Ian Gelder, a British actor known for his role as Kevan Lannister in “Game of Thrones,” died Monday of complications from bile duct cancer. He was 74.
Gelder’s partner, Ben Daniels, confirmed his death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder,” Daniels wrote. “Ian was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December and yesterday he passed at 13.07. I’d stopped all work to be his carer but neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.”
Gelder played the younger brother of Lord Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) in 12 episodes of the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” He appeared in multiple television series, including “Doctor Who,” “Snatch,” “Fifteen-Love,” “Casualty,” “Father Brown,” “The Bill,” “Edward the King,...
Gelder’s partner, Ben Daniels, confirmed his death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
“It is with huge huge sadness and a heavy heart broken into a million pieces that I’m leaving this post to announce the passing of my darling husband and life partner Ian Gelder,” Daniels wrote. “Ian was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December and yesterday he passed at 13.07. I’d stopped all work to be his carer but neither of us had any idea that it would all be so fast.”
Gelder played the younger brother of Lord Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) in 12 episodes of the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” He appeared in multiple television series, including “Doctor Who,” “Snatch,” “Fifteen-Love,” “Casualty,” “Father Brown,” “The Bill,” “Edward the King,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety Film + TV
A pair of top international executives have joined forces to build a UK-based talent agency and production business.
Thomas Drachkovitch and Jason Hafford will lead Dream Bay Entertainment, with former Amazon exec Drachkovitch the founder and Managing Director and ex-CAA rep Hafford co-founder and Head of Dbe Management.
The company, which Drachkovitch launched last year after exiting his role at Amazon Studios (now Amazon MGM Studios), comprises film and television production, literary and talent management, and media advisory services divisions. Based out of London, Dream Bay’s bosses plan to offer “a unique blend of strategic guidance, development expertise, and industry insights.”
LA native Drachkovitch left his UK-based role as Original Series Development Executive at Amazon Studios in 2022 having overseen commissioning initiatives across global markets.
He had previously been based in India, where he helped spearhead the launch of Amazon Studios’ first Indian content slate out of Mumbai, including shows such as Comicstaan,...
Thomas Drachkovitch and Jason Hafford will lead Dream Bay Entertainment, with former Amazon exec Drachkovitch the founder and Managing Director and ex-CAA rep Hafford co-founder and Head of Dbe Management.
The company, which Drachkovitch launched last year after exiting his role at Amazon Studios (now Amazon MGM Studios), comprises film and television production, literary and talent management, and media advisory services divisions. Based out of London, Dream Bay’s bosses plan to offer “a unique blend of strategic guidance, development expertise, and industry insights.”
LA native Drachkovitch left his UK-based role as Original Series Development Executive at Amazon Studios in 2022 having overseen commissioning initiatives across global markets.
He had previously been based in India, where he helped spearhead the launch of Amazon Studios’ first Indian content slate out of Mumbai, including shows such as Comicstaan,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar (“Fool Me Once”), Tracey Ullman (“The Tracey Ullman Show”), Finn Bennett (“True Detective: Night Country”) and Luther Ford (“The Crown”) have joined the cast of Netflix spy series “Black Doves.”
The previously announced cast includes Keira Knightley (“Boston Strangler”) Ben Whishaw (“Passages”), Sarah Lancashire (“Happy Valley”), Andrew Buchan (“Carnival Row”), Andrew Koji (“Warrior”), Kathryn Hunter (“Andor”), Sam Troughton (“Chernobyl”), Ella Lily Hyland (“Fifteen Love”), Adam Silver (“The Diplomat”), Ken Nwosu (“Look the Other Way and Run”), Gabrielle Creevy (“In My Skin”) and Omari Douglas (“Rye Lane”).
The series is written and created by “The Lazarus Project” showrunner Joe Barton. Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, “Black Doves” follows Helen Webb (Knightley), a quick-witted, down to earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves.
The previously announced cast includes Keira Knightley (“Boston Strangler”) Ben Whishaw (“Passages”), Sarah Lancashire (“Happy Valley”), Andrew Buchan (“Carnival Row”), Andrew Koji (“Warrior”), Kathryn Hunter (“Andor”), Sam Troughton (“Chernobyl”), Ella Lily Hyland (“Fifteen Love”), Adam Silver (“The Diplomat”), Ken Nwosu (“Look the Other Way and Run”), Gabrielle Creevy (“In My Skin”) and Omari Douglas (“Rye Lane”).
