Amazon Studios has tapped Chris Castallo as head of unscripted television.
Castallo replaces Heather Schuster, who left Amazon in August, after less than a year on the job.
In his new role, he will spearhead development of unscripted as the company eyes formats with global appeal. Castallo will be heavily involved in Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge” and the upcoming fashion series with Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. Castallo will report directly to Amazon TV co-heads Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders.
Also Read: Amazon Studios Names James Farrell Head of International Originals
Castallo was most recently head of development at Verizon’s mobile platform, Go90, until it was shut down in July. He was also a former head of alternative for CBS, where he oversaw reality series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Undercover Boss” and “Big Brother” during his 10-year tenure. He was named executive VP of alternative programming in 2013 after previously serving as senior VP.
Castallo replaces Heather Schuster, who left Amazon in August, after less than a year on the job.
In his new role, he will spearhead development of unscripted as the company eyes formats with global appeal. Castallo will be heavily involved in Mark Burnett’s “Eco-Challenge” and the upcoming fashion series with Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. Castallo will report directly to Amazon TV co-heads Albert Cheng and Vernon Sanders.
Also Read: Amazon Studios Names James Farrell Head of International Originals
Castallo was most recently head of development at Verizon’s mobile platform, Go90, until it was shut down in July. He was also a former head of alternative for CBS, where he oversaw reality series including “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Undercover Boss” and “Big Brother” during his 10-year tenure. He was named executive VP of alternative programming in 2013 after previously serving as senior VP.
- 10/22/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Amazon Studios has reportedly lost yet another top TV executive amid claims of inappropriate conduct.
Amazon’s head of unscripted TV, the veteran television producer Heather Schuster, has exited the company less than one year after assuming the role from predecessor Conrad Riggs. Riggs left the company last October after Amazon Studios’ previous chief, Roy Price, departed amid claims of sexual misconduct. Former NBC exec Jennifer Salke was brought on to replace Price in February, and Schuster marks the first senior executive departure on her watch.
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Amazon’s head of unscripted TV, the veteran television producer Heather Schuster, has exited the company less than one year after assuming the role from predecessor Conrad Riggs. Riggs left the company last October after Amazon Studios’ previous chief, Roy Price, departed amid claims of sexual misconduct. Former NBC exec Jennifer Salke was brought on to replace Price in February, and Schuster marks the first senior executive departure on her watch.
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- 8/7/2018
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
Heather Schuster, the head of unscripted at Amazon Studios, has left the company, after less than a year in the role, Variety has confirmed.
Schuster was promoted to the job in October 2017, replacing Conrad Riggs who was ousted amid the exodus of Roy Price. According to sources, Schuster’s exit follows an investigation into allegations that she engaged in verbally abusive behavior.
Schuster spent a year with Ryan Seacrest Productions, and then launched her own shingle with All3Media before moving to Amazon as a lieutenant of Riggs.
Amazon has been sparing in its ventures into unscripted programming in the years since launching its original content strategy. The company made a big global bet on “The Grand Tour,” the travelogue and automotive show reuniting the “Top Gear” team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May last year.
Schuster spent five years as a producer on NBC’s “The Apprentice,” starring Donald Trump,...
Schuster was promoted to the job in October 2017, replacing Conrad Riggs who was ousted amid the exodus of Roy Price. According to sources, Schuster’s exit follows an investigation into allegations that she engaged in verbally abusive behavior.
Schuster spent a year with Ryan Seacrest Productions, and then launched her own shingle with All3Media before moving to Amazon as a lieutenant of Riggs.
Amazon has been sparing in its ventures into unscripted programming in the years since launching its original content strategy. The company made a big global bet on “The Grand Tour,” the travelogue and automotive show reuniting the “Top Gear” team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May last year.
Schuster spent five years as a producer on NBC’s “The Apprentice,” starring Donald Trump,...
- 8/7/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Studios head of unscripted Heather Schuster has departed the company after less than a year on the job, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
Schuster was named to the position last October, filling the vacancy left by Conrad Riggs during the executive shakeup following the ouster of former programming boss Roy Price.
Schuster’s exit comes after an investigation into her corporate conduct, according to Deadline. Citing an unnamed source, the site reported that the investigation stemmed from concerns about Schuster’s verbal behavior.
Also Read: Amazon Greenlights New Shows From Greg Daniels, Nicole Kidman and Lena Waithe
Schuster was tapped to oversee all of Amazon’s unscripted efforts, which include Jeremy Clarkson’s “Top Gear” follow-up “The Grand Tour” and the sports docuseries “All or Nothing.”
She is a veteran of Ryan Seacrest Productions and her All3Media-backed company Morocco Junction Entertainment. Her other producer credits include “The Apprentice,...
Schuster was named to the position last October, filling the vacancy left by Conrad Riggs during the executive shakeup following the ouster of former programming boss Roy Price.
Schuster’s exit comes after an investigation into her corporate conduct, according to Deadline. Citing an unnamed source, the site reported that the investigation stemmed from concerns about Schuster’s verbal behavior.
Also Read: Amazon Greenlights New Shows From Greg Daniels, Nicole Kidman and Lena Waithe
Schuster was tapped to oversee all of Amazon’s unscripted efforts, which include Jeremy Clarkson’s “Top Gear” follow-up “The Grand Tour” and the sports docuseries “All or Nothing.”
She is a veteran of Ryan Seacrest Productions and her All3Media-backed company Morocco Junction Entertainment. Her other producer credits include “The Apprentice,...
- 8/7/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Less than a year after taking over from Conrad Riggs as Amazon’s Head of Unscripted, Heather Schuster is exiting the company, we have learned. It marks the first major executive departure on the TV side since Jennifer Salke was named head of Amazon Studios several months ago. There is no word on replacement.
Amazon Studios is not commenting, but we hear Schuster’s exit came after an internal investigation into alleged inappropriate comments during meetings, and possible misuse of power.
The ex-Ryan Seacrest Productions exec Schuster joined the Amazon fold as a senior creative executive last August. On October 24, 2017, Schuster was appointed the head of unscripted programming. She replaced Riggs, one of two close associates of embattled former Amazon Studios head Roy Price, along with Joe Lewis, to leave shortly after Price’s ouster following sexual harassment allegations.
Amazon Studios has had limited presence in the unscripted space.
Amazon Studios is not commenting, but we hear Schuster’s exit came after an internal investigation into alleged inappropriate comments during meetings, and possible misuse of power.
The ex-Ryan Seacrest Productions exec Schuster joined the Amazon fold as a senior creative executive last August. On October 24, 2017, Schuster was appointed the head of unscripted programming. She replaced Riggs, one of two close associates of embattled former Amazon Studios head Roy Price, along with Joe Lewis, to leave shortly after Price’s ouster following sexual harassment allegations.
Amazon Studios has had limited presence in the unscripted space.
