Exclusive: Spanish indie production powerhouse Mediapro is at San Sebastian Film Festival this year screening two of the buzziest local features in the program: the Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz and Oscar Martinez-starring Official Competition, which arrives from Venice, and the Javier Bardem-fronted The Good Boss, which premieres here.
The pair of films, which are both forms of comedies but could hardly be more different in their approach to the medium, are the talk of the town after being well received at the fest (the official The Good Boss premiere is this eve but it has screened twice already).
Speaking to Deadline in San Sebastian, Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of Mediapro’s production wing The Mediapro Studio, says the festival feels like a “celebration” for the company after a tumultuous 18 months. At the beginning of the pandemic, the prolific outfit had to pause a total of 52 productions, but everything is now back on track,...
The pair of films, which are both forms of comedies but could hardly be more different in their approach to the medium, are the talk of the town after being well received at the fest (the official The Good Boss premiere is this eve but it has screened twice already).
Speaking to Deadline in San Sebastian, Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of Mediapro’s production wing The Mediapro Studio, says the festival feels like a “celebration” for the company after a tumultuous 18 months. At the beginning of the pandemic, the prolific outfit had to pause a total of 52 productions, but everything is now back on track,...
- 9/21/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Berlin Wall Escape Tunnel TV Series In The Works From Telepool’s Global Screen, Elsani & Neary Media
Exclusive: Telepool’s Global Screen and Elsani & Neary Media are joining forces to develop a television series based on the true stories of the people who dug Tunnel 29, the famed secret passage from West to East Berlin that ran underneath the Berlin Wall.
Director Marcus Vetter (Heart of Jenin) is aboard the project, he recently made the documentary Tunnel To Freedom on the same subject, for which he conducted interviews with eye-witnesses. Also involved is writer Paul Unwin, who created long-running medical drama Casualty; he will pen the screenplay using original documents from the Stasi archives.
The story will begin on August 13, 1961, when East Germany closed its borders to West Berlin. A group of students teamed with a civil engineer to conceive a 135-meter-long tunnel under the Berlin Wall, helping 29 people to escape. Images from the daring project became world-famous.
The same story was recently recounted in BBC Radio 4 podcast Tunnel 29,...
Director Marcus Vetter (Heart of Jenin) is aboard the project, he recently made the documentary Tunnel To Freedom on the same subject, for which he conducted interviews with eye-witnesses. Also involved is writer Paul Unwin, who created long-running medical drama Casualty; he will pen the screenplay using original documents from the Stasi archives.
The story will begin on August 13, 1961, when East Germany closed its borders to West Berlin. A group of students teamed with a civil engineer to conceive a 135-meter-long tunnel under the Berlin Wall, helping 29 people to escape. Images from the daring project became world-famous.
The same story was recently recounted in BBC Radio 4 podcast Tunnel 29,...
- 7/30/2021
- by Tom Grater and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
“This is Music,” an anthology TV series to be directed by Wim Wenders, David Byrne, and Norwegian talents Joachim Trier and Julie Andem, is among projects set to be pitched at the upcoming Berlinale Series Market. These Co-Pro Series pitching sessions and meetings run March 2-5.
This TV section of the Berlin Film Festival’s market has been a launchpad for high-profile shows such as “Babylon Berlin,” Norway’s “Valkyries” and Netflix’s “Freud.”
“This is Music” is being produced by Norway’s Oslo Pictures and was created and written by Bjørn Olaf Johannessen who penned the Wenders’ film “Every Thing Will be Fine.” Julie Andem is the creator of hit Norwegian series “Skam.” Trier directed “Louder Than Bombs.” Further details are being kept under wraps.
The 10 selected Berlinale Co-Pro Series projects also comprise promising British series project “58 Seconds” from Jeremy Brock who won screenplay adaptation BAFTA for “The Last King of Scotland...
This TV section of the Berlin Film Festival’s market has been a launchpad for high-profile shows such as “Babylon Berlin,” Norway’s “Valkyries” and Netflix’s “Freud.”
