Plimsoll Productions, an ITV Studios company, has promoted veteran producer James Smith to head of adventure.
In his new position, Smith will focus on adventure programming and report to Martha Holmes, Plimsoll’s chief creative officer of natural history and science. Currently, Smith oversees “Free Solo” rock climber Alex Honnold’s series for Disney+ and National Geographic, including the Alaskan expedition quest “The Last Frontier” and the upcoming “Arctic Ascent.” Smith also worked on the Emmy-nominated docuseries “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World,” narrated by Pedro Pascal.
Previously, Smith headed Plimsoll’s special and live events department, executive producing National Geographic’s “Yellowstone Live” and “Earth Live.” Prior to Plimsoll, Smith worked in the BBC’s national history unit, where he directed the BAFTA-winning series “Tribe,” hosted by Bruce Parry. He also worked on the Parry-hosted “Amazon” and its follow-up series “Arctic,” as well as docuseries “Springwatch,” “Autumnwatch” and “Winterwatch.
In his new position, Smith will focus on adventure programming and report to Martha Holmes, Plimsoll’s chief creative officer of natural history and science. Currently, Smith oversees “Free Solo” rock climber Alex Honnold’s series for Disney+ and National Geographic, including the Alaskan expedition quest “The Last Frontier” and the upcoming “Arctic Ascent.” Smith also worked on the Emmy-nominated docuseries “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World,” narrated by Pedro Pascal.
Previously, Smith headed Plimsoll’s special and live events department, executive producing National Geographic’s “Yellowstone Live” and “Earth Live.” Prior to Plimsoll, Smith worked in the BBC’s national history unit, where he directed the BAFTA-winning series “Tribe,” hosted by Bruce Parry. He also worked on the Parry-hosted “Amazon” and its follow-up series “Arctic,” as well as docuseries “Springwatch,” “Autumnwatch” and “Winterwatch.
- 8/16/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Blue Planet II creator and exec producer James Honeyborne and director Renée Godfrey have launched their own production company. The pair have established Freeborne Media to produce “powerful” and “impactful” nature and science documentaries.
The company will be based in Bristol in the UK – widely seen as the center of wildlife film-making and the home of Honeyborne’s former employer, the BBC’s Natural History Unit.
Honeyborne has worked at the Nhu since the early 1990s and has overseen 35 films for the division. In addition to ratings hit Blue Planet II, which launched last year, he produced BBC’s Big Blue Live, which was a co-production with PBS, and Wild New Zealand with Nat Geo. He also series produced BBC and Discovery co-pro Africa.
He also directed feature film Meerkats the Movie, which was narrated by Paul Newman.
Meanwhile, Godfrey, a trained anthropologist, has worked on BBC series such as...
The company will be based in Bristol in the UK – widely seen as the center of wildlife film-making and the home of Honeyborne’s former employer, the BBC’s Natural History Unit.
Honeyborne has worked at the Nhu since the early 1990s and has overseen 35 films for the division. In addition to ratings hit Blue Planet II, which launched last year, he produced BBC’s Big Blue Live, which was a co-production with PBS, and Wild New Zealand with Nat Geo. He also series produced BBC and Discovery co-pro Africa.
He also directed feature film Meerkats the Movie, which was narrated by Paul Newman.
Meanwhile, Godfrey, a trained anthropologist, has worked on BBC series such as...
- 1/8/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Film New Roundup: Vans Warped Tour Movie ‘Summertime Dropouts’ Shooting With Simple Plan (Exclusive)
In today’s film news roundup, “Summertime Dropouts” starts shooing and “Tawaii — A Voice from the Forrest” and “Wobble Palace” get distribution.
Production Start
Shooting has started on the music drama “Summertime Dropouts,” centered on three best friends who are inspired to form a pop-punk band to play at the Vans Warped Tour.
Rock band Simple Plan is aboard to appear in the film and recently wrapped their work on location in Minnesota. The band played at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony and performed at the Vans Warped Tour every year from 1999 to 2005, and again in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
Cast of “Summertime Dropouts” consists of up-and-coming performers Nicholas Podany, Crystal Lake Evans, Caleb Donahoe, Melanie Brook, Takaya Abdou Lloyd, and Serena Laurel. Jhene Chase is directing from a script she co-wrote with Wesley Johnson, Hannah Maslinski and Hamid Torabpour. The story focuses on the band members discovering that the road to fame...