- 8/7/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva and Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios is already in the market for a new head of unscripted programming, with Heather Schuster out after just under a year with the company.
The exit, the first in the TV suite since Jennifer Salke took over earlier this year, comes a mere nine months after Schuster was quickly promoted to fill the vacancy left by Conrad Riggs — one of several creative departures surrounding the resignation of Roy Price. Sources say Schuster’s exit comes after an investigation into claims of verbal abuse. (An Amazon rep only confirmed that Schuster is no longer with the company.)
Schuster, who ...
The exit, the first in the TV suite since Jennifer Salke took over earlier this year, comes a mere nine months after Schuster was quickly promoted to fill the vacancy left by Conrad Riggs — one of several creative departures surrounding the resignation of Roy Price. Sources say Schuster’s exit comes after an investigation into claims of verbal abuse. (An Amazon rep only confirmed that Schuster is no longer with the company.)
Schuster, who ...
It’s Prime time for NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke, who has been named head of Amazon Studios after a lengthy search process at the digital giant. Salke had long been rumored as a frontrunner for the gig, and became the leading choice after the other top contender, A+E Networks president/CEO Nancy Dubuc, dropped out of the running earlier this week.
Salke’s new job represents a huge leap for the executive, who will oversee both film and television at Amazon. She joins the company as it undergoes a shift in the kind of content it produces — moving away from smaller, more indie fare to broader, populist content.
Salke will report directly to Seattle-based Amazon senior vice president Jeff Blackburn, and fills the position that has been more or less vacant since Roy Price exited last year in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.
“What stood out about...
Salke’s new job represents a huge leap for the executive, who will oversee both film and television at Amazon. She joins the company as it undergoes a shift in the kind of content it produces — moving away from smaller, more indie fare to broader, populist content.
Salke will report directly to Seattle-based Amazon senior vice president Jeff Blackburn, and fills the position that has been more or less vacant since Roy Price exited last year in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.
“What stood out about...
- 2/9/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Amazon Prime Video wants to be the Amazon of streaming services. As a retailer, Amazon is a giant. But as a TV programmer, Amazon has lagged in buzz and attention — which is why it’s in the midst of a programming overhaul, particularly on the scripted side.
That means moving out of the art house business and into the big tent — focusing on more big-budget, buzzy series that might better capture the attention of viewers, giving them a reason to keep their Prime membership, beyond that infamously free two-day shipping.
Shows like “Transparent” and “Mozart in the Jungle” gave Amazon critical acclaim and credibility inside Hollywood. Yet Amazon hasn’t yet morphed into a true competitor to streaming leader Netflix, as ratings for those shows and others have lagged. Like Netflix and Hulu, Amazon’s ratings aren’t readily available to the public — but anecdotal evidence, including reports by third-party measurement agencies,...
That means moving out of the art house business and into the big tent — focusing on more big-budget, buzzy series that might better capture the attention of viewers, giving them a reason to keep their Prime membership, beyond that infamously free two-day shipping.
Shows like “Transparent” and “Mozart in the Jungle” gave Amazon critical acclaim and credibility inside Hollywood. Yet Amazon hasn’t yet morphed into a true competitor to streaming leader Netflix, as ratings for those shows and others have lagged. Like Netflix and Hulu, Amazon’s ratings aren’t readily available to the public — but anecdotal evidence, including reports by third-party measurement agencies,...
- 1/4/2018
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Amazon Studios is cleaning house in more ways than one. The company’s original video division has reportedly nixed all three series from its most recent fall Pilot Season -- whereby the video giant premieres prospective shows and then makes orders based on fan response from Prime subscribers.
The three series that Amazon has not picked up, reports Deadline, include the Glenn Close starrer Sea Oak; Love You More from showrunner Michael Patrick King; and The Climb, a comedy about an office assistant seeking internet fame.
The aforementioned projects were first announced in late October -- days after Amazon Studios’ top executive, Roy Price, departed the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Subsequently, Amazon Studios’ head of scripted content, Joe Lewis, and head of unscripted content, Conrad Riggs, were also let go. Lewis was replaced by Sharon Tal Yguado, while Price’s interim replacement is Amazon Studios COO Albert Chang.
The three series that Amazon has not picked up, reports Deadline, include the Glenn Close starrer Sea Oak; Love You More from showrunner Michael Patrick King; and The Climb, a comedy about an office assistant seeking internet fame.
The aforementioned projects were first announced in late October -- days after Amazon Studios’ top executive, Roy Price, departed the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Subsequently, Amazon Studios’ head of scripted content, Joe Lewis, and head of unscripted content, Conrad Riggs, were also let go. Lewis was replaced by Sharon Tal Yguado, while Price’s interim replacement is Amazon Studios COO Albert Chang.
- 12/18/2017
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
The one trilogy to rule them all could be headed to the small screen. Variety reports that Amazon is in talks with Warner Bros. to develop J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” novels for television, with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said to be personally involved with the negotiations — a rarity, and one apparently inspired by his enthusiasm for the science-fiction/fantasy genres.
Read More:Wong Kar-wai Explains His Move to Television With Amazon’s ‘Tong Wars’ and His Next Feature Film
While most of Amazon’s original series lean toward the “Transparent” and “Red Oaks” end of the spectrum, Bezos began a push for more mainstream fare in the vein of “Game of Thrones” earlier this year. A new take on “Lord of the Rings,” Peter Jackson’s adaptations of which grossed nearly $3 billion at the box office, would certainly qualify. The films also proved hugely successful with the Academy,...
Read More:Wong Kar-wai Explains His Move to Television With Amazon’s ‘Tong Wars’ and His Next Feature Film
While most of Amazon’s original series lean toward the “Transparent” and “Red Oaks” end of the spectrum, Bezos began a push for more mainstream fare in the vein of “Game of Thrones” earlier this year. A new take on “Lord of the Rings,” Peter Jackson’s adaptations of which grossed nearly $3 billion at the box office, would certainly qualify. The films also proved hugely successful with the Academy,...
- 11/4/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Amazon Studios has named Heather Schuster as head of unscripted, filling the role vacated by outgoing executive Conrad Riggs, who left the company on Tuesday. Formerly a senior content executive, Schuster will now oversee all of Amazon Studios’ unscripted fare, including Jeremy Clarkson’s “Top Gear” follow-up “The Grand Tour” and the sports docuseries “All or Nothing.” Schuster has previously held roles at Ryan Seacrest Productions and her All3Media-backed company Morocco Junction Entertainment. Her producer credits include “The Apprentice,” “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover” and “Celebrity Fit Club.” Also Read: Amazon's Head of Unscripted Conrad Riggs Becomes Latest Exec to...
- 10/25/2017
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Almost immediately after Conrad Riggs was shown the door today at Amazon Studios, the House of Bezos has appointed Heather Schuster the new head of unscripted programming. Having joining Amazon back in August as a senior creative executive, the ex-Ryan Seacrest Productions exec took over Riggs' gig today, Deadline has learned. In another move, former AMC VP Unscripted Tracey Lentz, who has been with Amazon a couple of years, has been appointed head of creative…...
