Love Nature, PBS, Arte Commission ‘Evolution Earth’ – Global Bulletin

Naman Ramachandran
·3 min read

COMMISSION

Wildlife and nature programmer Love Nature has greenlit five-part natural history series “Evolution Earth” in co-production with PBS and Arte. The series, produced by Passion Planet and shot in extreme locations around the world, is an examination of adaptation stories that illustrate the rapid pace of change happening across Earth, while providing a look at nature’s ability to thrive.

The series includes five films, each showcasing a different extreme landscape including Earth, Islands, Ice, Heat and Grasslands. It will debut across Love Nature’s branded linear and streaming platforms around the world, PBS in the U.S., Arte in France and Germany and on Sky Nature in the U.K. and Italy. Blue Ant International oversees international licensing opportunities outside of commissioning territories.

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David Allen is the director of Passion Planet and series producer alongside Oliver Twinch. James Manfull executive produces the series on behalf of Love Nature. Executive in charge for PBS is VP of multi-platform programming and head of development, Bill Gardner. Executive producer for Arte is Hélène Coldefy, head of factual.

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Meanwhile, U.K. broadcaster ITV has commissioned a one-off documentary from Spun Gold TV with exclusive access to Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, in her role as guest editor of Country Life magazine to mark her 75th birthday. “Camilla’s Country Life” (working title, 1×60′), from director Michael Waldman (“Inside the Foreign Office”), accompanies the Duchess as she plans and oversees a special edition during the magazine’s 125th anniversary year, alongside performing her regular royal duties. The producer is Ross Curran and the executive producer is Nick Bullen. It was commissioned for ITV by Jo Clinton-Davis. All3Media International has worldwide distribution rights.

ANIMATION

Leading animation studio Aardman has launched a new teaser from its comedy series of entomology, “Lloyd of the Flies,” to celebrate Insect Week. The series follows the adventures of Lloyd B Fly, a housefly and the middle child of 453. Lloyd lives with his parents, his little sister PB and their 225 maggot siblings inside a compost bin they call home. In the series, Lloyd is always accompanied by his best and only friend, Abacus Woodlouse, PB, and eccentric tag-along, Cornea Butterfly. Together they explore the strange world beyond the compost bin.

Aardman has also revealed Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (“Derry Girls”) as a new addition to the voice cast. She stars alongside Tom Rosenthal (“Friday Night Dinner”), Alex Lawther (“The End of the F***ing World”), Lauren Patel (“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”) and Callum Scott Howells (“It’s A Sin”). The 52 x 11’ series will premiere on CiTV in September.

FESTIVAL

London’s Soho Media Club will host Be You, a day-long festival of honest discussions about inclusion, diversity, talent and mental health in film and TV and challenge the status quo, on July 14.

Featured speakers include “Untouchable” director Ursula Macfarlane; Teddy Nygh and Nick Bedu, co-founders of Fully Focused, a youth-driven and youth-focused production company; director Coky Giedroyc (“Save Me”); “Ten Percent” director and playwright Jessica Swale; “You Don’t Know Me” producer and disability campaigner Jules Hussey; and Ace Ruele, motion capture actor, creature bionics. There will be panels on holistic diversity, diversity in post and accessible tech and mental health.

“Soho Media Club meet-ups have attracted a wide and diverse audience from all parts of the industry, at all levels – from students and runners, to directors, producers, editors, commissioners, CEOs and company owners. It made us realise that people in TV and film want to widen their connections, share their stories and there’s a real momentum to change things for the better. The time is right for the Be You Festival to help move the dial and celebrate the TV industry in all its diversity,” said Jaisica Lapsiwala, co-founder, Soho Media Club.

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