“This is Music” is being produced by Norway’s Oslo Pictures and was created and written by Bjørn Olaf Johannessen who penned the Wenders’ film “Every Thing Will be Fine.” Julie Andem is the creator of hit Norwegian series “Skam.” Trier directed “Louder Than Bombs.” Further details are being kept under wraps.
The 10 selected Berlinale Co-Pro Series projects also comprise promising British series project “58 Seconds” from Jeremy Brock who won screenplay adaptation BAFTA for “The Last King of Scotland...
- 1/26/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Six series will play in the festival with 10 titles in the Market.
A new anthology series titled This Is Music from directors including Wim Wenders and David Byrne is one of 10 international projects selected for the Co-Pro Series section of the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2021 (March 2-5).
The Berlinale Series has also selected six series to play in the online festival, which runs from March 1-5.
Scroll down for full list of Co-Pro Series, Berlinale Series and Series Market Selects titles
Produced by Norway’s Oslo Pictures, anthology series This Is Music is created by Bjørn Olaf Johannessen, who wrote Wenders...
A new anthology series titled This Is Music from directors including Wim Wenders and David Byrne is one of 10 international projects selected for the Co-Pro Series section of the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2021 (March 2-5).
The Berlinale Series has also selected six series to play in the online festival, which runs from March 1-5.
Scroll down for full list of Co-Pro Series, Berlinale Series and Series Market Selects titles
Produced by Norway’s Oslo Pictures, anthology series This Is Music is created by Bjørn Olaf Johannessen, who wrote Wenders...
- 1/26/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
2021’s totally online NATPE Virtual Miami is just but half over. Some inkling of how it might shape out, however, is fast falling into place.
Basically, streaming stole the show. Yes, Fox did announce during NATPE that the Jay Leno-hosted “You Bet Your Life” reboot, bowing this fall, has sold in 85% of the U.S. Yet a once annual launchpad for shows seeking U.S. syndication was dominated this time round by the seismic pivot of Hollywood’s majors and other players into global VOD platforms, and the impact of this tectonic shunt on the industry at large.
Dominating NATPE-related business announcements and online panel discussions, that impact is inevitable.
But it didn’t always play out in the most obvious fashion.
Following, six – somewhat provisional – takeaways from this year’s NATPE Miami, focused on its international business:
The Big Swings
During NATPE, Paramount Plus set a March 4 launch date for the U.
Basically, streaming stole the show. Yes, Fox did announce during NATPE that the Jay Leno-hosted “You Bet Your Life” reboot, bowing this fall, has sold in 85% of the U.S. Yet a once annual launchpad for shows seeking U.S. syndication was dominated this time round by the seismic pivot of Hollywood’s majors and other players into global VOD platforms, and the impact of this tectonic shunt on the industry at large.
Dominating NATPE-related business announcements and online panel discussions, that impact is inevitable.
But it didn’t always play out in the most obvious fashion.
Following, six – somewhat provisional – takeaways from this year’s NATPE Miami, focused on its international business:
The Big Swings
During NATPE, Paramount Plus set a March 4 launch date for the U.
- 1/25/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based international TV powerhouse The Mediapro Studio has sold banner series “The Head” to HBO Max for the U.S. as it powers into English-language production, partnering with John Turturro, “Casualty” writers Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, U.K. producer Big Talk and London-based director Guillem Morales.
The drive into U.S. and now most especially U.K. production marks the latest strategic growth in one of the fastest ramp-ups in drama series production in Europe, spearheaded by Laura Fernández Espeso, appointed The Mediapro corporate director in October 2019 and chief executive last month.
“We are making a large bet on fortifying our position in the U.S., U.K. and Latin America, and feature film production, and are proud to be working with a huge range of high-caliber partners,” Fernández-Espeso told Variety.
Underscoring her point, she noted four U.S. projects now in development; a production alliance with Erik Barmack,...
The drive into U.S. and now most especially U.K. production marks the latest strategic growth in one of the fastest ramp-ups in drama series production in Europe, spearheaded by Laura Fernández Espeso, appointed The Mediapro corporate director in October 2019 and chief executive last month.
“We are making a large bet on fortifying our position in the U.S., U.K. and Latin America, and feature film production, and are proud to be working with a huge range of high-caliber partners,” Fernández-Espeso told Variety.
