australian boarding college and the damage it does to the school, its staff and students,...
“It said, ‘I need this woman not to be an archetype. I need her to be three-dimensional, psychological, littered with flaws and fears. And I need the humanity of her so that she’s not just a bitch,’” Dormer tells Variety of the note.
Kondracki also wrote, “nobody would be able to do that like Natalie Dormer.”
It was a “seductive” pitch for Dormer, who then hopped on a video chat to further talk through the vision for the six-episode limited series based on Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel. (The story was previously adapted for the big screen in 1975.)
The plot centers on the mysterious disappearance of four young women from an Australian boarding college and the damage it does to the school, its staff and students,...
- 4/29/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Joan Lindsay’s much-acclaimed 1967 Australian novel “Picnic At Hanging Rock” has already resulted in one stunning adaptation — Peter Weir’s 1975 film of the same name — so a second attempt, this time a television series, may already feel unnecessary. But it doesn’t take long for writers Beatrix Christian and Alice Addison to make the case for their own 2018 “Picnic,” a darker, more mysterious, and extended version that manages to feel updated for our time while still keeping the original 1900 setting.
In “Picnic At Hanging Rock,” the central mystery is laid out immediately: Four young women — three students and their teacher — suddenly vanish on Valentine’s Day, 1900, while on a school picnic at, well, Hanging Rock. The base premise is familiar to fans of crime series, but this is no ordinary drama; it’s eerie and haunting. It’s less dreamy (a quality frequently ascribed to the film) and more of...
In “Picnic At Hanging Rock,” the central mystery is laid out immediately: Four young women — three students and their teacher — suddenly vanish on Valentine’s Day, 1900, while on a school picnic at, well, Hanging Rock. The base premise is familiar to fans of crime series, but this is no ordinary drama; it’s eerie and haunting. It’s less dreamy (a quality frequently ascribed to the film) and more of...
- 4/29/2018
- by Pilot Viruet
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon is coming for the classics. The streaming outfit is now taking on Peter Weir’s twisted thriller “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” care of a brand-new six-part series. Like Weir’s film, the series is based on Joan Lindsay’s cult novel of the same name, which first spawned Weir’s take back in 1975. This new one doesn’t change the book’s setting — an isolated Australian boarding school in the year 1900 — or its pervasive sense of dread.
Featuring former “Game of Thrones” star Natalie Dormer, along with Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Anna McGahan, Sibylla Budd, Ruby Rees, and Inez Curro, the series looks to have plenty to intrigue fans of creepy cinema, unsolved mysteries, and the strange magic that unspools when a bunch of hormonal young ladies are thrown together. At the secluded Appleyard College (led by Dormer as headmistress), students adore an annual tradition that involves a picnic at the eponymous Hanging Rock.
Featuring former “Game of Thrones” star Natalie Dormer, along with Lola Bessis, Yael Stone, Anna McGahan, Sibylla Budd, Ruby Rees, and Inez Curro, the series looks to have plenty to intrigue fans of creepy cinema, unsolved mysteries, and the strange magic that unspools when a bunch of hormonal young ladies are thrown together. At the secluded Appleyard College (led by Dormer as headmistress), students adore an annual tradition that involves a picnic at the eponymous Hanging Rock.
- 4/11/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The 2018 pilot season is shaping up to be a landmark year for women behind the camera.
Female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board, as networks ramp up efforts to include more women in the pilot process. As Variety previously reported, the Time’s Up and Me Too movements have played important roles this season, with the networks all looking for ways to increase female representation.
According to multiple TV literary agents who spoke with Variety, there was a clear shift within the networks this year to increase the number of women behind the camera, particularly in the director’s chair. One source also noted that the studios exerted “immense pressure” to increase the number of female directors this season.
ABC has 13 female creators on 9 of their 23 pilots this year, up from 9 creators in 2017. Of those, five are comedies, including originals from Liz Meriwether and J.J. Philbin, Diablo Cody,...
Female creators and directors saw gains virtually across the board, as networks ramp up efforts to include more women in the pilot process. As Variety previously reported, the Time’s Up and Me Too movements have played important roles this season, with the networks all looking for ways to increase female representation.
According to multiple TV literary agents who spoke with Variety, there was a clear shift within the networks this year to increase the number of women behind the camera, particularly in the director’s chair. One source also noted that the studios exerted “immense pressure” to increase the number of female directors this season.
ABC has 13 female creators on 9 of their 23 pilots this year, up from 9 creators in 2017. Of those, five are comedies, including originals from Liz Meriwether and J.J. Philbin, Diablo Cody,...
