season screen tv review 2016 № 5

SSTR 2016Season Screen TV Review

Cinema and TV consist of team work, that`s why everybodys

contribution is vital Vladimir Zelenskiy, Studio Kvartal 95

NEWS, BROADCASTING, SALES NEWS, INTERVIEW, MEDIA REPORTS

sstrnews.com

ISSUE 5, FEBRUARY 2016

ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2016 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 3

EDITORIAL MEDIA NEWS

AnalyticalTHE ENDLESS WORLD OF TV SERIES

Experts OpinionWE WILL NOT GO TO THE CINEMA. THE CINEMA WILL COME TO US

InterviewTHE SERVANT OF NATION

Genre TrendsBACK TO CLASSICS

Off-CameraHOW TV SERIES DICTATE FASHION

Drama production`s analyzing. Identifying of series market`s tendencies.

Leonid Mazor, TV-producer, about key differences in TV series production in the countries of the CIS and USA.

Interview with Vladimir Zelenskiy, Studio Kvartal 95.

Top-chart of classics adaptations!

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CONTENTSCONTENTS

Andre Tan, Ukrainian designer, about modern stylish TV series.

ReportATF SINGAPORE 2015

Whats New?WHAT IS MK MEDIA GROUP GOING TO PRESENT?

4 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2016

EDITORS NOTEA famous Scottish writer and producer,

Steven Moffat, once said: I do not want to think that storiescometo an end, I want to feel that they can go on forever.

In our time, they do not only continue, but also firmly enterinto aregular life. Stories from the screen are so intertwined with the real world that sometimes a person does not remember - where exactly he was going through this situation. However, now there exists a sharp human need to live at the present moment. Due to economic and political instability, people have no confidence in the future, and to think of the past, no longer makes sense. Therefore, everyone wants to enjoy his life now and only now.

Whatever people see watching their favorite movies and TV showstheybringintotheir real world: they copy the behavior of the characters they like, eat the same food, go through the emotions displayed on the screen and follow modern trendsset in the series. Heroes are very important. They tell us something about ourselves. The history books tell us the stories of who we were but documents tell us about who we are right now. The heroes tell about who we want to be.

Naturally, if there is demand, then there is an offer. Now the TV series market is quite saturated with diverse content, and the quality of this product is becoming higher and higher year in and year out. Sometimes the quality of the product is not dependent on how much spent on production millions or only a few thousands.

In this issue we will tell about the wealth of the TV series Universe and what is behind the pretty pictures on television.

Denis MikheevMK Media GroupFounder

EDITORIAL


NEWS

360 Degrees of Skill. Youve already got your doctors degree and know what a Reaumur degree is, but youve never watched smart video in 360 degrees? It can be helped! You see, in the age of fast-moving industries, like digital marketing and social media, more and more new forms of communication with viewers emerge. Major platforms like YouTube, Vine, Facebook, Twitch, etc. are always looking for new methods of storytelling. So, what novelties of technological evolution are waiting for us? They say were expecting the rise of 360-video and development of virtual reality storytelling. Google posted the worlds best opera and theatre productions in the format of 360 degrees! If youve always dreamt to know what it is like to perform at Carnegie Hall stage, Google Cultural Institute gives you such opportunity. On Performing Arts project website there are different video items: with music performances, opera rooms, theater productions of the most famous concert halls in the world, and they all are in the form of 360 degrees.Currently available for view are recording performances of the Orchestra of Philadelphia, recording productions of Shakespeares play Henry V and others.

To 4K or not to 4K? Finally Huawei has announced its partnership with Etisalat. These companies are going to launch the first 4K Ultra HD TV service in the Africa and MENA countries.They will start from the UAE, where it will be available already in the first quarter of 2016. And lets read what the leaders of both companies said on this subject:We were the first to bring IPTV solution to the UAE a few years ago, and now we are introducing the 4K technology, which is another revolution in home entertainment and video. As leaders in home entertainment, we are delighted to work with Huawei, enabling our customers to enjoy an IMAX-like experience at home, commented Rashed Al Abbar, VP of consumer product innovation at Etisalat.Besides that, PengXiongji, general manager of Huawei UAE, said, This cooperation is a great opportunity to serve Etisalats customers who are looking for immersive and engaging video experiences. We believe that the mix of Etisalat and Huawei innovations in the 4K realm will ultimately provide the best services to customers in the region.

Next Big Thing? There are a lot of rumors which point out that Apple is working on something new connected with virtual-reality technology. Their aim is to immerse viewers in a totally computer-generated world.It is known that company has already invited Doug Bowman, a scientist from Virginia Tech. He studies human-computer interaction, andparticularly 3D interfaces. Another invited person is Nick Thompson, who previously developed Microsofts HoloLens.Besides, some Asian component makers in Asia claim they have recently got very large orders for dual-lens-camera components for Apple. It means that having two separate lenses and sensors, such camera could provide different advantages, especially those associated with augmented reality. While Apple is trying to do something, other top giants of the tech world also have been working on similar products for years.At the moment, Microsofts HoloLens can already achieve incredible feats like projecting an NFL game onto a coffee table. And what about Facebooks Oculus? It is the system of choice for gamers, and this year it will be on sale. Besides, there is Googles inexpensive Cardboard, which has enough momentum that even Apple has already decided to sell a version.Well, who knows, maybe Apple will manage to make a real splash in virtual reality, or, on the contrary, it will be a little bit late for the party.


NEWS

Machines Will Get Oscars? The Hollywood Reporter recently announced that a brand new programfor analyzing screenplays has already been created! The tandem of Scott Foster and Brian Austin invented Script Hop. It candetermine Oscar bait, characters cathartic peaks and valleys, as well as screen time and shooting days! Scott Foster told that during his work at a story department for almost 12 years, he had to read about 5,500 screenplays. Even if it was the worst script ever, I had to read it cover to cover, he claims. Well, it seems he was fed up with all that reading, so he started to develop Script Hop, an artificial intelligence system which can analyze screenplays. Such software is certainly in high demand with every agency or studio. ScriptHop can look through a script and make complete character breakdown in just 4 seconds! To compare, you can only imagine how many seconds a man would need to read it! As for the operating principles used in the program, the inventorskeep silent. Theres a lot of sauce in the secret sauce, Foster said. By the way, both guys arent the first to develop an AI for screenplay analyzing. There was ScriptBook with algorithmic assessment to estimate prospective box-office potential or the Dewey Decimal System for film and TV. If youre an agent looking for roles for minority clients, its hugely helpful, added Foster. Well, who knows, maybe in the nearest future only machines will write scripts and therefore get Oscars?

And straight to some Legendary News Mister Wang Jianlin, who is a chairman of Wanda Group (China) and one of Chinas richest businesspeople, hasrecently turned his attention to the film industry. With a business net worth of 34 billion dollars, Wang decided to buy Hollywoods Legendary Entertainment for 3.5 billion dollars.Everybody knows the famous movies of the Legendarys studio, such asThe Hangover, Batman, and Inception. The company confirms its movies have earned more than 12 billion dollars worldwide.Wanda will help Legendary increase its market opportunities, especially in the fast-growing China market, informed Wang.Wanda said Legendarys Thomas Tull would remain chairman and chief executive, holding responsibility for day-to-day operations. Wanda and Legendary will create a completely new international entertainment company, added Tull in the Wanda statement. It is also remarkable that ticket sales in Chinaincreased by nearly 50%during last yearup to 6.8 billion dollars. So, differentmajorfilm, music, and television companies consider China and its fast-growing prosperous population of 1.3 billion potential viewers as one of their most promising markets. Even despite global economic changes, Chinas consumer spending is growing faster than in the USA or any other Western markets.

An Apple doesnt fall far from the Warner tree. Our version of the proverb hints that Apple Company is actually rolling around the Warner, and it seems the circles of rolling becoming closer and closer. The problem is that Warner Time has recently found itself under pressure from shareholders to sell it or spin off assets. The Post reported on Sunday that two of the media giants largest longtime investors are running out of patience and would support a sale or a breakup of the company. Both companies representatives declined to comment on it. But anyway, it is obvious that Apple is going to eye Time Warners assets to ease the launch of a stand-alone streaming TV service. Besides, its pretty clear that such deal with Time Warner would grant Apple its innermost desire: CNN news, Turner Sports, and such hugely popular shows as Game of Thrones and Sesame Street from HBO, not to mention Warner Bros. movies and TV shows. Meanwhile, the pressure is growing to agree to a sale or tame the antsy shareholders and activist investors threatening a proxy fight. Some of the analysts, however, believe that a merger of the companies is in both their best interests, no matter what the management says.