Underscoring her point, she noted four U.S. projects now in development; a production alliance with Erik Barmack,...
- 1/25/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
“Stranger Things” star Charlie Heaton will take the lead in the BBC’s new two-part drama “The Elephant Man,” the U.K. public broadcaster announced Wednesday. Heaton will star as Joseph Merrick, and the show will span two 90-minute episodes to air on flagship channel BBC One in 2019.
Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, also announced a trio of new drama series from female writers. The new commissions see dramas for BBC One and BBC Two from BAFTA winners Nicole Taylor and Michaela Coel. Oscar-nominated Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson will direct an adaptation of author Sally Rooney’s “Normal People.”
Taylor, who won a BAFTA this year for best miniseries with “Three Girls,” will write six-part thriller “The Nest” for BBC One. Exploring the consequences of a pact between a wealthy couple and a teenage girl that changes all of their lives forever, “The Nest” is produced by Studio Lambert.
Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, also announced a trio of new drama series from female writers. The new commissions see dramas for BBC One and BBC Two from BAFTA winners Nicole Taylor and Michaela Coel. Oscar-nominated Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson will direct an adaptation of author Sally Rooney’s “Normal People.”
Taylor, who won a BAFTA this year for best miniseries with “Three Girls,” will write six-part thriller “The Nest” for BBC One. Exploring the consequences of a pact between a wealthy couple and a teenage girl that changes all of their lives forever, “The Nest” is produced by Studio Lambert.
- 8/22/2018
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Sixties-set medical drama Breathless premiered on ITV1 in the UK on Thursday night with 3.7M viewers (including +1s) for a 17.5% share in the overnights. That was consistent with the slot average and was enough for the show to top other entries at 9 Pm. Co-produced by ITV Studios and Masterpiece, the six-part drama about a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital draws inevitable comparisons to Mad Men given the stylish period look – not to mention the tag line, “Perfect lives built on lies.” It kicks off in 1961 and focuses on the changing roles of women at a time when abortion was still illegal, the contraceptive pill was only just available to married women and moral codes were shifting. Breathless is co-created, written and exec produced by Paul Unwin who was in Cannes at the Mipcom TV market earlier this week to talk up the series along with...
- 10/11/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
The Live Action Short Film category has colored the cinematic canvas of the Academy Awards for almost as long as the lavish ceremony has erupted onto the streets of Hollywood. Despite intermittent name and structure changes over the years, this category has brought the best in short form storytelling into the limelight. With the pre-Oscar buzz in full swing, here's a look back at the Live Action Short Films that have colored the cinematic landscape of the Academy Awards since 1931: Vimeo and Youtube streaming links to the films: The Music Box (1932) - Hal Roach La Cucaracha (1934) - Kenneth McGowan Stairway to Light (1945) - Herbert Moulton Happy Anniversary (1962) - Pierre Etaix Boys and Girls (1983) - Janice L. Platt Syrup (1993) - Paul Unwin, Nick Vivian Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life (1994) - Peter Capaldi The Accountant (2001) - Ray McKinnon Copy Shop (2001) - Virgil Widrich Fait d'Hiver (2002) - Dirk Belien I'll Just Wait for the Next One.
- 10/3/2013
- by Ramzi De Coster
- Indiewire
It looks as though Don Draper might have a doctor cousin across the pond.
In the first U.K. trailer for "Breathless," coming to PBS' "Masterpiece" in 2014, Jack Davenport ("Smash") arrives as a brilliant surgeon in early '60s London, caught up in a cauldron of lies and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex. Sound like someone we know?
"Television dramas that tell good stories about women's lives in the 20th century are endlessly interesting to me ... and apparently to lots of other people -- look at the appeal of 'Call the Midwife' and 'Mad Men,'" "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton says. "We're all fascinated by the enormous changes that happened just a short time ago. 'Breathless' is a sharp, visually rich portrait of a group of people on the cusp of change."
Davenport is joined in the cast by "Downton Abbey" alumni...