Production Start
Shooting has started on the music drama “Summertime Dropouts,” centered on three best friends who are inspired to form a pop-punk band to play at the Vans Warped Tour.
Rock band Simple Plan is aboard to appear in the film and recently wrapped their work on location in Minnesota. The band played at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony and performed at the Vans Warped Tour every year from 1999 to 2005, and again in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
Cast of “Summertime Dropouts” consists of up-and-coming performers Nicholas Podany, Crystal Lake Evans, Caleb Donahoe, Melanie Brook, Takaya Abdou Lloyd, and Serena Laurel. Jhene Chase is directing from a script she co-wrote with Wesley Johnson, Hannah Maslinski and Hamid Torabpour. The story focuses on the band members discovering that the road to fame...
- 9/15/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Mangurama and Bobb Films have bought U.S. and Canadian theatrical distribution rights for the documentary “Weed the People,” executive produced by Ricki Lake.
Abby Epstein, who teamed with Lake on “The Business of Being Born,” directed “Weed the People.” The film made its world premiere at the 2018 SXSW Festival, was the audience award winner at the Nashville Film Festival and will have a West Coast premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Epstein and Lake said, “We are thrilled to be working with Mangurama on the theatrical release of our documentary, ‘Weed The People.’ Following in the footsteps of ‘The Business of Being Born,’ which changed the way Americans looked at childbirth, we hope that ‘Weed The People’ will humanize the controversy around medical cannabis. As our film reveals, access to this plant has become a human rights issue.”
The film focuses on several families who obtain cannabis oil...
Abby Epstein, who teamed with Lake on “The Business of Being Born,” directed “Weed the People.” The film made its world premiere at the 2018 SXSW Festival, was the audience award winner at the Nashville Film Festival and will have a West Coast premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival.
Epstein and Lake said, “We are thrilled to be working with Mangurama on the theatrical release of our documentary, ‘Weed The People.’ Following in the footsteps of ‘The Business of Being Born,’ which changed the way Americans looked at childbirth, we hope that ‘Weed The People’ will humanize the controversy around medical cannabis. As our film reveals, access to this plant has become a human rights issue.”
The film focuses on several families who obtain cannabis oil...
- 9/12/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Veteran film-maker Parry hangs out with a tribe of hunter-gatherers and seeks wisdom with Indian gurus in a well-meaning but woolly documentary
‘Our desire for goods is at the heart of this’: Why Bruce Parry wants us all to live more sustainably
British film-maker Bruce Parry worked for many years making ethnographic documentaries for the BBC (Tribe, Amazon, Arctic) about extreme environments and the indigenous people who lived in them. Now having struck on his own, he’s made this well-meaning but rather woolly doc, co-directed by Mark Ellam, about Parry’s quest to understand … well, it’s not really clear.
Related: 'Our desire for goods is at the heart of this': Why Bruce Parry wants us all to live more sustainably
Continue reading...
‘Our desire for goods is at the heart of this’: Why Bruce Parry wants us all to live more sustainably
British film-maker Bruce Parry worked for many years making ethnographic documentaries for the BBC (Tribe, Amazon, Arctic) about extreme environments and the indigenous people who lived in them. Now having struck on his own, he’s made this well-meaning but rather woolly doc, co-directed by Mark Ellam, about Parry’s quest to understand … well, it’s not really clear.
Related: 'Our desire for goods is at the heart of this': Why Bruce Parry wants us all to live more sustainably
Continue reading...
- 9/29/2017
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
The debut of comedy self-help series Agony Uncles, which saw Wilfred’s Adam Zwar interviewing Australian male comedians and entertainers about the intricacies of dating, took 408,000 viewers for the ABC last night.
It was beaten in the 9.30pm time slot by Please Marry My Boy on Seven, which took more than double the audience, Unforgettable on Nine, which rated with 516,000 and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation and The Good Wife on Ten, according to OzTam’s preliminary results.
Seven was the only network to rate over 1m viewers for a non-news show, with Home & Away claiming 1m and the night’s winner, My Kitchen Rules, taking 1.744m.