THE ENDLESS WORLD OF TV SERIES

One might ask how long have series already existed? The answer is as long as humanity exists. It was ancient Greeks who invented the basis of storytelling. Aristotle described its structure in his Poetics (335 BCE), which is the earliest work of dramatic theory, and we can still apply those principles today!

But the way to modern TV series was a long one: fables, ancient theatre, medieval romances, then, by the end of the 19th century, people eagerly bought numerous penny dreadful novels, next, so-called printed series took place on the radio, and finally, in the first half of the 20th century viewers watched them on TV.

Why are dramas so popular today? First of all, people tend to identify themselves with protagonists or sometimes with real life situations they see on the screens. And of course, its simply human nature to wonder what happens next.

Besides usual TV dramas, soap operas gained huge popularity as well. Have you ever thoughtwhere the term comes from? At the beginning, such format started on radio. It was a 15-min children show focused on young mothers and sponsored by Procter & Gamble or Colgate-Palmolive. Thats why the name of soap companies stuck to the shows. According to some unofficial figures, during all TV era there were (some of them still are) about 15,000 TV channels, including regional, national, international and IPTV, broadcasting different content, but series & TV dramas always enjoyed the highest demand. So lets start our journey from the beginning and to the present time!

FIRST & BIGGESTAmong other candidates for first & famous, we should probably

remember The Lone Ranger, an American western TV series that aired on the ABC Television network from 1949 to 1957with Clayton in the leading role.

The story tells about six Texas Rangers who were shot, except one. This lone survivors wore revenge. He found an Indian companion, called Tonto, and together they travelled through Texas in search of the offenders.

The importance of the series in the world of TV & cinema is undisputed. At the moment it is also one of the most requested product among any multicultural audience. Were going to trace the development path of the TV series: when & why it appeared, main stages, types and local differences. Besed upon surveys and polls, we remember the best & famous series of the world. Besides, our TV experts from various lands tell us about special aspects of the series production in the MENA countries, Caucasus & Europe.

ANALYTICAL | THE ENDLESS WORLD OF TV SERIES

About 15,000 TV channels, including regional, national, international and IPTV, broadcasting different content.


Tonto was played by Jay Silverheels, a real member of the Mohawk tribe in Canada.

In fact, The Lone Ranger was a very famous and one of the highest-rated TV program on ABC at the beginning of the 1950s. According to the Nielsen ratings, the series was number 7 during the 1950-1951 seasons, then number 18 in 1951-1952, and finally edged down to number 29 in 1952-1953.

As for the longest TV series, it is certainly Guiding Light. At the end of the series (September 18, 2009), it had 15,762 episodes. It was even listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running TV drama (the longest series shown on TV). If you decide to shed Guiding Light on your life and resolve to watch at least one episode a day, it will take you about 42 years to watch the entire series Wholl take the risk?

That being said, ask anyone in the CIS countries about the longest TV series, and you will get the one and only answer Santa Barbara!

SANTA BARBARAOh yes, its the iconic TV series for the entire post-Soviet area. Almost

nine years of filming and 2137 episodes! It was one of the first foreign soap operas which viewers could watch after the collapse of the USSR. Anyone who didnt live there during that period cannot even begin to imagine the hysteria this series awoke: all women rushed from their work in order to come home on time and watch the new episode; all men laughed at the exotic name Sisi and wondered how all those Americans could live in such big mansions and have so many beautiful servants; all grandmothers kept calling the TV channels when there were rumors that the show would be canceled... In one word, it was incredible! The phenomenon, of course, was that, after the soviet Iron Curtain, it was something fresh and new. And people, after the collapse of the Union, were astonished by those rich Americans changing their hairstyle and clothes every day, and their women spending the whole day thinking not about money, but about love!

Remarkably, the first episodes of Santa Barbara appeared on the Russian TV, but a bit later new episodes were aired faster on Ukrainian channels, so people turned their attention to them. The author of this article (Denys Kushnarov) spoke with the translator of Santa Barbara, Vladimir Chekurda, who experienced major pressure and huge public interest during the time.

Vladimir Chekurda remembers: Those were the cruel 90s. My work was hard, but funny. The most interesting part was that I knew in advance everything about the next episodes. A lot of people came to me and asked what was going to happen further in the series. What about Cruz? What about Eden?.. People even treated me to coffee and other delicious things in exchange for the valuable information... I felt like Iwas selling something under the counter!

Another factor was the popularity of new words borrowed from the series. For example, fazenda was widely used for country houses or backyards with garden. The name of the series itself, Santa Barbara, has already become a common name in several Slavic languages where it means

Translator of Santa Barbara, Vladimir Chekurda: Those were the cruel 90s. My work was hard, but funny. The most interesting part was that I knew in advance everything about the next episodes. A lot of people came to me and asked what was going to happen further in the series. What about Cruz? What about Eden?.. People even treated metocoffee and other delicious things in exchange for the valuable information...I felt like Iwas selling something under the counter!

THE ENDLESS WORLD OF TV SERIES | ANALYTICAL

Santa Barbara launched the careers of numerous present Hollywood stars, like Leo di Caprio (Oscar is crying), Tim Robbins, Tea Leoni, and others!


something endless and intricate.Furthermore, dont forget: Santa Barbara launched the careers of

numerous present Hollywood stars, like Leo di Caprio, Tim Robbins, Tea Leoni, and others!

Incredible as it may seem, but in spite of Santa Barbaras worldwide popularity, it never achieved the same heights in the USA. During its first season (19841985), it ranked only 11thamong daytime soap operas. The next year it rose to the 10th place. By 1987, however, it started to generate respectable ratings: it was still the 10th, but managed to achieve the highest rating in the history of the show.

Well, anyway, soap operas are only part of the story. Lets have a look at the best of the best among quality drama series!

TOPsIt is absolutely in human nature to try to find out who is the best of the

best. For this reason were always trying to make top-lists, calculate ratings, or hold an opinion poll. Well, The Hollywood Reporter has already done it. They asked about 2,800 people, and not just 2,800 strangers. The list of participants included: 268 distinguished film directors, 365 producers, 779 actors and other experts from the cinema industry. Of course, one can find Simpsons, Lost, The Sopranos, Twin Peaks, House of Cards, etc. at the top of the list. But whatare the top three? If you still dont know, let us announce the winners: 3rd place X-Files, 2nd place Breaking Bad, and the 1stplace Friends!

FRIENDSThis popular American series was created by David Craneand Marta

Kauffmanin association with Warner Bros. Television. It has 10 seasons and aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, the show revolves around six friends living in Manhattan.

Remarkably, Crane and Kauffman began creating Friends under the title Insomnia Cafe between November and December 1993. They presented the idea to their friend and production partner Kevin Bright, and together they pitched a seven-page treatment of the show to NBC. After several script rewrites and changes, including a second title change to Friends Like Us, the series was finally named Friends.

Filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. All ten

seasons of Friends ranked within the top ten of the final television season ratings; ultimately reaching the No.1 place with itseighth season. The series finale on May 6, 2004, was watched by around 52.5 million American

Yet, kids channels still have problems with content selection: choice between native and external content may be not so easy.


Native content, because of its natural comprehensibility for children, can be the best solution for local channels no translation or adaptation required.


viewers, making it the fifth most watched series finale in the television history, and the most watched television episode of the 2000s decade.

Funny, but this series, in terms of ranks and awards, looks like good old wine: its value grows with time. Lets trace all the way: sitcom was nominated for 62 Primetime Emmy Awards, also winning the Outstanding Comedy Series award in 2002 for its eighth season. The show ranked No.21 in TV Guides 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time and No.7 in Empire magazines The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. In 1997, the episode The One with the Prom Video was ranked No.100 in TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time. In 2013, Friends ranked No.24 in the Writers Guild of Americas 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time and No.28 in TV Guides 60 Best TV Series of All Time. In 2014, the Mundo Estranho magazine named Friends the Best TV Series of All Time! The Hollywood Reporters poll, as you can see, showed the same result.

Of course, now, when the rumors about Friends possible return are widespread, most of the fans are really happy and waiting for this come-back. But Friends co-author Marta Kauffman made it clear that she does not want to go back to that territory again. Perhaps, it is because she has much to do with her Netflix series Grace & Frankie.