The series is written and created by “The Lazarus Project” showrunner Joe Barton. Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, “Black Doves” follows Helen Webb (Knightley), a quick-witted, down to earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves.
- 3/22/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
ITV Studios and Itvx revenues helped to offset falls in linear at UK network ITV in the first nine months of 2023.
A Q3 trading update revealed ITV Studios turnover has grown 9% to £1.52B ($1.87B), while digital revenues — much of which are now derived from streamer Itvx — are up 23% to reach £340M.
Key productions in the period have included Prime Video tennis drama Fifteen Love; Love Island USA season 5 for Peacock; and World on Fire season 2 for the BBC, while total streaming hours were up 27% year-on-year to the end of September — you can read more analysis about ITV’s pivot to streaming here.
Those two figures meant ITV’s overall revenues remained almost exactly flat, up 1% at £2.98B. Total external revenue was a similar result, coming in at £2.53B. Revenue from the Media & Entertainment division that houses its networks was down 7%, as expected, at £1.46B.
Advertising revenue was down 7%. Most major...
A Q3 trading update revealed ITV Studios turnover has grown 9% to £1.52B ($1.87B), while digital revenues — much of which are now derived from streamer Itvx — are up 23% to reach £340M.
Key productions in the period have included Prime Video tennis drama Fifteen Love; Love Island USA season 5 for Peacock; and World on Fire season 2 for the BBC, while total streaming hours were up 27% year-on-year to the end of September — you can read more analysis about ITV’s pivot to streaming here.
Those two figures meant ITV’s overall revenues remained almost exactly flat, up 1% at £2.98B. Total external revenue was a similar result, coming in at £2.53B. Revenue from the Media & Entertainment division that houses its networks was down 7%, as expected, at £1.46B.
Advertising revenue was down 7%. Most major...
- 11/8/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Paddington’s’ Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire have joined Keira Knightley on the cast for Netflix’s ‘Black Doves.’
The six-part series, which began filming in central London last week, will also star Andrew Buchan (Carnival Row), Andrew Koji (Warrior), Kathryn Hunter (Andor), Sam Troughton (Chernobyl, Mank), Ella Lily Hyland (Fifteen Love, Silent Roar), Adam Silver (The Diplomat, Masters of The Air, Eric), Ken Nwosu (Look the Other Way and Run) and Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin).
Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, the series is said to be a sharp, action-filled and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice.
It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic...
The six-part series, which began filming in central London last week, will also star Andrew Buchan (Carnival Row), Andrew Koji (Warrior), Kathryn Hunter (Andor), Sam Troughton (Chernobyl, Mank), Ella Lily Hyland (Fifteen Love, Silent Roar), Adam Silver (The Diplomat, Masters of The Air, Eric), Ken Nwosu (Look the Other Way and Run) and Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin).
Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, the series is said to be a sharp, action-filled and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice.
It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic...
- 10/26/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Ben Whishaw (“Paddington”) and “Happy Valley’s” Sarah Lancashire are set to join Keira Knightley in Netflix’s upcoming spy series “Black Doves,” Variety can exclusively confirm.
More details about the series, which was written and created by “The Lazarus Project” showrunner Joe Barton, have also emerged.
A story of friendship and sacrifice, “Black Doves” is set during Christmastime in London. It revolves around Helen Webb (Knightley), a politician’s wife, doting mother — and professional spy. For years, Helen has been passing on her husband’s secrets to the Black Doves, the shadowy organization for whom she works. But when her lover Jason is assassinated, Helen’s life is turned upside down and only her old friend Sam Young (Whishaw) can keep her safe.
Helen and Sam set out to discover who killed Jason and why. But Sam, a suave, champagne-drinking assassin, also has problems of his own. Out of...
More details about the series, which was written and created by “The Lazarus Project” showrunner Joe Barton, have also emerged.
A story of friendship and sacrifice, “Black Doves” is set during Christmastime in London. It revolves around Helen Webb (Knightley), a politician’s wife, doting mother — and professional spy. For years, Helen has been passing on her husband’s secrets to the Black Doves, the shadowy organization for whom she works. But when her lover Jason is assassinated, Helen’s life is turned upside down and only her old friend Sam Young (Whishaw) can keep her safe.
Helen and Sam set out to discover who killed Jason and why. But Sam, a suave, champagne-drinking assassin, also has problems of his own. Out of...