Ten’s top show was again The Biggest Loser, rating 830,000. It was the tenth most-watched show of the night, but ranked third in the 16-39 and 18-49 demos.
Ten’s broadcast of the 2012 Australian Swimming Championships, on at 8pm, took just 530,000 viewers in 17th place,...
It was beaten in the 9.30pm time slot by Please Marry My Boy on Seven, which took more than double the audience, Unforgettable on Nine, which rated with 516,000 and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation and The Good Wife on Ten, according to OzTam’s preliminary results.
Seven was the only network to rate over 1m viewers for a non-news show, with Home & Away claiming 1m and the night’s winner, My Kitchen Rules, taking 1.744m.
Ten’s top show was again The Biggest Loser, rating 830,000. It was the tenth most-watched show of the night, but ranked third in the 16-39 and 18-49 demos.
Ten’s broadcast of the 2012 Australian Swimming Championships, on at 8pm, took just 530,000 viewers in 17th place,...
- 3/21/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Four-letter Gill
"Wonky cock documentary" is AA Gill's term for Channel 4 shows like Embarrassing Bodies, Monkey discovered during the Sunday Times TV critic's interview with BBC's Storyville editor Nick Fraser at the Sheffield Doc/Fest. But when media journalist (and Guardian contributor) Kate Bulkley tried to defend the broadcaster for what she believed was legitimate public service broadcasting he proved a more-than-succinct debater. "Fuck off," was his only response. Monkey wasn't quite sure how Bulkley felt about this. Or indeed how this tallied with Gill's later assertion that television "at the moment is in the process of being very abusive to its audience. It used to be quizshows where people were respectable and say thank you and give them a cuddly toy. Now it's much more abusive." Unlike, say ... conference sessions chaired by Gill.
Not digging Giles
Gill wasn't a big fan of his friend Giles Coren's BBC...
"Wonky cock documentary" is AA Gill's term for Channel 4 shows like Embarrassing Bodies, Monkey discovered during the Sunday Times TV critic's interview with BBC's Storyville editor Nick Fraser at the Sheffield Doc/Fest. But when media journalist (and Guardian contributor) Kate Bulkley tried to defend the broadcaster for what she believed was legitimate public service broadcasting he proved a more-than-succinct debater. "Fuck off," was his only response. Monkey wasn't quite sure how Bulkley felt about this. Or indeed how this tallied with Gill's later assertion that television "at the moment is in the process of being very abusive to its audience. It used to be quizshows where people were respectable and say thank you and give them a cuddly toy. Now it's much more abusive." Unlike, say ... conference sessions chaired by Gill.
Not digging Giles
Gill wasn't a big fan of his friend Giles Coren's BBC...
- 6/13/2011
- by Monkey
- The Guardian - Film News
Commissioning editor Charlotte Moore favours quality and craft over feelgood and populist
Sheffield Doc/Fest supplement: full coverage of the festival
Charlotte Moore, the BBC commissioning editor for documentaries, is fresh from a hat trick of wins at last month's Bafta TV awards. But she has no time to rest on her laurels, with Terry Pratchett's controversial euthanasia documentary about to air.
Moore says it is not her job to get "massive viewing figures" and that she favours quality and craft over feelgood and populist. There is certainly not much feelgood about Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die, which will be broadcast on BBC2 on 13 June and feature footage of the Discworld author witnessing the assisted death of a man with advanced motor neurone disease in Switzerland's Dignitas clinic. The BBC has faced negative press coverage over the documentary, accusing it of being "a cheerleader for assisted suicide". Moore suggests...
Sheffield Doc/Fest supplement: full coverage of the festival
Charlotte Moore, the BBC commissioning editor for documentaries, is fresh from a hat trick of wins at last month's Bafta TV awards. But she has no time to rest on her laurels, with Terry Pratchett's controversial euthanasia documentary about to air.
Moore says it is not her job to get "massive viewing figures" and that she favours quality and craft over feelgood and populist. There is certainly not much feelgood about Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die, which will be broadcast on BBC2 on 13 June and feature footage of the Discworld author witnessing the assisted death of a man with advanced motor neurone disease in Switzerland's Dignitas clinic. The BBC has faced negative press coverage over the documentary, accusing it of being "a cheerleader for assisted suicide". Moore suggests...