NBC, in its turn, informs that possible Friends reunion in 2016 could be a part of a special event to pay tribute to the legendary comedy director James Burrows, who has been working in television since the 1970s and directed many series. Burrows also shot some episodes of Friends, so in order to pay tribute to the popular director all main actors are going to reunite. Unfortunately, it is already not a secret that Matthew Perry probably wont be able to join the team, thus making the possible reunion not so perfect, but anyway

Its clear that Friends is still really popular among its fans, and that a reunion might one day happen with the cast members, even if it doesnt come in the form of a reboot. In terms of revisiting Friends, however, its very clear that Marta Kauffman is out.

EXPERTS & INTERVIEWSNow let us switch from legendary series to modern ones. Due to

increasing series production all over the world, it is really difficult to cover everything, but viewers request for quality dramas is still high everywhere.

Netflix surveys showed that about 60% of viewers stick with one show at a time and manage to finish a season approximately in two weeks, and then start again with a new series. Another 25% of respondents watch up


NBC, in its turn, informs that possible Friends reunion in 2016 could be a part of a special event to pay tribute to the legendary comedy director James Burrows.

Native content, because of its natural comprehensibility for children, can be the best solution for local channels no translation or adaptation required.



to two series in a row, and others can watch more than 3 series during one week. So, viewers appetite comes with watching!

But where is the series consumption the highest? Of course, USA, China, India, and EU are still showing high consumption. However, last year, during the Ultra-Broadband Summit 2015, which took place in the UAE, industry experts announced that the MENA region and surrounding countries have a tradition of high content consumption and are currently growing at a faster rate than almost any other emerging market in the world. More information on this issue was given by our expert, Syrian Drama Production Manager Ghaith Ballani, who works in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

He said there is no doubt that the Egyptian Drama is now dominating the local industry because its a really important market. For Syria, which is the main competitor, it is not like before due to the current development, which created new trend of Drama that can be called Pan-Arab. Khaliji (GCC) Drama is focused only on GCC area, so it comes third or fourth in the Arab Drama ranking. The most requested genres are Modern Drama, Historical, or International. The local budget variesin the range between 2-8 million dollars.

MBC is considered the market leader for all international TV shows, and now they have enough experience to adapt those formats to Arabic countries, taking into account all details and cultural issues. UAE is still an expensive country for production in comparison to Egypt/Syria and Lebanon.

We thank our expert, and now were going to start our info-journey by interviewing experts from the countries close to MENA, and then go west!

TURKEY, GLOBAL AGENCYIntroduction.Please welcome: Global Agency. It was established in 2006, it is the

worlds leading independent TV content distributor of TV series, formats and films for global markets. Remarkably, Global Agency was founded with only 1 project and a team of 2 people (imagine!). By now it has 120 projects and a team of 25 people. The company slogan is Content that Creates Buzz, and their content really does. Their works include: Magnificent Century, 1001 Nights, Keep Your Light Shining, Perfect Bride, and Shopping Monsters.

In just a few short years Global Agency has become one of the fastest-growing distributors in the industry, thanks to

Industry experts announced that the MENA region and surrounding countries have a tradition of high content consumption and are currently growing at a faster rate than almost any other emerging market in the world.

The most requested genres are Modern Drama, Historical, or International. The local budget variesin the range between 2-8 million dollars.

Ghaith Ballani

Drama Production Manager on MBC (United Arabian Emirates). He worked in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia.



the strong line-up of content and a very experienced team. Their catalogue includes formats and series from around the world, and due to the long-established relationships with some of the worlds most creative individuals and companies, they are able to offer buyers the hottest new content throughout the year. With an international team and bases in Turkey, UK, and the USA, their knowledge of the global entertainment industry allows finding and selling cutting-edge formats that can be adapted to different territories around the world.

In September 2012, Global Agency entered the business of finished content distribution, trading under the label of World Wide Entertainment, after acquiring the brand rights to the leading Australian factual entertainment distributor.

So, see our interview with Global Agency below.SSTR: Tell us, please, what genres of TV shows are the most

popular in the world now? Does it depend on the territory? Global Agency: In terms of formats, talent and cooking shows are in

really high demand. Regarding the series, romantic dramas and sit-coms are doing well. These types of shows usually work in every territory all around the world.

SSTR: Which countries are your best clients? What percentage share of TV series is there on channels compared to other programs?

Global Agency: As for formats, Europe and Asia are the best buyers. As for drama, Middle East, CEE, and Latin America are the best. In these 3 regions, 80% of the programs on prime time are dramas.

SSTR: As you know, the budget of the series Magnificent Century was about 1 mln dollars. By Turkish standards, it is a large amount of money. Were you initially confident in the success of the project? Why?

Global Agency: Even before the broadcast of the series, we were confident about the success. By now, we have reached 75 territories. This is the biggest production ever in Turkish television industry. One of the reasons is that it has a great script based on true historical events. The cast was so famous and talented. It had the perfect combination for a big show. The most important thing I would like to note is that the show is produced by Turkish leading production company, TIMS Productions.

As for formats, Europe and Asia are the best buyers. As for drama, Middle East, CEE, and Latin America are the best. In these 3 regions, 80% of the programs on prime time are dramas..

Magnificent Century is the first Turkish drama series to enter China and the US. It won the Stars of the Export Awardby being the highest earning television series.

DENIZ TUZUNSales DirectorGlobal Agency TV(Turkey)


SSTR: How profitable was the series? In which countries has it been shown? Has the series been acquired by China and the US?

Global Agency: Magnificent Century is the first Turkish drama series to enter China and the US. It won the Stars of the Export Awardby being the highest earning television series.

SSTR: Tell us the most interesting and unusual facts about the series.

Global Agency: After the series broadcasted in each country, it doubled the number of foreign tourists in Turkey. Also, Ottoman jewelry became high-trend in different lands. In some countries, people were making Ottoman theme parties. Channels more than doubled their share on time slot.

Conclusion.Were very grateful to Global Agency for their illuminating answers.

And in favor of Turkish series wed like to add another interesting fact: as you know, India and Pakistan are permanently belligerent states (at a frozen war conflict with each other), but Indian soap operas are extremely popular among Pakistan families. Local authorities could not accept this, so the Supreme Court of Pakistan officially banned films and TV series from the neighbor state. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces almost the same situation with many Russian series banned under the current circumstances. But the most interesting question is: who filled the vacant niche in both states? There were many candidates, but only Turkish series managed to win. So, do not be surprised if Ukrainians and Pakistanis decide to combine watching TV with a cup of Turkish coffee and some delicious Turkish sweets!

Well, our next stop is not far from our Turkish experts. Let us travel straight to the neighbor country, Azerbaijan. The country, which historically has close relations with Turkey, both culturally and linguistically, nevertheless, always chose its own way of state development in general and in filmmaking in particular.

AZERBAIJAN, KHAZAR TVIntroduction.Television was first introduced in Azerbaijan in 1956. Our guest and

expert for the present edition is Khazar TV, which is a public television channel in Azerbaijan. It was founded in February 2009 by Ahmet Gl, Turkish entrepreneur, who had previously worked for Samanyolu TV, Turkey, supervising various major projects. The most interesting fact for


After the series broadcasted in each country, it doubled the number of foreign tourists in Turkey. Also, Ottoman jewelry became high-trend in different lands. In some countries, people were making Ottoman theme parties. Channels more than doubled their share on time slot.



us is that local TV channels dont buy foreign series at all, since they have enough of their own content!

At present, the most demanded TV products in Azerbaijan are family dramas and comedies, though the latter enjoy slightly less popularity. Why family dramas? Because, for historical reasons, family ties are extremely important in this region. So, if a serious family problem occurs, every member of this family is concerned. Thats why family breakdowns and family relations problems have always been and will be interesting for local viewers. In 2016 Khazar TV is planning to film at least two series: a family drama and a comedy. So lets speak about production process and especially about their two most popular series: My Family and Life Youre Wonderful.

Interview.SSTR: Which TV series for the last year did you make by yourself ?

How did you determine what genre and what kind of idea would be successful?

Khazar TV: Well, we keep shooting our TV series Life Youre Wonderful (478 episodes) and My Family (376 episodes). Comedy and drama are the most popular genres of the Azerbaijan television. But our viewers also like romances and something connected with revenge. And, you know, all these: rich-poor, love, revenge, wrong decision of the head of a household, a foreign law, - we believe exactly these topics are interesting for our viewers.

