Katcy Stephan When Oscar-winning producer Jonathan Sanger was first pitched “Cabrini,” the story of the first American saint, he wasn’t quite sure he was right for the project. “I said, ‘I think it’s a great idea. I think you should make the movie.
21.02.2024 - 13:03 / deadline.com
“There’s market failure because the streamers came in, high-end TV got higher end, and Hollywood arrived. And they took a lot of our investors away,” Sixteen Films producer Rebecca O’Brien concluded when quizzed on the state of the UK indie film sector during an appearance at the UK’s British Film & High-End TV Inquiry.
She added: “Some additional fiscal support for the sector is essential. I think we could really die without it.”
O’Brien appeared in front of the bipartisan committee this morning, where she discussed her decades-long experience producing features with Ken Loach, navigating the independent market of international co-productions and financing, and what must change for the UK indie industry to push forward.
The session began with O’Brien being asked how she and her team at Sixteen Films have managed to successfully produce and land distribution for the films of the company’s founder, Ken Loach.
“When we made I, Daniel Blake, for instance, we didn’t know that it would be successful in Japan. We thought we were making a little film set in the northeast, which was telling stories about certain parts of the community at that time,” she said.
“We wanted to make it because we thought it was an important story to tell. So you never know what story might work. You don’t know until you’ve done it, which is why we need the research and development to get stories up and running.”
O’Brien added that the work Sixteen Films has completed has been highly dependent on their European partners, who she said have been integral in financing and selling projects across the world. The company has produced many of its recent films with Vincent Maraval’s Goodfellas (formerly Wild Bunch) and the Paris-based Why Not
Katcy Stephan When Oscar-winning producer Jonathan Sanger was first pitched “Cabrini,” the story of the first American saint, he wasn’t quite sure he was right for the project. “I said, ‘I think it’s a great idea. I think you should make the movie.
Alison Hammond has said 'farewell' to fans as the much-loved star announced a career break. It comes as the This Morning regular announced she will be absent for the next month.
Faye Bradley Hong Kong’s One Cool Film group has announced five new movies, revealed through exclusive teasers and posters on the opening day of FilMart. Upcoming films include “Love Lies,” starring Sandra Ng and M.C. Cheung Tinfu; “The Trier of Fact,” directed by Calvin Tong and featuring Louis Koo and Eddie Peng; “The Way We Talk,” produced, written and directed by Adam Wong, with Neo Yau, Chung Suet Ying and Ng Tsz Ho Marco in leading roles; “Good Game,” helmed by Dickson Leung, written by Lily He Xin and Sheng Ling Xiu Zhong, and starring Andrew Lam, Will Or and Yanny Chan; and “Behind the Shadows,” produced by Soi Cheang, directed by Jonathan Li and Chou Man Yu, and starring Koo, Chrissie Chou and Liu Kuan Ting.
Addie Morfoot Contributor Stormy Daniels cried and laughed during the SXSW world premiere of “Stormy,” a Peacock documentary about the porn star who made national headlines when it was revealed that Donald Trump‘s lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with the former president. “Fuck Trump,” Daniels said onstage following the March 8 screening.
Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here taking you through what has been a whirlwind of a week in international TV and film. Do not stop here — please do read on. And sign up here.
EXCLUSIVE: UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has said the 40% indie film tax relief will bring balance to a movie sector that has swung too far towards big-budget fare in recent years.
If we’re going to praise the visual rapture of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” movies—and we should—and in particular, the newly released “Dune: Part Two,” there’s no conversation that can happen without mention of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, who won his first Oscar for “Dune” in 2022. READ MORE: Denis Villeneuve Calls ‘Dune: Part Two’ A “Dark Tragedy,” Talks Potential ‘Messiah’ Sequel & More [Interview] While “Dune: Part Two” is genuinely unanimously praised by critics (read our review here)—and this weekend, it grossed $178.5 million worldwide, and with $81 domestic, that’s the biggest opening since “Barbie”— it does have a small group of detractors.