- 10/25/2017
- Deadline TV
In the aftermath of sexual harassment allegations against former Amazon Studios head Roy Price, Amazon Studios continues to jettison planned publicity opportunities. Vanished from the schedule of Saturday’s Producers Guild of America conference “Produced By: New York” is “360 Profile: Amazon Studios,” which was to feature the company’s Head of Motion Picture Production, Ted Hope, and Joe Lewis, the now-former Head of Comedy, Drama, and Vr.
The PGA announced the panel September 14 as part of its conference programming. By October 22, Lewis was still a top Amazon executive — but the panel was no longer part of the schedule. (Variety confirmed his departure Oct. 23; the next day, Amazon’s head of unscripted programming, Conrad Riggs, also left the company).
This comes at what should be a key moment for Amazon, which is now launching its in-house distribution arm with Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel.” Amazon representatives declined to confirm the cancellation by press time.
The PGA announced the panel September 14 as part of its conference programming. By October 22, Lewis was still a top Amazon executive — but the panel was no longer part of the schedule. (Variety confirmed his departure Oct. 23; the next day, Amazon’s head of unscripted programming, Conrad Riggs, also left the company).
This comes at what should be a key moment for Amazon, which is now launching its in-house distribution arm with Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel.” Amazon representatives declined to confirm the cancellation by press time.
- 10/24/2017
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
Another Amazon Studios executive has left the company. Conrad Riggs, the head of unscripted programming, has departed the company after three years.
Riggs becomes the latest original series executive to exit the company following last week’s resignation of programming boss Roy Price amid a sexual harassment scandal and the abrupt departure of development head Joe Lewis on Monday.
Sharon Tal Yguado, who had recently joined the company to handle event series, will take over has head of scripted, with COO Albert Cheng serving as interim replacement for Price. It is unclear who will step in for Riggs.
Riggs becomes the latest original series executive to exit the company following last week’s resignation of programming boss Roy Price amid a sexual harassment scandal and the abrupt departure of development head Joe Lewis on Monday.
Sharon Tal Yguado, who had recently joined the company to handle event series, will take over has head of scripted, with COO Albert Cheng serving as interim replacement for Price. It is unclear who will step in for Riggs.
- 10/24/2017
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Conrad Riggs, the exec who oversaw the growth of Amazon’s unscripted programming, has left the company. He’s the latest high-level exec to depart Amazon Studios in recent days as the behemoth looks to reorganize its streaming service.
Riggs’ departure comes a day after Joe Lewis, who was head of half hour and drama series development, left the company. Earlier this month, head of international productions Morgan Wandell exited to join Apple in a new gig. Following Lewis’ departure, Sharon Tal Yguado, who joined Amazon in January as head of event series, was given oversight over all of Amazon’s scripted programming.
The reshuffle comes as Amazon Studios undergoes a massive overhaul following the departure of head Roy Price, who was the architect of Amazon Prime’s programming strategy. Price was put on indefinite leave, and then left the company, earlier this month following allegations that he sexually harassed a producer in 2015. Since then,...
Riggs’ departure comes a day after Joe Lewis, who was head of half hour and drama series development, left the company. Earlier this month, head of international productions Morgan Wandell exited to join Apple in a new gig. Following Lewis’ departure, Sharon Tal Yguado, who joined Amazon in January as head of event series, was given oversight over all of Amazon’s scripted programming.
The reshuffle comes as Amazon Studios undergoes a massive overhaul following the departure of head Roy Price, who was the architect of Amazon Prime’s programming strategy. Price was put on indefinite leave, and then left the company, earlier this month following allegations that he sexually harassed a producer in 2015. Since then,...
- 10/24/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
The dominos continue to fall at Amazon Studios. Following the exits of studio head Roy Price and head of comedy and drama Joe Lewis, Amazon Studios’ head of unscripted programming Conrad Riggs also has been let go, Deadline has learned. We hear that the reality TV vet will likely get some sort of parachute from the Jeff Bezos-run online retail giant, but nothing like the producer deal Lewis received as a part of his executive exit yesterday. There had been a lot of…...
- 10/24/2017
- Deadline TV
Roy Price has resigned as head of Amazon Studios, just days after being placed on “indefinite leave” by the company. Price’s exit followed allegations made by producer Isa Hackett, who revealed to reporter Kim Masters that the exec made sexual remarks to her in July 2015 at San Diego Comic-Con.
Hackett, the daughter of author Philip K. Dick, runs Electric Shepherd Prods. and is a producer on the Amazon series “The Man in the High Castle,” as well as another upcoming series for the streaming service, “Electric Dreams.” Among the things that Price said to Hackett, in propositioning her, was “you will love my dick.”
Read More:Harvey Weinstein Fallout at Amazon Studios: Roy Price Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations, Placed on Leave of Absence
Price was suspended on Oct. 12. Since then, his fiancée, TV writer-playwright Lila Feinberg, also called off their wedding.
The allegations against Price were first posted...
Hackett, the daughter of author Philip K. Dick, runs Electric Shepherd Prods. and is a producer on the Amazon series “The Man in the High Castle,” as well as another upcoming series for the streaming service, “Electric Dreams.” Among the things that Price said to Hackett, in propositioning her, was “you will love my dick.”
Read More:Harvey Weinstein Fallout at Amazon Studios: Roy Price Faces Sexual Harassment Allegations, Placed on Leave of Absence
Price was suspended on Oct. 12. Since then, his fiancée, TV writer-playwright Lila Feinberg, also called off their wedding.
The allegations against Price were first posted...
- 10/17/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
Many have heard the stranger-than-fiction stories on Aaron Mahnke's podcast, and soon it will be time to see some of them come to life on Amazon's new series Lore, premiering on Prime Video beginning Friday, October 13th, and you can watch a new teaser video for the new series right now.
Press Release: Seattle--Aug. 29, 2017-- (Nasdaq:amzn)—Amazon announced today the Amazon Original Series Lore will premiere on Friday, October 13 on Prime Video. Based on the popular podcast of the same name, which has an average of five million monthly listens, the anthology series presents the frightening and often disturbing tales based on real people and events that have led to our modern-day myths and legends. All six episodes of the series, from Executive Producers Ben Silverman (The Office), Howard T. Owens (The Biggest Loser), Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Brett-Patrick Jenkins (Face Off), Glen Morgan (X-Files), Jon Halperin...
Press Release: Seattle--Aug. 29, 2017-- (Nasdaq:amzn)—Amazon announced today the Amazon Original Series Lore will premiere on Friday, October 13 on Prime Video. Based on the popular podcast of the same name, which has an average of five million monthly listens, the anthology series presents the frightening and often disturbing tales based on real people and events that have led to our modern-day myths and legends. All six episodes of the series, from Executive Producers Ben Silverman (The Office), Howard T. Owens (The Biggest Loser), Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Brett-Patrick Jenkins (Face Off), Glen Morgan (X-Files), Jon Halperin...
