A MASTERPIECE the Guardian

“”A MASTERPIECE The Guardian

MAY 6, 2020 US $9.99 JAPAN ¥1280 CANADA $11.99 CHINA ¥80 UK £ 8 HONG KONG $95 EUROPE €9 RUSSIA 400 AUSTRALIA $14 INDIA 800 “POWERHOUSE

The Guardian The “ PERFORMANCES “A WINNER” “BEYOND Oregonian JUICY” “ELECTRIC” Seat42F Chicago Sun-Times “ADDICTIVE” GQ “HELL OF A LOT OF FUN” “MARVELOUSLY AV Club WRITTEN” Gold Derby “ ” TERRIFIC CAST “ The New Yorker SLICK, SOPHISTICATED” “STYLISH, The Guardian FAST PACED” “ENERGIZINGLY NPR BRIGHT” “DEEPLY People ENTHRALLING” “COMPELLING” The Daily Californian Refinery29 DIGITAL DYNASTY

THE CHINESE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY MAKES A TECTONIC, TECHNOLOGY-LED LEAP AS THE CORONAVIRUS PUTS TRADITIONAL FORMATS ON PAUSE

BY REBECCA DAVIS AND PATRICK FRATER P.26 Untitled-1 1 4/29/20 1:33 PM RISKY BUSINESS France’s Memento Films Distribution, which is releasing Juliette Binoche starrer “How to Be a Good Wife,” is among the European distributors itching to get their films into theaters; others are being more cautious. P.36

P.2 6 P.3 2 P.4 1 China Goes Mobile Silver Screen’s Emmy Early Latest ‘Girl’ Voters Guide When the nation’s prime box ofﬁce season was cut short Riding a wave of critically beloved The TV awards season calendar will by the coronavirus outbreak, audiences ﬂocked to digital performances, Beanie Feldstein moves look a lot different this year because for entertainment. Will the binge continue? into the solo lead with her new IFC film. of the COVID-19 pandemic. By REBECCA DAVIS and PATRICK FRATER By MATT DONNELLY By DANIELLE TURCHIANO CAROLE BETHUEL/MEMENTO FILMS BETHUEL/MEMENTO CAROLE

VARIETY 3 CONTENTS

TOP BILLING

11 NBCU’S NEW VIEW C-suite shake-up may forecast media firms’ response to pandemic streaming surge

13 FEST FINDS A WAY Tribeca goes digital to give filmmakers an alternative way to highlight their work

17 ‘BECOMING’ DIRECTOR Nadia Hallgren makes her feature helming debut with doc about Michelle Obama

18 THE BIG TICKET Elle Fanning talks about her new Hulu series “The Great,” corsets and quarantine life

EXPOSURE

21 DEVOUR ALSO Criterion has dropped a INSIDE Blu-ray boxed set, “Six Moral Tales,” of work by Éric Rohmer

24 DIRT P.4 5 8 Jodie Foster lists home in FIELD NOTES Calabasas gated community Musings “Hello Again” is one of on hot topics the films in the pipeline in Germany, among the 9 FOCUS countries featured in the PLUGGED IN International Report What’s trending at Variety.com 56 NAB VIRTUAL SUMMIT Remote broadcasters’ confab P.2 3 to look at industry shifts due to the streaming boom Musician-songwriter Brent Kutzle IMA/HBO puts Topanga retreat on the block ARTISANS

59 GIVING PROPS New Disney Plus series sings praises of those who create or find items for movies

60 MAN OF ACTION Former stuntman Sam Har- grave on turning director for Netflix’s “Extraction” LOU FAULON/NETFLIX; I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE: ATSUSHI NISHIJ THIS MUCH IS TRUE: ATSUSHI I KNOW FAULON/NETFLIX; LOU 61 HISTORY LESSON Production designer looks back on creating the world of Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator”

REVIEWS “Since the show is about jazz, the P.6 3 set felt kinetic, improvisational, 63 TV high-energy, spontaneous. ... We “I Know This Much Is True” were allowed so much freedom to “I Know This Much just play and try new things.” 64 FILM Is True” review Amandla Stenberg on her new Netflix series, “The “Becoming” Eddy,” from Damien Chazelle P.66 HELLO AGAIN: WARNER BROS./SOMMERHAUS FILM/GORDON TIMPEN; STENBERG: TIMPEN; STENBERG: FILM/GORDON BROS./SOMMERHAUS WARNER AGAIN: HELLO

4 VARIETY “++++ WHIPSMART AND WICKEDLY FASCINATING HUGH JACKMAN IS STELLAR...ALLISON JANNEY IS AMAZING” “Jackman gives a “A bright, sharp-edged satire… “Janney brings her CAREER-HIGH PERFORMANCE” JACKMAN AND JANNEY ARE A GIFT” A-GAME”

“THE BEST WORK OF JACKMAN’S CAREER “JACKMAN IS BETTER THAN EVER JANNEY IS ASTONISHING” JANNEY IS EXCELLENT” “THE PERFORMANCES COULDN’T BE BETTER Jackman and Janney are brilliant...Geraldine Viswanathan is excellent...Ray Romano is perfect”

“JACKMAN IS DARKLY “MESMERIZING “TERRIFIC, DARKLY FUNNY… “SUPERB... CHARISMATIC” CHARACTER STUDIES” SURPRISINGLY THRILLING” JACKMAN IS SUBLIME”

“Appallingly funny… “Perfect for our times… “Masterful…A diabolically Irresistible…Delicious” Excellent…Remarkable” smart American crime story”

AN HBO FILM BASED ON A TRUE STORY

AND STREAMING SOON ON

Untitled-2 1 5/4/20 12:53 PM Michelle Sobrino-Stearns

GROUP PUBLISHER & CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

SALES MARKETING Donna Pennestri Dea Lawrence ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Claudia Eller MILLIE CHIAVELLI JOHN ROSS SVP, SALES & GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS VP, FEATURES & EVENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAWN ALLEN TIM BOYER VP, FILM & TALENT Andrew Wallenstein CREATIVE DIRECTOR MICHELLE FINE-SMITH CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST & PRESIDENT, VARIETY INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM VP, GLOBAL CONSUMER PARTNERSHIPS SUSANNE AULT DIRECTOR, PROGRAMMING EDITORIAL FEATURES JASON GREENBLATT Lesley McKenzie Steven Gaydos VP DIGITAL SALES DAYNA WOLPA DIRECTOR, EVENT MARKETING MANAGING EDITOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL ERIC LEGENDRE CONTENT/EXECUTIVE EDITOR CO-MANAGING DIRECTOR, DAVID S. COHEN INTERNATIONAL SALES Cynthia Littleton ANDREW BARKER SENIOR PRODUCER, LINDSEY ELFENBEIN VARIETY CONTENT STUDIO BUSINESS EDITOR SENIOR FEATURES WRITER MANAGING DIRECTOR, GLOBAL SUMMITS HOLLY DILLON DANIEL HOLLOWAY PETER CARANICAS & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS MANAGING EDITOR, FEATURES SENIOR PRODUCER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, TV KATE ROACH VARIETY CONTENT STUDIO BRENT LANG SHALINI DORE SALES DIRECTOR FEATURES NEWS EDITOR JAMIE ARONSON EXECUTIVE EDITOR, FILM & MEDIA HENRY DEAS DIRECTOR, DIANE GARRETT DIRECTOR, MARKETS & FESTIVALS SHIRLEY HALPERIN EVENT MARKETING EDITOR, FEATURES EXECUTIVE EDITOR, MUSIC PATRICE ATIEE EMMA SCHMIDT CAROLE HORST DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS RAMIN SETOODEH MANAGER, EVENT MARKETING MANAGING EDITOR, FEATURES NEW YORK BUREAU CHIEF JUDI PULVER JENELLE RILEY DIRECTOR, MUSIC ADVERTISING LAURYN KISTNER KATE AURTHUR ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR SENIOR BRAND MARKETING MANAGER EDITOR-AT-LARGE CHRISTIE RICCI MALINA SAVAL DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BIANCA CALOCA MANORI RAVINDRAN EDITOR, FEATURES ASSOCIATE MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL EDITOR VALERIE FATEHI EVENT MARKETING DANIELLE TURCHIANO DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS CONTACT PMC SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR, TV AMY JO LAGERMEIER ALEX BULLARD JEM ASWAD » Los Angeles CHRIS WILLMAN DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER, FEATURES SENIOR MUSIC EDITOR 11175 Santa Monica Blvd., EDITOR, FEATURES CRISTINA QUITANIA WHITNEY CINKALA Los Angeles, CA 90025 GORDON COX ART & PHOTOGRAPHY MANAGER, SUMMITS & ASSOCIATE BRAND MANAGER +1 323-617-9100 LEGIT EDITOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS VICTORIA LENNOX » Chicago MARK DAVID JENNIFER DORN KEVIN TAGUE PHOTO DIRECTOR MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS ASSOCIATE 20 West Kinzie St REAL ESTATE EDITOR MANAGER, CONSUMER BRAND Chicago, IL 60654 PARTNERSHIPS HANNA HENSLER MATT DONNELLY TED KELLER DESIGN DIRECTOR MARKETING COORDINATOR SENIOR FILM WRITER SOUMAYA CASSAM-CHENAI » Nashville ELLIOT STOKES INTERNATIONAL SALES MAYA STEINBERG 501 Union St BILL EDELSTEIN & MARKETING MANAGER Nashville, TN 37219 ART DIRECTOR EVENT MARKETING COORDINATOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR NATASHA MILLMAN JAMES SLOCUM » New York TERRY FLORES ASSOCIATE MANAGER, ROBYN OZAKI SPECIAL PROJECTS ART DIRECTOR 475 Fifth Avenue SENIOR EDITOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DESIGNER New York, NY 10017 HALEY KLUGE SEAN SOPER TIM GRAY CASEY KWAN +1 212-213-1900 DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE MANAGER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT JUNIOR DESIGNER RICHARD MALTZ STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS » London MAE HAMILTON SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR STEFAN NICOLL LUANA PINTO 11 Golden Square EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, DIRT.COM JUNIOR DESIGNER ALEX GITMAN ACCOUNT MANAGER London, England (SPAIN, PORTUGAL, LATIN AMERICA) W1F 9JB ANGELIQUE JACKSON PHOTO EDITOR PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION EVENTS & LIFESTYLE PRODUCER WILLIAM LIN TARRYN SILVER » Paris SALES EXECUTIVE, ASIA JUSTIN KROLL PRODUCTION DESIGNER ELLEN DEALY 11 Rue Royale KIMBERLY CERVANTES FILM WRITER VP, AUDIENCE MARKETING Paris, France 75008 MICHAEL BUCKNER SALES PLANNING MANAGER ELAINE LOW CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER NATALIE LONGMAN » Milan SENIOR TV WRITER AMANDA SCHULZE ONLINE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Via Albricci, 7 MEDIA PLANNER 20122 Milan, Italy GENE MADDAUS Stuart Oldham MIKE PETRE SENIOR MEDIA WRITER ISABELLA DALENA EDITOR, VARIETY.COM SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR DIRECTOR, DISTRIBUTION » Mumbai MARC MALKIN Vishwaroop IT Park, MEREDITH WOERNER SADI KUPERMAN ANDREA WYNNYK SENIOR FILM AWARDS, Sector 30A Vashi, DEPUTY EDITOR SALES COORDINATOR FILM & TELEVISION PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER EVENTS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR Navi Mumbai 400703 JAMES MCCLAIN PAT SAPERSTEIN DEPUTY EDITOR » Hong Kong EDITOR-AT-LARGE, REAL ESTATE 21/F, The Phoenix DAN DOPERALSKI DAVE MCNARY 23 Luard Road, Wan Chai DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR FILM WRITER VARIETY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Hong Kong MAANE KHATCHATOURIAN MACKENZIE NICHOLS SENIOR ONLINE NEWS EDITOR » Tokyo STAFF WRITER Mark Hoebich Lapiross Bldg. 4F, ALEX STEDMAN PRESIDENT 6-1-24 Roppongi, JOE OTTERSON SENIOR ONLINE NEWS EDITOR SENIOR TV WRITER Minayo-Ky, Tokyo REBECCA RUBIN CAROLYN FINGER RYAN PIGG 106-0032 MICHAEL SCHNEIDER NEWS EDITOR SVP SENIOR COORDINATOR, RESEARCH SENIOR EDITOR, TV AWARDS EMAIL US MEG ZUKIN GEOFF ELSNER JULIE SESNOVICH TODD SPANGLER SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SENIOR COORDINATOR, [email protected] NEW YORK DIGITAL EDITOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUDREY YAP FILM RESEARCH [email protected] BRIAN STEINBERG NEWS ANCHOR/REPORTER JENNIFER NIEVES LINDSAY STRACH FOLLOW US SENIOR TV EDITOR SENIOR DIRECTOR, SENIOR COORDINATOR PRESTON NORTHROP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SYLVIA TAN SUPERVISING PRODUCER BAILEY WILDMAN Twitter.com/variety BRIAN DEPASQUALE ASSOCIATE EDITOR MACKENZIE JOHNSON SENIOR COORDINATOR Facebook.com/variety DIRECTOR, RESEARCH Instagram.com/variety JAZZ TANGCAY VIDEO PRODUCER/EDITOR KEELAN BROWN STEPHANIE DIEHL YouTube.com/variety ARTISANS EDITOR NICHOLAS STANGO INTERNATIONAL TV DIRECTOR, RESEARCH COORDINATOR WILLIAM THORNE VIDEO PRODUCER/EDITOR TO SUBSCRIBE KEVIN KELLY TV WRITER TUCKER MORRISON YOOMI CHOI DIRECTOR, BUSINESS 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Periodicals postage paid CHIEF FILM CRITIC at Los Angeles, CA and at other mailing offices. MADRID SCHUYLER FASTENAU TV PRODUCTION RESEARCH Postmaster send address changes to: Variety, P.O. DANIEL D’ADDARIO SENIOR COORDINATOR COORDINATOR INTERNATIONAL REPORTERS Box 15759, North Hollywood, CA 91615-5759. CHIEF TV CRITIC HANNA PACHMAN CHELSEA TAM Canada Post International Publications Mail REBECCA DAVIS SENIOR COORDINATOR SALES COORDINATOR Product (Canadian Distribution) Publications Mail CAROLINE FRAMKE BEIJING Agreement No. 40043404. Return undeliverable CHIEF TV CRITIC Canadian addresses to: RCS International Box 697 PATRICK FRATER STN A, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6N4. Sales OPERATIONS HONG KONG agreement No. 0607525. Variety ©2020 by Variety Media, LLC. Variety and the Flying V logo are SHEILA DIXON HOWARD ELSA KESLASSY trademarks of Penske Business Media. Printed in EDITORIAL COORDINATOR PARIS Sime Silverman VARIETY FOUNDER, 1873-1933 the U.S.A.

6 VARIETY THROUGH THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD HE WAS THE BEST FRIEND, ADVISOR AND ATTORNEY. PETER BENNETT

NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.

Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli

0506 WV NJ Inc.FINAL.indd 1 5/4/20 2:02 PM FIELD NOTES

VARIETY IS OWNED & PUBLISHED BY PENSKE MEDIA CORPORATION

Jay Penske CHAIRMAN & CEO

COLLISION COURSE GEORGE GROBAR NBCUniversal CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER chief Jeff GERRY BYRNE Shell says the VICE CHAIRMAN studio will SARLINA SEE go day-and- CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER date with its CRAIG PERREAULT digital releases EVP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT of theatrical TODD GREENE films; AMC CEO EVP, BUSINESS AFFAIRS & GENERAL Adam Aron says COUNSEL his exhibition DEBASHISH GHOSH chain won’t run MANAGING DIRECTOR, any NBCU movies. INTERNATIONAL MARKETS JENNY CONNELLY SVP, PRODUCT KEN DELALCAZAR SVP, FINANCE TOM FINN SVP, OPERATIONS NELSON ANDERSON Windows Cliffhanger: VP, CREATIVE JONI ANTONACCI VP, PRODUCTION OPERATIONS REBECCA BIENSTOCK VP, TALENT RELATIONS How Will It All End? GERARD BRANCATO VP, PMC DIGITAL ACQUISTION JACIE BRANDES VP, PORTFOLIO SALES I DIDN’T PAY TO SEE “Trolls World a bridge too far in blindsiding the- ANNE DOYLE Tour” at home, nor would I have ater operators with a strategy that VP, HR MARA GINSBERG run to watch it at my local cinema may not be financially prudent. VP, HR in a pre-pandemic world since it’s There’s no existing model that YOUNG KO not my thing. But what I am watch- ensures profitability of big-bud- VP, FINANCE ing from the edge of my seat is what get movies without an initial GABRIEL KOEN VP, TECHNOLOGY happens next in the cliffhanger global theatrical release. Universal KEVIN LABONGE drama that’s pitting the world’s crowed that “Trolls World Tour” at VP, GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS & LICENSING largest theater circuit against one of its $19.99 rental price point gener- NOEMI LAZO VP, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Hollywood’s biggest studios. ated $100 million in its first three AND MARKETING OPERATIONS Given theater closures, it’s weeks. While that’s a nice chunk of BRIAN LEVINE VP, REVENUE OPERATIONS hardly surprising that Univer- change, ultimately the film would JUDITH R. MARGOLIN sal Pictures opted to make its ani- have presumably made a whole lot VP, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL mated sequel available as a digital more had it also been released the- JULIE TRINH VP, GLOBAL TAX rental rather than pushing back the atrically worldwide. LAUREN UTECHT film’s release and blowing all the In 2019, box ofﬁce revenue VP, HR & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS marketing dollars it had already topped $11 billion domestically and MIKE YE VP, STRATEGIC spent. Similarly, we get why War- a record $30 billion internationally. PLANNING & ACQUISITIONS ner Bros. offered its planned theat- That’s a lot of money to risk leaving CHRISTINA YEOH rical kids movie “Scoob!” for digital on the table, not to mention poten- VP, TECHNICAL OPERATIONS rentals and sales, and Disney redi- tially lucrative pay-TV sales, which JULIE ZHU VP, AUDIENCE MARKETING & rected “Artemis Fowl” to Disney are calculated based on a percent- SUBSCRIPTIONS Plus in June. age of ticket sales. NICI CATTON ASSOCIATE VP, PRODUCT DELIVERY But what was shocking and A total collapse of release win- KARL WALTER arguably misguided was NBCU- dows would likely be disastrous for ASSOCIATE VP, CONTENT niversal chief Jeff Shell’s bomb- both distributors and exhibitors. GURJEET CHIMA SENIOR DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL shell reveal in a Wall Street Journal That said, there’s zero chance in MARKETS interview that his studio plans the post-pandemic world that the- EDDIE KO SENIOR DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING to simultaneously release ALL of aters will still get movies for the OPERATIONS “There’s no its forthcoming movies for home traditional exclusive 75- to 90-day ANDY LIMPUS viewing and in theaters even after period. Those days are over. SENIOR DIRECTOR, TALENT ACQUISITION existing model AMIT SANNAD they reopen. Naturally, that proc- that ensures SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT lamation inflamed AMC CEO Adam CONSTANCE EJUMA profitability DIRECTOR, SEO of big-budget Aron, who shot back that his circuit would consequently refuse LAURA ONGARO movies without EDITORIAL & BRAND DIRECTOR, to play any of Universal’s films in INTERNATIONAL an initial global its theaters. KATIE PASSANTINO DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT theatrical Several studio executives I’ve Claudia Eller release.” DEREK RAMSAY spoken with concur that Shell went Editor-in-Chief DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MANAGEMENT BAGGOTT/AMC MEG ARON: SHELL: NBCUNIVERSAL;

8 VARIETY PLUGGED IN WHAT’S ON VARIETY.COM

graduation-day themes, with music per- Stars of formances mixed in. Upcoming The former president and ﬁrst lady will deliver individual commencement TV Premieres speeches — and a joint message — to grad- uates. Additionally, Mrs. Obama’s Reach Higher initiative will host a full hour of 84 content to kick off the celebration. As well as Gaga and Rice, commence- Mark Ruffalo ment speakers will include former Secre- I Know This Much Is True While his score hasn’t tary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Alphabet doubled, it’s up eight and Google CEO Sundar Pichai and activ- points since April 1. ist Malala Yousafzai. BTS and others will perform at a virtual graduation night after-party. Among those making special appear- 72 ances are Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Chloe x Halle, Zen- Linda Cardellini daya and YouTube content creators Jackie Dead to Me She’s run up her score six Aina, AsapScience, Dude Perfect, Mr. Kate points in advance of this and The Try Guys. The full schedule of black-comedyedy hithit.. News YOUTUBE IS PUMPING UP the 2020 virtual events will be available on the Learn@ pomp-and-circumstance circuit with Home site beginning May 17. Obamas’ a video graduation ceremony, includ- “Graduation is a tradition that stu- ing commencement addresses delivered dents and families look forward to, and 38 by former President Barack Obama and with the current state of the world, You- Graduation Michelle Obama. Tube is lending some inspiration in Olunike Adeliyi “Dear Class of 2020,” premiering the form of a virtual commencement,” Workin’ Moms The start of the show’s Sendoff June 6 on the YouTube Originals channel Susanne Daniels, YouTube’s global head fourth season should help as well as the streamer’s Learn@Home of content, said in a statement. “We hope nurture her number. site, will feature other celebs and nota- bringing together noteworthy, inﬂuential ble names, such as boy band BTS, Lady speakers along with performances from Gaga and former Secretary of State Con- some of their favorite artists will provide Vscore, powered by Variety Business doleezza Rice. The festival-style lineup encouragement for the students who have Intelligence, identifies the social footprint, familiarity and availability of over 25,000 • For the full story, head to Variety.com. will offer talks that focus on traditional worked so hard to get here.” actors. For more info please visit Vscore.com SANTOS; HARRIER: ROB LATOUR/VARIETY/SHUTTERSTOCK ROB HARRIER: SANTOS; Variety Poll Say What?

Most Popular Movie “Given“ our current climate and the way that the world is right now [amid the coronavirus pandemic], I think people definitely need some form of on Netflix in April: escapism. [The show] is beautiful and fun and sexy, and everything looks ‘Angel Has Fallen’ amazing, but it also has weight to it. We are talking about real issues and people being historically marginalized in Hollywood.” Variety Intelligence Platform conducted an analysis of the most-watched films on Netflix in April, and Laura Harrier on Netflix series “Hollywood,” in which she co-stars found six of the top 10 had been theatrical releases. “We“ really have to take our cue from the audience and what they feel Popularity Score Based on Number of Times Title Appeared in the Top 10 for the Month comfortable with. I don’t think if you’re going into a theater and it’s only one quarter full and everybody’s got 10 feet between them, I don’t 181 Angel Has Fallen know if that’s worth doing. For me, I’m gonna wait till everyone does feel comfortable gathering. … I’m happy to wait. I don’t want to compromise 129 Code 8 the experience.” 120 Despicable Me Jerry Seinfeld on when stand-up comedians will return to the stage 94 Coffee & Kareem 83 The Hangover “A“ big tentpole summer film like, say, ‘Avengers,’ might be around 2,000 74 Love Wedding Repeat visual effects shots, and these series are a little shy of 4,000 visual 73 The Willoughbys effects shots for Season 1 — and Season 2 is no different. We’re doing 71 The Roommate them in around the same amount of time, maybe even less time, than a Acquired Title 62 The Green Hornet big summer film, plus we all have to work remotely. We’re in the middle Netflix Original 60 Extraction of that tsunami now, but we’re going to get it all done. People are going to get their Baby Yoda, I promise.” Data provided by Flix Patrol Data Analyzed for VIP. For more

OBAMAS’: AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; RUFFALO: JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; CARDELLINI: RYAN MILLER/SHUTTERSTOCK; ADELIYI: SAM ADELIYI: SAM MILLER/SHUTTERSTOCK; RYAN CARDELLINI: STRAUSS/INVISION/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; JORDAN RUFFALO: AP/SHUTTERSTOCK; OBAMAS’: in-depth data and analysis, variety.com/vip-sample “The“ Mandalorian” animation supervisor Hal Hickel on Season 2 of the Disney Plus show

VARIETY 9 Rebooting the Entertainment Industry

Episode 1: The Entertainment & Media Workforce Executives will discuss how entertainment companies are moving towards sustainable ways of doing business and how new technologies are enabling productivity and answering security challenges.