In the first U.K. trailer for "Breathless," coming to PBS' "Masterpiece" in 2014, Jack Davenport ("Smash") arrives as a brilliant surgeon in early '60s London, caught up in a cauldron of lies and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex. Sound like someone we know?
"Television dramas that tell good stories about women's lives in the 20th century are endlessly interesting to me ... and apparently to lots of other people -- look at the appeal of 'Call the Midwife' and 'Mad Men,'" "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton says. "We're all fascinated by the enormous changes that happened just a short time ago. 'Breathless' is a sharp, visually rich portrait of a group of people on the cusp of change."
Davenport is joined in the cast by "Downton Abbey" alumni...
- 10/2/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
ITV has revealed the trailer for new drama Breathless, starring Jack Davenport and Joanna Page.
The period drama opens in 1961, and follows the lives of a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital.
The six-part drama, which also stars Sarah Parish, Catherine Steadman and Iain Glen, is billed as being set in a world of "lies, deception and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex".
The action takes place in a Gynaecology unit, on the cusp of Britain's '60s revolution where abortion is illegal and the contraceptive pill is only just becoming available to married women.
The drama was co-created by Casualty's Paul Unwin, who collaborated with Peter Grimsdale and Simon Tyrrell to write the series.
Kate Bartlett, executive producer for ITV Studios, said: "Breathless is an exhilarating and charismatic character drama, set against a glamorous London backdrop.
"The medical stories and events are...
The period drama opens in 1961, and follows the lives of a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital.
The six-part drama, which also stars Sarah Parish, Catherine Steadman and Iain Glen, is billed as being set in a world of "lies, deception and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex".
The action takes place in a Gynaecology unit, on the cusp of Britain's '60s revolution where abortion is illegal and the contraceptive pill is only just becoming available to married women.
The drama was co-created by Casualty's Paul Unwin, who collaborated with Peter Grimsdale and Simon Tyrrell to write the series.
Kate Bartlett, executive producer for ITV Studios, said: "Breathless is an exhilarating and charismatic character drama, set against a glamorous London backdrop.
"The medical stories and events are...
- 10/1/2013
- Digital Spy
ITV Studios and Masterpiece teamed to co-produce Breathless, the upcoming six-part drama about a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital in the 1960s. Jack Davenport leads an ensemble cast that includes Game Of Thrones‘ Iain Glen, Downton Abbey‘s Zoe Boyle and Natasha Little (Kidnap And Ransom). The series is set in a busy gynecology unit in 1961, a time when abortion was still illegal, the contraceptive pill only just available to married women and moral codes were shifting. Breathless was co-created and written by Paul Unwin (Shameless). Unwin, Rebecca Eaton and Kate Bartlett are exec producers. ITV starts airing it on October 10 and will trot out some of the key players at next week’s Mipcom; no U.S. airdate has been set:...
- 10/1/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
"Masterpiece" on PBS has picked up its next period piece from across the pond -- a medical drama set in the 1960s called "Breathless."
The six-hour drama is set in a London hospital in 1961. It stars Jack Davenport, late of "Smash," as the head of the hospital's gynecology unit at a time when the birth-control pill had just become available and abortion was still illegal. The cast also includes "Downton Abbey" alumni Iain Glen (also of "Game of Thrones") and Zoe Boyle and Natasha Little ("Case Histories," the U.K. "Mistresses").
"Television dramas that tell good stories about women's lives in the 20th century are endlessly interesting to me ... and apparently to lots of other people -- look at the appeal of 'Call the Midwife' and 'Mad Men,'" "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton says. "We're all fascinated by the enormous changes that happened just a short time ago.
The six-hour drama is set in a London hospital in 1961. It stars Jack Davenport, late of "Smash," as the head of the hospital's gynecology unit at a time when the birth-control pill had just become available and abortion was still illegal. The cast also includes "Downton Abbey" alumni Iain Glen (also of "Game of Thrones") and Zoe Boyle and Natasha Little ("Case Histories," the U.K. "Mistresses").
"Television dramas that tell good stories about women's lives in the 20th century are endlessly interesting to me ... and apparently to lots of other people -- look at the appeal of 'Call the Midwife' and 'Mad Men,'" "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton says. "We're all fascinated by the enormous changes that happened just a short time ago.