- 8/30/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
UK indie Rise Films is producing the series with Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures.
George Clooney is set to narrate and exec produce a political crime documentary series for Amazon produced by UK indie Rise Films.
Screen sister publication Broadcast has learnt that the SVoD service is on the brink of ordering a six-part series based on non-fiction book The Art Of Political Murder.
Ocean’s Eleven star Clooney is co-producing the series through Smokehouse Pictures, his indie that is responsible for political feature films including The Ides of March and Argo.
Teddy Leifer’s Rise Films has produced a raft of high-end feature documentaries including The Invisible War and Who Is Dayani Cristal?, but is best known in the UK for producing three series of ITV2 Roman comedy Plebs.
It is the most significant Amazon order for a British indie since W Chump & Sons secured Jeremy Clarkson’s The Grand Tour.
The Art Of...
George Clooney is set to narrate and exec produce a political crime documentary series for Amazon produced by UK indie Rise Films.
Screen sister publication Broadcast has learnt that the SVoD service is on the brink of ordering a six-part series based on non-fiction book The Art Of Political Murder.
Ocean’s Eleven star Clooney is co-producing the series through Smokehouse Pictures, his indie that is responsible for political feature films including The Ides of March and Argo.
Teddy Leifer’s Rise Films has produced a raft of high-end feature documentaries including The Invisible War and Who Is Dayani Cristal?, but is best known in the UK for producing three series of ITV2 Roman comedy Plebs.
It is the most significant Amazon order for a British indie since W Chump & Sons secured Jeremy Clarkson’s The Grand Tour.
The Art Of...
- 8/4/2017
- ScreenDaily
UK indie Rise Films is producing the series with Clooney’s Smokehouse Pictures.
George Clooney is set to narrate and exec produce a political crime documentary series for Amazon produced by UK indie Rise Films.
Screen sister publication Broadcast has learnt that the SVoD service is on the brink of ordering a six-part series based on non-fiction book The Art Of Political Murder.
Ocean’s Eleven star Clooney is co-producing the series through Smokehouse Pictures, his indie that is responsible for political feature films including The Ides of March and Argo.
Teddy Leifer’s Rise Films has produced a raft of high-end feature documentaries including The Invisible War and Who Is Dayani Cristal?, but is best known in the UK for producing three series of ITV2 Roman comedy Plebs.
It is the most significant Amazon order for a British indie since W Chump & Sons secured Jeremy Clarkson’s The Grand Tour.
The Art Of...
George Clooney is set to narrate and exec produce a political crime documentary series for Amazon produced by UK indie Rise Films.
Screen sister publication Broadcast has learnt that the SVoD service is on the brink of ordering a six-part series based on non-fiction book The Art Of Political Murder.
Ocean’s Eleven star Clooney is co-producing the series through Smokehouse Pictures, his indie that is responsible for political feature films including The Ides of March and Argo.
Teddy Leifer’s Rise Films has produced a raft of high-end feature documentaries including The Invisible War and Who Is Dayani Cristal?, but is best known in the UK for producing three series of ITV2 Roman comedy Plebs.
It is the most significant Amazon order for a British indie since W Chump & Sons secured Jeremy Clarkson’s The Grand Tour.
The Art Of...
- 8/4/2017
- ScreenDaily
Amazon Prime Video wants to be a global powerhouse in reality TV, and it’s relying on the international language of sports to grow that business.
Following the return of the Amazon NFL series “All or Nothing” (which this year chronicles a season inside the Los Angeles Rams organization), the streaming service has ordered a similar show that follows New Zealand’s national rugby team.
The series will focus on the “All Blacks,” which is known as having the best winning record of any team sport in history (84% wins over the last 130 years).
Reality vet Eden Gaha, whose credits include “Survivor,” “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Masterchef,” will executive produce the series. Like “All or Nothing,” the All Blacks series will train cameras on the rugby club during its 2017-2018 season. That included a recent match against the British and Irish Lions (which takes place once every 16 years) and the annual Rugby Championship in August.
Following the return of the Amazon NFL series “All or Nothing” (which this year chronicles a season inside the Los Angeles Rams organization), the streaming service has ordered a similar show that follows New Zealand’s national rugby team.
The series will focus on the “All Blacks,” which is known as having the best winning record of any team sport in history (84% wins over the last 130 years).
Reality vet Eden Gaha, whose credits include “Survivor,” “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Masterchef,” will executive produce the series. Like “All or Nothing,” the All Blacks series will train cameras on the rugby club during its 2017-2018 season. That included a recent match against the British and Irish Lions (which takes place once every 16 years) and the annual Rugby Championship in August.
- 7/7/2017
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
SVoD service is keen for smaller UK TV indies to pitch ideas.
Amazon Prime Video is opening its doors to smaller UK indies and “boutique” producers as part of the next stage of growth.
The SVoD service is keen for fledgling producers and filmmakers to pitch projects to sit alongside ideas from high-end, Hollywood-backed firms.
Head of international originals Morgan Wandell told Screen’s sister publication Broadcast: “We are very open. Sometimes, the most original voices and distinctive filmmakers come from boutiques or the independent film world. We love that kind of talent.”
Last month, the digital streaming service ordered Le Mans: Racing Is Everything from New Black Films.
The series, commissioned by head of unscripted Conrad Riggs, tells the story of the gruelling 24-hour race, which was founded in 1923.
The indie, run by Senna line producer Victoria Gregory and director James Erskine, is one of the first British producers to win a factual commission from Amazon...
Amazon Prime Video is opening its doors to smaller UK indies and “boutique” producers as part of the next stage of growth.
The SVoD service is keen for fledgling producers and filmmakers to pitch projects to sit alongside ideas from high-end, Hollywood-backed firms.
Head of international originals Morgan Wandell told Screen’s sister publication Broadcast: “We are very open. Sometimes, the most original voices and distinctive filmmakers come from boutiques or the independent film world. We love that kind of talent.”
Last month, the digital streaming service ordered Le Mans: Racing Is Everything from New Black Films.
The series, commissioned by head of unscripted Conrad Riggs, tells the story of the gruelling 24-hour race, which was founded in 1923.
The indie, run by Senna line producer Victoria Gregory and director James Erskine, is one of the first British producers to win a factual commission from Amazon...
- 3/30/2017
- ScreenDaily
Through shows like the alternative history drama Man in the High Castle and superhero series The Tick, Amazon Studios has taken an interest in genre programming. The digital video company’s latest foray into a niche category is Lore, an unscripted horror anthology based off a podcast of the same name.