MONDAY MAY 12 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT

FEATURED SPEAKERS Jean Lee Principal, Workforce of the Future PwC

Jeremy Legg Chief Technology Officer WarnerMedia

MODERATED BY Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Variety

UPCOMING EPISODES Episode 2: Thoughtful Audience Engagement May 19 Episode 3: The New Challenge of Content Production & Distribution May 26 Episode 4: The Future of Sports and Live Events June 2 Episode 5: The Outlook for Future Growth June 9 TOP BILLING TOP BILLING

Time for Cleanup Duty

NEW NBCUNIVERSAL CEO JEFF SHELL MAKES TOUGH MOVES AND SPLITS

WITH OLD WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS By Brian Steinberg and Elaine Low

JEFF SHELL wants a break. and CNBC — together for the first time in a person familiar with the company, and The new NBCUniversal CEO, who took several years under the aegis of a tradi- made the moves out of a desire to be more over the role from Steve Burke earlier this tional corporate manager, not someone tied efficient and competitive. year, made one thing clear May 4 when he to the newsroom. (CNBC has existed inde- As part of that consideration, this per- shook up his company’s senior ranks: He pendently since Pat Fili-Krushel, a former son says, Shell decided NBC News could use wants to cut ties to structures that might head of news operations, departed.) And it a fresh start. Andy Lack, who has run NBC slow down the massive Comcast-backed consolidates the company’s TV-production News and MSNBC since 2015, is leaving ear- media conglomerate as it’s trying to com- and distribution assets under another exec- lier than anticipated, and Shell is giving pete in a complex new world. That means utive, a signal that Shell sees cable, broad- Lack’s job to someone other than his heir putting multiple controversies that have cast and streaming as parts of a larger apparent, NBC News president Noah Oppen- erupted at NBC News in the past — even operation, rather than businesses to be heim. Lack, a veteran who was serving a as fresh word surfaces of a recent inves- ADJUSTING managed separately from one another. second stint as a senior executive at NBC- THE PICTURE tigation of activity there by the New York “This is the right structure to lead NBC- Universal, had been expected to leave his NBCU CEO Jeff Shell’s attorney general’s office — and restructur- recent decisions Universal into the future during this trans- post after the 2020 election; his tenure has ing the company for the streaming wars indicate his formational time in the industry,” Shell encompassed big programming swings as that lie ahead. intention to shake up said earlier this week in a statement. The well as a spate of controversies. He is being the organizational Shell’s new NBCU puts all of the compa- structure of the exec had been examining NBCU’s organiza- replaced by Cesar Conde, the NBCU exec- ny’s news operations — NBC News, MSNBC media conglomerate. tional framework for several months, says utive who oversees its large Telemundo ROB LATOUR/VARIETY/SHUTTERSTOCK ROB

VARIETY 11 TOP BILLING

Spanish-language business and who serves appearances about a reporting trip to Iraq. Shell became CEO of NBCU in January on the corporate boards of Walmart and Since then, NBC News has drawn scrutiny for and has kept his thoughts about operat- PepsiCo. Oppenheim is expected to continue everything from a failed multimillion-dollar ing the enormous media company to him- in his current role, says the person familiar bet on former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly self and his associates. But since the advent with the company. to its inability to break news on an “Access of the pandemic, he has slowly grown more “There are at least two things that Lack Hollywood” tape that contained footage of vocal. When asked during a Comcast inves- didn’t lack, and that is, he didn’t lack tal- candidate Donald Trump acknowledging he tor call last week if NBCU’s business was ent and experience and he didn’t lack con- felt free to assault women sexually. “Access “right-sized for the current environment,” troversy,” says Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior Hollywood” is part of the NBCU empire. his answer was direct: “Probably no.” associate dean for leadership studies at Activist organizations have put the “We have to address our costs, but we are Yale School of Management. “So this was news division under scrutiny. They have going to come back at some point,” Shell told in the cards for a few months now. And protested NBCU’s handling of not only investors. “I think what we’re trying to do is Shell is just getting it behind him as they Matt Lauer’s ouster after the anchor was address our cost base in a way that comes out of course get ready for [the launch of] Pea- accused of sexual harassment (he has of this in a different way, that we look like a cock,” the company’s streaming service. denied many of the claims made against different company. And we can shift our busi- Disclosure of the legal investigation him) and a subsequent internal investiga- ness as we adjust our cost base. But we’re adds a new wrinkle. The New York attor- tion, but also NBC News’ decision not to spending a lot of time on our cost base. And ney general’s office late last year launched move forward with reporting by Ronan Far- certainly, over the next weeks and months, an investigation into allegations of sexual row over allegations of sexual assault by we’ll make pretty significant adjustments harassment, retaliation and gender dis- movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Some NBC there across our business.” crimination at NBC News, Variety reported. News digital employees formed a union One way to do that is to break down silos “We are not aware of any inquiry,” NBC- late last year, citing in part their concerns between operations that are often in the Universal says. A representative for the over how sensitive stories were handled by same line of business. Now that more con- New York attorney general’s office declined news executives. sumers are binge-watching their favorite to comment. It’s unclear if the investigation UltraViolet, one group that has pressed programs on demand, the cable, broadcast is ongoing. for change at NBC News, called the and streaming businesses have become dis- The news division could be critical to succession move at NBC News “a positive tribution windows — and a rising generation Comcast and NBCU in weeks ahead. As development that suggests NBC is begin- of viewers doesn’t see much of a difference more consumers opt to watch their favor- ning to take issues regarding its workplace between NBC and, say, USA. ite comedy or drama via streaming video, culture seriously.” Other media companies have come live news and sports will become the TV Shell has many things to consider at a around to the concept. At ViacomCBS, a networks’ most reliable tool for capturing time when the coronavirus pandemic is move is afoot to rethink its cable opera- big crowds who cannot skip past ads. NBCU wreaking havoc on media economics. The tions. Executives from Comedy Central, has launched news products for streaming pandemic has spurred Madison Avenue to among other places, were laid off as part of video, Snapchat and Quibi and even a kids cut back on advertising, and scuttled dozens a broader effort to cut costs at the recently version of “NBC Nightly News.” NBCUni- of large-audience sports events — includ- merged entity. Chris McCarthy, who over- versal’s news operation is rivaled in only by ing some of NBC’s biggest properties, such sees ViacomCBS’ entertainment and youth AT&T’s CNN in scope and global presence. as NHL games (currently suspended) and brands, told staffers that his unit was “shift- But even as it has expanded, NBC’s news the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (postponed). It ing from cable to content, which is at the unit has lurched from one scandal to the has also hurt operations like NBCU’s theme center of everything we do,” and “moving next. In 2015, before Lack arrived, former parks (closed) and its movie business. from strong siloed brands to a powerful “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams NBCU’s revenue in the first quarter fell 7% entertainment portfolio.” was suspended after being accused of mak- to $7.7 billion, compared with $8.3 billion in Media executives increasingly realize they ing false statements on air and during public the year-earlier period. need to produce as much content as possible and put it everywhere people might want to watch it. NBCU’s moves will combine production operations while allowing the company to winnow down overlapping functions. The same dynamics hold true at NBCU’s combined news operations, where staffers are wary of some of the changes, according to one person familiar with the division, because they could mean layoffs. Both CNBC and NBC News have in recent years built up new digital newsrooms, hiring reporters dedicated to media, politics and technology. An NBC News spokesperson declined to comment on the potential for staff reductions. NBCU could not continue as it had, says Paul Argenti, a professor of corporate com- munication at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. In the current environment, companies are either committed to

FRESH START weathering the storm or making cuts to NBC News chairman operations. Argenti says he had expected Andy Lack is Shell to make moves “within six weeks” of exiting earlier taking the reins. than expected; NBCU executive Cesar Conde

will take his place. Elizabeth Wagmeister contributed to this report. HEIDI GUTMAN/NBC (2)

12 VARIETY TOP BILLING Tribeca Dives Into Digital Realm in Unorthodox Times

THE PANDEMIC INSPIRES THE INDIE FEST’S FOUNDERS TO DEVISE ALTERNATIVE WAYS FOR

FILMMAKERS TO GET THEIR WORK IN FRONT OF CRITICS AND DISTRIBUTORS By Brent Lang

In the meantime, Tribeca dove into the digital realm, figuring ways to make its programming available at a time when public health officials have prevented large gatherings. On offer: a selection of projects from its virtual reality and branded storytelling arms, as well as talks with industry figures such as the creative teams behind shows like “Normal People” and movies including “Bad Education,” which will be broadcast digitally. To give filmmakers a chance to get their movies in front of critics and distributors, the festival has made many of its short films and features available online to accredited press and industry figures. It also has decided to recognize top talent by having its jury hand out prizes. The issues that Tribeca and other film festivals have been wrestling with are the same ones being debated across the industry. Movie theaters are trying to figure out how they can safely reopen, while television and film sets are coming up with novel ways to resume production without exposing their casts and crews to the virus. “We have to retrain everyone and TOUGHING IT OUT IF EVERYTHING had gone according to saw this as an important way to support our rethink everything,” says Rosenthal. “We Tribeca Film Festival plan, the Tribeca Film Festival would filmmakers and to show their films to the co-founders Robert need to get our industry back to work, have just wrapped its 19th edition, cele- press and industry. In unorthodox times, De Niro and Jane because so many below-the-line workers brating the best of indie film in the heart we need to do what we can to preserve art Rosenthal speak at are hurting. Hopefully, what we come up the Variety Screening of New York City. and culture.” Series event for “The with will be safer and better than what was Alas, the coronavirus had other ideas, Tribeca, of course, knows a thing or two Irishman” in Los there before this.” shuttering the festival and leaving its back- about operating a film festival during peri- Angeles in January. Unlike other events, Tribeca has post- ers without a clear way to move forward. ods of national tragedy. It was formed in poned its festival, but it has stopped short Founders Jane Rosenthal and Robert De 2002 to bring people back to downtown of canceling it outright. Rosenthal says it’s Niro and staff had to scramble for ways Manhattan at a time when the city was possible that the event will happen in the to innovate. In a matter of weeks, Tribeca in the midst of rebuilding from the 9/11 fall at a time when Tribeca usually hosts a launched several digital offerings meant to attacks. Once again, New York has been hit TV-centric festival. However, she acknowl- highlight filmmakers and creators who had hard by catastrophe. As of May 4, the city edges that it won’t unfold as it would hoped to premiere their latest works at the has seen more than 170,500 people diag- have in April had COVID-19 not interceded. spring gathering. nosed with COVID-19; over 13,500 have died “It won’t be the 19th edition that we “We just looked at each other and said from the disease — both the case numbers had planned with the same films and pro- we know there’s a way of doing this, so let’s and the death toll far exceed those of any grams that we’d scheduled,” says Rosen- make it happen,” says De Niro. other city in the nation. De Niro, who has thal. “First and foremost, we will do it in a But Tribeca isn’t stopping there. It been a frequent and fierce critic of Presi- way that puts the health and safety of our has also partnered with festivals such as dent Trump, blames the White House’s slow guests and filmmakers first, but we will Cannes and Toronto to create a 10-day dig- response to the outbreak for the devastation also do it in a way that celebrates New York ital film festival, dubbed We Are One, which that New York has experienced. and honors what we’ve been through.” will air exclusively starting May 29 on You- “The whole thing is unimaginable,” says De Niro, who lives in New York and, Tube. Planning is still taking place, but the De Niro. “This administration made every- thanks to his roles in masterpieces like hope is that any money generated from the body suffer so needlessly. What the pres- “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull,” is synony- event will go to support the World Health ident has done is beyond infuriating. He mous with its cultural pulse, believes that Organization’s COVID-19 relief efforts. could have stopped this and he didn’t, and the city will be able to reemerge from the “Tribeca has always looked for alterna- he doesn’t show any empathy for people. terrible disease and deaths. tive ways to use technology to bring audi- Every day, he demonstrates his ineptitude “New York is tough, and we’ll get through

VARIETY/SHUTTERSTOCK ences together,” says Rosenthal. “We just and idiocy. I can’t wait until Election Day.” this,” he says.

VARIETY 13 TOP BILLING

important social value our services pro- Tech Gets Shelter vide, we’re planning to hire at least 10,000 more people in product and engineering roles this year,” Facebook chief Mark Zuck- erberg told analysts last week. From Virus’s Storm The ad businesses of Facebook, Google and Amazon will definitely weather the storm — and not all of their competitors SILICON VALLEY COULD COME OUT OF THE CRISIS EVEN will, says Nicole Perrin, principal analyst STRONGER THAN IT WENT IN By Todd Spangler at market research firm eMarketer. The pullback will only get worse in the near term, she predicts. For example, video ad spending could decline as much as 21% year over year in the second quarter, according to her forecasts. That could mean more M&A in the sector. “Overall, it points to probably more consolidation in the digital ad market later this year or into 2021,” she says. Meanwhile, digital entertainment is getting a massive adrenaline shot because of the health crisis, with virtually all theaters shut down nationwide. Netflix reeled in a record 15.7 million subscribers in the first quarter, though execs believe the torrid pace won’t continue through the rest of 2020. On another front, Uni- versal’s direct-to-streaming “Trolls World Tour” in its first three weeks of release pulled in almost $100 million — a record for a digital-only movie — and those trans- actions went through platforms owned by Apple, Amazon, Google and NBCUni- THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS has played to the stabilized going into April. Apple’s STAFFING UP versal’s Fandango along with those of strengths of tech companies: People are hardware sales for the first three months Facebook CEO Mark pay-TV operators. Zuckerberg told staying indoors, increasingly using the inter- of 2020 were down — but the services analysts last week “At this moment in time, Netflix and net and streaming more video than ever. business, which includes App Store sales, that the company large streaming services are much better It’s clear that the tech giants are well surged to an all-time high of $13.3 billion was planning to hire positioned than film production compa- at least 10,000 more positioned to make it through the crisis rel- for the period, up 17%. people in product nies,” says Michelle Wroan, KPMG’s media atively intact. “Alphabet [Google’s parent], Amazon sales boomed in the first quarter and engineering jobs industry leader in the U.S. “The eyeballs Facebook and Amazon will be just fine,” says to an eye-popping $75.4 billion, up 26% year this year. are in the home.” Tal Chalozin, co-founder and chief techni- over year, on overwhelming demand from It remains to be seen in the post- cal officer of ad-tech company Innovid. stay-at-home customers. At the same time, COVID-19 reality who the winners and losers The crisis stands to make the most the crisis is taking a big toll on the bottom will be. Wroan believes theaters and live powerful tech companies even stronger, as line. CEO Jeff Bezos said Amazon will spend events will rebound eventually. “Humans they have business models built for digital roughly its first-quarter operating profit of are social beings,” she says. “There’s marketplaces and the cash reserves to $4 billion — or more — on costs related to pent-up demand to be social” — by which withstand an economic downturn, Chalozin COVID-19 in the second quarter. she means in real life, not on Facebook. says, adding, “It definitely is going to make “The current crisis is demonstrating the On the other hand, the pandemic is the bigger players bigger.” adaptability and durability of Amazon’s training consumers to satisfy their enter- That’s not to say a recession precipitated business as never before,” Bezos said in pre- tainment diets without setting foot outside by COVID-19 will be good for any business. pared remarks addressing the first-quarter the house. That bodes well for tradi- Double-digit unemployment in the U.S. results, “but it’s also the hardest time we’ve tional media companies that have shifted will weigh on consumer spending (and by ever faced.” to direct-to-streaming models, and not a extension advertising) across the board. Whereas companies in Hollywood and moment too soon amid life in quarantine. And Big Tech isn’t immune from other industry sectors are slashing staff or Disney already has a hit in Disney Plus, and the fallout. In reporting first-quarter furloughing employees, tech players say WarnerMedia hopes HBO Max will make a 2020 earnings, Google and Facebook saw they are still hiring through 2020, though splash later this month. ad spending fall off a cliff in March, but at a slower pace than previously projected. Says Innovid’s Chalozin, “I’m betting a both companies said that the numbers “With our strong financial position and the lot of these behaviors will not go back.”

Market Movers During the pandemic, investors have been bullish on tech — and bearish on media.

Change in stock price from March 11-May 4

AMAZON NETFLIX FACEBOOK ALPHABET APPLE DISNEY COMCAST AT&T VIACOMCBS

+27.2% +22.4% +20.6% +9.2% +6.4% -2.2% -3.8% -12.7% -17.5% TECHNOLOG/SIPA/SHUTTERSTOCK LEWIS JOLY/VIVA

14 VARIETY TOP BILLING Will the Tonys Be Canceled?

BROADWAY’S BIGGEST NIGHT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN IN 2020

By Ramin Setoodeh, Brent Lang and Jazz Tangcay

FOR THE PAST seven decades, the show has Tonys, declined to comment. But the obstacles to holding an awards always gone on for the Tony Awards, which The fate of the Tonys is more compli- show when Broadway is dark will be dif- honor the best Broadway performances cated than that of other awards shows. ficult to overcome. While there could be a and productions. But with the 74th edition Unlike the Oscars or the Emmys, the pur- way to award statues over Zoom, with sing- being postponed from its planned June 7 pose of the Tonys is to encourage audiences ers gathering as they did for Stephen Sond- date due to the coronavirus, there’s a real to leave their homes and buy tickets to live heim’s 90th-birthday celebration, there chance that the ceremony will be scrapped theater, an impossible mission when mass would be no way to translate buzz from altogether this year. gatherings are banned. the event into ticket sales. Some Broadway The future of Broadway remains uncer- And yet, much of the theater commu- producers may be wary of devoting time, tain — with a deserted Times Square and nity believes that it’s important to honor resources and money to staging COVID- tourists steering clear of Manhattan — and the best productions of the 2019-20 season. 19-safe production numbers, because with insiders say that discussions by the com- Otherwise, front-runners such as “Mou- theaters closed, they won’t be able to real- mittee that plans the Tonys have come to lin Rouge!,” “Jagged Little Pill,” “Slave Play” ize any return on their investment. Accord- a “standstill.” and “The Inheritance” will be robbed of the ing to sources, CBS, which broadcasts the Part of the reason for a cancellation awards they had a good chance of winning. telecast, is cold to the idea of a lo-fi version would be logistics. While Tony voters and “The Tonys must go on this season — of the show. (A representative from CBS the awards’ 54-member nominating com- in some form — because the blood, sweat, didn’t respond to a request for comment.) mittee are asked to see musicals and plays tears and full-on passion it takes to make If the Tonys don’t happen this year, the when they open, not everyone can keep up. theater simply deserves it,” says Montego next logical step would be to combine the Thus, April is usually a period when vot- Glover (“Memphis”), who was nominated next two seasons for a single ceremony ers cram in the shows they missed, which for best actress in a musical in 2010 and — possibly in the summer of 2021. That wasn’t possible this year after 31 musicals whose play “All the Natalie Portmans” is would put some musicals and plays at a and plays abruptly went dark on March among those that closed March 12. disadvantage, given that they’d have to live 12 to prevent the spread of the virus. The Adds producer Justin Mikita (“Torch on in voters’ minds for another 12 months, same goes for the larger body of Tony vot- Song”): “The spirit of the Tonys will remind WHERE’S THE PARTY? or possibly longer. Even if the ceremony is ers, who decide who takes home the statues theatergoers of the love that comes from “Jagged Little Pill,” delayed until next year, many productions starring Celia Rose after the nominating committee whittles live performance, and will give hope to Gooding and Lauren that were expected to be major contenders down the potential candidates to a handful those affected by the crisis. The Tonys bring Patten, was among the won’t get a chance to shine. The producers of contenders. immense joy to theater people across the front-runners for of Martin McDonagh’s “Hangmen” and a recognition at this A representative for The Broadway globe — so please, at least for one night, let year’s Tonys, whose revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” League, which is involved in planning the us remember to sing, dance and celebrate.” future is uncertain. closed their shows before they even got out of previews and don’t plan to reopen when Broadway does. The fate of other highly anticipated shows, such as “Mrs. Doubtfire: The Musical” and “The Lehman Trilogy,” is also unclear. A third option is also on the table. If productions return in the fall or winter, there has been talk of hosting a general celebration of Broadway — with numbers from past musicals (think “Chicago” or “Les Misérables”) by star-studded croon- ers. Statues would still be awarded, but such a show would be more focused on the reopening of Broadway, to ease the nerves of the public. That the hybrid ceremony would coincide with the awards’ 75th anni- versary would add to their luster, propo- nents say. “My thoughts on the Tony Awards are a bit different,” says Jeannette Bayardelle, who was set to co-star in “The Girl From the North Country.” “During this time, I feel Broadway as a whole should be celebrated — every show and every performer. We managed to survive being in the epicenter

MATTHEW MURPHY MATTHEW of the pandemic.”

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working from the Atlanta facility, where Skeleton Crews Help they monitor CNN’s feeds and the technical aspects of loading up programming. In Philadelphia’s Comcast Technology Center, where NBC-owned WCAU and sister Keep Networks on Air Telemundo station WWSI operate, some 35 of the normal 140 staffers are still coming in to make sure the stations and their news- TECHNICIANS, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TEAMS GIVE KEY ASSIST casts continue.

TO STAY-AT-HOME STAFF By Michael Schneider and Brian Steinberg But Nick Evansky, the VP of tech ops for NBC/Telemundo Philadelphia, says those employees have been split into three units. “That way, if somebody in one of those teams was infected, we weren’t going to NORMALLY, AROUND 1,600 people work global pandemic is really hard to plan for,” knock out all of our key people,” he says. out of the CBS Broadcast Center on West Oakley says. The on-air broadcasts for NBC’s owned 57th Street in New York. But these aren’t Over at PBS, Yvonne Bennett, director of stations group are all operated from a normal times. Just about a dozen key distribution operations, has been commut- centralized master control hub in Denver, staffers are still coming into the office, ing frequently to what is a critical facility where another staff is managing all the keeping the lights on as most everyone for the public service broadcasting network playlists, commercials and more. “They else works from home. in Springfield, Va. That’s where 10 full-time had to reduce the number of staff that they “Things have definitely changed,” says technicians and other employees are tak- had in that facility but still maintain the Glenn Oakley, CBS executive VP of global ing in programs fed from various stations level of functionality,” Evansky says. media technology operations. “We have and production outlets and checking to The stations’ normally dense con- reduced staff down to skeleton crews vir- make sure the quality of each show is suit- trol rooms have been mostly emptied tually everywhere. We have definitely able for broadcast. out. Writers and content producers now removed people going in to essential per- Despite logistical challenges, staffers are edit video packages from home, and even sonnel only.” still coming in and loading up “PBS News- meteorologists, sportscasters and anchors These are the unsung heroes of TV: the Hour” for distribution in the early evening are appearing from their living rooms. broadcast, cable and local TV staffers who and taking in BBC News feeds at different “With IP technology, with the internet, are still showing up to work in the midst times of the day. that has really enabled us to execute this of the coronavirus pandemic. Across the At CNN, “we are keeping multiple net- and provide the different resources to the country, media outlets have sent most of works on the air around the clock, with producers, the anchors, all those folks who their employees home to work — but there 90% of our 3,800 employees working are working from home, producing televi- are some, particularly in operations and in from home,” says Ken Jautz, an execu- sion,” Evansky says. news — who have been tasked with making tive vice president at CNN who oversees Back at CBS, Oakley explains that the sure the networks are still on the air. the news unit’s operations. “And we are TEAM EFFORT key people still working in the network’s Unlike most disaster plans, in which a doing it despite having a physical plant “CBS This Morning” media distribution center are checking network or station might set up shop some- and systems that were not designed to co-host Gayle King schedules and ads and inventory. There’s where outside the danger zone, COVID-19 be operated remotely, so it’s kind of been is able to broadcast also some satellite, distribution and sched- from home thanks to presents a unique problem: There’s no safe extraordinary.” the work of a small uling prep staff. place, even globally, to move your team. “A Only a handful of key employees are in-studio staff. As the coronavirus pandemic forced them to move fast, CBS, Showtime and the Viacom networks were able to be virtually “100% remote capable” in record time, Oakley says. “Things that we couldn’t do in a year, we were able to do in three days.” For those still showing up to the office, CBS has lengthened shifts in order to reduce the number of times people come in and out of the building. “We’ve gone to crews that work for a solid week and then get a week off, so that we can essentially protect the people who are not there from the people who are,” Oakley says. “And we’re doing electrostatic fogging — what we call deep cleaning — every night in places people are occupying.” Oakley says he believes that “there will be a new normal. People have seen what can be done with a lot fewer people, and I think you’ll see a lot of the entire industry rethinking a lot of their assumptions.” Some of the procedures mastered now could affect how things work at CNN in the future, says Jautz. “We are going to take a hard look at the lessons we learned about remote work,” he says, but not until opera-

tions return to normal. CBS NEWS

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How did you approach filming one of the most famous and protected women in the Capturing a Candid world? Most of the time, it was myself and a camera. On the tour, I got incredible access to her. We had spoken with her team about ﬁlming Michelle Obama with her in the motorcade, so I go to the motorcade vehicle, and there’s a Secret Service agent standing outside. I’m like, “Hello, sir. I’ll be rid- DIRECTOR NADIA HALLGREN TALKS ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK TO FILM ing with Mrs. Obama today.” And I have a cam- THE FORMER FIRST LADY ON HER BOOK TOUR FOR THE NETFLIX era, so clearly, I’m not just her friend. So he’s like, “Give me one second,” and talks into his DOCUMENTARY ‘BECOMING’ By Adam B. Vary wrist. And then he’s like, “OK. This never happens,” but in a way of being like: This is special.