- 6/20/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
New York — "Masterpiece" is prescribing a new drama set in a London hospital in the early 1960s.
The series, "Breathless," will put medical practice at the brink of the tumultuous `60s. Set in a busy gynecology unit, it inhabits a world where abortion is illegal and the new contraceptive pill is only available to married women.
Premiering on "Masterpiece" in 2014, "Breathless" was announced Thursday by co-producers PBS/Wgbh and ITV Studios.
The series will star Jack Davenport, most recently seen on the NBC series "Smash." Other cast members include Zoe Boyle and Iain Glen from "Downton Abbey."
"Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton called "Breathless" a "sharp, visually rich" portrait of characters "on the cusp of change."
"Breathless" is co-created and written by Paul Unwin ("Shameless," "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple" and "Poirot").
The series, "Breathless," will put medical practice at the brink of the tumultuous `60s. Set in a busy gynecology unit, it inhabits a world where abortion is illegal and the new contraceptive pill is only available to married women.
Premiering on "Masterpiece" in 2014, "Breathless" was announced Thursday by co-producers PBS/Wgbh and ITV Studios.
The series will star Jack Davenport, most recently seen on the NBC series "Smash." Other cast members include Zoe Boyle and Iain Glen from "Downton Abbey."
"Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton called "Breathless" a "sharp, visually rich" portrait of characters "on the cusp of change."
"Breathless" is co-created and written by Paul Unwin ("Shameless," "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple" and "Poirot").
- 6/20/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Masterpiece is re-teaming with ITV Studios to co-produce Breathless, the upcoming six-part drama about a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital in the 1960s. Jack Davenport leads an ensemble cast that includes Game Of Thrones‘ Iain Glen, Downton Abbey‘s Zoe Boyle and Natasha Little (Kidnap And Ransom). The series is set in a busy gynecology unit in 1961, a time when abortion was still illegal, the contraceptive pill only just available to married women and moral codes were shifting. Shooting started in April. No U.S. or UK air date has been set. Masterpiece is already partnered with ITV Studios on Jeremy Piven-starrer Mr. Selfridge, about to enter its second season. It also co-produces Endeavour and airs Downton Abbey, which ITV commissions in the UK from Carnival Films. Masterpiece exec producer Rebecca Eaton said of Breathless, “Television dramas that tell good stories about women’s...
- 6/19/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
ITV’s ‘Breathless’ Rounds Out Cast Six-part ITV drama Breathless has added cast to join the previously announced Jack Davenport-starrer. Natasha Little (Vanity Fair), Oliver Chris (One Man Two Guvnors), Zoe Boyle (Downton Abbey, Sons Of Anarchy), Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey), Shaun Dingwall (Above Suspicion) Catherine Steadman (The Tudors, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen), Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys), Pippa Haywood (Mr Selfridge) and Iain Glen (Game Of Thrones) have all boarded the ITV Studios drama about a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital in the 60s. Shooting is underway this month on Breathless which is produced by Jolyon Symonds with Kate Bartlett and director Paul Unwin exec producing. K5 Adds Rodolphe Sanze To Sales, Ups Sara Boss K5 International is expanding its sales team to handle its full Cannes slate. Rodolphe Sanze has joined the company, reporting to Partner, Sales and Marketing, Carl Clifton, and...
- 4/18/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
The cast has been announced for ITV's upcoming drama Breathless.
The series - which has started filming in London - is set in the 1960s and focusses on the lives of doctors and nurses at one of the capital's hospitals and delves into their "cauldron of lies, deception and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex".
Vanity Fair's Natasha Little will star as Elizabeth, the "elegant" wife of surgeon Otto played by Jack Davenport - who was revealed to have joined the cast as the lead character in February.
Friends of the couple, Dr Charlie Enderbury and his wife Lily will be played by Above Suspicion's Shaun Dingwall and Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page.
Joining the cast as colleagues at the hospital are Catherine Steadman (The Tudors) as a nurse who catches Otto's eye and Oliver Chris (Green Wing) as a junior consultant engaged to Angela's sister Jean,...
