March 5th, 2010
We’re approaching that time of the year again when the industry’s attention turns to Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre and to the 82nd Academy Awards. Interest and anticipation builds as we wait to find out who will cement their place in history. And not forgetting the detail: Who’s speech will be overly long?, Who will cry? Who is wearing Armani? Gucci? Will this be the year that an Animated Feature wins Best Film? And will a Native North American Indian take to the stage as an actor’s protest?
There will be gongs for both those in front of and behind the camera; Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Screenplay Writing, are all categories listed for Oscars, making the event a true celebration for the motion picture industry and not just about actors, actresses and celebrities.
And the process is rigorous. The Academy’s roughly 6,000 members vote for the Oscars using secret ballots, which are then tabulated by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The auditors maintain absolute secrecy until the moment the show’s presenters open the envelopes and reveal the winners on live television. Dun, dun, dun….
Although it measures just 13½ inches high, the Oscar statuette stands tall as the motion picture industry’s greatest honour. Officially named the Academy Award® of Merit, the Oscar is given in recognition of the highest level of achievement in moviemaking.
And what else…The first Academy Awards ceremony took place out of the public eye during an Academy banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. 270 people attended the May 16, 1929 dinner in the Blossom Room; with tickets costing around $5. However, there was little suspense when the awards were presented as the recipients had already been announced three months earlier.
And the winner is? The UK’s BAFTA’s may have given an indication as to who will be walking away with what on the night, but until the envelopes are opened it is still very much in the balance. Here are our predictions for the top six nods:
Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Directing: “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
Best Picture: “Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
And finally in some interesting UK news, a battered Doctor Who Dalek – with missing parts – was sold for more than £20,000 at auction last week. It drew the highest price at the sale of 160 props from the TV show at Bonhams in London. The price tag was three times the estimated £7,000. And if you attended last year’s Soho Fun Run you will have seen the Doctor’s tardis on the Production Wizard stall. It’s the only way for a Wizard to travel!
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February 19th, 2010
Another February winds down and with it another successful Broadcast Video Expo at Earl’s Court, UK. With attendance up 9% to 12,450, all attention now looks towards NAB and IBC where we’re sure to see the 3D trend on show, plus other techno themes following on from BVE (mobile TV, free online content, DAB2, Sony’s unveiling of new cameras…).
Attention-grabbing presentations and demonstrations discussing smooth streaming, boosting production, HD Workflows, Special Effects were well attended and where ever you turned equipment stands were busy with interested spectators.
Welcomed back after a five year absence was The Production Show, in which suppliers, screen agencies, health & safety services and training facilities (over 60 exhibitors) were on show to network with the industry community. Along with these stands were seminars, touching on a varied selection of topics from 3D in Post to Production on a Budget. One particular seminar topic discussed on the Tuesday was regarding iphone broadcasting and live streaming and the realtime web (given by Videojuicer’s CEO, Steve Jelley) and was particularly insightful.
Pairing BVE and The Production Show gave the international attendance - and far travelling Brits - the opportunity to criss-cross between the technology sector and the production sector. Two markets that serve the media industry in TV and film through television production, television commercials and the motion picture market, “where technology is changing production acquisition.”
If you’re a supplier and attended BVE or The Production Show (or both), then let us know your thoughts…
Tags: 3D, Broadcast Video Expo, BVE, HD Workflows, iPhone, Production, Sony, Special Effects, The Production Show, Videojuicer
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February 12th, 2010
BBC Vision, the corporation’s TV and video content division, is to cut back on digital spending to protect its programme budget.
Jana Bennett, the BBC Vision director, recently told a meeting of television producers that the corporation wants to reduce digital costs and focus on ensuring that the BBC continues to make high-quality programmes. One source said: “She said digital spending will be reduced but not reveal how much.”
The BBC director general, Mark Thompson, is conducting a strategic review of all the corporation’s activities that will lead to cuts in some content and programming, and possibly in some digital TV, radio and online services.
Jana Bennett, BBC Vision Director
BBC Vision commissions and produces digital output including website and online video spin-offs of TV shows.
The division is also responsible for BBC1 and BBC2, and the digital TV services BBC3, BBC4, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC HD and BBC Alba, as well as housing the BBC’s in-house programme-making departments.
In the year to the end of March 2009, the BBC spent £199m on its digital TV services, according to its latest annual report.
In November, Thompson said that the strategic review would lead to “reductions in some kinds of programmes and content” and was looking at the “current scope of our website”.