Were there any no-fly zones? Yeah. Not ﬁlm- ing with her daughters at home was one of the guardrails. I completely respected her privacy, and why that was something that she desired.

During the book tour, we see Michelle Obama be so much more candid than she could be as first lady. She’s incredibly funny, especially when she talks about her marriage. I hate to use the word “relatable,” but I think whether you’re on one side of the relationship or another, you will be able to identify with some of the stories that she tells.

Her stories about meeting Barack Obama A STEADY LENS for the first time were especially frank — like Director Nadia when she calls him a “trifling black man” for Hallgren works the camera behind being late on his first day on the job! That’s Michelle Obama in one of my favorites. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, “Becoming.” and that’s how she is. I think she really appre- ciates having that freedom now to express herself in that way. FOR YEARS, NADIA HALLGREN would say that her best experience as a It seems deliberate that President Obama’s documentary cinematographer was shaking Michelle Obama’s hand time on-screen is quite minimal. Did you inter- in Liberia while shooting the 2016 CNN Films project “We Will Rise,” view him? No, we didn’t. That was definitely about the first lady’s efforts to expand education for girls worldwide. a creative choice. We really wanted to tell the So when Hallgren got invited to meet with Obama one-on-one in 2018 story of Mrs. Obama during this specific time in her life, reemerging after a couple of years of to discuss filming the book tour for her memoir “Becoming,” she tried leaving the White House, going on this tour and to re-create their first encounter. telling her story. And it just didn’t feel like we “I awkwardly stick out my hand, and from the nervousness, our needed to [interview him], you know? fingers kind of like weirdly intertwined with each other,” Hallgren There is a lovely moment when you’re follow- says with a laugh. “It was a terrible handshake. And she was like, ‘I’m a ing the Obamas walking out of an arena after hugger.’ She gave me a big hug. It really cut through that nervousness.” one of her book tour Q&As, and she says to From that auspicious meeting came Hallgren’s debut as a feature him, “Does it feel like a show that you would want to see?” She still needed the reassur- documentary director, also titled “Becoming,” which premieres on ance that what she’s doing is working. That’s Netflix on May 6 through the streamer’s exclusive partnership with who Mrs. Obama is. She’s very honest about her Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company Higher Ground insecurities. Those things never leave you, no Prods. Shot over roughly six months in late 2018 and 2019, the film matter who you are. I don’t think she knew I was behind her in that moment, perhaps, when she serves as a brisk biography of Michelle Obama’s life — from her said that, but I think that’s a pure moment. She childhood on the South Side of Chicago through her marriage to Barack talks about those whispers of doubt, and that Obama and his rapid ascent to the presidency — and as a record of her imposter syndrome. I think that resonates with 34-city arena tour featuring candid conversations between the former many, many people, for sure.

first lady and luminaries like Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Stephen What was it like to revisit the hope and joy Colbert and Reese Witherspoon. of the 2008 election amid the Trump pres- What Hallgren most wanted to capture, however, was the same idency? It was really nostalgic. I think to be grounded, disarming experience she had with the woman she still calls able to sit with those memories in a way that, you know, I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t been mak- “Mrs. Obama” when they shared that hug in her office. She spoke with ing this film — it was a wonderful experience to

ISAAC PALMISANO/NETFLIX ISAAC Variety over Zoom about how she pulled it off. think deeply about that time.

VARIETY 17 TOP BILLING

What have you been doing [Laughs] But they do change FUNNY LADY during quarantine? I’ve your body, those corsets. Elle Fanning plays been with my sister [Dakota You’ve heard so many Catherine in “The Great.” Fanning] and my mom and actresses talk about it, but my grandmother cooking your body does change, and baking a lot. My sis- even your breathing pat- ter has been doing paint by tern, especially saying those numbers, and also this kind long speeches. of bedazzling thing. Every- one’s embroidering. We’re I’m sure you and your sister getting creative. I’m doing have had plenty of scripts a jigsaw puzzle of the “Top thrown your way. You finally Gun” movie poster. decided on a project to do together, “The Nightingale,” Let’s talk about “The Great.” about the French resistance It starts when Catherine is during WWII. Why was this quite young and she arrives the right one for you? [Film- in Russia. She’s extremely ing was postponed because optimistic and open and romantic and slightly naive of the pandemic, and Sony to what is about to happen to has slated the release for her life. She’s going to marry December 2021.] I think Peter, who is the emperor it’s the right timing in our of Russia. She meets him, lives now. It’s really going and he is definitely not any- to mean something because thing that she thought he was it’s not like we’re just super going to be. Reality hits her young doing it. Right now in her face, and she quickly we’re women. Our relation- realizes that she needs to kill ship too is also more friends her husband for her life to be at this point because we’re OK. We’re not here trying to only four years apart. When give a history lesson to any- you’re young, your sisters one, but there are elements and you are fighting all the in each episode that are true, time and stealing each oth- slightly based on what Cath- er’s clothes. I’d heard about erine did. the book for a while, and it’d been kind of floating In your more intimate around for a bit. The book is scenes with Nicholas, how Elle Fanning Finds so powerful. Also, we were did you not break out laugh- curious: If we did something ing at the words that were together, would we play sis- coming out of his mouth? In Her Satirical Side ters? Or would we not play the crazy sex scenes where sisters? People are like, he’s spewing nonsense and “Well, you look similar.” We THE STAR OF HULU’S ‘THE GREAT’ TALKS CORSETS, I’m just lying there, I would think we look nothing alike, RUSSIAN HISTORY AND HER UPCOMING PROJECT WITH be literally munching on a pillow laughing so hard. but this is a true sister story. By Marc Malkin SISTER DAKOTA We always wanted to make I can’t get through the script the scene funnier or better. without sobbing. For the good of the scene, we were trying to go for You’re a producer on “The

ELLE FANNING HAS spent most of her 12-year career it. That was a big thing for Great.” Do you want to making movies. Now, at 22, she’s jumping into television, me because it’s a comedy. direct next? It’s something starring as Catherine the Great in Hulu’s 10-part satirical I’m not used to comedies that I do want to do badly. You’ve just got to find the comedy series “The Great,” which debuts May 15. Written where it’s a specific rhythm and there are jokes. I had right story. What is it that by “The Favourite” scribe Tony McNamara, the show follows to learn to not be embar- you want to tell? Is it going Catherine’s rise to power, from her arranged marriage to rassed. Throughout the to be personal? Is it not? Are Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) to becoming empress of Russia in months of filming, my walls you going to write it? Are you 1762 after having her husband assassinated. kind of went down to be able not? A lot of big questions. I to not be as embarrassed will for sure one day. “I didn’t know much about her. I knew the she-had- with myself. sex-with-a-horse propaganda,” Fanning says. “That’s what I knew about her, which is extremely sad. But I came to And you got to wear some This interview has been edited fun outfits. learn that she’s this kind of feminist icon, and she brought That’s for sure and condensed. Hear it in its — corsets! I’d be like, “My entirety on this week’s episode enlightenment to Russia and brought female education and boobs aren’t big. What is of Variety and iHeart’s “The Big art and science and really did amazing things. She invented this? What have they done? Ticket” podcast, which will be the roller coaster as well. She’s quite fun.” They look great, but wow.” available on May 7. OLLIE UPTON/HULU

18 VARIETY “My victory is taming my demons and learning to live again.” While serving in Kosovo, Adam was severely injured and left with a traumatic brain injury. Back home, he fought depression, anxiety and alcohol. With support from DAV, Adam was able to build a new life. DAV helps veterans of every generation get the benefits they’ve earned—helping more than a million veterans each year. Support more victories for veterans®. Go to DAV.org.

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‘Six Moral Tales’ ‘The Dating ‘Half Written Game Killer’ Story’ NOW MIGHT BE THE PERFECT time to dive into the work Hardcore true crime fans will want Hailee Steinfeld performs pop to check out this graphic podcast on music with emotional nuance. of French ﬁlmmaker Éric Rohmer, whose centenary is the murders committed by Rodney Following a string of hit singles, she this year. His languid ﬁlms of the 1960s and early 1970s, Alcala — an L.A. photographer and lets her earnest voice shine through including “Claire’s Knee,” “My Night at Maud’s” and contestant on “The Dating Game.” the varnish on her debut EP. “Love in the Afternoon,” with their knowing dialogue and naturalistic depictions of the intimate lives of couples, Read set a template for decades of French cinema. Criterion’s new Blu-ray collection includes additional Rohmer ‘Feast of Fiction shorts, archival interviews, a Neil LaBute commentary Kitchen’ and the book of short stories on which the tales were In this entertaining cookbook, Ashley based. The three-box set includes new 2K restorations. Adams and “Mulan” actor Jimmy Wong detail their YouTube-famous dishes, from Baby Yoda’s bone broth on “The Mandalorian” to the hazelnut soup EDITED BY PAT SAPERSTEIN | [email protected] from “Tangled.”

Post-Pandemic Getaways Focus on Nature, Seclusion With summer vacation plans uncertain, road trips are looking likely after quarantines lift

What will summer look like this year? Cross those inter- of deluxe mini-RVs for the summer. Meanwhile, New Tree national vacations off the list for now — unless they have Ranch (at left), in Sonoma County’s wine-soaked Healds- a private plane and yacht, many people will be avoiding burg area, is accepting longterm shelter-in-place reserva- long flights and large resorts. However, with pandemic tions for the four-suite lodge at its biodynamic property, stay-at-home orders likely to ease in some areas by June, with shorter-term stays beginning July 1. The 120-acre restless quarantiners are starting to plan for a summer spread offers guests the chance to “practice social dis- that will likely be heavy on road trips. Los Angeles-based tancing and immerse themselves in nature.” And Wyo- Texino, which converts Mercedes vans into design-for- ming’s Grand Teton National Park Signal Mountain Lodge ward campers, says it has been experiencing “a big surge” reopens June 5 with limited capacity and an increased

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$2.2M

TOPANGA, CALIF. 3,800 SQ. FT. 3 BEDROOMS

3 BATHS

A serpentine 15-minute drive up from the Pacific Coast Highway, the modern Start Again With Brent take on a classic farmhouse is hidden away on about four hilltop acres at the end of a long and winding private lane, and has Kutzle’s Topanga Idyll 360-degree views of what marketing materials aptly call “lush canyons and stunning rock formations.” The interconnected liv- MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST MUSICIAN and songwriter Brent Kutzle — he plays bass ing room, dining area and kitchen flow and cello for the popular pop rock band OneRepublic and has written for and easily into one another and feature radi- performed with scads of pop stars including Beyoncé, Ellie Goulding and Kelly ant-heated polished-concrete floors, white Clarkson — has hung a not-quite-$2.2 million price tag on a secluded retreat near walls and wood-trimmed windows and Topanga, Calif., in the ruggedly picturesque mountains above Malibu. Listed with sliders filled with serene, isolated views. Tony Mark and Russell Grether at Compass, the airy, light-filled hideaway mea- Upstairs bedrooms, which include a spacious master suite with fireplace, sures in at almost 3,800 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. lounge and access to a huge covered terrace, orbit a cozily proportioned family room filled with guitars and other musical instruments. Outside, roomy covered ter- MARK DAVID races on both levels overlook a vast, emer- THE REAL ESTALKER ald expanse of perfectly mowed lawn. KUTZLE: MATT BARON/SHUTTERSTOCK MATT KUTZLE:

VARIETY 23 DIRT

The family room and kitchen spill out named trust that documents show is con- through disappearing walls of glass to the trolled by the younger Foster, whose given backyard, where a sexy, zero-edge swim- name is Alicia Christian Foster. ming pool and spa are complemented by The mostly single-story villa — there’s a poolside pavilion with pool bath. The one second-floor bonus room — is property was listed with Adi Livyatan and described in listings held by David Kramer Rodeo Realty; Craig Knizek at The Agency and Roya Sklar, both at Hilton & Hyland, as represented Blackman. inspired by the work of architect George Washington Smith, known for his ele- gant Spanish Colonial Revival-style homes in the Santa Barbara area. Built around $5.25M Jodie Foster Seeks a secured courtyard entry with a massive outdoor fireplace, the stone-accented ENCINO 5 BEDROOMS Buyer in Calabasas abode has four en suite bedrooms and five An unoccupied home in an upscale, bathrooms in close to 5,000 square feet. 7,200 SQ. FT. 7 BATHS guard-gated development in increasingly A wide arch in the travertine-tiled foyer expensive Calabasas, Calif., owned by leads to a cavernous combination living Steve Blackman Snags semi-retired Hollywood icon Jodie Foster, and dining room with a baronial carved has come for sale at $2.85 million. Records stone fireplace, dark-chocolate brown Modern Farmhouse indicate Foster, who sold a far more lux- hardwood floors and a 25-foot-high ceil- Canadian television writer-producer Steve urious estate in Beverly Hills last year for ing laced with a grid of wood beams. The Blackman, creator of Netflix’s superhero almost $15 million, acquired the property expansive eat-in kitchen is arranged black comedy “The Umbrella Academy,” with her mother, Evelyn Foster, in 2005 for around a massive island with up-to-date has ponied up $5.25 million for a brand- a bit more than $2.25 million. Last year, designer appliances and an eye-catching new Modern Farmhouse-style residence in some months after the elder Foster’s pass- demilune window that frames a semicircu- a low-key but coveted and convenient area ing, the property was moved to a cryptically lar view of the backyard. of L.A.’s proto-suburban Encino community. As are most of the large homes along the leafy street, the family-size residence sits behind gates, this one on an irregularly shaped parcel of more than half an acre with five bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms in roughly 7,200 casually deluxe square feet. A grand double-height entrance gal- lery and stair hall is flanked in traditional fashion by formal living and dining rooms, the former with book-matched white marble fireplace and the latter with overscale herringbone-patterned wood floor. Just off the dining room is a climate-controlled walk-in wine cellar. At the back of the house, the chef-accommodating kitchen — it’s chockablock with two islands and top-grade fittings — is open to a family room anchored by a TV-surmounted fireplace sheathed in charcoal-colored stone. There’s also a sumptuously appointed $2.85M state-of-the-art home theater. Guest bedrooms are all en suite, while the master CALABASAS, CALIF. retreat offers a sitting area with fireplace, 5,000 SQ. FT. two fitted walk-in closets, a lavish bath- room and a large terrace with 180-degree 4 BEDROOMS views of the surrounding treetops. 5 BATHS

DIGS ‘Fixer Upper’ Couple upholding the guidelines set Reworks Network Bow forth by the experts, leaders and frontline heroes working tirelessly Billy Joel Starts a Fire The launch of the television to get us all through this difficult network of “Fixer Upper” power time,” the Gaineses said in a Berry Hill Development Corp. is suing couple Chip and Joanna Gaines statement to Deadline. “With this Billy Joel for copyright infringement has been delayed due to as our top priority, we’ve decided after the company claimed the sing- production stoppages caused to delay Magnolia Network’s er-songwriter stole its plans to reno- by the coronavirus. Magnolia the Gaineses and Discovery Inc. launch until we can safely resume vate his Long Island home by offering Network was initially set to debut and will feature shows focusing production.” A new launch date only partial payment. Per Page Six, a on Oct. 4, but work on several on everything related to home for the network, which will spokesperson for Joel said he had to shows has been halted because improvement. “Right now, it’s eventually replace Discovery’s pay to fix Berry Hill’s design flaws. of lockdown restrictions. The important that we all continue DIY channel, has not yet been MAE HAMILTON network is a joint venture between to look out for one another by announced. MAE HAMILTON NETWORKS HGTV/SCRIPPS GAINES’: JOEL: SHUTTERSTOCK;

24 VARIETY DIRT

home on the affluent Palos Verdes Penin- sula, just west of Long Beach, Calif. Unfortu- nately for Campbell, the slightly more than $2.1 million sale price is well below the almost $3 million original asking price and close to $200,000 below the $2.32 million tax records show was paid for the property nearly 15 years ago. With what listing descriptions aptly describe as “spellbinding” views that sweep over the surrounding community and across the Pacific Ocean to Santa Cata- lina Island, the residence was built in the late 1970s on a sloped parcel of just over half an acre with seven and potentially more bedrooms and five full bathrooms in more than 7,800 square feet. Fetchingly curved, stone-faced walls frame the dou- $5.6M ble front doors that open onto a wide foyer that steps down to an amply proportioned HANCOCK PARK formal living room. Beyond the adjoining 6,300 SQ. FT. dining room, there’s a spacious kitchen. An 5 BEDROOMS informal dining space steps down to a family room with wet bar, stone fireplace and 6 BATHS terrace access. Privately situated in a wing of its own with a partly oak-paneled office/ Outside the living/dining room, an measures in at more than 6,300 square den, the master suite takes full advantage arched loggia spills out to a flat, grassy feet with five bedrooms and six bathrooms. of its high perch, with two vast expanses yard with paver-tiled terracing and a pint- Preserved architectural details through- of sliding glass doors that frame cinematic size swimming pool set against a hillside out the house are paired with modern city and ocean views. planted with mature specimen trees. conveniences. The kitchen is commodi- The backyard offers exceptional views, ous and has high-end finishes, and a con- extensive, multilevel terracing and a free- servatory-style family room has dramatic, form swimming pool and circular spa. The solid-glass cathedral ceilings. Outside, a property was listed with Steve Watts, and Joey McIntyre Makes grapevine-draped trellis shades a lounge the buyer was repped by Matt Cox, both at with a stone fireplace. The grounds include Vista Sotheby’s Intl. Realty. Deals on Both Coasts a stone-accented spa and a three-car Barrett and Joey McIntyre, she an occa- attached garage topped by an en suite guest sional actor and he a pop singer known or staff bedroom with exterior entrance. around the globe as the youngest member The McIntyres’ new Los Angeles home of the stratospherically successful late- was listed with Sheri Bienstock at The 1980s boy band New Kids on the Block, Bienstock Group; the couple was repped in are leaving a pretty, tree-lined block of the deal by Jackie Smith of Compass. New York’s Upper West Side, where their sprawling apartment is for sale at just under $4.4 million. They’ll be the new kids on a plum block in L.A.’s Hancock Park Larry Joe Campbell neighborhood, where they’ve ponied up $5.6 million for a romantic, French Nor- Sells in Palos Verdes Larry Joe Camp- $2.1M mandy-style manor house. Veteran character actor Designed by Arthur R. Kelly, the McIn- bell, probably best known to TV audiences tyres’ Hancock Park home, a stately stone for his role on the long-running 2000s sit- PALOS VERDES 7 BEDROOMS residence on more than a third of an acre, com “According to Jim,” has sold a spacious, 7,800 SQ. FT. 5 BATHS

Offer in Hancock Park bathrooms within 3,500 square plaster beams and a checkered That's Hard to Refuse feet. Marketing materials call the fireplace with an intricately home’s unique architecture an carved wooden mantel. The The longtime Hancock Park ode to California’s “historic ties kitchen perhaps best exemplifies residence of Academy Award- to Mexico and Spain.” Inside the the home’s history-meets- winning production designer Dean property’s turquoise front gate contemporary vibe. There, period Tavoularis, who has worked on is a generous courtyard flanked sea foam and daffodil-yellow tiles iconic films like “Apocalypse Now” by curvaceous arcades, with a complement state-of-the-art chef’s and “The Godfather” trilogy, is fountain plastered with fanciful appliances in culinary harmony. on the market for a tad less than Spanish-style tiles in its center. A The backyard sports a covered $2.2 million. Listed for the first carved wooden front door leads dining area and an impeccably time in five decades, the 1933 to a foyer accented with mosaics manicured lawn and is peppered Spanish Colonial Revival has five and whimsical ironwork. The living with flowering shrubs and roses.

GUTTER CREDIT bedrooms and four and a half room features dramatic carved MAE HAMILTON

VARIETY 25 26 Online VREY VARIETY China’s HEALTH CRISISHAMMERS PUBLICVENUES SURGES INTHENATION AHEAD AS THE DIGITAL DELIVERY OFENTERTAINMENT Revolution KIRSTEN ULVE ILLUSTRATION BY AND PATRICK FRATER REBECCA DAVIS BY STORY

GUTTER CREDIT GUTTER CREDIT OBVIOUSLY, THE WORLD THINGS GOT WEIRD ON THE CHINESE INTERNET IN JANUARY. With at least 760 million of the nation’s residents — a group more than HAS CHANGED. twice the size of the U.S. population — stuck at home amid coronavi- IT WILL NOT rus-imposed restrictions, people got creative and let their freak flag fly on the country’s local version of TikTok. COME BACK As COVID-19 swept through China during the Lunar New Year hol- TO THE WAY iday, typically one of the year’s biggest moviegoing periods, the country’s most engaging content ended up on mobile, not the big screen. IT WAS BEFORE. Would-be moviegoers instead posted video clips of themselves going IN THE FUTURE, curling in their kitchen with pots and wet mops, or playing pool on the dining room table with cups and cherry tomatoes. Others channeled PEOPLE WILL the vibrant spirit of the canceled new year’s temple fairs by staging TALK ABOUT ring tosses with milk cartons and dustpans, or re-creating traditional lion dances with improvised costumes: a trash-can head and a spare ‘BEFORE 2020’ blanket for the body. AND ‘AFTER And then, in the three days between Jan. 25-27, a whopping 600 million people tuned into digital giant Bytedance’s various video plat- 2020.’” forms to watch, for free, the only new blockbuster they’d have access to for months: director Xu Zheng’s family comedy “Lost in Russia.” For JACK GAO, the first time, people across the country were watching a big, theatrical SMART CINEMA tentpole premiere on their phones. It was an unexpected cap to the most tumultuous week in Chinese box office history. Expectations of record-breaking numbers vanished as the virus spread, leading to mass refunds and cinema closures. It This is not the first time a major health crisis has fundamentally also offered a peek at how the coronavirus is catalyzing a tectonic shift changed the nature of China’s economy and cultural habits. Though in Chinese entertainment away from conventional models and toward much shorter and less deadly, the SARS pandemic in 2003 caused a digital ones. similar seismic shift, paving the way for China’s now-booming e-com- “Obviously, the world has changed. It will not come back to the way merce sector. it was before,” predicts Smart Cinema CEO and former Wanda execu- At the time, the need for people to stay home, coupled with the tive Jack Gao. “In the future, people will talk about ‘before 2020’ and increasing affordability of computers and connectivity, converged to ‘after 2020.’ It will be a big deal — a landmark.” get consumers to start rethinking what was possible online. In aggressive moves to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which That turned out to be a boon for Alibaba, which launched its eBay- first appeared in the city of Wuhan late last year and ultimately resulted like Taobao retail platform amid the pandemic and began its shift in more than 84,000 known cases and more than 4,600 deaths, China toward the consumer-facing businesses for which it is now best cordoned off entire regions, shut down most of its economy and finally, known. Even today, the SARS era remains a key part of the firm’s origin in late March, banned almost all foreigners from entry. story: Every year, it celebrates “Ali Day” with huge, staff-wide festivi- The country has suffered the permanent closure of at least 2,300 ties on the date of Taobao’s founding to honor the tenacity of employ- cinemas in the first two months of the shutdown alone — equivalent ees who worked from home. to the loss of up to 12,000 screens, or nearly 20% of China’s theatrical These days, Alibaba and rival Tencent offer such a sprawling array release capacity, says research consultancy Artisan Gateway. Fewer of services and such widely used payment platforms that they are screens will mean a lower box office ceiling going forward, even when essentially part of the substrate of how the Chinese economy works. cinemas reopen. Despite coronavirus slowdowns, Alibaba last month unveiled a fur- China briefly attempted to restart about 4% of its cinemas in March ther $28 billion investment into cloud computing, while Tencent has in regions where the pandemic appeared to be under control. But just this year bought control of gamer Funcom and game streamer business was dismal — at one point averaging less than one person Huya, and taken a 10% stake in Universal Music. The tech stocks have per screening. With everyone likely fearing second-wave infections, seen a quick, V-shaped recovery, while those of traditional film play- authorities soon closed theaters again nationwide. ers such as Huayi Brothers and China Film Group have languished. Authorities estimate ticket sales will drop by more than $4.2 billion In several ways, now is the moment for Alibaba and Tencent to this year, nearly half last year’s $9.2 billion annual total. Meanwhile, make further advances. Yet in this entertainment revolution from cin- the sum of payouts from online clicks for digital content will “definitely ema to digital, they’re no longer the only game in town. surpass” the theatrical box office, says Gong Yu, CEO of streamer iQiyi. One company poised to gain momentum from COVID-19 is “Lost in

