For Studios It's Making $$, Not Sense at Panels
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MIPCOM 2017 DAY 2 ™ October 17, 2017 My 2 Cents: A more For Studios It’s Making Changing Times: relaxed L.A. Screenings $$, Not Sense at Panels The New Era of in the month of June? Page 3 his year the presence of the big Gordon Ramsay U.S. studios on the MIPCOM INSIDE: Texhibition fl oor seems to n old American joke be inversely proportional to their described “Heaven” as a Cannes Visuals — presence at conferences. Of the 31 Aparty organized by Germans, conferences listed in the MIPCOM with the Italians cooking and the MIPCOM Photo Report program, no one MPAA studio is English providing entertainment. participating, leaving the likes of Page 17 “Hell,” on the other hand, was when Lionsgate, HBO, Viacom and Fox’s Nat Geo to maintain a somewhat the Italians were the organizers, scattered presence at the various the Germans were in charge of fun, INSIDE: sessions. and the English were the ones at the MPAA’s clear ideas On the other hand, the U.S. stove. studios’ presence on the exhibition Today, much of that has changed for a new NAFTA fl oor is as massive as ever, if not Approaching a studio executive (although the Italians still shouldn’t Page 6 even bigger, than at past MIPCOMs. during these two days of MIPCOM be trusted to organize anything). — even for a quick photo — has With over 70 new TV series to sell in The Germans provide great order to recoup defi cits, which could become quite the feat. Back-to-back amount to a compounded estimate meetings and unscheduled buyer entertainment and many a top chef VideoAge of $1.7 billion, it’s not surprising that walk-ins cause them to run endlessly — including Gordon Ramsay, Jamie studio executives are thinking more between several offi ces within their Oliver and Marco Pierre White — Daily about dollars than making sense large booths. Sales executives at each hails from England. Of course, Brits on the go during conference talks. U.S. studio meet with 120 buyers like Patience Gray, Elizabeth David (Continued on Page 4) (Continued on Page 4) The DSM Will Not Find a DMZ at MIPCOM n important event that will take place tomorrow Amorning here in Cannes is the “European Digital Single Market” (DSM) conference. Ever since the European Parliament approved measures to remove geo-blocking and permit the portability of online content, E.U. residents have been able to access online services while in other E.U. countries for a “limited” period of time. While it sounds good, some are concerned that this measure may jeopardize investments in European content and affect rights-holders’ abilities to license movies or TV shows on a territory-by-territory basis. Claire Bury, deputy director general of the European Commission (E.C.), is expected to speak at the session, along with media commentator Kate Bulkley. (The panel was originally set to feature U.S. media consultant, Russ J. Kagan, but he was unexpectedly replaced at the last minute.) 1 (Continued on Page 4) VideoAge’s Int’l TV Distribution My 2¢ The idea is to gear up for better sales, make the process more relaxed, get additional buyers and give all of them more information. Along the way, perhaps, participants could even be able to take a short vacation in the area. By now you’ve guessed HFascinating Stories F m a Honoring 10 Additional what I’m talking about: Improving the L.A. Screenings! Executives Who Built An Industry his, in my view, is something to keep in mind: to keep the schedules out of the control of buyers, Volume 2 Why do the U.S. studios start their new TV and the MPAA made it a reality by contacting all their Tseason screenings in Los Angeles just after the members, reported a studio executive. May Upfronts in New York City? As for the start date, the day after the last broadcast By Dom Serafi ni For the studios it’s a mad rush to get everything Upfronts was considered ideal since talent would ready for the 2,000-or-so international buyers who have been more readily available, even though they VIDEOAGE travel to L.A. for a full week of intense screenings of had to be rushed from NYC’s Upfronts to L.A. for the DAILY over 70 pilots. Screenings. Wouldn’t it make more sense if the L.A. Screenings Another studio executive (from a different studio) AT MIPCOM were to start after the Memorial Day holiday weekend, confessed that they’d been afraid that after Memorial STAND P-1.J60 on June 4 for the indies, and have the studios begin Day talent would take vacations. “For them, it’s on Thursday, June 7 with