An investigative three-part docuseries centered on British socialist Ghislaine Maxwell, known for her association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is coming to NBCUniversal-owned streaming service Peacock on June 24.
The original documentary, produced by Blue Ant Studios, is described as investigating the “powerful, connected, and mysterious Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once the heiress to the Maxwell fortune but whose life takes a sordid downturn when she meets Jeffrey Epstein, the serial sex offender,” according to the network. Maxwell is currently awaiting trial on multiple sex trafficking charges.
“NBCUniversal has a long history with true crime and documentary style programs, and we are excited to carry our history of immersive and gripping storytelling through to Peacock with the addition of this new original three-part series,” said Rod Aissa, NBCUniversal’s executive vice president of unscripted content. “With our partners Blue Ant Studios, we’ve created a compelling and premium investigative...
The original documentary, produced by Blue Ant Studios, is described as investigating the “powerful, connected, and mysterious Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once the heiress to the Maxwell fortune but whose life takes a sordid downturn when she meets Jeffrey Epstein, the serial sex offender,” according to the network. Maxwell is currently awaiting trial on multiple sex trafficking charges.
“NBCUniversal has a long history with true crime and documentary style programs, and we are excited to carry our history of immersive and gripping storytelling through to Peacock with the addition of this new original three-part series,” said Rod Aissa, NBCUniversal’s executive vice president of unscripted content. “With our partners Blue Ant Studios, we’ve created a compelling and premium investigative...
- 5/26/2021
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock and Sky are teaming for the latest documentary series seeking to unravel the secrets of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Blue Ant Studios will produce Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell, which will premiere on NBCUniversal-owned Peacock on June 24 before landing on Comcast-owned Sky on June 28 in the UK. It will be titled Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein’s Shadow in the UK.
Here’s the logline: “The three-hour documentary investigates the powerful, connected, and mysterious Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once the heiress to the Maxwell fortune but whose life is rocked by a series of scandals and accusations when she meets Jeffrey Epstein, the serial sex offender. The series will untangle the complicated story of power, sex, and money, leading to Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest and pointing to her upcoming trial.”
Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell is directed by Barbara Shearer, while the executive producers are Jennifer Harkness, Emma Cooper,...
Blue Ant Studios will produce Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell, which will premiere on NBCUniversal-owned Peacock on June 24 before landing on Comcast-owned Sky on June 28 in the UK. It will be titled Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein’s Shadow in the UK.
Here’s the logline: “The three-hour documentary investigates the powerful, connected, and mysterious Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once the heiress to the Maxwell fortune but whose life is rocked by a series of scandals and accusations when she meets Jeffrey Epstein, the serial sex offender. The series will untangle the complicated story of power, sex, and money, leading to Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest and pointing to her upcoming trial.”
Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell is directed by Barbara Shearer, while the executive producers are Jennifer Harkness, Emma Cooper,...
- 5/26/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Blumhouse Secures Rights To Longest Documented Poltergeist Haunting In History: "May 25, 2021, Los Angeles, CA -- In an ultra competitive bidding situation, Blumhouse Television and Michael Seitzman’s Maniac Productions have secured the rights to BBC Radio 4’s “The Battersea Poltergeist” podcast, presented by Danny Robins, which the company is developing as the first season of a scripted ongoing series and a companion unscripted series, titled Blumhouse’s Ghost Story. Additionally, the companies have also secured Hitchings’ life rights, as well as the rights to her and James Clark’s book, The Poltergeist Prince of London: The Remarkable True Story of the Battersea Poltergeist.
The wildly popular docu-drama podcast, written and presented by Danny Robins, was the #1 drama podcast worldwide on Apple Podcasts and features the voices of Dafne Keen (Logan) and Toby Jones (The Dark Crystal). The podcast documents the strange events focused around Shirley Hitchings in 1956 that were investigated over a 12-year period,...
The wildly popular docu-drama podcast, written and presented by Danny Robins, was the #1 drama podcast worldwide on Apple Podcasts and features the voices of Dafne Keen (Logan) and Toby Jones (The Dark Crystal). The podcast documents the strange events focused around Shirley Hitchings in 1956 that were investigated over a 12-year period,...
- 5/26/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
In a competitive situation, Blumhouse Television and Maniac Productions have secured the rights to the BBC Radio 4 podcast “The Battersea Poltergeist.”