28 VARIETY EVERETT COLLECTION marketing work well underway. upside down. turned everything Then, governmenttitles settodebut and allthenecessary approvals, with going intothebiggest holiday of theyear: Hehadtwo of theseven major decisiontopulltheirfilmsinresponse.unprecedented theseveritypublic realized of the disease, anddistributors madethe lic holidays orbox office hauls. Ticket dropping offasthe salesbegan was revealing itselfasafast-movingflu, for killerwithnorespect pub of gaininganedge. thanitsrivals, 12hoursearlier theblockbuster release inthehopes annual profits. single week inwhichmany exhibitors asmuch40%of their reap and farabove Tencent’s. to itsworkforce thisyear, whichwould give toAlibaba’s itastaff equal hiringspree. isonaglobal Bytedance It planstoadd40,000more tum, for many firmsastheChineseeconomy to regainmomen struggles withinandoutsideChina.Thoughlayoffs both scribers arethenorm the onlycompany otherthanApple tohave morethan100millionsub Russia” buyer Bytedance, theworld’s largest and techunicorn, unlisted Huanxi CEOSteven XiangShaokun thoughthewas sitting pretty But thecoronavirus, likened to awinter which previouslyhadbeen Facing thefilm’s stiff competition, to distributors haddecided office period, worth perhaps $2billioninticket worthperhaps sales—a office period, Lunar arecord-breaking New tobe Yearpredicted box Russia” for was acutofwhat oneofseven was filmsvying shaking upthemovie industry. HuanxiMedia’s “Lost in ust afew monthsago, itwould Bytedance hadnoidea be - - - movies. Thishadprosandcons, butthedrawback was that we couldn’t out adeal. to receive envelope.” adigital“red itsappandweremillion toviewers luckyenough whohaddownloaded Kuaishouthis year). outatotal of$142 Duringthebroadcast, doled is theworld’s most-watched 1.23billionviewers show (reaching TV onitsNewCCTV Year’s that spectacular Eve gala—theentertainment with anexpensive coup withstate of itsown broadcaster by partnering Itsshort-formstunt. videorival Kuaishou was thespotlight settosteal tickets injust threedays. ticketer Maoyan morethan5millionholiday that itrefunded reports ple were actuallyreturningthemtoonlinevendors inabigway.” Online have achoice,” says “Not onlywere Xiang. tickets peo slow inselling, big seven movies thehaltoftheirreleases. announced “We didn’t really Thesameday, sealed. cities were tobe distributors oftwo ofthe other give staff oneless day off, thefilm’s buthecontacted directoranyway. would thelogjam.” break of ‘Lostrelease inRussia’ 24],that 25toJan. [fromJan. 12hoursearlier was movies together. many just jammed too good Soifwe moved the ing at asaprominentfactor. that timeof thevirus We were thinkingit a holiday inSriLankawithmy wife,” “We recallsXiang. were notthink son afterseeingmy motheronChineseNew Year Eve, andthentaking “It is Jan. 20;I’m“It isJan. I’m sea inBeijing. toaprosperous forward looking “We hadthree choices. Onewas to[delay like release], theother The day of thegala,XiangandBytedance hammered bosses Fortunately was Bytedance for inthemarket Huanxi, for apublicity thatWhen hewoke Wuhan andsomeother 23,helearned uponJan. He knewthemove withcinemas, popular would asitwould notbe VARIETY Streamers havebought starring DonnieYen. action comedy“Enter iQiyi’s purchaseof to filmsoriginally scheduled torunin up rightsinChina theaters, aswith the FatDragon,” MOVING ONLINE 29 - - - a reorganization of thesector. due tothepandemic, authoritieshave callingfor ominouslybeen todoso.needed After thelosses Onethingiscertain: inexhibition 162 cinemasby 2022,ifitcanraise themorethan$400million of $668millionlast year, tomove ithopes with planstobuild ahead Wanda Film Groupintendstokeep Despitemassive growing. losses the firmplansto“slow itsexpansion” intheaters. Wangco-chief telling thesentiment, Zhongleiechoes —notnecessarily that number reach even in2021.” Huayi Brothers think that by 2020we’d have 80,000screens. There’s noway we’ll have,” theonesthey already on running Zhangsays. to “Iused andfocus willpullback everyone they didbefore thepandemic; future, duetothecrisis. largest exhibitors, feels therewon’t muchexpansion inthenear be collapsed” amidprolonged physical shutdowns. sectorwould have thewholeentertainment internet, completely Young firmCIBN. streaming of state-owned “Ifitweren’t for the for theindustry,”total reshufflinganddo-over says Christopher of theyear, in2019. down 25%fromthesameperiod of newmovie exhibition-related inthefirst companies two months of last year. Furthermore, therewere fewer than8,000registrations that went doublethenumber underinall in2020,nearly disbanded exhibition gutted. sectorisbeing water. Now, for withcinemasclosed theforeseeable future, the changes that sentmanyregulatory less-solvent under companies industry, fromnewtaxschemesand back tobounce asitstruggled they areindeep trouble. toboycottthreatened futureHuanxifilms. Film. Zhejiangprovince’s astatement alsoissued that filmindustry sive, suchasBonaFilm by GroupandWanda heavyweights signed destroying andpremieremodels,” themovie industry themis read hascultivated overtry many years, tramplingandintentionally “goes against thepayment andrevenue that themovie model indus Huanxi’sabout “Lost inRussia” ploy. themove Whilenotillegal, the box office, rather thanancillaries. where typically80%of film’s atheatrical try revenues come from and filmstudios, adangerous move whichispotentially inacoun lent of theFAANGs] for content.” arehungry flow now —andBAT andTencent, Alibaba [Baidu, China’s equiva we don’t reopen,” know whenthey’ll hesays. “We revenue needed rightnow, areclosed allcinemasonEarth “Nearly antee deal. and the decisionallowed thecompany toat get least aminimum-guar picked upby iQiyi. Dragon” drama“Knockout,” andsports ofwhichwere both and DonnieYen-starring “EntertheFat comedy arts martial Winners,”including “The whichwas by Bytedance, alsobought and Marchhave intothearmsof theonlineplatforms, alsojumped Watermelon Video, bypassing altogether. theatrical and Bytedance’s suiteof videoapps, Toutiao includingDouyin, and andfreeof thefilmimmediately stream charge onHuanxi.com BothHuanxiandBytedanceand traffic-sharing would agreement. other titles, accelerating planstoestablish earlier awidercontent- tributor Hengdian —for “Lost inRussia” of andasmallnumber dis the original$85millionminimumguaranteefromtheatrical would gala.Bytedance CCTV Huanxi$90million—surpassing pay 24, asfamiliesacross intotheKuaishou-branded thenation tuned movie, andwe’d have towatch tocharge people it,” Xiangexplains. platform butit’s toanotherlevel, a$48million[RMB350million] the filmdirectlyonourown platform. For surethat would liftour Anotheroptionwasknow toput whenitwould able toopen. be 30 However, exhibition-driven swimmingagainst thecurrent, “I don’t tobuildcinemastheway rushing willbe thinkpeople at CEOofGrace DadiFilms, production Zhang, oneof China’s hardtoovercome, going tobe year istruly “This it’s because a have companies morethan5,300filmandTV April, As ofearly Last year oneofthehardest was yet already for China’s film defensiveTraditional because areparticularly filmcompanies Some 23firmswent sofarastowriteajointletter complaining shiphaveSuch decisionstojumpthetheatrical cinemas angered Y.C. “Knockout,” Asia,thedistributor behind ChuofMedia says tohitinFebruary filmsmeant Three othersmallertheatrical before midnightonJan.The solutionwas shortly announced VREY VARIETY Variety that ------

CHRISTOPHER YOUNG, CIBN COLLAPSED.” WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR INTERNET, THEWHOLE IF ITWEREN’T FOR THE broadens, predicts MichelleYang,broadens, predicts Entertainment. presidentofStarwise between them” asonlinecontent qualityimproves and itsaudience withcelebrities andtalentmoving blurred, morefreely atrical will be debut aseriesfor hisnext with thecompany. effort ture “LiNa: MyLife” and ChineseNew Year title“Leap,” to isexpected fea series for sports Huanxi;Peter afterdirectingunreleased Chan, ema icon Wong isnow Kar-wai doinganonline Grandmaster”) (“The made toattract commercials onTV. — rather thanChina’s arcsfor shows 80-episode typicalmeandering tostreaming drama series, suited —better witheightto24episodes and habit of paying upfront. ﬁrms thirsty for casharedrawn by itslower costs, quickturnaround theformat, thisischangingastraditionalﬁlmandTV snubbed erto

Though China’s have majorstreamers of signiﬁcant numbers gained “After between onlinecontent andthe thepandemic, theboundary Cin Theatrical-level directingtalentwillalsogive thesectoraboost. Huanxi’s Chinawillseemore American-length Xiangpredicts “Roma.” Although directorsandstars theatrical have hith affairs moreinthevein ofAmerican B movies thanof ing trend:theriseofmade-for-streaming ﬁlmsandseries. OVID-19 lockdowns have alsoreinforced anotherongo In China,onlinemovies genre aretypicallyshlocky - - - - -

ZHANG YONG: KIN CHEUNG/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK LOST IN RUSSIA: HUANXI MEDIA barely established alliance.”barely dollars tobecome members. Then[Bytedance] tramples over their in,” says Gao. BAT “Ittook years tofinallyget consumers afew topay fromSony.with freshbacking ismovingAnother short-form Bilibili, inasimilar direction specialist, 100 classic movies onDouyinandWatermelon freetostream Video. followingfiefdom, upits“Lost inRussia” of stunt withtherelease another, they now coordinate todrive down content prices. theiracquisitionto reduce costs. offightingtooutbidone Instead haveleaders established aninformal content-buying inorder truce face several class-action lawsuits fromU.S. shareholders.) Research andMuddyWaters.pack Itdeniesthe accusations, butmay accused of fraudulentlyinflating sellersWolf itsfinancialsby short company was (The recently like on. or e-commerce tofallback Alibaba years hasnever anddoesn’t madeaprofit, have gaminglike Tencent across itsecosystem of businesses. sit —thesearefirst-line likely products tohave impacts second-order like toenterpublicspaces shoppingmallsandtran —required health calendar 2019. oflosingless than$425milliononvideoin similarly madeavirtue last year Tencent, asanachievement. initslatest call, earnings of sector losses from$855millionto$468inthethirdquarter Video. Thecompany andmedia cutting digitalentertainment touted drives that Amazon supposedly effect” andAmazon Prime “flywheel from andenhances itsmainstay businesses, e-commerce akintothe ifpossible. spending, subscriber increasing Partners Asia,says have thebigthreestreamers on become focused money like hell.” Vivek Couto, executive directorofconsultancy Media challenged,”very explains islosing single[streamer] Gao. “Every usergainshitabottleneck. intotangibleprofitsbecause subscribers duetotheCOVID-19subscribers lockdowns, it’s hardtotranslate more “It’s like you finallygot your gardeninorder, andabuffalocomes But isshakingthingsupby Bytedance moving intotheirlong-form Although they remainfierce competitors, thethreestreaming The battle for matters usersprobably whichin10 most toiQiyi, From Alibaba’s toanappthat canprove billof videoservices aclean benefits that asaloss both leader seesentertainment clearly Alibaba “Once you level acertain ofmemberships, reach your growth is CEO ofAlibabaGroup,hasseen and maytargetinvestmentin the company’sfortunesrise Daniel Zhang,chairmanand during theCOVID-19crisis EYES ONTHEPRIZE foreign companies.

- -

from adsonDouyinandToutiao, itsfirst-quarter advertis doubled “Contagion.” ourlifeline.” been “They’ve ents, includingtheSouthKorean series“Flu” andSteven Soderbergh’s in hisnative Wuhan content watching withhispar quarantine-themed muchofthelockdown andspent recently laidoffduetothepandemic Wang Zhuowei, alegalanalyst at aWanda-backed firmwhowas sports inwhat delivering manner.nels willbe it, —it’sdemand for onlineentertainment just aquestion of what chan forevoke many resentmentandanger” Americans, “real says Clark. the future, tocopy itmay necessary fromChina,though that be may in theU.S., that it’s nolonger always C2C—‘copy toChina,’” hesays. In ic’s course, COVID-19 perhaps willcauseapsychological “even shift, some ways Chinaintermsofweathering thepandem literally behind Ma andchairmanof consultancy BDA. Astherest of theworld isin to trends,” Jack co-founder biographerofAlibaba says DuncanClark, AsiaaskindofanewCalifornia toNortheast looking whenitcomes others study andbehaviors. thosebusiness models “Increasingly, we’re ofChina’s theindirectimpact ment willbe digitalsuccess stories, as port of 5Gtelecom supplierHuawei equipment port that. shoulddispel the government’s willingness todefend Chinesefirms, sup itsdogged ofEurope. Ifanyone drawn to be inSouthAsia,Africaandparts doubts Alibaba’swhich blocked battle linesarelikely purchaseofMoneyGram, rile theFAANGs andtheCommittee onForeign Investment intheU.S., plays overseas. While hostile maneuvers onAmericansoilwould likely the Chinesefirmsanedge over U.S. competitors. development national whichcould priorityfor isaclear give Beijing, munities internetaccess withcitydwellers’. onpar Suchtechnological works, whichwillhelpBATB inmajorways, com- includinggivingrural “Before, we tosay used BAT. Now it’s allBATB,” says CIBN’s Young. than$1billionof better month. netprofitsin theworld, earning per andTencent,Alibaba whichrankamongthe15biggest companies cementingble” that —further app’s status asanup-and-comer. series“Hub- includingonefor itslatestmelon, prestige documentary tent, observers say. observers tent, base, since morelucrative played adscanbe duringlong-form con monetize theimpressive labeling andsegmentation of itsexisting user Yet itsmove intothefilmsectorlikely springsfromadesiretofurther ing revenue bytakingadshareaway fromthelong-form platforms. audience. movie toacaptive and streamedthe Meiying andXuZheng, starring Huang to “LostinRussia,” million forrights Bytedance paid$90 BIG SPLASH “I don’t know what we would have donewithoutmovies,” says What’s at theendof clear theday isthat COVID-19 hasboosted But just asinfluentialoverseas perhaps asdirectChineseinvest China’s cash-richtechgiantsmay seize thismomenttomake bigger Couto estimates that Bytedance, whichmakes most ofitsmoney China is ahead of theworldChina isahead initsdeployment of 5Gcellular net Bytedance hasnow established itsnamealongsideheavyweights The BBC recently struck twoThe BBCrecently withBytedance’s license struck deals Water VARIETY 31 ------ARMED WITH CHARM AND CHOPS,

THE ‘BOOKSMART’ STAR STEPS INTO LEADING LADYDOM IN

IFC’S ‘HOW TO BUILD A GIRL’

By MATT DONNELLY

Photograph by ART STREIBER Building Beanie

32 VARIETY VARIETY 33 college. She played a defiant coed in the Greek system fighting for her right to party as hard as the boys. Her next role, and biggest It’s hard signal boost, came in Gerwig’s acclaimed 2017 directorial debut, “Ladybird.” There, she subverted the best friend archetype, playing a theater geek who will not go quietly when her partner in to bring crime (Saoirse Ronan) branches out in search of more popular pastures. With “How to Build a Girl,” Feldstein turns full punk rock rebel as a teen who leaves a bedroom postered with literary Beanie heroes in pursuit of a career as a poison pen music journalist. “It’s a triumphant story where this girl, who might be a bit bigger and is swimming in her hand-me-down clothing, gets to Feldstein go on this sexy adventure and debunk all of those expectations of someone like her,” says Feldstein. Gerwig compares Feldstein’s work to “the most special sleepover party. We’re all cozy and safe and also getting away down. with something.” That optimism is the real deal, says the director, who attributes it to Feldstein’s radical kindness. “She has a heart of gold, but there is nothing boring or sancti- monious about her. It’s joy — not a kind of happiness that is sep- arate from sadness. It’s not pollyannaish. It contains what’s hard about life in it,” Gerwig says. THE ON-SCREEN EFFERVESCENCE she’s delivered to breakout per- Younger Beanie’s distaste for the idea that it was “Hairspray” formances in Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” and Olivia Wilde’s or nothing is understandable. At her community theater on Pico “Booksmart” is no act. Boulevard in L.A., the possibilities were endless. She sang Fyed- Over a lengthy conversation to promote her new movie “How ka’s solo in “Fiddler on the Roof” at age 7, and played Yente, to Build a Girl,” her first shot at carrying a film on her own, Feld- whose age range is 50-60, at 8. She landed the part of Conrad stein oozes optimism. Birdie in “Bye Bye Birdie” at 9. She prepares and executes her acting gigs like an eager stu- Feldstein grew up confident she would be a stage performer. dent in a coveted class, she says. Lifelong bonds are forged with Despite her brother’s fame, she never conceived of a career in fellow classmates. Her career, though she’s hesitant to use that Hollywood, where she says she’s benefited from recent moves word to describe her four years of professional experience, is a toward inclusion in the industry. The new openness came with knowledge quest. Not even an ongoing coronavirus quarantine is a healthy dose of fear for someone who found herself sitting at a enough to suppress her optimism — she sees it as time to spend table read less than two months out of school. in grateful reflection in her Los Angeles childhood home, where, “I was especially lucky to be entering this industry at a time she says, she’s been looking at photos and marveling that she is when things were growing at such a rapid rate and people were the subject of a story in Variety. being welcomed in at such a rapid rate,” she says. “We have so There is one moment of discomfort in an otherwise sunny dis- much farther to go with inclusivity, but that was happening when cussion, what Feldstein calls a “sore spot.” The notion, one she’s I started. I thought, why would I shut myself off from these oppor- heard since she first took to musical theater at age 6, has haunted tunities just because I don’t know if I can do them? I don’t take it her through the years. It’s a dubious suggestion that she finds lightly, because I know how many talented people are out there.” counter to the reason she loves being an artist. Feldstein has been fully immersed in movies for five years, a “The only thing I ever heard when I was younger, because I love affair that crystallized with “Lady Bird” and Gerwig, whom was chubby and I love to sing, was ‘Have you ever played Tracy she calls her mentor. The transition from the stage to filmed Turnblad?’” says Feldstein, now 26. It’s a reference to the lead work, she admits, is partly attributable to volume. character in the John Waters cult film-turned-hit Broadway “I started auditioning for film because, for any given theater musical “Hairspray,” who is described as a “pleasantly plump” audition, there are about 40 for on camera,” says Feldstein. “That teen who spends her days longing to appear on a national dance ratio of production. It takes so much to create musicals, and how variety show. many parts for someone your age? Someone your vocal type? “I love [“Hairspray”], but for some reason, I heard that so There are so many specifics.” much growing up that it became a sore spot for me,” says Feld- She got the script for “How to Build a Girl,” which IFC is stein. “Why can I only be this? I can be anything I want. What releasing on digital May 8, while performing in Bette Midler’s about the baker’s wife in ‘Into the Woods’? Or Winnifred in ‘Once smash Broadway revival of “Hello, Dolly!” in late 2017. Though Upon a Mattress’? Or one day, Amy in ‘Company’? What about all she was used to casting sessions with “20 people behind a desk, these other roles I would love to play, and why am I excluded from one camera and one shot to nail it,” she was shocked to get an them because of my dress size or whatever it might be?” invitation to London to read for the thoroughly British project. In hindsight, the resistance to typecasting has been Feld- stein’s saving grace. Though she has appeared in only a handful of films, she has portrayed characters not defined by or reduced to body type, or Hollywood’s often one-dimensional lens on young womanhood. She has worked almost exclusively with female directors or producers. She has learned, she says, that no part is worth it unless it has “a theme or ethos that women deserve to “ I THOUGHT, WHY SHOULD I SHUT be as complex, vulnerable, rowdy, funny, warm or sad as much as [in] any other story that’s been told.” MYSELF OFF FROM THESE Her résumé backs this up. The younger sister of Jonah Hill unsurprisingly got her start in comedy, as the two bring an OPPORTUNITIES JUST BECAUSE observable similarity in their emotional eagerness, along with a talent for gliding off the handle into humorous outrage. I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DO THEM?” Feldstein landed a role alongside Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in 2016’s “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” just six weeks out of Beanie Feldstein

34 VARIETY SVEN ARNSTEIN/IFC FILMS (2) daytime chat show leads to an opportunity atdaytime aLondon tabloid, chat show toanopportunity leads on anational appearance old aspiringwriter whoseembarrassing regional accent. Hercharacter, Johanna isa16-year- Morrigan, Feldstein says has“an end-of-the-world feeling,” tohelpnailthe Wolverhampton, center ofEnglandthat thedead acitynear they don’t want meforIcompletely understand it, that.’” and anexperience ofaworking-class girlintheMidlands, andif ‘Idon’thome andsaid, know ifI’llget this. It’s suchaBritishstory I was sotouched,” says Feldstein. my “Icalled momon the way but notonthistrip. at Wesleyan. She’s for shesays, having oftenteased oneonset, major notunlike asasociology thekindshe carried research, scriptand withabinderincludinganannotated came armed takes inwhichthefilm place. the period represented She ofLondon that parts andtoured stein was anddined, wined women producers. Over two days auditions, Feld- oftaped by Coky directed Giedroyclin Moran, by three and mounted The film is based onthenovel isbased Thefilm ofthesamenameby Cait- Monthslater, shewas working apart-time jobinashop setmeupfor success “They way, inthemost beautiful and Krissi Morrigan and withLaurieKynastonas “How toBuildaGirl”(top) Giedroyc onthesetof Morrigan withdirectorCoky Beanie FeldsteinasJohanna REBEL GIRL

triumphant return totheshow that was herBroadway debut.” revival Dolly, of‘HelloDolly!’andshe’ll be inanemotional and grow into, whichIcan’t wait for,” umpteenth “The says Gerwig. in whichshewas ﬁrst cast. her “fullpower,” culminating inareturntotheBroadway show Bill Clinton’s impeachment. of his“American anthology, on whichiscentered Crime Story” Lewinsky. She’s tight-lipped theRyan about part Murphy project, bydeﬁned thosephases, butthey domake you stronger.” It’s toforgive easier otherpeople, butnotyourself. You arenot brilliance isthat shewants todothat everyone for themselves. mistakes folded intoyour tobe personh ically teenage girls, tomake permission mistakes. Andfor those consistent withFeldstein’s creative mandate. onMoran’s based Thetaleisloosely right. life, andhasamessage astarwhere shegleefullyripsmusiciansandbecomes inherown “I think there will be lots of peaks, buttherearerolesshe’ll lotsofpeaks, “Ithinktherewillbe says we’ll Gerwig have towait decadesfor Feldstein toreach Feldstein willnext anothercomplex portray woman: Monica “It’s intoxicating,” says Feldstein. “Shegives butspecif- usall, VARIETY ood. I loved that. C aitlin’s 35 European Distributors Grapple

The continent’s distributors aren’t ready to let go of theatrical releases — but can their loyalty keep business afloat?