- 3/28/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Ten Days in the Valley) is set for a lead role opposite Robin Tunney and Adam Rayner in ABC drama pilot The Fix. Described as part legal thriller, part confessional and part revenge fantasy, The Fix is written by Marcia Clark, Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain and directed by Larysa Kondracki. After losing the biggest case of her career and being shredded by the media, former prosecutor Maya Travis (Tunney) has left Los Angeles for a quiet life in…...
- 3/15/2018
- Deadline TV
Former The Mentalist star Robin Tunney is returning to television as the lead of ABC drama pilot The Fix. Set as one of the central roles opposite Tunney is another former TV series lead, Tyrant‘s Adam Rayner. Described as part legal thriller, part confessional and part revenge fantasy, The Fix is written by Marcia Clark, Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain and directed by Larysa Kondracki. After losing the biggest case of her career and being shredded by the media, former…...
- 3/12/2018
- Deadline TV
Seven series selected for TV strand.
The Berlin Film Festival (Feb 15-25) has unveiled the seven titles set to be screened in this year’s Berlinale Series programme.
Source: Hulu
The Looming Tower
Opening the festival’s TV strand is Australian series Picnic At Hanging Rock, FremantleMedia’s Natalie Dormer-starring TV adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel, which previously spawned Peter Weir’s Bafta-winning 1975 feature.
The series tells the story of a strict headmistress at a boarding school whose dark past catches up with her after three pupils mysteriously disappear during a school outing.
Also in the selection is Legendary Television and broadcaster Hulu’s The Looming Tower, which is based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer prize-winning book of the same name. Chronicling the lead-up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the series stars Jeff Daniels as counter terrorism expert John O’Neill and is being exec produced by Alex Gibney.
Further series in the...
The Berlin Film Festival (Feb 15-25) has unveiled the seven titles set to be screened in this year’s Berlinale Series programme.
Source: Hulu
The Looming Tower
Opening the festival’s TV strand is Australian series Picnic At Hanging Rock, FremantleMedia’s Natalie Dormer-starring TV adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel, which previously spawned Peter Weir’s Bafta-winning 1975 feature.
The series tells the story of a strict headmistress at a boarding school whose dark past catches up with her after three pupils mysteriously disappear during a school outing.
Also in the selection is Legendary Television and broadcaster Hulu’s The Looming Tower, which is based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer prize-winning book of the same name. Chronicling the lead-up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the series stars Jeff Daniels as counter terrorism expert John O’Neill and is being exec produced by Alex Gibney.
Further series in the...
- 1/18/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
The BBC has picked up FremantleMedia's Natalie Dormer-fronted Australian drama Picnic at Hanging Rock. The deal follows an agreement by Svod service Amazon to pick up the crime thriller in the U.S. It is the latest Australian series to air on the British pubcaster following deals for shows including The Slap and dystopian sci-fi thriller Cleverman. The series, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay's classic 1967 Australian novel, is directed by Larysa Kondracki, the Canadian…...
- 12/6/2017
- Deadline TV
Amazon has acquired Picnic at Hanging Rock, the upcoming six-episode Australian drama series starring Game Of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer, for a 2018 premiere on Amazon Prime Video Us. The series, a re-imagining of Joan Lindsay's classic Australian novel, hails from director Larysa Kondracki and distributor FremantleMedia International. Dormer stars as English headmistress Mrs Hester Appleyard — a woman whose dead husband instructs her daily life and whose peculiarities are…...
- 7/20/2017
- Deadline TV
TV has never been more beautiful, more daring, and more dramatic, and that’s owed to the new level of talent being given a chance to redefine what might be possible within this medium today. Since the dawn of the 21st century, we’ve witnessed an incredible array of directors (some native to TV, some fleeing the fluctuating feature film world) come to episodic storytelling to discover its potential.
Read More: The 25 Best TV Theme Songs of the 21st Century, Ranked
True story: We began this list with a wider range of genres in mind, but the number of shows we wanted to recognize grew so large that we decided to split it into drama and comedy series (we’ll get to comedies down the line). This is also the ritual place where we acknowledge that “The Sopranos,” if it had premiered just a little bit later, would have...
Read More: The 25 Best TV Theme Songs of the 21st Century, Ranked
True story: We began this list with a wider range of genres in mind, but the number of shows we wanted to recognize grew so large that we decided to split it into drama and comedy series (we’ll get to comedies down the line). This is also the ritual place where we acknowledge that “The Sopranos,” if it had premiered just a little bit later, would have...
- 6/20/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller and Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Natalie Dormer..
Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer will play English headmistress Mrs. Hester Appleyard in Foxtel.s upcoming.Picnic at Hanging Rock miniseries..
FremantleMedia.s six-parter begins shooting later this month. Amanda Brotchie (Agony, This is Littleton, Lowdown).will direct alongside the previously announced Michael Rymer and Larysa Kondracki.