- 6/6/2011
- by Ben Dowell
- The Guardian - Film News
Adventurer Bruce Parry embarks on an epic journey down the Amazon. First shown on the BBC, this series follows his extraordinary expedition, travelling by foot, aircraft and boat to meet tribes, coca growers, loggers and illegal miners. The Amazon is a complex, shifting environment, one-fifth of which has been destroyed by the ruthless deforestation driven by the profits that can be made through logging and establishing soya bean plantations.
- 11/5/2010
- Sky TV
London -- The BBC is launching "a limited number" of full-length episodes of natural history program "The Life of Birds" to U.S. viewers, the first time such long-form BBC content will have appeared on the online video platform, it was announced Thursday.
The move is part of an attempt to scope out the potential for long-form online video content, the BBC said, and will be restricted to only five episodes of the hour-long show.
Only viewers in the U.S. will have access to the full-length shows on YouTube, where a new advertising model will operate.
In the U.K. long-form BBC content is not available on the online video aggregator.
The news came as YouTube renewed its global partnership with BBC Worldwide Thursday, launching a range of new short-form video channels including BBC America, BBC Explore and BBC Earth on the online video platform later this year.
Content...
The move is part of an attempt to scope out the potential for long-form online video content, the BBC said, and will be restricted to only five episodes of the hour-long show.
Only viewers in the U.S. will have access to the full-length shows on YouTube, where a new advertising model will operate.
In the U.K. long-form BBC content is not available on the online video aggregator.
The news came as YouTube renewed its global partnership with BBC Worldwide Thursday, launching a range of new short-form video channels including BBC America, BBC Explore and BBC Earth on the online video platform later this year.
Content...
- 5/22/2009
- by By Mimi Turner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- The BBC swept the board at the annual Royal Television Society awards Tuesday night, taking 14 gongs including best soap for “EastEnders” and best documentary for “The Fallen.”
“Mad Men,” the AMC show airing here on digital channel BBC4, was named best international program.
Channel 4’s “The Devil’s Whore,” a Company Pictures/Power production also proved a winner earning best drama series award and netting rising star Andrea Riseborough best actress award for her portrayal of a woman caught up in the political revolution of the English Civil War. The lavish drama also earned scribe Peter Flannery the best writer award.
The gong for best actor went to Ben Wishaw for his role in BBC1’s “Criminal Justice.”
“Harry Hill’s TV Burp” was the surprise winner in the hotly contested entertainment category, with the satirical show winning over entertainment juggernauts “Strictly Come Dancing” and “X Factor.” “Dancing,...
“Mad Men,” the AMC show airing here on digital channel BBC4, was named best international program.
Channel 4’s “The Devil’s Whore,” a Company Pictures/Power production also proved a winner earning best drama series award and netting rising star Andrea Riseborough best actress award for her portrayal of a woman caught up in the political revolution of the English Civil War. The lavish drama also earned scribe Peter Flannery the best writer award.
The gong for best actor went to Ben Wishaw for his role in BBC1’s “Criminal Justice.”
“Harry Hill’s TV Burp” was the surprise winner in the hotly contested entertainment category, with the satirical show winning over entertainment juggernauts “Strictly Come Dancing” and “X Factor.” “Dancing,...
- 3/18/2009
- by By Mimi Turner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bruce Parry's Amazon Voyage came to an end last night (Monday) with 2.87m (12.9%) for BBC Two. The six-part series, which followed the explorer's eight-month trek down the South American river, has averaged a strong 2.75m (12%). The figure is up 27% on BBC Two's average for the Monday, 9pm slot. BBC One won the hour with police documentary Traffic Cops, which drew 4.46m (20%). ITV1 drama Wired lost almost 900,000 viewers after last week's encouraging start, averaging 3.97m (17.9%). Channel 4 had 1.49m (7.2%) for the 90-minute special Extraordinary Animals in the Womb and Five managed just 684,000 (3.1%) for endurance contest Unbreakable. University Challenge delivered a decent 3.12m (12.9%) for BBC Two at 8pm, then Valentine Warner's What To Eat Now concluded with 2.42m (10.1%). Over its six weeks, the (more)...
