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Dinosaurs
go to Latin America
BBC Worldwide is proving that dinosaurs are not at all extinct in
public demand. Two of the BBC's educational programs about the ancient
creatures are hitting big at this year's MIPCOM. "Walking With Dinosaurs"
and the 50-minute special "The Making of ' Walking With Dinosaurs'
" were sold to broadcasters in 10 Latin American countries, including
Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. The sale means that the show
has the potential to expand its audience to 80 million Latin American
homes.
Dr. Zhivago Slated for TV
Evision and UK-based Granada have partnered to produce a $15 million
remake of "Dr. Zhivago" for European television in two 100-minute
episodes, with Andrew Davis (Bridget Jones' Diary) signed
to write the adaptation. So far no director or cast has been chosen,
but the series is planned to air in 2003. The TV version should
be more faithful to Boris Pasternak's novel than the famous 1965
feature film, which
starred Omar Sharif and Julie Christie.
"Garcia Brothers" Go French
In a surprising turn of events, "Brothers Garcia," the hit American
TV show from Nickelodeon, has been sold to France and Sweden. The
comedy show features an all-Latino-cast and follows three brothers
who are entering adulthood. Insiders were unsure how the show, which
deals heavily in American cultural politics, would be received outside
the US. So far interest in the series is high, with more deals potentially
in the future.
Peppermint
Picks up Two
Peppermint, the new German sales group, has picked up Asian and
European rights to "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" from Coppola's
American Zoetrope Productions, and the Canadian action movie "Fearless."
Peppermint also acquired the rights to a 13-episode series called
"Lost Link," a mix of detective drama and audience-participation
that follows a detective tracking down a serial killer. The show
also sponsors a website so that viewers can hunt for clues, guess
the killer, and search suspects' apartments online.
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MIPNET
is on the Way
Internet companies are such an enormous force at this year's MIPCOM
(accounting for more than 15% of the overall attendance) that Xavier
Roy, the head of Reed Midem, is planning to launch a new market
April 2001 dedicated exclusively to Internet and new-media companies.
Starting April next year, MIPNET, the current new-media section,
will take place on a dedicated day prior to the next MIP-TV market,
Roy said. Plans are underway to run the MIPNET day alongside MIPDOC,
a documentary
market that runs immediately before
the MIP-TV festival in April.
MGM
Launches ChatRoomAmerica
In the spirit of "Survivor" and "Big Brother,"
MGM has launched yet another new reality series: "ChatRoomAmerica,"
which it revealed at MIPCOM this week. The show, targeted at US
audiences, is produced by MGM Television Entertainment. It is planned
to have several hosts and copy the style of fashion, entertainment
and business online chat rooms. A website has already been created
that will enable viewers to participate in the show and contribute
topic ideas.
Germany Plans Enterntainment Channel
VCL Film + Media, a German distributor, has applied for a licence
to create a German language, all-entertainment channel along the
lines of E! Entertainment. The show would feature trailers, behind-the-scenes
programs, celebrity buzz and festival news and could launch by December
of this year.
Plus
Plans Animal Homosexuality Doc
Canal Plus has bought the rights to a documentary about animal homosexuality
from French indie company Saint Thomas Prods. The hourlong film
disputes the idea that animals are not homosexual -- and features
same-sex creatures from killer whales to seals offering evidence
against conventional wisdom. The film was co-produced with Canal
Plus' documentary unit Docstar for 2 million francs ($260,000),
and will be sold internationally by Explore International, a joint
venture between Canal Plus and National Geographic. Its working
title is "Animal Homosexuality."
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