The LA Screenings Are Back: Talent Returns & Slates Get International As Buyers Head For Studio Showcases
17.05.2024 - 10:17
/ deadline.com
As buyers touch down at LAX for the annual LA Screenings, it will be a case of a return to the norm following the unusual circumstances of last year. The Hollywood labor strikes not only threw confusion on what would be a realistic purchase, but also stopped acquisitions executives getting face time (and a quick selfie) with acting and writing talent — something many value as part of their buying process.
There will be no such issues this year, and the studio sales bosses are relishing a return to the norm. “We’re really excited, it feels like we’re really back after the strikes and firing on all cylinders,” says David Decker, President of Content Sales for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). “We have an abundance of titles that run the gamut of broadcast and streaming in drama and comedy. We’ll be showing the best of what WBD stands for.”
Lisa Kramer, President, International Content Licensing, Paramount Global Content Distribution, certainly sees more of a straightforward ride than twelve months ago. “Last year we screened against the backdrop of picketers and this year we embrace the industry back at work,” she says. “The excitement shared about the series is palpable and something the clients truly appreciate. The LA Screenings last year was a bit different, but we were still able to present a great slate for the buyers.”
“A bit different” feels a bit of an understatement. For one European network buyer, the past few years have been a tad traumatic. “The post-Covid screenings, with masks, antigen tests and then no talent are memories I’ve tried to suppress,” they say, speaking anonymously.
Past is the past
But the good news is the studios believe the past is firmly the past.
“This is the rumble before the storm — we
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