Vivian Cannon Named Head of Drama Development at Universal Television

Talking Mariah Carey and Kathy Griffin’s replacement! The pettiness felt… appropriate and satisfying. This and much more on our latest podcast! Listen to The Perez Hilton Podcast with Chris Booker on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or directly at http://PerezPodcast.com

The Oscar-contending documentary 76 Days, set in hospitals in Wuhan, China as the city endured lockdown after the eruption of Covid-19, is cinéma vérité par excellence. No sit-down interviews, no TV news reports spliced in—just the pure visual drama of medical workers and patients ensnared in an unprecedented crisis.

The Locarno Film Festival has named Markus Duffner the new head of its industry section Locarno Pro, effective as of January 1, 2021. Duffner, who has worked with Locarno Pro since 2014 on its First Look and Match Me! projects, has been at the forefront of digital innovation at the festival.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Anthony Chen’s “Wet Season,” which represents Singapore in the Oscar race for best international feature film.The movie world premiered in the Platform section at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is being represented in international markets by Memento Films International.Penned and directed by Chen, “Wet Season” revolves around a Chinese language teacher whose marriage and school

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefVeteran executive Brett Hogg has been promoted and made head of Sony Pictures film and television operations across Asia. He will remain at his current base in Singapore.He has been senior VP of international distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing International in the Asia region, supervising the Sony Pictures Releasing operations across Southeast Asia, China and India for theatrical distribution.

With a newly elected Democratic president, this is the season of speculation, where names are being floated as potential ambassador picks. And this time around, The Walt Disney Co.’s executive chairman Bob Iger is getting attention as a prospect for one of the highest profile foreign posts, China.

Elaine Low Senior TV WriterViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group has tapped “PBS NewsHour” producer and executive James F. Blue III to become its senior vice president and head of Smithsonian Channel.Blue has been tasked with leading, expanding and diversifying the Smithsonian Channel’s content to further the Smithsonian’s mission to engage, inspire and educate, according to the company.

A consortium led by China’s Tencent has exercised an option to purchase a further 10% of Vivendi’s Universal Music Group. The deal values the company at €30BN.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefChinese cinema chain JinYi Media has agreed a 12-theater deal with premium large format tech company Imax. The deal involves upgrading seven of Jinyi’s existing Imax sites to use laser technology, and the installation of Imax kit at five new sites.

It’s a busy day at NBCUniversal with more promotions and departures.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced criticism for fundraising off of the #MeToo movement in 2018 after knowingly hiring senior aide Sam Hoyt following Hoyt's extramarital affair with a 19-year-old intern.

WarnerMedia on Friday named Vanessa Brookman to the new role of head of kids EMEA, which stands for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She will jointly report to Priya Dogra, President, WarnerMedia EMEA & Asia, excluding China, and Tom Ascheim, President, Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics.

UK Indie Pic Sets CastEXCLUSIVE: Crissy Rock, Paul Barber and Kayleigh-Paige Rees will lead the cast of UK indie movie Kate & Jake. The pic is being helmed by Jack McLoughlin, his feature debut, and is based on the filmmaker’s own experiences of love and loss.