Afternoon Insider, Max Goldbart is here in a week where we barely stopped. Below you will find lots of news and analysis. Login here.
Pathetic!
Violent protests: The 2024 Cannes Film Festival begins in less than two weeks and will once again be the scene of violent French workers’ protests. Zac revealed earlier this week that a group of about 200 French film festival workers – a combination of Cannes staff and staff from other festivals across France – were planning protests over pay during the event. The group’s frustration is twofold: firstly, they protest against the wage packages they receive from their employers, which they say are inadequate and do not take into account the arduous overtime often undertaken due to work requirements, while the second stumbling block concerns France unique unemployment insurance program for entertainment workers and technicians. The program, known as Intermittence de Spectacle, supports entertainment workers on short-term contracts with unemployment benefits when they are between jobs or projects. But due to peculiarities in the regulations, many workers at French film festivals are excluded from unemployment benefits. The collective advocates for inclusion in the program, citing the inherent seasonal nature of the work. They will confirm protest plans next week and there is a lot of strike talk. Earlier this year, Zac and Andreas exposed the controversial preparations for the Berlin International Film Festival, and it looks like our coverage will once again set the tone for festival conversations. Check back with us to see how the demonstrations develop.
Warm up: Elsewhere on the Cannes front, the market, which begins in 11 days, is heating up with several high-profile packages coming to market. Mike Fleming Junior reported that CAA and Rocket Science are participating sacrifice with Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Salma Hayek Pinault and Brendan Fraser. Romain Gavras is co-writer and director of the film. Other popular packages include John Carney’s musical comedy Power ballad with Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, A hero Star Amir Jadidi Mansourin which he will play a famous tennis player, and a vampire thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac Flesh of the gods. Then of course there are Francis Ford Coppolas Megalopolis, which is sold in Cannes by Vincent Maraval’s Goodfellas. Also play in competition, Megalopolis is the most anticipated title of Thierry Frémaux’s official selection, which has attracted attention mainly for its strange omissions. The festival also announced this week that it will award its Palm of Honor to Meryl Streep. With the judges now in attendance, including Lily Gladstone, Hirokazu Kor-eda and Eva Green, things start to get very lively. The Cannes Film Festival takes place from May 14th to 25th.
The extraordinary story of a flamboyant Chinese financier
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In the H collective: We hate to play favorites, but if you just want to read an in-depth look at Deadline this week, then Jake’s six-month investigation into Chinese financier Kenneth Huang and the H Collective is for you. Huang, known for the finer things in his life, burst onto the Hollywood scene with a bang a few years ago, financing several films after acting as Paramount’s go-between in the Middle Kingdom. Jake writes that he “handled his wealth in a way that appeased Hollywood stars.” But he left a trail of destruction and a litany of complaints; Colleagues and investors had debts in the tens of millions and a chaotic and unresolved dispute over Vin Diesels xXx Franchise. Many we spoke to now view Huang as the archetypal charismatic con artist, but the reality is complicated and some continue to hold him in their affections. Huang has not responded to repeated requests for comment, and his brother Kent Huang was unable to answer specific questions about the allegations against Huang. Dive deeper here. You want it too.
Revolutionizing true crime production
Netflix/The CW/HBO
Putting Victims First: Over the last year or so, a quiet revolution has taken place in British true crime production, with a group of renowned executives working tirelessly to improve due diligence practices in a genre that has become increasingly popular with the rise of streamers and breakaway success Podcasts like Serial. When the sensational episodes of Netflix hit Baby reindeer raises new questions about ethics in television, I delved deeper into true crime by speaking to some members of the new Association of True Crime Producers (ATCP) and those working on the coalface. Kate Beal, the chair of the ATCP, told me she was driven to action after being unsettled by the media frenzy following the tragic disappearance and death of Nicola Bulley in early 2023. She had feared the true crime genre would “have our Jeremy Kyle moment”, a reference to the former ITV daytime presenter whose 15-year-old show was axed in 2019 following a contestant’s suicide. Click here for more information, including honest, anonymized accounts from people working on true crime shows today.
