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Motion Picture Corporation of America , the Brad Krevoy -led producer of shows like Hallmark Channel’s When Calls The Heart , has hired two senior executives and re-upped a third. Jennifer Provencher , a former Netflix exec, has been named SVP of Business Affairs. She will focus on business and legal affairs for MPCA films and series. In addition to her post as Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Netflix, Provencher was previously VP, Business and Legal Affairs for Shine America, now known Endemol Shine North America. Courtney Colman has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. She has been CFO at multiple companies, among them XPRIZE Foundation, Mob Scene and Gold Circle Films and before that was SVP Finance & Business Development at CBS Films and VP Participations at Sony Pictures Entertainment. As CFO of MPCA, she will oversee strategic planning, accounting, finance, budgeting and forecasting, Veteran producer Amy Krell has also re-upped at MPCA … [Read more...] about ‘When Calls The Heart’ Producer Motion Picture Corporation Of America Hires Two Senior Execs, Re-Ups A Third

The BBC has suspended its plan to shutter the BBC Singers choir after a public outcry over the decision. A statement from the BBC revealed it was assessing alternative funding models for the choir after “a number of organisations” came forwards with proposals. “We have agreed with the Musicians’ Union that we will suspend the proposal to close BBC Singers, while we will actively explore these options,” added the BBC. “If viable, these alternative options would secure the future of the ensemble.” The public service network had previously announced plans to close the 100-year-old choir earlier this month as it looks to reduce costs in its classical music division and invest more money smaller groups around the country. The BBC needs to make £400M ($489M) in savings by 2027 due to a two-year freeze in the license fee. Around 20 roles would go if the choir closed in July, as planned. However, more than 140,000 people have signed a petition to stop the axing and BBC … [Read more...] about BBC Reverses Decision To Close Choir After Public Outcry

France has announced a measure banning all recreational apps from the work phones of the country’s 2.5 million civil servants. The move, seemingly sparked by recent concerns over TikTok , also impacts a raft of other social media and content platforms. State broadcaster Radio France is reporting that the ban includes TikTok, Twitter , content platforms such as Netflix, messaging service WhatsApp, and game apps such as Candy Crush. Deadline has contacted France’s Civil Service Ministry for clarification on the extent of the ban. The move comes a day after TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled in a US congressional hearing, amid growing momentum for the platform to be banned in the country. France’s Ministry for Civil Service put out a press release announcing its banning measure on Friday morning. “In recent weeks, a number of our European and international partners have adopted measures restricting or banning the downloading and installation of the TikTok App by … [Read more...] about France Bans TikTok & Other ‘Recreational Apps’ Such as Netflix, Candy Crush & Twitter From State Employee Work Phones

The much-maligned Richard III finally gets the royal treatment in Stephen Frears’ The Lost King as amateur historian Philippa Langley unearths the monarch’s five-century-old remains in a parking lot in Leicester, England, in 2012. Two books and a documentary later, IFC Films presents the feature film version in 750+ theaters. “It took eight years from starting the search to cutting the tarmac. To see it telescoped into a hundred or so minutes made it really powerful for me,” Langley, who’s played in the film by Sally Hawkins, told Deadline. Richard III (1461-1483) is one of Shakespeare’s most malevolent villains, a deformed hunchback usurper and murderer. But historians have contested the portrayal of the last king of the House of York and Plantagenet dynasty, noting history is often (re)written by the victors, in this case the Tudors. A society of “Ricardians” at work for years to rehabilitate the monarch’s image, and other well-wishers, chipped in to fund a costly … [Read more...] about Philippa Langley On Digging Up ‘The Lost King’ Richard III After 500 Years – Specialty Preview

One of the early signs that the Cannes Film Festival is around the corner is the reveals of the poster for the Official Selection as well as those for the main parallel sections of Cannes Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) and Directors’ Fortnight. Cannes Critics’ Week is first out the door this year with a poster celebrating Charlotte Wells ’s award-winning debut feature Aftersun . The drama won the section’s French Touch Prize in 2022 and then enjoyed a buzzy prize-winning run on the international festival circuit. Co-star Paul Mescal went on to be Oscar-nominated for his performance, while Wells won the Bafta for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer. Mescal starred opposite newcomer Frankie Corio as a single father who takes his young daughter on holiday to a Turkish resort in the 1990s. The poster features an image by the production’s stills photographer Sarah Makharine of the characters in an embrace. Wells said she owed a debt … [Read more...] about Cannes Critics’ Week Unveils 2023 Poster Paying Tribute to 2022 Breakout ‘Aftersun’

