| A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE | | Results are in for the Cynopsis Short Form Video Awards! The inaugural conference took place on Wednesday, honoring outstanding work in the field, as well as offering insights and intel during panels with creators and buyers of this emerging format. After a noisy networking break, we got down to the task of honoring the best in the business. Our guest presenters kept things moving, naming the top three finalists in each category, including the winning entry. Click here to view winners! |
PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT Time and Blumhouse Television are teaming to produce 2 documentaries about the history and impact of gun violence in schools. The Walkout looks at the student activism that emerged after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, and Enough examines the last 20 years of mass shootings, gun control legislation and the work being done to prevent more tragedy. The untitled Marvel Television Deadpool series, which had Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Stephen Glover onboard to write and exec produce and got a straight-to-series order in May, is dead at FX. The net said it will no longer be involved with the project “due to creative differences.” Acorn TV gave a straight-to-series order for UK-set crime drama London Kills, from Paul Marquess (Suspects). Acorn Media Enterprises will co-produce the series, set to go into production in May, with PGMTV. FremantleMedia North America obtained the rights to DC Comics superhero series Astro City, spanning 16 (so far) standalone but connected story arcs. The pilot for the live action drama series is being written by Kurt Busiek and Rick Alexander, who will also serve as EPs with Gregory Noveck. Margot Robbie and her Lucky Chap Entertainment, along with the Australian Broadcasting Company, Hoodlum and ABC Studios International, are developing a 10-part series retelling Shakespeare stories from a female perspective. Entertainment One/Mark Gordon will develop, produce and finance a series adaptation of video game franchise Street Fighter. Joey Ansah, Jacquiline Quella and Mark Wooding, from web series Street Fighter: Assasin’s Fist, are set to exec produce. Top 10 Weekend Domestic Box Office Estimates: March 23-25, 2018 Pacific Rim Rising (Universal) $28.0 million, opening weekend Black Panther (BV) $16.7 million (week 6), cume revenue $630.9 million I Can Only Imagine (RAtt.) $13.8 million (week 2), cume revenue $38.3 million Sherlock Gnomes (Paramount) $10.6 million, opening weekend Tomb Raider (Warner Bros.) $10.4 million (week 2), cume revenue $41.7 million A Wrinkle in Time (Buena Vista) $8.0 million (week 3), cume revenue $73.9 million Love, Simon (Fox) $7.8 million (week 2), cume revenue $23.7 million Paul, Apostle of Christ (Sony) $5.0 million, opening weekend Game Night (Warner Bros.) $4.2 million (week 5), cume revenue $60.8 million Midnight Sun (Open Road Films), $4.1 million, opening weekend Source: comScore
NEW & RETURNING SERIES In the season 3 premiere of Rock and Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar, Hagar heads to the Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco to perform his annual Acoustic-4-A-Cure Concert, and sit down with Foo Fighters Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins. Nat Geo docu-series Once Strange Rock premieres tonight, looking at space from the perspective of those who have been there. It’s a “thrilling, out-of-this-world epic tale about our planet unlike one ever seen before,” says Tim Pastore, president, original programming & production. For more from Pastore on the passion project, check out the new Cynsiders. Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here is slated to return for season 2 on Sunday, May 6. The standup comedy-focused series goes into production this month in LA. Velocity’s Wheeler Dealers returns with a new season and new ways to watch. Starting Wednesday, April 4, viewers can catch the premiere on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app, ahead of the linear launch Wednesday, April 11 at 9p. What should fans expect from season 4 of AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead? “This season is all about a journey from isolation to community, and it’s about people in a bleak and dark world looking for a shred of hope to keep fighting,” Andrew Chambliss told a crowd at Wondercon. Series returns Sunday, April 15. Season 3 of Crackle’s SuperMansion arrives Monday, May 7. Bryan Cranston, Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Pine, Jillian Bell, Yvette Nicole Brown, Heidi Gardner, Tucker Gilmore and Zeb Wells will all be back for animated action.