By Elsa Keslassy ILLUSTRATION BY FABIO CONSOLI

With Troubled Times

VARIETY 36 GUTTER CREDIT VARIETY 37

Theaters have been closed since March in most nations and are expected to reopen at some point in July — a brutal reality that puts at least four months’ worth of film releases in limbo. In France, the biggest theatrical market for European admissions, the shutdown of cinemas will affect roughly 200 films, according to Eric Marti, general manager at Comscore France. “Distribution outfits that have a fairly low overhead will be fine with the rescue measures put in place by the government for a duration of six months, but the medium-size companies with heftier structures that require [consistent] box office success will need more help to cope with this situation,” Marti says. Europa Distribution, an organization of 115 leading indie banners across 30 countries in Europe, has been lobbying to get immediate governmental aid to cover losses on films, gain access to bank loans and maintain full-time, part- time and freelance employment, “including support for furloughs [covering] 70% to 80% of salaries,” says managing director Christine Eloy. Many vulnerable distributors in markets such as Italy, France and Spain, which have been hardest hit by the pandemic, aren’t willing to release their films the moment theaters reopen for fear that not enough moviegoers will W turn out, and those who do brave the experience will be drawn only to studio blockbusters such as “Wonder Woman: 1984.” “Beginning July 1, Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal will be releasing 33 films over the following 26 weeks in France, and exhibitors will be very much in demand of these blockbusters to drive admissions and jump-start their businesses,” says Clerc, who hopes that chances of finding room for his French WITH CAMERAS HALTED, THEATERS SHUTTERED releases in art-house venues will improve later in the year. and no festivals in sight, the coronavirus Among the rare distributors preparing to venture first into the trenches are companies like France’s Memento Films Distribution, which splurged on P&A pandemic has sent European film distri- to release the Juliette Binoche-fronted “How to Be a Good Wife” and didn’t even bution into free-fall, creating a domino get a full week in cinemas before they were shut down. Also raring to start back up are distributors who are exhibitors, too, like A Contracorriente in Spain and effect that has impacted the entire ecosys- Pathé, which operates France’s largest cinema circuit. tem across the continent, from sales agents “We’re not going to shoot down the branch we’re sitting on by postponing all to exhibitors. ¶ Although each market our movies,” says Ardavan Safaee, president of Pathé, who adds that the company’s main concern right now is to be able to finish the four film shoots it had in Europe differs widely, most territorial to stop in March because of the lockdown. distributors share the same concerns: However, a raft of European distributors has pushed back releases to the fourth quarter of 2020 or early next year, risking going up against a tsunami where, how and when should their films be of postponed and new releases from U.S. studios such as Sony and Paramount. EVIL: KINO LORBER released? Unlike the U.S., where the industry Even in Germany, distributors are aiming for a year-end restart. Ala- was quick to embrace digital in the face of mode, a prominent art-house distribution banner that recently handled “Les Misérables,” has three recent films that have to be rescheduled and three new COVID-19, European distributors aren’t pictures that were set to bow in the fall. Alamode co-CEO Tobias Lehmann is yet ready to let go of theatrical, even if that now exploring a 2021 release for these films. “When theaters reopen, there [could] be restrictions of 50 people per ¶ means shelving their films for a year. “In screen, so producers prefer to wait until everything goes back to normal,” the U.S. and Europe, the balance of power says Lehmann. “We initially thought this fall would [work], but if there aren’t any festivals, there’s no real incentive.” between exhibitors and distributors is completely different,” says François Clerc, a well-respected exhibitor-turned-distributor who worked for Gaumont and Studiocanal before launching his production and dis- “MY GOAL ISN’T TO BREAK EVEN BY tribution banner, Apollo, in 2017. ¶ “In the SELLING TO A TV CHANNEL OR A U.S., [power] is clearly tilted in favor of stu- PLATFORM. I’D RATHER TAKE THE dios, whereas in Europe, the power is in RISK OF LOSING MONEY AND SHOW both camps,” says Clerc. Insiders say that, if anything, exhibitors have greater lobby- THEM IN CINEMAS.” ing power in Europe, especially in France. Eric Lagesse, Pyramide Distribution FILMS; THERE IS NO BETHUEL/MEMENTO BE A GOOD WIFE: CAROLE TO HOW DISTRIBUTION; DE LAZZARIS/01 GRETA PINOCCHIO: PAGE) (OPPOSITE

VARIETY 38 VARVARIETYIETY 38 DIFFERENT Indeed, because the 2020 iterations of the fall festi- STRATEGIES vals where indie films usually get launched are now in “Pinocchio,” starring Roberto jeopardy, some art-house distributors handling prestige Benigni, will pics are rethinking their release strategies. stream on Amazon Eric Lagesse, president of Pyramide Distribution, has Prime in France; 12 films in the pipeline for this year’s festivals, but is “How to Be a Good Wife” with considering holding certain titles for next year’s Berlin Juliette Binoche or Cannes, rather than having them play in virtual fests front and center, this year. While selection laurels might help to promote is holding out some movies, “neither the labels nor the virtual festi- for a theatrical relase; “There vals will match the experience of being at a big festival, Is No Evil,” where you have the [atmosphere of] the press and buy- featuring Baran ers,” says Lagesse. Rasoulof and Ehsan The Pyramide exec, who’s navigating seven mov- Mirhosseini, doesn’t yet have ies that have already opened at festivals and need to be a platform. released, including Mohammed Rasoulof’s Golden Bear winner “There Is No Evil,” says he hasn’t yet considered going straight to TV or VOD. “I bought these films for people to discover them on the big screen,” says Lagesse. “My goal isn’t to break even by selling to a TV channel or a platform. I’d rather take the risk of losing money and show them in cinemas.” He adds that a typical year for a distributor handling 15 films is to have five movies that bomb, five that break even and five that make money to cover for the others. Most European distributors are also hesitant to go straight to VOD, even if they’ve been allowed to do so during the pandemic by film orgs. A distributor’s biggest fear is to see its movies lost in a sea of content online, destroying the value of these titles in secondary markets after a single round on pay VOD. “Unless they’re dealing with a film that had limited theatrical potential to begin with, distributors prefer to release their movies in cinemas, because they know that the only upside they can ever get is from theatrical,” says Christophe Vidal, director at financier Natixis Coficiné. Ultimately, the most lucrative alternative to theatrical right now is a sale to a subscription-based platform like Amazon or Netflix, which will buy rights to a movie that was financed to play in theaters and handsomely compensate the partners involved. Amazon Prime Video recently scooped up two movies that were scheduled for theatrical release: “Ballsy Girl,” a comedy with Valérie Lemercier from UGC/TF1 Studios that will roll out in the streamer’s 200 territories, and Matteo Garrone’s “Pinocchio” from Le Pacte, which will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime in France. Le Pacte founder Jean Labadie says he sold “Pinocchio” to the streamer due to the uncertainty around theaters reopening and for a cash injection that could cover the €700,000 ($761,000) in P&A for its canceled March release. What’s clear for the foreseeable future is that the majority of distributors in Europe won’t be buying movies before the end of the year, key sales agents will delay the launch of their packages until early 2021 and a handful of titles will score splashy SVOD deals in the interim. “Time has frozen,” says Stefano Massenzi, head of acquisitions and business affairs at Lucky Red. “There will be a large gap for everyone, and it will take time for new product to be available. But hopefully, [after] that happens, we’ll all have regained our appetite.” CORONA CHRONICLES

Essays from Entertainment Industry Insiders

How the Coronavirus is Impacting Their Lives and Their Business

READ NOW variety.com/coronachronicles GUTTER CREDIT VOTERS GUIDE VOTERS EMMY EARLY EMMYS 2020 PRACTICES SURROUNDING THE72NDANNUAL PRIMETIMEAWARDS VARIETY BREAKS DOWN SOMEOFTHENEWTRENDS, PLAYERS AND CONTENDERS VARIETY 41 CONTENDERS

CHANGING CAMPAIGNS With New York and Los Angeles under “safer at home” advisories, even digital FYC events cannot take place for the time being. These events have been a staple STATE OF of the Emmy awards circuit, in great part due to the accessibility of talent and the party atmosphere at many activations and post-screening/Q&A receptions. Now, those campaigning have to get a bit more creative — but considerate, given the sensitivity of the times — with how they AN UNCERTAIN put their projects and talent in front of the large voting populace. Whether that mostly materializes as additional ads on billboards, in magazines and on websites, or more talent pivots to live social media or other online video chats remains to be seen as each studio settles into this new — but hopefully temporary — normal. But for TV RACE some, it also means sitting out this year’s race completely: As productions have been shut down and even much post work is too extensive and expensive to be done EMMY PLANS ARE MASSIVELY AFFECTED BY remotely, some big title players won’t ﬁnish CORONAVIRUS By Danielle Turchiano in time to make the eligibility cutoff. FX has already pulled “Fargo” from its original April premiere date and HBO announced “The Undoing” would be moving to fall, while Nat Geo could not ﬁnish its new “Genius” installment starring Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin in time to make its original Memorial Day premiere date.

LEGENDARY LIMITED SERIES Three possible powerhouse limited series (“Fargo,” “The Undoing” and “Genius: Aretha”) may have been taken out of the running this year, but the category IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS, even the 72nd CALENDAR SHUFFLE is still the most stacked in this year’s annual Primetime Emmy Awards, not taking Although the eligibility window mostly awards race. HBO’s “Watchmen,” which remains the same (June 1, 2019 to May 31, interestingly submitted as a drama during place until Sept. 20, are going to look noticeably 2020), there has been a slight adjustment for the winter awards race but will compete different. From For Your Consideration events “hanging episodes.” This year, episodes from in the limited series category now, and being banned to shifting calendar deadlines, ongoing series as well as limited ones must Netflix’s “Unbelievable” are up for their air or stream by June 30 to be considered. chance at Emmy gold after first having a the Television Academy has instituted notable The greater shifts occur for campaigns go at the winter awards races. Adding to changes based on public health and safety rec- and voting in both Phase 1 and Phase the list are more recently-launched series ommendations amid a deadly pandemic. But, 2: The entry deadline to submit eligible including Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” programming and performers is now June adaptation; FX on Hulu’s “Mrs. America,” the show will go on, and even before the world 5; Nominations-round voting begins July starring Cate Blanchett; HBO’s “I Know changed there were a number of new elements 2, lasting through July 13; nominations will This Much Is True” with Mark Ruffalo to the voting rules and regulations, not to men- be announced July 28. Post-nominations, playing twins; Apple TV Plus’ “Defending aka final-round voting, will begin Aug. Jacob,” toplined by Chris Evans; and tion an extremely high volume of content to 21, lasting through Aug. 31. Both voting Netflix’s “Hollywood” from Ryan Murphy binge, to keep voting members on their toes. windows are shorter by only a few days, and “The Eddy” from Alan Poul. It’s bound To help with that, Variety is breaking down but by shifting them to later dates, voters to be both an embarrassment of riches and will have more time to assess the content, also an overwhelming feat for Academy what one needs to know about the state of the and campaigners have more time to get voters to have to get acquainted with all of awards season and some key races so far. promotional materials out. these in a short amount of time.

JUNE 1, 2019 - MAY 31, 2020 JUNE 30, 2020 JUNE 5, 2020 JULY 2 - 13, 2020 JULY 28, 2020 AUGUST 21 - 31, 2020 SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

Eligibility window for 2020 End of eligibility for Deadline to submit Nomination Nominations Final-round voting 2020 Emmys Emmy Awards season “hanging episodes” programming voting window announced broadcast

42 VARIETY CATEGORY SWITCH HBO’s “Watchmen” and its performers will be competing in the limited series races. MARK HILL/HBO

VARIETY 43 CONTENDERS

BYE BYE, BIG BIRD DAYTIME DARLING STAYS The Television Academy and the National OUT OF THE RACE Academy of TV Arts and Sciences (NATAS) TV Academy favorite “Sesame Street” may no longer be have teamed up and agreed that if a eligible to compete for program airs primarily in the daytime Primetime Emmys. and therefore submits for Daytime Emmy Awards, its primetime special will not be eligible at the Primetime Emmy Awards. While at ﬁrst glance it may not appear that there is much crossover, one series that will be greatly affected is “Sesame Street,” which historically has won 179 Daytime Emmys and six Primetime Emmys.

FACE TIME Don’t adjust your Emmy ballots, it will not be a mistake to see the same faces repeated a number of times throughout the various categories! On the nomination- round performer ballots alone, there are some key players who will be eligible in more than one category — and for some, multiple times in the same category. Reese Witherspoon, for example, is eligible for “Big Little Lies” as well as “The Morning Show” in drama, and then “Little Fires Everywhere” in limited series. “Little Fires Everywhere’s” Kerry Washington will see her name twice on the lead limited series/ TV movie actress nomination ballot after also starring in “American Son,” and she is also in the running in supporting for the special “Live in Front of a Studio Audience.” Octavia Spencer is eligible for lead limited series/TV movie actress and lead drama actress, respectively, with “Self Made” and “Truth Be Told.” And speaking of “Truth ENTERING INTO THE DIGITAL AGE THE QUESTION MARK OF QUIBI Be Told,” supporting actor Aaron Paul is If stacks of DVDs literally staring voters in With the launch of this streamer on April 6 eligible for that series, as well as in lead the face and taking up room on their coffee came a whole slew of scripted and unscripted categories for “El Camino” and “Westworld.” tables or in boxes in the garage are what content that delivered its storytelling in Last year’s guest drama actor Emmy winner helps them remember to check out a show, short form (under 10 minutes). Some titles, Bradley Whitford is eligible again for “The they’re going to have to set some iPhone such as the Liam Hemsworth starrer “The Handmaid’s Tale” (now in a larger role), as alarms or something instead. For the first Most Dangerous Game,” as well as “Flipped,” well as in lead comedy actor for “Perfect time, the Television Academy has done away starring Will Forte and Kaitlin Olson, are Harmony”; Merritt Wever will be competing with physical screeners for its members. being called “movies in chapters,” but others in comedy for “Run” and limited series This is one new rule that was long in the are being released in “quick bites,” as the for “Unbelievable”; Cecily Tyson can be works before coronavirus, but serendip- company name suggests. As of press time, considered for both “Cherish The Day” and itously it happens to fall in line with new Quibi had not shared its Emmy submission “How to Get Away With Murder”; Bowen Yang safety precautions. Now, shows have to be plans, which leaves uncertainty around is eligible twice in comedy for “Awkwafina submitted digitally either on the Academy’s which high-profile talent-led titles it will Is Nora From Queens” and “Saturday Night special FYC platform or a studio or network’s push, as well as if it can dominate in the Live.” And then there is Giancarlo Esposito, own. Submitting digitally still comes at a cost short-form categories. Given the new who should be considered the MVP of TV to the participating studios and networks, rule in that space that any independent or acting this year, having appeared in half a with fees ranging per category, but it should “self-published” programming now has to dozen series in supporting and guest roles, also help the Television Academy better be “vetted” by committee members before from “Better Call Saul” to “Godfather of track that everyone is playing by their other being placed on the ballot, and Quibi’s high Harlem” to “The Mandalorian” and “Dear rules when it comes to what program is being volume of content, it could dominate. White People.” And these are just a few. submitted in what category, as well as the number of episodes studios and networks are submitting. This also allows “hanging “Those campaigning have to get more creative — but episodes” (episodes from the eligible season that air or stream after the end of the eligibil- considerate, given the sensitivity of the times — with ity window) to be considered for the year’s how they put their projects and talent in front of the awards if they are posted on one of these new

FYC platforms by June 30. large voting populace.” HBO

44 VARIETY FOCUS

RUNNING ON PLENTY “Karnawal,” from Argentine filmmaker Juan Pablo Félix, is one of the Latin American co- productions that’s on the international market, which has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

SNAPSHOTS TELL THE STORY OF REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES MAKING PLANS FOR THE NEW NORMAL AHEAD GIANNI BULACIO/BIKINI FILMS GIANNI BULACIO/BIKINI

VARIETY 45 FOCUS INT’L REPORT

PORTRAIT OF AN INDUSTRY IN FLUX

THE INDIE MARKETPLACE AND ITS ARTY SISTER, THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT, READY SOLUTIONS TO SALVAGE THEIR BUSINESSES AS THE PANDEMIC HITS PAUSE ON PICS

By Leo Barraclough, Peter Debruge and Patrick Frater

WITH THE INDEPENDENT film world work- strong industry component. We are going ing through the pandemic crisis, filmmak- to follow what happens with public health ers, sales agents and festivals are grappling guidelines, of course, and that will deter- with unorthodox solutions as they plan for mine more. We hope that by the middle of a return to a new normal in the fall. June, say, we’ll be able to make a call [as “I think the best thing about indepen- to] which way we are leaning. But we will dents is their resilience and their creativity deliver a festival this year.” and their ability to be flexible with oppor- But TIFF may have to cut costs, poten- tunity because they don’t have such estab- tially shrinking the event — industry lished set tracks,” says Brian O’Shea, CEO of sources speculate the nearly 300-film sales agency the Exchange. “They can move lineup could shrink by as much as half and adjust accordingly.” — and look for money from the govern- The Cannes Marché du Film will bow ment and donors in order to achieve even a a virtual market June 22-28, spurred by scaled down version. the major U.S. talent agencies, with sales “We’re already looking at a hybrid fes- agents and distributors signing on to par- tival,” says Vicente. There will “definitely” ticipate in this unprecedented event. be a digital component of the upcoming But while the indie community and edition. “How big that digital component film festivals, which work hand-in-hand, is and what it looks like, we’re still work- are putting virtual screenings and mar- ing on that.” Yong-kwan, chairman of the Busan Intl. kets into place, opinions vary on what the Indeed, on April 27, YouTube and Tri- Film Festival. “They are currently putting global film market will look like in the beca Enterprises, which operates the Tri- best efforts via online networking.” third and fourth quarters. beca Film Festival, announced the We Are More urgently, the prestigious Bucheon It’s “full steam ahead” at the Toronto One festival, a 10-day streaming event, Festival of Fantastic Film (BiFan) and its Intl. Film Festival, according to artistic with some 20 global fests participating, genre film market are scheduled for July director Cameron Bailey, although what including Toronto, Cannes, Venice and of 9-16 in South Korea. Thomas Nam, head that means even the organizers of North course Tribeca, which had postponed its of the market and a BiFan selection mem- America’s largest annual film gathering spring sprocket opera. ber, says: “We will not postpone,” add- can’t say with certainty, since there are so The free-to-watch programming will ing that it has “no plan for cancellation.” many unknowns in this fast-evolving pan- run May 29-June 7, and include feature, South Korea has “fewer than 10 new pos- demic. TIFF traditionally takes place in shorts, documentaries, music, comedy itive [COVID-19] cases per day, and the early September and the team is commit- and panel discussions. Viewers will be government is still enforcing social dis- ted to delivering some form of the event asked to make donations for COVID-19 tancing until zero new cases. on its original dates. relief, however. That strategy worked well “We are confident that by July, we can “Postponing is definitely not a possibil- during the recent NFL Draft, which raised have both offline and online festivities. ity on the table right now,” says TIFF exec- $100 million for charities. One huge thing we will not have this year: utive director and co-head Joana Vicente. Cannes, Toronto and Venice noted that foreign guests.” “[Based on] everything that we are learn- this online offering was not taking the The fest will also incorporate social dis- ing, things might get worse in October or place of its own events, and that each festi- tancing and health checks at theaters. November if there is a second wave.” val was in charge of its own programming “What we have seen so far are festivals By sticking to its dates and thinking for the YouTube streaming fest. understanding the magnitude of what we about contingency plans early, TIFF has This comes on top of Tribeca’s pivot in are all facing and trying to work together positioned itself as the year’s de facto March, after the festival was postponed, as in a more friendly fashion even though can’t-miss festival and market. Bailey the team found innovative ways to offer as they compete as well,” says Glen Basner of says that studios and filmmakers eager to much of their program online as possible. FilmNation. premiere their work remain highly moti- Busan, another major film festival — While the Cannes virtual market has vated for their films to be considered. Asia’s biggest — expects to go forward in wide support from the indies, there is still “Everyone’s being really cooperative in October; however, its organizers are work- speculation about the world after the worst making sure we get to see the films we need ing closely with the Korean government to part of the pandemic subsides. to see,” he says. minimize any health challenges. Sebastien Raybaud, founder of Lon- But Bailey is also realistic. “We are abso- “Another big deal is that programmers don-based financier and producer Anton,

lutely planning for a public festival and a are unable to travel overseas,” says Lee expects to see a “further polarization of FILMS BAC

46 VARIETY INT’L REPORT FOCUS

strange that this hasn’t happened anyway because we have the technical facilities,” says Maximilian Leo, AF co-CEO. He says that the COVID-19 crisis may be a catalyst for other changes in the market, with a greater emphasis placed on premium VOD releases than on the theatrical release, and a greater flexibility when it comes to windowing. Most in the business remain optimistic about the fortunes of the independent film sector, and see the Ameri- can Film Market, which runs Nov. 3-8 in Santa Monica, as being a potential turning point. “Obviously, it depends on when the world reopens, but if we assume it reopens in June, then I think by AFM everything will be rosy again,” Leo says. O’Shea notes that Toronto will be the starting point for “business as usual” in this new paradigm. “People whose business model is based on maintaining and growing relationships at markets and festivals will be the first ones to embrace a festival and market,” he notes. “It is brand new [but] in some ways it is very familiar,” Basner says. “It is up to all of us to do this in a way that can be pro- ductive and effective and easy for our customer base around the world.” While productions have been put on hia- the market,” with commercial mainstream about is getting people comfortable to go tus, most predict that 2020 and the first movies being more in demand, while into theaters.” half of 2021 look fine, if a bit crowded. But smaller arthouse films take longer to sell. Raybaud thinks it won’t be until Toronto, after that, product will be a bit scarce. He notes that local independent distrib- at the earliest, that local independent dis- “I’m still trying to sell films, and am utors around the world — many of whom tributors start acquiring films again in any focusing on VOD titles,” says Suh Young- have been hit hard by the crisis — will be number, but it could be as late as Berlin, joo, CEO/company owner of Korean Fine- cautious about picking projects, as they depending on the type of pic. Smaller art- cut. “I’m worried about supply for 2021, have a backlog of films to release. Even if house movies — especially those “more not about supply for 2020. Some pro- theaters reopen in June, he doesn’t believe on the arty side” — are likely to be less in ductions are beginning to shoot in South cinemagoing will return to pre-crisis levels demand. “People will prioritize the films Korea now. By July or August movies for some time. where the route to making money will be should be shooting again. And I’m wor- O’Shea concurs: “There are specific buy- simpler,” he says. ried about the general state of industry ers that built their business on maintaining Raybaud says the virtual market in June and the wider economy” that purity of the theatrical release. Those will benefit a certain type of project: sales of Bernstein’s got “Here Today,” a comedy guys are really freaked, I think.” more commercial packages that are ready starring Tiffany Haddish and Billy Crystal Saban Films president Bill Bromiley, to shoot and are aimed at large global or (that he also wrote and directed) in post. notes that his shingle is focused on home pan-regional players — especially those that “If this ended sometime now and entertainment. Saban acquired two movies can stream films online immediately — will mid-summer, it’s going to take a year for all in mid-April: thriller “The Silencing” and go ahead, whereas the sales of films that of this product to sort itself out into some drama “Most Wanted.” “I am not concerned are aimed at local theatrical distributors semblance of normal,” he says. yet. If we were more focused on theatrical, are likely to take longer to sell. But for now, the indie players are trying we’d be in trouble, but we’re not,” he says. “We have had to adapt our strategy,” says to works out a new normal. When people will be comfortable enough Jonas Katzenstein, co-CEO of Augenschein “I can tell you that from our conversa- to head back into re-opened theaters is an Filmproduktion. AF and the sales agents on tions [with producers and distributors], open-ended question. “Home” — BAC for international sales and while people are trying to figure out how “I do think the exhibition business is in BAC and Endeavor Content co-repping U.S. it will work functionally, they all recog- peril,” says Astute Films’ Fred Bernstein. — “will probably approach buyers sooner nize the fact that the sooner we get back to PREMIERE OUTING “And we’re going to have to be very creative rather than later,” and won’t wait for the doing business the sooner their business “Home,” starring on how we re-configure, revamp, reestab- premiere to do that. Jake McLaughlin and will normalize in terms of having a steady lish. I think there’s a lot of work that needs The producers would, of course, prefer Kathy Bates, which flow of content — so we are all motivated to be done. Do I think it can be done? Abso- a festival premiere in a theater rather than is being sold by BAC by the same thing,” says Basner. and Endeavor Content, lutely. It’s not going to happen overnight, a virtual launch, but when it comes to sell- is Franka Potente’s and the biggest thing that I’m concerned ing films, it is a different matter. It is “a bit directorial debut. Carole Horst contributed to this report.

