“This is the perfect opportunity for us to make reality ‘real’ again,” says Peter Tierney, the commissioner who has spent the past two years overseeing ITV’s rebooted Big Brother.
Speaking as ITV prepares to become the third UK network to premiere the world-beating format, Tierney says his team have listened relentlessly to audiences “telling us that they want real, authentic reality.”
“They are aware of the way in which [some of] these shows are made, the directions you can push contestants in and the hands of the producer,” he adds. “But Big Brother presents us with the perfect opportunity to make reality ‘real’ again, providing a better opportunity for an environment that is conducive to real life than many other reality shows afford you.”
In a world of over-polished, glossy hits, Tierney says his reality commissioning team and producers at Banijay label Initial have repeatedly stressed that they will do their...
Speaking as ITV prepares to become the third UK network to premiere the world-beating format, Tierney says his team have listened relentlessly to audiences “telling us that they want real, authentic reality.”
“They are aware of the way in which [some of] these shows are made, the directions you can push contestants in and the hands of the producer,” he adds. “But Big Brother presents us with the perfect opportunity to make reality ‘real’ again, providing a better opportunity for an environment that is conducive to real life than many other reality shows afford you.”
In a world of over-polished, glossy hits, Tierney says his reality commissioning team and producers at Banijay label Initial have repeatedly stressed that they will do their...
- 10/3/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Big Brother exec Katy Manley has said it is “derogatory and disingenuous” for people to dismiss reality TV shows as “guilty pleasures.”
Speaking during an Edinburgh TV Festival debate titled TV’s Snobbery Problem, Initial bosss Manley, who is helming the ITV Big Brother reboot with Natalka Znak, blasted those who don’t respect shows in which “people say their opinions in their own words.”
“Maybe that is not as palatable for [the detractors],” she added. “Maybe it’s because they’re not watching polished TV professionals but I think it’s derogatory and disingenuous to say these shows are guilty pleasures. There are hundreds of people working on them.”
Part of “the snobbery” is a “British sensibility to dismiss people who don’t have a traditional talent like singing or writing a book,” added Manley. Big Brother will return to ITV – its third UK network – later this year, five years after...
Speaking during an Edinburgh TV Festival debate titled TV’s Snobbery Problem, Initial bosss Manley, who is helming the ITV Big Brother reboot with Natalka Znak, blasted those who don’t respect shows in which “people say their opinions in their own words.”
“Maybe that is not as palatable for [the detractors],” she added. “Maybe it’s because they’re not watching polished TV professionals but I think it’s derogatory and disingenuous to say these shows are guilty pleasures. There are hundreds of people working on them.”
Part of “the snobbery” is a “British sensibility to dismiss people who don’t have a traditional talent like singing or writing a book,” added Manley. Big Brother will return to ITV – its third UK network – later this year, five years after...
- 8/23/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Gravitas Ventures has acquired the global rights to Isaac H. Eaton’s 2023 crime thriller “Welcome to Redville” starring Jake Manley, Highdee Kuan and Chris Elliott. Gravitas, The Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company, has set the film’s VOD release for August 29.
“Welcome to Redville” tells the story of a robbery-gone-wrong and the couple forced on the run in a small desert town called Redville. As drama and death ensues, couple Leo (Manley) and Toni (Kuan) discover that Redville and its strange townspeople are hard —if not impossible — to shake off.
The film was written by Eaton and Danny DeVoto. It was produced by Eaton and Frank Zanca and was executive produced by Brad Kramer and Alice Abernathy. Bill Guentzler, Gravitas Ventures VP of acquisitions, helmed the deal with Ramo Law.
Telluride Film Festival Unveils 50th Anniversary Festival Poster By Luke Dorman
Telluride Film Festival has unveiled the poster for its 50th anniversary.
“Welcome to Redville” tells the story of a robbery-gone-wrong and the couple forced on the run in a small desert town called Redville. As drama and death ensues, couple Leo (Manley) and Toni (Kuan) discover that Redville and its strange townspeople are hard —if not impossible — to shake off.
The film was written by Eaton and Danny DeVoto. It was produced by Eaton and Frank Zanca and was executive produced by Brad Kramer and Alice Abernathy. Bill Guentzler, Gravitas Ventures VP of acquisitions, helmed the deal with Ramo Law.
