GroupM Launches Ad Innovation Accelerator, A Cross-Industry Effort To Evolve Past 30-Second Spots

For anyone with a keen interest in hair care, then Dyson has become the be all and end all of branded stylers.

GroupM, the media investment arm of ad agency giant WPP, has named Sharb Farjami as its North America CEO.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Sharb Farjami will take the reins of the North American operations of GroupM, the media-investment giant that is part of WPP. Farjami had been CEO of North American for Wavemaker, one of the big media-buying units of GroupM..

Outlander fans are over the moon after Build-a-Bear launched Jamie and Claire Fraser inspired cuddly toys.

EXCLUSIVE: FOX Entertaiment and its in-house studio division MarVista Entertainment are launching Tideline Entertainment, a new production label that will focus on creating impactful and meaningful content with unique perspectives from differentiated storytellers, voices and creators worldwide.

Neon is opening Origin on 130 screens and plans to expand the Ava DuVernay film, which premiered in Venice and had a excellent qualifying run in December.

Omid Djalili Launches Production Outfit

Brooklyn Beckham continues his career as a chef. The son of David and Victoria Beckham is celebrating a new partnership with Uber Eats, teaming up with the company to launch a new pop-up restaurant in London.WATCH TRAILER: NICOLA PELTZ BECKHAM STARS IN NEW FILM ‘LOLA’VICTORIA BECKHAM DANCES WITH NICOLA PELTZ WHILE ON FAMILY VACATION FOLLOWING FEUDVICTORIA BECKHAM TREATS FANS WITH SULTRY PHOTO OF DAVID BECKHAMBrooklyn shared some details about his new venture, revealing that he has always been interested in exploring different cultures and traditional foods.

Looking for the perfect way to spice up your Valentine’s Day?! Kim Kardashian’s got you covered!

EXCLUSIVE: Interactive animation studio Toonstar is launching an AI studio for digital creators following a strong response for its series with TikTok and YouTube star Parker James.

Naman Ramachandran U.S.-based RASA Film Group is launching a film collective at the Sundance Film Festival. The collective is actively exploring projects featuring strong female protagonists, narratives centered around social justice and stories that portray Muslim characters in positive and empowering roles. RASA is in talks for future projects involving Muslim or Pakistani women talent such as Aizzah Fatima (“Americanish”), Mehreen Jabbar (“Farar”), Afia Nathaniel (“Dukhtar”), Mahnoor Euceph (“Eid Mubarak”) and Rehana Lew Mirza (“Wishtree”).

Playtime will launch sales on Emmanuel Courcol’s new social comedy The Marching Band, about two brothers separated by fate and reunited by music, at the upcoming Unifrance Rendez-vous in Paris next week.

Giovanni Pernice, a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has been backed by fans as he embarks on a new business venture and launches his own perfume line. It comes amid rumours that his 2023 dance partner, Amanda Abbington, requested footage of their training sessions. Amanda had to leave the competition due to health issues but it's rumoured she's considering legal advice after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from her time on the show, suggesting Giovanni was a tough coach.

ColourPop Cosmetics has created a makeup collection that Twilight lovers will be ready to sink their teeth into.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Sundance turns 40 this year and AMC Networks is celebrating the film festival’s big 4-0 with the release of a curated lineup of dozens of movies that previously debuted at the event, including “Birth/Rebirth,” “Sleeping with Other People,” “Savage Grace” and “Heathers,” for streamer AMC+. A long-time sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival with roots in indie films through IFC Films and now horror-focused streamer Shudder, whcih is debuting Chris Nash’s “In A Violent Nature” at the fest this year, AMC Networks will be offering the compilation of Sundance movies all through January, in connection with the 2024 edition of the film festival running Jan.

Rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour are underway, with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice noticeably absent from this year's line-up. Photos form rehearsals show Angela Scanlon, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Annabel Croft, Bobby Brazier and Elllie Leach preparing to tour the country alongside a number of dancing pros. With the exception of Annabel, who has been paired with Graziano Di Prima, the stars are partnered with the professionals they danced with on the 2023 series of the show.

Mattel is staying in the film business. 

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Barbie is set to direct her first feature film. No doubt inspired by Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” blockbuster this past summer, Mattel has announced that their annual “Career of the Year” collection this year will feature a slate of film vocations such as a film director, studio executive, cinematographer and, of course, movie star.

Tom Cruise has announced a new partnership with Warner Bros., but don’t worry about your favorite franchises of his that are under other studios.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Is that photo or article someone posted on the internet claiming it came from Fox News actually from Fox News — or is it bogus? Fox Corp. has created a technical protocol called Verify, designed with two objectives: to let media companies register content and grant usage rights to AI platforms; and to allow consumers to verify the content is authentic. The company is releasing Verify on an open-source basis, in the hopes that others sign on to the blockchain-based content verification system.