- 10/25/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
To celebrate the release of Fifteen-Love, the new drama series streaming on Amazon Prime, we had the pleasure of chatting to the cast of the show that’s set to put the tension in tennis.
The series follows former tennis prodigy, Justine Pearce (Ella Lily-Hyland), who five years after her sudden and early retirement makes explosive allegations against her former coach, Glenn Lapthorn (Aidan Turner). It’s a gripping exploration of trust, power and obsession within the world of elite tennis.
First, we chat to Aiden Turner and Ella Lily-Hyland about the lure of the series, the relationship between their characters and the initial starting point for them, the difficulties of bringing sport to the screen, and why the show will be the audience’s latest binge-watch. Next, we chat with Jess Darrow, Harmony Rose Bremner & Tom Varey about their roles in the show, whether they knew how it would all end,...
The series follows former tennis prodigy, Justine Pearce (Ella Lily-Hyland), who five years after her sudden and early retirement makes explosive allegations against her former coach, Glenn Lapthorn (Aidan Turner). It’s a gripping exploration of trust, power and obsession within the world of elite tennis.
First, we chat to Aiden Turner and Ella Lily-Hyland about the lure of the series, the relationship between their characters and the initial starting point for them, the difficulties of bringing sport to the screen, and why the show will be the audience’s latest binge-watch. Next, we chat with Jess Darrow, Harmony Rose Bremner & Tom Varey about their roles in the show, whether they knew how it would all end,...
- 7/23/2023
- by Scott Davis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Warning: contains spoilers for the Fifteen-Love finale and details of sexual assault.
Tennis abuse scandal drama Fifteen-Love does a few things very well. One is casting newcomer Ella Lily Hyland as Justine, a lead role which will hopefully be the first of many. (Remember 21-year-old Emily Blunt burning like a sun in 2004’s My Summer of Love? Hyland’s in that league. Productions should be falling over themselves to hire her after this.)
The second coup was casting Aidan Turner as Glenn, the tennis coach Justine accuses of historical sexual abuse. Professionally handsome Turner is a world away from the popularly held image of a pervy old man, and a plausible object of lust for the young Justine and others. When Glenn dismisses Justine’s claims as a bitter grudge resulting from professional frustration and youthful infatuation, you could well believe it. A cocky 16-year-old like Justine might well fantasise over this attractive,...
Tennis abuse scandal drama Fifteen-Love does a few things very well. One is casting newcomer Ella Lily Hyland as Justine, a lead role which will hopefully be the first of many. (Remember 21-year-old Emily Blunt burning like a sun in 2004’s My Summer of Love? Hyland’s in that league. Productions should be falling over themselves to hire her after this.)
The second coup was casting Aidan Turner as Glenn, the tennis coach Justine accuses of historical sexual abuse. Professionally handsome Turner is a world away from the popularly held image of a pervy old man, and a plausible object of lust for the young Justine and others. When Glenn dismisses Justine’s claims as a bitter grudge resulting from professional frustration and youthful infatuation, you could well believe it. A cocky 16-year-old like Justine might well fantasise over this attractive,...
- 7/23/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Prime Video is serving up drama this week when the new British series “Fifteen-Love” makes its debut on the streamer. Starring Ella Lily Hyland and Aidan Turner, the six-parter follows former tennis prodigy Justine Pearce who makes an allegation against her former coach five years after an injury puts a stop to her career. All six episodes of “Fifteen-Love” will premiere on Prime Video globally on Friday, July 21. You can watch Fifteen-Love: Season 1 with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video.
How to Watch ‘Fifteen-Love’ Series Premiere When: Friday, July 21, 2023 Where: Amazon Prime Video Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video. 30-Day Free Trial$8.99 / month amazon.com About ‘Fifteen-Love’ Series Premiere
The new drama portrays Justine Pearce, a one-time former rising tennis star whose sudden success at 17 took her and her coach, Glenn Lapthorn, to the quarterfinals ofthe French Open.
Now, five years after an...
How to Watch ‘Fifteen-Love’ Series Premiere When: Friday, July 21, 2023 Where: Amazon Prime Video Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Amazon Prime Video. 30-Day Free Trial$8.99 / month amazon.com About ‘Fifteen-Love’ Series Premiere
The new drama portrays Justine Pearce, a one-time former rising tennis star whose sudden success at 17 took her and her coach, Glenn Lapthorn, to the quarterfinals ofthe French Open.
