International Insider: BBC’s Social Media Guide; San Sebastián Stories; Wootton & Fox In Hot Water
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It’s Friday, aka Insider Day. Jesse Whittock back again to run you through the international film and TV stories dominating the headlines this week.
BBC’s Social Media Guide
Steadying the flagship: Easily one of the BBC’s biggest ongoing headaches is around how the broadcaster’s most popular stars and presenters engage on social media platforms. The issue blasted back into life earlier this year when Match of the Day presenter and Twitter/X fanatic Gary Lineker tweeted to liken the language used by the British government around its asylum seeker policy to that of Germany in the 1930s and was temporarily suspended by the BBC. After an outcry over the suspension, which included many of Lineker’s colleagues stopping work in solidarity, he was reinstated and the BBC plunged into an existential crisis over how it remains impartial while allowing freedom of expression to its biggest stars. Director General Tim Davie soon employed former ITN CEO John Hardie to launch a wide-ranging, independent review of the BBC’s social media usage guidelines, and this week we finally found out what that entails. On Wednesday, Jake reported details were imminent, with the likelihood being Hardie would recommend a three-tier system: the strictest rules should apply to BBC News staff, lighter guidance for non-news employees and separate instructions for those who front the Corporation’s biggest brands — think Lineker and The Apprentice‘s outspoken Alan Sugar. The review officially dropped the next day. Lineker and other “flagship-brand presenters” are now set to be subject to rules that prohibit them from “party political campaigning,” and supporting or attacking political parties, individual politicians, governments or activist organisations on social media. Hardie recommends they are allowed to express views on issues and policies, but “stop well short” on moving into more direct action territory. Lineker, the poster boy for the BBC’s impartiality crisis, tweeted the guidelines are “all very sensible.” Though social media has become a polarized, often toxic space, Davie and co can now feel that their highest-profile stars at least have the tools at hand to inform what they write. In theory, any mistakes in future will be much easier to assess and address.
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Brand scandal continues: The BBC is one of several media organizations facing tough questions around Russell Brand, the comedian, actor and presenter who is facing multiple sexual assault allegations first made on Channel 4’s Dispatches and in The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. This week, the broadcaster defended its coverage of the allegations, dismissing complaints from viewers it had gone overboard and that its coverage was “too graphic.” Brand, who vehemently denies allegations of criminal wrongdoing, went on the offensive on Monday when he returned to social media platform Rumble. On his Stay Free show, he said lashed out at mainstream media publications, saying they appeared to be “conspiring to control global news narratives” and that he was being “silenced.” Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police in London have confirmed they are investigating allegations of sexual offenses in the UK and beyond.
San Sebastián Stories
Stars stay away: Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival kicked off under dark skies September 23 with a star-free rainy red carpet, apart from The Crown actor Dominic West who put in a quick appearance at the opening ceremony. The sun came out the next day and the mood also brightened among film professionals in attendance on the news Sunday that the WGA had struck a tentative deal with AMPTP, raising hopes that an end was also in sight for the actors’ strike. Against this backdrop, a smattering of U.S. stars connected to films with SAG-AFTRA interim agreements made it to the Basque Country festival, topped by Jessica Chastain with Memory and Griffin Dunne with Ex-Husbands. European names making the trip included Juliet Binoche and Mads Mikkelsen accompanying Best International Feature Film Oscar hopefuls The Taste of Things (France) and The Promised Land (Denmark). Spanish star Javier Bardem, whose portrait graced the official poster this year, deferred the ceremony for an honorary career award until the 2024 edition. “We weren’t impacted in terms of films, unlike Venice with its opening,” Festival Director José Luis Rebordinos commented on the strikes. “Where it was tricky, was with honorary prizes and the juries.” Hot world premieres in the Main Competition have included Un Amor, Ex Husbands and Sultana’s Dream. The Jury, headed by Claire Denis, reveals its awards Saturday.
“Complexity is part of the excitement”: Whatever the festival lacked in Hollywood stars, it made up for in top U.S. execs thanks to the second edition of the Creative Investors Conference. Organized in cooperation with CAA Media Invest, speakers included Plan B’s Jeremy Kleiner, Amblin Partners’s Jeb Brody, Focus Features’ Kiska Higgs, Wiip’s David Flynn and Killer Films co-founders Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler alongside internationals such as Goodfellas’ Vincent Maraval and Blueprint Pictures’ Peter Czernin. Surprisingly, the conversation did not dwell on the Hollywood strikes apart from in the opening panel in which Brody, ever the voice of reason, welcomed their potential resolution. He said that even if issues remain, he sensed a fresh energy in Hollywood in the wake of the 146-day stoppage. The two-day confab focused on the volatile climate for producers, sales agents and distributors as they navigate the fragile post-pandemic box office for non-blockbuster fare; continued tension between theatrical and digital releases, and uncertainty over the studios’ strategies for their fledgeling streaming platforms. Most speakers suggested there were opportunities to be found in the chaos, which they also viewed as part and parcel of their jobs. “The complexity of our business is part of the excitement,” said Maraval. Find all of our San Sebastian coverage here.
