Mar 14, 2023 8:38 AM PHT
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to listen to groundbreaking journalism. Best Supporting Actor Ke Huy Quan, Best Actress Michelle Yeoh, Best Actor Brendan Fraser and Best Supporting Actress Jamie Lee Curtis pose with their Oscars in the photo room at the 95th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 12, 2023.u00a0
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The independent studio behind 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' and 'The Whale' took home nine Oscars out of its 18 nominations
LOS ANGELES, USA – Independent studio A24 was the big winner at Sunday, March 12, Academy Awards, taking nine awards out of its 18 nominations, including best picture and all four acting prizes. The studio’s Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Oscars, the most of the evening, including best picture. The science-fiction film also took three of the four acting awards. Michelle Yeoh was named best actress, while Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis took the supporting awards. It was only the third film in Oscar history to win three of the four acting awards, following 1951’s A Streetcar Named Desire and 1976’s Network. No film has ever won all four acting prizes. However, Brendan Fraser took the best actor prize for A24’s The Whale, which also won for best makeup and hairstyling. Not since the heyday of Miramax in the 1990s has an independent studio garnered such attention, talent and box office success, entertainment industry insiders say. At a time when major Hollywood studios have taken refuge in the familiar, releasing sequels and rehashing old ideas, A24 is cementing a reputation for taking risks on original projects that other studios pass on – including the frenetic, chaotic Everything Everywhere All at Once, which is its highest-grossing movie at $107.4 million globally. “In this moment, they are not only the leading indie company, but they also have created a brand that probably resonates more with its customers than any other independent ever – more than Miramax,” said Picturehouse CEO Bob Berney, a well-regarded executive in the world of independent film. “Their biggest achievement is that they’ve created a super-cool brand that has a following.”
This year, A24 will build on that momentum and lift its film, television and documentary production by 30%, according to a source familiar with the matter, riding the wave of industry acclaim and its 2022 box office success. Forthcoming releases this year include the love story Past Lives, which screened to a rapturous critical reception at the Berlin film festival; the dark comedy series Beef for Netflix , in which Ali Wong and Steven Yeun portray two strangers whose lives collide in a road-rage episode; and the Steph Curry documentary Underrated for Apple TV+. “It’s very much a dream studio, because they make movies that feel so auteur-focused,” said playwright and Past Lives director Celine Song, who said that the studio enables first-time directors like herself to “speak in their own voice.”
The New York-based company founded by three film executives – Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges, who has since departed – got its start in 2012 distributing such films as Spring Breakers. “Some of its box office success has come from the horror genre, with such critically acclaimed films as Hereditary and Midsommar. It earned a reputation as a Hollywood tastemaker with such director-driven projects as Lady Bird, Moonlight and Uncut Gems. This year, A24’s 18 Academy Award nominations were across six films, ranking second only to the giant Walt Disney Co. . It collected its first nods for best animated feature, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On; best foreign film, Close; and outstanding makeup and hairstyling, The Whale. Eight performers in A24 films received first-time acting nominations including Yeoh, Quan, Curtis and Fraser. Must Read
Everything Everywhere
The first film A24 produced and financed, together with Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, was Moonlight, which won the Oscar for best picture in 2017. The studio has garnered 53 Oscar nominations in less than a decade, including best picture nods for Lady Bird, Minari and “Room. A24’s film slate has grown at the pace of its cash flow – starting with three movies in 2016 to 15 in 2022. Midway through the global lockdown, it resumed movie making using its in-house production capabilities. This year, it’s on track to produce about 15 films for theatrical release, eight documentaries and 10 television shows. The studio’s frugal use of capital – A24’s film budgets range from $5 million to $50 million – give it the flexibility to take more creative swings, according to the source close to the studio. “They are willing to take risks and take chances on filmmakers and on stories that other people might not be,” said Claudette Godfrey, vice president of film and television for the SXSW festival. “I think that is what makes it interesting and I think that’s why we ended up kind of aligning with them.”
The studio, which now employs 200 people working in New York, Los Angeles and London, eschews traditional movie marketing campaigns in favor of digital promotions, like the rubber “hot dog fingers” and googly eyes from Everything Everywhere All at Once that took TikTok by storm. A24’s financial success at the box office has allowed it to expand its creative portfolio. About nine years ago, it began producing television shows in addition to films, winning critical praise for Hulu’s Ramy, a comedy series centered around a first-generation American Muslim, and HBO’s Emmy-winning drama series Euphoria. The studio is developing shows for several streaming services and television networks, including a pair of HBO series: The Sympathizer, a $100 million television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel starring Robert Downey Jr., and The Idol from the creators of Euphoria and The Weeknd. It’s also developing Sunny, a thriller for Apple TV+ starring Rashida Jones and Hidetoshi Nishijima. The global reach of the streaming platforms, together with an infusion of $225 million from investors including Stripes and Neuberger Berman, on behalf of client funds, serve to fan A24’s ambitions, as it ramps up production and expands into new genres. “A24 has over time developed a well-earned reputation as a powerful force in the world of independent cinema,” said Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian, “whose name has come to represent quality awards-caliber filmed entertainment and now ranks among the most influential and respected purveyors of quality cinema with both filmmakers and audiences.” – Rappler.com
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Studio A24 captures Oscar spotlight with big wins for best picture, acting