The most interesting word in that description is “unscripted,” because unlike the FX horror anthology American Horror Story, Lore will purport to base its installments off actual historical happenings rather than tall tales. Those events will be married with dramatic reenactments to create a unique entry within Amazon’s original video library.
The podcast version of Lore, hosted by Aaron Mahnke, receives more than three million listens per month. “Lore is a thrilling podcast with a rabid following, and we jumped at the opportunity to work with Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman and Howard Owens to develop it into...
The most interesting word in that description is “unscripted,” because unlike the FX horror anthology American Horror Story, Lore will purport to base its installments off actual historical happenings rather than tall tales. Those events will be married with dramatic reenactments to create a unique entry within Amazon’s original video library.
The podcast version of Lore, hosted by Aaron Mahnke, receives more than three million listens per month. “Lore is a thrilling podcast with a rabid following, and we jumped at the opportunity to work with Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman and Howard Owens to develop it into...
- 10/7/2016
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
If you’re at all familiar with the world of podcasts, you’ve probably heard of Lore, the podcast by Aaron Mahnke that explores the truth behind legendary tales of horror.
Amazon has announced that they’ve given the greenlight to a series based on the podcast, and it will be quite the affair, with Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Ben Silverman (The Office) and Howard T. Owens (The Biggest Loser) serving as executive producers.
The podcast, which has over 3 million monthly listens, is an unscripted horror anthology series that takes its audience through the true events that have become modern nightmares.
Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted Amazon Originals, was excited to announce the show, “Lore is a thrilling podcast with a rabid following, and we jumped at the opportunity to work with Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman and Howard Owens to develop it into a series for Amazon Prime members.
Amazon has announced that they’ve given the greenlight to a series based on the podcast, and it will be quite the affair, with Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead), Ben Silverman (The Office) and Howard T. Owens (The Biggest Loser) serving as executive producers.
The podcast, which has over 3 million monthly listens, is an unscripted horror anthology series that takes its audience through the true events that have become modern nightmares.
Conrad Riggs, Head of Unscripted Amazon Originals, was excited to announce the show, “Lore is a thrilling podcast with a rabid following, and we jumped at the opportunity to work with Gale Anne Hurd, Ben Silverman and Howard Owens to develop it into a series for Amazon Prime members.
- 10/7/2016
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
While you may not have access to go inside the famous Playboy Mansion, Amazon will take you on a tour of Hugh Hefner’s playmate-filled palace in a new docuseries, “American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story.”
The 13-episode TV event will draw from unprecedented access to more than 17,000 hours of footage and over 2,600 scrapbooks from Hefner’s personal archives, chronicling the life of the American icon and the history of the brand he created. Everything you ever wanted to know and see about the life of this playboy will be made available via Amazon’s original series.
“It has been a long road in finding the right partners to tell the full story of Playboy as it has unfolded over these past 63 years, and I believe we have found them in the collaborative team of Stephen David Entertainment and Amazon,” said Hefner in a statement. “I’m pleased that this...
The 13-episode TV event will draw from unprecedented access to more than 17,000 hours of footage and over 2,600 scrapbooks from Hefner’s personal archives, chronicling the life of the American icon and the history of the brand he created. Everything you ever wanted to know and see about the life of this playboy will be made available via Amazon’s original series.
“It has been a long road in finding the right partners to tell the full story of Playboy as it has unfolded over these past 63 years, and I believe we have found them in the collaborative team of Stephen David Entertainment and Amazon,” said Hefner in a statement. “I’m pleased that this...
- 8/11/2016
- by Liz Calvario
- Indiewire
Reality TV pioneer Mark Burnett’s former business partner Conrad Riggs has spent more than 10 hours on the stand this week, defending himself against accusations that he breached his contract with a Survivor consultant and shorted him millions of dollars in profits. In 2012 consultant Layne Leslie Britton sued Riggs, claiming he owes him $14 million in connection with his work on Survivor and other projects. The lawsuit centers on an Oct. 23, 2000 consulting agreement between the two men, who have starkly different interpretations of the contract. According to Britton’s lawsuit, in exchange for his advice and consultation on
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- 2/19/2016
- by Ashley Cullins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CBS reality competition Survivor endures, and so do the fights over the substantial money the show has generated for TV executives over the years. Read the Complaint Here In November, Layne Leslie Britton, who once served as a business affairs VP at NBC and CBS before acting as an advisor on the television project that ultimately became Survivor, sued Conrad Riggs, the former partner of Survivor creator Mark Burnett. Britton alleged that he was turned to for "business and industry advice" and that after helping create the innovative financial structure that ended up making Burnett and Riggs very rich, he
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- 1/25/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Layne Leslie Britton says that Mark Burnett’s former partner Conrad Riggs owes him more than $14 million from the profits from Survivor and other shows. In a complaint (read it here) filed today in La Superior Court, the former CBS and NBC Business Affairs VP says Riggs has not paid him properly for the advice and consulting he provided to Burnett and Riggs when Survivor debuted on CBS in mid-2000. It was only during Rigg’s own $70 million litigation with Burnett, which was settled earlier this year, that Britton claims that he learned “what Riggs consistently told him for years amounted to little more than lies and deceit.” Rigg’s Cloudbreak Entertainment signed a formal agreement with Britton in October 2000, as Britton says he helped the relatively green producers through some of the tricky and costly waters of the network TV business. For this guidance, Riggs informed the mentoring Britton...
- 11/28/2012
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Like the game itself, a long-running fight over millions of dollars in Survivor profits is taking a new and unexpected twist. Layne Leslie Britton, who once served as a business affairs VP at NBC and CBS before becoming a financial consultant on the television project that ultimately became Survivor, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Conrad Riggs and his Cloudbreak Entertainment. Britton claims Riggs, the former partner of Survivor creator Mark Burnett, who previously was involved in litigation over profits from the CBS franchise, cheated him out of at least $14 million. Read the full
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- 11/28/2012
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles, California (X17online) - Mark Burnett has settled his legal battle with his former business partner over unpaid profits from the reality producer's empire. Conrad Riggs filed a suit back in 2009 that claimed that he was owed $70 million for his work with Burnett, which included his help in selling the reality shows The Apprentice and Survivor to CBS and NBC, respectively. The suit also alleged that Burnett stopped paying his former partner in 2007 after Riggs refused to sign a contract that he felt deviated from what he was owed. The case, which is considered one of Hollywood's most-watched trials of 2012, is currently in the final stages of settlement. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
- 3/21/2012
- x17online.com
Survivor producer Mark Burnett is putting the finishing touches on a settlement of the long-running and nasty legal battle with his former business partner over profits from the reality TV mogul's empire. First filed back in July 2008, the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court claimed that Conrad Riggs is owed more than $70 million for his work with Burnett, including helping Burnett sell Survivor to CBS and The Apprentice to NBC. Riggs worked for Disney in the 1990s and initially helped Burnett get meetings to pitch his TV ideas. The two became partners, with Burnett allegedly promising Riggs
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- 3/20/2012
- by Matthew Belloni
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Almost four years after Bree’s death on Lonelygirl15, the creators of one of the most engaging and popular original web series endemic to the YouTube generation are no longer producing video. Eqal co-founders Miles Beckett (CEO) and Greg Goodfried (President) have long since abandoned serialized dramas in favor of building online communities around already established household brand names and entertainment properties. They devoted a portion of the $5 million in Series A funding the company raised back in 2008 to accomplish those community-building efforts (the other part of the cash was used to develop a technology platform and finance some of Eqal's last web serials). Now, Eqal is raising more cash to build more online communities even better. Based on recent SEC filings, Techcrunch reports the media company is looking to raise $3.5 million (of which, it’s raised $649,994 so far). I caught up with Beckett over e-mail to try to get...
