ScreenSkills Chair Steps Down
Former Endemol Shine boss Richard Johnston is stepping down from TV and film industry body ScreenSkills. Johnston will be replaced by Vice Chair Lisa Opie temporarily, while Kate Lyndon becomes interim Vice Chair. “It’s been an absolute privilege to chair ScreenSkills over the last seven years, during which time we’ve completely reinvented the organization and helped thousands of people across the industry,” said Johnston. Amongst other areas, Johnston played a significant role in creating the Unscripted TV Skills Fund, which has received an income of £5.67M ($7.1M) from 367 production companies to date. He was also key to securing BFI-awarded National Lottery funding for the Future Film Skills Programme, which supported more than 90,544 new entrants to the sector.
‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Unveils ‘Bgt Reacts’ Spin-Off
The producters behind ITV juggernaut Britain’s Got Talent are forging a spin-off show titled Bgt Reacts. Thames said the series...
Former Endemol Shine boss Richard Johnston is stepping down from TV and film industry body ScreenSkills. Johnston will be replaced by Vice Chair Lisa Opie temporarily, while Kate Lyndon becomes interim Vice Chair. “It’s been an absolute privilege to chair ScreenSkills over the last seven years, during which time we’ve completely reinvented the organization and helped thousands of people across the industry,” said Johnston. Amongst other areas, Johnston played a significant role in creating the Unscripted TV Skills Fund, which has received an income of £5.67M ($7.1M) from 367 production companies to date. He was also key to securing BFI-awarded National Lottery funding for the Future Film Skills Programme, which supported more than 90,544 new entrants to the sector.
‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Unveils ‘Bgt Reacts’ Spin-Off
The producters behind ITV juggernaut Britain’s Got Talent are forging a spin-off show titled Bgt Reacts. Thames said the series...
- 4/11/2024
- by Hannah Abraham
- Deadline Film + TV
Mansfield will succeed Seetha Kumar, who decided to stand down in the summer after eight years in the role.
ScreenSkills has named Outline Productions’ managing director Laura Mansfield as its next chief executive, Screen’s sister brand Broadcast has reported.
She will succeed Seetha Kumar, who decided to stand down in the summer after eight years in the role. Mansfield will assume her role from mid-January 2024, reporting to chair Richard Johnston.
As chief, Mansfield will work with ScreenSkills’ leadership team and board to build on its strategy to provide training and development programmes for the sector’s workforce, industry leadership and expertise.
ScreenSkills has named Outline Productions’ managing director Laura Mansfield as its next chief executive, Screen’s sister brand Broadcast has reported.
She will succeed Seetha Kumar, who decided to stand down in the summer after eight years in the role. Mansfield will assume her role from mid-January 2024, reporting to chair Richard Johnston.
As chief, Mansfield will work with ScreenSkills’ leadership team and board to build on its strategy to provide training and development programmes for the sector’s workforce, industry leadership and expertise.
- 12/14/2023
- by Marian McHugh Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
Will.i.am Hosts ITV Race Film
ITV has commissioned The Voice UK coach will.i.am to front Will.i.am: The Blackprint, a documentary examining what it means to be Black and British. Produced by Twofour as part of a season of shows for Black History Month, will.i.am will travel the UK meeting Black Brits and will compare their experiences with his own, having grown up in Los Angeles. Executive producers are will.i.am and Nic Patten. The senior producer is Laetitia Nneke. Other documentaries include Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White (working title), in which the Britain’s Got Talent star will examine his own past and Black British history. The film is made by David Olusoga’s Uplands Television.
BBC Studios Hires COO
BBC Studios’ television production arm has hired Martha Brass as its chief operating officer. She joins from French production giant Newen Group,...
ITV has commissioned The Voice UK coach will.i.am to front Will.i.am: The Blackprint, a documentary examining what it means to be Black and British. Produced by Twofour as part of a season of shows for Black History Month, will.i.am will travel the UK meeting Black Brits and will compare their experiences with his own, having grown up in Los Angeles. Executive producers are will.i.am and Nic Patten. The senior producer is Laetitia Nneke. Other documentaries include Ashley Banjo: Britain in Black and White (working title), in which the Britain’s Got Talent star will examine his own past and Black British history. The film is made by David Olusoga’s Uplands Television.