Dev Patel, 'The Key Man Book', 'Chocolat,' 'Gangs of Newyork' and 'The GEntleman'Chris Chapman/Everett Collection
EXCLUSIVE: Dav Patel is set to headline and executive produce The Key Man , a limited series telling the story of disgraced financier Arif Naqvi. Set in the Middle East, the project hails from Miramax Television . It is part of the company’s increased international focus, signaled by the hire three years ago of former NBCUniversal International Studios executive Marc Helwig — who has deep European TV industry ties — as Miramax’s Global Head of Television. Marc Helwig
Mining the indie studio’s library of IP has been a big priority for Helwig and his team who have shepherded series projects based on such Miramax movies as The Gentlemen, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Gangs Of New York, Chocolat, The English Patient and Prêt-à-Porter, and have mounted a revival of Miramax TV’s first unscripted series Project Greenlight. Related Story
The filmmakers behind some of the movies are also involved in the TV adaptations, including The Gentleman writer-director-producer Guy Ritchie, who is a writer, director and executive producer on the Netflix series of the same name, and Gangs of New York director Martin Scorsese who is attached to executive produce and direct the potential series offshoot. The Key Man is joining a significant portion of Miramax Television’s series that are being developed and produced internationally, including The Gentlemen, which has been filming in and around London; and Chocolat, which is being developed as a French-language TV series with Mediawan; as well as several series based on book IP rather than Miramax library titles, The Turkish Detective for Paramount, which wrapped production in Istanbul; The Henna Artist with Freida Pinto at Netflix, which would be filmed in India if greenlighted; The Christie Affair, with Daisy Ridley, which is in the works in the UK; and an adaptation of Le Grand Secret (English title: The Immortals), also part of the co-production deal with Mediawan. “Miramax IP is in its very DNA international facing and so there is a natural opportunity to mine the library for local to global shows,” Helwig said. Additionally, “Miramax is a legacy company built on backing innovative, new voices, and we are recapturing that essence in television with our approach to working with many new and emerging voices in Europe and beyond,” he said. Miramax is majority owned (51%) by the Qatari beIN Media Group, based in Doha, with Paramount Global holding the remaining 49% stake. “The next phase of the company will see us create more connective tissue with our parent company in Doha and a stronger focus on MENA-centric drama,” Helwig said. The Key Man is an example of that. Based on last year’s bestseller by WSJ reporters Simon Clark and Will Louch, it chronicles how Arif Naqvi (Patel), a charismatic Pakistani businessman who was the founder of Dubai-based private-equity firm Abraaj. Brilliant and inspirational, Naqvi became a global sensation as he built a billion-dollar empire persuading the global elite and titans of industry that the improbable key to solving poverty, hunger and political unrest is through his highly profitable investments. Enmeshed in the world of Popes, presidents, and profits, Arif’s empire came crashing down when his false promises proved to have severe consequences. Patel executive produces alongside Scott Delman (Station 11) and Florence Sloan (Dehli Crime) who had optioned the book. Three years into Helwig’s tenure, Miramax Television has accomplished the initial goal of having three on-air series — more than the company had produced in the past decade — Ritchie’s The Gentlemen at Netflix, Project Greenlight with Issa Rae at HBO Max and The Turkish Detective at Paramount. The next goal is for the slate to expand to six series in the next three years, Helwig said. Among the hopefuls is a drama based on Gong Show host Chuck Barris’ memoir Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which had been adapted into the George Clooney-directed movie. While Justin Timberlake is no longer attached to play Barris, the project remains in active development at Apple TV+ and is currently in the process of hiring a director. Slumdog Millionaire star Patel is making his feature directorial debut with the upcoming Monkey Man for Netflix, whic he also co-wrote and stars in. He is repped by CAA and Sol 22. Clark and Louch are repped by UTA.