The two companies will now work to develop a scripted series titled “Blumhouse’s Ghost Story,” with the podcast serving as the basis for the first season. In addition, they will develop an unscripted companion series. Blumhouse TV and Maniac have also secured the life rights of Shirley Hitchings, who was the subject of the longest documented poltergeist haunting in history. They will also have the rights to Hitchings’ and James Clark’s book “The Poltergeist Prince of London: The Remarkable True Story of the Battersea Poltergeist.”
The docu-drama podcast, written and presented by Danny Robins, features the voices of Dafne Keen and Toby Jones. It has amassed nearly 3 million streams and downloads since its launch. It was co-produced by Robins with Simon Barnard for Bafflegab Productions and...
The two companies will now work to develop a scripted series titled “Blumhouse’s Ghost Story,” with the podcast serving as the basis for the first season. In addition, they will develop an unscripted companion series. Blumhouse TV and Maniac have also secured the life rights of Shirley Hitchings, who was the subject of the longest documented poltergeist haunting in history. They will also have the rights to Hitchings’ and James Clark’s book “The Poltergeist Prince of London: The Remarkable True Story of the Battersea Poltergeist.”
The docu-drama podcast, written and presented by Danny Robins, features the voices of Dafne Keen and Toby Jones. It has amassed nearly 3 million streams and downloads since its launch. It was co-produced by Robins with Simon Barnard for Bafflegab Productions and...
- 5/25/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
In a competitive bidding situation, Blumhouse Television and Michael Seitzman’s Maniac Productions have won the rights to BBC Radio 4’s The Battersea Poltergeist podcast, presented by Danny Robins. Blumhouse TV and studio-based Maniac are developing as a scripted series and a companion unscripted series, titled Blumhouse’s Ghost Story. Additionally, the companies have also secured Hitchings’ life rights, as well as the rights to her and James Clark’s book, The Poltergeist Prince of London: The Remarkable True Story of the Battersea Poltergeist.
This is the same approach Blumhouse TV and Maniac took with a scripted and unscripted Detroit Youth Choir series, which subsequently landed at Disney+.
The popular docu-drama The Battersea Poltergeist podcast, written and presented by Robins, was the #1 drama podcast worldwide on Apple Podcasts and features the voices of Dafne Keen (Logan) and Toby Jones (The Dark Crystal). The podcast documents the strange events focused...
This is the same approach Blumhouse TV and Maniac took with a scripted and unscripted Detroit Youth Choir series, which subsequently landed at Disney+.
The popular docu-drama The Battersea Poltergeist podcast, written and presented by Robins, was the #1 drama podcast worldwide on Apple Podcasts and features the voices of Dafne Keen (Logan) and Toby Jones (The Dark Crystal). The podcast documents the strange events focused...
- 5/25/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Blumhouse Television and Michael Seitzman’s Maniac Productions have secured right to “The Battersea Poltergeist” podcast, a chronicle of real-life hauntings of Shirley Hitchings that were investigated from 1956 for 12 years and noted for being the longest documented poltergeist haunting in history, the companies announced in a joint statement Tuesday.
The companies will be developing the first season of a scripted ongoing series and a companion unscripted series titled “Blumhouse’s Ghost Story.” They have also secured the rights to Hitchings’ life story, as well as the rights to her and James Clark’s book, “The Poltergeist Prince of London: The Remarkable True Story of the Battersea Poltergeist.”
“The Battersea Poltergeist” podcast, written and presented by Danny Robins, was the No. 1 drama podcast worldwide on Apple Podcasts and immediately caught the attention of Blumhouse Television president, Chris McCumber. “From our first listen to Danny’s captivating podcast, we were hooked and...
The companies will be developing the first season of a scripted ongoing series and a companion unscripted series titled “Blumhouse’s Ghost Story.” They have also secured the rights to Hitchings’ life story, as well as the rights to her and James Clark’s book, “The Poltergeist Prince of London: The Remarkable True Story of the Battersea Poltergeist.”
“The Battersea Poltergeist” podcast, written and presented by Danny Robins, was the No. 1 drama podcast worldwide on Apple Podcasts and immediately caught the attention of Blumhouse Television president, Chris McCumber. “From our first listen to Danny’s captivating podcast, we were hooked and...
- 5/25/2021
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
Naomi Watts in ‘Penguin Bloom’ (Photo credit: Hugh Stewart.)
Glendyn Ivin’s Penguin Bloom, the adaptation of Bradley Trevor Greive and Cameron Bloom’s novel starring Naomi Watts, The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The drama produced by Emma Cooper, Watts and Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky is among 50 features in the line-up.
