Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have been spotted again this week!
03.02.2022 - 19:07 / variety.com
Manori Ravindran International Editor88Rising co-founder Jaeson Ma and Anonymous Content executive producer Eric Tu are joining forces to launch EST Studios, an independent finance, production and sales outfit geared towards the Asian marketplace.Launching just ahead of the European Film Market — which officially kicks off Feb. 10 — the company specializes in premium film and episodic content.Ma (pictured, left) will serve as the company chairman and co-CEO, with Tu (right) serving as co-founder and co-CEO.
The duo will bring their vast knowledge of Asia-based investment, entertainment and technology industries to forge new partnerships with filmmakers from the East and introduce new premium Asian film and television IP to global audiences. Headquartered in Los Angeles, EST Studios has offices in New York, Taipei and Vietnam.
They will soon have offices in China, South Korea, India, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. The company is eyeing an annual slate of 15 projects that they will be financing, producing and representing for sales at global film markets such as the EFM, Cannes and the AFM.
An executive team of film sales and distribution veterans is currently being assembled.EST Studios will represent all genres of Asian content in the international marketplace. In addition to worldwide sales and distribution, the outfit will also partner with Asian talent on global-facing film and TV projects.“The steady rise in popularity of Asian content all over the world is a testament to the potential for the continent to become a powerhouse in entertainment,” said Ma.
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have been spotted again this week!
EXCLUSIVE: Ashley Hoppin, who oversaw animal-based programming across Nat Geo and Disney+, has joined Red Rock Films, the company behind Signourney Weaver-narrated Secrets of the Whales.
Anna Marie de la Fuente Mexico’s most bankable stars, Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, have teamed up with L.A. and Miami-based Exile Content to produce Travis Gutiérrez Senger’s documentary on the groundbreaking art group, “ASCO: Without Permission.”The documentary chronicles the Los Angeles based avant-garde art group ASCO during the 1970s and ‘80s.
Salma Hayek has signed a first-look deal with Univision for its recently announced streaming platform, ViX. Under the 2-year deal, Hayek, through her production company Ventana Rosa, will produce exclusive Spanish-language feature films.
Angelique Jackson Sarah Vacchiano has joined UTA from FilmNation, signing on to serve as a motion picture business affairs executive for the global talent, entertainment and sports agency.Vacchiano will be based in the company’s Los Angeles office and report to Jim Meenaghan, partner and head of motion picture business affairs and co-head of UTA Independent Film Group.“Sarah has a unique knowledge and skill set in the film industry across the constantly changing deal structures of studios, streamers and her specific experiences in the independent film space,” stated Meenaghan, announcing Vacchiano’s hiring. “Our friends at FilmNation could not have been more supportive of her move, and we are thrilled to welcome Sarah to our L.A.
The New York Times is being taken to the woodshed on social media for using the term “overrepresented” in an article on Asians in figure skating.
Fred again.. and India Jordan have teamed up on a brand new track – check out ‘Admit It (U Don’t Want 2)’ below.The new track follows Fred again…’s two albums from 2021 – April debut ‘Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020)’ and November’s follow-up ‘Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15 2021)’ – while Jordan released new EP ‘Watch Out!’ last spring.“The track started as a couple of stems from some old loops I had that I sent to Fred, last year – then I eventually went over to his a couple of times in December and we made the track together, accompanied by some lovely walks down the River Thames and lots of cups o’ tea,” Jordan said of the process of creating the track.
Christopher Vourlias Fox Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to “Khan: The Series,” from Oscar-nominated producer Alexander Rodnyansky’s AR Content, Variety can reveal.Currently in development, the epic action series is based on the best-selling book “Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World” by Jack Weatherford, and will focus on the largest contiguous empire in human history and its iconic creator.Writer and executive producer Chris Collins will serve as showrunner, with Sergei Bodrov tapped to direct and executive produce.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a memo that it has received reports that truck drivers may attempt to block roads at major events to protest vaccine mandates. This Sunday’s Super Bowl in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium is a likely target, according to an internal memo cited by several major media outlets.
Selome Hailu Dominic Pagone has been promoted to senior vice president of entertainment public relations and awards at Showtime Networks Inc. and Paramount Television Studios, while Amanda Cary has been promoted to senior vice president of entertainment public relations at Showtime.Pagone will now also oversee the communications team for Paramount Television Studios after initially serving as senior vice president of entertainment public relations and awards solely for Showtime. He continues to report to Erin Calhoun, executive vice president of communications at Showtime Networks Inc.
Disney has confirmed it will join other media companies in hosting an in-person New York City upfront during the familiar mid-May week long known for broadcast network presentations to ad buyers.
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Gucci family saga isn’t quite over.Just months after the release of Ridley Scott’s “House of Gucci” — a film that could see Lady Gaga nominated for her second Oscar — a TV drama and documentary focusing on the Gucci family is in the works from Comcast-backed Sky Studios.The company is in early stages of development on a high-end TV series, and is in pre-production on a documentary series, both of which will tell “the story of a great family and a great brand,” says producer Nils Hartmann, senior VP for Sky Studios Germany and Italy.Both projects were brought to Sky by Leone Film Group, which has an agreement with several members of the Gucci family, including Alessandro Gucci, Guccio Gucci Jr. and Giorgio Gucci.
HanWay Films has closed several international deals on McCarthy, Václav Marhoul’s drama about the infamous U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, ahead of this month’s virtual European Film Market.
“Good Kids”starring Nicholas Braun, “Fathers & Daughters” starring Russell Crowe, “Pay The Ghost” starring Nicolas Cage, and “I.T.” starring Pierce Brosnan. He also executive produced a number of Voltage titles, including “Time Is Up,” “Archenemy,” “Safer at Home,” “Redemption Day,” “Follow Me” and “Drive Hard.” Previously, Diene was VP of acquisitions & apsara distribution at IM Global.
EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-winning Switchblade Entertainment Group, producers of Rachael Ray’s signature 30 Minute Meals, has rebranded as Intentional Content, and has elevated Switchblade EVP Sean Lee to partner in the company. First up, as Intentional, the company will soon announce two new series in the home space for A+E, set to air in 2022.
RuPaul Leads The Way On BBC Three Return
Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul have shared another new track from their forthcoming joint album – listen to ‘Ceci n’est pas un cliché’ (‘This is not a cliché’) below.The pair’s debut album as a duo, ‘Topical Dancer’, will be released on March 4, 2022 via Deewee – the label owned by Soulwax, who co-wrote and co-produced the album.Speaking of the new track, the duo said: “This song is an accumulation of all the cliché lyrics so often used in pop music. It came about when we were touring and heard a song on the radio opening with ‘I was walking down the street’ which made us strongly cringe.