Now, five years after an...
- 7/21/2023
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Tennis star Justine Pearce and elite coach Glenn Lapthorn, the lead characters in new Prime Video series Fifteen-Love, are works of fiction. Their story is not. After decades of silence and whispers, allegations of predatory sexual behaviour and abuse perpetrated by tennis coaches on young players are finally being voiced, and the consequences finally being felt.
In the new British TV drama, 24-year-old newcomer Ella Lily Hyland is outstanding as Justine, a physiotherapist whose promising tennis career ended at age 17, following an injury. 40-year-old Aidan Turner plays her former private coach Glenn, a married father of two whom Justine reports to the police for multiple counts of historical sexual assault. Glenn denies any wrongdoing, calling Justine a fantasist harbouring a bitter grudge. What really happened in the run-up to the 2018 French Open tournament unspools over six tense episodes.
While Fifteen-Love takes care not to pin itself to a single real-world parallel,...
In the new British TV drama, 24-year-old newcomer Ella Lily Hyland is outstanding as Justine, a physiotherapist whose promising tennis career ended at age 17, following an injury. 40-year-old Aidan Turner plays her former private coach Glenn, a married father of two whom Justine reports to the police for multiple counts of historical sexual assault. Glenn denies any wrongdoing, calling Justine a fantasist harbouring a bitter grudge. What really happened in the run-up to the 2018 French Open tournament unspools over six tense episodes.
While Fifteen-Love takes care not to pin itself to a single real-world parallel,...
- 7/21/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
"All it takes is one person to believe her." Amazon has unveiled a first look trailer for a new British crime drama series titled Fifteen-Love, without a streaming date announced yet. This seems to be a response to Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, which just got its own trailer yesterday, another romantic drama involving a young woman who's a tennis prodigy. Is this meant to be counter-programming? Or just another tennis-based story? Set in the world of elite tennis, the drama portrays Justine as a one-time rising star whose sudden success at 17 took her and her coach Glenn Lapthorn to the quarterfinals of the French Open. The former tennis prodigy makes an allegation against her former coach five years after an injury puts a stop to her career. Ella Lily Hyland stars as Justine, with Aidan Turner as her coach, plus Anna Chancellor, Jessica Darrow, Tom Varey, Lorenzo Richelmy, Manon Azem,...
- 6/21/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
This year’s scaled-down, “special one-year iteration” of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) will open on August 18 with the world premiere of Silent Roar, the debut feature from Scottish writer and director Johnny Barrington.
Billed as a “teenage tale of surfing, sex, and hellfire,” the pic is set in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides and stars newcomer Louis McCartney as Dondo, a young surfer struggling to accept his father’s recent disappearance at sea. Caught up in grief, he is brought to his senses by his rebellious crush Sas, a high achiever who dreams of escaping the island. When an oddly-behaved new minister arrives on the island, Dondo begins to have cosmic visions.
Pic was shot in the surroundings of Uig, on the Isle of Lewis, and draws inspiration from Barrington’s teenage years on the Isle of Skye. Chris Young (The Inbetweeners Movie) produced the film, with Screen Scotland,...
Billed as a “teenage tale of surfing, sex, and hellfire,” the pic is set in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides and stars newcomer Louis McCartney as Dondo, a young surfer struggling to accept his father’s recent disappearance at sea. Caught up in grief, he is brought to his senses by his rebellious crush Sas, a high achiever who dreams of escaping the island. When an oddly-behaved new minister arrives on the island, Dondo begins to have cosmic visions.
Pic was shot in the surroundings of Uig, on the Isle of Lewis, and draws inspiration from Barrington’s teenage years on the Isle of Skye. Chris Young (The Inbetweeners Movie) produced the film, with Screen Scotland,...
- 6/14/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Crimson Media has brought on Matt Kniaz and Jerrold Rhee as managers. They also will join Crimson founders Matt Floyd and Matthew Seamons as Partners in the boutique management firm.
Kniaz comes to Crimson from Industry Entertainment, and Rhee joins from Bohemia Group.
Kniaz began working at ICM and CAA in the talent, music crossover & comedy departments, transitioning to talent management in 2015 with a move to Industry Entertainment. Clients include Tamara Taylor, Alexis Floyd, Olivia Hamilton, Jess Darrow, Tre Hale, Reece Noi, Stefan Kapicic, and Pasha Lychnikoff.
