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MEP Capital Launches West Facet Photos With Magnolia, Abacus Offers

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New York-based funding agency MEP Capital, which beforehand acquired the library of Lotus Leisure, is launching West Facet Photos, a brand new unbiased rights administration banner.

Together with Lotus Leisure, MEP additionally not too long ago acquired the distribution rights to over 500 movies and TV exhibits from Kew Media, together with “Line of Obligation,” “Thank You For Smoking” and “Jack Taylor and Guidelines of Engagement.”

Now boasting a library comprising greater than 800 motion pictures, TV collection and documentaries, MEP Capital has signed offers with Magnolia and Abacus Media Rights to deal with the distribution of those titles within the U.S. and internationally, throughout streamers and TV channels.

West Facet Photos may also personal and handle ongoing debt and fairness participations positions within the late Roger Michell’s “Blackbird” and The Jim Henson Firm’s “Moveable Door,” amongst a dozen of productions funded by MEP Capital.

Prior acquisitions consolidated in West Facet Photos embrace the 58-title library beforehand managed by Lotus Leisure, notably “Hachi”, “The Gray”, “Jobs”, “Simply Pals;” in addition to 11 critically acclaimed indie motion pictures produced by John Hart, such because the Oscar-winning “Boys Don’t Cry” and “You Can Depend on Me.”

MEP Capital associate Andrew Kotliar stated “Magnolia will probably be primarily specializing in distributing, servicing and merchandising these titles in all rights domestically, together with TVOD, SVOD and AVOD.” Abacus Media Rights, the corporate created by former Kew Media Distribution gross sales boss Jonathan Ford, will deal with worldwide licensing of those titles.

Chatting with Selection, Kotliar says he launched MEP Capital years in the past to spend money on the music trade and began diversifying into the movie, TV, and different media segments in 2017. He argues the timing is true to consolidate its place within the film and TV panorama with the creation of West Facet Photos.

“We see a number of alternatives proper now in aggregating these rights at a time when there’s a number of change throughout the entire varied platforms,” says Kotliar. “We’re massive believers that this kind of content material goes to proceed being priceless for all of the platforms, particularly as the varied streamers and networks are realizing they will’t maintain their providers solely on owned and internally-produced IP,” continued the chief.

Kotliar predicts that streamers “will want third celebration content material to complement their originals extra so than ever.” He says West Facet Photos will present them with a scaled library that has a mixture of choose status motion pictures like “Boys Don’t Cry,” and extra business fare.

The banner is now eyeing additional acquisitions, notably a number of investments in distribution and manufacturing firms outdoors the US, says Kotliar. When it comes to new film manufacturing financing, the corporate sometimes seeks tasks with budgets as much as $20 million. MEP Capital additionally backs choose gamers within the U.S., akin to Will and Jada Smith’s Westbrook.

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Entertainment

Tony Shalhoub to Play Carlos Ghosn in Michael Winterbottom TV Sequence

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U.S.-Lebanese actor Tony Shalhoub, who performed the “faulty detective” on “Monk,” is ready to star as former auto mogul-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in a high-profile TV sequence directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Ghosn is the French-Lebanese-Brazilian former CEO of automakers Nissan and Renault who in 2020 jumped bail and absconded to Beirut hidden in a music case on a personal jet whereas on trial in Japan for alleged monetary misconduct. Lebanon doesn’t have an extradition treaty with Japan.

The untitled six-part sequence is written by Winterbottom, the prolific British director of “Welcome to Sarajevo,” whose TV work contains hit sitcom sequence “The Journey” and, extra lately, “That is England” starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson.

The Winterbottom Ghosn present is being produced by Fremantle, Revolution Movies, Passenger and Nameless Content material.

The mission was initially developed by Winterbottom and Alfonso Cuaron for Nameless Content material, the media firm behind “Highlight” and “True Detective.”

Richard Brown (“True Detective”) will function government producer on behalf of Passenger and Fremantle; Melissa Parmenter will function government producer for Winterbottom’s Revolution Movies; and Violaine Etienne will function government producer for Nameless Content material. David Levine and Garrett Kemble will oversee the mission on behalf of Nameless Content material. 

Fremantle lately partnered with Brown and Winterbottom on “This England” which was a Sky Authentic.

Brown, whose Passenger shingle is owned by Fremantle, “has additionally taken on a brand new artistic function throughout Fremantle’s International Drama division to assist drive Fremantle’s efforts within the improvement and manufacturing of TV and movie initiatives similar to this,” in line with a press release. Fremantle additionally has an unique first-look cope with Revolution Movies. 

This isn’t the primary TV mission to be introduced in regards to the story of Carlos Ghosn who, till his arrest in Japan in 2018, dominated an automotive alliance that spanned a number of continents, comprising Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi.

In 2021 France’s Federation Leisure stated they had been creating a Ghosn mini-series titled “The Fugitive” with Francois Cluzet (“Intouchables”) within the title function.

Ghosn, who now lives in Beirut, has repeatedly stated he was a sufferer of injustice and political persecution and claims he was being prosecuted in Tokyo on trumped-up fees to maintain him from additional integrating Nissan and Renault, which threatened the Japanese carmaker’s autonomy.

“Carlos Ghosn was a celebrity of the automotive business, the primary particular person ever to have concurrently been CEO of two Fortune 500 corporations,” stated Winterbottom in a press release. “It’s fantastic to have Tony Shalhoub on board to play this advanced character,” he added.  