- 5/24/2011
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
After nearly two years of delays, the more than $70 million lawsuit filed against “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett by his former business partner Conrad Riggs can continue, California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su ruled this week. Riggs is claiming that Burnett failed to pay him producing fees for his work helping shows such as “The Apprentice” and “The Restaurant” and did not buy him out of his stake in Mark Burnett Productions. But the suit, which was filed in 2008, has stalled while Burnett’s legal team attempted to argue that Riggs violated...
- 5/13/2011
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
After trying for find a buyer for his Mark Burnett Prods. for the past several years, Mark Burnett has formed a "long-term media, production and events-based joint venture" with Hearst Corp., the two sides announced this morning. Under the deal, Hearst has acquired a 50% interest in Burnett’s company. Burnett will lead the new venture's board of directors along with Scott Sassa, president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication and former president of NBC West Coast. Burnett has been looking to sell his company for the past five years, at one point even bringing in the now-defunct Bear Stearns to help facilitate a deal. After exploratory talks with the likes of Endemol and FremantleMedia, the closest Burnett came to a sale was in the summer of 2008, when Img, under Chris Albrecht, was ready to shell out $250 million-$500 million for the company. The deal fell through as Img changed directions, Albrecht left and...
- 4/11/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
The Apprentice producer Mark Burnett is facing legal action from his former business partner in a row over unpaid profits of more than $70 million (GBP35 million).
The two-times Emmy winner, who is also the brains behind reality TV show Survivor, is accused of cheating Conrad Riggs out of profits from the programmes they pitched together to network bosses.
Riggs, who worked for Walt Disney Co., filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday.
According to the legal papers, the pair produced more than 12 TV projects together, but their business relationship went sour when Burnett reneged on a long-standing agreement, which stated Riggs would receive 10 per cent of the 38-year-old's profits.
Riggs claims his advice to Burnett regarding the format of Survivor may have played a big part in helping to sell the desert island show to various networks.
The lawsuit reads, "(Riggs) encouraged Burnett to pitch 'Survivor' as if he were telling a story around a campfire - in a way that would allow network executives to visualize the feel and attraction of the show."
Riggs claims the payments stopped in February 2007 and that he was evicted from Burnett's company offices earlier this year.
The two-times Emmy winner, who is also the brains behind reality TV show Survivor, is accused of cheating Conrad Riggs out of profits from the programmes they pitched together to network bosses.
Riggs, who worked for Walt Disney Co., filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday.
According to the legal papers, the pair produced more than 12 TV projects together, but their business relationship went sour when Burnett reneged on a long-standing agreement, which stated Riggs would receive 10 per cent of the 38-year-old's profits.
Riggs claims his advice to Burnett regarding the format of Survivor may have played a big part in helping to sell the desert island show to various networks.
The lawsuit reads, "(Riggs) encouraged Burnett to pitch 'Survivor' as if he were telling a story around a campfire - in a way that would allow network executives to visualize the feel and attraction of the show."
Riggs claims the payments stopped in February 2007 and that he was evicted from Burnett's company offices earlier this year.
- 7/8/2008
- WENN
British TV producer Mark Burnett has been accused of failing to pay his former business partner the profits he made through TV game show Survivor.
Conrad Riggs claims he helped Burnett manage his expanding business and negotiate deals with U.S. TV networks.
He also claims Burnett - who introduced Survivor and The Apprentice to the U.S. - agreed to pay him 10 per cent of all profits.
In a lawsuit filed at Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, Riggs claims he is entitled to $5 million (GBP2.5 million), reports TMZ.com.
A spokesman for Burnett was unavailable for comment.
Conrad Riggs claims he helped Burnett manage his expanding business and negotiate deals with U.S. TV networks.
He also claims Burnett - who introduced Survivor and The Apprentice to the U.S. - agreed to pay him 10 per cent of all profits.
In a lawsuit filed at Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, Riggs claims he is entitled to $5 million (GBP2.5 million), reports TMZ.com.
A spokesman for Burnett was unavailable for comment.
- 7/8/2008
- WENN
CANNES -- Traditional broadcasters came face-to-face with the new Internet video platforms that some fear might turn the business on its head at a roundtable discussion on the future of program rights here Wednesday. "A year ago, people at the networks were saying that the sky would fall in if a TV show was on the Internet. That obviously didn't happen," said Conrad Riggs of Mark Burnett Prods., who described the transition as moving from a world everyone used to believe was flat to one that we now know is round. Joanna Shields, European director of syndication and partnerships at Google, said there has been a lot of "miscommunication" about Google Video, the site's image search service so far only available in the U.S.
CANNES -- Mark Burnett Prods., riding high with its reality format The Apprentice, launched its new international distribution arm Monday at Mipcom. "Considering the breadth of programming we currently have in production, taking international in-house is a natural progression and strategic fit," MBP president Mark Burnett said in a statement. Scot Cru, who recently joined the company after spells with Turner Broadcasting International, Sony Pictures TV International and Viacom, heads up the new distribution arm alongside longtime Burnett production partner Conrad Riggs. "We want to own it a bit more and create our own destiny," Cru said. The sales duo will be bolstered by Laura Ambriz, who heads up international marketing and servicing for the new structure.
- 10/5/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Empire Pictures
NEW YORK -- So fascinated with his subject that he made not just one documentary about him, filmmaker David Teboul has delivered two cinematic portraits of master designer Yves Saint Laurent. The first is a fairly straightforward biography, while the second is a cinema verite look at the process behind the design of one of his women's collections. The two films -- "Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times" and the awkwardly titled "Yves Saint Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris" -- will best be appreciated by those already familiar with the fashion world in general and Saint Laurent in particular. Each is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
"5 Avenue Marceau" was actually made first as the filmmaker was granted rare access to the designer's Paris atelier as he worked on his spring/summer collection in winter 2001. The resulting document is a spare, unadorned look, a la Frederick Wiseman, at the lengthy and laborious process in which Saint Laurent fiddled with his creations while a series of exquisite models paraded in front of him and his associates. The proceedings quickly turn tedious for those not fascinated by the craft, though no doubt future generations of fashionistas will be thrilled to have them documented. For this viewer, at least, the highlight occurs in the beginning of the film, when actress Catherine Deneuve makes a brief, charismatic appearance.cludes such notable guests as President Clinton (coming out of a lengthy quiet during his Monica hibernation), Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro, etc. By the measure of the fiercely competitive cadre who host TV for us, it depends now on the level of notables Smiley can get into his studio.
