Film and TV Briefing: Friday 24 January 2025
Welcome to this week’s round-up of news, commentary and industry announcements that you may have missed from the past week.
If you are looking for advice in relation to any of the issues mentioned, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
In the news
2024 Oscar Nominations (BBC)
Oscars ceremony to proceed on 2 March (Screen Daily)
HBO renews ‘The White Lotus’ for season four (Variety)
BrewDog co-founder to launch business reality show with £2 million cash prize (The Press and Journal)
Amazon UK boss says ‘Mr Bates Vs The Post Office’ would not work on Prime (Deadline)
Ryan Gosling set to join Star Wars franchise in as-yet-untitled film (The Guardian)
Robert Eggers to follow ‘Nosferatu’ with ‘Werwulf’ movie (Empire)
Lionsgate extends multi-year theatrical output deal with Starz (Deadline)
Features and commentary
The secret to Hollywood’s greatest comebacks, from John Travolta to Demi Moore (BBC)
Why international features earn Oscar nominations across all categories (Variety)
Is Netflix deliberately dumbing down TV so people can watch while scrolling? (The Guardian)
Netflix 2024 wrapped: the past year’s highlights for the streaming giant (Broadcast)
Is a new film studio a good use of Buckinghamshire green belt land? (BBC)
Industry announcements
BFI and DCMS invest £2.15 million in UK’s independent screen sector (BFI)
Writers Digital Payments pays out more than £2 million to BBC screenwriters (WGGB)
Creative industries to receive £60 million boost to turbocharge growth (DCMS)
Resources
Paramount UK ‘5’ FAST proposition (PACT)
Building better industry connections (The Film and TV Charity)
Women in Film and TV launches 2025 Four Nations Mentoring Scheme (WFTV)
Legal updates
Warner Bros. Discovery wins ruling over ‘South Park’ streaming rights (The Hollywood Reporter)
Blake Lively’s legal team asks judge for hearing after public remarks by Justin Baldoni attorney (CNN)