SSTR: How much do you spend to produce one of the series? How many TV series are you shooting per year?

Khazar TV: Were shooting 20-25 episodes per month, with an average budget of 50,000 Azn. As for the last year, we focused on two series: the series Life Youre Wonderful and My Family.

SSTR: How much, approximately, does it take you to produce TV series? Do you practice co-production? If yes, can it be international?

Khazar TV: We spend 6 months on preparation: were writing the script and calculating the budget. We spend another 3 months on selection of actors and locations. Then were shooting the show by ourselves, without any further assistance or co-production.

The most interesting fact for us is that local TV channels dont buy foreign series at all, since they have enough of their own content!

TARANA MURADOVAKhazar TVCoordinator For Foreign Televisions

At present, the most demanded TV products in Azerbaijan are family dramas and comedies, though the latter enjoy slightly less popularity.

Were shooting 20-25 episodes per month, with an average budget of 50,000 Azn.

We spend 6 months on preparation: were writing the script and calculating the budget. We spend another 3 months on selection of actors and locations. Then were shooting the show by ourselves, without any further assistance or co-production.


SSTR: How do you cover the expenses of production? In which countries the viewers are already watching your series Life Youre Wonderful and My Family?

Khazar TV: Advertising revenues and state aid form a major part of the budget. We have been shooting our TV series Life Youre Wonderful and My Family since 2013. They were already shown during the MIPTV 2015 in Cannes, World Content Market 2015 in Moscow, and ATF 2015 in Singapore. To this day, our series are broadcasting only in Azerbaijan, but there are negotiations with some foreign televisions underway.

Conclusion.As always, it was quite interesting to communicate with our partners

from Azerbaijan. Moreover, we found out that this channel is planning to show a lot of new products in 2016, there are features, documentaries, and animated films, which they have already bought at Japan Content Showcase - 2015 in Tokyo. All that is left now is to wish them prosperity and high ratings! And were moving to the next neighbor country!

GEORGIA, GDS TVSurely, our keen readers know Federico Fellini, and thus would

believe all wise words the maestro once said. His comments always had something special about them, particularly when they concerned the things he really liked. So, what do you think about the following Fellinis statement: Georgian film is a completely unique phenomenon, vivid, philosophically inspiring, very wise, childlike. There is everything that can make me cry and I ought to say that it (my crying) is not an easy thing. We think he was right, and the poetic land of Mikheil Chiaureli, Otar Iosseliani, Sergei Parajanov, etc. will certainly continue to amaze the world with new films. And, since our present edition is devoted to TV series, why dont we take a glance at one of the Georgian series? Dictum factum what is said is done!

It is assumed that Georgian TV appeared in 1956, when the First Channel (1TV) was established. Now there are about 10 channels and

One of these studios with the motto More interesting than TV really got our attention! It is called GDS and produces perhaps one of the best Georgian drama series.



some major studios. One of these studios with the motto More interesting than TV really got our attention! It is called GDS and produces perhaps one of the best Georgian drama series. The company always tends to experiment and is not afraid to produce new series, which might be unusual for local viewers. At the moment, they have three successful original series: Tiflis, Kerch: The Lost Heroes, and Paradox.

We decided to focus on the zombie series Paradox, because they were made in co-production with a Ukrainian TV-channel NLO. So, the journalists of SSRT immediately got in touch with Tamara Edgar, programming director of the GDS.

Interview.SSTR: It is known that your series was created under

the direction of high-level professionals, including Levan Bakhia, who won the New York Film Festival in 2015 with his horror film Mina. So, would you tell us, please, about your leaders, directors, and products?

GDS: Our highest value is quality. So, whatever GDS is trying to produce, films, drama series, or sitcoms, it always strives to attain the highest quality. I think this was one of the reasons of our success. Of course, our current CEO Jaba Mekladze, who is the creator of Paradox, and later the most talented Levan Bakhia contributed a lot to the series success. GDS is very lucky to have extremely talented directors. Tiflis and The Lost Heroes, which are filmed by Levan Dabrundashvili, were also lucky to get the most talented crew and director. Paradox is my favorite because it is not another zombie survival series, and it is not another vampire saga. We have a new and different version of an apocalyptic virus and a new race of monsters. Paradox is a drama series, which talks about life and death, and what the world would be like once the current order is changed. It is so much more than just a Sci-Fi series.

SSTR: Could you remember something interesting about your series? Were there any unusual or comic situations during the filming?

GDS: Of course there were. Tiflis and The Lost Heroes are period dramas, while Paradox is set in a post-apocalyptic world,

TAMARA EDGARGDS TVProgramming Director

We are open to discuss any project, because it is very cheap to film in Georgia compared to any other place. We have: tax incentives of 20% for foreign production, huge stock of talented professionals waiting for the next project, and wonderful locations.



so any bit of todays normality would cause trouble on the set. In the Paradox world the infected attack and kill animals as well as humans, so occasional stray dog or cat walking or even barking on the background had to be shooed away. A fun fact about Kerch is that most of the characters names are taken from actual relatives of the actors. We have several people playing a character with the name of their grandfather, who fought and died in the battles for Kerch.

SSTR: How come that you partnered with a Ukrainian channel?GDS: Georgia and Ukraine share many things both historically and

in current years. It was always obvious for GDS that Ukraine would be one of the strongest partners in the region. The series Paradox was sold in Ukraine to NLO TV in 2014, and they decided to team up for co-production of the second season. We have two Ukrainian characters in the second season, so, when we thought about distribution, MK-Distribution was a natural choice. I worked with the company as a buyer before and knew that their level of professionalism was very high. Therefore, we were more than happy to sign the deal.

SSTR: Which series and films are going to be on your channel in 2016?

GDS: We are currently working on those decisions. We hope for Paradox to come back for the 3rd season, but it might happen in early 2017. A sci-fi series post production takes a long time, and we dont want to rush. The second season is still on air now. Tiflis was always planned as a story that would finish in 2 seasons. Tiflis is the first Georgian product that has not just viewers but fans, and they are not happy with the series being completed, but we would rather have a quality story than make it longer and damage the storytelling by turning it into a boring soap opera. As I said, we go for quality. Husbands and Wives is coming back with another 30 episodes starting in March 2016. We have some major ambitious projects planned for 2016, but I would rather talk about them after everything is confirmed.

SSTR: Do you plan any new co-production projects? What are they about?

GDS: At the moment we have only co-production with the Ukrainian channel NLO, but we hope for more. We are open to discuss any project, because it is very cheap to film in Georgia compared to any other place. We have: tax incentives of 20% for foreign production, huge stock of talented professionals waiting for the next project, and wonderful locations.

We hope for more projects from Ukraine and hope to work with Turkish companies, but as I said, we are



open to any project from any country as joint talents mean better content. Conclusion.Well, once again we were enchanted by Georgian charisma. So, we wish

them to find a lot of new companies for co-production and to expand the horizons of TV dramas!

Last year a group of Swedish documentary filmmakers created a B2B organization. It is a network of documentary filmmakers living or working in various countries from the Baltic Sea in the North to the Black Sea in the South. It builds connections among filmmakers from Georgia through Ukraine and Baltic countries up to Sweden. Such route is not only logical, but also has historical grounds, if you remember the famous way: from the Varangians to the Greeks. Unfortunately, there were no cameras at that time; otherwise it could produce a great documentary series! But anyway, from the Georgian banks, were moving to Europe, more precisely to the Baltic region!

LATVIA, MTG TVTelevision in Latvia was first tested in 1937 and introduced in 1954.

At the moment, TV industry not only Latvia, but in all Baltic countries is ata very interesting stage. Things are changing fast, and therefore local TV markets are very dynamic. They pay serious attention to viewer habits, needs, and of course global trends. Its clear that people desire to consume both entertaining and informative content. Actually, it was always so, the only difference now is that necessary video product is broadcasted not only on TV, but through different platforms and devices. MTG TV, as a multiplatform company, has two inseparable focuses: strong and high quality content, which must be offered and provided to the viewers on time, and platforms they are ready to use. The main focus here is for locally produced content: big shiny shows, local series and realities, special one-offs dedicated to actualities in the country. Besides, series marathons are quite a popular thing in Latvia, when in one weekend you can see the whole season of a series you like. It is a great possibility for smaller channels to grab viewers and hold them for longer than usual.

