Editorial
A Crude awakening
FILMAs we were going to press for this issue, news broke of the latest update regarding a ruling handed down by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in the U.S. District Court that, if upheld, will require documentarian Joe Berlinger to hand over 600 hours of footage from his last film, Crude, to energy company Chevron.
Biz
On the slate
TVWhen spring gets into full swing, U.S. networks strut their new stuff for the upfronts. Here’s a look at what several cable nets have on the way for unscripted programming.
Changemakers: Social TV platform Starling
TVAs co-viewing becomes more of a broadcast media reality, a new company is aiming to act as a connector between television shows and their fans.
Nancy Dubuc comes to Lifetime
TVAfter much speculation, A&E Television Networks (AETN) has confirmed that Nancy Dubuc, president and GM of History, is now taking the reins at Lifetime Networks in the same capacity, effective May 1.
Best practices: Managing time effectively
TVWe all understand the concept of time management. So why aren’t we better at it?
Audience & Strategy
This one’s for the kids
TVReality TV and factual entertainment aren’t just for adults -or teens – anymore.
Ideas & Execution
Social studies
TVWhether it’s high-flying CEOs, members of royal families from exotic locales or politicians, there’s an abundance of high-profile players entering the factual entertainment field in 2010. What makes them want to be part of the action, and why are producers flocking to the upper-crust for casting?
Picks: MIPDoc Co-production Challenge 2010
FILM / TVAs part of the sixth edition of the MIPDoc Co-Production Challenge, presented by Reed MIDEM and realscreen, six producers from around the world convened in Cannes during MIPDoc to pitch to a panel of judges.
Ingenious
All in the family
TVIn the past 18 months, several high-profile indies have decided to sell stakes in their shops to global production powerhouses. Realscreen talks to the prodco heads behind a few of the moves about making the deals.
Special Reports
Discovery: still curious after all these years
TVOn June 17, 1985, John Hendricks’ Discovery Channel launched and ushered in a new era in non-fiction television. Twenty-five years later, Discovery Communications is still hungry to innovate, educate and inspire.
Reality schooled
TVDo reality TV-savvy people make the best TV characters or is knowing too much about the genre the downfall of reality hopefuls?
Is summer still reality’s season in the sun?
TVA decade ago, CBS broadcast the first episode of Survivor. The May 31 anniversary coincides with Memorial Day, which is also the traditional start of summer. Thinking about how summer TV has embraced reality is a good reminder of just how much has changed in a decade.
Fest faves
FILMThe following feature docs are making their way along the festival circuit, and as you’ll see in these profiles, are well worth the price of admission.
Powers talks TIFF, NY Doc Fest
FILMThe Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will be picking up and moving out of the ritzy environs of the Yorkville/Bloor Street district, and will set up shop in the brand new Bell Lightbox building.
Stock shopping
TVProducer/distributors can have thousands of hours of potential archive footage at their disposal. Thus, when they do open archive divisions, they often boast diverse, quality collections. Here are a few stock options that are available, created by production/distribution companies.
FOCAL Awards highlights
TVFamed film director Martin Scorsese was among the hundreds of professionals from film and television on hand in London for the FOCAL Awards, presented by The Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries International (FOCAL) in association with AP Archive.
Stock stuff
FILM / TVNew collections and tech developments from the archive scene, including news from Thought Equity Motion, Mammoth HD and FootageBank HD.
Format Focus
Lyle’s got the Look
TVAs a long-time TV exec and co-founder of the Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA), David Lyle is a veritable fount of wisdom and expertise when it comes to formats.
And One More Thing
Walk on the weird side: William Shatner Q&A
TVAt age 79 the legendary William Shatner is busier than ever, with many of the projects he’s currently taking on in the realm of non-fiction. Cineflix’s Weird or What, coming to History Television in Canada this September and then Discovery in the U.S., will examine unexplained phenomena and may best reflect his inquisitive and irreverent personality.
The definitive factual resource.Over 5,000 company listings!
Photos
Factual Entertainment Forum 2011 - Zodiak Rights’ VP acquisitions for North America, JC Mills, moderating “Formats that Fly” at Realscreen’s Factual Entertainment Forum in Santa Monica, June 2011.