He also promised a “further shift in emphasis in favour of key priority areas”, including news, children’s programmes and “content of every kind that builds knowledge and shares music and culture, a long-range commitment to outstanding British drama and comedy, national events that bring us together”.
The conclusions of the strategic review are due to be put to the BBC Trust within the next couple of weeks.
Tags: BBC Alba, BBC HD, BBC Trust, BBC Vision, CBeebies, Jana Bennett, Mark Thompson, TV
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January 29th, 2010
So Simon Cowell is leaving American Idol, Jonathan Ross is leaving the BBC, Conan O’Brien is set to leave NBC and Archie Mitchell was killed off from Eastenders – so therefore left little choice. I mean, where are we going to find people who want to be on television?
Amid intense speculation over his next career move and Jay Leno’s widely criticized return to late night, O’Brien stepped down as host of The Tonight Show to his biggest audience ever. The final episode attracted 10.3 million viewers, with final guests including some actor named Tom Hanks and a curly, ginger comedian apparently called Will Ferell.
Cowell inked a deal with Fox earlier this month that will end his American Idol judging role. “We reached an agreement formally at about half past 10 this morning,” said Cowell, who confirmed his new deal in front of reporters at the Television Critics Association’s press tour on Monday, Daily Variety reported.
Wossy announced he was leaving the BBC after 13 years working for the corporation. As the BBC’s highest paid star (by some distance), he said in a statement that he had decided not to renegotiate his contract. The presenter added his decision to leave was not “financially motivated”.
Apparently, both Britain and America have new talent though, or so Cowell, Piers Morgan, Amanda Holden, David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel (it’s okay, I’ve never heard of him either) keep trying to tell us.
Of course, when one door closes another one opens, and just because such TV powers are moving on does not mean we’re left empty handed, lacking sufficient prime-time personalities and missing pizzazz. There’s baggy entertainment whose sole purpose it is to both find new talent and to exploit those who were once famous (or at least to have supposed to be. It all depends on whether you read Heat magazine or receive daily alerts about wags and Z Listers). Big Brother, All American Girl, I’m A Celebrity, Fear Factor, The Amazing Race, Survivor, all create entertainment, albeit in a very different manner than the TV judge or talk show host. There’s even Indian Idol now, already in its fourth season.
So, while the big earners are moving on to pastures new (personally I’d opt for an early retirement), there’ll always be those trying to discover new talent. Uncovering individuals, who, may never have long and successful careers at the worlds leading networks, but in the search, will create light entertainment for the millions who will watch it. Fame and celebrity is constantly being stumbled upon, but very little of it is truly sustained.
Tags: All American Girl, Amanda Holden, American Idol, Archie Mitchell, BBC, Big Brother, Conan O'Brien, Daily Variety, David Hasselhoff, Eastenders, Fear Factor, Fox, Heat, Howie Mandel, I’m A Celebrity, Jay Leno, Jonathan Ross, NBC, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, Simon Cowell, Survivor, Television Critics Association, The Amazing Race, The Tonight Show, Tom Hanks, Will Ferell
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January 22nd, 2010
Andrew Zein
Andrew Zein is to quit as managing director of Tiger Aspect after 13 years to join Warner Bros International Television Distribution’s new London-based production unit. Reports suggest that Zein is planning to buy many of the UK’s leading indies with the aim to remake British versions of successful US shows.
The Guardian state that Zein, “Will join Warner Bros as senior vice president, creative, format development and sales, in the company’s recently formed international television production unit.”
Zein has been given the task of consulting Warner Bros’ back catalogue for formats that can be reversioned for the UK market. It will be looking to mirror the success of NBC’s Law and Order, which has been remade by Kudos for ITV1.
Zein became managing director of Tiger Aspect in 2001, working closely with Chairman Peter Bennett Jones, and overseeing the launch of television hits such as, The Catherine Tate Show and children’s show, Charlie and Lola.
As a former Chairman and vice Chairman of the UK’s Producers Alliance of Cinema and Television (PACT), Zein has successfully fought hard for independent production companies to receive a greater share of the proceeds from their shows.
Tiger was recently bought from entertainment giant IMG by Endemol, along with factual specialist producers Darlow Smithson.
Commenting on his new position, Zein said, “My role is to make sure Warner Bros is making the most of all the intellectual property it’s got. The Warner catalogue has formats in there that we hope to reversion for foreign markets - not just in the UK. The brief is more international than that.”
