True Crime Archives - Documentary Business

Juan Carlos I: Downfall of a King. Interview with Producer Christian Beetz

2023 May 24 / Case Study, Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Streaming Video, Sunny Side of the Doc, True Crime, Webinars

Christian Beetz reveals in this interview and in our detailed case study how Berlin-based Gebrueder Beetz developed, funded and delivered his €2.5 Mn, 4-part docu-series that sheds new light on the former King’s notorious personal life and dramatic abdication. Watch here (20 min) Read our Case Study Juan Carlos I: Money, Sex, Power and …

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Juan Carlos I: Money, Sex, Power and the Downfall of a King. Case Study of a €2.5 Mn Docu-series

2023 May 23 / Case Study, Conferences & Markets, MIPCOM Case Study, Streaming Video, True Crime

King Juan Carlos I was a Spanish hero. He was celebrated around the world for helping Spain transition from Franco-era fascism to a modern democracy. And then, a series of financial scandals and salacious allegations forced Juan Carlos to abdicate in 2014. Christian Beetz reveals how his 4-part documentary series sheds new light on the …

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True Crime Boom: “Sex, Lies…” and the Latest Commissions & Acquisitions

2023 February 12 / Amazon, Apple, discovery+, Disney +, Distribution, Pitching, True Crime

With Peacock’s Sex, Lies and the College Cult and Netflix’s Madoff we continue our coverage of the booming True Crime genre. Here below is Part 3 of Camran Shealy’s snapshot survey of 20+ recently announced or released projects. More: Part 1 includes The Tinder Swindler. Part 2 leads with Worst Roommate Ever. In my Pact …

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Shedding Light on the Business of the Documentary Business. 2022 Report Card. Mission for 2023

2023 January 2 / Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Distribution, Netflix, Sunny Side of the Doc, Terra Mater Studios, True Crime

My unchanging editorial goals since launching my Documentary Business newsletter in 2011 are to: Capture in a few words how the ever-evolving unscripted ecosystem shapes opportunities for industry veterans and rookies alike, and Publish detailed Case Studies that reveal how productions that aren’t by award-winning A-listers are developed, funded and ultimately delivered to grateful audiences. …

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New Industry Trends series with Pact kicks off with Ed Hersh’s exploration of the True Crime boom

2022 December 22 / PACT, True Crime, Webinars

Pact UK press release, December 2022. Pact has teamed up with Documentary Business‘ Peter Hamilton to present Industry Trends, a new Pact Growth Accelerator series exploring key industry trends in handy bite-sized chunks. The first episode, which is now live, shines a spotlight on the True Crime boom and features StoryCentric Founder Ed Hersh, who …

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Resilience Rules at World Congress of Science & Factual Producers, 2022. Impressions by Indie Producer Ruth Berry

2022 December 8 / Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Documentary Production, MIPCOM Case Study, Public Television, Terra Mater Studios, True Crime, UK, Workshops

By Ruth Berry. Six hundred eighty-four producers, broadcasters and content makers filled the cavernous (but warm) hall of Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus for the 30th anniversary of WCSFP hosted by BBC Studios Scotland. Over 30% of the delegates were newcomers. It was always going to be special. After a three-year hiatus, contact was craved, masks …

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True Crime Booms: What Producers Need to Know Before They Pitch. My Pact UK Webinar with StoryCentric’s Ed Hersh

2022 December 7 / discovery+, Disney +, PACT, Pitching, Producers' Tool Kit, True Crime, Uncategorized, Webinars

Ed Hersh is a leading authority on True Crime programming. For Pact UK, we unpack the latest industry trends in the seemingly unlimited appetite for true crime programming on every platform. We discuss how the definition of True Crime programming is expanding; what producers need to know, and much more. Watch Now (22′) About Ed …

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Nat Geo & Disney+: What Do They Want? And Not! Read their ‘Unscripted Creative Brief, October 2022’

2022 November 14 / Commissioning Process, Disney +, Pitching, Streaming Video, Theatrical Documentary, True Crime

Nat Geo / Disney+ released their UNSCRIPTED CREATIVE BRIEF October 2022. The #2 global streamer is “significantly broadening our editorial lens,” New opportunities can be discerned from this very useful guide to Nat Geo’s program priorities. It captures the language used by decision-makers, the pitches they want to hear… and the ones that are a waste …

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