GB News Presenters In Hot Water
Out-Foxed: GB News and controversy are never far away from each other, and this week proved no different. The right-leaning British news network is already facing investigations into seven breaches of the Ofcom code and was rapped for three others earlier this year, and another has opened following a segment featuring Dan Wootton and Laurence Fox. This saw controversialist Fox — actor in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Lewis — denigrate journalist Ava Evans, saying no “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with her, adding: “Who’d want to shag that?” Wootton laughed at Fox’s comments before attempting to defend Evans’ looks and later issuing two statements apologizing on X, claiming shock had influenced his initial reaction. That didn’t appease GB News, which suspended the controversial Wootton and Fox, who also presents on the channel. The misogynistic exchange took another turn when Fox shared a text conversation that appeared to show Wootton laughing at the situation through ‘cry-face’ emojis. Around 7,300 people complained about the broadcast, and GB News said it will apologize to Evans directly, though Fox has doubled down over his comments and wider criticism of Evans’ political positions. Wootton also lost his MailOnline column, which was already paused following a series of articles containing allegations about his behavior. It should be noted Wootton denies the allegations and GB News hadn’t taken him off air over the stories. PoliticsJOE reporter Evans has said she has been the victim of online threats since the segment aired, reminding everyone how words have consequences. The issue could bring to a head the debate around GB News, whose overtly political and combative presenters and use of Conservative politicians as interviewers appear to some to run contrary to broadcasting rules relating to news channels.
The APOS-sibilities Are Endless
Unboxing Asia Pac: Liz Shackleton was on the ground at the APOS conference in Indonesia this week, where the great and the good of the Asian and global content communities come together to talk shop. A busy few days saw Prime Video’s VP, International Kelly Day say “subscription fatigue” meant the future of streaming looks set to be a mix of original content and aggregated channels delivered together through one app. As such, Prime Video’s Indian team revealed they would be expanding the local-language slate and introducing channels. Warner Bros Discovery’s Global Streaming chief JB Perrette explained why India’s high content investment and low per user revenue environment led his company to license content locally rather than launch streamer Max there as a standalone product. For all the coverage, go here.
From Pupil To Teacher
More Baz: Ilker Çatak is on a serious hot run, with his latest film, The Teachers’ Lounge recently named as Germany’s entry for the Oscars race for Best International Feature. No wonder then that Baz Bamigboye tracked him down for a wide-ranging chat about the film, the director’s fascinating relationship with his family and why he thinks Leonie Benesch is the best actor of her generation. Full interview here.
The Essentials
🌶️ Hot One: Toby Jones is to play a solicitor who tried to save the life of the last woman to be hanged in Britain in ITV’s upcoming drama Ruth.
🌶️ Another One: Formats specialist Glow Media is rebooting Spike physical gameshow Pros Vs Joes in time for Mipcom.
🌶️ Heat at the theater: Broadway lead Robbie Fairchild will star in the stage adaptation of Michael Hazanavicius’ 2011 Oscar winner The Artist.
🖋️ Signed: Range Media Partners has signed Sanna Marin, who is the world’s youngest female head of state thanks to her run as Finland’s Prime Minister.
🏗️ Disruptor: Melanie Goodfellow sat down with Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, star of Netflix’s Finding Ola.
🤝 Done deal: Asylum Entertainment Group bought a stake in UK-based indie Moon&Back Media, per Peter White’s exclusive.
💡 In development: Amy Mason’s original drama series script Swans and author Lucy Clarke’s latest thriller The Hike.
💙 Blue: BET+ snapped up E4’s explosive upcoming couples series In Love & Toxic: Blue Therapy, based on the popular YouTube show.
👩 New role: For TV sales veteran Brianne Bonney at Will Smith-backed German distributor Telepool, as Julia Weber exits.
👨🏻 Another new role: Patrick Schweitzer was named CEO of It’s a Sin producer Red Production Company.
⚖️ Suing: Former Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams has reportedly filed an action over data protection against Fremantle label Thames.
⛺ Fest head: Baz Luhrmann set as President for the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival.
👀 Early look:Mel had the first clip for The Successor, Xavier Legrand’s drama, ahead of its San Sebastian world premiere.
And finally… A sad goodbye to Michael Gambon, the much-loved Irish-English actor, who has passed away aged 82 after a bout of pneumonia. Known for his role as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies, his death led to a flood of tributes, including ones from Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and J.K. Rowling.
Melanie Goodfellow contributed to this week’s Insider.
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