Tags: Charlie and Lola, Darlow Smithson, Endemol, IMG, Law and Order, Producers Alliance of Cinema and Television, The Catherine Tate Show, The Guardian, Tiger Aspect, US shows, Warner Bros
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January 8th, 2010
Jonathan Ross: a colourful personality.
So, Jonathan Ross is set to leave the BBC. We’ll miss him. Despite his loquacious manner and entertaining wit, his last four years at the Beeb have been notable for the array of infantile pranks and borderline crude interviews. As The Daily Mail comments, “in his manner of leaving at least, he has finally attained a degree of dignity.” Ross’s announcement that he had decided not to renegotiate his contract with the BBC was uncharacteristically measured and composed.
In truth, although the BBC will probably claim to be sad to lose their highest-earning star, there are likely to be “a few executives not too bothered about losing a man whose waywardness and multi-million-pound contract had become an embarrassment.”
Days before the confirmation of his departure, sources reported that Ross was concerned by the prospect of having his yearly pay slashed by £3million. True or not, he was the BBC’s highest earner and many at the BBC were said to have cheered on hearing the news of his decision not to renew his contract. Perhaps there is now a new pot of money available to fund new talent, dramas, comedies and documentaries?
Outside his London home, Ross told reporters he “would have liked” to stay at the BBC. He continued, “It has been a great 13 years at the BBC. I think it’s not a bad time for me to move on. It’s possibly not a bad time for them either.”
Though £18 million, three-year contracts for TV personalities are now firmly in the past, what we got from Ross was brash with a cutting humour and a wonderful talent. But is that deserving of the taxpayer’s money and £18 million? There is an argument to spend the money on discovering new talent, yet, does money equal talent? Is there even a necessity for talent on television? Reality TV leads the way in the ratings and Z list celebrities (if we can still call them that) actually make their living from such reality dramas. If Ross was host for Channel 4’s Big Brother and then moved on, would the show still draw in the millions, watching, gasping and cringing? Presumably, yes?
Life after Ross then is likely to be business as usual, musical chairs as Norton, Kermode and even Evans step forward to host the chat shows, radio programmes and film reviews. And perhaps Ross will still grace the screens to present the odd BAFTA or even Children in Need? Whether the BBC will see fit to grant a similar sized contract in this age of austerity is doubtful.
Tags: BAFTA, BBC, Big Brother, Channel 4, Children in Need, Contracts, Daily Mail, Evans, Kermode, Norton, Reality TV, Television
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December 21st, 2009
With thousands of Graduates and youngsters eager for relevant experience within the media industry, the UK National Council for Work Experience are experiencing their busiest period yet. The Council’s brief is to promote, support and develop quality work experience for the benefit of students, organisations and the economy - particularly important given the number of unemployed 16-to-24 year olds in the UK rose recently to 952,000, the highest figure since records began in 1992.
With fewer jobs and tighter budgets across the global media sector, businesses will naturally be looking to offer placements - a rare opportunity for candidates to gain industry experience, enhance their CV and hiring capabilities. But on what terms should businesses offer such opportunities. Should they at least be covering expenses and a minimum wage? Laws vary from country to country but certainly in the UK limited term (2-4 weeks) unpaid experience is allowable. [The UK minimum wage for workers under eighteen years old is £3.57, a development rate <http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/#dev> of £4.83 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive and £5.80 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older (rates from 1st October 2009). This is different in America, where each state is responsible for its own minimum wage rate.
The subject of payment and wages presents very different opinions from business to business. What is clear is that for individuals considering a career in television, work experience offers the chance to gain an insight into the industry and to learn about different job roles and working arrangements. Most importantly, it can help them to build up contacts, which as we all know, are hugely important in this industry.
In a difficult economic climate and ever-developing industry, it is unfortunate yet inevitable that exploitation takes place. However companies and bookers should remember that there is a huge gulf separating untrained workers vs. trained and experienced workers, though both are eager to develop their talents and experience.
Creating and educating new talent is vital for keeping the industry alive, that much is obvious. Work experience can be as beneficial to companies as it is to individuals. In monitoring an employee a company may well find an individual worth investing in, after all, where are tomorrow’s camera operators, cinematographers, make-up artists etc. coming from? Comments welcome!