Miramax Television Sets Dev Patel to Star In ‘The Key Man’ As Company Ramps Up International Content

Reuters | Updated: 13-03-2023 19:31 IST | Created: 13-03-2023 19:31 IST
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Independent studio A24 was the big winner at Sunday's Academy Awards, taking nine awards out of its 18 nominations, including best picture and all four acting prizes. The studio's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" won seven Oscars, the most of the evening, including best picture. The science-fiction film also took three of the four acting awards. Michelle Yeoh was named best actress, while Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis took the supporting awards. It was only the third film in Oscar history to win three of the four acting awards, following 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire" and 1976's "Network." No film has ever won all four acting prizes. However, Brendan Fraser took the best actor prize for A24's "The Whale," which also won for best makeup and hairstyling. Not since the heyday of Miramax in the 1990s has an independent studio garnered such attention, talent and box office success, entertainment industry insiders say. At a time when major Hollywood studios have taken refuge in the familiar, releasing sequels and rehashing old ideas, A24 is cementing a reputation for taking risks on original projects that other studios pass on -- including the frenetic, chaotic "Everything Everywhere All at Once," which is its highest-grossing movie at $107.4 million globally. "In this moment, they are not only the leading indie company, but they also have created a brand that probably resonates more with its customers than any other independent ever – more than Miramax," said Picturehouse CEO Bob Berney, a well-regarded executive in the world of independent film. "Their biggest achievement is that they've created a super-cool brand that has a following." This year, A24 will build on that momentum and lift its film, television and documentary production by 30%, according to a source familiar with the matter, riding the wave of industry acclaim and its 2022 box office success. Forthcoming releases this year include the love story "Past Lives," which screened to a rapturous critical reception at the Berlin film festival; the dark comedy series "Beef" for Netflix , in which Ali Wong and Steven Yeun portray two strangers whose lives collide in a road-rage episode; and the Steph Curry documentary "Underrated" for Apple TV+. "It's very much a dream studio, because they make movies that feel so auteur-focused," said playwright and "Past Lives" director Celine Song, who said that the studio enables first-time directors like herself to "speak in their own voice." The New York-based company founded by three film executives -- Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges, who has since departed -- got its start in 2012 distributing such films as "Spring Breakers." Some of its box office success has come from the horror genre, with such critically acclaimed films as "Hereditary" and "Midsommar." It earned a reputation as a Hollywood tastemaker with such director-driven projects as "Lady Bird," "Moonlight" and "Uncut Gems." This year, A24's 18 Academy Award nominations were across six films, ranking second only to the giant Walt Disney Co. . It collected its first nods for best animated feature, "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On;" best foreign film, "Close;" and outstanding makeup and hairstyling, "The Whale." Eight performers in A24 films received first-time acting nominations including Yeoh, Quan, Curtis and Fraser. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE The first film A24 produced and financed, together with Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment, was "Moonlight," which won the Oscar for best picture in 2017. The studio has garnered 53 Oscar nominations in less than a decade, including best picture nods for "Lady Bird, "Minari" and "Room." A24's film slate has grown at the pace of its cash flow - starting with three movies in 2016 to 15 in 2022. Midway through the global lockdown, it resumed movie making using its in-house production capabilities. This year, it's on track to produce about 15 films for theatrical release, eight documentaries and 10 television shows. The studio's frugal use of capital -- A24's film budgets range from $5 million to $50 million -- give it the flexibility to take more creative swings, according to the source close to the studio. "They are willing to take risks and take chances on filmmakers and on stories that other people might not be," said Claudette Godfrey, vice president of film and television for the SXSW festival. "I think that is what makes it interesting and I think that's why we ended up kind of aligning with them." The studio, which now employs 200 people working in New York, Los Angeles and London, eschews traditional movie marketing campaigns in favor of digital promotions, like the rubber "hot dog fingers" and googly eyes from "Everything Everywhere All at Once" that took TikTok by storm. A24's financial success at the box office has allowed it to expand its creative portfolio. About nine years ago, it began producing television shows in addition to films, winning critical praise for Hulu's "Ramy," a comedy series centered around a first-generation American Muslim, and HBO's Emmy-winning drama series "Euphoria." The studio is developing shows for several streaming services and television networks, including a pair of HBO series: "The Sympathizer," a $100 million television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel starring Robert Downey Jr., and "The Idol" from the creators of "Euphoria" and The Weeknd. It's also developing "Sunny," a thriller for Apple TV+ starring Rashida Jones and Hidetoshi Nishijima. The global reach of the streaming platforms, together with an infusion of $225 million from investors including Stripes and Neuberger Berman, on behalf of client funds, serve to fan A24's ambitions, as it ramps up production and expands into new genres. "A24 has over time developed a well-earned reputation as a powerful force in the world of independent cinema," said Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian, "whose name has come to represent quality awards-caliber filmed entertainment and now ranks among the most influential and respected purveyors of quality cinema with both filmmakers and audiences." (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement

FOCUS-Studio A24 captures Oscar spotlight with big wins for best picture, acting

Studio A24 captures Oscar spotlight with big wins for best picture, acting
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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -     Independent studio A24 was the big winner at Sunday's Academy Awards, taking nine awards out of its 18 nominations, including best picture and all four acting prizes. The studio's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" won seven Oscars, the most of the evening, including best picture. The science-fiction film also took three of the four acting awards. Michelle Yeoh was named best actress, while Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis took the supporting awards. It was only the third film in Oscar history to win three of the four acting awards, following 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire" and 1976's "Network." No film has ever won all four acting prizes. However, Brendan Fraser took the best actor prize for A24's "The Whale," which also won for best makeup and hairstyling. Not since the heyday of Miramax in the 1990s has anindependent studio garnered such attention, talent and boxoffice success, entertainment industry insiders say. At a time when major Hollywood studios have taken refuge inthe familiar, releasing sequels and rehashing old ideas, A24 iscementing a reputation for taking risks on original projectsthat other studios pass on -- including the frenetic, chaotic"Everything Everywhere All at Once," which is itshighest-grossing movie at $107.4 million globally. "In this moment, they are not only the leading indiecompany, but they also have created a brand that probablyresonates more with its customers than any other independentever - more than Miramax," said Picturehouse CEO Bob Berney, awell-regarded executive in the world of independent film. "Theirbiggest achievement is that they've created a super-cool brandthat has a following." This year, A24 will build on that momentum and lift its film, television and documentary production by 30%, according toa source familiar with the matter, riding the wave of industryacclaim and its 2022 box office success. Forthcoming releases this year include the love story "PastLives," which screened to a rapturous critical reception at theBerlin film festival; the dark comedy series "Beef" for Netflix, in which Ali Wong and Steven Yeun portray twostrangers whose lives collide in a road-rage episode; and theSteph Curry documentary "Underrated" for Apple TV+. "It's very much a dream studio, because they make moviesthat feel so auteur-focused," said playwright and "Past Lives"director Celine Song, who said that the studio enablesfirst-time directors like herself to "speak in their own voice." The New York-based company founded by three film executives-- Daniel Katz, David Fenkel and John Hodges, who has sincedeparted -- got its start in 2012 distributing such films as"Spring Breakers." Some of its box office success has come fromthe horror genre, with such critically acclaimed films as"Hereditary" and "Midsommar." It earned a reputation as aHollywood tastemaker with such director-driven projects as "LadyBird," "Moonlight" and "Uncut Gems." This year, A24's 18 Academy Award nominations were acrosssix films, ranking second only to the giant Walt Disney Co.. It collected its first nods for best animated feature,"Marcel the Shell With Shoes On;" best foreign film, "Close;"and outstanding makeup and hairstyling, "The Whale." Eightperformers in A24 films received first-time acting nominations including Yeoh, Quan, Curtis and Fraser. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE
The first film A24 produced and financed, together with BradPitt's Plan B Entertainment, was "Moonlight," which won theOscar for best picture in 2017. The studio has garnered 53 Oscarnominations in less than a decade, including best picture nodsfor "Lady Bird, "Minari" and "Room." A24's film slate has grown at the pace of its cash flow -starting with three movies in 2016 to 15 in 2022. Midway throughthe global lockdown, it resumed movie making using its in-houseproduction capabilities. This year, it's on track to produceabout 15 films for theatrical release, eight documentaries and10 television shows. The studio's frugal use of capital -- A24's film budgetsrange from $5 million to $50 million -- give it the flexibilityto take more creative swings, according to the source close tothe studio. "They are willing to take risks and take chances onfilmmakers and on stories that other people might not be," saidClaudette Godfrey, vice president of film and television for theSXSW festival. "I think that is what makes it interesting and Ithink that's why we ended up kind of aligning with them." The studio, which now employs 200 people working in NewYork, Los Angeles and London, eschews traditional moviemarketing campaigns in favor of digital promotions, like therubber "hot dog fingers" and googly eyes from "EverythingEverywhere All at Once" that took TikTok by storm. A24's financial success at the box office has allowed it toexpand its creative portfolio. About nine years ago, it began producing television shows inaddition to films, winning critical praise for Hulu's "Ramy," acomedy series centered around a first-generation AmericanMuslim, and HBO's Emmy-winning drama series "Euphoria." The studio is developing shows for several streamingservices and television networks, including a pair of HBOseries: "The Sympathizer," a $100 million television adaptationof Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel starringRobert Downey Jr., and "The Idol" from the creators of"Euphoria" and The Weeknd. It's also developing "Sunny," a thriller for Apple TV+starring Rashida Jones and Hidetoshi Nishijima. The global reach of the streaming platforms, together withan infusion of $225 million from investors including Stripes andNeuberger Berman, on behalf of client funds, serve to fan A24'sambitions, as it ramps up production and expands into newgenres. "A24 has over time developed a well-earned reputation as apowerful force in the world of independent cinema," saidComscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian, "whose namehas come to represent quality awards-caliber filmedentertainment and now ranks among the most influential andrespected purveyors of quality cinema with both filmmakers and audiences." (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski and Mark Porter; Editing by Kenneth Li and Mark Porter)
By Dawn Chmielewski