The series - which has started filming in London - is set in the 1960s and focusses on the lives of doctors and nurses at one of the capital's hospitals and delves into their "cauldron of lies, deception and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex".
Vanity Fair's Natasha Little will star as Elizabeth, the "elegant" wife of surgeon Otto played by Jack Davenport - who was revealed to have joined the cast as the lead character in February.
Friends of the couple, Dr Charlie Enderbury and his wife Lily will be played by Above Suspicion's Shaun Dingwall and Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page.
Joining the cast as colleagues at the hospital are Catherine Steadman (The Tudors) as a nurse who catches Otto's eye and Oliver Chris (Green Wing) as a junior consultant engaged to Angela's sister Jean,...
- 4/16/2013
- Digital Spy
Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back to Saturday Night Live… again.
The Emmy-winning singer/actor has been tapped to host the late-night staple for a fifth time, NBC announced Thursday. Pulling double duty, Timberlake will also act as the March 9 installment’s musical guest, performing tracks from his upcoming comeback album The 20/20 Experience.
Related | Saturday Night Live Vet Kristen Wiig Joins Arrested Development Revival
And now, the burning question on everyone’s minds: Will Andy Samberg resurface for the episode? Perhaps even if just for another “Dick In A Box”-ish Digital Short with his old pal Jt? Hit the comments with your predictions.
The Emmy-winning singer/actor has been tapped to host the late-night staple for a fifth time, NBC announced Thursday. Pulling double duty, Timberlake will also act as the March 9 installment’s musical guest, performing tracks from his upcoming comeback album The 20/20 Experience.
Related | Saturday Night Live Vet Kristen Wiig Joins Arrested Development Revival
And now, the burning question on everyone’s minds: Will Andy Samberg resurface for the episode? Perhaps even if just for another “Dick In A Box”-ish Digital Short with his old pal Jt? Hit the comments with your predictions.
- 2/21/2013
- by Megan Masters
- TVLine.com
Jack Davenport is to lead ITV's new '60s medical drama Breathless.
The Smash star will play brilliant but charismatic surgeon Otto Powell in the new series.
Breathless - which has been compared to both BBC One's Call the Midwife and ITV's own The Royal - has been devised by Casualty creator Paul Unwin.
The drama follows the lives of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital, a workplace that hides "a cauldron of lies, deceptions and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex".
Opening in 1961, Breathless will be written by Unwin, co-creator Peter Grimsdale and Simon Tyrell (Lightfields).
"I'm delighted to be adding a new medical drama to our roster of returning series," said ITV's Acting Director of Drama Commissioning Steve November.
"Paul and Peter have created a compelling group of characters at a fascinating point in the history of the NHS."
ITV Studios exec Kate Bartlett...
The Smash star will play brilliant but charismatic surgeon Otto Powell in the new series.
Breathless - which has been compared to both BBC One's Call the Midwife and ITV's own The Royal - has been devised by Casualty creator Paul Unwin.
The drama follows the lives of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital, a workplace that hides "a cauldron of lies, deceptions and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex".
Opening in 1961, Breathless will be written by Unwin, co-creator Peter Grimsdale and Simon Tyrell (Lightfields).
"I'm delighted to be adding a new medical drama to our roster of returning series," said ITV's Acting Director of Drama Commissioning Steve November.
"Paul and Peter have created a compelling group of characters at a fascinating point in the history of the NHS."
ITV Studios exec Kate Bartlett...
- 2/21/2013
- Digital Spy
Set in 1961 London, Breathless is a six-part drama created by Paul Unwin whose credits include British series Casualty and Combat Hospital. ITV has just commissioned the ITV Studios production that follows the lives of a group of doctors and nurses in a gynecology ward at a period when Britain was on the brink of the 60s revolution. Smash‘s Jack Davenport stars as Otto Powell, a brilliant and charismatic surgeon who believes he can make a difference to women’s lives. Otto and his elegant wife preside over an ensemble of characters with more cast announcements to come. Unwin will direct the first two episodes. His co-creator is Peter Grimsdale who will also script with Simon Tyrell. Breathless is produced by Jolyon Symonds; ITV Studios’ Kate Bartlett will executive produce with Unwin. Shooting starts in April. ITV Studios Global Entertainment is handling internationally.