Tags: Camera Operators, Cinematographers, Exploitation, Graduates, Make-up Artists, Media, Minimum Wage, Unemployed, Work Experience
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December 8th, 2009
As we drop the curtain on 2009 and look through the moody clouds and stormy weather to 2010, media strategists will be gathering to discuss what the New Year will have in store. The first decade of the ‘Noughties’ (00’s) has seen Big Brother rise and fall, social contact between friends and family grow increasingly virtual, and the general rise of the ‘always-on’ society. Whether Apple or BlackBerry, our smart phone delivers information and storage at our fingertips; anytime, anywhere (unless you travel on the South Eastern train from London Victoria around 18:18).
So, the passing of Big Brother leaves an important legacy: the expectation of audience interactivity. Our highly-connected society now clamours to vote contestants in or out, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the satellites of gossip, recordings, T-shirts and online applications. The challenge therefore for 2010 will be the alchemy now required to make commercially successful programmes; ride with what’s hot and to avoid what’s not. And crucially for the bottom line to make sure that all bases are covered: the SMS deal, the online advertising, the mobile application revenues, the recording contract rights share and so on…complicated.
In a year that has seen the need for potential advertisers to make every marketing penny count, the importance of brand positioning and targeting will surely be on their mind when it comes to working with both producers and broadcasters. Both the government’s acceptance of product placement and a brave new interactive world make that possible. So begins the age of the ‘engaged’?
Tags: Advertisers, Apple, Applications, Audience, Big Brother, BlackBerry, Broadcasters, Media Strategists, New Year, Noughties, Online, Producers, SMS, Virtual
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November 13th, 2009
Sky TV have gone all festive and are in bountiful spirits, giving their UK high definition customers a complimentary ticket to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Angels & Demons and The Hangover on Sky Box Office HD in their homes the same week that the films are being released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.
As part of the Sky+HD Party campaign, Sky hope for customers to share the Sky+HD experience with friends and family. To help the party give customers the best experience, Sky are offering a complimentary Sky Box Office HD movie (worth £3.91) and a £10 Marks & Spencer’s voucher. Now that’s just not any voucher, that’s an M&S voucher (said with a seductive commercial voice).
Sky+HD Party
So are we all ‘HD Ready’?
HD services are already on-air in some parts of the world and they are about to be launched across the UK. To view HD you need a high definition display with HDMI or DVI connectivity, and there is an industry ‘kite mark’ to show whether a particular display is ready for high definition broadcasts.
High Definition TV (HD) is part of the latest digital revolution. HD television brings cinema quality into the home with greater picture quality and sharper images. Like 3D promises (look to the 30th Oct blog entry), there is the hope that such advancements produce a more colourful, exciting and immersive experience when watching television and films.
Sky HD
Standard definition digital TV displays a picture consisting of 720 by 576 pixels. This means the screen is made up of slightly less than half a million points of light.
High definition can display a picture of 1920 by 1080 pixels - well over 2 million - which adds clarity to scenes never before possible with either the old analogue system or standard definition digital.
Large television companies such as the BBC, Virgin, FX, ESPN and the National Geographic Channel have already launched themselves in high definition, magnifying the vibrant colour and quality of such events as the NFL, NHL, NBA, and many more American acronyms that are too tiresome to type. The National Geographic Channel - or NGC - has aired it’s HD content to great success: Alien Worlds, Earth Shocks, Alaska’s Fishing Wars and Inside Nature’s Giants - where a team of experts examine the nauseating anatomy - in full - of an elephant, crocodile and a giraffe, there’s even a 55-tonne whale.
Pixel Value Comparison
ESPN HD soon launches on Sky+HD, with the service now offering customer’s access to up to 35 HD channels. That’s a lot of high definition sport! You can see them sweat, up close and in detail.
The Sky+HD Party offer (http://sky.com/hdparty/) is subject to availability and limited to the first 10,000 parties.
Tags: 3D, BBC, Blu Ray, DVD, DVI, ESPN, FX, HDMI, National Geographic Channel, Sky, Sky HD, Virgin Media
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Hollywood actress and troubled starlet, Lindsay Lohan, will investigate child trafficking in India for a BBC3 documentary (the designing intelligence that gave us Freaky Eaters, My Man Boobs and Me, and Fuck Off, I’m Fat). And no, this is not a dippy film script or Paris Hilton-style reality TV show. It’s serious stuff dontcha know. Lindsay Lohan in India will follow Lohan as she meets children forced into sweat shops and prostitution, as well as former traffickers.