Fox LATAM and continue up tiresome to fl y from NYC to L.A., but at least they feel MAIN OFFICE: 216 EAST 75TH STREET STE PW until June 15, with exactly the same number of days as it’s over in 10 days,” he said. NEW YORK, NY 10021 it is now? Another reason for the current dates is that TEL: (212) 288-3933 FAX: (212) 288-3424 Looking back at the history of the L.A. Screenings, the studios want to ride the wave of the Upfronts for 10 years, up until 2001, the excitement, and also WWW.VIDEOAGE.ORG WWW.VIDEOAGELATINO.COM studio screenings wrapped avoid undue criticism up almost at the end of June. of the new season while EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DOM SERAFINI In “The History of the buyers are in town. L.A. Screenings,” VideoAge’s Another drawback EDITORIAL TEAM May 2013 Issue reported, “In could be that buyers in ISME BENNIE (CANADA) ENZO CHIARULLO 1991, the Screenings moved June go into “summer LUCY COHEN BLATTER to late May. At one point, it mode,” but some CARLOS GUROVICH LEAH HOCHBAUM ROSNER lasted four weeks, with the Scandinavian buyers said SUSAN HORNIK Canadians and Europeans they would not object to a CAROLINE INTERTAGLIA LUIS A. POLANCO the fi rst groups to go (as early June Screenings. GILLES POURTIER as May 28 in 1991), followed On the negative side, BIANCA SERAFINI DOMINIQUE SOUDIN by the Latins (May 31), the under the current system, Pan-Pacifi c territories (June “Sorry babe, but now I’m busy trying studios cannot tell buyers to get to the L.A. Screenings parties.” ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER 3) and South Africa ending in advance if it’s going MONICA GORGHETTO on June 27.” to be a full day or half- BUSINESS OFFICE “Marcel Vinay recalled: day of screenings. Plus, LEN FINKEL, RACHEL GARNEY ‘[For us] it lasted two weeks as only one studio by moving it up, the Screenings would no longer be LEGAL OFFICE ROBERT ACKERMANN, presented its shows each day and only from Monday competing with the Cannes Film Festival, and the STEVE SCHIFFMAN to Friday (no Saturday or Sunday was involved).’ weather in L.A. would defi nitely be better. WEB MANAGER The changing length of the Screenings throughout A June Screenings would also alleviate some of BRUNO MARRACINO the years was buyer-driven up until 2000,” reported the pressure on Canadian buyers, and would allow DESIGN/LAYOUT CLAUDIO MATTIONI VideoAge. the studios to better prepare their promo reels and CARMINE RASPAOLO In 2000, the L.A. Screenings lasted 11 days, including literature... perhaps even have more time to organize ILLUSTRATIONS Memorial Day (for Warner Bros. and Columbia), from parties. BOB SHOCHET May 22 to June 1, and in 2001 they were condensed to The current process is certainly refi ned, but it can today’s nine days, starting after the Upfronts. be improved with an eye toward better sales. 2 How did it happen and why? The studios wanted Dom Serafi ni Coming Out in December 2017 In Print and e-Book October 17, 2017 My 2¢ The idea is to gear up for better sales, make the process more relaxed, get additional buyers and give all of them more information. Along the way, perhaps, participants could even be able to take a short vacation in the area. By now you’ve guessed what I’m talking about: Improving the L.A. Screenings! his, in my view, is something to keep in mind: to keep the schedules out of the control of buyers, Why do the U.S. studios start their new TV and the MPAA made it a reality by contacting all their Tseason screenings in Los Angeles just after the members, reported a studio executive. May Upfronts in New York City? As for the start date, the day after the last broadcast For the studios it’s a mad rush to get everything Upfronts was considered ideal since talent would ready for the 2,000-or-so international buyers who have been more readily available, even though they VIDEOAGE travel to L.A. for a full week of intense screenings of had to be rushed from NYC’s Upfronts to L.A. for the DAILY over 70 pilots. Screenings. Wouldn’t it make more sense if the L.A. Screenings Another studio executive (from a different studio) AT MIPCOM were to start after the Memorial Day holiday weekend, confessed that they’d been afraid that after Memorial STAND P-1.J60 on June 4 for the indies, and have the studios begin Day talent would take vacations. “For them, it’s on Thursday, June 7 with Fox LATAM and continue up tiresome to fl y from NYC to L.A., but at least they feel MAIN OFFICE: 216 EAST 75TH STREET STE PW until June 15, with exactly the same number of days as it’s over in 10 days,” he said.