Brotchie joins after the Australian Directors' Guild criticised FremantleMedia over the import of Kondracki, a Canadian, to shoot the series.
In late December, following a protest staged by the Adg and Wift Nsw outside FremantleMedia.s Sydney office, the production company announced it would bring on an Aussie female director to shoot one episode.
Joining Dormer as the teachers of Appleyard College are.Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black), French actress Lola Bessis (Cassandra, Swim Little Fish Swim),.Anna McGahan (The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Anzac Girls) and Sibylla Budd (Tomorrow When The War Began, Winners & Losers).
Schoolgirls will be played by Lily Sullivan (Camp,...
Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer will play English headmistress Mrs. Hester Appleyard in Foxtel.s upcoming.Picnic at Hanging Rock miniseries..
FremantleMedia.s six-parter begins shooting later this month. Amanda Brotchie (Agony, This is Littleton, Lowdown).will direct alongside the previously announced Michael Rymer and Larysa Kondracki.
Brotchie joins after the Australian Directors' Guild criticised FremantleMedia over the import of Kondracki, a Canadian, to shoot the series.
In late December, following a protest staged by the Adg and Wift Nsw outside FremantleMedia.s Sydney office, the production company announced it would bring on an Aussie female director to shoot one episode.
Joining Dormer as the teachers of Appleyard College are.Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black), French actress Lola Bessis (Cassandra, Swim Little Fish Swim),.Anna McGahan (The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Anzac Girls) and Sibylla Budd (Tomorrow When The War Began, Winners & Losers).
Schoolgirls will be played by Lily Sullivan (Camp,...
- 2/17/2017
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Peter Weir's 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' (1975). Both Weir's film and the FremantleMedia mini-series are adaptations of Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel..
An Australian female director is set to join FremantleMedia.s Picnic at Hanging Rock, following on from industry criticism over the hire of a foreign director to shoot the series.
The six-part mini, to screen on Foxtel, was originally to be helmed by Canadian director Larysa Kondracki and Aussie Michael Rymer.
However, the Australian Directors' Guild.levelled criticism at FremantleMedia over its import of Kondracki. It opposed her visa, arguing it did not meet the required Net Employment Test and said it understood no female directors working in Australia had been approached for the role..
FremantleMedia announced in late December that a third, local female director would also shoot one episode of the series and receive a sole credit.
.FremantleMedia acknowledges the sensitivity around the selection of...
An Australian female director is set to join FremantleMedia.s Picnic at Hanging Rock, following on from industry criticism over the hire of a foreign director to shoot the series.
The six-part mini, to screen on Foxtel, was originally to be helmed by Canadian director Larysa Kondracki and Aussie Michael Rymer.
However, the Australian Directors' Guild.levelled criticism at FremantleMedia over its import of Kondracki. It opposed her visa, arguing it did not meet the required Net Employment Test and said it understood no female directors working in Australia had been approached for the role..
FremantleMedia announced in late December that a third, local female director would also shoot one episode of the series and receive a sole credit.
.FremantleMedia acknowledges the sensitivity around the selection of...
- 1/5/2017
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Rebecca Clough Jan 13, 2017
Samuel L Jackson, Colin Farrell, Kirk Douglas, Denzel Washington and more, as we explore underrated political thrillers...
Ask someone for their favourite political thrillers and you’re likely to get a list of Oscar-winning classics, from JFK to The Day Of The Jackal, Blow Out to Argo. But what about those electrifying tales that have slipped under the radar, been largely forgotten or just didn’t get the love they deserved? Here are 25 political thrillers which are underappreciated but brilliant.
See related Star Wars: Episode IX lands Jurassic World director 25. The Amateur (1981)
Generally, the first hostage to get shot in a heist movie is considered insignificant; luckily this time the young woman killed by terrorists has a devoted boyfriend who vows to avenge her death. Charles Heller (John Savage) already works for the CIA, so he’s able to use secret information to blackmail his bosses into...
Samuel L Jackson, Colin Farrell, Kirk Douglas, Denzel Washington and more, as we explore underrated political thrillers...
Ask someone for their favourite political thrillers and you’re likely to get a list of Oscar-winning classics, from JFK to The Day Of The Jackal, Blow Out to Argo. But what about those electrifying tales that have slipped under the radar, been largely forgotten or just didn’t get the love they deserved? Here are 25 political thrillers which are underappreciated but brilliant.
See related Star Wars: Episode IX lands Jurassic World director 25. The Amateur (1981)
Generally, the first hostage to get shot in a heist movie is considered insignificant; luckily this time the young woman killed by terrorists has a devoted boyfriend who vows to avenge her death. Charles Heller (John Savage) already works for the CIA, so he’s able to use secret information to blackmail his bosses into...
- 12/22/2016
- Den of Geek
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