Interview.SSTR: What series and films are going to be broadcasted by your

TV platform in 2016? (films/series/programs? genres? etc.)MTG TV LATVIA: Speaking of the acquired content, we have deals

GITA PTERSONEMTG TV LatviaHead of ACQ/ Programme planning / Research

The main focus here is for locally produced content: big shiny shows, local series and realities, special one-offs dedicated to actualities in the country. Besides, series marathons are quite a popular thing in Latvia, when in one weekend you can see the whole season of a series you like. It is a great possibility for smaller channels to grab viewers and hold them for longer than usual.



with almost all the major studios, and all the best series and movies available will be provided to our viewers. Representing 6 channels in Latvia, let me name just some of the titles Quantico, Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Arrow, The Flash, How to Get Away with Murder, The Blacklist, House of Cards, The Affair, Code Black. Due to historical background of our country, Russian products are quite popular in Latvia: new seasons of Interns, Fisruk, and Kukhnya (Kitchen) are what our audience will be happy to see again in 2016.

Apart from our regular own productions, News, infotainment No Taboo, and local drama Fire Sin, there will be produced world-wide popular format shows like I Love My Country, Your Face Sounds Familiar, Farmer Wants a Wife, Upgrade, etc.

February 8, 2016 been a very special date for us and our viewers, as it is the launch date of TV3 and NBC Universal International created wedding format Wedlocked. This is a brand new reality, where the main prize is money for a dream wedding for the couple with just one extra condition the wedding has to be fully organized by parents. Sounds quite exciting, dont you agree?

SSTR: Your TV platform has already broadcasted 14 seasons of FireSin, and it is still at the top of the most popular and watchable series. Does this mean that the national product is still closer to the Latvian audience?

MTG TV LATVIA: Yes, indeed! If we take a look at the program top from year 2015, along with Ice Hockey World Championship games, some one-offs, and Eurovision song contest, locally produced programs are the highest rated ones. Only few of the acquired programs were able to reach the same rating level last year, e.g. Home Alone movies and animation premieres of Frozen and Rio. As to FireSin, its the backbone of TV3 high seasons schedule, and it works across all the platforms. It reached more than 10 million video views last year.

SSTR: What is the TV3s budget for production of its own projects? Do you get contractors to complete projects or do you work on co-production terms?

MTG TV LATVIA: Information about programming budget is confidential; however, the split of the acquired and own produced expenses may be revealed: its 40% vs. 60%.

We are looking for the best possible cooperation model for each of our projects: it might be an in-house production team, partly in-house production where technical part isdone by an in-house team and creative part is done by a production company, or fully outsourced production.

SSTR: Are there supposed to be technical changes within the channel at the beginning of this year? Any new trends?

MTG TV LATVIA: No technical changes are planned. Content usage on digital platforms will keep growing. We are open and ready for new challenges and opportunities the year 2016 might bring us. It is important to keep up with the rapidly changing media industry.

If we take a look at the program top from year 2015, along with Ice Hockey World Championship games, some one-offs, and Eurovision song contest, locally produced programs are the highest rated ones.



Conclusion.Surely, the Baltic region, uniting often with Scandinavian countries,

has put together a powerful market, which is interesting to look into. But although European countries have been already coexisting for a long time in the European Union, often sharing the same trends or common features for local TV and film production, we decided to hear another European voice to make the picture complete. So, were going to reach our last station in this chain of interviews, and there will be not just experts from Europe, but from Cineuropa!

EUROPE, CINEUROPA.Cineuropa is the European Cinema Portal, dedicated to European

cinema, films, actors, filmmakers, professionals, producers, distributors, sales agents, scriptwriters, film finance, and the film industry in general. It was created in 2002 in order to provide up-to-date information about the European cinema world: it means everything from the biggest film festivals up to very specific information, which still might be interesting to the huge number of cinephiles and movie goers. Promotion of the European audiovisual industry at international market places and cinemas is also one of the main goals of Cineuropa. It is noteworthy that the company has a lot of representatives in different EU states and posts its news in 4 languages.

Cineuropa is powered by professional journalists from all across Europe. Notably, they try as much as possible to have at least one reporter in each member state of the EU, and they ask that person to stay in touch with the national industry, but also to keep a pan-European vision in every submitted article.

The author managed to speak with Editor-in-chief of Cineuropa, Domenico La Porta. In spite of intense schedule, while attending Berlinale 2016, he graciously consented to answer a few questions.

Interview.SSTR: What do you think, what kind of trends in European movie

and series production do we have now, and how will the situation change in the nearest future?

Cineuropa: Genre films are coming back strong in recent years, but European production is mainly characterized by its diversity in themes, styles and budgets. Therefore, it is very difficult to identify the type of

DOMENICO LA PORTACineuropaEditor-in-Chief



trends that are much easier to highlight in Hollywood or in the American indies that are screened at Sundance, for example. Europe has been fighting for that diversity that is being threatened in many ways because of the danger of globalization, digital single market, and on demand audiences who tend to request what the mass channels have been feeding them with massive doses of overseas marketing. The change wont come from the content but rather from the way that content is consumed. Virtual Reality is here and it implies new forms of storytelling, but those experiences are not ready to be called films just yet.

SSTR: Is Cineuropa interested in co-operation and coverage of events only within EU? What about neighbor-countries: Ukraine, Belarus, etc.?

Cineuropa: We try to limit our editorial scope to the films (co)produced by the countries that are part of Creative Europe, but we are open to potential collaboration with any event that is related to those productions wherever they might be located, within or beyond the borders of Europe, starting with our direct neighbors for sure.

SSTR: Are there some brand new projects you (or your organizations) would like to offer for co-operation?

Cineuropa: We would like to collaborate more on content partnerships. Our newsletter is reaching out to 50,000 subscribers, and we would be happy to license that database to events from which we could produce relevant content for our readers. This visibility offer extends to our important social media presence. I am not talking about marketing but really focusing on journalist work to strengthen our industry bonds.

SSTR: And as a post-scriptum: would you like to share some fresh experience from Berlinale 2016?

Cineuropa: It has been a very good edition from the market perspective and the EFM is definitely expanding. Were up for a lot more surprises next year, but 2016 has been kind of a turning point with the acknowledgment of TV series, Virtual Reality, and more. Filmwise, the quality of the curation has been maintained to the highest level in every section, and the Berlinale programmers have even managed to avoid big Hollywood mishaps such as Monument Men last year.

Conclusion.Well and good, after recalling the drama history, speaking with

many honored experts of series productions, and investigating tons of analytics, it is needless to say how popular TV series are. And of course, demand begets supply: according to the most recent figures of that very Nielsen, adults tend to spend approximately 39 hours a week watching TV or watching different shows via DVRs or streaming technology. Most companies usually dont disclose precise rating information, but after all, it seems more important not how many people watched this or that drama, but, perhaps, how useful the experience was for them. We wish producers and viewers: sow the good seed and think what youre going to watch!



We have talked with famous TV-producer Leonid Mazor, who used to work both in the USA and in Ukraine and CIS countries.

About main tendencies inTV-series industry.The fact that movie industry is finally becoming serious about TV production is

above all. It changes the approach to TV series as a whole. Even famous cinema-men are now making series. No one thinks it is shameful. There are many brilliant examples both abroad and in CIS countries Martin Scorsese with his Vinyl and Boardwalk Empire, Steven Soderbergh`s The Knickand Girlfriend Expierence, Steven Spielberg with Extant, Smash and Red Band Society, Valeriya Gai Germanika and her series Brief Guide To A Happy Life, School (Shkola). Flat TV picture is now becoming three-dimensional. All characters start talking and feel like normal, ordinary people.

We will not go to the cinema. The cinema will come to us.About key differences in TV series production in Ukraine and CIS countries

and abroad.The fundamental difference is in organization of production. The preparatory

period takes 2/3 of the whole production process. It enables to allow all the things that could be necessary during shooting filming and postproduction. Such an approach discipline. It doesn`t mean to limit the imagination and creative process. Nobody prevents to begin to create behind-the-scenes to be sure that on the scene everything would be perfect.

It is necessary to start working with actors much earlier than the shooting begin.One more important thing is that the influence of screenwriter is really huge.And the last moment, but not the list very high level of professionalism. Abroad

professionalism at first point means a set of basic knowledge. But there is almost no place to acquire this knowledge in CIS countries and Ukraine.