VARIETY 47 FOCUS INT’L REPORT

AFRICA SOLID TRACK RECORD

ABORTED LAUNCH BOOSTS LOCATION BIZ Producer Ilya Stewart was set to launch “Sputnik” at the Once-packed South African production Tribeca Film Festival sector hopes series, pics return in April, but the pandemic grounded that plan. ONE OF THE and procuring from black- world’s leading owned service companies. South Africa hubs for inter- Both incentives are capped at national film 50 million rand ($2.8 million). and television For productions that meet the ASIA shoots, South Africa had been requirements for the emerging riding high before the coro- black filmmakers incentive, navirus pandemic arrived on the rebate rises to 50%. its shores, interrupting what The world-class facilities was shaping up to be a busy at Cape Town Film Studios year and halting production include five state-of-the-art NEW VOICES on shoots including the David soundstages covering more Tennant drama “Around the than 90,000 square-feet, as World in 80 Days.” well as three water tanks and EMERGE IN RUSSIA While local bizzers assess four custom-built, 18th-cen- the damage — and offer tury sailing ships. Studio back- up assets including artist lots include standing sets for ARTHOUSE PICTURES WERE SELLING ABROAD AND AT trailers for the government’s historical Europe, 18th-century COVID-19 mobile-testing America, and modern-day HOME BEFORE PANDEMIC HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON units — the struggling rand Africa and the Caribbean. could add to the appeal of Skilled, English-speaking ALEXANDER RODNYANSKY, tems surrounding it — are a great thing what was already one of the film crews are abundant. world’s best value-for-money Companies such as Moon- Russia who produced Andrey Zvy- for the local industry overall. Some of destinations. lighting Films, Spier Films and agintsev’s Oscar-nominated the top positions have been taken by for- South Africa offers foreign Film Afrika have a long track pics “Leviathan” and “Love- ward-thinking and very progressive pro- productions a 25% rebate on record of servicing interna- less,” says that the Russian films best fessionals, seemingly with the best inten- all qualifying local spend, ris- tional productions. Recent able to travel tend to be “serious dra- tions for the industry going forward.” ing to 30% if some post-pro- projects to lens in South Afri- duction is done in the country ca include Amazon Studios’ mas,” such as the works of Zvyagintsev Evgenia Markova, head of Russian using a black-owned com- “Good Omens,” Sony Pictures’ and Alexander Sokurov, whose stories film promotion agency Roskino, is also pany. The rebate for South superhero movie “Blood- “at their core examine the complexity of optimistic, saying international sales African co-productions starts shot,” starring Vin Diesel, and human existence.” of Russian content have been rising at 35% on all qualifying local forthcoming fantasy action Rodnyansky is working with three by up to 25% a year. Roskino is in talks spend, with an additional 5% film “Monster Hunter,” from available to productions that “Resident Evil” writer-director up-and-coming filmmakers whom, he with the government about upping sup- meet certain requirements for Paul W.S. Anderson. says, demonstrate “absolute freedom” port for exports, which, coupled with an hiring black department heads – Christopher Vourlias of expression: Kantemir Balagov, whose incentive for production, will boost the “Beanpole” won two prizes at Cannes last local industry further. At the end of May, year; Kira Kovalenko, whose “Unclench- Roskino is to hold an online sales event ing the Fists” is in post; and Vladimir allowing Russian companies to present Bitokov, whose “Mother, I Am Home” has their projects to international buyers. been put on pause due to the pandemic. Alexandra Modestova, CEO of Expo- “Their perception of the world is content, says mainstream Russian film- much more nuanced and complex than makers harbor strong international that of an older generation,” he says. ambitions, which pushes them to focus “They do not compromise their vision, on “compelling stories,” high production and in their brutal and complex films values, such as Fedor Bodnarchik’s sci-fi they speak the truth as they see it to peo- thriller “Invasion,” and strong writing, ple of their generation,” he says. such as local hit comedy “Son of a Rich,” Producer Ilya Stewart, whose “Sput- backed by a wealth of acting talent. nik” was set to premiere at the now-can- In the arthouse arena, Modestova celed Tribeca Film Festival, is upbeat lauds the younger generation of Rus- about indie filmmaking in Russia. sian filmmakers who “reflect boldly on “The good news is that the recent social problems, relationships, people’s changes in the industry’s management, choices,” in films that deliver “honest TIME LORD so to speak — specifically in the minis- and universally relatable stories.”

“Doctor Who” used South African locations in Season 11. try of culture and the various ecosys- — Leo Barraclough OPPENS/BBC COCO VAN WHO: MIKHAIL MOKRUSHIN/HYPE FILM; DOCTOR SPUTNIK:

48 VARIETY INT’L REPORT FOCUS

EUROPE CZECHS COUNT ON VIRUS PAUSES SET ACTIVITY RETURN BUSINESS Eastern Europe vows to build on different incentives to lure back productions PRODUCTION COMMUNITY WORKS TO SECURE PROJECTS FILM PRODUC- that it has sufficient funds TION incentives to write checks when work AFTER CORONAVIRUS-INDUCED RESTRICTIONS EASE Eastern Europe have been a resumes, and Romanian success story president Klaus Iohannis has CZECH SHOOTS, which have from the Hardship Fund, which Netflix for the Eastern pegged the date for the end Czech been robust in recent years created for all its interrupted produc- European territories that have of the state of emergency as Republic as a steady stream of series tions worldwide. been late to embrace the early May. decamps to Barrandov’s A Prague location shoot in March for rebates but are catching up Filmmakers in other Eastern soundstages, were suspended over Marvel TV series “The Falcon and the fast. And, despite interrup- European countries, mean- tions caused by the COVID-19 while, have taken production virus concerns this spring, but are Winter Soldier” was one interruption crisis, industry officials and breaks in stride, rescheduling expected to rebound, says the Czech not expected to resume. Filming was filmmakers remain upbeat. while getting financial support Film Commission’s Pavlina Zipkova. abruptly shut down after the Atlan- In Romania, where major from national film orgs. With the government beginning to ta-based crew rolled into the Czech player Castel Film Studio In Lithuania, where incen- ease lockdown restrictions, theaters Republic just as coronavirus shut- cancelled four international tives helped bring in HBO productions while under series “Chernobyl,” the minis- opened May 1 — and the Czech Cinema- downs were taking force. temporarily closure, the try of culture has announced tography Fund adding flexibility for proj- Czech bizzers have begun planning two-year-old production a plan to support the sector ects claiming incentive rebates while the virus-safe production strategies, work- rebates system has also been following interrupted work Culture Ministry works on increasing the ing with the European Institute for suspended for now. with a $2.2 million fund. fund — she says: “Most of the affected Health and Safety in Film Production, in “Everything is on hold due And Estonia, like much of the to the state of emergency,” region, has seen a stream of productions we are hoping will come particular “smoothing the procedure of says producer and industry productions held up, but Eda back. Everything is in negotiations.” crossing the borders for international consultant Alex Traila. Koppel of the Estonian Film The two most affected major pro- filmmakers,” says Zipkova. Despite helping draw Institute says the org will help ductions, the second season of Ama- The Czech Audiovisual Produc- such high-profile projects compensate filmmakers for zon’s “Carnival Row” and the first ers Assn. has also formulated strict as the BBC’s “Killing Eve,” losses from production delays. administrators of the 35% Facing an abrupt shutdown season of Amazon/Sony Pictures Tele- on-set risk protection protocols while cash-back incentives caused on locations in Estonia and vision series “Wheel of Time,” starring the government begins gradual reduc- a stir with delays in payments Jordan, director and writer Rosamund Pike, have both committed tions in its strict shutdown rules. Film- after the government-man- Kadri Kõusaar says she, for to resuming, Zipkova adds. ing should resume June 8 with crews of dated work shutdowns took one, is committed to resum- Netflix’s “Transatlantic 473,” the up to 50, but industryites are seeking effect March 26. ing work soon on filming her The Romanian Film Centre drama “Dead Woman.” Peter Thorwarth-directed story of a exemptions for larger productions. has since issued assurances — Will Tizard hijacking with a supernatural twist Meanwhile, Czech films such as the co-written by Stefan Holz, is also David Ondricek’s ambitious “Zátopek,” expected to resume its Czech shoot, about the Olympic runner, sits in post, making good on the emergency fund- uncertain that its August release date Top Regional Pics on Tap ing help the project’s crew has received will happen. — Will Tizard “Dead Woman” “Kratt” DIRECTOR: Kadri Kousaar DIRECTOR: Rasmus Merivoo PRODUCERS: Aet Laigu, PRODUCERS: Rain Rannu, SILENT RUNNING Meteoriit Tonu Hiielaid “Zátopek,” about When a war correspondent Children left at grandma’s the Czech Olympic covering the Middle East is house without their cell champion runner, is abducted in the Sinai, her phones discover something slated for August. perspectives are challenged far more entertaining: The as feelings grow for one of thrill of a magic spell that her captors. will give them immense power, as long as they can “Gateway 6” find a human soul to offer up. DIRECTOR: Tanel Toom PRODUCERS: Ben Pullen, “O2” Matt Wilkinson, Jorg DIRECTOR: Margus Paju Bundschuh, Ivo Felt PRODUCERS: Esko Rips, SALES: Altitude Kristian Taska After serving two years on As the war clouds gather a military outpost in the in Estonia in 1937, an agent middle of an ocean, four sol- finds himself increasingly diers await a relief boat but surrounded by dangers and are forced to question their suspicion as he uncovers duties and each other when a vast Soviet plot about to

JULIE VRABELOVA/LUCKY MAN FILMS JULIE VRABELOVA/LUCKY it’s clear no help is coming. come to fruition.

VARIETY 49 FOCUS INT’L REPORT

EUROPE POST-PANDEMIC GERMAN BIZ LOOKS TO FUTURE PLANS HIT FRENCH Teuton studios, VFX firms tout advantages for international productions

DRAWING BOARDS GERMANY’S FILM from federal and regional funders, industry has been hit with the German Federal Film Germany hard by the corona- Fund and FFF Bayern respectively GUILDS, GOVERNMENT TALK RAMPING virus pandemic, but providing 25% and 20% of the film’s the sector remains digital image design costs. UP PRODUCTIONS AFTER CORONAVIRUS teeming with opportunities for Rise managing director Sven RESTRICTIONS EASE domestic and international produc- Pannicke calls the recently intro- tions and looks set to spring back duced funding as “a paradigm into action in the coming months. shift” for VFX services in Germany THE FRENCH FILM while productivity will decrease Boasting 10 federal and and the future of film produc- France industry is at a stand- because of these measures. regional film funders with more tion as a whole, stressing that it still as all film and TV The lockdown will be partially than €330 million ($359 million) made Germany more competitive shoots have stopped lifted in France on May 11 and the for film and TV production and a against countries with strong visu- number of major studio and VFX al effects sectors including Canada since the country went into full idea is to have film shoots begin facilities, the country has become and the U.K. lockdown mode March 17. Due again at the end of the spring or a favorite location for internation- Dante Lam’s Chinese actioner to the coronavirus crisis, 23 film early this summer. So far, insur- al producers. “The Rescue” and Roland Emmer- shoots and 58 films in pre-pro- ance companies have refused Warner Bros.’ “The Matrix 4” and ich’s “Midway” likewise secured duction were halted, according to provide coverage for shoots Sony Pictures’ “Uncharted” were all VFX funding via their respective set to shoot at Studio Babelsberg German partners, Scanline VFX to Jean-Yves Mirski, the manag- during the pandemic, but the near Berlin before work stopped and Pixomondo. ing director of Ficam, syndicate of French government has stepped amid the COVID-19 outbreak in While work at VFX studios has French technicians. in to help find an agreement March. While the studio initially let slowed during the lockdown, it The country’s main studios and between producers and insurers. go hundreds of film crew members hasn’t stopped. Rise is working on soundstages, including Bry-sur- “We are aiming to lay down the following the shutdown, it has Lisa Joy’s “Reminiscence,” starring since reinstated them after secur- Hugh Jackman; Studiocanal’s Marne, Epinay, Cité du Cinema, La foundations of how filming will ing financial assistance from the “Gunpowder Milkshake”; XYZ Victorine and Provence, have also have to be carried out in France federal labor agency, staving off a Films’ sci-fi thriller “Stowaway,” shut down, and ﬁlming in public going forward, based on the potential legal dispute. co-produced by the company’s places is banned. However, some assumption that this coronavirus Major distribs are partnering Rise Pictures division; Warner Bros.’ major post-production and VFX crisis is not going to disappear with local funders to support “Jim Button and the Dragon of Wis- domestic productions. Earlier dom”; and season three of Netflix’s companies, including McGuff, in a couple months,” Mirski says. this year Filmförderung Ham- sci-fi series “Dark.” Buf and Mikros have been able to “This is a structural evolution for burg Schleswig-Holstein inked a Meanwhile, some German maintain some activity during the our industry.” first-of-its-kind deal with Warner titles are ready for the market or lockdown, thanks to work being With dozens of shoots halted Bros. Entertainment. That will release, including comedy “The done remotely. Yet, nearly all crew during the lockdown, there will contribute $1.1 million annually for Black Square,” from Peter Meister, local projects. with Picture Tree Intl. handling members — between 130,000 and inevitably be a ﬂood of produc- With funding also available for sales; Hüseyin Tabak’s drama 150,000 people — are out of a job. tions scheduled during the second visual effects, international produc- “Gipsy Queen,” with Arri Media The government has announced it half of the year, leading to a short- tions are now benefiting from VFX Intl. handling sales; comedy “Hello will cover 70% of unemployment age of crew members and facili- work in Germany. Again,” from Maggie Peren and indemnities for freelance workers. ties, on top of the issue of talent Working with leading VFX studio Beta Cinema handling world sales; Rise, Matthew Vaughn’s “The King’s while Beta Cinema’s “The Kangaroo Discussions are taking place availability. Man” recently became the first Chronicles” had its hit German between Ficam and several other Producer and guilds are well international production to secure theatrical run cut short because of film guilds, as well as govern- aware of this looming problem up to 45% of its German VFX spend the pandemic. — Ed Meza ment bodies and insurance com- and are also discussing with fund- panies, to draft guidelines for film ing bodies and film commissions shoots that would allow produc- to set up some rules in order to tions to restart. Some of the mea- regulate the flow of shoots during sures that are being brainstormed the second half of the year. include limiting the number of Most likely, priority will be people on set, with at least one given to film productions that meter between each person; hav- were stopped, says Valérie ing crew members wear specific Lépine-Karnik, the head of the FLIP THE SWITCH outfits to prevent a virus infection producers’ guild UPC. This will Dani Levy’s “The Kangaroo and having actors apply their own create a domino effect with Chronicles” shifted makeup under the supervision of shoots that were scheduled later to VOD after its top- grossing theatrical run a makeup artist, Mirski says. this year pushed to early next was cut short because of He predicts that lensing in year, but it seems inevitable. the pandemic.

France will be more expensive, — Elsa Keslassy POOL CREATIVE X-FILME

50 VARIETY INT’L REPORT FOCUS

EXPANSION IN THE WORKS

HUNGARY HOPES INCENTIVES WILL STILL DRAW O’SEAS PROJECTS AS STUDIOS BUILD UP ARSENALS

JUST MONTHS after tak- qualifying spend for the production “The Witcher” and “Shadow and way for a massive expansion of the

Hungary ing office last fall, Hun- of feature films, short films, docu- Bone.” Skilled, non-unionized crews state-owned Mafilm Studio complex, garian film commis- mentaries, animated films and TV are accustomed to working at a including the addition of four new sioner Csaba Káel laid series; the rebate can reach 37.5% world-class level, while companies soundstages. ARRI Rental also has a out plans to revamp the country’s through the addition of qualifying such as Mid Atlantic Films and Pio- 26,000-square-foot facility outside film and television industries, start- non-Hungarian costs. The govern- neer Stillking Films have an estab- Budapest. ing with an overhaul of the National ment-backed National Film Institute lished track record of servicing The industry had been operat- Film Institute (formerly the Hungar- is also providing robust support for international projects. ing at close to full capacity before ian National Film Fund) at the begin- local filmmakers with €50 million Origo Studios, the country’s larg- the coronavirus pandemic shut pro- ning of the year. Plans are underway ($54 million) in production funding est, boasts nine sound stages total- duction down. Among the projects to boost content development and for 2020. ing nearly 200,000 sq. ft. and a shooting in Budapest that are look- production and expand already for- In the past year, Hungary has 10-acre backlot, while Korda Stu- ing to return to production later this midable studio facilities in what is hosted such high-profile produc- dios has six sound stages, a water year are “The Nightingale,” from the second-biggest production hub tions as Warner Bros. and Legend- tank, and backlots that include per- Sony label TriStar Pictures, and the in Europe, after the U.K. ary Pictures’ sci-fi tentpole “Dune,” manent New York, medieval and Amazon Studios film “Birds of Para- Hungary offers a 30% rebate on as well as the Netflix fantasy series renaissance sets. Plans are under- dise.” — Christopher Vourlais

ITALO AUTEUR Nanni Moretti (left) stars in and directed REBATES BOOST PRODUCTION “Three Floors,” based on Eshkol Nevo’s novel. Country looks post-pandemic to bring in more co-prods, foreign shoots “Three Floors”: Palme d’Or-winning director WITH THE intro- thriller “The Woods,” produced Nanni Moretti’s 14th feature is duction of a 30% by local production powerhouse Poland based on Israeli author Eshkol cash rebate at ATM Grupa for Netflix, and Nevo’s novel “Three Floors Up.” the start of 2019, “The Turncoat,” a World War II It depicts the lives, secrets, and Poland has been miniseries directed by Florian inner turmoils of three Roman wooing foreign productions to Gallenberger, an Oscar winner families residing in a three-sto- Eastern Europe. Production was for live-action short. ry building. Cast comprises steady before the coronavirus ATM Studio, owned by ATM Margherita Buy, who starred in pandemic struck, and the Grupa, has a 150,000 sq.-ft. PIC PIPELINE PACKED Moretti’s “My Mother,” Alba Rohr- industry is optimistic about an facility on the outskirts of War- wacher and Moretti. The Match incentive scheme that in its first saw, offering seven soundstages, Factory is selling this pic. year has received more than €12 television studios and post-pro- Italian producers work to help crews, but million ($13 million) from the Pol- duction facilities, as well as a biz eager to get back on track soon “Miss Marx” ish Film Institute (PFI) to support smaller complex outside the city This English-language biopic 26 projects. of Wrocław. Leading lighting THOUGH PRO- motion organization, Filmitalia, by Susanna Nicchiarelli (“Nico, The rebate is open to feature rental company Transcolor has DUCTION is on has launched its annual Italian 1988”) stars Romola Garai (“The films, animated films, documen- five soundstages in its Warsaw Italy hiatus due to Screenings market online, stak- Hour”) as Karl Marx’s younger taries and TV series. The PFI also studio. Production company the coronavirus ing out a July 21-24 slot. Backed daughter Eleanor, a 19 century provided 127 million zloty ($30.6 Opus Film also has an 8,600-sq.- pandemic, the by government body Istituto activist who is also considered million) for project development ft. facility outside the city of Italian industry is mostly holding Luce Cinecittà, the org “is the an early feminist. Celluloid and production in 2019, while Łódź, offering soundstages and up, thanks in part to a $145 first of Europe’s roughly 30 film Dreams is selling. a dedicated fund to support in-house editing and sound-mix- million government aid package promotion agencies to make minority co-productions is helping suites. for exhibitors, distributors and a move into the virtual market “The Ties” ing to boost ties between Polish Upcoming projects to be producers. space,” says Filmitalia chief Carla “The Ties” The latest from Daniele and international producers. lensed in Poland include Jona- Netflix and Italy’s film commis- Cattani, who doubled the Italian Luchetti — whose “Our Life” Along with evocative locations than Glazer’s Holocaust drama sions have launched a fund to fare screened to 40 titles, most won a 2010 Cannes nod — is a rarely seen onscreen, Poland “The Zone of Interest,” which is provide short-term emergency of which are world premieres. marriage-in-crisis drama set in offers competitive costs on being co-produced and dis- support to crews that have been Film production in Italy was Naples and Rome over a long par with or lower than any in tributed in the U.S. by A24, and forced to stop working includ- buoyant prior to the pandem- period starting in the 1980s. the region, as well as highly “Rhino,” a new movie by Ukrainian ing, but not limited to, Netflix ic, so there is no shortage of A-list cast includes Alba Rohrwa- skilled crews that benefit from a filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who productions. The hope is that completed local titles ready for cher (“Happy as Lazzaro”) and proud and storied moviemaking was released last year after shooting can resume by August the international market. Here is Luigi Lo Cascio (“The Traitor”). tradition. Among the projects being imprisoned in Russia on or September. a trio of standouts expected to MK2 Films is selling. that recently shot there are an trumped-up terrorism charges.

01 DISTRIBUTION Meanwhile, Italy’s film pro- soon surface on the circuit. — Nick Vivarell adaptation of Harlan Coben’s — Christopher Vourlias

VARIETY 51 FOCUS INT’L REPORT

EUROPE BIZ DEALS WITH DIFFERENT MESSAGES

Sweden is outlier as governments across Scandinavia wrestle with pandemic

THE FILM land- are closed — as in every scape in Scandi- Scandinavian country with the Sweden navia is far from exception of Sweden — the homogenous. In government has been covering Sweden, where 80% of fixed costs and 75% of no drastic coronavirus restric- staff salaries for exhibitors. DRAMA URGE tions were enforced, shoots Elsewhere in Scandinavia, Director Javier Fesser were not suspended so long as the Norwegian Film Institute on the set of “Historias no more than 50 people were has introduced measures to lamentables.” assembled, while elsewhere in support the promotion of films the Nordics, a lockdown was directly impacted by the coro- imposed and film productions navirus crisis. The NFI will also were stopped. grant an additional 14 million On April 14, film production krone ($1.3 million) to help CAN SPAIN STAY resumed in Denmark — after develop new films, games and a pause that lasted more than drama series. a month — under a new set of Scandinavian film major SF rules relating to the coronavirus Studios, which is involved in ON PACE? crisis that also apply to Sweden, theatrical distribution, has according to the Nordic Film been hurt by the shutdown of Guide, which was put together cinemas but has seen an uptick SPANISH PRODUCERS CALL FOR BIGGER SUBSIDIES by the Swedish banner Hobby in demand for home enter- Film and based on informa- tainment rights and increased AS SMALL-SCREEN SERIES HIT WORLDWIDE tion released by government activity on its own digital ser- bodies. Besides leaner crew vices, SF Anytime and SF Kids. DESPITE DRAMATIC of co-productions already underway,” numbers, the guidelines also SF Studios had to pause Spain times, there is room for says Morena Films’ Pilar Benito, presi- require at least 4 square-meters the production of Charlotte some encouragement in dent of Spanish film organization AEC. (43 square-feet) between each Sieling’s drama “Margrete — person on interior shoots and Queen of the North” in the recent moves by the Span- A return to production is critical, no buffets or coffee stations on Czech Republic, and “Red Dot” ish film industry. Basque global hit with producers hoping to start indoor set. Crowd scenes are out of the for Netflix in Sweden (since “The Platform” proved the most- shoots by June or July and outdoor by question right now. Shooting more than 50 people had to be watched movie on Netflix in the U.S. year’s end. in public places in Sweden is on set). SF Studios also had to The Mediapro Studio is upping film A major concern is when and how permitted, while Denmark is delay the filming of the feature allowing such lensing on a case- film “Pagten” and the “Snabba production with high-profile projects theaters will reopen and the lack of by-case basis. Cash” series for Netflix. such as the Penélope Cruz and Anto- release dates. “There’s a risk of a bottle- In Denmark, where theaters — Elsa Keslassy nio Banderas drama “Official Com- neck; indie distribution can be seriously petition.” Meanwhile, Mr. Fields and damaged,” says Antonio Saura, CEO of Friends, headed by Bambú founders Latido Films. Scandinavian Titles in the Pipeline Ramón Campos and Teresa Fernán- Distributor A Contracorriente moved dez-Valdés, debuted with “Malasaña several theatrically intended non-Span- “Horizon Line” “Betrayed” 32,” as well as plans to produce three ish premieres to salavirtualdecine.com. DIRECTOR: Mikael Marcimain DIRECTOR: Eirik Svensson to five movies every two years. Power- However, Spanish films that release SF Studios’ action-packed This Norwegian World War II-era house Morena Films is in production directly on subscription VOD cur- film is about a couple on a drama is inspired by true events with “Historias lamentables,” a drama rently forfeit subsidies. Indie produc- small airplane that loses its about ordinary Norwegian Jewish way over the Pacific Ocean. families who were rounded up by from the team behind Spanish box ers demand flexibility on this issue, as SALES: STX local police and put on a German office smash “Champions.” do their French counterparts. cargo ship bound for Auschwitz. Nostromo Pictures’ Adrián Guerra, Post-production activities continue. “Omerta 6½” Sales: TrustNordisk president of producers’ association Pro- “Many films in progress will be com- DIRECTOR: Antti J. Jokinen film, is asking the government to raise pleted and have festival opportunities,” Drama is based on Ilkka “Games People Play” Remes’ bestselling novel of DIRECTOR: Jenni Toivoniemi the tax rebate ceiling, which is now $3.3 Saura says. the same name and revolves A bittersweet Swedish comedy million, to keep international shoots, Meanwhile, the state of alarm and around a secret unit of Euro- about a group of thirtysomething which may be averse to traveling after quarantine has generated a demand for pean special forces. friends reminiscing about their the pandemic subsides, in Spain. content from platforms. “Beyond series SALES: REInvent teenage years during a surprise Local companies involved in co-pro- binging, [OTT] platform users demand birthday party at a seaside sum- merhouse. ductions face other challenges. movies,” says Campos.

