As a seasoned industry veteran with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that The Mediapro Studio’s slate announcement is nothing short of intriguing. With big characters, iconic hooks, and stories that promise to maintain their relevance across multiple seasons, they are certainly positioning themselves for success.
John Turturro, Melissa Leo, “24” executive producer Evan Katz along with Oscar winner Juan José Campanella will team up with Tom Donahue (director of “Mafia Spies”), Anthony Carbone (“The Floor” showrunner), and the Hastings siblings Matt and Tina (known for “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Fallen”) in the initial lineup of English-language projects by The Mediapro Studio US & Canada.
At Mipcom, during a Media Mastermind session on Wednesday, Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of The Mediapro Studio, and Juan “JC” Acosta, head of The Mediapro Studio US & Canada based in Los Angeles, unveiled a strategic plan that has been long-term in the making, as announced by Fernández Espeso in 2021.
The CEO’s objective is to penetrate the largest global market for films and TV shows, by merging the top-tier talent of American showrunners with the financial resources, production facilities, internal talent pool, and co-production knowledge and infrastructure of Mediapro Studio, based in Madrid but active in numerous European and Latin American markets. This way, TMS can leverage local insights and a global perspective to produce content that resonates universally, she noted.
Fernández Espeso and Acosta had Pam Healey, the driving force behind TMS’ unscripted content, alongside them, along with Ran Tellem, the head of TMS’ international content development, as well as Katz and Campanella, on stage with them.
Fernández Espeso stated to EbMaster that the U.S. isn’t simply another sales territory. What gets developed there can echo worldwide, shaping cultures and global trends…and we absolutely don’t want to pass up the chance to be part of that market too.
For the past decade, we’ve been diligently laboring over this project. Now is the moment to enjoy the results of our efforts and continue moving forward,” she remarked.
First details on the slate:
“Is There No Place on Earth for Me?”
John Turturro is preparing to write, direct, and act in the movie titled “Is There No Place on Earth for Me?”, which is based on Susan Sheehan’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning reportage about a family dealing with their daughter’s struggle with schizophrenia. The film is almost completely ready to be produced, according to Acosta.
” Witness 36″
As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that Evan Katz, the mastermind behind “24”, will be steering the helm of an upcoming series titled “Witness 36”. This gripping drama has been brilliantly conceptualized by Daniel Burman from The Mediapro Studio and is being described as a nail-biting “cat and mouse thriller” with echoes of “Killing Eve”.
“The Son of the Bride”
Renowned director Juan José Campanella, known for his Oscar-winning film “The Secret in Their Eyes,” is planning to transform his Academy Award-nominated movie “The Son of the Bride” into an English-language TV series. In 2001, it was praised by critic EbMaster as a consistently cheerful and hilarious production. Acosta described it as a poignant examination of family life that serves as a reminder that every individual is continually growing up. Campanella himself is penning the adaptation; his directing credits include episodes for popular American shows like “House” and more recently, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
“Screaming Ball of Chaos”
MediaPro Studios is currently developing “Screaming Ball of Chaos,” the upcoming novel by Juliet McDaniel, whose book “Mr. and Mrs. American Pie” was adapted into the popular Apple TV+ series “Palm Home Royale.” As described by Acosta, “Screaming Balls…” is an unconventional take on Bonnie and Clyde, featuring cults, male strippers, and a dash of Neil Diamond. This humorous, female-led comedy revolves around a chaotic woman’s bank-robbing escapades, aligning with The Mediapro Studio’s characteristic style: “Large, memorable characters, catchy themes, narratives designed for long-lasting success.
“I Love the Prime Minister”
Matt Hastings, a fellow executive producer on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” has linked up with a project titled “I Love the Prime Minister.” This concept was originally conceived by Ran Tellem, known for his work in “Homeland” and “The Head.” The show is shaping up to be a delightful, half-hour romantic comedy. It revolves around a highly accomplished female lawyer who’s aiming for the position of prime minister. As she grapples with the challenges of leadership, she also navigates the complexities of contemporary dating.
“Catch Me If You Can”
Anthony Carbone, showrunner and executive producer of ‘The Floor’, is collaborating with The Mediapro Studio to prepare an American remake of the Spanish unscripted series ‘Catch Me If You Can’. This popular show has already aired over 10,000 episodes.
Hollywood Homicide: Robert Blake
In collaboration, Tom Donahue, director of “Mafia Spies,” and his company CreativeChaos, are partnering with The Mediapro Studio to create their initial true crime documentary series. This series will focus on the intriguing case involving actor Robert Blake, who was accused of murdering his wife Bonny Lee Bakley. The narrative is being presented by none other than Robert’s son, Noah Blake.
“Mother Wolf”
Academy Award-winner Melissa Leo (“Frozen River”) is starring in “Mother Wolf,” directed by indie darling Suzi Yoonessi (“Dear Lemon Lima,” “Unlovable”), a “dark, comedic fairy tale,” said Acosta, in which Leo plays a retired teacher suddenly tasked with caring for her grandchildren. She will basically do anything for her family. Movie is now in post, supported by The Mediapro Studio.
According to Fernández Espeso, our operations in both Latin America and Europe are robust. These regions, including Spain, hold significant importance to us. We’ve managed to gain the trust and admiration of major clients within these areas.
Furthermore, we’ve greatly benefited from the priceless assistance of our production collaborators, who have significantly enhanced our projects. We aim to maintain this strong relationship with talent, clients, and partners during content creation as a significant aspect of our global growth strategy relies on local relationships. She emphasized this point.
As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that we’re now ready to pour our passion and expertise into crafting and distributing English-language content just as we’ve been doing with Spanish. We boast an impressive catalog of formats, and our knack for creating content that resonates universally, crossing both geographical and thematic boundaries, is well-established.
In our global projects, we strive to provide top-notch quality, ensure it’s delivered in the English language, and do so with exceptional talents,” remarked Acosta. “This is the reason behind our increased focus on English.
The productions aim to maximize their return on investment by utilizing The Mediapro Studio’s extensive global network and local benefits, as mentioned.
The recent announcement places the U.S. television industry at a significant juncture. As Acosta explained to EbMaster, “For quite some time, we’ve wanted to create content in the U.S., distribute it domestically, and delve into local productions tailored for specific regions. However, considering the current market situation and how production costs per episode are being perceived, we now have a distinct advantage because we can offer the talent, creativity, infrastructure, and distribution platform – essentially the whole package. I believe this sets us apart.
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2024-10-23 12:47