BBC Studios Hires COO
BBC Studios’ television production arm has hired Martha Brass as its chief operating officer. She joins from French production giant Newen Group,...
- 7/22/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Lisa Opie, managing director of U.K. production at BBC Studios, is departing after eight years with the company.
The executive will leave in the coming months. She reported to BBC Studios director of content Ralph Lee and will help him find a replacement.
Opie was responsible for delivering BBC Studios Productions’ business plan, defining and delivering the commercial strategy and was accountable for risk and business management. She was appointed to the position in April 2019, and was previously managing director, factual production, where she led the teams responsible for producing award-winning programmes like “Blue Planet II,” “Killed By My Debt” and “Basquiat – Rags to Riches.”
Under her leadership the factual production team secured numerous third-party commissions, including BBC Studios’ first non-BBC commission “Wildlife Warriors” for Discovery, “Royal Wedding Watch” for PBS, “Fatberg Autopsy: The Secrets of the Sewers” for Channel 4 and “Stay Free: The Story of The Clash” for Spotify.
The executive will leave in the coming months. She reported to BBC Studios director of content Ralph Lee and will help him find a replacement.
Opie was responsible for delivering BBC Studios Productions’ business plan, defining and delivering the commercial strategy and was accountable for risk and business management. She was appointed to the position in April 2019, and was previously managing director, factual production, where she led the teams responsible for producing award-winning programmes like “Blue Planet II,” “Killed By My Debt” and “Basquiat – Rags to Riches.”
Under her leadership the factual production team secured numerous third-party commissions, including BBC Studios’ first non-BBC commission “Wildlife Warriors” for Discovery, “Royal Wedding Watch” for PBS, “Fatberg Autopsy: The Secrets of the Sewers” for Channel 4 and “Stay Free: The Story of The Clash” for Spotify.
- 2/25/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Studios has inked a “multi-year” co-production and content sales deal with Chinese entertainment platform Bilibili, which aims to bring UK content to China and Chinese programming to the world.
Under the agreement, Bilibili has already committed to co-producing BBC Studios’ landmark natural history shows The Green Planet, Dynasties II and The Mating Game. A new science series is also on the agenda, titled Odyssey into the Future and featuring Chinese author Liu Cixin.
The two companies are exploring creating an animated series for the Middle Kingdom, while they have also committed to co-producing factual shows that feature segments about Chinese culture. BBC Studios said “several” documentaries are already in pre-production.
Furthermore, the deal gives Bilibili greater access to BBC Studios’ scripted and entertainment series. The service, which secured $400M of investment from Sony earlier this year, has acquired fantasy drama The Watch, as well as established series including Top Gear and Doctor Who.
Under the agreement, Bilibili has already committed to co-producing BBC Studios’ landmark natural history shows The Green Planet, Dynasties II and The Mating Game. A new science series is also on the agenda, titled Odyssey into the Future and featuring Chinese author Liu Cixin.
The two companies are exploring creating an animated series for the Middle Kingdom, while they have also committed to co-producing factual shows that feature segments about Chinese culture. BBC Studios said “several” documentaries are already in pre-production.
Furthermore, the deal gives Bilibili greater access to BBC Studios’ scripted and entertainment series. The service, which secured $400M of investment from Sony earlier this year, has acquired fantasy drama The Watch, as well as established series including Top Gear and Doctor Who.
- 10/19/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is planning a series of Twitter ‘watch parties’, encouraging audience to stream a selected title at a set time and discuss it online, alongside special guests. The series kicks off May 16 with a screening of Halloween (2018), involving director David Gordon Green and Jamie Lee Curtis. On May 23, former Nasa Astronaut Scott Kelly will host a screening of Apollo 13, followed by a screening of The Breakfast Club on May 30.
Endemol Shine Group (Esg) has sold a raft of programming to Plex, which the ad-funded streamer will carry in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Shows that form part of the deal include Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Bananas in Pyjamas, City Homicide, Deal or No Deal and MasterChef. Peaky Blinders will also be made available on Plex in Italy and Spain. Kasia Jablonska, Esg’s head of digital distribution and monetization, said: “Plex is a unique platform,...