Rhee began his career in TV lit at Gersh, and moved on to work with talent at Diverse Talent Group. He made the jump into management in 2010, first at Evolution Entertainment,...
Kniaz comes to Crimson from Industry Entertainment, and Rhee joins from Bohemia Group.
Kniaz began working at ICM and CAA in the talent, music crossover & comedy departments, transitioning to talent management in 2015 with a move to Industry Entertainment. Clients include Tamara Taylor, Alexis Floyd, Olivia Hamilton, Jess Darrow, Tre Hale, Reece Noi, Stefan Kapicic, and Pasha Lychnikoff.
Rhee began his career in TV lit at Gersh, and moved on to work with talent at Diverse Talent Group. He made the jump into management in 2010, first at Evolution Entertainment,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Nordic Networks Team For ITV Studios Drama Deal
Five Nordic public broadcasters have pooled resources to strike a multi-title drama deal with distributor ITV Studios. Svt in Sweden, Nrk in Norway, Yle in Finland, Dr in Denmark and Ruv in Iceland unified their buying power to snap up buzzy tennis drama Fifteen-Love, relationship drama You & Me, medical thriller Malpractice and the Russell T. Davies-penned Nolly. True crime-dramas The Hunt For Raoul Moat, The Walk-In and Four Lives and miniseries Tom Jones were also packaged. Fredrik Luihn, Head of Acquisitions at Nrk, speaking on behalf of the group said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring such a great line-up of top-quality British drama series to the Nordic audience.” The deal was struck last week at the ITV Studios Drama Festival during the London TV Screenings.
CGI Format ‘Bingo Blitz’ Emerges From Israel To Save On Costs...
Five Nordic public broadcasters have pooled resources to strike a multi-title drama deal with distributor ITV Studios. Svt in Sweden, Nrk in Norway, Yle in Finland, Dr in Denmark and Ruv in Iceland unified their buying power to snap up buzzy tennis drama Fifteen-Love, relationship drama You & Me, medical thriller Malpractice and the Russell T. Davies-penned Nolly. True crime-dramas The Hunt For Raoul Moat, The Walk-In and Four Lives and miniseries Tom Jones were also packaged. Fredrik Luihn, Head of Acquisitions at Nrk, speaking on behalf of the group said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring such a great line-up of top-quality British drama series to the Nordic audience.” The deal was struck last week at the ITV Studios Drama Festival during the London TV Screenings.
CGI Format ‘Bingo Blitz’ Emerges From Israel To Save On Costs...
- 3/9/2023
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
After five years of quietly gathering steam within the international TV community, the 2023 edition of the London TV Screenings is its biggest outing yet.
Running Feb. 27 to March 3, the event features more than 25 distributors and 400 buyers. But how did the confab evolve from a set of casual screenings by rival distributors of the BBC into an event that now rivals MipTV in Cannes?
Its genesis goes back to 1976, when BBC Showcase was created from 25 European buyers gathering in Brighton’s Old Ship Hotel to watch episodes of shows such as “Fawlty Towers,” and buy such programs for audiences back in their home countries. The showcase then moved to other locations, including Edinburgh and Harrogate, before returning to Brighton, and eventually relocating to Liverpool in 2012.
The number of distributors and rivals to the BBC grew, so they arranged meetings with buyers and partners in London after the Showcase and began to...
Running Feb. 27 to March 3, the event features more than 25 distributors and 400 buyers. But how did the confab evolve from a set of casual screenings by rival distributors of the BBC into an event that now rivals MipTV in Cannes?
Its genesis goes back to 1976, when BBC Showcase was created from 25 European buyers gathering in Brighton’s Old Ship Hotel to watch episodes of shows such as “Fawlty Towers,” and buy such programs for audiences back in their home countries. The showcase then moved to other locations, including Edinburgh and Harrogate, before returning to Brighton, and eventually relocating to Liverpool in 2012.
The number of distributors and rivals to the BBC grew, so they arranged meetings with buyers and partners in London after the Showcase and began to...
- 2/27/2023
- by Tara Conlan
- Variety Film + TV
The 2023 London Screenings, which unfold Feb. 27 to March 3, take place in an increasingly crowded international TV calendar. The event kicks off just days after the Berlinale Series Market, overlaps with the BBC Studios Showcase and precedes Series Mania and MipTV.