Commented Fremantle’s world drama CEO Christian Vesper: “We’re excited to announce this newest collaboration with Michael, Richard and the group at Nameless Content material. They’re the right visionary and artistic companions to deliver this fascinating and incredulous story to life.”

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‘A Spy Amongst Buddies’ Producer Patrick Spence Exits ITV Studios

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BAFTA-winning producer Patrick Spence is leaving ITV Studios after three years, Selection has confirmed.

Spence, who serves as artistic director, will depart on the finish of March, ITV Studios managing director Julian Bellamy informed employees through an inside memo on Thursday. Spence will proceed to accomplice with ITV Studios on upcoming tasks together with “Folks vs. Submit Workplace” (working title).

Spence joined ITV Studios in 2020 and secured a number of acclaimed commissions, together with the BBC’s drama-romance “Ralph & Katie,” a spin-off of “The A Phrase,” in regards to the lives of a pair with Down syndrome; ITVX’s “Litvinenko,” in regards to the investigation into the demise of Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko; the BAFTA-nominated Chilly Warfare spy drama “A Spy Amongst Buddies,” additionally for ITVX; and post-pandemic frontline medical drama “Maternal” for ITV.  

The producer spent 15 years in commissioning and manufacturing on the BBC. He served as head of drama for Northern Eire from 2003 to 2010. In 2010, Spence arrange and ran Fifty Fathoms Productions, a scripted manufacturing firm owned by Endemol Shine earlier than it was acquired by Banijay. He was managing director at Fifty Fathoms.

Spence received the BAFTA for greatest single drama in 2015 for the BBC’s “Marvellous,” produced by Fifty Fathoms and Tiger Side. Beforehand, he received a Prix Europa particular award for TV fiction for “Occupation” (2009).

Spence’s credit additionally embrace “Domina,” “Grownup Materials,” “The A Phrase,” “The Eddy,” “Fortitude,” “Guerilla,” “Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen” and “5 Minutes of Heaven.” He can be confirming his subsequent enterprise imminently.

Information of Spence’s departure from ITV Studios was first reported by Deadline.

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‘Derry Ladies,’ ‘That is Going to Harm,’ ‘The Traitors’ Win BPG Awards

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Channel 4’s “Derry Ladies” and the BBC’s “That is Going to Harm” and “The Traitors” have received the highest honors on the U.Okay.’s annual Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG) Awards.

“Derry Ladies” received greatest comedy and greatest author for Lisa McGee and the celebrities of “That is Going to Harm,” Ben Whishaw and Ambika Mod received greatest actor and greatest actress.

The most well-liked new actuality present on British tv, “The Traitors,” received greatest leisure title. Different BBC exhibits among the many awards have been “Sherwood,” which received greatest drama, “The Actual Mo Farah” greatest documentary mini collection and “Frozen Planet II” greatest documentary.

Sky’s “I Hate Suzie Too” received greatest drama mini collection.

The BPG Jury Prize was awarded to a number of winners for the primary time, to the eight BBC native radio journalists who interviewed Liz Truss throughout her transient stint as Prime Minister. The breakthrough award went to screenwriter Jack Rooke for Channel 4’s “Massive Boys.” The Harvey Lee Award, for an impressive contribution to broadcasting, was offered to Jeremy Paxman to honor his 50 years on TV and radio as a broadcaster, journalist and writer.

The awards are chosen independently by TV and audio correspondents, critics and previewers.

Grant Tucker, the chair of the BPG, mentioned: “Our winners all the time replicate the huge quantity of expertise in British tv and the prizes are going to each packages and people who have been extraordinarily fashionable with our audiences final yr.”

BPG TV, Streaming and Audio Awards Winners:

Finest Documentary Mini Sequence 1-3 episodes
“The Actual Mo Farah” (Atomized Studios in affiliation with Pink Bull Studios for BBC One)

Finest Documentary Sequence 4+ episodes
“Frozen Planet II” (BBC Studios Pure Historical past Unit manufacturing with BBC America, France Télévisions, ZDF and The Open College)

Finest Comedy
“Derry Ladies” season 3 (Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4)

Finest Leisure
“The Traitors” (Studio Lambert for BBC One)

Finest Drama Mini Sequence 1-3 episodes
“I Hate Suzie Too” (Unhealthy Wolf for Sky Atlantic)

Finest Drama Sequence 4+ episodes
“Sherwood” (Home Productions for BBC One)

Finest Actress
Ambika Mod – “This Is Going to Harm” (Sister in affiliation with Horrible Productions for BBC One and AMC+)

Finest Actor
Ben Whishaw – “This Is Going to Harm” (Sister in affiliation with Horrible Productions for BBC One and AMC+)

Finest Author
Lisa McGee – “Derry Ladies” (Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4)

BPG Breakthrough Expertise Award
Jack Rooke, author, “Massive Boys” (Roughcut Tv for Channel 4)

BPG Jury Prize
BBC Native Radio (BBC English Areas)

Radio Program of the Yr
“In Darkish Corners” (BBC Scotland Productions for BBC Radio 4)

Finest Podcast
“The Coming Storm” (Lengthy Kind Audio for BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service)

Audio Presenter of the Yr
Marianna Spring for “Battle On Fact” and “Catastrophe Trolls” (BBC Radio 44 and BBC Sounds)

Harvey Lee Award for Excellent Contribution to Broadcasting
Jeremy Paxman

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