Adam Benzine
Canadian doc makers slam cutbacks: “We are dropping like flies”
FILM / TVLast week was a tough one for Canadian documentarians, with the CBC, Telefilm Canada and the NFB all unveiling major cuts. Here, four award-winning Canadian filmmakers give realscreen their angry reactions to the changes, and their predictions for the future.
Upfronts 2012: Style increases original programming 25%
TVU.S. net Style is increasing its original programming by 25%, unveiling five new original series, six series in development and two returning series at its Upfront presentation in New York.
Electus, Dwayne Johnson unite to find “Hero”
DIGITAL / TVBen Silverman’s indie Electus is teaming up with wrestler and actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (pictured) to develop The Hero, a TV and social media competition series which will aim to find “the next great hero.”
Back Roads Entertainment hires development VP
PEOPLE NEWS / TVIndie producer Back Roads Entertainment has hired Rex Vigil to be its New York-based VP of development, reporting directly to company founder Colby Gaines.
“Special Flight” takes off at Full Frame
FILMThe Full Frame Documentary Film Festival has named its 2012 award recipients, with Fernand Melgar’s Special Flight taking the grand jury award, and Chasing Ice (pictured), The Law in These Parts and Trash Dance among the other winners.
Syco ups Garland to CEO
PEOPLE NEWS / TVSyco Entertainment, the joint venture prodco behind The X Factor and Got Talent franchises, has promoted Charles Garland to worldwide CEO, effective immediately.
BBC ‘Storyville’ onboard Showtime’s Richard Pryor doc
TVBBC ‘Storyville’ has come onboard a documentary commissioned by U.S. net Showtime about the life of late comedian Richard Pryor (pictured), which is being made by filmmaker Marina Zenovich.
Cineflix Rights topper Paul Heaney to step down
PEOPLE NEWS / TVPaul Heaney, president and MD of distributor Cineflix Rights, is leaving the company after 10 years, with an aim towards moving into an area that “reflects what’s going on right now” in rights exploitation.
The CW sets May dates for “Catalina,” “Breaking Pointe”
TVU.S. broadcaster The CW has set May premiere dates for its forthcoming reality series The Catalina, which follows employees and guests at a Miami hotel, and Breaking Pointe, which looks at the competitive world of ballet.
Electric Sky digs up “Youngest Undertaker” sales
TVUK-based distributor Electric Sky has penned a number of international deals, including selling BBC3 documentary Britain’s Youngest Undertaker (pictured) into four territories, including Australia, Germany and Denmark.
The definitive factual resource.Over 5,000 company listings!
Photos
Factual Entertainment Forum 2011 - Mary Ellen Iwata, vice president of international programming and development for Scripps Networks International, at the Realscreen Factual Entertainment Forum.