The week-long showcase has established itself as a key place to acquire the best of British and international programming. All major global TV distributors, spanning 26 companies, have a plethora of content to offer across genres and formats, and a series of screenings, meetings and events have been lined up.
To help you cut through the slates, Variety has surveyed the goods from key international distributors. Here are our picks of 15 shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.
A Body That Works
(Keshet International)
“A Body That Works”
An intense triangle involving love, jealousy, desire and selflessness sees a childless couple enlist the help of a surrogate to conceive. At the heart...
The week-long showcase has established itself as a key place to acquire the best of British and international programming. All major global TV distributors, spanning 26 companies, have a plethora of content to offer across genres and formats, and a series of screenings, meetings and events have been lined up.
To help you cut through the slates, Variety has surveyed the goods from key international distributors. Here are our picks of 15 shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.
A Body That Works
(Keshet International)
“A Body That Works”
An intense triangle involving love, jealousy, desire and selflessness sees a childless couple enlist the help of a surrogate to conceive. At the heart...
- 2/24/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Love Island distributor ITV Studios has hired a Disney sales exec on the eve of the London TV Screenings.
Cristina Brun has been named VP of Sales for France, Italy and Iberia with the ITV Studios Global Distribution team.
She’ll report to David Wilcox, SVP Emea, who in turn reports to Gisela Aimus-Minnbergh, EVP, Emea. Brun will mainly focus on France and have two manager-level execs report into her. Her new role is a new one, we hear.
Brun previously spent 12 years in Disney’s international distribution team, rising to Sales Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics. She also spent 12 years at Paramount Global predecessor Viacom in various sales roles, including Head of Sales, Emea.
For ITV Studios, the hire comes ahead of its Festival-branded events next week during the London TV Screenings. The company is splitting its Wednesday event in the UK capital into formats, non-scripted and drama sections.
Cristina Brun has been named VP of Sales for France, Italy and Iberia with the ITV Studios Global Distribution team.
She’ll report to David Wilcox, SVP Emea, who in turn reports to Gisela Aimus-Minnbergh, EVP, Emea. Brun will mainly focus on France and have two manager-level execs report into her. Her new role is a new one, we hear.
Brun previously spent 12 years in Disney’s international distribution team, rising to Sales Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics. She also spent 12 years at Paramount Global predecessor Viacom in various sales roles, including Head of Sales, Emea.
For ITV Studios, the hire comes ahead of its Festival-branded events next week during the London TV Screenings. The company is splitting its Wednesday event in the UK capital into formats, non-scripted and drama sections.
- 2/24/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
“I think we need to find a way to avoid the U.S. brainwash,” said Newen Connect CEO Rodolphe Buet at this morning’s Berlinale Series Adapting to the Market session.
The head of the French distributor urged global buyers to stop “copying too much from the U.S. audience” as he cited research that showed the streamers have far more U.S. and UK shows on their platforms locally than they do from the rest of the world.
Ruth Berry, ITV Studios Head of Global Distribution, struck a more positive tone when she said stories in foreign languages have become “far more accessible” due to audiences being more willing to watch dubbed or subtitled shows, which is “clearly an exciting opportunity.”
And Zdf Studios Vice President of Drama Robert Franke is “not too afraid” of “U.S. brainwash” as the market over the past decade has turned from “push to pull.
The head of the French distributor urged global buyers to stop “copying too much from the U.S. audience” as he cited research that showed the streamers have far more U.S. and UK shows on their platforms locally than they do from the rest of the world.
Ruth Berry, ITV Studios Head of Global Distribution, struck a more positive tone when she said stories in foreign languages have become “far more accessible” due to audiences being more willing to watch dubbed or subtitled shows, which is “clearly an exciting opportunity.”
And Zdf Studios Vice President of Drama Robert Franke is “not too afraid” of “U.S. brainwash” as the market over the past decade has turned from “push to pull.
- 2/20/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Peacock’s upcoming gladiator drama Those About to Die has added seven names to its cast, with Marco Kreuzpaintner (Beat) now signed up as co-director and exec producer.
Lorenzo Richelmy, Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas and Moe Hashim will join Anthony Hopkins in the AGC Television series, which Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) will co-direct with Kreuzpaintner. Robert Rodat is the writer.
The ambitious series, which is inspired by Daniel Mannix’s eponymous nonfiction book, is set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition and features an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire.