Some advice for young TV series producers You should learn and study as more as you can. It is really very important. You should only have strong desire to get education. You`re lucky you have

Internet, where you could find almost everything. These days there are many talented people who are self-educated. The other thing you should find your own Master, someone, who is a movie-

maker. It won`t be easy for an ambitious person, but this experience worth your while. I made a strike, because I had had such teacher. I`ve learnt a lot while standing

behind his back during movie making.Well, here is the following structure:1. To get basic knowledge.2. To learn more through practice on large production.3. To be lucky. In our profession His Majesty Luck means a lot.4. To tell the truth, without my own efforts I would be nobody.About new projectsThe premiere of the Ivanov full-length film, shot in my script is coming soon. It

was co-written with Michael Marfin. In USA I`ve led the public educational channel, also I`m teaching and staging performances. I started serious work with documentary. Now I`m working on screenplay about forgotten for some sake incident A Massacre in Memphis. It is the story about the race riot that shook the nation one year after The Civil War. It is something unusual for me. But as I said, you should try and be brave, without looking to the past. But you shouldn`t forget to analyze what you`ve done.

LEONID MAZOR: WE WILL NOT GO TO THE CINEMA. THE CINEMA WILL COME TO US.

In the USA Leonid actively taught video technology and acting, he studied at Memphis State University and became a Bachelor of Arts with a degree in Film and television production.In the US Leonid staged 20 different shows, among them there were comedies and musi-cals. He became the winner of the Emmy award six times. From 1993 to 2005 he worked as a professor at several schools specializing in television (inclu-ding the Department of Art at Rhodes College, Academy of Fine Arts in Nashville and County School Shelby).Leonid is the winner of Russian awards Golden Eagle 2011 for his TV series Doctor Tyrsa.Now he is implementing his ideas abroad again.He has built fruitful career thanks to his own hard work. Now Mr. Mazor is sharing his experience and opinion with our readers.

SHORT STORY

WE WILL NOT GO TO THE CINEMA. THE CINEMA WILL COME TO US | EXPERT OPINION


45 min, 2016, HD


THE SERVANT OF NATIONWhen things are really bad, the only thing you can do is to laugh said

once Jim Carrey & was pretty right! For many centuries the topic of social problems of humanity has been raised by artists and writers. And its really good, when with the help of irony one could affect the problem or even contribute to problems solution.

Ukrainian people set heart on getting rid of corruption, so sooner or later some creative work with this topic should appear. And recently it occurred! So we are really glad to write in this edition about The Servant of Nation- TV series by famous & successful Ukrainian studio Kvartal-95. The motto of the series is The History of the next president. The premiere of the first season (24 episodes) was held at the Ukrainian TV channel 1 + 1 November 16, 2015.

The story is about ordinary divorced history teacher, who lives with his parents, but suddenly begins a completely new life as a president!

Even after the first series of public servants appeared on TV screens, the results exceeded all expectations - the series has become the leader of TV broadcast and scored the highest rating of the fall season in its slot (approximately 10.4%, and 26% of the audience aged 18-54). So we decided not to postpone the opportunity to meet the authors, and they gladly agreed to answer our questions.

SSTR: For Ukrainians, the series The Servant of Nation is like laughter through tears. How did you come up with the idea? Should it be regarded as a wish to show how we look from some distance away while falling into the same trap?

Kvartal 95: An idea of this project occurred to us (let`s emphasize it is original) about 8 years ago. It is based on our wish to live in country without all-level corruption, in a country where authorities respect people and where politicians work not to enrich themselves but for the nation. Hence our first working title was The Young Country. The idea ripened, we grew older, wiser and more experienced, and the country went through some dramatic events. One moment we realized this topic is of national current interest. That is how our history teacher an honest rank-and-filer went down in history too, when he suddenly became a President. For now only in series (smiles). Our aim was not to show us falling into the same trap. We were to show people who want honest government without corruption and nepotism. All of us have to change somehow for our society to be civilized. For instance, not to bribe, not to graft and work honestly.

Vladimir Zelenskiy Studio Kvartal 95

The humor is considered to be authentic and hard to sell. Let me disagree here. If the humor is about core values love, family, friendship, relationships, desire for normal life and honest leaders its about humanistic standards obvious worldwide.

THE SERVANT OF NATION | INTERVIEW


SSTR: Last season series became the highest rated project in Ukraine. How is it accepted by foreign audiences? Do they understand humor (perhaps different angle)?

Kvartal 95: People from different countries all over the world want honest and fair people to be in power. This wish does not have boundaries. But humor also does not have them. In this sense The Servant of Nation has, as for me, perfect chances for international distribution. Firstly as a format. Undoubtedly, the series have certain social local context understandable in Ukraine and other CIS countries. The humor is considered to be authentic and hard to sell. Let me disagree here. If the humor is about core values love, family, friendship, relationships, desire for normal life and honest leaders its about humanistic standards obvious worldwide. Otherwise why Friends are considered to be the most popular series in the world for many years and recently have led TOP-100 most successful series of all time in the rating of Hollywood Reporter. We do have own experience of selling comedy projects. Our TV-format Crack Them Up is sold to 14 countries, and our series The In-Laws were thrice was nominated in

Our TV-format Crack Them Up is sold to 14 countries, and our series The In-Laws were thrice was nominated in Monte Carlo Television festival as the series viewed by the largest audience on five continents, reaching the top three positions in the comedy category along with the Desperate Housewives and The Big Bang Theory.

INTERVIEW | THE SERVANT OF NATION


Monte Carlo Television festival as the series viewed by the largest audience on five continents, reaching the top three positions in the comedy category along with the Desperate Housewives and The Big Bang Theory.

The Servant of Nation successfully appeared on Estonian ETV+ channel in prime time. It resonated with viewers and was actively discussed in social media, well then our idea is clear. Because it is not just a political comedy, I`d say it is a comedy of manners, a story about temptations and human weaknesses. This week series came out on 31st Channel in Kazakhstan. We negotiate with Moldavian and other foreign colleagues about selling both ready-made product and format. Our project aroused the interest of one of the world biggest online-platforms for video content.

We bet on this product and believe in its potential. That is why we plan to shoot both - a full-length movie and the second season.

SSTR: Could you share some interesting unknown facts about series? Perhaps, some funny situations during shooting?

Kvartal 95: Shooting process had lot of those moments; we made a lot of decisions on the set. We were constantly hoaxing each other. It was a lot of fun on the stage For me it was a surprise how people reacted to a viral video teaser of The Servant of Nation. During a week it has collected more than 15 millions views. Somebody have taken my speech at face value and decided I`m going to become a real politician, and that my electioneering starts with this video. After a premiere it was widely discussed in social media that I really have to go for it (laughing). The Servant of Nation has become a great event in the country, that`s

SSTR: It is well-known fact that team that worked on project was really huge. Was it easy or difficult to collect these people? And so that success would be guaranteed.

Kvartal 95: It is not the first our project, that`s why the team was experienced and professional. Amazingly talented film director Alexey Kiriushchenko worked on our other projects series Girls Talk and Looking for a Wife with a Child. Both these series were successful and high-rated on the biggest channels of Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Belarus etc. Kvartal 95 has perhaps the biggest and the strongest team of scriptwriters. In The Servant of Nation starred brilliant Ukrainian actors Natalia Sumskaya, Stanislav Boklan. Katerina Kisten`, Viktor Saraykin, guys from the main cast of Kvartal 95. Cinema and TV consist of team work, that`s why everybodys contribution is vital I mean costume designers, illuminators, and those who feed camera crew. I`m thankful to all, who was involved in this project. To be continued

SSTR: When to expect the second season of The Servant of Nation? How will it differ from the first one?

Kvartal 95: We plan to shoot not only second season, but also a full movie for the cinema release. Shooting will take place this year. Speaking about premiere, I`d suggest it will be in the beginning of 2017. What is the difference? Well story develops. I hope, unexpectedly for the audience. But I won`t spoil.

Because it is not just a political comedy, I`d say it is a comedy of manners, a story about temptations and human weaknesses.

THE SERVANT OF NATION | INTERVIEW


SSTR: What other projects do you plan to realize in 2016?

Kvartal 95: We have a lot of plans. Firstly, we actively develop our animation studio. It is one of the priorities. Few projects are launching animated adaptation of series The In-Laws and The Kitchen. Also we have feature-length animated projects, including modern fairytale Gulliver returns. And we really want to produce animation for children because today it`s a highly demanded content worldwide.

We have few interesting screenplays for feature-length fiction of various genres comedy, psychological thriller, drama. We`re looking for partners for its production.

Very possibly our super successful series The In-Laws will be continued. A screenplay of the seventh season is already finished.

