East Asian Series Score Global Audiences on Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)

Continuing its recent nominations rout at the Golden Globes and SAG nominations last week, Netflix starts this week in the same mode scoring 46 noms in the Critics Choice Awards, with David Fincher’s Mank landing in an impressive 12 categories to lead the field. A24’s tender drama of a Korean American family seeking a new beginning on an Arkansas farm, Minari was just behind with 10 nominations.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, streamer Now TV creates powder artwork for ‘ZeroZeroZero’ series launch; ViacomCBS U.K.

Davide Abbatescianni Swiss sales outfit Lightdox has acquired Julien Faraut’s documentary “Les Sorcières de l’Orient,” taking part in the Big Screen Competition of the Rotterdam Film Festival.The film follows the former players of the Japanese women’s volleyball team. Now in their 70s, they used to be known as the “The Sorcerers of the East” because of their seemingly supernatural powers on the courts.

Naman Ramachandran In today’s Global Bulletin, Korea’s IU joins the cast of Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker”; Bertelsmann sells Groupe M6; Red Arrow takes series “Blackout”; Shorts festival sets dates; and ITV commissions game show “Moneyball.”Lee Ji-eun, the popular Korean singer-actor better known as IU, has joined the cast of “Broker,” Japanese auteur Kore-eda Hirokazu’s debut Korean-language movie.

Naman Ramachandran Amazon Prime Video has announced several German original series and a soccer documentary.The originals include a series adaptation of fantasy classic “The Gryphon,” based on the cult novel of the same name by Wolfgang Hohlbein, Germany’s most successful living novelist with 40 million books sold worldwide, that follows three outsiders who must deal with a monster. Show runners Erol Yesilkaya and Sebastian Marka are adapting the material into six 45-minute episodes.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterJennifer Lopez is set to star in the upcoming Netflix film “The Mother.” Niki Caro, who recently helmed Disney’s “Mulan” remake, is in talks to direct.“The Mother,” which Lopez will also produce, centers on a deadly assassin who comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorBaobab Studios has released the trailer for its new virtual reality experience film “Namoo” ahead of its Sundance premiere.“Namoo,” which means “tree” in Korean, will be premiering as part of Sundance’s New Frontiers. The feature is written and directed by Erick Oh, who previously worked on “Heart” and “How to Eat Your Apple.”The film is brought to life through virtual reality and celebrates a grandfather’s passing.

Bridgerton is a , but did you know it's Netflix's biggest show ever?That's right. The romance series reached 82 million households in 28 days, making it in history.

Also Read: 'Minari' Film Review: Steven Yeun Leads Charming Drama About Korean Transplants in 1980s Arkansas“Minari” composer Emile MosseriThe story’s universality made an impact on the score’s musical cues.“We didn’t want to have stylistic influences in the score in any sort of calculated way,” Mosseri explained. “There are some subtle ’80s elements baked into the orchestral tapestry of the sound, but we didn’t want to have an ’80s synth score.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe mad scramble by Asian streamers and broadcasters to secure Korean TV drama content continued with the announcement by Viu that it is poised to deliver another original series.The Hong Kong-based pan-Asian streamer is poised to release period romantic drama “River Where the Moon Rises” on Feb. 15, 2021.

Clayton Davis The New York Film Critics Online have announced their winners for the best films and performances of the year, with “Minari” from A24 topping the best picture category.

Jon Burlingame When composer Emile Mosseri and director Lee Isaac Chung began talking about the music for “Minari,” Chung’s reminiscence about his Korean family’s struggle to succeed at farming in Arkansas, they decided what the score shouldn’t be: overtly Korean or American in style.“No twangy guitars or harmonicas,” says Mosseri of the A24 film, which had an Oscar-qualifying run last month and will get a wider rollout starting Feb. 12.

15 years spent fending off demons and a multitude of adventures in the Impala on, Jared Padalecki puts on his cowboy hat and boots in The CW's reboot. Admittedly, the 38-year-old actor wasn't planning on jumping in so quickly onto another TV show, only months after ended.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is launching an initiative to promote the country’s acting talent on the world stage.

Jamie Lang Germany’s ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) has scored international distribution rights to “Inside Japan’s War,” a new four-part docu-series from Wildbear Entertainment.“Inside Japan’s War” combines archive material, first-person accounts, interviews with historical and cultural experts, modern graphics and contemporary images to lift the veil on why it was that Japan went to war in the first place.Having built one of the world’s largest empires, Japan’s political structure at the time stoked

Jamie Lang In today’s Global Bulletin, Sky picks up hundreds of hours of Studiocanal feature film content; Banijay aims to raise domestic abuse awareness; GoQuest Media picks pair of Serbian drama series; Oble finds a home on Viu Middle East for “The Outbreak”; Abacus Media Rights snags Kate Beckinsale-narrated dog show doc; Walter Presents acquires three French Canadian series; and Eccho Rights sends a slate of Korean dramas to upstart Turkish streamer Exxen.Sky and Studiocanal have closed a

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentExpanding Middle East indie film distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has forged a joint venture with Saudi Arabian exhibition chain Muvi Cinemas to launch Front Row Arabia, with ambitious plans to cash in on Saudi’s current theatrical boom.The new distribution and exhibition company will be releasing English, Arabic, Japanese anime and alternative content across Saudi which — bucking the global downward trend — in 2020 became the Middle East’s

Jamie Lang The Mediapro Studio Distribution has closed a deal with Starz that will land South-Pole murder mystery series “The Head” on the broadcaster’s streaming platform Starzplay in the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and German-speaking regions of Switzerland and Luxembourg on Feb. 7.One of the most significant steps into scripted drama production by Spanish producer The Mediapro Studio, “The Head” was executed in partnership with Hulu Japan and HBO Asia.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterBenoît Jutras, the composer behind many Cirque du Soleil productions, is developing a slate of original musicals for the stage and screen.The first project will be a rock opera that traces Japan’s Imperial Family through the final days of World War II.