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EXCLUSIVE : Saladin Ahmed ( Miles Morales: Spider-Man ) has partnered with filmmakers Shaka King ( Judas and the Black Messiah ) and Travon Free ( Two Distant Strangers ) to create Drac: Son of Dante —a new, 15-part webcomic series for Tapas Media and Endeavor Content , which is now free to read exclusively via the former company’s website and mobile app. The series’ first two episodes have already launched, with more to come weekly on Fridays. Drac is said to introduce a new and contemporary mythology around the origins of the iconic goth villain Dracula that will resonate with multicultural and youth audiences alike. The narrative follows Dante, an eerie, flute-playing immortal who finds himself drawn to the human condition against the natural order and better judgment of his species. Dante follows this obsession no matter how much trouble it gets him into — but a conflict for the ages erupts when his monstrous son Drac chooses a human bride. … [Read more...] about Saladin Ahmed, Shaka King & Travon Free Team On Webcomic ‘Drac: Son of Dante’ For Tapas, Endeavor Content

Penny Lane is to direct Mrs. America, exploring the changing role of American womanhood through the Mrs. America Beauty Pageant’s half-century history. Anonymous Content , Fremantle and Spinning Nancy are behind the premium doc, which will move through the history of an event started by husband-and-wife team David and Elaine Marmel that focused on celebrating the role of married women in society. The doc is one of the first to be produced by Fremeantle’s Global Head of Documentaries Mandy Chang, who used to run BBC Storyville. Other producers are Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, Gabriel Sedgwick, Amanda Branson-Gill, Whitney Sudler-Smith, Dawn Olmstead and David Levine. Lane, who has been behind the likes of Hail Satan? and Listening to Kenny G, is a celebrated director known for her humor and unconventional approach. She described the show as an “incredible opportunity to learn and think deeply about womanhood, marriage and American values.” “I cannot … [Read more...] about Penny Lane To Direct ‘Mrs. America’ From Fremantle, Anonymous Content & Spinning Nancy

Tehmina Jaffer , most recently president of Business Affairs and Operations at Anonymous Content, has joined Disney Branded Television as EVP Business Affairs. Jaffer succeeds Adina Savin, who has exited after leading the business affairs division for nearly 23 years. The move comes as Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Entertainment continues to solidify her senior executive team. In her new role, Jaffer will lead all aspects of business affairs, negotiations and contract administration for Disney Television Animation and Disney Branded Television live-action content created for Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior. Based in Burbank, CA, Jaffer will report to Davis. During her time at Anonymous Content, Jaffer oversaw all business operations for the company, including Human Resources, Facilities and IT, in addition to Business Affairs. Her move also marks a return to Disney for Jaffer. Prior to Anonymous, Jaffer was senior vice president of Business … [Read more...] about Anonymous Content’s Tehmina Jaffer Joins Disney Branded Television As EVP Business Affairs

EXCLUSIVE : Game1 , the sports content studio set up by Basil Iwanyk and Greg Economou, has hired former 101 Studios and STX Entertainment exec Ben Bitonti as Chief Creative Officer and Head of Unscripted Programming. Bitonti, who has executive produced series such as HBO Max’s FBoy Island , will oversee development and packaging of the studio’s unscripted projects. He joins from Yellowstone producer 101 Studios, where he was EVP Non-Fiction Television and Alternate Programming and launched the David Glasser-run company’s unscripted division. Prior to that, he was SVP Development at STX Entertainment and worked at companies including Asylum, Entertainment One and NBCUniversal. He has worked both in documentary as well as entertainment formats. In addition to development and production, he has experience in distribution sales and third-party financing of unscripted projects. “Adding a supremely talented executive like Ben to the game1 team will truly help … [Read more...] about Sports Content Studio Game1 Hires Former 101 & STX Exec Ben Bitonti To Oversee Unscripted Programming

The existing system for training showrunners can’t keep up with the demand, and John Wells has stepped in to help. The seasoned showrunner of shows such as ER, The West Wing and Shameless and former two-time WGA West president has launched The Showrunner’s Corner , a section of his company John Wells Productions’ website dedicated to giving up-and-coming writers the basics they need to successfully make the transition to showrunners. Complete with a glossary of industry terms like DOOD or EFC, The Showrunner’s Corner includes an Adventures In Showrunning by John Wells section, in which he shares his experience and gives practical advice on how to handle Scheduling & Deadlines, Communication, Delegation and Leadership. There is also a How We Make TV portion, where members of Wells’ team provide tutorials on subjects like Showrunner Prep and Production, How to Read a Call Sheet, Writer’s Assistant’s Guide as well as A Showrunners Guide to Business Affairs, which will be … [Read more...] about John Wells Launches Online Guide To Help Train Next-Gen Showrunners Amid TV Content Boom

