MIPTV, Sunday 1st April, 2012 – FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) today announced that Academy Award® nominee Morgan Spurlock will join the company’s stable of talent through a new first-look deal with his production company, Warrior Poets.
The deal sees FME bring the soon-to-launch Sky Atlantic HD original commission Morgan Spurlock’s New Britannia to MIPTV. In the lively 10x60’ series, the acclaimed American filmmaker dissects the eccentricities of British culture.
Witty, off-beat and deliciously scathing, each show will see Spurlock scrutinize one particular aspect of British society, with the help of some big-name studio guests from the worlds of comedy, celebrity and politics, from both sides of the Atlantic. Amongst the topics covered will be the UK’s unique concept of class, the intricacies of their view of foreigners, and the distinctly British attitude towards fame. Spurlock will travel the length and breadth of the country to discover and experience Britain’s traditions, institutions and behaviours first-hand; joining a real life Superhero on patrol, making Black Pudding in a Bury factory and sampling the newest speed-dating craze in Britain’s capital.
FME will also launch Failure Club (12x60’) at MIPTV. Originally a web series produced for Yahoo! in the US, it sees Morgan Spurlock and seven participants meet once a week for a year to help each other achieve the things they’d otherwise never dare to do. The members learn to defy the fears associated with ‘failure’ by pursuing seemingly impossible goals that they set for themselves.
This announcement follows news of FME’s first-look deal with online video service Hulu for its originally commissioned programming. As part of this, FME has taken the rights to Morgan Spurlock’s documentary series A Day In The Life (16x30’), which chronicles a complete day in the life of some of the world’s most fascinating humans, from billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and street artist Mr. Brainwash to multi-platinum Black Eye Peas front man, will.i.am.
David Ellender, Global CEO of FremantleMedia Enterprises, said, “Morgan Spurlock is one of the most creative factual storytellers of his generation, taking a populist look at subjects that resonate with audiences worldwide. We pride ourselves on partnering with the industry’s most exciting and innovative talents and are extremely pleased to welcome Morgan and his team at Warrior Poets to the FME family. We look forward to working closely with them on future projects.”
"We couldn't be more excited about this partnership," said Spurlock. "FremantleMedia Enterprises is the perfect company to help us grow and expand our reach beyond the States. It's going to be an exhilarating experience and I can't wait to see what opportunities we cook up together over the next year."
- Ends -
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
ABOUT WARRIOR POETS
Warrior Poets is a New York based production company that was founded in 2004 by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. Since its creation, he and producing partner Jeremy Chilnick have produced multiple award winning films and television programs. Films include The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Freakonomics, Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?, Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope, and the upcoming Mansome. Television projects include the award winning FX series 30 Days, ESPN’s The Dotted Line, the Emmy and Writer’s Guild nominated The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special in 3D on Ice!, Hulu’s A Day in the Life, Yahoo’s Failure Club, & Morgan Spurlock’s New Britannia for Sky Atlantic HD.
For more information please contact:
Mary Jones
Interim Sr. PR Manager
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Tel: 07795 507 286
Oliver Rawlins
VP Global Communications
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Tel: 07855 326 362
In London:
Jumana Rizwan
PR Manager
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Tel: 020 7691 6114 / 07775 035 317
Jumana.Rizwan@fremantlemedia.com