Join us in this week’s edition of Entertainment Supply Chain Digest. From the exciting partnership between Netflix and NASCAR, Sony’s astonishing VFX revelation, the triumphant return of Apple TV+’s sci-fi saga, to the greenlit shows lighting up Paramount+, and beyond, we’ll cover it all.
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IP Deals
Hottest IP Stories, Formats, Books, Games, Podcasts to be turned into the next big blockbuster- Singapore’s Momo Film, owned by Beach House Pictures, is collaborating with South Korea’s Bros Studio to transform Kenaz’s mobile-oriented webtoons into international TV series. Among the projects underway are “Mirror Game,” centered around an illusionist’s viral hypnotic feats, and “All About Money.” (🇰🇷)
- VTV3 in Vietnam has commissioned the first international version of the South Korean gameshow “Amazing Saturday.” Produced by ALO Media Joint Stock Company, the show combines music and food, where contestants fill in song lyrics and win food rewards for correct answers. (🇻🇳)
- Fremantle’s game show “Password” is set for adaptations in multiple countries. The show will be adapted by Alpha TV in Greece, TV2 in Hungary, Channel 13 in Israel, TV Azteca in Mexico, and TV JOJ in Slovakia. In this word association game, teams guess passwords using one-word clues from their captains and teammates. (🇭🇺 🇮🇱 🇲🇽 🇸🇰)
- Powder Hound Pictures and the Polish Film Institute to finance and co-produce the World War II film “Enemy of My Enemy,” penned by Matt King. The movie, adapted from Marco Patricelli’s book “Ochotnik,” will be filmed in Poland and Italy. (🇵🇱 🇮🇹 🇺🇸)
- Story Kitchen and Monomi Park to adapt the hit video game franchise ‘Slime Rancher’ into a feature film. The game has sold over 6 million copies worldwide across different platforms. (🇺🇸)
Production Deals
Sneak peak into recently announced production projects worldwide- Netflix and NASCAR to partner on a docuseries that will spotlight the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Produced by Words + Pictures and NASCAR Studios, it will provide exclusive access to drivers, teams, and behind-the-scenes content on race days during the championship race this fall. (🌐)
- Stefan Liberski’s fourth film, “De l’art ou du Machond?”, explores the flaws of the contemporary art world through a satirical comedy. The movie is produced by Artemis Productions, co-produced by Le Bureau, with support from RTBF, Canal+, and Ciné+. (🇧🇪 🇫🇷)
- Galeria Distribuidora starts filming for “Mãe Fora da Caixa’,” a comedy inspired by a play about the changes brought by a baby’s arrival. Co-produced by Galeria Distribuidora, Telefilms, and Morena Filmes.(🇦🇷 🇧🇷)
- Producer Chris Young is working on “The Life Of Reilly,” a film about Scottish footballer Rose Reilly. Written by Lorna Martin, the movie has UK’s Entertainment Film Distribution as a producer. Few more European producers are anticipated to join in. (🇬🇧, Scotland)
- “Just Say Yes” (working title “Sag einfach ja”) is now filming as part of the ZDF Collection”Inga Lindström.” The movie, produced by Bavaria Fiction GmbH, follows wedding dress designer Linda as she returns to her hometown, triggering a journey of self-discovery and uncovering family secrets. (🇩🇪)
Season Renewals
More episodes on the way! Season Renewal Announcements- MTV and Paramount+ have greenlit new seasons for the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, including the 16th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and its aftershow, “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked”. “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” will return for its 9th season, along with the 6th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: Untucked”. (🌎)
- BBC is extending “Waterloo Road” for two more seasons, in addition to S12 being already filmed. Produced by Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North for BBC One and iPlayer, filming for the new 8-episode series begins in Greater Manchester this autumn.(🇬🇧)
- Max has renewed “And Just Like That…” for a 3rd season even before the conclusion of its second season. The renewal has been annouced before the season finale of the “Sex and the City” spin off. (🇺🇸)
- Unscripted producer Big Media has greenlit the second season and a spin-off of “Destruction Decoded,” a popular science series. The upcoming season, co-produced with RMC Production and Wild Bear Australia, will continue to explore perilous global locations and delve into the criminal underworld. (🇺🇸 🇨🇦)
- UKTV has greenlit 46 new episodes of the classic car show “Bangers & Cash” across four seasons, in addition to the upcoming two seasons. The spin-off, “Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics,” will also have 12 more episodes over two seasons, making a total of six seasons. This is the network’s largest single-program order. (🇬🇧)
Distribution Deals
Distributors securing worldwide content across different genres, languages and format types- Small World IFT has acquired international licensing rights for the South African musical game show “Note for Note” (Noot vir Noot). This long-running show challenges contestants to recognize melodies, titles, lyrics, and music-related general knowledge from both local and international scenes.( 🇿🇦 🇺🇸)