The festival’s 45th edition will run from September 10–19, a combination of physical, socially-distanced screenings, drive-ins, digital screenings, virtual red carpets, press conferences and industry talks.
Penguin Bloom’s selection is another welcome boost for Australian cinema after the news that Roderick MacKay’s The Furnace will have its world premiere in the Horizons section of the Venice International Film Festival.
Scripted by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps, the film follows Watts as Sam Bloom, a young Sydney...
Glendyn Ivin’s Penguin Bloom, the adaptation of Bradley Trevor Greive and Cameron Bloom’s novel starring Naomi Watts, The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The drama produced by Emma Cooper, Watts and Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson and Steve Hutensky is among 50 features in the line-up.
The festival’s 45th edition will run from September 10–19, a combination of physical, socially-distanced screenings, drive-ins, digital screenings, virtual red carpets, press conferences and industry talks.
Penguin Bloom’s selection is another welcome boost for Australian cinema after the news that Roderick MacKay’s The Furnace will have its world premiere in the Horizons section of the Venice International Film Festival.
Scripted by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps, the film follows Watts as Sam Bloom, a young Sydney...
- 7/30/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Glendyn Ivin (Photo credit: Stephen MaCallum).
While Glendyn Ivin was directing a Tvc in Melbourne over four days last week he felt the mood shift among the crew as the coronavirus deepened.
“I could feel the energy drop and the doubt set in. Jobs were being cancelled and schedules emptying by the minute,” the director of The Cry, Safe Harbour and Gallipoli tells If.
“Perhaps like most people working in the film and television industry as I come towards the end of a production I always start to wonder if it will be my last. Maybe my luck is up and my phone will never ring again.
“I doubt any of us have found ourselves in this industry with job security as a priority. We live from job to job and it’s overall a wonderful thing.
“But this feels different. This is a random, enforced time of doubt and...
While Glendyn Ivin was directing a Tvc in Melbourne over four days last week he felt the mood shift among the crew as the coronavirus deepened.
“I could feel the energy drop and the doubt set in. Jobs were being cancelled and schedules emptying by the minute,” the director of The Cry, Safe Harbour and Gallipoli tells If.
“Perhaps like most people working in the film and television industry as I come towards the end of a production I always start to wonder if it will be my last. Maybe my luck is up and my phone will never ring again.
“I doubt any of us have found ourselves in this industry with job security as a priority. We live from job to job and it’s overall a wonderful thing.
“But this feels different. This is a random, enforced time of doubt and...
- 3/23/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Endeavor Content has launched sales on the family drama at Efm.
Screen has obtained a first-look image of Naomi Watts in the upcoming Penguin Bloom as Endeavor Content launches sales on the family drama at Efm.
Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver also star in the Sydney-set true story about a family that rediscovers hope when it adopts an injured magpie chick after a near-fatal accident leaves a mother of three (Watts) paralysed from the waist down.
Watts is producing alongside Emma Cooper and Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson, and Steve Hutensky. Endeavor Content co-finances.
Glendyn Ivin directs Penguin Bloom from an...
Screen has obtained a first-look image of Naomi Watts in the upcoming Penguin Bloom as Endeavor Content launches sales on the family drama at Efm.
Andrew Lincoln and Jacki Weaver also star in the Sydney-set true story about a family that rediscovers hope when it adopts an injured magpie chick after a near-fatal accident leaves a mother of three (Watts) paralysed from the waist down.
Watts is producing alongside Emma Cooper and Bruna Papandrea, Jodi Matterson, and Steve Hutensky. Endeavor Content co-finances.
Glendyn Ivin directs Penguin Bloom from an...
- 2/22/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has unveiled its most popular titles internationally with true-crime doc The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann topping the UK list and Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston comedy Murder Mystery leading in Australia.
In India, Bollywood romantic drama Kabir Singh was the most popular release, while the second season of gritty Indian crime drama, Sacred Games, topped the series list. There are also lists for France and Germany (below).
The streamer hasn’t officially revealed the methodology, but the list is thought to have been based on the number of accounts in each country that have watched at least two minutes of a title during its first 28 days on Netflix this year. For series, only the most popular season is counted and for shows and movies that have been released recently, the rankings are based on 28-day projections derived from the initial sampling.
Murder Mystery, which was directed by Kyle Newacheck...