- 2/21/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
ITV has commissioned a new medical drama set in the 1960s.
Breathless will be centred on a group of gynaecologists working in London at the advent of the 'sexual revolution' in 1961, before the legalisation of abortion and the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
"There were some women working in this area and they will be in the series, but gynaecology was a mainly male world at this time," a source told The Guardian.
"This was before the pill and the legalisation of abortion and the 1960s hit the country and it was a totally different world. It was also before Profumo, and there was a lot of covering up going on within the establishment which at the time was relatively immune from scrutiny."
Breathless has been co-created by Paul Unwin (Casualty), who confirmed via the Sofa Productions website website on Friday (February 1) that he will storyline the series and write a number of scripts.
Breathless will be centred on a group of gynaecologists working in London at the advent of the 'sexual revolution' in 1961, before the legalisation of abortion and the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
"There were some women working in this area and they will be in the series, but gynaecology was a mainly male world at this time," a source told The Guardian.
"This was before the pill and the legalisation of abortion and the 1960s hit the country and it was a totally different world. It was also before Profumo, and there was a lot of covering up going on within the establishment which at the time was relatively immune from scrutiny."
Breathless has been co-created by Paul Unwin (Casualty), who confirmed via the Sofa Productions website website on Friday (February 1) that he will storyline the series and write a number of scripts.
- 2/2/2013
- Digital Spy
Casualty bosses are marking the show's 25th anniversary by inviting viewers to vote for their favourite episode of the BBC medical drama. From today, fans can log on to the official Casualty website and pick out the best ever instalment of the programme from a shortlist of ten classics. The ten episodes on the shortlist, which were chosen by Casualty's producers, are as follows: Series 1, episode 15, 1986
Closure by Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock.
The night shift goes on strike to protest about closure. Series 7, episode 24, 1993
Boiling Point by Peter Bowker.
Riot and arson in the Ed. Series 12, episode 17, 1998
The Golden Hour by Barbara Machin.
Motorway pile-up. Series 12, episode 22, 1998
Love Me Tender by Tony Lindsay.
Tina admits to Eve that she was raped. Series 18, episode 1, 2004
End Of The Line by Ann (more)...
Closure by Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock.
The night shift goes on strike to protest about closure. Series 7, episode 24, 1993
Boiling Point by Peter Bowker.
Riot and arson in the Ed. Series 12, episode 17, 1998
The Golden Hour by Barbara Machin.
Motorway pile-up. Series 12, episode 22, 1998
Love Me Tender by Tony Lindsay.
Tina admits to Eve that she was raped. Series 18, episode 1, 2004
End Of The Line by Ann (more)...
- 8/26/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
As UK film-makers and members of Directors UK, we are greatly saddened to learn of the imprisonment of acclaimed Iranian film-makers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran jails film-maker who dared to back opposition for six years, 21 December). We strongly condemn the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in seeking to temper free speech and believe that a greater understanding of the people of Iran at home and abroad can only result from the unhindered expression of creativity in film, media and the arts in all their forms.
We express our sense of solidarity with Jafar and Mohammad and call upon the Iranian government to immediately rescind the sentences and to release them without delay.
Paul Greengrass (President, Directors UK), Udayan Prasad, Nigel Cole, Kevin Macdonald, David Yates, Michael Apted, Julian Jarrold, Iain Softley, Paul Unwin, Andrew Gillman, Tim Sullivan, Piers Haggard, Dan Clifton
IranMiddle East
guardian.co.uk...
We express our sense of solidarity with Jafar and Mohammad and call upon the Iranian government to immediately rescind the sentences and to release them without delay.
Paul Greengrass (President, Directors UK), Udayan Prasad, Nigel Cole, Kevin Macdonald, David Yates, Michael Apted, Julian Jarrold, Iain Softley, Paul Unwin, Andrew Gillman, Tim Sullivan, Piers Haggard, Dan Clifton
IranMiddle East
guardian.co.uk...
- 12/24/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
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