- Mubi has secured international rights to Sofia Coppola’s film “Priscilla.” The movie, based on Priscilla Presley and Sandra Harmon’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” will premiere at the Venice Film Festival. (🇬🇧 🇮🇪 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 Latin America 🇹🇷 Latin America 🇧🇪 🇳🇱 North America)
- Greenwich Entertainment obtains U.S. distribution rights for Amjad Al Rasheed’s debut “Inshallah a Boy,” exploring gender roles and property rights. Premiering at Cannes and heading to TIFF. (🇺🇸)
- Icarus Films has acquired North American rights to “Youth (Spring),” a documentary by Venice winner Wang Bing. The film was shot over five years in Zhili, China, focusing on young workers from rural areas near the Yangtze River. It will be screened at the New York Film Festival and TIFF. (North America)
- Sovereign has secured UK and Ireland rights to Radu Jude’s film “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World.” The movie, awarded the special jury prize at Locarno Film Festival, follows an overworked production assistant assigned to create a workplace safety video for a multinational company. (🇬🇷 🇬🇧)
Acquisition Deals
Streamers & channels acquiring latest content across the world- BritBox International has secured the North American rights for the UK thriller ‘The Sixth Commandment’ and the U.S. rights for the Boris Johnson drama ‘This England.’ Both series, based on real events, have garnered attention in the UK. (🇬🇧 🇺🇸 North America)
- PGS Entertainment has secured international deals for “Momonsters,” a CG-animated preschool series. The show’s first and second seasons were acquired by Mediacorp, Myndform, and Canal+ Poland. Swiss broadcaster RSI and LatAm streamer Edye obtained the debut season, while Jeem in the Middle East got Season 2. ( 🇸🇬 🇮🇸 🇵🇱 Latam, Middle East)
- NHK has partnered with Espresso Media International for premium documentaries, agreeing to broadcast five of Espresso’s latest releases. The documentaries include “Woman,” “A Crack in the Mountain,” “Kaepernick & America,” “Zero Gravity,” and “Moscow’s Dirty Gold Rush.” (🇯🇵 🇬🇧)
- Moonbug Entertainment is expanding in South Korea through an extended distribution partnership with broadcaster KT. This includes adding more of Moonbug’s shows to KT’s IPTV service, Genie TV, such as “CoComelon Dance Party”, “CoComelon Animal Time”, “CoComelon Cody Time”, “Oddbods” (season one), “Minibods”, and new episodes of “Little Angel”.(🇰🇷 🇺🇸)
- Irish suspense series “Clean Sweep,” starring Charlene McKenna, will debut on Canada’s Super Channel Fuse as an original series. Produced by Incendo Media in Montreal and ShinAwiL in Ireland, the show offers a unique perspective by portraying the killer as a self-sacrificing mother and wife. (🇨🇦 🇮🇪)”
Partnerships/M&A
Cross-Border Collaborations, Joint Ventures, M&A and Partnerships!- Canadian production-distribution company Blue Ant Media, has acquired “Blown Away” producer MarbleMedia. This unites two major players in Canada’s unscripted scene, merging their operations into a single studio and rights business.(🇨🇦)
- Warner Bros. Discovery and J:COM, Japan’s largest cable TV operator, are deepening their partnership by expanding linear TV channels from two to seven. This extended collaboration enhances entertainment for Japanese audiences. (🇺🇸 🇯🇵)
- Boris FX has acquired SynthEyes from Andersson Technologies, reinforcing its commitment to top-tier plugins and applications for post-production. SynthEyes’ standalone 3D tracking app enables VFX artists to seamlessly integrate CG characters, perform 3D set extensions, and animate using motion-capture. (🇺🇸)
Companies Making Headlines
Launch and Expansions of facilities, studios, services & technologies- Post the sale of eOne, Hasbro has announced a new subsidiary, Hasbro Entertainment, to bring together the company’s film, television, animation, and digital media operations.(🇺🇸)
- Crayola is introducing Crayola Studios, a production division aimed at producing diverse content for children and families. This initiative explores the creative potential of children and integrates color as an essential storytelling element. (🇺🇸)
- VFX AI startup Electric Sheep gets $500,000 funding to automate background removal in TV and film using AI, led by Dasein Capital with support from Spatial Capital and Look AI Ventures. This enhances the process of adding special effects by replacing green screens. (🇬🇧)
- Factual prodco Brown Bob has established a branch called Brown Bob Cymru in Cardiff, Wales. With 30 hours of confirmed projects, it will collaborate with BBC Wales, S4C, and other channels on Welsh stories. (🇬🇧)
- Tech-forward studio WORKPRODUCT, founded by Yates Holley & John Kim, launches in LA, uniting VFX, Animation, Design, and Live Action for global brand campaigns with diverse international talent pool. (🇺🇸)
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Featured New Specializations
Global innovations & breakthroughs in the Entertainment supply-chain- Tech company MuxIP debuts Pod FAST TV, enabling global streaming distribution of podcast content on FAST channel platforms. MuxIP has also partnered with AVC Group, which will use FASTHub for Pod FAST TV to create channels for its roster of content creators.
