Branded Content Report
Fashion Forward
TVA look at NBC’s upcoming fashion competition series Fashion Star, produced by Electus, 5×5 Media and Magical Elves and hosted by Elle Macpherson.
Making it Work
TVAs more client marketers and broadcasters turn to branded content to meet their marketing and programming needs, more production companies are devoting resources to dedicated branded content departments and projects. Here, three production company execs working in that space share their thoughts on what works, what doesn’t and where the medium is heading.
Future Factual
TVUK prodco Twofour Productions and Channel 4 collaborated with UK energy supplier E.ON to create Future Family, a five-part, brand-funded exploration of what the “home of the future” will look like. Here, Twofour’s Andrew Mackenzie takes realscreen behind the scenes.
Magical Elves Spotlight
Magic makers
FILM / TVTen years on, the Magical Elves empire is behind the Top Chef franchise and other reality hits, and has moved into the feature world with a vengeance thanks to one Justin Bieber. Here, realscreen talks to the dynamic duo to find out how they make their magic.
Wild Guide
Call of ‘Nature’
TVPBS’ natural history strand ‘Nature’ has weathered the tests of time by challenging audiences and filmmakers alike to expand their notions of wildlife television. As the iconic program celebrates its 30th season on air, realscreen talks to those behind the scenes to find out what ‘Nature’ has in store for the year ahead.
“Oceans” ’11
NEWSDirectors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud scored a box office hit with last year’s Océans, drawing a major theatrical crowd for their big-budget underwater spectacle. Now the team is expanding on the documentary with a major four-part series for France 2, promising to reveal another side of the world beneath the waves.
Editorial
Blow up the box
NEWSPioneers dare to not only invoke that dreaded cliché – “think outside the box” – but they blow the box apart in the pursuit of something new.
Out & About
Event news
PEOPLE NEWSAs folks from the team squeeze the last few meetings and cocktails for MIPCOM into their diaries, I’m left behind putting the final touches on the content for the second edition of realscreen‘s Branded Entertainment Forum, which takes place in New York City on October 20.
Biz
David Lyle lifts off
TVIn his first major interview as CEO of National Geographic Channels U.S., David Lyle talks exclusively to realscreen about his plans for the network, calling out to new producers and outlining his plans for Nat Geo’s international pipeline.
The kindness of strangers
FILMCrowdfunding site Kickstarter has become a go-to funding source for
many documentarians, ranging from established filmmakers such as Nick
Broomfield to newcomers to the genre. Realscreen finds out more about how and why it works.
Best practices: Eight things you should be doing to land a job (but probably aren’t)
Real Insights BlogWhether you are a freelance professional or are just starting out, when it comes to finding a new job in the current market, you probably have become frustrated, disillusioned, and just plain exhausted. Stay positive. You are not alone.
From Russia with Luff
TVAs MIPCOM prepares to shine the spotlight on Russia during this year’s market with its “Focus on Russia” program, Phillip Luff (pictured), who has spent the last year overseeing Discovery Networks International’s Russian businesses, tells realscreen about the challenges and opportunities of working in the region.
Ideas & Execution
Satisfying “Curiosity”
TVDiscovery Channel’s long-awaited Curiosity initiative is a multi-pronged, mighty ambitious affair. It incorporates a five-year-long series of 60 original documentaries, a heavy online presence, and a wide range of celebrity hosts, including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robin Williams, Morgan Spurlock and Eli Roth.
Ingenious
Wiseman rides again
FILMFrom his first directorial effort, 1967′s Titicut Follies, to his most recent film, Crazy Horse, Frederick Wiseman’s approach to doc-making remains uniquely singular. While at the Toronto International Film Festival to promote his latest effort, the 81-year-old spoke to realscreen about the creative and financial challenges of filmmaking.
Rough and tumble: Alex Gibney
FILMThe Toronto International Film Festival’s world premiere of Alex Gibney’s The Last Gladiators capped a remarkable double hat-trick for the Oscar-winning documentarian: the second consecutive year that three of his docs had premiered at major festivals.
Rock docs take center stage at TIFF
FILMCameron Crowe, Davis Guggenheim, Albert Maysles and Jonathan Demme were all touting new projects at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, featuring such A-list rockers as Pearl Jam, U2, Paul McCartney and Neil Young, respectively.
Special Reports
MIPCOM Picks 2011
TVAs in years past, realscreen issued a call for submissions for our MIPCOM Picks feature, and received a wide range of non-fiction projects, from socially conscious docs to factual entertainment formats.
Format Focus
Coming to America
TVTwo new shiny-floor game show series are coming to U.S. broadcast networks via international format creators. Here, realscreen takes a sneak peek at Dick de Rijk’s You Deserve It, coming to ABC, and Who’s Still Standing?, heading to NBC.
And One More Thing
Time of Transition
TVChaz Bono (center), the focus of World of Wonder’s Becoming Chaz, is used to living in the limelight. Formerly Chastity Bono, the child of Sonny Bono and Cher has become a vocal advocate for issues affecting the LGBT community, and has authored three books.
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Photos
Factual Entertainment Forum 2011 - A&E/Bio president and general manager Robert DeBitetto says a few words about working with Gene Simmons and family on “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” at Realscreen’s Factual Entertainment Awards.