Endemol Shine Group (Esg) has sold a raft of programming to Plex, which the ad-funded streamer will carry in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Shows that form part of the deal include Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Bananas in Pyjamas, City Homicide, Deal or No Deal and MasterChef. Peaky Blinders will also be made available on Plex in Italy and Spain. Kasia Jablonska, Esg’s head of digital distribution and monetization, said: “Plex is a unique platform,...
- 5/12/2020
- by Tom Grater and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
“One Cup, A Thousand Stories,” a major factual series about the history and influence of tea, has been commissioned from BBC Studios, by Migu, the digital content subsidiary of China Mobile. The series is BBC Studios’ first fully-funded production commission in China.
BBC Studios has previously worked with other Chinese broadcasters to co-produce titles including “Dynasties” and “Blue Planet II.” The fully-funded commission of “One Cup” follows several months in which BBC Studios Factual production team has had a presence in China, and worked with Kelvin Yau, Svp and Gm, Greater China, BBC Studios, to explore opportunities and partnerships.
“One Cup,” which will be delivered as a 6 x 50 minutes series, was developed and will be produced by BBC Studios in Scotland. It will be distributed internationally by BBC Studios.
The series will travel across the varied landscapes of China to explore its many teas, meet the people who have built a life around it,...
BBC Studios has previously worked with other Chinese broadcasters to co-produce titles including “Dynasties” and “Blue Planet II.” The fully-funded commission of “One Cup” follows several months in which BBC Studios Factual production team has had a presence in China, and worked with Kelvin Yau, Svp and Gm, Greater China, BBC Studios, to explore opportunities and partnerships.
“One Cup,” which will be delivered as a 6 x 50 minutes series, was developed and will be produced by BBC Studios in Scotland. It will be distributed internationally by BBC Studios.
The series will travel across the varied landscapes of China to explore its many teas, meet the people who have built a life around it,...
- 7/2/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Studios has won its first fully-funded commission in China – a six-part factual series about tea. The production division of the British public broadcaster is making One Cup, A Thousand Stories for China Mobile’s digital content subsidiary Migu.
It comes 24 hours after BBC Studios won its first commission from Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Quibi – the Natural History Unit is making Fierce Queens (w/t), explorung phenomenal female animals, for the short-form service.
One Cup, A Thousand Stories will tell the story of tea and its impact on China and other civilisations around the world. It will look at tea on a scale never attempted before, journeying across the beautiful and varied landscapes of China to explore its many teas, the people who have built a life around it and the culture it has created. It will reveal how tea has influenced Chinese lifestyles and rituals, including food and concepts of...
It comes 24 hours after BBC Studios won its first commission from Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Quibi – the Natural History Unit is making Fierce Queens (w/t), explorung phenomenal female animals, for the short-form service.
One Cup, A Thousand Stories will tell the story of tea and its impact on China and other civilisations around the world. It will look at tea on a scale never attempted before, journeying across the beautiful and varied landscapes of China to explore its many teas, the people who have built a life around it and the culture it has created. It will reveal how tea has influenced Chinese lifestyles and rituals, including food and concepts of...
- 7/2/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
(L-r) BBC Studios Anz director of production Kylie Washington and Max Bourke. (Photo: Daniel Aulsebrook)
Max Bourke will undertake a six month placement with BBC Studios’ documentary department in the UK, thanks to a partnership between BBC Studios Australia, the Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) and Create Nsw.
Bourke is a writer, director and producer who has over 30 hours of Australian documentary credits, including Man Up, Go Back To Where You Came From Live and I Can Change Your Mind About Climate, and will receive $50,000 to support his placement in the UK.
Bourke was one of five shortlisted Nsw-based documentary makers, who each submitted one in-development documentary project with international appeal as part of their application. The judging process for the position took place at Aidc, with each of the shortlisted going before a panel of representatives from BBC Studios Australia, BBC Studios UK, Aidc and Create Nsw.
BBC...
Max Bourke will undertake a six month placement with BBC Studios’ documentary department in the UK, thanks to a partnership between BBC Studios Australia, the Australian International Documentary Conference (Aidc) and Create Nsw.
Bourke is a writer, director and producer who has over 30 hours of Australian documentary credits, including Man Up, Go Back To Where You Came From Live and I Can Change Your Mind About Climate, and will receive $50,000 to support his placement in the UK.
Bourke was one of five shortlisted Nsw-based documentary makers, who each submitted one in-development documentary project with international appeal as part of their application. The judging process for the position took place at Aidc, with each of the shortlisted going before a panel of representatives from BBC Studios Australia, BBC Studios UK, Aidc and Create Nsw.