We`re working on new TV projects and formats. A new format Crack Them Up. Children is coming out soon. A second season of The Laughter League, the national humor festival, is on now.

SSTR: To sum up, is your production focused on overseas markets? Which exactly?

Kvartal 95: Now we focus on Western markets Eastern, Western Europe and USA. In countries of so-called Russian-speaking region our content is already recognized, beloved and demanded. Now we strike for the West. Although we have a successful experience in cooperation with China. Several TV formats are sold there, for example, Crack Them Up and Claim to Meladze.

We are actively expanding internationally, that`s why we participate in the biggest industry forums like MIPTV or MIPCOM in Cannes, where we`ve been recently represented by an own stand. In the nearest future we plan opening a representative office of our company in Europe and USA.

We plan to shoot not only second season, but also a full movie for the cinema release.

We have few interesting screenplays for feature-length fiction of various genres comedy, psychological thriller, drama. We`re looking for partners for its production.

In the nearest future we plan opening a representative office of our company in Europe and USA.

BOTTOM LINE

We are very grateful to Kvartal 95 for kind & interesting reply. And moreover it is really great that besides the fact our viewers have got a strong & quality TV product, the series itself hopefully could be a kind of another brick in the forming of anti-corruption public opinion.

INTERVIEW | THE SERVANT OF NATION

INFOTOY26X7 MIN, 2015, HD


Now in its second year, The Format Day one of DISCOPs major anchor events will include three conference sessions on IP protection, and the trends, challenges and opportunities to be foundin the buoyant CEE and MENA markets. It will also feature The Formats Showcase, during which new formats across all genres will be presented to a panel of top industry executives.

FRAPA will be closely involved in the organisation of The Format Day with DISCOP Istanbul organiser Basic Lead, helping to set the agenda in terms of both content and speakers. Missing Link Medias Jan Salling, who was appointed FRAPA co-chair with The Gurin Companys Phil Gurin last March, will moderate the first conference of the day: Why Protecting Your IP Will Build Your Business. The session will examine the creative, copyright and protection issues in a global formats industry changing at warp speed.

Following their appointment last year, Salling and Gurin pledged to strengthen FRAPAs structure, effectiveness and impact, while uniting the format industry under a common code of conduct. DISCOP Istanbul, which is expected to attract 1,500-plus high-ranking delegates from some 85 countries this March, is seen as the perfect platform from which to spread this message of creative unity, commercial freedom and tolerance.

Jan Salling said: This co-operation with DISCOP is a significant step in our mission to put FRAPA at the heart of our community. To be an effective player, we need to be where the formats industry is and in early March, that place is Istanbul.

Phil Gurin added: FRAPA has a clear global mission to support the format industry and speak out on behalf of creatives everywhere. Attending DISCOP demonstrates our continued effort to advocate for industry best practices. In supporting the creative community in Istanbul, we hope to make a clear stand for fairness to all through international tolerance and co-operation.

Patrick Zuchowicki, CEO of Basic Lead, said: We are happy to renew our partnership with FRAPA and provide DISCOP Istanbuls independent producer community with a strong and relevant conference and pitching programme centered on the continuing popularity of formats.

About FRAPAwww.frapa.org

The Netherlands-based FRAPA the Format Recognition and Protection Association is an international body dedicated to the protection of formats. Established in 2000 by a group of key industry professionals, FRAPA now represents numerous companies from within the television and broadcast industry. Its members include format creators, producers, distributors and broadcasters. As an independent, non-profit association, FRAPAs key services include registering format proposals; mediating disputes arising out of claims of format plagiarism; creating guidelines for fair competition; and educating the industry and the law regarding the protection of formats.

About Basic LeadHeadquartered in Los Angeles and

Johannesburg, Basic Lead is a B2B event production and marketing agency servicing various sectors of industry across fast-growing regions of the world.

FRAPA and DISCOPs Basic Lead are to co-organise this years The Format Day, the dedicated conference and pitching programme to be held on Tuesday, March 1, during the sixth edition of the DISCOP Istanbul multiplatform content market. The co-operation marks the next step in FRAPAs

mission to create a safer, better-regulated format industry founded on free expression and the right to fair trade.

For press information, please contact:Cheryl Clarke at Mushroom Media on: T: +44 (0)9739554109 E: [email protected]

Debbie Lawrence at The Lippin Group London on:T: +44 7771 850580 E: [email protected]

For information on FRAPA and/or FRAPA membership, please contact:Viktoria Bodrovaat FRAPAT: +31 (0)6-46070599E: [email protected]

For more information on Discop, please contact:T: + 1 (323) 782 13 00E: [email protected]

FRAPA AND DISCOP ISTANBUL PARTNER ON THE FORMAT DAYFormat association strengthens its ties with key industry events


In reality, in order to look more intelligent, approximately 60% of people tend to lie about reading classic novels! Special research team worked with 2,000 members of the British public to show the tactics people use to seem smarter.

The most popular trick is to pretend you are a fan of classic novels. For this purpose, 42% of people use film and TV adaptations, or summaries from the Internet to feign knowledge of the novels. Remarkably, 50% of adults admit they do nothing but simply display books on their shelves without even trying to read them.

The most honest members of the surveyed group, 3% even admit they hide yellow press and tabloids they are reading inside classic books, which perhaps should make them look more intelligent!

GENRE TRENDS | BACK TO CLASSICS

BACK TO CLASSICSGot tired from ultra modern series? Not inspired by hi-tech dramas with

weak plots? Never mind, because its never too late to turn back to classics! Or do you still have some doubts? Dont worry, weve already prepared our series top-chart for you! But before we go straight to it, one ought to imagine all advantages of watching and reading classics: 1) you can improve your vocabulary (classic masterpieces have a lot of borrowings from Greek and Latin and exquisite words); 2) it improves your social skills (the study claims that classics, in contrast with commercial fiction and even non-fiction, lead to better social perception and emotional intelligence); 3) it helps to understand history and culture in context (it will enrich you and certainly boost your IQ) We could continue this row of arguments, which everybody certainly admits, but what do we have in reality?

TOP 10of classic masterpieces, which, according to the survey, people claim to have read, but havent:

26% 11%

19% 10%

18% 8%

15% 5%

12% 3%

1984by George Orwell

Lord of the RingsJ R R Tolkein

War and Peaceby Leo Tolstoy

To Kill A Mockingbirdby Harper Lee

Great Expectationsby Charles Dickens

Crime and Punishmentby Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Catcher in the Ryeby J D Salinger

Jane Eyreby Charlotte Bront

A Passage to Indiaby E M Forster

The Bibleand Homers Odyssey


BACK TO CLASSICS | GENRE TRENDS

We decided to make a top ten of series based upon those good old-fashioned stories. Sure, there are more at the moment, but weve

made a random selection according to the average rating information. Welcome to our hit-parade of classics adaptations!

Our candidate #10, Bates Motel is an American drama-thriller TV series. The series is actually a prequel to famous film Psycho by a modern but already classic artist Alfred Hitchcock. Bates Motel depicts the lives of Norman Bates and his mother Norma prior to the events portrayed in the film, albeit in a different fictional town.

The series lead actors, Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, have received particular praise for their performances throughout the series. Farmiga even won Saturn Awards for best actress on TV.

Critics reviews were quite favorable, though ratings, which are often inexplicable, showed certainly average results, so the series hardly gathered 3 mln viewers.

Miss some weird and funny characters? High time to remember Alice and The White Rabbit! Here is an American fantasy-drama series that aired on ABC from October 10, 2013, to April 3, 2014. The series is based on the Lewis Carroll novels Alices Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, but with a different twist. So, Alice returned to Victorian London where she was immediately taken for a madwoman and sent for treatment.

Reviews for the show were quite favorable, but if the first episode gathered 5.82 mln viewers and had rating 1.7% (18-49), all episodes after the 4th one hardly gathered 3.7 mln and 0.9%, so you get to choose!

BATES MOTEL

ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND

Info: Started in 2013; 2 seasons (20 episodes x 42 minutes)

Info: 20132014; 1 season (13 episodes x 60 minutes)



Do you like to drink deeply red tomato juice thinking you are vampire? Then, especially for you, there is another take on the immortal story by Bram Stoker. At the end of the 19th century Count Dracula arrives in Victorian London, where he pretends to be an American businessman, standing up for progress. He seems to be interested in experiments with electricity, but also seeks revenge against those who betrayed him centuries earlier. Having started to implement his plan, Dracula suddenly falls hopelessly in love with the woman he takes as the reincarnation of his dead wife.