“Gandhi” travels to London
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“Superman Origin Story”: Jesse traveled to Soho this week to check out the highly anticipated Applause Entertainment Gandhi The series is moving forward. And while he was at it, he broke the news that Tom Felton, the famous Draco Malfoy, had been cast as Gandhi’s best friend Josiah Oldfield. The Hansal Mehta-directed streaming series about the legendary Indian leader of non-violent resistance has been touted as India’s answer to this The crown and tells the story of Gandhi’s early years, spent largely in the English capital and South Africa, with Pratik Gandhi (no relation) playing the lead role. Sameer Nair, CEO of Applause, expects big things from the series and described it as “telling Superman the origin story.” The team behind it Gandhi We hope it can be distributed far and wide and has the potential to achieve great success in the US and Europe. Meanwhile, Sobhita Dhulipala is an Indian star struggling with newfound fame outside her home country Monkey man Breakout sat down with Hannah Abraham to chat about how Dev Patel’s directorial debut changed her life and the benefits of being considered a “niche actress.” “In India, there’s the conventional idea of a mainstream commercial film star who loves you because you entertain him and give him a chance to escape, but you’re not really responsible,” she told Hannah in a fascinating interview. More here.
Eurovision keeps on giving
I couldn’t escape if I wanted to: The Eurovision Song Contest begins next week with two semi-finals, followed by the final on May 11, and whatever you think, it’s not going anywhere. This year is going to be highly political – Israel was forced to change its lyrics in March – so Caroline Frost had a timely chat with Ukrainian duo Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil. In the event of a win – and they are currently among the favorites – the pair have pledged to donate their trophy to support the war effort, similar to 2022 winners the Kalush Orchestra. “We believe that music can unite and that we as a nation can give so much musically and culturally,” Heil said. This year’s competition takes place in Malmö, Sweden, almost 50 years to the day since ABBA took home the crown with “Waterloo” and catapulted the Swedes to superstardom. Before Eurovision begins, a unique ABBA documentary will be released tomorrow, funded by no less than 14 broadcasters, including the BBC, the CW and Swedish broadcaster SVT. Director James Rogan celebrated the documentary’s funding model in a Deadline interview as broadcasters struggle to keep up with streamers in the documentary space. He told us more about how his team forged the groundbreaking series.
The most necessary
Tom Jackson/BBC
🌶️ Hot piece: Toldja!: Gavin & Stacey Christmas is confirmed and will be the final episode of the legendary comedy.
🌶️ Also hot: The Forsyte Saga gets a third life with a reboot of PBS Masterpiece starring Francesca Annis and Millie Gibson.
🪓 Breaking Baz: Our roving international editor-in-chief broke news about it We are Lady Parts Breakthrough artist Faith Omole will have her debut play produced on the London stage next month.
🎉 troublemaker: Stewart had this fascinating meeting with Sidemen manager Jordan Schwarzenberger, who is just the right disruptor.
🔄 Restructure: Diana led a major creative restructuring of Vice Media Group.
🤖 Latest AI: BBC wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin was caught up in a scam where a fake AI-generated program mimicked her voice and gave permission to use her face in an advert.
🖼️ Slate: About Netflix Poland, with projects from Flood And Forgotten love Creatives.
🏪 Set up shop: Studiocanal opened a literary adaptation label and promoted Sarah Reese Geffroy to head the label.
🏪 Set up another shop: “Blue Lights” According to Stewart, director Gilles Bannier opened Alef UK and dropped the first project.
👩⚖️ Attempt: Gérard Depardieu will stand trial in October for sexual assaults against two women on the set of the film The green shutters in 2021.
🚪 Exit: Hundreds of employees at VFX giant DNEG, which initiated its second round of layoffs in a year.
🌊 In hot water: British comedian Dane Baptiste made an anti-Semitic death threat against a fellow comedian and was promptly dropped by his authorities and reported to the police.
🎳 Hit?: Jesse and Katie Campione chatted with writers in Canada.
🖊️ Registered: Shanghai and LA-based production, distribution and investment company Fundamental Films with UTA.
🍿 Box office: Kung Fu Panda 4 exceeded the $500 million mark worldwide.
🎥 Path: For Marcello Mio, One of the most fascinating features in the race for the Palme d’Or, Nancy’s analysis here.
Zac Ntim contributed to this week’s Insider