Media Res, Cattleya and others debate funding challenges as streamers turn away from full-rights deals - AVP Summit

July 20, 2023 11:42 p.m.

Innovative ways to get projects into production were discussed for a panel of top US and European producers, networks and streamers during a panel discussion at the AVP Summit in Trieste.

The panel included Rachel Eggebeen, CCO of Amplify Pictures, Lars Blomgren, Director of Media Res International, Marco Chimenz, Co-CEO of Cattleya, Nicola Serra of Palomar, Davide Nardini of Prime Video and Morad Koufane, Head of International Scripted Series of France Télévisions, who each explained how their operations could help finance projects. and in production.

To date, Amplify, which former Amazon Studios boss Joe Lewis founded last year as an indie, has made two seasons of the HBO documentary series 100 Foot Wave using the model. Former Netflix EMEA head Eggebeen, who recently joined Amplify as chief content officer, said, "Our next hurdle is applying this model in scripts."

She revealed that Amplify is working on a project that will shoot in Italy about "two young American girls who love" the country. “Our plan is to fully fund Independence using our model or use a combination of presales to get the show done,” she added. "The goal is to get things made quickly, innovatively, and in a way, we have the agency of how they're made."

Chimenz, whose company Cattleya is at the origin of emissions such as zerozerozero and gomorrah , said that streamers become more flexible in their rights, " Some cases are more cautious about what they spend ".

"It's interesting for producers who have the expertise to go around the world to get financing… There is a possibility of retaining the rights, which is very desirable in the long term. Only by retaining the rights can a business achieve long-term growth."

Chimenz added that dropping full rights deals with streamers has put distributors back in the game.

Blomgren, who joined The Morning Show creator Media Res as Banijay's international director earlier this year, said many international producers view streamers' shifts in strategy as "a step back into the comfort zone" of piecemeal deals and collaborating with overseas partners.

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