BBC...
- 3/7/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
LONDON -- The revolving door at RTL-owned Five continues to turn: Content chief Lisa Opie has quit.
Hired by Jane Lighting 18 months ago, Opie will be on what is termed "gardening leave" in the U.K. for the next six months.
Opie said Friday that her decision to depart was driven by the appointment of former ITV global content head Dawn Airey to the post of Five chairman and CEO and subsequent exit of Five CEO Lighting.
"Five is in good health, but Jane's departure and the arrival of Dawn Airey as chairman of Five means that it is time for a change," she said.
Following the resignations of Lighting and now Opie, RTL CEO Gerhard Zeiler insisted that Five's content division remains in good shape but said he will step in to assist.
"We have a great program team, and they have delivered good results during the first part of the year," Zeiler said. "During the transition period, I will be working closely with them and with (interim CEO) Mark White to ensure that we move forward."
Airey, who quit ITV last week, is expected to have to wait out most of her 12-month-notice period before taking the reins at Five.
Hired by Jane Lighting 18 months ago, Opie will be on what is termed "gardening leave" in the U.K. for the next six months.
Opie said Friday that her decision to depart was driven by the appointment of former ITV global content head Dawn Airey to the post of Five chairman and CEO and subsequent exit of Five CEO Lighting.
"Five is in good health, but Jane's departure and the arrival of Dawn Airey as chairman of Five means that it is time for a change," she said.
Following the resignations of Lighting and now Opie, RTL CEO Gerhard Zeiler insisted that Five's content division remains in good shape but said he will step in to assist.
"We have a great program team, and they have delivered good results during the first part of the year," Zeiler said. "During the transition period, I will be working closely with them and with (interim CEO) Mark White to ensure that we move forward."
Airey, who quit ITV last week, is expected to have to wait out most of her 12-month-notice period before taking the reins at Five.
LONDON -- The RTL-owned Five channel has tapped BBC daytime head Jay Hunt as its new director of programs. He replaces Dan Chambers, who quit the broadcaster in the fall. Hunt, who takes up the post later this year, will report to Five managing director of content Lisa Opie.
As the BBC's current controller of daytime and early peak-time programming -- the British equivalent of access primetime -- Hunt is responsible for such shows as "Through Hell and High Water", "Wanted Down Under" and "Animal 24/7."
With a strong news and current affairs background, some may see Hunt as an odd fit for the U.K.'s smallest terrestrial broadcaster, an aggressively commercial network that is heavily dependent on such U.S. series as "CSI" and "House".
A former editor of the BBC's "One O'Clock News" and "Six O'Clock News", Hunt became controller of daytime in 2005 and added early peak responsibilities to her profile in March.
"I am thrilled we have been able to appoint an executive as creative, dynamic and energetic as Jay," Opie said.
As the BBC's current controller of daytime and early peak-time programming -- the British equivalent of access primetime -- Hunt is responsible for such shows as "Through Hell and High Water", "Wanted Down Under" and "Animal 24/7."
With a strong news and current affairs background, some may see Hunt as an odd fit for the U.K.'s smallest terrestrial broadcaster, an aggressively commercial network that is heavily dependent on such U.S. series as "CSI" and "House".
A former editor of the BBC's "One O'Clock News" and "Six O'Clock News", Hunt became controller of daytime in 2005 and added early peak responsibilities to her profile in March.
"I am thrilled we have been able to appoint an executive as creative, dynamic and energetic as Jay," Opie said.
- 5/30/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Former Vice President Al Gore, who launched his Current TV interactive channel here this week, is not alone in his desire to involve TV viewers in a new form of "democratic conversation."
Mainstream players across Europe and Asia are developing revolutionary citizen journalism strategies in a bid to maintain a dialogue with their increasingly fickle viewers.
Five channel programming head Lisa Opie unveiled plans last week to open its flagship news program Five News to video input from viewers, saying the network will move user-generated content from the fringes of its fare to center stage.
"Our relationship with viewers is set to change radically," she said of the relaunch. "Viewers are already encouraged to send in their own filmed reports and suggestions for stories. Instead of being an appendage, it will now sit at the heart of what we do."
