Broadway’s Thompson Turner Productions Becomes TT Partners With Exec Promotions

Jennie linked up with Calvin Klein for a fashionable collaboration!

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The Weeknd is connecting with his Ethiopian roots in a new partnership with Blue Bottle Coffee, which released a product line today called Samra Origins, named after the artist’s mother Samra. “Ethiopian culture is an important part of my identity and I’m proud to work alongside the Blue Bottle Coffee team to shine a light on Ethiopian traditions, values, and of course, coffee,” said The Weeknd in a press release. “Growing up, I watched my mother perform Buna Tetu, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This sensory experience helped shape my understanding of community and taught me to always honor my roots.” Read More: The Best Coffee Subscriptions to Gift in 2023

Despite all of the upheaval at Twitter under new owner Elon Musk in recent months, the social media firm and NBCUniversal say they have gotten their earliest start yet in ramping up their Olympic Games partnership.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Fast-rising R&B star Brent Faiyaz has struck a wide-ranging partnership with Steve Stoute’s company UnitedMasters that spans a recording partnership and a creative agency. UnitedMasters CEO and founder Steve Stoute says, “Brent Faiyaz is one of the most prolific independent artists today and we are extremely excited to embark on this new partnership with him. It’s been inspiring to watch his journey as an artist over the years and with this partnership we look to further amplify his creative vision and support his entrepreneurial ambitions.”

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Toronto’s Hot Docs film festival has decided that Canadian media producer Bonnie Thompson will be the recipient of this year’s prestigious Don Haig Award. Thompson is the producer behind Cam Christiansen’s “Echo of Everything,” a feature length documentary exploring the power of music, which will have its world premiere at Hot Docs’ 30th-anniversary festival, on now until May 7. The Don Haig Award is presented to an outstanding Canadian independent producer with a feature-length film at the festival, with the recipient being selected by a jury of independent filmmakers. The award recognizes creative vision and entrepreneurship, as reflected in the recipient’s body of work, as well as a track record of mentoring emerging Canadian filmmakers. Thompson will be presented with a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of the Don Haig Foundation.

Indian streamer SonyLIV has ordered two new series, social drama Kafas and suspense thriller 36 Days, from production powerhouse Applause Entertainment, along with four returning shows. 

Imax and Evo Entertainment announced today during their presentation at CinemaCon that they have entered into a partnership to open eight new Imax locations throughout Florida and Texas, including ones in Houston and Austin, marking the largest agreement for new Imax locations in a decade.“As we continue to expand, we remain committed to being at the forefront of cutting-edge spaces,” said Mitch Roberts, CEO of Evo Entertainment Group in a statement. “This partnership with Imax allows us to further enhance our state-of-the-art facilities and provide our guests with the ultimate movie-going experience.

FIFTY FIFTY have signed a new partnership with American label Warner Records.The new partnership comes shortly after FIFTY FIFTY went viral on TikTok with their sophomore single ‘Cupid’. The English version of the song, also known as the ‘Twin Ver.’, has since peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.“We are grateful to Warner Records for the opportunity to discuss innovative ways to bring FIFTY FIFTY to the forefront of the music industry,” said Sung-il Ahn, co-CEO of FIFTY FIFTY’s label ATTRAKT, per Billboard.“We are thrilled to find that our thoughts and visions align with an artist-centered approach, and we are eager to explore potential avenues for success together,” he added.Meanwhile, Warner Records’ COO Tom Corson and CEO Aaron Bay-schuk said: “We are thrilled to partner with FIFTY FIFTY to amplify their global smash single ‘Cupid’ and we know there is much more to come.”The duo, who are also co-chairmen of the American record label, added that the Warner Records team are “excited to create additional opportunities for this powerhouse K-pop girl group”.In a statement, FIFTY FIFTY said that they are “honoured to be working with Warner Records, and we are excited to see what the future holds for us.

Peter Caranicas Deputy Editor Global law firm Greenberg Traurig has elevated attorneys Ann Brigid Clark, Paul Sarker and Jared S. Welsh to shareholder in its Entertainment and Media Practice, and promoted Alana C. Kirkland to of counsel.