step up to help out the royal family — should that be something they’d want him to do.With King Charles out of action as he undergoes cancer treatment, and Kate Middleton sitting out of royal engagements until after Easter following her abdominal surgery, the Firm is having to undergo a major reshuffle.“It’s difficult to tell and it’ll be interesting to see what goes on moving forward,” Harrold exclusively told The Post.“Harry is a Counsellor of State, so he is still a very senior member of the royal family and if the time comes, he would step up if he needs to.”“While Harry might not be next in line to the throne, he’s not that far down the line of succession so his importance to the royal family shouldn’t be overlooked,” Harrold went on, adding, “I think it’s within all of their benefits to actually resolve these ongoing issues.”Returning to the UK at a time of crisis is something that Harry has reportedly been contemplating in recent weeks.Although the father of two, 39, is being kept at arm’s length from ongoing succession talks, it seems as though he could make a swift return to the royal fold as the family navigates several health woes.In fact, it’s his wife, Meghan Markle, who is the “apprehensive” one when it comes to the idea of moving back to Harry’s home soil.Meanwhile, 5,459 miles away in London, Prince William and Princess Anne are taking over the reins from Queen Camilla as she’s set to jet off on a quick vacation following a busy few weeks.King Charles’ wife is said to be “exhausted” from having to take on an extra workload following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.Camilla, 76, has taken on 13 official engagements solo since news of the King’s ailing health came to light.William, the heir to the throne,
UPDATED: “Nobody understands all the things you have to do when you wear a badge.” So begins the Season 2 trailer for American Rust which sees the return of Jeff Daniels‘ police chief Del Harris to fictional Buell, Pennsylvania to investigate what appears to be a widening murder conspiracy threatening the small town.
Alex Ritman Ireland appears to be everywhere on screen at the minute — and it isn’t just a trend. Where 2022 and 2023 had “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Paul Mescal, “The Quiet Girl” and short film “The Irish Goodbye” making noise throughout awards season, plus John Carney’s “Flora and Son” being snapped up in Sundance by Apple TV+, 2024 has already shown that the Irish industry has become a global force.
Treat Williams’ Blue Bloods character, Lenny Ross, was the best friend and former partner of New York City Police Commissioner Francis “Frank” Reagan (Tom Selleck). In a conjunction of the series with real life, both were given a tribute on Friday.
Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Jacob Scipio is headed back to the “Bad Boys” universe. Actor Scipio, who most recently starred opposite Pedro Pascal and Nicolas Cage in the meta adventure “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” will reprise his role as Armando Aretas – the estranged son of Will Smith’s Miami-Dade police detective character Mike Lowery. Scipio is getting a narrative upgrade from his debut in 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” we hear, as the script will see him play the main antagonist in the action film led by Smith and Martin Lawrence.
A 'murderous beast' who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death then killed her new partner will die behind bars after a judge sentenced him to a rare whole life order.
EXCLUSIVE: Elizabeth Taylor‘s son will be interviewed on TV for the first time about his mother in the upcoming Kim Kardashian-produced doc about one of Hollywood’s ultimate leading ladies.
Despite our best predictions with our 2024 TV preview, perhaps a little on the early side, when Disney finally revealed its 2024 Disney+ slate, in spite of four Lucasfilm projects on the docket for this year, Tony Gilroy’s “Andor” starring Diego Luna wasn’t one of them. Instead, Disney promised Leslye Headland’s “The Acolyte,” seemingly scheduled for June of this year, Jon Watts’ “Skeleton Crew,” plus “The Bad Batch,” which just finished up season three, and “Tales Of The Jedi” season two.
Coronation Street star Tina O'Brien was left doing a double take over a picture of herself from her early days in the show due to who it reminded her of. The actress took a trip down memory lane and looked back at all of her character's 'bad romances' from over the years.
Coronation Street's Sarah Barlow 'should be worried' as her latest bad romance may have serious consequences. As viewers of the ITV soap know, the character is currently loved-up with Damon Hay after their affair ended her marriage to husband Adam Barlow.
UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been told to use his forthcoming Spring budget to make an “urgent intervention” to support the UK indie film sector in a letter published by Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the influential Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Anatomy of a Fall French producer Marie-Ange Luciani put in a flying appearance at the Berlinale this week with Claire Burger’s coming-of-age drama Langue Étrangère which received a warm reception in competition.
EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has acquired world rights to under-the-radar thriller Amber Alert, which will star Golden Globe nominee Hayden Panettiere (Scream VI). Golden Globe winner Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary) co-stars.