COMING UP Full Frontal with Samantha Bee special The Great American Puerto Rico premieres on TBS Wednesday, March 28 at 10p. The show explores the continuing efforts to restore power since Hurricane Maria, FEMA’s lackluster response, American millionaires using Puerto Rico as a tax haven and more. “Frontal Entero con Samantha Abeja” t-shirts produced by Puerto Rican businesses go on sale today at the TBS store, with proceeds going to the Hispanic Federation. John Malkovich will narrate a one-hour special marking the 50th awarding of college basketball’s Naismith Trophy, airing Final Four weekend, Sunday, April 1 at 5p on CBS. The program, from Juma Entertainment and the Atlanta Tipoff Club, celebrates key moments from the last 5 decades. One person who’s excited about the show? Robert Horowitz, Juma president and exec producer. “I was a ballboy at UCLA during the Wooden era, so creating this Naismith 50 college basketball documentary was truly a labor of love,” Horowitz tells Cynopsis. “If you’re caught up in March Madness and are a college hoops junkie, this doc will truly rekindle some great memories. We let interviews with players and coaches and classic archival footage tell the story. Landing John Malkovich, and his iconic voice to narrate, was the icing on the cake.” UPFRONTS Wednesday’s snowstorm forced Crown Media Networks to cancel its Upfront event at the Rainbow Room, so CEO Bill Abbott, Ed Georger, EVP of ad sales & digital media, and Hallmark actresses Candace Cameron Bure and Danica McKellar swung into action, appearing on Facebook Live to share some Upfront announcements about Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, against the backdrop of snowy Central Park. Hallmark Channel picked up When Calls the Heart for season 6 and docu-series Meet the Peetes for season 2, and will launch its first-ever interactive “Home & Family Dream Holiday Home Decorating Contest.” HM&M ordered 3 new original movie franchises. Together, the sister nets will air 34 original holiday movies in 2018, and 90 new movies throughout the year. DIGITAL DATA A new homepage for NBCNews.com launched in beta on Thursday, ahead of a broad redesign of all NBC News digital properties that will emphasize video and images, with channels that group stories around topics. The change also includes “high-impact, ‘sticky’ ads that are simultaneously more visible and more visually pleasing,” said the company. Tech companies could have a rockier road ahead in Europe, as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation considers expanding consumer laws to free digital services for which consumers provide personal data instead of paying money. “Given the increasing value of personal data, these services simply are not ‘free,’” said the EU in a draft directive. “Hence, consumers should have the same right …regardless of whether they pay for the service with money or whether they provide personal data.” U.S. broadband households have over 7 video devices on average, according to a study from Parks Associates, and nearly 40% subscribe to multiple OTT services. “Demand for connected AV experiences is opening new business opportunities for integrators and companies that can provide expert managed services across multiple platforms and locations,” said Elizabeth Parks, SVP of Parks Associates. Netflix collaborating with Formula 1 on a docu-series following the 2018 FIA Formula One Championship, to air in 2019. “This partnership with Formula 1 furthers our mission of working with world-class brands and production partners to produce best-in-class unscripted series,” said Bela Bajaria, VP of content for Netflix. Challenged by Twitter followers to delete the Facebook pages for his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk wrote, “Will be gone soon.” And they were deactivated shortly afterward, with their 2.5 million followers. “I don’t use FB & never have, so don’t think I’m some kind of martyr or my companies are taking a huge blow,” tweeted Musk on Friday. Earlier in the week, WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton posted, “It is time. #deletefacebook.” The movement to exit the social media giant gained momentum after it was discovered that Cambridge Analytica gathered data from 50 million users without their knowledge to help Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. CASTING Ed Begley Jr. landed a lead in Fox comedy pilot Bless This Mess, about a newlywed couple played by Lake Bell and Dax Shepard who move from NYC to Nebraska….Kearran Giovanni (Major Crimes) booked a lead role in NBC thriller pilot Suspicion. |