SALES: LevelK “We must relax some requirements — Emiliano De Pablos MORENA FILMS

52 VARIETY INT’L REPORT FOCUS

BRITS STAND ON STRENGTH Brit Pics in the Pipeline

INDUSTRY SEES INCENTIVES, STELLAR TALENT AS ITS KEYSTONE IN CRISIS “The Banishing” DIRECTOR: Chris Smith KEY CAST: Jessica Brown Findlay, THE VALUE of film pro- “I don’t think it is going to inhibit & Ava,” and Joanna Hogg, who has Sean Harris A young reverend, his wife United duction in the U.K. us that much from getting European “The Souvenir: Part II,” both in post. and daughter move into an old Kingdom climbed 7% to £1.96 bil- talent into the U.K.,” says Neil Hatton, They represent “a kind of storytell- house with a horrifying secret. lion ($2.42 billion) last chief executive of U.K. Screen Alliance, ing that is not afraid of dealing with SALES: Westend Films year, the second-highest level on which reps the VFX sector. “We have tough subject-matter but finding record. The vast majority of that was also been investing a lot in developing some transcendent joy and hope,” “Censor” generated by Hollywood movies, but our home-grown workforce.” she says. DIRECTOR: Prano Bailey-Bond KEY CAST: Niamh Algar, Michael although the British independent One asset for the U.K. is its deep Lee, Barnard and Hogg’s films all Smiley sector is overshadowed commer- well of writing talent, says Dan- received support from BBC Films, Enid, a film censor, spends cially, it is holding its own creatively. iel Battsek, director of Film4. “The whose director, Rose Garnett, says her days watching horror films. Despite the pain and disrup- writers in the U.K. are at the top of they harmonize with its role in “sup- When a person from her past tion caused by the coronavirus cri- any list that is ever done by any stu- porting great voices to tell important appears in a sinister tape, she is shaken to her core. sis, Adrian Wootton, CEO of the Brit- dio,” he says. stories that tell us about how we live SALES: Protagonist Pictures ish Film Commission, is confident “We have some incredibly profound and who we want to be.” that the production boom that the storytellers,” says Lizzie Francke, The films are “complex, thought- “The Duke” U.K. was enjoying pre-lockdown senior development and produc- ful but infused with a fundamental DIRECTOR: Roger Michell will resume. Underpinning that is tion executive, BFI Film Fund, citing optimism,” she says. “You enjoy their KEY CAST: Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren the 25% tax rebate for production, a James Graham, who wrote miniseries company and come out feeling more An elderly taxi driver steals strong and growing studio infrastruc- “Quiz,” and is now adapting his play enlivened, more invigorated after Goya’s portrait of the Duke of ture, a thriving VFX sector, and a rich “Ink” as a film. having seen them.” Wellington, and sends ransom vein of talent behind and in front of There are also many British writ- Another strength of the U.K. busi- notes saying he will return it the camera, Wootton says. er-directors producing great work, ness is its ability to harness local tal- on condition the government invests more in care for old Apart from COVID-19, another such as Rose Glass, who had a criti- ent with U.S. showbiz muscle. Musi- people. cloud looming is Brexit, the full effect cal hit with “Saint Maud,” and Francis cal “Everybody’s Talking About SALES: Pathé of which will only be felt at the end Lee, who is in post with “Ammonite.” Jamie” is directed by newcomer Jon- of the year. The VFX sector is par- Battsek also lauds Glass, citing her athan Butterell, who is from Sheffield, “Here Before” ticularly vulnerable, as a third of its as an example of an exciting emerg- as is the film’s production company DIRECTOR: Stacey Gregg KEY CAST: Andrea Riseborough workforce is from European Union ing talent with a “tremendous cine- Warp Films. They have linked up Laura’s life is turned upside countries. However, the govern- matic eye and understanding of how with U.S. heavyweight New Regency, down when a new family moves ment’s proposals for a points-based to make a feature film.” and Walt Disney Studios distributes in next door. Their daughter, visa system for E.U. citizens post- Francke highlights, as well, the worldwide. Megan, reminds Laura of her own daughter who died. Laura’s

SONY PICTURES CLASSICS SONY PICTURES Brexit has answered most concerns. work of Clio Barnard, who has “Ali “We were able, with our partners increasing obsession with New Regency, to give them a big- Megan begins to take its toll on ger canvas to work on, but the bones her own family. of the story are very specific, and SALES: Bankside Films regional and authentic,” says Ollie Madden, Film4’s head of creative. “The Power” DIRECTOR: Corinna Faith U.K. indie producers are deliver- KEY CAST: Rose Williams ing films that are popular with audi- During rolling blackouts, a nurse ences both at home and abroad, says is forced to work the night shift Zygi Kamasa, Lionsgate U.K. CEO. in a near empty hospital, where These films are “elevated above the she must confront her own traumatic past to fight a malevolent norm” by strong storytelling, film- force. making prowess and stellar cast. SALES: Altitude “You just have got to find things that have a very clear audience that also “Stardust” have elements to them that make DIRECTOR: Gabriel Range KEY CAST: Johnny Flynn, Marc them feel like events.” Maron, Jena Malone Lionsgate U.K.’s upcoming slate In 1971, a 24-year-old David Bow- of British films includes spy thriller ie embarks on his first trip to “Ironbark,” with Benedict Cumber- America, only to be met with a FAMILY TIES batch, “Ammonite,” with Kate Winslet world not yet ready for him. The Olivia Colman and Anthony drama reveals the inspirations and Saoirse Ronan, and “The Father,” Hopkins star in Sundance that gave birth to Bowie’s alter player “The Father.” with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia ego Ziggy Stardust. Colman. — Leo Barraclough SALES: Film Constellation

VARIETY 53 FOCUS INT’L REPORT

HISTORICAL DANCE “El Baile de los 41” stars Alfonso Herrera in a pic backed by Netlfix.

NORTH AMERICA

PRODUCERS FEAR STATUS QUO

UNCERTAIN ECONOMY AND GOVERNMENT CUTS PUSH MEXICAN FILMMAKERS INTO TV, MORE CO-PRODS

MEXICO’S FILM industry Above all, many are looking to pro- Mexican Pics in the Pipeline Mexico appears healthy, but the duce with top talent inside and outside “50 0r Two Whales Meet “Memoria” question is for how long. In Mexico. Piano’s slate includes features at the Beach” DIRECTOR: Apichatpong 2019, Mexican president by Apichatpong Weerasethakul and DIRECTOR: Jorge Cuchi Weerasethakul Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador deci- Leos Carax, and Cruz’s series and mov- PRODUCER: Catatonia Cine PRODUCERS: The Match Factory, mated festival funding. There’s a fear ies with Pablo Trapero and Paco Plaza. Adolescence-themed double Kick the Machine, Burning that, as the economy contracts, so will Meanwhile, hit by plunging oil prize winner at April’s Films in Blue, Illumination Films, Anna Progress in Toulouse. Sanders Films, Piano its tax credits, the main source of film prices, Mexico’s peso has lost 25% KEY CAST: Tilda Swinton, sector finance, says Pimienta’s Nicolas against the dollar since February. “Annette” Jeanne Balibar, Daniel Celis, a producer on “Roma.” “The continued success of Mexi- DIRECTOR: Leos Carax Giménez Cacho Such fears have seen the country’s can films on the most prestigious festi- PRODUCERS: CG Cinéma, Arte Weerasethakul’s English-lan- top producers reengineering oper- val circuits, and in international mar- France Cinéma, Detailfilm, Euro guage debut, shot in Colom- Space, Kinology, Piano, Scope bia. DISTRIBUTION: Neon (U.S.); ations: many, such as Piano, Woo kets, is proof that our creatives and our Pictures, Talipot Studio, Tribus sales (The Match Factory) Films, Pablo Cruz at Canana and El crews are among the best in the world. P Film, Wrong Men North Estudio have moved into TV produc- ‘Roma’ was a showcase of this indus- KEY CAST: Adam Driver, “Noche de Fuego” tion. Some, such as Panorama, have try’s technical excellence, and unbeat- Marion Cotillard DIRECTOR: Tatiana Huezo launched more commercial, OTT plat- able filming conditions,” says Piano Carax’s first full-on musical, Producers: Pimienta Films, an L.A.-set romantic rock Match Factory Prods., Bord form-friendly slates. producer-founder Julio Chavezmontes. opera. Cadre Films, Cactus Film Companies are also aiming to tap Producer Stacy Perskie points to & Video, Desvia Produções, more regular international co-financ- an impressive list of movies that shot “El Baile de los 41” Jaque Content ing, such as Pimienta’s first-look deal recently in Mexico: Legendary Pictures’ DIRECTOR: David Pablos Key cast: Mayra Batalla, Nor- with Exile and Endeavor Content, while “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” Sony’s PRODUCERS: Netflix, Cinepolis, ma Pablo, Olivia Lagunas El Estudio Life in a town at war as seen Piano has expanded into Colombia and “Bad Boys for Life” and “Infinite” and KEY CAST: Alfonso Herrera through the eyes of three girls. Germany and El Estudio has launched Lionsgate’s “Barb and Star go to Vista Drama set in a repressed

bases in Los Angeles and Madrid. del Mar.” — John Hopewell 1901 Mexico City. FILMS CANANA

54 VARIETY INT’L REPORT FOCUS

SOUTH AMERICA INDUSTRY DEALS MONEY WOES WRACK BRAZIL WITH BIG ISSUES Film biz turns toward the more lucrative small screen, but there’s a catch ARGENTINA’S ECONOMY WORSE OFF THAN EVEN BEFORE Last October, Teixeira OTHERS BUT PICS STILL MANAGE TO FLOURISH coronavirus, Bra- launched RT Television with Brazil zil’s film sector Anonymous Content and CAA. was in extraor- “Television is certainly one way IT LOOKS like no coinci- Last month, coronavirus had halted dinary trouble, to go. Companies get paid for Argentina dence that two of the big- some 30 shoots, and decimated Incaa victim of a near 18-month making series,” Teixeira says. gest announcements funding, culled from cinema admis- freeze on government film But OTT players work with funding under far-right Brazilian some 10-15 companies in Brazil, concerning celebrated sions, now nil, and TV advertising, president Jair Bolsonaro. no more, Gullane says. Argentine movie directors and pro- down 35% in a month. Now, many executives fear a Production volumes, espe- ducers this year were their moves The crux is whether Incaa can radical shake out. “We have the cially regarding movies, cannot into drama series creation. In Febru- access 50% of VAT paid by Argen- incentive freeze, coronavirus, replace government funding, ary, Netflix announced that K & S, pro- tines in order to subscribe to stream- economic crisis, need for a new adds producer Mariza Leão. audiovisual law,” says Fabiano In a major irony, last year ducers of “Wild Tales,” “The Clan” and ing platforms such as Netflix — a mea- Gullane, one of Brazil’s biggest Brazilian movies reaped critical “El Angel,” will produce a series adap- sure that’s allowed in Argentina’s 1994 film-TV producers. The shingle plaudits at Sundance (“Divine tation of legendary Argentine sci-fi film law, says Edson Sidonie, producer has drama “Paloma,” from Love”) and prizes at Cannes graphic novel “El Eternauta,” with of “Karnawal.” But an April 18 Incaa Marcelo Gomes, on tap. (“Bacurau,” “Invisible Life”). Bruno Stagnaro directing. report suggested that money wouldn’t “I fear for the future of medi- Despite the gloom, some um-sized and small companies positive news exists. The city In March, El Estudio announced be put into place in a pandemic in Brazil,” he says. “They are of São Paulo’s film-TV agency two series with another founding emergency. near 100% dependent on [fed- SPCINE is introducing cash father of the New Argentine Cinema, “I feel a nostalgia for the future that eral film agency] Ancine, [and] rebates for international Pablo Trapero: a U.S. series remake was awaiting our film industry before may well not have the cash-flow productions — Brazil’s first-ever of his movie “Carancho” and bio-se- COVID,” says REI Cine producer San- to survive the crisis.” big-shoot incentives — and Adds producer Rodrigo national productions with large ries “Galimberti.” tiago Gallelli. At December’s Ventana Teixeira: “If we don’t have international potential filmed in Appointed president of Argentina’s Sur in Buenos Aires, producers were access to subsidies, production São Paulo. film agency Incaa in December, direc- still bringing ambitious new films onto will stop, not only because SPCINE hopes to have the tor Luis Puenzo does enjoy government the market, such as REI’s own Ber- of the pandemic but also the rebates up and running in backing, but he faces a perfect storm. lin Competition entry, “The Intruder.” way Brazilian film financing is the second half 2020, says its structured.” president Laís Bodanzky. Even before COVID-19 struck, Argen- Buenos Aires’ Film Commission was The double crisis will push “It’s work for everybody, tina sustained crippling inflation: 50% trying to attract big foreign shoots. Brazilian companies into pro- which we really need right last year and in 2018, plus a plunging Now, Argentina is on the verge of a ducing for TV as well as Brazil’s now,” she adds. peso, which lost 77% of its dollar value possible default. digital platforms. — John Hopewell from April 2018 and studios’ lock on “Markets hate uncertainty,” says prime exhibition slots. Gallelli. — John Hopewell

PROGRESSIVE PIC Drama ”Paloma” deals Argentine Films Ready to Go with a transsexual farm worker clashing with conservative attitudes. “Chocobar” “La Noche Mágica” “Petite Fleur” DIRECTOR: Lucrecia Martel DIRECTOR: Gastón Portal DIRECTOR: Santiago Mitre PRODUCER: Rei Cine PRODUCER: Aeroplano PRODUCERS: Maneki Films, La Martel’s first feature doc por- KEY CAST: Natalia Oreiro, Unión de Los Ríos, Panache trays murdered indigenous Diego Peretti Prods., La Compagnie Cinémato- activist Javier Chocobar. A burglary takes on a graphique, Setembro Cine, Logi- life-enhancing fantasy. cal Pictures “Karnawal” DISTRIBUTOR: Disney KEY CAST: Daniel Hendler, Vimala DIRECTOR: Juan Pablo Félix Pons, Melvil Poupaud PRODUCERS: Bikini Films, “El Perro que No Calla” Darkly comedic drama is the 3 Moinhos Produçoes, DIRECTOR: Ana Katz French-language debut of Mitre, Picardía Films, Phototaxia PRODUCER: Laura Cine the director of Cannes Critics’ Pictures, Norsk Filmproduks- KEY CAST: Daniel Katz Week winner “Paulina.” jon, Londra Films Shot in black and white, SALES: Playtime KEY CAST: Martin López Lacci, pic is account of a man’s Alfredo Castro transformation through “Las Siamesas” Multi-prized as a project, work and thanks to love. DIRECTOR: Paula Hernández a striking coming-of-age PRODUCER: Tarea Fina feature debut set in the high KEY CAST: Valeria Lois, Rita Cortese Andes. Chronicle of a destructive moth- SALES: Beta Cinema er-daughter relationship.

VARIETY 55 FOCUS NAB VIRTUAL SUMMIT

KEEPING UP WITH THE PIVOT TO DIGITAL HBO Max’s Bob Greenblatt will be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s virtual NAB Show Executive Leadership Summit.

A NEW CONTENT STRATEGY FOR AN EXPANDING STREAMING WORLD

FOR KEYNOTE SPEAKER BOB GREENBLATT, PIVOTING THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TO DIGITAL

MATCHES HIS RECENT CAREER TRAJECTORY By Cynthia Littleton

MANY OF THE executives leading the the rules of television was good training typically draws more than 90,000 attend- streaming revolution in television came for the task of taking HBO and other sto- ees — but it was among the dozens of of age on the job as the industry was ried entertainment brands into the digi- events on the entertainment industry cal- rocked by the launch of Fox and the rise tal future. endar that were forced to go dark this year of cable. Greenblatt is the keynote speaker for amid the coronavirus pandemic. That experience during a tumultuous the NAB Show Executive Leadership Sum- The shift of ELS to a remote production time in an earlier era is proving invalu- mit, produced in association with Variety to stream online was ironically in keep- able today. Streaming Room, set for May 11. ing with the theme of this year’s gather- Bob Greenblatt, chairman of Warner- The ELS gathering had been scheduled ing, namely to examine the seismic indus- Media Entertainment, got his start on the to take place April 19 in conjunction with try shifts as mainstream Hollywood bets Fox lot in the 1980s. Learning the busi- the National Assn. of Broadcasters’ annual big on streaming platforms.

ness at a place that was actively rewriting NAB Show convention in Las Vegas, which “Given the circumstances, we felt it BARON/SHUTTERSTOCK MATT

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Untitled-2 1 4/30/20 3:33 PM FOCUS NAB VIRTUAL SUMMIT

CHANGING TIMES to changes large and small instituted by of creating a broad-based streaming plat- The 2018 NAB show, their new parent company. form in less than 18 months is so over- held in-person in That was a leadership test that Green- whelming as to force everyone to row in Las Vegas, drew almost 100,000 blatt has faced before, and he knew the same direction or jump off the boat. attendees. Now, all instinctively that forthright communica- The biggest challenge is that the direct- eyes are on digital tion of goals and priorities was crucial to to-consumer subscription business model programming from the ELS to HBO Max explain why changes were being made is still full of unknowns for traditional programming such as and why HBO Max was such a focus for giants such as HBO and Warner Bros. “Legendary,” below. the broader company. AT&T is banking on its investment in con- “You have to be really respectful of tent for HBO Max to take the place of prof- the legacy you’re walking into,” Green- its once generated by selling movies and blatt says. “You have to show great rever- TV shows to third-party buyers. ence and respect for what the company “The fact that there’s so much uncer- has been and its success. You have to rec- tainty is what is really difficult about the ognize that, and then try to bring people job,” Greenblatt says. along to what your vision is for what it is There’s risk involved in the launch of going to be in the future.” any venture. But as Hollywood tries to was important to move the event online in In the face of inevitable resistance, compete with Netflix and Amazon in the order to stay connected to the NAB Show leadership means finding the way to get streaming arena, there are still a lot of community during this difficult time and people motivated to embrace change. question marks even down to the met- provide critical information, inspiration In Greenblatt’s experience that means rics that will be used to determine how and solutions to help the industry move assembling a blend of company veter- HBO Max programming is resonating forward,” says Chris Brown, executive ans and newcomers into units with clearly with the audience. vice president, conventions and business articulated missions that are supported “If you’re at a broadcast network or operations, NAB. from the top. cable network, you kind of know, ‘Well, The level of industry interest in the “If you put the right team together this audience is going to work here,’ and subject of leadership at a transitional time for the industry is underscored by the high-profile executives that helped “The Executive Leadership Summit is the type assemble the summit. That list includes ABC Entertainment president Karey of education programming that adapts well Burke; Sony Pictures Entertainment to the online environment.” Chris Brown chairman-CEO Tony Vinciquerra; Par- amount Television Studios president Nicole Clemens; Neal Mohan, chief prod- you can show people how they can work you know what the research means and uct officer and senior vice president at together. And you have to believe in the you know what a rating point means,” YouTube and Google; and Verizon Media goal,” he says. Greenblatt says. “We’re still trying to fig- CEO Guru Gowrappan. “In this case, the ultimate goal is the ure out what’s the right measurement of “The Executive Leadership Summit creation of a streaming service that is the viewing experience on digital. It’s not is the type of education programing that going to transform the company.” a rating, we know that. There are so many adapts well to the online environment, The laser focus on HBO Max has helped things we’re figuring out. We’re just in as it is targeted to a unique and some- WarnerMedia pull together after the post- such uncharted waters and trying to make what limited community — c-suite exec- merger management shakeups. The task sense of it as we go.” utives driving strategy for their companies,” Brown says. “Yet because it focuses on a high-level view of the issues that are shaping media, it has relevance to a much wider audience.” Greenblatt came to WarnerMedia in March 2019 after spending seven years at NBC Entertainment. He moved over to WarnerMedia just as AT&T was in the midst of the messiest part of its integra- tion of HBO, Warner Bros. and Turner — the former Time Warner assets that AT&T acquired in 2018. Against the backdrop of a big management shakeup — longtime HBO chief Richard Plepler and Turner’s David Levy stepped down after Greenblatt’s appoint- ment — Greenblatt came in with a mandate to re-engineer certain operations to support the launch of HBO Max. And he had to implement that as longtime

Time Warner staffers were still adjusting HBO MAX LEGENDARY: NAB: ANDREW GOMBERT/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK;

58 VARIETY ARTISANS TOPARTISANS BILLING

PUTTING THEIR HEADS TOGETHER Jeff Kleiser, Kenny Mirman, Richard Taylor and Bill Kroyer discuss some of their designs for “Tron” on Disney Plus’ “Prop Culture.”

deep dive into the props for “Mary Pop- pins,” searching for the famous umbrella by Some Long Overdue which Julie Andrews makes her appearance, descending from the clouds. Lanigan had heard stories that no one knew what happened to the brolly. But Kevin Kidney, a prop Props to Prop Makers replica designer, owns an original casting of the umbrella’s parrot-head handle. “This DISNEY PLUS SERIES TAKES A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED molding was the closest anyone had” to the actual prop, Lanigan says. SEVERAL OF THE MOVIES’ MOST MEMORABLE ARTIFACTS By Jazz Tangcay A key reason for the missing parasol? When “Mary Poppins” was made in 1964, AS A YOUNG BOY, Dan Lanigan collected Rabbit?” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” props were generally discarded or given “Star Wars” action figures and was inter- But Lanigan, an executive producer of away. No one considered them valuable, ested in how movies were made; now he gets 2017’s “Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Lanigan says. It wasn’t until 1970 that Dis- really excited about discovering film arti- Return,” isn’t just concerned with exam- ney established an archive. Lanigan’s visit facts like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag or the ining the hardware; he aims to spend time to the Burbank location does produce one prototype Jack Skellington doll. with those involved in the process of creat- memorable “Mary Poppins” original – the That’s what makes him the perfect host ing it. “I wanted to do as much as I could to character’s magic carpet bag that contained for Disney Plus’ newest series “Prop Cul- help celebrate these people,” he says. “It was pretty much everything. ture,” which takes a look at the stories important to talk to Penny Rose [costume Another installment revisits 1982’s behind the memorable objects featured designer for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ “Tron,” and Lanigan talks with Mead, in one in Disney’s most iconic projects. Each franchise], Syd Mead [conceptual artist who of the renowned concept artist’s last inter- 30-minute episode focuses on a single film developed the electronic world of ‘Tron’] and views (he died Dec. 30). Mead walks viewers from the studio’s catalog, including “Tron,” their teams. They did amazing work.” through the drawings he made for the film, “Mary Poppins,” “Who Framed Roger In the first episode, Lanigan takes a which creates a mind-bending digital world. DISNEY+

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“Syd did so much, not just in film but outside of it, and to learn how difficult [‘Tron’] was to make visually and conceptually was amazing,” Lanigan says. Crew members from the film — visual effects supervisor Richard Taylor, story- board artist Bill Kroyer and design supervisor Kenny Mirman — tell stories of the 3D animation process the team used to build the film’s look. “They plugged in numbers for each frame of a scene, and it was back- breaking,” Lanigan says. Today’s 3D models are less handmade and require less work.

“I wanted to do as much as I could to help celebrate these people. It was important to talk to Penny Rose, Syd Mead and their teams. They did amazing work.”