THE Tavis Smiley SHOW
KCET
KCET/Hollywood and the Tavis Smiley Group
Credits:
Executive producer: Neal Kendall
KCET executive producer: Mary Mazur
Producers: Shanta Covington, Stephanie Storey, Holly Williamson
KCET producer: Karen Hunte
Director: Jonathan X
Writer: Neal Kendall
Associate producer: Christopher McDonald
Anchor: Tavis Smiley
t of some 215,000 applicants. The youngest is 21, the eldest 36. The only other qualifications appear to be geographic diversity and cosmetic appeal -- and an overweening desire to be filthy, stinking rich.
The contestants are divided up into two teams of eight: boys against the girls. They must work together to complete a given task, which in the opener obliges them to peddle lemonade (business attire and all) on the mean streets of Manhattan. The idea, of course, it to start at the very beginning of their occupational lives. It's kind of funny to watch these yupscale types having to hustle a beverage for bucks. Ultimately, though, it's just not all that interesting. And the elimination process (one member of the losing team must go) seems particularly arbitrary in this context.
At the outset, it's also clear that the show is going to suffer some personality shortfalls -- namely, there seem to be no true standouts among the lot, the faces and personas blending into something of a capitalistic mush. Not even Trump's squinty-eyed dramatics while delivering his obligatory pep talks ("This isn't a game; it's a 13-week job interview!") can save the day.
"The Apprentice" reaches its nadir of absurdity near the close of the "supersized" premiere when members of the winning team are ushered into Trump's impossibly lavish New York penthouse to meet the jewel-encrusted, shimmering interior (not to mention his current, heavily accented girlfriend). They ooh and aah with abandon while being assured that one day this all could be their own. Somehow, it sounds more like a threat than an enticement.
THE APPRENTICE
NBC
Mark Burnett Prods. in association with Trump Productions Llc.
Credits:
Executive producers: Mark Burnett, Donald Trump
Co-executive producers: Conrad Riggs, Jay Bienstock
Supervising producer: Kevin Harris
Producers: Jamie Bruce, James Canniffe, Seth Cohen, Bill Pruitt, Katherine Walker
Co-producer: Chris Campbell
Directors of photography: Scott Duncan, Matt Sohn
Supervising editor: Jon Braun
Music: Jeff Lippencott, David Vanacore, Mark T. Williams
Main title theme: The O-Jays
Casting: Rob LaPlante...
NEW YORK -- So fascinated with his subject that he made not just one documentary about him, filmmaker David Teboul has delivered two cinematic portraits of master designer Yves Saint Laurent. The first is a fairly straightforward biography, while the second is a cinema verite look at the process behind the design of one of his women's collections. The two films -- "Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times" and the awkwardly titled "Yves Saint Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris" -- will best be appreciated by those already familiar with the fashion world in general and Saint Laurent in particular. Each is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
"5 Avenue Marceau" was actually made first as the filmmaker was granted rare access to the designer's Paris atelier as he worked on his spring/summer collection in winter 2001. The resulting document is a spare, unadorned look, a la Frederick Wiseman, at the lengthy and laborious process in which Saint Laurent fiddled with his creations while a series of exquisite models paraded in front of him and his associates. The proceedings quickly turn tedious for those not fascinated by the craft, though no doubt future generations of fashionistas will be thrilled to have them documented. For this viewer, at least, the highlight occurs in the beginning of the film, when actress Catherine Deneuve makes a brief, charismatic appearance.cludes such notable guests as President Clinton (coming out of a lengthy quiet during his Monica hibernation), Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro, etc. By the measure of the fiercely competitive cadre who host TV for us, it depends now on the level of notables Smiley can get into his studio.
THE Tavis Smiley SHOW
KCET
KCET/Hollywood and the Tavis Smiley Group
Credits:
Executive producer: Neal Kendall
KCET executive producer: Mary Mazur
Producers: Shanta Covington, Stephanie Storey, Holly Williamson
KCET producer: Karen Hunte
Director: Jonathan X
Writer: Neal Kendall
Associate producer: Christopher McDonald
Anchor: Tavis Smiley
t of some 215,000 applicants. The youngest is 21, the eldest 36. The only other qualifications appear to be geographic diversity and cosmetic appeal -- and an overweening desire to be filthy, stinking rich.
The contestants are divided up into two teams of eight: boys against the girls. They must work together to complete a given task, which in the opener obliges them to peddle lemonade (business attire and all) on the mean streets of Manhattan. The idea, of course, it to start at the very beginning of their occupational lives. It's kind of funny to watch these yupscale types having to hustle a beverage for bucks. Ultimately, though, it's just not all that interesting. And the elimination process (one member of the losing team must go) seems particularly arbitrary in this context.
At the outset, it's also clear that the show is going to suffer some personality shortfalls -- namely, there seem to be no true standouts among the lot, the faces and personas blending into something of a capitalistic mush. Not even Trump's squinty-eyed dramatics while delivering his obligatory pep talks ("This isn't a game; it's a 13-week job interview!") can save the day.
"The Apprentice" reaches its nadir of absurdity near the close of the "supersized" premiere when members of the winning team are ushered into Trump's impossibly lavish New York penthouse to meet the jewel-encrusted, shimmering interior (not to mention his current, heavily accented girlfriend). They ooh and aah with abandon while being assured that one day this all could be their own. Somehow, it sounds more like a threat than an enticement.
THE APPRENTICE
NBC
Mark Burnett Prods. in association with Trump Productions Llc.
Credits:
Executive producers: Mark Burnett, Donald Trump
Co-executive producers: Conrad Riggs, Jay Bienstock
Supervising producer: Kevin Harris
Producers: Jamie Bruce, James Canniffe, Seth Cohen, Bill Pruitt, Katherine Walker
Co-producer: Chris Campbell
Directors of photography: Scott Duncan, Matt Sohn
Supervising editor: Jon Braun
Music: Jeff Lippencott, David Vanacore, Mark T. Williams
Main title theme: The O-Jays
Casting: Rob LaPlante...