| A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE | | Making your lives easier since 1997... “Love getting the Cynopsis newsletter. The content is great and easy to ingest during my commute in the morning.”-Kristin, Programmatic Group Media Director - Neo@Ogilvy In an effort to make your lives even easier during our busy season, we’ve created an Upfront/NewFronts Portal to provide you with an easy-to-use resource center. Sponsored by The Weather Channel Television Network, it’s a who-what-where-when of the Upfronts + NewFronts. You’re welcome. |
RATINGS NBC turned on the heat Thursday with 2 hours of Chicago Fire that delivered an average 6.8 million viewers and 1.2/5 among A18-49, versus the 2-hour launch of ABC firehouse drama Station 19 (5.4 million and 1.1/5 in the demo). The first hour of Station 19 was even with Scandal’s average but the second hour surpassed How to Get Away with Murder’s season 4 average of 3.7 million/.9 A18-49. Oxygen’s Aaron Hernandez Uncovered debuted as the rebranded net’s highest-rated true crime program yet, averaging 1.05 million total viewers across premiere episodes on Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18. Part 2 was the most viewed telecast for Oxygen in 3 years (1.25 million viewers), and 40% of the viewers were new to Oxygen. Live + Same Day Viewers AA (millions) Thursday, March 22, 2018 time period averages Source: NTI, Galaxy as dated Live+SD CBS: 7.64 million NCAA Tournament 7.03, NCAA Tournament 8.27 ABC: 6.15 million Grey’s Anatomy 7.61, Station 19 5.43, How to Get Away with Murder NBC: 5.70 million Superstore 3.85, AP Bio 2.87, Chicago Fire 6.88 FOX: 2.40 million Gotham 2.47, Showtime at the Apollo 2.33 UNIVISION: 1.18 million El Rico y Lazaro 1.21, Papa a Toda Madre1.18, Por Amar Sin Ley 1.14 TELEMUNDO .81 million Jose Jose, el Príncipe de la Cancion .65, Al Otro Lado Del Muro .84, Enemigo Intimo .94 CW: .77 million Supernatural .95, Arrow .59 Friday A18-49: CBS 2.3/10, ABC 1.4/6, NBC 1.1/4, FOX .7/3, UNI .6/2, TELE .4/2, CW .3/1 IN MEMORIAM Actress DuShon Monique Brown died March 23. She was 49. Brown played Connie on Chicago Fire since the 2012 series premiere. “The Chicago Fire family is devastated to lose one of its own,” said EP Dick Wolf. Brown’s representative said her death was sudden from “natural causes.”
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| A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE | | Congratulations to the 7th Annual Sports Media Awards Finalists Get Tickets Before Prices Increase! Thursday, April 12 | 8:30am – 10:30am | NYAC, NYC With only three weeks left until the event, be sure to register your team (before prices increase on 3/29) to attend the awards breakfast for team photos, celebratory toasts and networking opportunities. Parties with tables of ten* will have priority seating at the front of the room, and will have ensured seats together. This event sells out EVERY year. Don’t wait! REGISTER YOUR TEAM |
This Day in History: 1790 - Congress passed the Naturalization Act, requiring a 2-year residency. Answer to Our Last Trivia Question: What future Oscar nominee played a nosy neighbor who held shoppers hostage in a supermarket on Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)? Laurie Metcalf. Kudos to: Andrew Goldman-Ownzones Media Network/NYC, Gerry Bixenspan-TV Marketing Inc./NYC, Jim Kelley-Lee Hecht Harrison/Melville, NY, Randy Ingram-WSIH/WNDY-TV/Indianapolis, IN, Eric Litt-Tribune Broadcasting/Antenna TV, Lorrie Shilling/El Segundo, CA, Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA, Jim Katz-The Carney Awards/LA Today’s Trivia Question: Which pair of actors earned Emmys for playing a bag lady and her husband on a drama?(Email trivia@cynopsis.com withyour answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: a limit of four correct answers from each time zone will be selected.) Answer to Friday’s Anagram: Scrub gall bid = Bad Girls Club. Kudos to: Charlene White-A+E Networks/Stamford, CT, Mandy Ledbetter-Discovery Research/NYC, Paul Blutter-Walk and Talk Production Rentals/Burbank
Classic Sitcom Anagram: Add Hens to Nowhere (Email trivia@cynopsis.com with your answer; first three respondents with the correct answer who aren’t in trivia will be posted in tomorrow’s newsletter.) |
| CYNOPSISJOBS - For More jobs, please visit Cynopsis.com | JOB OF THE DAY
VP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH INITIATIVES
Fox Deportes
LA
Exp’d Sr exec w/sports & media background to dvlp strategic relationships w/TV media entities, ad agencies, digital streaming services, radio, etc., to drive non-traditional revenue streams. 12 yrs related exp. bilingual: Spanish/English
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JOB OPENING: SVP CONTENT/Universal Kids/NYC: Resp for creating/executing a content strategy, leading development, co-productions, current production and acquisitions. Min 15 yrs exp leading content production and/or acquisition for children’s programming. Full info/apply HERE (3/30)