Telluride Film Festival Unveils 50th Anniversary Festival Poster By Luke Dorman
Telluride Film Festival has unveiled the poster for its 50th anniversary.
- 7/19/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, McKinley Franklin, Jaden Thompson and Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
The upcoming Asian American feature film “Chopin,” starring Eddie Liu and Violett Beane, officially wrapped a 25-day shoot on June 4. Announced last year, the film is now in post-production and scheduled for an early 2024 premiere.
The film is the feature directorial debut of Vincent Lin, a successful commercials director and co-founder of Valiant Pictures. The film, written by Lin, also stars Golden Horse Film Award winner Leon Dai and Taiwanese legend Wu Min (“The Queen!”).
It tells the story of Chopin Wu (Liu), who returns home to small-town America where he grew up, to amend an estranged relationship with his workaholic father (Dai). With a sudden appearance from his ailing grandmother (Wu), he is confronted by a past he had left behind. Chopin is forced to re-examine old relationships, embrace a heritage he once denied and discover the importance of family and identity.
Additional cast includes Jake Manley (“The Order...
The film is the feature directorial debut of Vincent Lin, a successful commercials director and co-founder of Valiant Pictures. The film, written by Lin, also stars Golden Horse Film Award winner Leon Dai and Taiwanese legend Wu Min (“The Queen!”).
It tells the story of Chopin Wu (Liu), who returns home to small-town America where he grew up, to amend an estranged relationship with his workaholic father (Dai). With a sudden appearance from his ailing grandmother (Wu), he is confronted by a past he had left behind. Chopin is forced to re-examine old relationships, embrace a heritage he once denied and discover the importance of family and identity.
Additional cast includes Jake Manley (“The Order...
- 7/11/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
In Hallmark Channel’s Love in the Maldives, Jocelyn Hudon plays a travel writer who finds love during a visit to a luxury resort. She likely didn’t have too much trouble pretending to fall for Jake Manley’s character in the new rom-com. Hudon and Manley are married in real life.
Real-life Hallmark couple Jocelyn Hudon and Jake Manley star in ‘Love in the Maldives’
In Love in the Maldives, Hudon plays Rae Parker, a single travel writer whose editor sends her on a trip to the world’s most romantic vacation destination: The Maldives. Rae’s the adventurous type and relaxing at a luxury hotel doesn’t provide much in the way of material for her column. She turns to guest experience expert Jared Joseph (Manley) for help. He steps in and helps her explore a legendary shipwreck. But in the end, Rae might discover love instead of buried treasure.
Real-life Hallmark couple Jocelyn Hudon and Jake Manley star in ‘Love in the Maldives’
In Love in the Maldives, Hudon plays Rae Parker, a single travel writer whose editor sends her on a trip to the world’s most romantic vacation destination: The Maldives. Rae’s the adventurous type and relaxing at a luxury hotel doesn’t provide much in the way of material for her column. She turns to guest experience expert Jared Joseph (Manley) for help. He steps in and helps her explore a legendary shipwreck. But in the end, Rae might discover love instead of buried treasure.
- 4/1/2023
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Initial has hired Fulwell 73’s Director of Development Caroline Roseman, as the Banijay indie gears up to return Big Brother to British screens.
Roseman takes on newly created role of Creative Director, Development, reporting to Managing Director Katy Manley.
Her hire comes after Deadline revealed Cat Lynch was exiting her Joint Managing Director role at Initial to join Dan Grabiner’s Amazon Studios team in the UK.
It also comes as Initial readies one of the biggest projects in UK television right now – reality competition format Big Brother’s return, this time to Love Island network ITV2. The show has played on both Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the past in the UK but hasn’t been on air since 2018, though Initial did make two specials for Channel 4 during the pandemic in 2020.
Roseman has more than 20 years of experience and in her most recent role as Director of Development...
Roseman takes on newly created role of Creative Director, Development, reporting to Managing Director Katy Manley.
Her hire comes after Deadline revealed Cat Lynch was exiting her Joint Managing Director role at Initial to join Dan Grabiner’s Amazon Studios team in the UK.
