Fremantle-Owner RTL Group Boosts Revenues By 11.3%; TalentWorks Creator Initiative; Miso Films Hire; DCF Mental Health Service – Global Briefs

Premiere Digital has acquired global distribution rights, including the U.S., for “The Girl on the Bridge,” a mental health documentary directed by New Zealand filmmaker Leanne Pooley.“The Girl on the Bridge” tells the story of 22-year old Jazz Thornton, who survived multiple suicide attempts and now works as a filmmaker and activist for young people’s mental health. The film sees her juggle the personal cost and pressures of advocacy work as she leads her own charity.Previously only seen in New Zealand and Australia, “The Girl on the Bridge” is now available on digital platforms.

During his lengthy career as an agent, David Unger saw there was a future in representing actors from the growing international marketplace. That’s what led to the creation of the Artist International Group in 2019.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentMaquinitas, a program of Latin America film market Ventana Sur, is teaming with Mexico’s Grupo Mórbido to launch Let’s Spook, a new showroom for fantasy/horror video games in development in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.The news comes as the Mórbido Film Fest has confirmed dates for this year, plus its move into the Web 3.0, NFTs and the Metaverse.For Let’s Spook, Maquinitas and Mórbido are sending out a call for applications, which will run from June 1 -Aug. 15, to video game developers and programmers from Ibero-America looking to promote and enhance their genre projects.

TheWrap’s review called the film one of the least nostalgic examples of a form that is almost by definition nostalgic,” and added: “Gray is hard on himself in ‘Armageddon Time’; Paul Graff, the film’s stand-in for the director as a sixth grader, is never cute, unless you want to dote on the angelic curls and ignore the purposefully stubborn personality.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeI recently wrote a story, timed to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, about “Fresh off the Boat” executive producers Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan’s growing roster of projects spotlighting different elements of the vast AAPI experience for multiple networks and streamers. That’s a positive development in this expansive world of limitless distribution.

Starz has given the greenlight to a new series from “Vida” creator Tanya Saracho.“Lovesong,” which is currently in development, is a half-hour drama that will follow two Mexican American childhood friends living in London as they both become entangled in a torturous love-triangle with the same captivating singer-songwriter. A love story born out of betrayal and paid for with the cost of friendship. “Steeped in the East London music scene, the series embarks on a cinematic contemplation of love, sex, identity, purpose and the price of happiness,” a description for the series reads.“This story is very much a child of the pandemic, born from those times when we were yearning for love stories to soothe the soul and light the way through the dark times.

Malina Saval Associate Editor, FeaturesThe subject of teenage depression is generally played for high-octane drama in showbiz. In 2017, “13 Reasons Why” fell under rapid-fire controversy for its inclusion of a graphic suicide scene, which was ultimately removed by Netflix. Conversely, in Hulu’s true crime miniseries “The Girl From Plainville,” the pinnacle suicide scene is kept off-camera.

Tanya Saracho, who created the Starz series Vida which ran for three seasons, has set a new project at the streamer. Saracho is currently developing the half-hour drama Lovesong, it was announced on Thursday.

Selena Gomez grabs a picture with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during the Mental Health Youth Forum at The White House on Wednesday (May 18) in Washington, DC.

Andrew Barker Senior Features WriterIconoclastic auteur Peter Greenaway’s first film since 2015 is scheduled to be unveiled later this year, and when it hits screens, the opening credits will feature a company that may not yet be familiar to festival-goers. But if all goes according to their plan, it will be very soon.APX Capital Group’s film fund was launched in October of 2021, with headquarters in New York.

DIA have announced that they will be disbanding after dropping their final album in August.South Korean news outlet Edaily first reported on May 11 that the girl group are  in the midst of preparations for “one last final album in August before their contracts with their agency PocketDol Studio expires”, as translated by Soompi. The report had also claimed that the DIA members will be “walking their separate paths after wrapping up promotions as a full group.”PocketDol Studio later confirmed the report in a separate statement to Chosun, writing, as translated by Koreaboo: “DIA will release their last album in August and will end their exclusive contract in September.” More details are to arrive in the months leading up to the release.This confirmation also came shortly after a separate statement from a representative of the entertainment company, who clarified at the time that it was “difficult to say whether the August album will be the last album”, per YTN, as translated by Soompi.DIA’s August release will notably be their first release in over two years, with their last project being their sixth mini-album ‘Flower 4 Seasons’ which dropped in June 2020. That record was led by title track ‘Hug U’.The group – comprising Jueun, Eunchae, Chaeyeon, Yebin, Eunice and Huihyeon – had officially debuted under MBK Entertainment in 2015 with the single ‘Somehow’ from their debut album ‘Do It Amazing’, having put out one more studio album and six EPs since.

Lorraine Kelly, the proud owner of her adorable pooch Angus, is a big believer in this and has opened up about her little border terrier helped her, particularly during the lockdown. Read her first-person account below which she's contributed to our Mental Health Digital Issue, guest-edited by Scarlett Moffatt.WATCH: Lorraine Kelly reveals how her pet dog Angus helps her mental healthI honestly don't know how I would have coped through these tough times without my four-year-old border terrier Angus. All through lockdown, he woke up with me around 5am and waved me off on my way to work.

Osaka wrote an article for Time magazine, where she detailed her struggles and why she felt the decision was the correct one for her at the time. Gaining substantial criticism for not attending press conferences, Osaka spoke out, saying that the press-conference format was "out of date" and in need of a total refresh. At the time she said: "I communicated that I wanted to skip press conferences at Roland Garros to exercise self-care and preservation of my mental health.