CANNES — Andy Yeatman, Netflix’s head of Global Kids Content and 2017 MIP Junior keynote speaker, was asked how he limited the amount of television he allows his three young daughters to watch. Simple, says Yeatman, “They only watch TV on iPads, and we keep them high up out of reach when showtime is over.” Huh.
CANNES — This town loves it when a former star makes a comeback. Take the latest example — Pingu. The mischievous little penguin, famous for squawking and hooting in his inimitable “Pinguinese,” was a British-Swiss stop-motion sensation that has entertained children and parents since 1986. A world wide hit because a) it never needed to be dubbed or
CANNES — Another October brings me to the south of France to cover my fourth MIPCOM international television market. This time I came a day or two early to also check out MIP Junior, where those in the children’s TV racket gather to sell their wares to the world. For decades Canada has been a particularly robust
CANNES, France –“This is the most bizarre election cycle I’ve seen in my lifetime, and I remember Watergate, so I’ve seen some stuff.” That was Kiefer Sutherland earlier this week in conversation for a story I wrote for The Canadian Press. You can read the entire article here. Sutherland plays U.S. president Tom Kirkwood, the
CANNES, France — This week’s international TV marketplace, MIPCOM, features a crushing amount of content. It’s overwhelming even in this age of Peak TV. Sure, there are the big costume dramas. The Young Pope will star Jude Law and Diane Keaton (“A Holy Hit!” says Variety.) Based on the Margaret Atwood bestseller, MGM Television has The Handmaid’s Tale.
CANNES, France — Do “Talented Voices Drive International Appeal”? That was the title of an all-Canadian panel I had the privilege of moderating this week at MIPCOM, the international TV marketplace. Every year, Telefilm and the Canada Media Fund work to showcase worthy Canadian productions to industry buyers and sellers and network executives from around the
CANNES, France — Do we really want to do the time warp again? The question was semi-answered Tuesday night as Fox premiered it’s shot-in-Toronto re-boot of the ’70s cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Fox PR department pulled out all the stops for the packed screening, with party hats and boas provided at
CANNES, France — One of the “stars” who walked the red carpet here Monday night was Rick Harrison. Yes, that Rick Harrison, Vegas gold & silver pawn shop proprietor best known for Pawn Stars. Now, no offense to Harrison, but when you hear red carpet, you don’t exactly think of this guy. Nobody’s ever gonna