Jennifer Lopez, Jaime Camil, and Juanpa Zurita are partnering up with Roku. The company is expanding its original content and has reached out to Latino stars to get the job done.Jennifer Lopez celebrates Easter after saying goodbye to Ben Affleck at the HamptonsJennifer Lopez opens up about her fitness journey: How she prepares for new albumA post shared by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo)Deadline reports that Lopez, Camil, and Zurita will be providing different types of content to Roku Originals.

Alana «Honey Boo Boo» Thompson was pretty in pink for prom! On Sunday, the former star attended her prom in Georgia, and the pre-prom moment was a family affair. The 17-year-old proudly posed with her mother, Mama June Shannon and her husband, Justin Stroud, giving the camera a full look at her pink dress adorned with sparkling crystals. In another picture, Alana posed with her 21-year-old boyfriend, Dralin Carswell. For the moment, the couple was positioned in front of a white horse-drawn carriage with pink accents to match the theme of the prom princess' look. Following the photo op, the reality TV star and her boyfriend made a grand entrance at the event in the carriage.For her prom, Alana wore a custom pink gown by Miesha.

The 76th Tony Awards will again be hosted by “West Side Story” Oscar winner and “Diana: The Musical” Tony nominee Ariana DeBose. Shifting uptown from its longstanding location at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the ceremony will for the first time this year but hosted at the historic United Palace in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood.The Tonys are produced by Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, and White Cherry Entertainment.

Roku is teaming up with Jennifer Lopez, Jaime Camil and Juanpa Zurita as it expands its Roku Originals in Spanish.

Ed Meza @edmezavar Warner Bros. Intl. Television Prod. (WBITVP) has appointed former Fremantle exec Harry Gamsu as new VP, creative, for format, development and sales. He will report to Andrew Zein, SVP creative, for format development and sales and oversee relations between WBITVP’s international division and the WB’s U.S. TV production units Warner Horizon, Telepictures and Shed. Gamsu will also evaluate formats in WB’s catalogue for international exploitation and format sales to Canada. He succeeds Adam Steinman, who ankled WBITVP earlier this year. In his previous role as VP of non-scripted content acquisitions at Fremantle, Gamsu managed the U.S. content acquisition team and working on factual and entertainment series.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Turkish TV content powerhouse Medyapim and digital distribution company Merzigo and have forged a partnership that aims to boost the global circulation of its vast library of Turkish dramas. The four-year agreement between Medyapim and Merzigo, which uses cutting-edge technology to provide innovative monetization, marketing and distribution services, will facilitate the global distribution of Turkish content in many regions, including Latin America, Africa and Asia, the companies said in a statement. The service will provide viewers a range of more than 20 language options. Medyapim, which comprises several subsidiaries and partners including MF Yapim, Madd, and Mednova, has a library of more than 10,000 hours of TV content spanning from dramas and sitcoms to feature films and game shows. Their hit shows include “Mother” (pictured); “A Woman Scorned”; and “A Fairy Tale.”

EXCLUSIVE: Head Gear Films has announced a formal partnership with asset management firm Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI), which solidifies the company’s international stronghold in media funding. 

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Country star Tim McGraw announced Thursday that he is entering into a partnership with Shareability, a social content studio that specializes in “viral moments,” to start Down Home, a new Nashville-based media, entertainment and marketing company. According to the announcement, Down Home will be “dedicated to connecting McGraw’s country music audience with Hollywood and brands by producing film, TV and digital media that focuses on relatable stories that capture the essence and spirit of everyday Americans.” No titles or specific projects were announced as part of the unveiling, but the new company is said to have two scripted series in development with Skydance Media, with the intention of following up with feature film and animation projects. In a statement, Joel Bergvall, Down Home’s head of film and television, said, “People want stories that move them, and that starts with characters they can relate to. We’re focused on underdogs, unlikely heroes, and people striving for their sense of family, community, and belonging.”

Just the guys. Tristan Thompson was spotted hitting the club with Corey Gamble on Tuesday, April 11.

EXCLUSIVE: Retrenchment by many distribution platforms has made for “highly turbulent times” in the documentary industry, the Sundance Institute acknowledges, but with help from a major foundation it is injecting some much-needed positive news into a field beset by anxiety.