Video Age International October 2016

44 October 2016 V I D E O A G E trends and new production patterns, reported to VideoAge : “The number of new original series has greatly increased since the 2014 Screenings due to the proliferation of new distribution platforms, such as Crackle, X1 and HayU. “The perception in Hollywood seems to be that the public will be receptive toward these increased offerings and it is not worried about the saturation factor. Perhaps, with an eye toward this ‘overload’ possibility in the back of their minds, the networks have fallen back on content that is safe and well known, like popular franchises such as Lethal Weapon , The Exorcist , The Rocky Horror Picture Show , etc. “The difference between traditional and new media was further strengthened for this new season. If on one hand digital platforms opted for original programming, the traditional Indies : May 16 (Tuesday), 17, 18 and 19 (with the possibility that some LATAM indies will start on the 15) at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. For those who will start on the 15, set up day is on Sunday. Studios : May 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. The studios’ LATAM screenings are expected to follow the traditional pattern: Thursday, May 18 for Fox; Friday is reserved for the mini-majors; Saturday for CBSSI; Sunday, NBCUni and also Disney’s Upfronts Party; Monday, Warner Bros.; Tuesday, Sony and Wednesday, Disney. As for CBSSI, the studio is still considering moving from their traditional venue on the Paramount lot. A note about the InterContinental Hotel in the Century City part of Los Angeles: For May 2017 the room rates are going to increase due to a general, city-wide high demand unrelated to the L.A. Screenings. However, the hotel is offering a discount to so-called early birds who make reservations well in advance. networks went for the familiar tried-and-true: spinoffs, remakes and lineage links to successful shows (e.g., Star – see Empire ; Speechless – see Modern Family ). “In conclusion, the characters that populated the Screenings 2016’s pilots will use futuristic forms of communications, bring the gay community into the mainstream and give a 70s vintage look ( Vinyl and The Get Down ),” he said. If the L.A. Screenings 2016 cycle ends at MIPCOM, the market can also offer an opportunity to plant the seed for the next event. So, looking ahead to next May, VideoAge came up with this preliminary L.A. Screenings schedule for 2017, with the help of U.S. TV advertising experts: Upfronts : May 15, 16, 17 and 18 inNewYork City. L.A. Screenings at MIPCOM (Continued from Page 42) The studios’ paths to the L.A. Screenings venues are aptly marked Jeff Schlesinger, president of WB’s Worldwide Television Distribution, posing by one of the three batmobiles exhibited at the Screenings A lunch break at NBCUniversal If on one hand digital platforms opted for original programming, the traditional networks went for the familiar tried-and-true: spinoffs, remakes and lineage links to successful shows. — Luca Macciocca