- 10/21/2008
- by By Neil Wilkes
- Digital Spy
ITV1's new drama Wired made an encouraging start in the ratings last night (Monday), according to early figures. The three-part thriller, starring Laurence Fox and Charlie Brooks as bank fraudsters, brought in 4.84m (21.4%) in the 9pm hour. The figure is up on the 4.43m (19.4%) who watched Place of Execution in the same slot last week. On BBC One at the time, Crimewatch appealed to 4.12m (18.2%) and on BBC Two, Amazon With Bruce Parry interested 3.05m (13.5%). Channel 4's one-off drama The Shooting Of Thomas Hurndall, based on the real-life shooting of a British student in Gaza, failed to deliver a strong audience. Just 540,000 (2.8%) tuned in between 9pm and 11pm, placing Channel 4 last of the terrestrial broadcasters. Five had 750,000 (3.3%) for its endurance competition Unbreakable, then 921,000 (5.7%) tuned in for (more)...
- 10/14/2008
- by By Neil Wilkes
- Digital Spy
The final episode of Who Do You Think You Are? ended with a relatively disappointing 4.95m (21.2%) on Monday night. The celebrity genealogy show had previously averaged over 6 million viewers every week of its eight-episode run. The final episode, featuring Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, was moved from the show's regular Wednesday 9pm slot to Monday at 9pm to make way for Silent Witness. Overall, the third series has averaged a massive 6.3m (11.1%) for BBC One. The channel was still ahead in the 9pm hour, with ITV1's Place of Execution taking 4.51m (19.3%) for second place. BBC Two's Amazon with Bruce Parry put in 2.55m (11%) and on Channel 4, a repeat of The Secret Millionaire managed 2.28m (9.8%). Five averaged 992,000 (4.7%) for the movie Dude, Where's My Car? between 9pm and 10.45pm. Coronation Street had audiences (more)...
- 10/1/2008
- by By Neil Wilkes
- Digital Spy
Rapper will.i.am is scheduled to team up with Scottish singer KT Tunstall and Guy Berryman of Coldplay in order to record a fund-raising album as a tribute to surviving indigenous people. Other musicians to contribute in the effort include Jason Mraz, Hot Chip, and English multi-instrumentalist musician Mike Oldfield.
Furthermore, in an attempt to support the album, the Coldplay bassists and a-ha have formed a new band called Apparatjik. Commenting on their offshoot new band, Guy says, "Everyone asks what inspired us, what we've been trying to steal and what we listened to as we were growing up. The first band I loved was a-ha."
Instead of listed in a single CD, the songs, that the big stars currently work on, will appear in two different CDs and both will be released on October 6. The first one is titled "Amazon" and it will feature songs inspired by Bruce Parry...
Furthermore, in an attempt to support the album, the Coldplay bassists and a-ha have formed a new band called Apparatjik. Commenting on their offshoot new band, Guy says, "Everyone asks what inspired us, what we've been trying to steal and what we listened to as we were growing up. The first band I loved was a-ha."
Instead of listed in a single CD, the songs, that the big stars currently work on, will appear in two different CDs and both will be released on October 6. The first one is titled "Amazon" and it will feature songs inspired by Bruce Parry...
- 9/18/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Bruce Parry's new series got off to a strong start in the ratings last night with over 3 million viewers. Amazon with Bruce Parry, chronicling the explorer's voyage along the length of the Amazon river, drew an average of 3.19m (13.6%) in the 9pm hour for BBC Two. Five had 1.17m (5%) for Extreme Fishing With Robson Green, finishing ahead of Channel 4's topical new series The Price Of Property, which managed 1.1m (4.7%). BBC One won the slot with 5.4m (23%) for a repeat of New Tricks, while ITV1's drama The Children concluded with a decent 4.66m (19.9%). Two episodes of Coronation Street pulled in 8.67m (41.2%) at 7.30pm and 8.63m (36.4%) at 8.30pm, while EastEnders put in 8.27m (35.9%) for BBC One at 8pm and 543,000 (3.3%) for BBC Three at 10pm. Emmerdale managed 6.37m (32.4%) at 7pm. BBC Two also (more)...
- 9/16/2008
- by By Neil Wilkes
- Digital Spy
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