So here we have classic Dracula with the star of The Tudors Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Thomas Kretschmann of Stalingrad. Everything else is exactly as it should be: blood, sex, and Victorian Gothic. The series was nominated for Peoples Choice Awards. Although it had very modest rating, 1.8%, which means only about 5 mln (18-49) watched it. Therefore, NBC has already decided to cancel it.

Thats a good choice to watch, though a somewhat scary fairy-tale for the night. It is an American police fantasy television drama series. It started on NBC in 2011. The show has been described as a cop drama with a twist... a dark and fantastical project about a world in which characters inspired by Brother Grimms Fairy Tales exist, although the stories and characters inspiring the show are also drawn from other sources.

The plot: homicide investigator Nick Burkhardt of the Portland Police Department finds out he descends from a line of guardians known as Grimms, charged with keeping balance between humanity and the mythological creatures of a world called Wesen, a German word for being or creature. Throughout the series, he must battle again and again with numerous and dangerous creatures, with help from his reformed Wesen friend Monroe, and his partner Detective Hank Griffin.

During the 1st season the series gathered about 6.4 mln U.S. viewers, which is really not bad! According to the results of Nielsen Media Research, with the beginning of the 2nd season Grimm has increased its adult audience 18-49 by 1.14 points (from 1.58 to 2.72).

DRACULA

GRIMM




If youre fed up with House, M.D. try A Young Doctors Notebook. Its English mini-series based on the eponymous cycle of short stories by Mikhail Bulgakov about a young doctor who finds himself in a remote village of Smolensk region on the eve of the October Revolution in 1917. The show tells the story of doctors struggle not only against numerous diseases, but also against his morphine addiction. In the early 20th century, a young doctor arrives in a small Russian village around the time of the Russian Revolution to work in the local hospital.

In the lead roles are: Daniel Radcliffe (by the way, a real admirer of Bulgakov) and Jon Hamm from Mad Men. The series was nominated in Shanghai TV Fest and Magnolia Award for Best Television Film or Miniseries. Unlike American TV channels, Sky, where this series was shown, does not publish exact ratings, but critics valued it high, so lets put it in the middle of our top.

It is a six-part adaptation of the work by Leo Tolstoy, in which the audiences attention will focus on human relationships and the stories of four aristocratic families. The story begins during the reign of Alexander I. In the spotlight there is a love triangle between Natasha Rostova, Pierre Bezukhov, and Andrei Bolkonsky.

The series was filmed in Russia, Lithuania, and Latvia. It has already received very positive reviews. A world-premiere press screening of the first episode was held in London on December 14, 2015.

The six-part series proved a hit with critics and was enthusiastically received by viewers, with an average of 7.2 mln watching each episode despite claims of historical inaccuracy.

And another word has already spread: scriptwriter Andrew Davies would like to return to the BBC1 Sunday evening slot with another epic and classic a music-free adaptation of Victor Hugos Les Miserables!

A YOUNG DOCTORS NOTEBOOK

WAR & PEACE

Info: 2012; 2 seasons (8 episodes x 25 minutes)

Info: 2016; 1 season (6 episodes x 60-82 minutes)




In the CIS countries it was a very widespread situation at schools, when a pupil forgot something and a severe teacher asked then about the head of the pupil, whether it was forgotten too. Well, after such questions in the childhood, its clear now why the stories about the Headless Horseman are so popular across the population! Now, lets look at the Sleepy Hollow: after dying in the War of Independence, Ichabod Crane is resurrected and turns up at the present time. He is going to team up with detective Abby Mills in order to fight the Headless Horseman, who is terrorizing a small town. Only the key characters follow the original Washington Irvings story in the series.

Here you can find the very Gothic fantasy, where the wildest mysticism is entwined with modernity and the plot is absolutely deviating from the literary source. But this is the rare case when all these absurdities engage and enchant.

The first episodes gathered up to 10 mln viewers with 3.5 rating and thats really good! During 2014 and 2015 Sleepy Hollow had numerous nominations for different Awards.

Another noteworthy attempt to move the heroes of Conan Doyle to the present world, this time in New York. Consultant of Scotland Yard, neurotic Holmes, discharged from the clinic where he was treated for drug addiction, settles in Brooklyn. His companion-nurse turned to be Dr. Watson, the surgeon who has lost the license due to medical error. They eventually begin to work together on the cases, and she becomes Holmes apprentice. This series also shows Holmes basic conflict with his immortal nemesis Moriarty (Natalie Dormer).

Before the series started, it was awaited with some criticism due to the BBCs modern adaptation Sherlock. Nevertheless, after the premiere, it was picked up for a full season and later an extra two episodes. The second season was even partly filmed in London. The series has since been well received by critics, who have praised the performances, writing, and novel approach to the source material. Debut season showed really good figures 13.4 mln viewers! Next seasons gathered less audience, but the series is still strong.

SLEEPY HOLLOW

ELEMENTARY




Oh, that Sherlock, incredibly popular all over the world. This variation of Sherlock Holmes is played by Cumberbatch a nervous, but extremely sharp freak with iPhone, who teams up with Doctor Watson, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, and pulls him into the world of private investigation. At the moment ten episodes have been produced, with three-part series airing in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and a special episode airing on January 1, 2016 (Victorian era special issue).

It should be noted that Sherlock has been nominated for numerous awards including: BAFTAs, Emmys, and a Golden Globe, winning several awards across a variety of categories.

Of course some Sherlock fans can be very disappointed with our decision to put The Bible at the first place. But after all, Bible itself is a keystone and ground basis for almost every literary work. So, youre welcome to watch an adaptation of the best-known stories of the Holy Writ, from the Flood to the resurrection of Jesus, retold in the popular language of brutal historical fantasy.

It is considered a religious hit from The History Channel, which, of course, cleverly mimics the severe style of Game of Thrones and Spartacus, but in fact remains a reverent illustration of the Bible. The series has been so popular that some parts of the telecast, including unaired footage, have been turned into a feature film about the life of Jesus titled Son of God. The series received three Emmy Award nominations for best miniseries, sound editing, and sound mixing on July 18, 2013. Besides, it won the honor of Home Media Magazines Best Miniseries or TV Movie on Disc for the year.

Critics reviews were totally mixed: from negative to positive (such screen adaptations of strong masterpieces always cause controversy), but the ratings were high. The miniseries gathered something about 13 mln viewers! The second episode showed some ratings slippage, but still gathered 10.8 mln viewers, which means the top in all television for the 810 p.m. time period. The third installment on March 17, 2013, was once again the No.1 show on all of Sunday night television with 10.9 mln total viewers. In addition, the series gathered 4.2 mln adults 2554 and 3.5 mln adults 1849. In total, with subsequent airings, The Bible has shown the result of more than 100 mln cumulative views!

SHERLOCK

THE BIBLE





100x3 min, 2015, 4K


In reality, in order to look more intelligent, approximately 60% of people tend to lie about reading classic novels! Special research team worked with 2,000 members of the British public to show the tactics people use to seem smarter.

The most popular trick is to pretend you are a fan of classic novels. For this purpose, 42% of people use film and TV adaptations, or summaries from the Internet to feign knowledge of the novels. Remarkably, 50% of adults admit they do nothing but simply display books on their shelves without even trying to read them.

The most honest members of the surveyed group, 3% even admit they hide yellow press and tabloids they are reading inside classic books, which perhaps should make them look more intelligent!

As you may have already guessed, were talking about fashion. Yes, about the fashion that contemporary movies and series are dictating. Sometimes images turn out to be the factor of success every creator is dreaming about. The costumes come into particular prominence and eclipse everything, from the idea to actorsperformance. In these days, it is especially important, because there is so much information around that our

brains overload. A picture is the one and only thing that still can attract people and get their attention.

The history of high fashion in movies dates back to the fiftieths. Everything started when legendary Givenchy won his Oscar for Best Costume Designin Sabrina. Dont forget the ingenious Breakfast at Tiffanys thats where the vogue of little black dresses began. Thanks to those movies, unsurpassed Audrey Hepburn became a fashion icon.

There were so many experiments since that time (from bandages on naked bodies to extravagant and elegant costumes of the ladies of London). But in this article wed like to pay tribute to the most bright,

bold, stylish, and memorable images that, without a twinge of conscience, can say that they are making history.

All the male memb

season screen tv review 2016 № 5

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