Japan’s multiplatform entertainment powerhouse Nippon TV has promoted Akira Ishizawa to President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Yoshikuni Sugiyama who will take on the new role of Chairman. Additionally, Nippon has established a new content strategy division that aims to accelerate large-scale co-development and co-production projects with streamers, broadcasters and producers around the world. The goal is to build new strategic creative collaborations with international partners to create original content for viewers globally. “As the newly appointed President, it is my goal to strengthen the overall vision of the company to produce and deliver content for global viewers.” Nippon TV is Japan’s leading multiplatform entertainment company and broadcaster, as well as owner of Hulu in Japan. One of its biggest successes is the Emmy Award-winning Dragons’ Den/Shark Tank , which has 45 versions in more than 186 countries. Its drama series Mother is the most … [Read more...] about Nippon TV Names Akira Ishizawa President & CEO, Sets New Content Strategy Division

After two years on hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, VidCon — the annual convention for fans, creators, and online platform industry types — returned to the Anaheim Convention Center last week. But it looked a little different than usual. For starters, the ear-piercing shrieks of fans lining up to meet their favorite creators were just a little quieter. With 50,000 attendees as opposed to 2019’s 75,000, the convention was somewhat smaller than it previously had been. Further, unlike VidCons of years past, some attendees were wearing masks, albeit an infinitesimally small number among the hordes of preteens angling for photo ops with their favorite creators (days later, several attendees of VidCon, which required proof of vaccination or a recent Covid test for entry, began reporting on social media that they had tested positive for COVID after the event). Perhaps most importantly, however, TikTok , the short-form video platform that dominated the app store starting in … [Read more...] about VidCon 2022 Was a Candy-Colored, Covid-Spreading, Content-Creating Extravaganza

National Geographic Content has appointed Karen Greenfield to the newly created position of senior vice president of content, diversity and inclusion. Greenfield, who previously served as Nat Geo’s SVP of Business Operations, and Diversity and Inclusion Council Chair, will now “develop and execute programs and initiatives to produce diverse and inclusive content and contribute to a culture of belonging across all Nat Geo Content teams. She will also work with leaders across The Walt Disney Company to ensure Nat Geo talent and programming are integrated into Companywide DEI initiatives,” according to a release from the company. She will report directly to National Geographic Content President Courteney Monroe and will continue to be based at Nat Geo headquarters in Washington, D.C. “For 134 years, National Geographic has used the power of storytelling to change the world. An essential component of that is ensuring that everyone’s voice is included,” said Monroe in a … [Read more...] about National Geographic Appoints Karen Greenfield To SVP Of Content, Diversity & Inclusion

EXCLUSIVE: A big-screen adaptation of Humberto G. Garcia’s book Mustang Miracle titled The Long Game is in the works. Mucho Mas Media , Endeavor Content , and Bonniedale will finance and produce the inspirational period golf feature. Physical production will begin this month. The Long Game is set to star Jay Hernandez ( Suicide Squad , Magnum P.I. ), Jaina Lee Ortiz ( Girls Trip , Station 19 ), Dennis Quaid ( Midway , A Dog’s Purpose ), and Julian Works ( Beautiful Boy , 9-1-1: Lone Star ). Based on a true story set in mid-1950s Texas, the film spotlights five young Mexican-American caddies at a local, exclusive golf club where the discriminatory laws of the era forbade them from playing. Out of their love for the game, they created their own homemade course in the Texas desert and, with the help of a resilient Latino coach, went on to overcome the challenges of racism and discrimination to beat the wealthy, all-white teams to win the 1957 … [Read more...] about Jay Hernandez, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Dennis Quaid & Julian Works To Lead Feature Adaptation Of Humberto G. Garcia’s Book ‘Mustang Miracle’

Updated with BBC response: The BBC must reform its operating license to focus on online services or “become out of step with audience behavior and technology developments,” according to British media regulator Ofcom . Failure to act “could stand in the way of the BBC’s transformation,” it added in a series of proposals set out today centered around modernizing the broadcaster’s operating license. Ofcom’s report acknowledges the BBC remains “at the heart of the UK’s broadcasting sector” and has been transforming and modernizing its approach in the face of disruption brought about by global streaming services. Broadly, this could be achieved by better incorporating online services such as streamer BBC iPlayer, audio service BBC Sounds and the BBC website; allowing the BBC more flexibility to respond to new audience needs (while ring-fencing quotas around areas such as news and current affairs programming); and “greater transparency” from the BBC. Key to these … [Read more...] about British Regulator Ofcom Warns BBC Will Become “Out Of Step” With Audience And Tech Developments Without Reform