LOS ANGELES --- A24, the independent studio behind such films as "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "The Whale," is poised to dominate this year's Academy Awards, eclipsing Hollywood's established studios and awards-hungry streamers that are spending millions on Oscar campaigns.

Not since the heyday of Miramax in the 1990s has an independent studio garnered such attention, talent and box office success, entertainment industry insiders say.

At a time when major Hollywood studios have taken refuge in the familiar, releasing sequels and rehashing old ideas, A24 is cementing a reputation for taking risks on original projects that other studios pass on -- including the frenetic...Keep on reading: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ studio A24 captures Oscar spotlight

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ studio A24 captures Oscar spotlight

ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIIACA) is the merged entity of Viacom and CBS.

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ViacomCBS and Miramax are partnering on their first project since ViacomCBS took a 49 % stake in the film and TV studio in April .

ViacomCBS International Studios Partners With Miramax On ‘The Turkish Detective’

In addition , ViacomCBS sibling Paramount Pictures has entered into exclusive , long-term distribution agreements for Miramax 's film library and a similar arrangement that will see the US studio develop , produce , finance and distribute new film and TV projects based on Miramax 's IP .

ViacomCBS to invest in Miramax after taking 49% stake

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor offilmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom, a content company withprominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage,Paramount Classics, DreamWorks, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPCoperations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount HomeEntertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc.,Paramount Studios, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

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Further , beIN MEDIA GROUP and ViacomCBS Inc. will explore other strategic partnership opportunities across content production and distribution , live events and recreation globally .

ViacomCBS to Make Strategic Investment in beIN MEDIA GROUP’s MIRAMAX

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Miramax is a global film and televsion studio known for their award-winning and original content. In December 2019, ViacomCBS took a 49% stake in Miramax. Under the terms of the transaction, ViacomCBS will make an upfront cash payment of approximately $150 million and has committed to investing $45 million annually over the next five years, for a total of $225 million, to provide funding for new film and television productions and working capital.

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