In India, Bollywood romantic drama Kabir Singh was the most popular release, while the second season of gritty Indian crime drama, Sacred Games, topped the series list. There are also lists for France and Germany (below).
The streamer hasn’t officially revealed the methodology, but the list is thought to have been based on the number of accounts in each country that have watched at least two minutes of a title during its first 28 days on Netflix this year. For series, only the most popular season is counted and for shows and movies that have been released recently, the rankings are based on 28-day projections derived from the initial sampling.
Murder Mystery, which was directed by Kyle Newacheck...
- 12/30/2019
- by Peter White and Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Dev Patel has partnered with his Hotel Mumbai co-star Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Happy Feet writer John Collee to pen an animated short about a murderous hamster.
The Lion star has co-written Roborovski with the pair and it has received funding from Screen Australia.
Roborovski is a 12-minute animated short and virtual reality project. It follows the eponymous thimble sized hamster, who spends his days in Marvin’s Pet Shop, hoping to find a family. However, when he is constantly overlooked by the people and animals around him his seething resentment and intense jealousy soon takes hold and a murderous side of little Roborovski is released.
Patel and Cobham-Hervey will also co-direct and produce alongside Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai) and co-produced by Mark Grentell (The Merger), and Elaine Beckett. Spectre Studios are working on the Vr side and it has been co-funded by Create Nsw.
It is the latest project to...
The Lion star has co-written Roborovski with the pair and it has received funding from Screen Australia.
Roborovski is a 12-minute animated short and virtual reality project. It follows the eponymous thimble sized hamster, who spends his days in Marvin’s Pet Shop, hoping to find a family. However, when he is constantly overlooked by the people and animals around him his seething resentment and intense jealousy soon takes hold and a murderous side of little Roborovski is released.
Patel and Cobham-Hervey will also co-direct and produce alongside Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai) and co-produced by Mark Grentell (The Merger), and Elaine Beckett. Spectre Studios are working on the Vr side and it has been co-funded by Create Nsw.
It is the latest project to...
- 2/27/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Sigrid Thornton and Aaron Pedersen.
Screen Australia has announced $4 million worth of production investment for one film, two television series and three online projects. They include a film adaptation of book Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and produced by Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories; a second season of ABC series Mystery Road; Nine’s Seachange reboot; and Roborovski, a Vr project from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel.
Penguin Bloom, to be directed by Glendyn Ivin, is based on the book by Bradley Trevor Greive and has been adapted for the screen by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. It follows the true story of a family from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Watts is Sam Bloom, a young mother who has a near-fatal accident that leaves her unable to walk. As her family struggles to come to terms with their new situation, an injured magpie chick dubbed “Penguin” enters their lives and helps them to cope.
Screen Australia has announced $4 million worth of production investment for one film, two television series and three online projects. They include a film adaptation of book Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts and produced by Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories; a second season of ABC series Mystery Road; Nine’s Seachange reboot; and Roborovski, a Vr project from Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Dev Patel.
Penguin Bloom, to be directed by Glendyn Ivin, is based on the book by Bradley Trevor Greive and has been adapted for the screen by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. It follows the true story of a family from Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Watts is Sam Bloom, a young mother who has a near-fatal accident that leaves her unable to walk. As her family struggles to come to terms with their new situation, an injured magpie chick dubbed “Penguin” enters their lives and helps them to cope.
- 2/27/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Emma Cooper, Global President of Non-Fiction at Pulse Films, has left the Xy Chelsea and Shut Up And Play The Hits producer as it restructures its TV arm.
I hear that she recently departed the Vice-owned company, having joined in 2015.
Cooper is responsible for a raft of UK and U.S. series including 10-part rock doc series Rock and Roll for Sky, BBC Two series The Deal and BBC Three series United States of Hate: Muslims Under Attack and The Last Days of Legal Highs. She has also overseen a number of projects for the global streaming services as well as A&E Indie Films feature doc No Greater Law, which is set in the American West.
I understand that Cooper resigned from the company after three and a half years and is expected to launch her own production venture later this year that will focus on working with U.
I hear that she recently departed the Vice-owned company, having joined in 2015.
Cooper is responsible for a raft of UK and U.S. series including 10-part rock doc series Rock and Roll for Sky, BBC Two series The Deal and BBC Three series United States of Hate: Muslims Under Attack and The Last Days of Legal Highs. She has also overseen a number of projects for the global streaming services as well as A&E Indie Films feature doc No Greater Law, which is set in the American West.