Third in a series on broadcast network series renewals. It’s been more than a month since the most recent CBS scripted renewals, of NCIS, NCIS: Hawai’i and CSI: Vegas . The three dramas that were left out at the time — Blue Bloods , S.W.A.T . and East New York — remain in limbo, joined on the CBS bubble list by new midseason drama True Lies , which debuted March 1. Business issues have been major factors in the renewal prospects for veterans Blue Bloods , currently in its 13th season, and S.W.A.T. , now in its sixth season, as well freshman East New York , I hear. Amid overall decline of linear ratings, it has become common practice for broadcast networks to ask for financial concessions on long-running series, which naturally become more expensive as they age. RELATED: Fox Renewal Status Report: ‘9-1-1’, ‘Lone Star’, ‘The Resident’, ‘Animal Control’, ‘Call Me Kat,’ ‘Flatch’ & More But things are looking very good for … [Read more...] about CBS Renewal Status Report: ‘Blue Bloods’, ‘S.W.A.T.’, ‘East New York’ & ‘True Lies’

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC and PBS have set their latest landmark science series, an exploration of how modern humans came into being. In Human, which is in the process of crewing up, archaeology, travelog and reconstruction will be used to tell the story of the homo sapiens species that emerged around 300,000 years ago. There are no official records for the vast majority of this human history but the series will look to piece things together, using DNA sequencing and scientific tools, and showcasing fresh discoveries. BBC Studios Science Unit is producing Human, which is the latest factual landmark from the BBC and PBS following a long and fruitful relationship. The pair have combined in recent times on alien doc First Contact , BAFTA-nominated 8 Days: To The Moon and Back and The Planets. BBC Head of Science Tom Coveney said Human will “reveal the dramatic twists and turns of our species’ story, the secrets behind our success, and ultimately what makes us … [Read more...] about BBC & PBS To Explore How Modern Humans Came Into Being In Latest Landmark Science Doc

EXCLUSIVE : The BBC raised concerns about the way the government was going about appointing its new Chairman before the controversial hire of Richard Sharp . Sir David Clementi, the BBC’s former Chairman, wrote to the government in October 2020 to complain about the recruitment process for his successor. The UK government is responsible for appointing the BBC’s Chairman, while ministers also play a role in hiring four other board members. The procedure has become increasingly divisive, with concerns about ministers installing political candidates, leaving the BBC open to the accusation that its non-executive directors are too close to the government. Clementi’s letter to Oliver Dowden, the former Culture Secretary, could fuel suspicions that the government played politics with the BBC’s board amid a wider agenda against the broadcaster. In the letter, disclosed by the BBC under a Freedom of Information request, Clementi raised questions about the Chairman … [Read more...] about BBC Complained To Government About Chairman Appointment Process Ahead Of Richard Sharp Hire

Ben Whishaw and Ambika Mod , the stars of This is Going to Hurt , have scooped the top acting prizes at this year’s Broadcasting Press Guild Awards , while Derry Girls picked up a double. This is Going to Hurt failed to even land a nomination in Best Drama Series, with that gong going to fellow BBC drama Sherwood, but Whishaw and Mod staved off competition from the likes of Anna Maxwell Martin, Leslie Manville and Gary Oldman to take the major prizes. Mod’s win will lead to more raised eyebrows at the BAFTA TV jury’s decision to eschew her from this week’s Best Actress nomination list in favor of the likes of Kate Winslet, Sarah Lancashire and Imelda Staunton. Whishaw picked up a BAFTA nod for Best Actor. Mod’s portrayal of struggling junior doctor Shruti won critics’ hearts, while Whishaw’s lead turn playing Adam has also won out for the Adam Kay-penned adaptation of Kay’s book. Meanwhile at the awards voted on by the UK’s media press, Lisa McGee’s … [Read more...] about ‘This Is Going To Hurt’ Stars Win Big At Broadcasting Press Guild Awards

Britain’s culture secretary Oliver Dowden has denied a report that the government has asked right-wing commentator Charles Moore and former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre to fill two powerful UK media jobs. The Sunday Times reported that Moore has been tapped to be the next chair of the BBC , while Dacre is set to be installed as the new chair of UK media regulator Ofcom . The government is responsible for recruiting for both roles and the Sunday Times said prime minister Boris Johnson wants the pair, both ferocious critics of the BBC, to usher in a “revolution” in UK broadcasting. Senior government insiders told the newspaper that hiring Moore as a replacement for outgoing BBC chair David Clementi is a “done deal,” while Johnson “wooed” Dacre for the Ofcom job over drinks at Downing Street in February. But speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Dowden denied that any decisions have been made prior to the government launching a formal recruitment … [Read more...] about UK Government Denies Offering Powerful Media Jobs To Ferocious BBC Critics Paul Dacre & Charles Moore