Global Showbiz Briefs: BBC’s ‘The Whale’, International Emmy Awards, Cinedigm In Oz, Channel 5 Acquires ‘The Bible’, & More
Charles Furness Stars In BBC’s ‘The Whale’
Charles Furness stars as Nantucket seafarer Thomas Nickerson and Jonas Armstrong plays first mate Owen Chase in The Whale, based on a tale that inspired Herman Melville’s 1851 classic Moby Dick. The BBC One and Discovery drama will be told through the eyes of cabin boy Nickerson who, at 14, was the youngest member of the crew after his ship was sunk by a whale in 1820. The Whale is executive produced by Eamon Hardy and Ruth Caleb and Mike Dormer and John Chapman are producing. Filming begins this week in Malta.
International Digital Emmy Award Winners Announced
The youth-focused transmedia project dirtgirlworld… dig it all (mememe productions/dirtgirlworld productions/Screen Australia) took home honors in the Children & Young People category at the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ annual awards. The Fiction prize went to Guidestones (3 o’clock.tv/iThentic,) a series about journalism students who uncover a global conspiracy. Paul Verhoeven’s Entertainment Experience project (FCCE/Ziggo) tracking the filmmaker’s user-generated movie won the Non-Fiction category while CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker took home the Pioneer’s Prize for his online thriller Cybergeddon.
Cinedigm Acquires Rights To ABC Library
Cinedigm has acquired broad-based digital/VOD rights for US, Canada and Latin American to over 1,000 episodes of television from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) library. The deal includes both existing episodes and future inventory and includes all genres spanning contemporary and classic programs. Titles include Correlli (starring Hugh Jackman), the series An Audience With Dame Edna, Outland, Double The Fist, and At Home with Julia, the romantic comedy/political satire about Australia’s first female Prime Minister.
Channel 5 Acquires ‘The Bible’
Channel 5 has acquired UK broadcast rights to History’s The Bible. Channel 5 brokered the deal with One Three Media. The Mark Burnett-produced miniseries was a ratings blockbuster in the U.S. with 11.7 million viewers watching the Easter Sunday finale.
Film Critic Arrested In Turkish Cinema Protest
A protest against the expected closure of the historic Emek Theatre in Istanbul, Turkey turned violent Sunday when police used tear gas and water cannons on the assembled crowd. International artists in town for the Istanbul Film Festival were present including Lifetime Achievement award honoree Costa-Gavras, director Mike Newell, screenwriter/director Marco Bechis, director Jan Ole Gerster, and Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Serra Yılmaz, Cem Davran and Ezel Aka, according to Cineuropa. Film critic and FIPRESCI jury member Berke Göl was arrested in the clash, which also reportedly left Golden Lion winner Erden Kiral with unspecified injuries. FIPRESCI demanded Göl’s release and justice for the violent actions in a statement today.
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