Five plans to weave citizen journalism input -- user-generated video, messaging and short reports -- through its news and talk shows throughout the day.
Similar moves are being played out by other RTL-owned channels in Europe, including Germany's RTL and Spain's Antena 3.
The Spanish channel, 19%-owned by RTL, has begun hosting a Web site to allow viewers to post video clips for its TuClip news show before the best are selected to go on air.
Mainstream players across Europe and Asia are developing revolutionary citizen journalism strategies in a bid to maintain a dialogue with their increasingly fickle viewers.
Five channel programming head Lisa Opie unveiled plans last week to open its flagship news program Five News to video input from viewers, saying the network will move user-generated content from the fringes of its fare to center stage.
"Our relationship with viewers is set to change radically," she said of the relaunch. "Viewers are already encouraged to send in their own filmed reports and suggestions for stories. Instead of being an appendage, it will now sit at the heart of what we do."
Five plans to weave citizen journalism input -- user-generated video, messaging and short reports -- through its news and talk shows throughout the day.
Similar moves are being played out by other RTL-owned channels in Europe, including Germany's RTL and Spain's Antena 3.
The Spanish channel, 19%-owned by RTL, has begun hosting a Web site to allow viewers to post video clips for its TuClip news show before the best are selected to go on air.
- 3/15/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- RTL-owned Five has wooed Sky One managing director Hannah Barnes to lead its two recently launched digital networks, replacing existing head Nick Thorogood, it was announced Wednesday.
The shake-up comes amid increasing speculation that Five CEO Jane Lighting may leave the broadcaster, leaving the reins to recently appointed managing director of content Lisa Opie.
In the past year, the U.K.'s smallest channel has seen its audience slide -- despite gaining increased distribution on free-to-air digital platform Freeview -- which resulted in the departure of program head Dan Chambers at the end of last year. A Five spokesman rejected speculation on the matter.
Barnes oversaw BSkyB's main entertainment channels Sky One, Sky Two and Sky Three. She will take control of four-month-old channels Five Life, which airs such shows as "Dawson's Creek" and "Home and Away", and Five U.S., which has rights to the "CSI" franchise.
Opie said Barnes has a "very impressive track record" in multichannel affairs. The two worked together at Virgin Media-owned pay TV channel group Flextech.
The shake-up comes amid increasing speculation that Five CEO Jane Lighting may leave the broadcaster, leaving the reins to recently appointed managing director of content Lisa Opie.
In the past year, the U.K.'s smallest channel has seen its audience slide -- despite gaining increased distribution on free-to-air digital platform Freeview -- which resulted in the departure of program head Dan Chambers at the end of last year. A Five spokesman rejected speculation on the matter.
Barnes oversaw BSkyB's main entertainment channels Sky One, Sky Two and Sky Three. She will take control of four-month-old channels Five Life, which airs such shows as "Dawson's Creek" and "Home and Away", and Five U.S., which has rights to the "CSI" franchise.
Opie said Barnes has a "very impressive track record" in multichannel affairs. The two worked together at Virgin Media-owned pay TV channel group Flextech.
- 2/22/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Living TV said Thursday it has appointed former ITV head of entertainment Claudia Rosencrantz to the post of head of the Living TV channel. Rosencrantz, who left ITV after former Granada U.S. head Paul Jackson was drafted into the new position of head of comedy and drama earlier this year, replaces former Living TV head Richard Woolfe, now head of Sky One. Rosencrantz will oversee programming strategy, commissioning, acquisitions, scheduling and marketing for Living and Living 2, reporting to Lisa Opie, managing director of Flextech, NTL's programming arm.
LONDON -- BBC drama head Jane Tranter is shaping up as the top candidate for the job of BBC One controller, sources close to the process said Tuesday. The speculation comes after Lorraine Heggessey's announcement last month that she would exit the post to take the chief executive job at independent production company Talkback Thames (HR 2/15). While other candidates said to be favored include Flextech chief executive Lisa Opie, Channel 4 program head Kevin Lygo and Sky Networks deputy managing director Sophie Turner Laing, Tranter is viewed as the candidate who would be the "safest pair of hands," insiders said. "The BBC aren't really going to take a big risk -- you have to be fairly bulletproof to be given BBC One," one insider said. "Jane's done a fabulous job with drama and would be the natural internal choice."...
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