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For many, there is an unfathomable bond of love between siblings which spans lifetimes regardless of whatever is thrown at it, and within that enduring connection exists an ineffable energy which filmmaker Giorgio Miraflor poignantly captures in his latest short Me + Lee. The second instalment in the Brooklyn based filmmaker’s genre traversing short film series, Me + Lee is a narrative led slice of life drama inspired by his own fraternal relationship, whilst also being a reflection of his Filipino heritage. Set within a flat brimming with signifiers of the rich relationship which unfolded within its walls, Miraflor effectively uses the location to immerse us in the cloistered life of his protagonist, a reclusive existence which could potential be shifted by an unexpected conversation with his pizza delivery guy. Dn invited Miraflor to join us for a conversation about his desire to show realistic, non-caricature depictions of Filipino lives in his films,...

Gangland warfare and a Romeo and Juliet romance with a twist are the main elements of Sky Studios’ first Italian in-house production ‘Blocco 181,’ which is set against the backdrop of a gritty multi-ethnic Milan that has never appeared on screen before.

The eight-episode show – which launches this week on Sky in the U.K. after making a splash in Italy – is lead-directed by London-based Italian director Giuseppe Capotondi, best known for art-heist thriller “The Burnt Orange Heresy” starring Mick Jagger as a shady art collector.

“It’s a dark fable combining crime, romance, sex, and coming-of-age elements,” said Capotondi who besides directing the series, also co-penned the “Blocco 181” screenplay. Capotondi added that, while rooted in reality, the show’s tone “is closer to a graphic novel than to the type of hyperrealistic series [like Gomorrah] that you can expect from Italy.”

Set on a rundown Milan housing estate known as Blocco 181,...

Blocco 181 launches today, and to mark the release of this exciting, gritty series that delves deep into the criminal underbelly of Milan, we had the pleasure of speaking to some of the talent involved. Below you can find two videos where we chat to the rap giant Salmo, who serves as a producer on this series, and with the two leading stars, Lara Osma and Alessandro Piavani. We discuss the themes of the show, the importance of multiculturalism, and with Salmo, he speaks about the difference in producing music, and producing TV.

Salmo

Laura Osma & Alessandro Piavani 

Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of multicultural Milan with a soundtrack of rap and reggaeton, Blocco 181 tells the story of love and crime. On the outskirts of Milan sits a commanding apartment complex in the fictional block 181, which contains residents Bea (Laura Osmo), Mahdi (Andrea Dodero) and Ludo (Alessandro Piavani).

Blocco 181...

YouTube executive and former Fremantle boss Cécile Frot-Coutaz has been named CEO of Sky Studios, the heavy-hitting production and development arm for Sky.

Frot-Coutaz takes the reins from current chief executive Gary Davey, who launched Sky Studios in 2019. The long-time Sky executive announced his retirement in December, and will be stepping down later this year following a transition period.

Currently head of YouTube in Emea and formerly CEO of super-indie Fremantle, Frot-Coutaz will sit on Sky’s group executive and will begin in the post in September 2021. The executive was at Fremantle for more than 20 years before stepping down in March 2018 for the YouTube role. She began at the Google-owned platform in 2019.

As CEO, Frot-Coutaz oversees the funding, development, production and commissioning teams for scripted Sky Originals, which are a major priority for the Comcast-backed pay-tv operator, which serves 24 million customers across Europe.

Frot-Coutaz will also take charge...

Sky Studios is teaming with popular Italian musician and rapper Salmo to develop “Blocco 181” (working title), an in-house TV production.

Salmo will serve as creative and music producer of “Blocco 181” and will also star in the series, which will mark the Italian rap artist’s first TV project.

The creative hub Red Joint Film, which is led by partners Paolo Vari and David Fischer, is collaborating with Sky Studios to develop the project. The series is being produced in-house at Sky Studios in Italy with Nils Hartmann and his team. Now at script stage, “Blocco 181” is expected to start shooting in 2021.

“Blocco 181” will be set in the multi-ethnic communities on the outskirts of Milan, and will revolve around themes of love, generational conflicts, female emancipation and, above all, power struggles.

“With this series I would like to keep the bar high and go beyond, even while telling life in the suburbs,...

Sky Studios is teaming with multi-platinum Italian rapper, musician and record producer Salmo to develop a TV drama that will spotlight multi-ethnic communities on the outskirts of Milan.

Sky gave little away about the plot of Blocco 181 (working title), but it will revolve around themes of power struggles, love, generational conflicts and female emancipation.

Nicola Maccanico, Evp Programming at Sky Italia, described it as a “collision of storytelling, music and the diverse cultures,” while Salmo said it will touch on themes of “chaos, vitality, power, weaknesses, conflicts, passion.”

The artist will star in Blocco 181, as well as serve as creative and music producer. The series will be made in-house by Sky Studios, with input from Red Joint Film. Nils Hartmann, director of original production at Sky Italia, will lead on the project for the Comcast-owned broadcaster.

Blocco 181 is poised to go into production next year.