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Summit 2012: Less fizzle, more sizzle
TVDuring “From Sizzle to Show,” the creators behind three hit reality shows shared the stories behind their successful sizzle reels, and how the development process shaped the projects.
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Summit 2012: Zalaznick dissects anatomy of reality
TVLauren Zalaznick (pictured), chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media, kicked off the 2012 Realscreen Summit this morning with a detailed analysis of the elements that make reality TV shows work, rejecting the notion that people only want to watch a “train wreck” or “guilty pleasure.”
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Sundance 2012: “House I Live In,” “Versailles” scoop prizes
FILMEugene Jarecki’s The House I Live In (pictured) has won the Sundance 2012 Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, with Lauren Greenfield’s The Queen of Versailles picking up the U.S. Directing Award for Documentary, and two docs about the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict also winning accolades.
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Wim Wenders: “I have no inclination to go back to 2D”
FILMWim Wenders (pictured) picked up a best documentary feature Oscar nomination earlier this week for his hybrid dance masterpiece Pina. Here, the German director talks to realscreen about the making of the 3D film, the death of its protagonist, and why he has no desire to return to 2D filmmaking.
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History announces development initiative for Realscreen Summit
TVThe initiative, spearheaded by History president and GM Nancy Dubuc, will give History programmers attending the upcoming Realscreen Summit the ability to greenlight the development of a project on site. Dirk Hoogstra (right), History’s SVP, development and programming, chats with realscreen about the effort.
Kino Lorber nabs Sundance, IDFA winner “5 Broken Cameras”
FILMNew York-based indie Kino Lorber has picked up all U.S. rights to 5 Broken Cameras (pictured), the Sundance- and IDFA-winning documentary from first-time Palestinian director Emad Burnat and Israeli filmmaker Guy Davidi.
Summit 2012: “Originality” under the spotlight
TVAn all-star panel of producers and commissioners came together at the 2012 Realscreen Summit to discuss the issue of originality and “copycat” programming in non-fiction, with execs talking frankly about the imitation game. (Pictured: Leftfield’s Brent Montgomery)
Weather Channel picks up Omni Film’s “Ice Pilots”
TVThe docuseries, following a crew of Arctic aviators, premieres on the network in March.
UKTV’s Watch lines up more Dynamo
TVUKTV has signed an exclusive talent deal with magician Dynamo (pictured), who will star in two series of Dynamo: Magician Impossible for Watch in 2012.
Canada Media Fund aims to spur creation of doc fare
TVThe Fund has tweaked the “audience success: original first run” factor to now apply to all genres, including documentary fare, in a move to encourage “the creation of original content” in the area.
Nat Geo sparking up “Weed” series
TVAmerican Weed will examine the world of legal medical marijuana in Colorado, from the perspectives of both the entrepreneurs opening dispensaries, and those proposing bans to shut them down.
“Gasland” director Josh Fox arrested in DC
FILM / PEOPLE NEWSJosh Fox, the Academy Award-nominated director of Gasland (pictured), has been arrested in Washington DC while attempting to film a House Energy and Environment subcommittee hearing on Capitol hill, for a follow up documentary.
Left/Right bolsters team
PEOPLE NEWS / TVLeft/Right, one of the prodcos behind Mob Wives (pictured), has made two hires and upped one of its team members to SVP, development.
BBC Worldwide launches four channels in Thailand
TVBBC Worldwide Channels has launched BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle, BBC Entertainment and CBeebies on Thailand’s cable and satellite operator, TrueVisions.
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