London TV Screenings Bets on Escapism and ‘Elevated Mainstream,’ While Unscripted and Long-Running Franchises Continue to Grow: ‘We Want to Entertain You’
variety.comMarta Balaga Enough with the winter gloom: Feel-good shows are about to take over TV market London Screenings, as distributors echo Russell Crowe’s Maximus iconic words: “Are you not entertained?” “Most platforms are looking for entertaining shows.
Escapism is a big thing,” says Fremantle International CEO Jens Richter. “You want to take the audience somewhere else and make sure they forget about their reality for a minute. ‘We want to entertain you.’ That’s the headline, basically.” Beta Group’s chief distribution officer Oliver Bachert agrees – in a world challenged by many conflicts, watching something “accessible and easy” feels more appealing than ever. “We see things that are maybe not that ambitious, but they work as entertainment.
A bit of blue sky helps us deal with everyday news. Even up north, Nordic Noir just got lighter.” Crime and thrillers are still “major export genres,” notices Rachel Glaister of All3Media International, but buyers are looking for other narratives too.
Such as Berlinale Series Selects’ proposition “Lost Boys and Fairies,” about a gay couple deciding to adopt a child, or comedic “Boarders,” soon heading to SeriesMania. “It’s a show with substance but also humor.
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