How do channels commission new factual programs?
We continue to explore issues raised by the commissioning process for The Bible, a 10-hour docu-drama series from the U.S. History channel In previous posts: Creation Theory #1: History Channel Refreshes a Golden Oldie. Chooses a Promotable, Rock-solid Producer Creation Theory #2: An A+E Networks’ Stakeholder is Eager to Establish a 50%-owned Production Company as a …
Last week, History announced The Bible, a five-part, 10-hour docu-drama that explores Biblical stories The series will screen in 2013 According to History’s press release “THE BIBLE series is being produced for HISTORY by Lightworkers Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. “Executive Producers are Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Richard Bedser.” So what is the …
History Refreshes ‘The Bible’. Creation Theory #2 Read More »
The History Channel recently announced The Bible, a 10-hour dramatic series – History calls it a ‘docu-drama’ – that explores Biblical stories. Mark Burnett is the producer. For History, it’s another big stride out of its Factual comfort zone and further towards Scripted television and signature docu-dramas And it’s a new direction for Burnett, a …
History Channel Refreshes ‘The Bible’. Creation Theory #1 Read More »
Where is the Sundance Channel headed after 15 years? Founder Robert Redford is an occasional presence at the channel He’s certainly not gripping the tiller Is there anything left of his vision? A clue: What did Sundance green light at the 2011 Upfronts? Ownership Robert Redford, Universal Studios and Showtime Networks launched the Sundance Channel …
HOT DOCS FORUM That special magic thing settled over Toronto last week for the Hot Docs Forum, where 27 producers pitched their pre-selected projects to a high table packed with commissioners and funders. The setting was the Great Hall at UofT’s Hart House. It was part Hogwarts Part Westminster And much more absorbing! The Format …
Were you invited to the ‘Big W’? We’re not referring to the Royal Wedding But to the W Hotel in trendy Miami Beach That’s where A+E Network’s senior executive team recently poured on the RESPECT for their ‘preferred producers’ 20+/- top companies were invited They were thoroughly briefed on strategies for the major channels: A&E, …
‘Character-crazy’ is a phrase that captures the mood at the 2011 Real Screen conference. Yet we noticed that Leftfield Pictures was one of the very few producers, if not the only one, represented by an executive who heads a Casting department. We continue our talk with Leftfield’s co-founder Brent Montgomery, focusing on Casting as one of his firm’s competitive strengths. In …
‘Pawn Stars’ 4/4: Leftfield Puts Casting Under a Microscope Read More »
We recently published a detailed 2-parter on POV – the flagshipPBS documentary strand: Click here for part 1: POV’s mission, history, budgets And part 2: the filters, selection process, critical dates, typical fees, and more Last week, POV announced its schedule for 2011. We reprint it here. And next week: we begin a 2-parter on Independent Lens, the doc …
POV: The PBS Doc Strand Announces the 2011 Schedule Read More »