C21Podcast

NHS frontline doctor and filmmaker Nidhi Gupta on crowdfunding pandemic documentary Start. Stop. Repeat following her harrowing experiences of Covid-19; and Safi Ideas CEO Wa'qaar A Mirza, creator of preschool show Zayn AND Zayna, on why children's TV is failing with diversity.

Stunt coordinator Jon Heaney on becoming the world’s first Covid-19 on-set safety expert through keeping Kurt Wimmer's Children of the Corn on track in Australia; plus Off the Fence founder and co-CEO Ellen Windemuth discusses the pandemic's impact and launch of conservation-focused VoD platform WaterBear Network.

Criminal Minds and Versailles showrunner Simon Mirren, plus The Handmaid’s Tale and The Falcon AND the Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland discuss how Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement will change the TV business for good.

Argonon Group CEO James Burstall; Liz Layton, exec producer at Leopard USA; and Tom Porter, director of programmes at BriteSpark Films, talk about continuing to produce and win commissions during the pandemic; plus Cricko Akander, exec producer of Strix Sweden format The Farm and Adam Barth, commercial director of NENT Studios UK, discuss making the reality show under Covid-19 restrictions.

Vanessa Shapiro, CEO of Nicely Entertainment; Ruth Fielding, co-founder of Lupus Films; and Michael Rose, joint-MD of Magic Light Pictures, discuss why holiday programming remains a fixture of the calendar and for those that make Christmas-themed movies and specials, it's business more or less as usual right now.

Adeel Amini, founder of The TV Mindset, discusses a new initiative to provide freelancers with mental health support; Secret Cinema CEO Max Alexander explains why high-end TV series offer more scope for immersive events than movies; and Ember Films MD Jonathan Jones on new Netflix series Tiny Creatures.

Mira Nair, director of the BBC's adaptation of A Suitable Boy, on making her TV debut and finishing the series as the pandemic hit; Good Gate Media head of production John Giwa-Amu on the company's new interactive romantic comedy, filmed during lockdown; and A24 Media CEO Asif Sheikh on the launch of new African VoD service Yebo.

Krishnendu Majumdar, co-founder of Me+You Productions and new Bafta chair, talks about efforts to improve diversity within the industry ahead of this year's television awards; and Nutopia CEO Jane Root discusses new HBO Max series A World of Calm, plus continuing production on other shows despite international travel restrictions.

Showrunner Lucia Puenzo and Fremantle exec VP of global drama Christian Vesper discuss Amazon's first Chilean original La Jauría; Sherman’s Showcase co-creators Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle talk about their sketch show's move to AMC; and Wattpad Studios chief Aron Levitz reflects on the trends the storytelling platform has observed during the pandemic.

VRT international drama exec Elly Vervloet discusses her work with the European Broadcasting Union's The Drama Initiative; Jonnydepony co-founder Helen Perquy talks about what it's like developing a drama set after a pandemic when a pandemic hits; and Slim Film + Television MD Simon Crawford Collins on returning to production in New Zealand.

Helion Partners' Tom Manwaring on Sony's buy-out of UK indie Eleven, producers of hit Netflix series Sex Education; Kevin Levy, exec VP of program planning, scheduling and acquisitions at The CW details the US network's pandemic response; and Patrick Wimp, creator of Brothers From the Suburbs, discusses Hollywood's reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Today we hear from Natalija Gorščak, director of TV at RTV in Slovenia, about how the country is restarting production; Catherine Alvaresse, director of documentaries at France Télévisions, about its renewed focus on documentary; and Fiorenza Cella, president of Free Dolphin Entertainment, about the rise and rise of the TV movie.

Fiona Francombe, director of The Bottle Yard Studios, home to dramas including Poldark, talks about the steps the UK facility is taking to reopen; and Pernel Media president Samuel Kissous discusses the challenges of making France Télévisions historical re-enactment docuseries The Real War of Thrones under social distancing restrictions.

TV2 acquisitions executive Mette Kühnell Petersen talks about how the Danish pubcaster has adapted to the absence of live sports and its increased emphasis on documentaries; plus historian Bettany Hughes and SandStone Global director of production Ruth Sessions on completing their latest series for the UK's Channel 5 amidst the pandemic.

Parti Pictures founder Nisha Parti discusses the open letter she recently penned in an effort to tackle institutional racism in the UK TV industry; and Bunmi Akintonwa, head of Little Black Book Co and founding member of DiversifyTV, talks about the lessons the business can learn from the Black Lives Matter movement.

Avalon co-executive chairman Jon Thoday on the resurgence of studio-based sitcoms and possible linear return of online-only youth net BBC3; Gusto Worldwide Media president and CEO Chris Knight on returning to production; and High Noon Entertainment senior VP of development Katie Neff on the reality check facing unscripted TV post-pandemic and Black Lives Matter.

France Télévisions head of factual, international copros and acquisitions Caroline Béhar on the challenges and opportunities opening up for documentaries at the French public broadcaster as a result of the recent lockdown; and Children's Media Conference editorial director Greg Childs on taking this year's event virtual.

Wheelhouse Entertainment CEO Brent Montgomery talks about how the unscripted business is facing its own reality check as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement; and StarzPlay exec VP of international digital networks Superna Kalle discusses how the streamer's strategy has been affected by the crisis.

Critical Content president Jennifer Daly on how the pandemic has given rise to innovation in A-lister-led shot-from-home non-scripted shows; and PBS VP of programming and development Bill Gardner on tackling the coronavirus crisis, the Black Lives Matter movement, and forthcoming US election.

CuriosityStream director of content and development Jorge Franzini on taking the US-based factual streamer to the next level; Diamond Entertainment founder DC Cassidy on helming Hollywood's first Black-led animation company; and Yellow Bird UK creative director Berna Levin on making Young Wallander for Netflix.

UKTV CEO Marcus Arthur discusses his first year atop the BBC Studios-owned broadcaster, the impact of Covid-19, and recent decision to remove an episode of Fawlty Towers from its streaming service; plus Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich on how the Australian state is returning to production and the opportunities for overseas companies.

Arte France commissioning editor for documentaries Mark Edwards on navigating life without physical industry events and forthcoming projects on the Covid-19 pandemic, Donald Trump and Boris Johnson; plus director Claire McCarthy and Fremantle exec VP and creative director of global drama Christian Vesper on new BBC drama The Luminaries.

SVT commissioning editor for documentaries Axel Arno on the ups and downs of online festivals as the digital version of Sunnyside of the Doc gets underway; and the Eurovision Song Contest's new executive supervisor Martin Österdahl on how he plans to future-proof the event, cancelled this year for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Canadian Media Producers Association president AND CEO Reynolds Mastin discusses how the nation's TV industry is getting back to work following the coronavirus production hiatus; and British Film Commission CEO Adrian Wootton considers how the UK will follow suit having drawn comprehensive guidelines.

Executive producer Kevin Loader and production designer Simon Bowles discuss the BBC's new Covid-19-safe version of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads; and the creators of The Container Cup talk about how they devised, pitched and produced a hit Belgian lockdown sports competition format shot inside an old shipping container.