Oscar winner Hopkins was last month cast as Vespasian, Roman Emperor and head of the Flavian bloodline.
Hughes (The English, Dancing on the Edge) will play Titus Flavianus, the elder son and of Vespasian and apparent heir to the Imperial throne, and Macari (Sex Education,...
Lorenzo Richelmy, Tom Hughes, Sara Martins, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Dimitri Leonidas and Moe Hashim will join Anthony Hopkins in the AGC Television series, which Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) will co-direct with Kreuzpaintner. Robert Rodat is the writer.
The ambitious series, which is inspired by Daniel Mannix’s eponymous nonfiction book, is set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition and features an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire.
Oscar winner Hopkins was last month cast as Vespasian, Roman Emperor and head of the Flavian bloodline.
Hughes (The English, Dancing on the Edge) will play Titus Flavianus, the elder son and of Vespasian and apparent heir to the Imperial throne, and Macari (Sex Education,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Georgia Brown, head of Amazon Studios in Europe, is stepping down after five years in the role, Variety can reveal.
The executive’s last day at the business is Wednesday (Aug. 31), though her departure is understood to have been in the works for some time. Brown is believed to be moving on to another opportunity, though it’s not yet clear what or where her new role will be.
Brown has been a strong and prominent ambassador for Amazon Studios in Europe, and was the first executive hired to lead originals for the continent. In the 2016 to 2018 period, when a number of the global streaming services were first setting up shop internationally and kept their executives largely out of view, Brown was always front and center for Amazon, keen to discuss her local-first strategy.
News of her departure may come as a surprise to some in the U.K. who...
The executive’s last day at the business is Wednesday (Aug. 31), though her departure is understood to have been in the works for some time. Brown is believed to be moving on to another opportunity, though it’s not yet clear what or where her new role will be.
Brown has been a strong and prominent ambassador for Amazon Studios in Europe, and was the first executive hired to lead originals for the continent. In the 2016 to 2018 period, when a number of the global streaming services were first setting up shop internationally and kept their executives largely out of view, Brown was always front and center for Amazon, keen to discuss her local-first strategy.
News of her departure may come as a surprise to some in the U.K. who...
- 8/31/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Poldark‘s Aidan Turner is hitting the tennis courts for his next role as the actor is set to costar in Prime Video‘s upcoming U.K. drama Fifteen-Love. Created by Hania Elkington, Fifteen-Love tells the fictional story of Justine Pearce (Ella Lily Hyland), an up-and-coming sports prodigy who shoots to stardom in the world of Grand Slam Tennis. She’s aided by her coach Glenn Lapthorn (Turner), with whom she has a distinctive rapport. Their team-up brought Justine to the French Open, but when an injury cuts Justine’s dream short, she ends her professional career. Exploring Justine’s story five years into the future, she’s now 22 and has a new life as a therapist at her old tennis academy. When she makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone has to reconsider the nature of Justine and Glenn’s past success. Hania Elkington (Credit: Ian...
- 8/4/2022
- TV Insider
“Poldark’s” Aidan Turner will star as a maverick coach guiding an up-and-coming tennis player (Ella Lily Hyland) to stardom in Amazon Prime Video’s new U.K. drama “Fifteen-Love.”
Created by Hania Elkington, “Fifteen-Love” explores the fictional story of Justine Pearce (Hyland), a young sports prodigy, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of Grand Slam Tennis, aided by her coach Glenn Lapthorn (Turner), with whom she shared an intense rapport.
Together they reached the semi-final of the French Open but Justine’s dream was cut brutally short by a devastating injury and the end of her professional career. Five years on, now aged 22, Justine has a new life as a therapist at her old tennis academy Longwood, but when she makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone is forced to reconsider what they thought they knew about Justine and Glenn’s past success.
Alongside Turner and Hyland,...
Created by Hania Elkington, “Fifteen-Love” explores the fictional story of Justine Pearce (Hyland), a young sports prodigy, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of Grand Slam Tennis, aided by her coach Glenn Lapthorn (Turner), with whom she shared an intense rapport.
Together they reached the semi-final of the French Open but Justine’s dream was cut brutally short by a devastating injury and the end of her professional career. Five years on, now aged 22, Justine has a new life as a therapist at her old tennis academy Longwood, but when she makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone is forced to reconsider what they thought they knew about Justine and Glenn’s past success.
Alongside Turner and Hyland,...
- 8/4/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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