Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning filmmakers have formed a trade organisation called Film Association in an effort to hold sway in regulations being laid out for the country’s booming film industry. The Saudi Film Association, announced during the ongoing Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, comes five years after the government removed its 35-year-old religion-related ban on
Leading Japanese publishing house Kodansha has struck a deal with new production company Majestic Limited for a feature film adaptation of its “Origin” comic. Created by Boichi (“Dr. Stone,” “Sun-Ken Rock”), a renown Korean manga artist (real name Park Mu-jik) who is based in Japan, “Origin” is set in a near-future where humanity has achieved
Something Special, the Seoul-based international format agency founded by format specialists Jin Woo Hwang (president and executive producer) and Kim In Soon (EVP & head of content) announce that ITV Studios has optioned the hit Korean celebrity format “Battle in the Box” for France, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel. The deal was unveiled on Wednewday, the first full day of the Asia
South Korea’s subscription video market grew by more than 700,000 in the third quarter to reach more than 19 million, according to new research from research and consultancy firm Media Partners Asia. The firm’s “Online Video in Korea” report shows that Disney+ was the fastest growing platform in the period studied, propelled by its hit
“Frankly, I’m exhausted,” SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher told Variety minutes after the union disclosed the ratification vote tally that sealed the deal on its hard-fought new three-year contract. Drescher and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s union’s national executive director and chief negotiator, took a moment to reflect Tuesday evening on the winding road that led the union
Singapore’s Refinery Media has launched a global co-production fund that will allocate up to 50% of production budgets for projects exploring the use of virtual production in films, series and unscripted shows. The fund was revealed at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum and Market. “Asia’s Next Top Model,” “SupermodelMe Revolution” and “The Century Egg” are among
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from the Season 32 finale of “Dancing With the Stars.” “Dancing With the Stars” has officially crowned the winner of Season 32! The season came to an end on Tuesday night, with the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy being awarded to Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy. The Season 32 finale
ASIA SALES UPDATE Shows featuring Stephen Fry are popular in Asia as sales from Abacus Media Rights and Passion Distribution demonstrate. Abacus has sold more than 70 hours of scripted and unscripted programming broadcasters across Asia, it was revealed at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum and Market. Now TV in Hong Kong has acquired factual series
K-pop girl group Blackpink has finally signed renewed contracts with YG Entertainment.The news was revealed in a regulatory filing by the company on Wednesday and caused its KOSDAQ-listed shares to leap by 26% to KRW60,700 by midday. “The board has completed a resolution about renewing the contracts with Blackpink’s four members,” YG said in the
Canadian conglomerate, Blue Ant Media has scored sales of some 550 hours of programming to Asia Pacific broadcasters, it was revealed at Singapore’s Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF). Content was sourced from across Blue Ant’s portfolio companies. In Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Warner Bros. Discovery picked up Hudson Yang’s food show, “Order
Singapore‘s Mediacorp has begun introducing virtual sets into its scripted content, starting with two Chinese drama series, it was revealed during the ongoing Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF). “Strangers in the Dark” is about an outcast in school, who uses her vivid imagination to help solve various mysteries. Virtual production allowed the production team
Universal Music Greater China has signed a strategic partnership with Mandarin-language music superstar Jay Chou and his record label JVR Music. The agreement secures global marketing and distribution rights for Chou’s extensive music catalogue and for future projects. It also supports rising talent from his label, including artists Patrick Brasca and Young (aka Cao Yang)
SAG-AFTRA members have voted to ratify their contract, officially ending the longest labor battle in Hollywood history. The contract was approved with 78% voting in favor. Turnout was 38%. “This contract is an enormous victory for working performers, and it marks the dawning of a new era for the industry,” Fran Drescher, the union’s president,
Jonathan Majors‘ ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, says she decided to attend a stranger’s birthday bash instead of returning home to the apartment she shared with him … after he allegedly struck her in a cab in March. During sworn testimony before a jury in an NYC courtroom Tuesday, Jabbari claimed she made her escape from an