It also comes as Initial readies one of the biggest projects in UK television right now – reality competition format Big Brother’s return, this time to Love Island network ITV2. The show has played on both Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the past in the UK but hasn’t been on air since 2018, though Initial did make two specials for Channel 4 during the pandemic in 2020.
Roseman has more than 20 years of experience and in her most recent role as Director of Development...
- 1/9/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Initial Co-Managing Director Cat Lynch is joining Amazon Studios in the UK.
She is set to take on the post of UK Unscripted Executive, working closely with Head of UK Originals Dan Grabiner and UK Unscripted chief Fozia Khan on a range of factual entertainment, entertainment and documentary titles.
Lynch, who has been with Banijay UK-owned Initial for a decade, will report into Grabiner when she begins the new role in early 2023. We’ve heard the switch has been on the cards for a while now, but has only just been made official.
It’s the first major change for Amazon Studios in the UK since the London-based Georgia Brown left her post as Head of European Originals at the end of August. News of the appointment closely follows the departure of Prime Video Germany Country Director Kaspar Pflüger, which we reported on Friday.
Lynch has been with unscripted...
She is set to take on the post of UK Unscripted Executive, working closely with Head of UK Originals Dan Grabiner and UK Unscripted chief Fozia Khan on a range of factual entertainment, entertainment and documentary titles.
Lynch, who has been with Banijay UK-owned Initial for a decade, will report into Grabiner when she begins the new role in early 2023. We’ve heard the switch has been on the cards for a while now, but has only just been made official.
It’s the first major change for Amazon Studios in the UK since the London-based Georgia Brown left her post as Head of European Originals at the end of August. News of the appointment closely follows the departure of Prime Video Germany Country Director Kaspar Pflüger, which we reported on Friday.
Lynch has been with unscripted...
- 11/1/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Last month, we learned that Lionsgate is funding a horror film based on the novel Creepers (pick up a copy Here) by First Blood author David Morrell. At the time, it was said that Skylan Brooks (The Darkest Minds) would be one of the film’s cast members – but Deadline reports that Brooks is no longer involved with the project. Taking over the role he was going to play is Shane Paul McGhie, who is best known for playing the role of Landon in After and After We Collided. (McGhie then passed the role over to Chance Perdomo for After We Fell.)
Creepers tells the story of
a group of young urban explorers who plan to investigate an old, boarded up, seemingly abandoned hotel, only to encounter danger at every turn in the form of a competing group of hostile urban explorers seeking to find a legendary hidden treasure as...
Creepers tells the story of
a group of young urban explorers who plan to investigate an old, boarded up, seemingly abandoned hotel, only to encounter danger at every turn in the form of a competing group of hostile urban explorers seeking to find a legendary hidden treasure as...
- 8/23/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: We’ve just learned that Suretone Pictures and Lionsgate have as set the cast for its adventure horror thriller Creepers, with Jake Manley, Adeline Rudolph, Francesca Reale, Laurence O’Fuarain, Nicholas Hamilton, Javier Botet, Skylan Brooks and Kai Caster joining.
The film, which begins production this week in Bulgaria, is directed by music video and commercial filmmaker Marc Klasfeld.
Creepers follows a group of young urban explorers who plan to investigate an old, boarded-up, seemingly abandoned hotel, only to encounter danger at every turn in the form of a competing group of hostile urban explorers seeking to find a legendary hidden treasure – as well as a supernatural being who wreaks havoc on all.
(Clockwise, from top left) Francesca Reale, Laurence O’Fuarain, Nicholas Hamilton, Javier Botet, Skylan Brooks and Kai Caster
Manley will play Rick, the official leader of the Creepers; Rudolph will play Diane, the unofficial leader of the group,...
The film, which begins production this week in Bulgaria, is directed by music video and commercial filmmaker Marc Klasfeld.
Creepers follows a group of young urban explorers who plan to investigate an old, boarded-up, seemingly abandoned hotel, only to encounter danger at every turn in the form of a competing group of hostile urban explorers seeking to find a legendary hidden treasure – as well as a supernatural being who wreaks havoc on all.
(Clockwise, from top left) Francesca Reale, Laurence O’Fuarain, Nicholas Hamilton, Javier Botet, Skylan Brooks and Kai Caster
Manley will play Rick, the official leader of the Creepers; Rudolph will play Diane, the unofficial leader of the group,...
- 7/29/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
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