Dan Lanigan, “Prop Culture” host

The show peeks into the underbelly of Disneyland for inside information about “Pirates of the Caribbean,” based on the popular theme park ride. While the treasure chest at the end of the first film is the actual artifact from the ride, viewers don’t get to see the writing on the walls in ‘Extraction’ Director Has the pirates’ treasure cove from staff who worked in the park. The episode also takes Lanigan to Aber- Plenty of Fight in Him deen, Wash., where he sails out on the Lady Washington, the ship used in the picture. FORMER STUNTMAN SAM HARGRAVE DESIGNED ACTION And he travels to Saint Vincent and the SEQUENCES FOR OTHERS; NOW HE CALLS THE SHOTS Grenadines, where the movie was shot, to talk with costume designer Rose and exam- By Jazz Tangcay ine a few of her creations for the project in all their textured glory. The island held EVERY SHOT IN A MOVIE is designed to we didn’t have the time or money” that another surprise as well. tell a story, but there’s one in “Extraction” they do. “But,” he adds, “I didn’t want it “I was talking to Penny at a bar, and there that stuntman-turned-director Sam Har- to come off as a poor effort.” was this mast that looked like the mast grave particularly fought for. Hargrave, who designed the memora- from the ship that Jack [Sparrow, played The action film, now streaming on Net- ble stairwell fight sequence in “Atomic by Johnny Depp] was on,” Lanigan says. “I flix, stars Chris Hemsworth as merce- Blonde,” met with some resistance when thought it was a replica, and it turned out to nary Tyler Rake, who has to rescue Ovi he proposed his plan for “Extraction.” be the real one from the film.” (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), the 14-year-old son The main objection was that he had One of the movies featured later in the of an imprisoned Indian drug kingpin, too many points of view to shoot: Ovi, series is Lanigan’s favorite — stop-motion who has been kidnapped by a rival. Rake, the gunmen and the people on the classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Shortly after the film begins, Rake street. “I said, ‘Let me do my due dili- a film he says he’s seen 60 times or more. extracts Ovi from his kidnappers, and gence,’” the director says. Speaking with the movie’s visual consultant, a heart-racing shootout ensues as our That meant taking his production Rick Heinrichs, the host spies a mockup of heroes are pursued across the rooftops designer, Phillip Ivey, and walking a Jack Skellington doll — which turns out to and streets of Bangladesh. The sequence the locations to size up what would be the original piece that Heinrich sculpted lasts 11 minutes and was shot as a one- be needed. He brought along a camera for director Tim Burton. It’s clear from the take thrill ride. and went through the shots he wanted READY FOR design that the idea for Jack never changed ACTION The idea was to allow the audience to capture. “We started to weave it from first concept. Chris Hemsworth to experience the adrenalin rush of together,” Hargrave says. “Just the pre- “It’s such an important piece of history,” gets instruction what would happen in a situation like production took around three months.” Lanigan marvels. from director that, Hargrave explains. He describes After eight such scouting missions, it Sam Hargrave Clearly this is one host who has the on the set of the sequence as a cross between Jason was time to shoot. “I would have loved

right job. “Extraction.” Bourne and James Bond movies — “except the challenge of doing it in the one BOLAND/NETFLIX JASIN

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BATTLE TESTED Sam Hargrave has coordinated stunts and fight Revisiting the Building of scenes on a number of top action films. A sample:

Avengers: Endgame Suicide Squad ‘Gladiator,’ 20 Years Later 2019 2016 Directors: Anthony Director: David Ayer DESIGNER HAS FOND MEMORIES OF CONSTRUCTING THE Russo, Joe Russo Captain America: Deadpool 2 Civil War ROMAN EMPIRE FOR RIDLEY SCOTT’S OSCAR-WINNING FILM 2018 2016 By Jazz Tangcay Director: Directors: David Leitch Russo Brothers Avengers: The Brothers “WE WERE MAKING A MOVIE, not a doc- rebuilt Rome in nearby Fort Ricasoli, which Infinity War Grimsby umentary,” production designer Arthur juts out into the sea. 2018 2016 Max says of “Gladiator,” the Ridley Scott A lot of previz was considered, espe- Directors: Director: Russo Brothers Louis Leterrier epic that took home ﬁve Academy Awards, cially concerning how much physical set Wolf Warrior 2 The Hunger Games: including best picture. was needed and what would be covered by 2017 Mockingjay It’s been 20 years since the release of visual effects. “We spent most of the VFX

Director: Wu Jing — Parts 1 & 2 the movie — the second of 13 collabora- budget on the scene where they first enter 2014-15 Atomic Blonde tions between Max and Scott, starting with the arena,” Max recalls, “because of that 2017 Director: Francis Lawrence 1997’s “G.I Jane.” (The two worked most Director: Leitch 360-degree pan.” Hansel & Gretel: recently on “The Last Duel,” originally set Max built only two-thirds of the Colos- The Accountant Witch Hunters 2016 for a Dec. 25 release and pushed into 2021.) seum, due to budget constraints. He and his 2013 Director: Max recalls standing with Scott in the Col- team would design the set according to the Director: Gavin O’Connor Tommy Wirkola osseum in Rome as the director turned to perspective of that day’s shot. To vary the him and said the location was too small for look from the angle of the emperor’s box to what he had in mind. that of the senators’ box, “we’d change the “Ridley wanted to do sequences that banners, the statues, insignias and drapery,” were unique to him,” Max laughs. “He cooks he says. When shooting was done, they’d flip shot, but we didn’t have the luxury,” he up the chariot race in the Colosseum,” the the negative and make it look like the other explains. “We had to break it up over 10 designer says of an early sequence in the side of the arena had been built. days. There are 37 sequences that we film. Of course, the real Colosseum was To render the Provincial Arena where stitched together.” used for gladiator fights, not chariot races, Maximus first learns to be a gladiator, Having been a stuntman with more which were held at the Circus Maximus. Max and his team relied on traditional than 80 credits, Hargrave learned Having lived in Rome for four years, Max brick-building methods. “We cast 20,000 moviemaking by working with Joe had an inside track when it came to finding mud bricks and let them dry in the sun, and Anthony Russo, who produced a chariot maker: a group that raced them mixing mud, straw and dung,” he says. “We “Extraction,” and from David Ayer and for fun in the Circus Maximus style. “They had steel reinforcements, just in case.” Michael Bay. ended up building the chariots, and we dec- The Imperial Palace was a happy com- It was Joe Russo who heard of Har- orated them to look appropriate,” he recalls. bination of meticulous preparation and grave’s desire to direct and brought Yet Max says 19th-century romantic and miserable fate. The set, 90 feet by 260 feet, the script to his attention, thinking the Orientalist paintings were the inspiration was built on a platform. “It was this beau- film would be an ideal debut. An early for the look of the movie. “In their works, tifully detailed set with all the minutiae of draft saw the story set in South Amer- they imagined what ancient Rome was, and ancient Rome, with fake marble and plaster,” ica, but Hargrave opted for Bangla- they brought it to life,” he says. Max says. “We had just completed the roof.” desh. “I wanted to introduce people to When it came to building the film’s sets, Overnight, the area was hit by one of the a part of the world they were not famil- the designer wanted to use Mediterranean biggest typhoons the nation had ever seen, iar with,” he says. Film Studios in Malta, but Dino De Lauren- destroying the roof and battering the palace With Newton Thomas Sigel as his tiis was shooting “U-571” there, and Max walls that were waiting to be put into place. director of photography, Hargrave couldn’t use the water-tank space that he “When we came to look at the damage,” was able to highlight the beauty of the wanted for the Colosseum. So “Gladiator” Max remembers, “Ridley said, ‘Nice aging.’” city’s landscape and make the color pop against Ivey’s sets. “Each charac- MAKING A ter had their own palette,” Hargrave CLASSIC Star Russell says. “I gave Rake green for growth and Crowe confabs Ovi blue for water.” Every moment was with director carefully thought out, with the direc- Ridley Scott on the set of tor planning exactly how he wanted to “Gladiator.” visually tell his story. “With action films, it’s important to have emotional connection with the characters, otherwise it doesn’t reso- nate,” he says. “Once you understand what’s driving them, you are invested in their journey. The temptation is to focus on the action, but I was fortunate to have great mentors, and I learned that action is only there to move the story forward or reveal something

DREAMWORKS about the character.”

VARIETY 61 The show was put on pause, but there’s still plenty to celebrate! To our fearless storytellers, congrats on your 2020 Tribeca Film Festival award wins. We will see you all soon!

Assol Abdullina Anna Kerrigan Abraham Adeyemi Jan Komasa Gaspar Antillo Bo McGuire Chananun Chotrungroj Alejandro Mejia Jessica Earnshaw Prashant Nair Amy Foote Daniella Nowitz Florian Grolig David Oesch Shira Haas Ruthy Pribar Noe Hernandez Alice Wu Julia Jansch 2020 Steve Zahn Kelly Jeffrey Greta Zozula

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DOUBLE TROUBLE Mark Ruffalo stars as brothers Thomas and Dominick Birdsey in “I Know This Much Is True.”

TV REVIEW Hammer to play two Winklevoss twins in it’s also a way for the viewer to distinguish BY DANIEL D’ADDARIO “The Social Network,” it felt, more than any- between two brothers, who now only have thing, like an attempt to show off all the three hands between them. But when we I Know director could do.) And, too, there’s the way see Dominick by Thomas’ bedside in the it maximizes the performer, giving oppor- hospital, commonalities emerge. Dominick, tunities for more acting as — from Nicolas acceding to Thomas’ request that doctors This Much Cage in “Adaptation” to James Franco in not attempt to reattach the severed hand, “The Deuce” to, yes, Lindsay Lohan in “The bears an attitude of irredeemable sadness Is True Parent Trap,” performers amp up the dif- that seems to share a border with Thomas’ ferences in their dual portrayals. All those ecstatic brokenness. Both brothers carry actors capitalized, hugely, on the chance the weight of the world; Ruffalo, playing off to create divergent characters who shared himself, illuminates how they shoulder it every physical detail, but little more. differently even as he reveals the simple

DRAMA: HBO (six episodes, all reviewed); May 10 Mark Ruffalo’s work in the limited series fact that the burden is indeed shared. STARRING: Mark Ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Rosie “I Know This Much Is True” continues in that Ruffalo’s performances carry the series. O’Donnell, Archie Panjabi tradition, but less through explosive show- This is his two-man show, with supporting manship than a more minor-key sort of characters glimmering in and out. In the skillfulness. Ruffalo, playing twins Dominick main action, Dominick is providing care to and Thomas Birdsey, is given ample raw Thomas, a brother who has for his entire A SINGLE PERFORMER’S DOUBLE ACT is material: The script, based on Wally Lamb’s life represented both a responsibility and among the showier maneuvers that can novel, places Dominick, a relatively even- a very rare source of mutual support, how- be attempted on film. There’s the techni- keeled fellow, in perpetual counterpoint to ever conditional. Dominick is also recalling cal aspect: Getting one actor, twice, into Thomas, whom we first meet when he cuts their entire story: Transported by mem- the same frame — or cutting to fool the off his own hand in a public library. It’s an ory, he examines the collapse of his mar- mind into thinking that’s so — is inevitably act of ritual sacrifice that Thomas believes riage (with his ex-wife, Dessa, played by showy. (When David Fincher cast one Armie will end the then-ongoing first Gulf War, and Kathryn Hahn, wrenching and mordant as ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA/HBO ATSUSHI

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ever) following the sudden death of their first act of Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond FILM REVIEW daughter. He further delves into the his- the Pines” hits like a wallop, arriving as it BY PETER DEBRUGE tory of their family, from recent times, with does after the audience has come to feel his a mother (Melissa Leo) ill from and even- ambitions and his weaknesses with some- tually felled by cancer, to the farther-flung. thing more than sympathy. Becoming Dominick hires a translator (Juliette Lewis) This kind of anguish wears more easily to interpret his grandfather’s handwritten at the length of two-ish hours and a single memoir and, in so doing, finds out about sitting than it does over six weeks’ worth of the recurrence of twins throughout his hourlong episodes. What progress is made DIRECTOR: Nadia Hallgren ancestral line. in Dominick’s and Thomas’ stories tends to WITH: Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Gayle King In moments like these, one senses that be fitful, wrenched forward through pains- the attentions the show places away from taking personal work but to little appar- Ruffalo’s characters, however limited, still ent result beyond forcing us to feel more end up misspent. We get, for instance, sig- and more pain. Therapy sessions, for ON THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE, nificantly less of Leo’s character than we instance, with a character played by Archie one can find detailed bios of America’s 42 do of Dominick’s grandfather, seen speak- Panjabi, or debriefs with a social worker first ladies. Most open with some variation ing subtitled Italian in flashback. It’s argu- played by Rosie O’Donnell, less advance on the phrase “So-and-So was the wife of able that the absence of the twins’ mother what plot there is than continue the eddy- President Such-and-Such” — e.g., “Mary Ann is as impactful as was her presence, but the ing motion of Dominick deeper into despair. Todd Lincoln was the wife of the 16th Presi- practical effect is to keep us away from a That Thomas’ tenuous grasp on reality has dent of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.” deeper understanding of precisely what is brought him great pain is clear; that Dom- But not Michelle Obama’s. Her entry begins, going on. As if operating according to the inick sees his own situation all too clearly “Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is a mental rhythms of someone unable to cope yields much the same result. Ruffalo illu- lawyer, writer and the wife of the 44th presi- with grievous loss, the show skitters about, minates both states beautifully but that dent, Barack Obama.” showing, for instance, a lengthy scene of doesn’t quite remedy the fact the show Lawyer first, writer second and then wife. Dominick and Thomas as young boys on an does little to illuminate anything beyond Most of the audiences who check out unpleasant but unremarkable school field the two men’s immediate circumstance. Michelle Obama documentary “Becom- trip while alluding, elsewhere, to grievous There are elements to recommend “I ing” on Netflix will be tuning in out of inter- abuse that we see only fleetingly. Know This Much Is True”: Down the line, est in her role as “the rock of our family,” as The show may, perhaps, be too effective the supporting performances are shot Barack described her at his inauguration — for its own good at inhabiting Dominick’s through with soulfulness and a sort of stern or else as “a Black woman to be admired,” mind. In its here-there-and-everywhere determination that is a comfort. (O’Donnell to quote Ava DuVernay, introducing 2017’s approach to the incidents of his life, it mir- is particularly fine, in a take-no-guff role awestruck essay collection “The Meaning of rors the thoughts of a person panicked by a that demonstrates her facility for transmit- Michelle.” But it is a different identity, that of situation coming to a head. But audiences ting humanity even, or especially, through “writer,” that fuels director Nadia Hallgren’s could be forgiven, especially watching epi- gruffness.) And, set in rural Connecticut, softball portrait of the former FLOTUS. sodes on a weekly basis, for wondering what the series easily slots into a sort of New “Becoming” accompanies Michelle it all adds up to. A reveal late in the run pur- England melodrama — think “Manchester Obama on the 34-city book tour that fol- ports to be the solution to a mystery the by the Sea” or, on the wilder end, “Shutter lowed the publication of her memoir of the viewer may not have known was even per- Island” — in which grief is, ultimately, to same name. The documentary was initiated tinent; the throughlines of various relation- be borne. There’s less a lesson there than a and overseen by the Obamas’ own produc- ships are frayed, and we’re meant to deduce sort of more-relatable-than-ever stoicism. tion company, Higher Ground Prods., and via performance the ties of love and pain But in the end, “I Know This Much Is is being distributed by Netflix, which has a between, say, Dominick and Dessa. True” cannot fully bridge a credibility business arrangement with the Obamas. As Which is not to say that the perfor- gap. Dominick has suffered more extrav- such, it won’t surprise anyone that it plays mances don’t get us most of the way there! agantly than can reasonably be imagined, like an extended promotional video, a cross Hahn, for instance, furthers the case that and at a certain point, we cannot help shut- between close-contact hero worship and she’s one of the very top actors of the cur- ting down a bit — in part for the extremity inspirational infomercial. rent era of TV with a portrayal that glints of the agony, and in part because it leads There are no big revelations here, no got- with things she can’t or won’t say, if only nowhere. That the show’s final moments cha moments or intimate scenes in which because she’s too weary. Dominick, meet- feel random perhaps cannot have been Hallgren’s subject lets down her guard, but ing Dessa for the first time in a long while, avoided: Where does one go from the the target audience hardly expects anything tells her that he sees a certain irony: “It’s depths to which this story has plummeted? tougher. Far more than the memoir, the film funny, people used to predict that you and Through it all, Ruffalo is his own best presents a manicured version of the way I would be the ones who stuck it out.” Her supporting actor — he proves, doubly, Michelle Obama sees herself — and yet, even flat “It’s funny,” cautiously ironed out of all why Dominick keeps going, by illuminat- such a carefully image-managed impression emotion, says as much as any entire scene ing the love that Dominick has for Thomas can be telling, since it diverges so signifi- the two share. and that which Thomas, sustaining them cantly from the way the world perceives her. Derek Cianfrance, who wrote and both, reciprocates. Ruffalo’s the one you’ll “Becoming” intercuts between con- directed every episode, is no stranger to watch for. But with all the talent Cianfrance cert-style footage from various live shows the territory he walks here, that of unremit- brings to a show that’s ultimately a mis- (more reaction shots of the nearly all-female ting sadness as lived through characters to match for his gifts, “I Know This Much Is arena crowd than coverage of Obama being whom we’ve grown painfully close. In “Blue True” ends up being precisely the sum of interviewed onstage), vérité glimpses of her Valentine,” his 2010 breakthrough feature, Ruffalo’s two parts. backstage or in transit, and from-the-side- we experience a festering romance, and lines interactions with fans (with tangential then a breakup, via performances (by Ryan asides to follow several young women she CREDITS: Executive producers: Derek Cianfrance, Mark Ruffalo, Gregg Gosling and Michelle Williams) witnessed Fienberg, Lynette Howell Taylor, Ben Browning, Glen Basner, Anya Epstein inspires), connected by the bare minimum and Wally Lamb. 60 MIN. Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Melissa Leo, Rosie O’Don- with an almost unbearable intimacy. And nell, Archie Panjabi, Imogen Poots, John Procaccino, Rob Huebel, Philip of biographical background, family photos Ettinger, Aisling Franciosi, Michael Greyeyes, Guillermo Diaz, Marcello in 2013, Gosling’s death at the end of the Fonte, Bruce Greenwood, Brian Goodman, Juliette Lewis, Kathryn Hahn and B-roll. Hallgren evidently presumes that

64 VARIETY REVIEWS

viewers either already have read Obama’s Michelle Obama has been named the “most book or could easily pick up a copy if they admired woman” in the world. Unlike Clin- want to know more, which makes the film ton (who placed fourth, below Melania feel like the literary equivalent of a DVD Trump), Obama expresses no desire to run bonus feature. for the office Barack once held. Political life Between 2008 and 2016, Obama made was her husband’s thing, and going along it a priority to address and encourage the with it meant reining in her own ambitions nation’s young people, and her commitment — as motherhood had before it. to that mission continues to this day. Chal- This was no small sacrifice for a driven lenging the idea of affirmative action, the young woman from the South Side of Chi- Harvard Law School grad — who is a descen- cago, whose parents had pushed her to dant of slaves — tells Gayle King in one of excellence (while showing a clear prefer- her many celebrity-hosted Q&As, “I have ence for her older brother Craig Robinson, been at probably every powerful table there she claims). Her achievements were a way is in the world. ... I am coming down from of emerging from his shadow, although the mountaintop to tell every young person later, as first lady, she was expected to that is poor and working-class and has been remain in Barack’s. No more. The “Becom- told, regardless of the color of your skin, ing” book tour represents Michelle Obama’s that you don’t belong, ‘Don’t listen to them!’ coming-out moment, a chance to reassert They don’t even know how they got at those her own identity. Now Barack can be the seats.” By speaking truth to power, she moti- HIGHER Every president (and FLOTUS) must deal guest star — the Jay-Z to her Beyoncé. vates those who recognize themselves in STANDARD with being criticized on a daily basis, and yet, If the words “hope” and “progress” and her, who identify with her story. “Becoming” by virtue of being the first black first family “change” effectively positioned Barack’s follows Michelle Before Barack Obama was elected, his Obama, here with to occupy the White House, the Obamas were presidential run, then “Becoming” seems a wife accompanied him on the campaign a fan, on her 34- held to a higher standard. Barack Obama perfectly fitting label for Michelle’s journey. trail, giving candid speeches. Her words city book tour. has been consistently diplomatic about this The book reflects on how she became first were scrutinized so closely by the media point — with “diplomatic” being the nature lady; the film suggests she’s still growing as that Michelle Obama stopped speaking off of the office until now — but Michelle is now a person, empowering us to do the same. the cuff, she recalls. And yet, this lawyer, free to speak somewhat more freely about

writer and wife clearly has strong opinions, the racism both encountered. CREDITS: A Netflix release of a Higher Ground Prods., Big Mouth Prods., Netflix Original Documentary production. Producers: Katy Chevigny, revealing herself to be more outspoken now When Barack Obama earned the Demo- Marilyn Ness, Lauren Cioffi. Executive producers: Priya Swaminathan, Tonia Davis. Co-producer: Maureen A. Ryan. Director: Nadia Hallgren. than she was during her husband’s eight cratic Party nomination, the decision came Camera: Hallgren. Editors: Erin Casper, Nathan Punwar, Aaron Wicken- den. Music: Kier Lehman. Reviewed online, Los Angeles, April 30, 2020. years in office, when they were bombarded at the expense of a former first lady, Hillary MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 89 MIN. With: Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Marian Shields Robinson, Craig Robinson, Melissa Winter, Mere- with conspiracy theories, lies and bigotry. Clinton. In Gallup polls of the past two years, dith Koop, Allen Taylor, Gayle King “I was just waking up to the truth of who we can be, so ready to assume the worst in people,” she explains. Barack Obama’s successor, Donald Trump, has developed his own antagonistic strategy for dealing with the press — which, while hardly “fake,” is so far from objective or unbiased that Trump’s accusation serves to justify his own unfiltered stream of false- hoods. Of course, Michelle Obama famously The WGAW wishes to honor the following members had a different philosophy: “When they go for their devotion to their craft and contribution to all of our lives. low, we go high” — a mantra that was not They will be missed. only classy but necessary. In “Becoming,” the book, Obama makes ROGER BEATTY BOB KEANE WILLIAM SIMS plain that race was always an issue in the 1/24/33 4/6/20 6/21/32 3/23/20 MYERS way that she and her husband were per- 12/5/42 4/13/20 ceived by the public. “I was ‘other’ almost CAMILA MARIA STEVE N. by default,” she writes. Compared with pre- CONCEPCIÓN KREINBERG EARL POMERANTZ vious first ladies, “I stood at the foot of the 12/20/91 2/21/20 4/23/46 3/30/20 2/4/45 3/7/20 mountain, knowing I’d need to climb my MART CROWLEY VIRGINIA SAVAGE ROBERT F. way into favor.” In the doc, she admits to MCALESTER PORTER being skeptical about whether the United 8/21/35 3/7/20 5/13/43 4/9/20 3/28/40 2/4/20 States was ready for an African American BRIAN DENNEHY president, and looking back, she questions 7/9/38 4/15/20 RON MCLARTY JOEL ROGOSIN those naive enough to believe that Barack 4/14/47 2/8/20 10/30/32 4/21/20 Obama’s victory signaled the beginning of a JEROLD PERRY new “post-racial” phase in the nation. DRUCKER DOUGLAS A. METROV GABRIELLE TOPPING The movie takes time to introduce 12/6/32 2/9/20 5/28/49 2/25/20 7/9/51 3/11/20 Obama’s core team, including chief of staff ANDREW J. FENADY THOMAS L. MILLER SAUL TURTELTAUB Melissa Winter and stylist Meredith Koop. At one point, longtime bodyguard Allen Taylor 10/4/28 4/16/20 8/31/40 4/5/20 5/5/32 4/9/20 explains, “The stakes are very high in this STUART GORDON ROBERT MINTZ DAVID WISE job. It’s a no-fail mission, so you have to get 8/11/47 3/24/20 7/7/29 2/6/20 2/1/55 3/3/20 it right 100% of the time.”

NETFLIX Michelle Obama could say the same:

VARIETY 65 FACETIME

How are you dealing with self-isola- tion? I’m coping with things fine. I’m Amandla Stenberg blessed enough to be safe and not have anybody around me directly affected by the virus so far. There are ‘I Wanted Her to Feel aspects of just pausing life in this way that are welcome to me, although the impending doom and the sense of Like a Small Puppy worrying about the structure of the world as we know it crumbling is not a With a Really Big Bark’ super great feeling. Your character’s life has been very By Will Thorne troubled when we meet her. How did you approach playing someone AMANDLA STENBERG, WHO HAS PLAYED guitar and violin since childhood, who experienced deep trauma? What is named after the 1989 Miles Davis album. So her latest role in “The was important to me was that she felt really young. I think she’s somebody Eddy,” Damien Chazelle’s grainy, Paris-based love letter to jazz centered who is in search of herself, and she’s on a nightclub owner (André Holland), might not seem like too much developed certain coping mecha- of a stretch. But Stenberg stepped into the role of the club owner’s nisms in order to hide her vulnerabil- daughter barely knowing a word of French and with little experience ities. I wanted her to feel like a small puppy with a really big bark, someone in improvisation — a key component to capturing the show’s tripping who is maybe a lot to handle because cadence, she says. Ahead of the May 8 release of the 8-part series on that’s the way that she’s learned to Netflix, Variety caught up with Stenberg to talk about shooting in Paris, gain attention. working with Chazelle and playing another precocious 16-year-old, Julie, With Damien Chazelle, we’ve come after her role in the 2018 film “The Hate U Give.” to expect the musical beat that underpins his work. How would you describe shooting with him in Paris?

MUSIC INSIDE HER HEAD Since the show is about jazz, the set felt kinetic, improvisational, high-en- Amandla Stenberg readies for a scene on the set of ergy, spontaneous and sometimes a Damien Chazelle’s “The little confusing. A lot of the dialogue Eddy” for Netflix. is just improvised; we were allowed so much freedom to just play and try new things, which was really cool because I never had that experience with improv before.

The side of Paris we see in “The Eddy” is not the glitzy, Eiffel Tower-centric version portrayed in many other shows. Hopefully not! That’s one of the things that Damien mentioned to me when we first talked about the project. He described it as a love letter to the real Paris, as opposed to the Western view of all-white, Caucasian Europe- ans smoking cigarettes and wearing black-striped shirts and stuff like that. This shows [the city] as definitely way more multicultural; a lot of the episodes are about people from North African communities. We wanted to recognize how influential North Afri- can culture is in Paris and how much it’s like a beating heart in the city.

AGE: 21 BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles FAVORITE JAZZ THINGS YOU SINGERS: Billie Holiday, Ella DIDN’T KNOW Fitzgerald FAVORITE DAMIEN ABOUT CHAZELLE MOVIE: “Whiplash” AMANDLA QUARANTINE COPING STENBERG MECHANISM: TikTok dancing CURRENT TV OBSESSION: MTV’s “Catfish” LOU FAULON/NETFLIX LOU

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