Empire Pictures
NEW YORK -- So fascinated with his subject that he made not just one documentary about him, filmmaker David Teboul has delivered two cinematic portraits of master designer Yves Saint Laurent. The first is a fairly straightforward biography, while the second is a cinema verite look at the process behind the design of one of his women's collections. The two films -- "Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times" and the awkwardly titled "Yves Saint Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris" -- will best be appreciated by those already familiar with the fashion world in general and Saint Laurent in particular. Each is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
"5 Avenue Marceau" was actually made first as the filmmaker was granted rare access to the designer's Paris atelier as he worked on his spring/summer collection in winter 2001. The resulting document is a spare, unadorned look, a la Frederick Wiseman, at the lengthy and laborious process in which Saint Laurent fiddled with his creations while a series of exquisite models paraded in front of him and his associates. The proceedings quickly turn tedious for those not fascinated by the craft, though no doubt future generations of fashionistas will be thrilled to have them documented. For this viewer, at least, the highlight occurs in the beginning of the film, when actress Catherine Deneuve makes a brief, charismatic appearance.cludes such notable guests as President Clinton (coming out of a lengthy quiet during his Monica hibernation), Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro, etc. By the measure of the fiercely competitive cadre who host TV for us, it depends now on the level of notables Smiley can get into his studio.
THE Tavis Smiley SHOW
KCET
KCET/Hollywood and the Tavis Smiley Group
Credits:
Executive producer: Neal Kendall
KCET executive producer: Mary Mazur
Producers: Shanta Covington, Stephanie Storey, Holly Williamson
KCET producer: Karen Hunte
Director: Jonathan X
Writer: Neal Kendall
Associate producer: Christopher McDonald
Anchor: Tavis Smiley
t of some 215,000 applicants. The youngest is 21, the eldest 36. The only other qualifications appear to be geographic diversity and cosmetic appeal -- and an overweening desire to be filthy, stinking rich.
The contestants are divided up into two teams of eight: boys against the girls. They must work together to complete a given task, which in the opener obliges them to peddle lemonade (business attire and all) on the mean streets of Manhattan. The idea, of course, it to start at the very beginning of their occupational lives. It's kind of funny to watch these yupscale types having to hustle a beverage for bucks. Ultimately, though, it's just not all that interesting. And the elimination process (one member of the losing team must go) seems particularly arbitrary in this context.
At the outset, it's also clear that the show is going to suffer some personality shortfalls -- namely, there seem to be no true standouts among the lot, the faces and personas blending into something of a capitalistic mush. Not even Trump's squinty-eyed dramatics while delivering his obligatory pep talks ("This isn't a game; it's a 13-week job interview!") can save the day.
"The Apprentice" reaches its nadir of absurdity near the close of the "supersized" premiere when members of the winning team are ushered into Trump's impossibly lavish New York penthouse to meet the jewel-encrusted, shimmering interior (not to mention his current, heavily accented girlfriend). They ooh and aah with abandon while being assured that one day this all could be their own. Somehow, it sounds more like a threat than an enticement.
THE APPRENTICE
NBC
Mark Burnett Prods. in association with Trump Productions Llc.
Credits:
Executive producers: Mark Burnett, Donald Trump
Co-executive producers: Conrad Riggs, Jay Bienstock
Supervising producer: Kevin Harris
Producers: Jamie Bruce, James Canniffe, Seth Cohen, Bill Pruitt, Katherine Walker
Co-producer: Chris Campbell
Directors of photography: Scott Duncan, Matt Sohn
Supervising editor: Jon Braun
Music: Jeff Lippencott, David Vanacore, Mark T. Williams
Main title theme: The O-Jays
Casting: Rob LaPlante...
NEW YORK -- So fascinated with his subject that he made not just one documentary about him, filmmaker David Teboul has delivered two cinematic portraits of master designer Yves Saint Laurent. The first is a fairly straightforward biography, while the second is a cinema verite look at the process behind the design of one of his women's collections. The two films -- "Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times" and the awkwardly titled "Yves Saint Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau, 75116 Paris" -- will best be appreciated by those already familiar with the fashion world in general and Saint Laurent in particular. Each is receiving its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum.
"5 Avenue Marceau" was actually made first as the filmmaker was granted rare access to the designer's Paris atelier as he worked on his spring/summer collection in winter 2001. The resulting document is a spare, unadorned look, a la Frederick Wiseman, at the lengthy and laborious process in which Saint Laurent fiddled with his creations while a series of exquisite models paraded in front of him and his associates. The proceedings quickly turn tedious for those not fascinated by the craft, though no doubt future generations of fashionistas will be thrilled to have them documented. For this viewer, at least, the highlight occurs in the beginning of the film, when actress Catherine Deneuve makes a brief, charismatic appearance.cludes such notable guests as President Clinton (coming out of a lengthy quiet during his Monica hibernation), Pope John Paul II, Fidel Castro, etc. By the measure of the fiercely competitive cadre who host TV for us, it depends now on the level of notables Smiley can get into his studio.
THE Tavis Smiley SHOW
KCET
KCET/Hollywood and the Tavis Smiley Group
Credits:
Executive producer: Neal Kendall
KCET executive producer: Mary Mazur
Producers: Shanta Covington, Stephanie Storey, Holly Williamson
KCET producer: Karen Hunte
Director: Jonathan X
Writer: Neal Kendall
Associate producer: Christopher McDonald
Anchor: Tavis Smiley
t of some 215,000 applicants. The youngest is 21, the eldest 36. The only other qualifications appear to be geographic diversity and cosmetic appeal -- and an overweening desire to be filthy, stinking rich.
The contestants are divided up into two teams of eight: boys against the girls. They must work together to complete a given task, which in the opener obliges them to peddle lemonade (business attire and all) on the mean streets of Manhattan. The idea, of course, it to start at the very beginning of their occupational lives. It's kind of funny to watch these yupscale types having to hustle a beverage for bucks. Ultimately, though, it's just not all that interesting. And the elimination process (one member of the losing team must go) seems particularly arbitrary in this context.
At the outset, it's also clear that the show is going to suffer some personality shortfalls -- namely, there seem to be no true standouts among the lot, the faces and personas blending into something of a capitalistic mush. Not even Trump's squinty-eyed dramatics while delivering his obligatory pep talks ("This isn't a game; it's a 13-week job interview!") can save the day.
"The Apprentice" reaches its nadir of absurdity near the close of the "supersized" premiere when members of the winning team are ushered into Trump's impossibly lavish New York penthouse to meet the jewel-encrusted, shimmering interior (not to mention his current, heavily accented girlfriend). They ooh and aah with abandon while being assured that one day this all could be their own. Somehow, it sounds more like a threat than an enticement.
THE APPRENTICE
NBC
Mark Burnett Prods. in association with Trump Productions Llc.
Credits:
Executive producers: Mark Burnett, Donald Trump
Co-executive producers: Conrad Riggs, Jay Bienstock
Supervising producer: Kevin Harris
Producers: Jamie Bruce, James Canniffe, Seth Cohen, Bill Pruitt, Katherine Walker
Co-producer: Chris Campbell
Directors of photography: Scott Duncan, Matt Sohn
Supervising editor: Jon Braun
Music: Jeff Lippencott, David Vanacore, Mark T. Williams
Main title theme: The O-Jays
Casting: Rob LaPlante...
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