APPOINTMENTS
ArgononGroup, the parent company behind “The Masked Singer U.K.,” has appointed former Jupiter Entertainment executive VP Steve McGovern as COO of its U.S. business with a remit across Leopard USA, Rose Rock Entertainment and future U.S. operations including acquisitions.
Argonon, a global production group headquartered in the U.K. and U.S., owns Scottish indie production company Bandicoot, which makes the U.K. version of “The Masked Singer” as well as “The Masked Dancer.”
As part of the group’s strategic shift to the West Coast and upscaled focus on streamers, networks and platforms, McGovern’s role will be based in Los Angeles. Shirley Escott, currently Leopard USA’s COO, relocates to London to pursue other projects after five years in the post. McGovern will report into Argonon CEO James Burstall and Laura Bessell, Argonon’s global COO.
The role will see McGovern work closely with Leopard USA’s chief creative officer Lindsay Schwartz, also based in Los Angeles, as well as new joint venture Rose Rock Entertainment, helmed by MD Joe Weinstock, based in Oklahoma and Los Angeles.
At Jupiter, McGovern oversaw 220 hours of programming annually, including hit true crime series“Snapped”(Oxygen) and“In Pursuit” with John Walsh(ID) as well as premium documentaries including“Who Killed Robert Wone”(Peacock) and“Broken Harts”(Discovery+).
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Distributor All3Media International has expanded its APAC team in Singapore, appointing Jaenani Netra to the newly created role of VP sales finished and formats for the Indian subcontinent, reporting to Sabrina Duguet, executive VP Asia Pacific. Netra will be responsible for sales of finished content and format rights across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Netra was previously executive director at Hi-5 Operations. Aisah Rahim also joins the APAC team, from Banijay Asia, as an additional executive assistant working across tape and format sales.
All3Media’s recent subcontinental shows include an Indian adaptation of “Blood,” which launched as “Masoom” on Disney+ Hotstar; the adaptation of “Liar” launched locally as “Marzi” on Voot; and “Cheat” on ZEE5 as “Mithya.”
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Having successfully delivered the Future Film Skills program, Gareth Ellis-Unwin, who has been head of film and animation at U.K.’s ScreenSkills since 2017, will step down at the end of May 2023. Emma Turner, currently head of film continuing professional development and future skills has been appointed head of film and animation on an interim basis. Ellis-Unwin is returning to full-time producing and is currently working on two projects which will be imminently greenlit.
Over the last five years, the Future Film Skills program has enabled over 120,000 beneficiaries, including 50,000 new entrants, to pursue a career in the screen industries; created bespoke online training assets accessed by over two million people; trained over 3,000 teachers and career advisers; and created a cinema campaign that was seen by over 19 million people.
STREAMING
Streamer Disney+ has six parter “Pauline,” a locally produced original series for the German and international market, being shot in Cologne and Düsseldorf. It follows 18-year-old Pauline who accidentally becomes pregnant from a one-night stand with Lukas, who, as it turns out, is the devil himself. The pregnancy gives Pauline supernatural powers and an epic battle between good and evil ensues.
Executive producers of the series are Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann from btf (bildundtonfabrik), whose credits include “How to Sell Drugs online (Fast)” and “King of Stonks.” Sebastian Colley is head writer and directors are Arabella Bartsch, Alma Buddecke and Facundo Scalerandi.
The cast includes Sira-Anna Faal (“Druck”), Ludger Bökelmann (“Die Discounter”), Lukas von Horbatschewsky (“Kroymann”) and Johanna Hens (“Inventing Anna”).
RENEWAL
Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) Television, Inc’s original sports entertainment reality format “Ninja Warrior” has gained a two-season order from NBC in the U.S. RTL in Germany has also renewed the format.
Originally named “Sasuke” in its home territory of Japan, the show first aired on TBS in 1997 and in collaboration with its U.S.-based sales agency Bellon Entertainment, has since been sold into 160 countries with local versions produced in over 20 territories.
The latest licenses of the American series include RTL Netherlands, SIC Portugal, KC Global in Asia, DBS in Israel, TV4 Sweden and FBC in Fuji. Discovery New Zealand and UKTV have acquired the finished Australian series while four seasons of the U.K. version are on the Disney owned Fox channel in the Netherlands. 45 episodes of the Japanese series are available in the U.K. on Channel 4’s linear and digital outlets. The new deals were brokered by Cathy Saunders, director of sales at Bellon.
RERUN
National Theatre Live‘s filmed version of Phoebe Waller-Bridge‘s stage show “Fleabag” will return to cinemas worldwide from June 15. Written and performed by Waller-Bridge and directed by Vicky Jones (“Run”), “Fleabag” is making a comeback following a successful box-office run in cinemas in 2019.
“Fleabag” started its life on-stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013, winning a Fringe First award that encourages new work. The play – that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series “Fleabag” – was captured live on stage from London’s West End in 2019.
This production is presented by DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna Theatre with set design by Holly Pigott, lighting design by Elliot Griggs and sound design by Isobel Waller-Bridge.
Sky Arts is the headline partner of National Theatre Live in the U.K.