JOB OPENING: DIGITAL SALES PLANNER/PROGRAMMATIC/NBCU/NYC: Team with Account Executive and internal constituents to understand client goals and objectives for programmatic guaranteed proposals to increase the effectiveness and scale of media buys. 2+ years of digital media experience in media planning or client service role. Full info/apply HERE (3/30)
JOB OPENING: VP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH INITIATIVES/Fox Deportes/LA: Exp’d Sr exec w/sports & media background to dvlp strategic relationships w/TV media entities, ad agencies, digital streaming services, radio, etc., to drive non-traditional revenue streams. 12 yrs related exp. bilingual: Spanish/English Apply HERE (3/30)
JOB OPENING: MGR, BRAND STRATEGY, CONTENT INNOVATION/NBCU/NYC: Actively participate in dvlpmnt, presentation, sell through & execution of creative multi-platform mktg, content & comm strategies that leverage innovative thinking and out-of-the-box ideas at various scales. 5+ yrs working in brand mktg/advertising. Full info/apply HERE (3/30)
JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASSISTANT/Crown Media Family Networks/NY: Provide support to Ad Sales by working W/ Acct Execs to srvc clients. Including sales orders, move requests and media schedules. Detail oriented w/orgnzt’l skills to keep efficient work sched. BA/BS req. Full info/apply HERE (3/29)
JOB OPENING: SALES PLANNER/Crown Media Family Networks/NY: Provide sales and support to the Ad Sales team for Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. Maintain media schedules, build sales plans, train Sales Assistants. BS and minimum 1 year exp. req. Apply HERE (3/29)
JOB OPENING: MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/Manifest/NYC: Dvlp a strategic outbound comm/mktg plan, incl a social and digital strategy. Create business dvlpmt materials; refresh existing assets. Min 5-7 yrs exp in digital mktg/communications, primarily in Business Development/Sales. Full info/apply HERE (3/29)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR BRAND PARTNERSHIPS/Stage 13/NYC: Resp. for driving sales efforts & reaching target accts & agencies for Stage 13, a fearless original digital content brand. 8+ yrs exp digital media sales within an Entertainment/Media or Ad Agency. Mobile ad sales a plus. Full info/apply HERE (3/28)
JOB OPENING: COORDINATOR, ON-AIR PLANNING/Crown Media Family Networks/LA: Assist in strategic sched of on-air promos for Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, & Hallmark Drama. Provide support for monthly promo plans; track projects for Ad Sales. Strong orgnzt’l skills, BA/BS & 1 yr exp. Req’d. Full info/apply HERE (3/28)
JOB OPENING: PRODUCER/NBC NEWS/DC: Produce content (live, taped, multimedia) for various NBC platforms and work with correspondents to prepare live reports. minimum of over 4 yrs editorial exp working in production at a network/cable news operation. Full inf/apply HERE (3/28)
JOB OPENING: RIGHTS SYSTEM REPORTING MANAGER/Viacom/NYC: responsible for all aspects of requirements gathering, rights management system testing, analysis, production roll-out and ongoing support. Min 4 yrs Rights Analysis, and/or Contract Management and rights system management exp. Full info/apply HERE (3/28)
JOB OPENING: RIGHTS SYSTEM CONTRACT ENTRY MANAGER/Viacom/NYC: responsible for all aspects of Viacom program sales contract analysis and entry into the Viacom Rights Management System (“RMS”), and on-going support. 4 years Rights Analysis, and/or Contract Management and rights system management exp. Full info/apply HERE (3/27)
JOB OPENING: SR PRODUCER NEWS/Spectrum/El Segundo CA: Ability to produce live or recorded newscasts. Strong broadcast news writing ability. Ability to anticipate situations and meet strict deadlines. Interpersonal skills and excellent collaboration skills Full info/apply HERE (3/27)
JOB OPENING: TECHNICAL WRITER/WO PROGRAMMATIC/WideOrbit/Seattle: Mng creation of our online end user documentation & ensure all customers understand & use the new features we are releasing; help prod stellar end-user content. 2+ yrs of translating technical/development specifications. Full info/apply HERE (3/27)
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WHAT'S ON TONIGHT - MONDAY MARCH 26
ABC: American Idol, The Good Doctor [f] CBS: Kevin Can Wait, Man With a Plan, Superior Donuts, Living Biblically, Scorpion CW: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, iZombie FOX: Lucifer, The Resident NBC: The Voice, Good Girls PBS: Antiques Roadshow, Into the Night: Portraits of Life and Death TELEMUNDO: Jose Jose, el Príncipe de la Cancion, Al Otro Lado Del Muro, Enemigo Intimo UNIVISION: El Rico y Lazaro, Papa a Toda Madre, Por Amar Sin Ley
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