I understand that Cooper resigned from the company after three and a half years and is expected to launch her own production venture later this year that will focus on working with U.
- 1/18/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Skate Kitchen and American Honey production outfit Pulse Films is bolstering its scripted film and TV division with the hire of Protagonist Pictures COO & President Of Production Dimitra Tsingou.
Tsingou, who joins as President of the scripted division from August 15, will concentrate on business expansion and strategy. Meanwhile, long-time Pulse producer Lucas Ochoa is being promoted to Cco and will be the creative driver for the scripted unit, overseeing and developing the slate.
At Protagonist, Tsingou ran operations and production finance activities, including on in-house development and production, and also worked on corporate strategy. Her Protagonist credits included The Florida Project, Lady Macbeth and Free Fire. She left the firm last week and a replacement at the London-based sales outfit has not been set.
Tsingou was previously at Film4 in business affairs, where she worked on The Lobster and American Honey, and had stints at Swarovski Entertainment, Aramid Capital and Future Films.
Tsingou, who joins as President of the scripted division from August 15, will concentrate on business expansion and strategy. Meanwhile, long-time Pulse producer Lucas Ochoa is being promoted to Cco and will be the creative driver for the scripted unit, overseeing and developing the slate.
At Protagonist, Tsingou ran operations and production finance activities, including on in-house development and production, and also worked on corporate strategy. Her Protagonist credits included The Florida Project, Lady Macbeth and Free Fire. She left the firm last week and a replacement at the London-based sales outfit has not been set.
Tsingou was previously at Film4 in business affairs, where she worked on The Lobster and American Honey, and had stints at Swarovski Entertainment, Aramid Capital and Future Films.
- 7/31/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
How can the UK industry further address its gender imbalance?
A group of UK film professionals debated the next steps for the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements this week under the banner #WhatNext.
The event, organised by Sundance London, took place on Wednesday May 23 at the women-only London members club AllBright.
Picturehouse’s director of programming Clare Binns opened proceedings with a call to action: “We’re lucky to be here, doing what we love. We want to help other people to do what they love. [We’re here] to think of ways to have more women in the industry doing proper creative,...
A group of UK film professionals debated the next steps for the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements this week under the banner #WhatNext.
The event, organised by Sundance London, took place on Wednesday May 23 at the women-only London members club AllBright.
Picturehouse’s director of programming Clare Binns opened proceedings with a call to action: “We’re lucky to be here, doing what we love. We want to help other people to do what they love. [We’re here] to think of ways to have more women in the industry doing proper creative,...
- 5/24/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
No Greater Law set to receive world premiere at Tribeca.
Pulse Films has promoted Emma Cooper to global president of non-fiction under a restructure that brings features and TV under one roof.
Ryan Harrington has been brought in from A&E IndieFilms as executive producer of non-fiction feature documentaries and will report to Cooper.
Besides creating feature and TV content, the division under Cooper will also target premium music documentaries and “ambitious” non-fiction formats.
Cooper served as executive producer alongside Pulse Films CEO Thomas Benski on No Greater Law, which will receive its world premiere at Tribeca next month and centres...
Pulse Films has promoted Emma Cooper to global president of non-fiction under a restructure that brings features and TV under one roof.
Ryan Harrington has been brought in from A&E IndieFilms as executive producer of non-fiction feature documentaries and will report to Cooper.
Besides creating feature and TV content, the division under Cooper will also target premium music documentaries and “ambitious” non-fiction formats.
Cooper served as executive producer alongside Pulse Films CEO Thomas Benski on No Greater Law, which will receive its world premiere at Tribeca next month and centres...
- 3/15/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Xy Chelsea producer Pulse Films is expanding its Non-Fiction division, promoting Emma Cooper to Global President. The Vice Media-backed studio's growth also incorporates new hire Ryan Harrington as Executive Producer for Non-Fiction Feature Documentaries. He will be based in New York and report to Cooper who is based in London. The refreshed division will put a focus on a single team for both non-fiction film and TV. The crossover is designed to place an…...
- 3/15/2018
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Xy Chelsea producer Pulse Films is expanding its Non-Fiction division, promoting Emma Cooper to Global President. The Vice Media-backed studio's growth also incorporates new hire Ryan Harrington as Executive Producer for Non-Fiction Feature Documentaries. He will be based in New York and report to Cooper who is based in London. The refreshed division will put a focus on a single team for both non-fiction film and TV. The crossover is designed to place an…...
- 3/15/2018
- Deadline
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