- Arkona Technologies, provider of live broadcast production solutions expands in China, partnering with offices in Beijing and Guangzhou, strengthening global presence and enhancing local support for APAC customers. (🇩🇪 🇨🇳)
- Vicon, Artanim, and Dreamscape Immersive collaborate on AI-driven markerless motion capture tech, facilitating free-flowing movement without markers.(🇨🇭 🇺🇸)
- AI startup Electric Sheep secures oversubscribed pre-seed funding of $500K. Led by Dasein Capital, supported by Spatial Capital and Look AI Ventures, it plans to automate rotoscoping for film and TV. (🇬🇧)
Localization & Post-Production
Latest updates in the world of content Localization & Post-Production- ElevenLabs launches AI platform for synthetic voices in 30+ languages, making content universally accessible with emotional speech generation.
- Deepdub partners with OOONA for AI dubbing solutions, expanding offerings to global entertainment and media clients through collaboration. (Isreal)
- Nomad London introduces Sound Department at Borough offices, led by Andy Humphreys. Equipped with 7.1 Dolby Sound, suites, vocal booths, Pro Tools MTRX studio for immersive sound production.(🇬🇧)
- AI-Media launches revolutionary AI-Powered LEXI Captioning Tool Kit, redefining automated captioning with advanced AI for global content creators and distributors. (🇦🇺)
- Al Jazeera extends Avid partnership, shifting production to cloud-based service for remote collaboration and production across multiple sites. (🇶🇦)
Animation, VFX & Virtual Production
Latest global updates in Animation, Visual Effects VFX & Virtual Production- VFX Legion intensifies horror in Lionsgate’s ‘Cobweb’ with 225+ shots, including 3D spider, limb replacements, and CG environments.
- Sony reveals real-time VFX at Creators Conference, collaborating with Ghost Corps, Pixomondo, PlayStation Studios, and Epic Games. Innovative proof-of-concept project offers immersive experience beyond traditional CGI. (🇺🇸)
- Virtual production provider 209 Group is utilizing Brompton Technology’s solutions for building virtual production stages for various purposes including production, education and enterprise. (🇺🇸)
- Opsive unveils Omni Animation, an advanced AI technique for lifelike 3D humanoid animations in gaming, film, and architecture. Streamlining workflows and saving hours, it’s a revolutionary leap in animation creation. (🇺🇸)
- Disney’s Lucasfilm/Industrial Light & Magic is shutting down its Singapore VFX and animation facility. This decision is due to industry changes, reflecting challenges related to technology, talent, and profitability in the global media landscape. (🇸🇬)
Fast Channels
World of FAST channels & related market moves- Amagi has teamed up with Brazil’s Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT) and AD Digital to launch and monetize the TV Zyn FAST channel, aimed at teens. Initially available on Samsung TV Plus, the channel will expand to other FAST platforms in the near future. (🇧🇷)”
- UKTV enters FAST market, introducing four channels on Samsung TV Plus and Pluto TV by Paramount Global, marking its debut. (🇬🇧)
- Virgin Media introduces FAST channels through Amagi and 24i partnership, offering 14 channels to V6, TV 360, and Stream STBs using Appstage application framework. (🇬🇧)
- Ubisoft’s film and TV division, in collaboration with OTTera and Animaj, is launching a Rabbids IP channel on FAST platforms in Europe. This channel, distributed by Animaj via Samsung TV Plus, brings Rabbids content to 13 European countries and is powered by OTTera. (🇫🇷)
- A+E Networks EMEA introduces History Play and Crime+Investigation Play FAST channels in Belgium, available through Prime Video Channels. Belgians can now access these channels as on-demand subscriptions for A+E Networks EMEA content. (🇧🇪)
New Global Arrivals
Recent biggest releases across the globe!- Mattel’s Barbie returns to Malibu in new animated series, ‘Barbie: A Touch of Magic,’ premiering on Netflix. (🌐)
- “Invasion” sci-fi series returns for its 2nd Season on Apple TV+. The season portrays Earth’s recovery from an alien attack while the invaders continue their war. (🌐)
- China’s summer box office, defined by Maoyan Entertainment from June to August, has reached a record high, exceeding the previous 2018 record of RMB 17.8 billion well before the current season’s end, with minimal Hollywood influence.
- Netflix gives the K- Drama Fans give new contents to add to their watchlist namely “Mask Girl” (S01), “Destined With You” (S01) which recently released and multiple other shows lined up for Sept 2023. (🌐)
- UKTV introduces comedy gameshow “Battle in The Box” on Dave and UKTV Play, based on a Korean format. Hosted by Jimmy Carr, comics and celebrities compete in box challenges. (🇬🇧)