Singapore is launching a new fund to support international coproduction of TV series. It will also expand government investment into virtual production (VP). The two moves were announced on Wednesday by senior minister of state for communications and information Tan Kiat How at the opening ceremony of the Asia Television Forum and Market (ATF). Tan
“The Crown” series finale premiere in London on Tuesday evening brought out the cast and creatives behind the hit Netflix show as well as a smattering of other familiar faces keen to catch a sneak peek of the last-ever episode of the hit series. Imelda Staunton, who plays the last iteration of Queen Elizabeth II
Adam Driver is earning praise on social media for how he sensitively handled a divisive interview question during a recent appearance on “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” The host told Driver directly that he does not look like a typical movie star and asked if his physical appearance was a “hindrance” in his career. Wallace
When Megan Cruz downloaded TikTok in March 2020, she didn’t think much of it. “The first video that I uploaded, I was like, ‘It could be cool! I could get 10,000 followers or something!’” 550,000 followers and nearly four years later, Cruz (known to her followers as JStoobs), has become one of the most prominent
Alecia Christina Dixon-Kurschner, a television distribution executive, died on Nov. 23 after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was 60. “Everyone that had the pleasure of knowing or working with Alecia is heartbroken over her death. Alecia was much more than a valued executive, she was also an irreplaceable friend,” Simon Sutton, former president and
FORMAT The BBC has revealed a first look for season 2 of show “The Traitors.” Season 1 was a huge success and won two BAFTAs, including for host Claudia Winkleman. Set in a Scottish castle, the format sees 22 strangers compete in a series of missions for a chance to win £120,000 ($151,000). However, amongst
A full house greeted Chris Hemsworth as he dropped into the Red Sea Film Festival for an In Conversation event with jury head, Baz Luhrmann. It was something of an Oz fest as the beginning of the conversation was dominated by George Miller and littered with references to fellow antipodean superstars like Hugh Jackman, Nicole
Shaun Neo’s feature debut “My Endless Numbered Days,” a study of urban alienation, has its world premiere at the Singapore International Film Festival. Neo’s directorial short debut “Happily Ever After” (2015) screened at the 26th SGIFF and was nominated for best screenplay at the National Youth Film Awards 2016. “My Endless Numbered Days” follows Mitsue
As soon as news hit in November that Nintendo and Sony Pictures were joining forces for a live-action movie based on the The Legend of Zelda video games, many fans started to predict the the studios had the next “Lord of the Rings” on their hands. Not so fast. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the film’s
“Sunday,” which has its world premiere at the Singapore International Film Festival, marks the feature directorial debut of Sean Ng. Ng previously directed a few shorts and his producing credits include feature documentary “André and His Olive Tree” (2020), which was Taiwan’s highest-grossing documentary that year. “Sunday” was developed at TorinoFilmLab. The film follows the
Chai Yee-Wei’s “Wonderland” comes to the Singapore International Film Festival after debuting at the San Diego Asian Film Festival where it won the audience award. Chai’s credits include “Blood Ties” (2009), “Twisted” (2011) and “That Girl in Pinafore” (2013), which premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival. “Wonderland” is his fifth feature. He is the
Before talking about the meat of Peter Gabriel’s new album, “i/o,” which stands for “input/output,” it is inevitable that initial discussion will focus on the level of output (or the lack of it) he’s had prior to this year. It’s his first studio album of original songs in 21 years (and only the second in
Sara Bareilles has always spoken openly about the fact that her work on the musical “Waitress” changed her life. “My life is in two categories: It’s before and after ‘Waitress,’” she said on the new episode of “Stagecraft,” Variety’s theater podcast. “Everything about my life is different and better because of this show.” Listen to
Natalie Portman appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” to promote her buzzy Netflix drama “May December” and once again told “Star Wars” fans that she is more than open to reprising her role of Padmé Amidala on screen. Portman was just a teenager when she landed a leading role in George Lucas’ “Star Wars” prequel
Directing duo David and Nathan Zellner’s latest film “Sasquatch Sunset,” starring Riley Keough (“Daisy Jones and the Six”) and Jesse Eisenberg (“The Social Network”), is slated for a theatrical release by film distribution company Bleecker Street in 2024. No plot details have yet been announced. The film depicts “a year in the life of a
International producers can count on help from the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of an “extraordinary explosion” in culture and film, U.S Ambassador Michael Ratney told Variety during the third edition of the Red Sea Film Festival. He said the ambition and drive of the Saudi film industry was an opportunity for