Water Cooler

By Monica Gorghetto

There were mixed results at the recently concluded third edition of the Kids Licensing Forum, which coincided with the 47th annual Bologna Children's Book Fair.
           Held in Bologna, Italy, March 23-26, with 1,200 exhibitors from 60 countries and some 4,600 participants, the much larger Book Fair once again housed the Kids Forum, which in addition to licensing and merchandising, included sales of children’s TV programs.
           More than 30 companies exhibited with stands in Hall 31, a dedicated area within the Book Fair premises. Among them: France’s Marathon; Italy’s Mediaset, RaiTrade and Atlantyca; Canada’s E1 and Nickelodeon from the U.S.
           There were also six “showcases” of companies without a booth, such as that of Disney Italia. Some of the participating companies were also able to screen their products in a general screening room.
           The Forum is the only Italian trade event organized in cooperation with LIMA, the worldwide organization for the licensing industry, and president Charles Riotto was in attendancce.
           On the conference side, 20 well-attended seminars dealt with an array of subjects, including copyrights and subsidiary rights, licensing contracts, and the videogame market.
           Overall, workshops and seminars held during the three day event focused on the legal aspects of international licensing and the role of sports brands and licensing in the fashion business, in addition to several properties previews.
           Among the most significant news conferences, executives from Italian animation festival, Cartoons on the Bay announced a new award in this year’s competition (to be held in Rapallo, Italy April 15-18) — the Arlecchino Award  –– to be bestowed on the best animation production based on a literary work.
           Although some attendees complained of low attendance, the Kids Forum took off on the second day, and participants VideoAge contacted reported good business.

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VideoAge International: What are your company’s plans for MIP-TV?
Marcel Vinay Junior: Just like every year we are bringing a different variety of new shows to MIP-TV. TVAzteca has made a huge investment on talented writers and the results have been amazing. For example, for the first time at MIP-TV we are bringing La Loba, a telenovela that sold to more than 14 countries in Latin America on the first day of NATPE 2010. We are eager to present this amazing telenovela to the rest of the world at MIP-TV.
Beth Orozco: Our purpose has always been the same, to be in contact with our clients, to have the opportunity to develop partnerships with them and to continue positioning ourselves in the international market. This personal contact with people is crucial to achieve the above.

VAI: What new product/titles are you bringing to the market?
MVJ: We are presenting [a total of] three new telenovelas, which have been superbly written and skillfully produced. Infamia (Torn Apart) is a remarkable drama about identical twin sisters living two very different lives who are separated at birth by their villainous grandmother. We are also offering La Loba (Fierce Angel), a great story about a girl who in order to save her life was given away at birth. And finally, another excellent story is La Fuerza del Destino (Force of Destiny), which has been a huge success in countries such as Venezuela and Turkey, and will run in the rest of Latin America later this year.
BO: We’re bringing three new released productions, each quite different. The first is a telenovela with a touch of comedy, the second is more classical and dramatic, and the third is a musical (All I need is Love, Mariana & Scarlett, Pretty Ceci and Mr. Indiscreet). All are very good shows that sure are going to captivate clients’ interest. And of course, all of them are suitable for their sales as format or as readymade.

VAI: In light of the state of the economy, what do you expect attendance to be like at this year’s MIP?
MVJ: We started the year with a very successful market at NATPE so we expect this MIP-TV to be even better. Along with our new programming we are returning with shows that have been very well received by our clients for example the series A Cada Quien Su Santo has in just one year become the number one show in its time slot in countries like Venezuela and the rest of Latin America.
BO: The television industry is in a recovery; they need new and different content to get over this economic situation. We feel that good content at a good prices is the best formula for clients in times like this and that is exactly what we offer.

VAI: How important is MIP-TV to your company?
MVJ: MIP-TV is an important market because it brings together programmers from all over the world, especially from continents like Africa, Asia and of course Europe.

VAI: MIP-TV falls two weeks later than usual this year. Is that good or bad for your company?
BO: I actually don’t think that this delay makes a quite big different for us, in fact, it gives us the chance to have new releases productions which couldn’t be presented in other market like NATPE.

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In view of the upcoming MIP-TV in Cannes, April 10-16, VideoAge posed five “frank” questions to MIP-TV’s director of the Television Division, Laurine Garaude.

VideoAge International:   Why doesn't this year's MIP have a theme?
Laurine Garaude: This year’s MIPTV does have a theme; it’s called “Charting the next decade” and at this first MIPTV of the decade we are introducing a number of new initiatives. Firstly MIPFormats, which is a targeted conference and pitching showcase for the format community. We are delighted to have to-date already over 300 participants registered. They will be able to hear experts from CBS Studios International, Endemol, All3 Media International, Sony Pictures Television, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, MTV Networks International, BBC Worldwide, Zodiak Entertainment, Shine Group and many more. Also launching in April is the Producers’ Forum which has been specifically created to offer international producers a platform focusing particularly on international co-production opportunities. Producers will also be able to learn the principles of transmedia storytelling from a guru of the genre Jeff Gomez. Our forward looking MIP Digital program will include our increasingly popular cross media festival, Content 360, an experience showcase area and a series of strategic conferences beginning with an invitation only Digital VIP Summit bringing together over 40 senior executives in digital entertainment; together they will exchange and debate on the key issues of the decade

VAI:  Will Warner Bros. be back with a stand this time?
LG:  Warner Bros. will be present this year as are all the studios. Warner has chosen to conduct its meetings in a series of suites inside the Palais des Festivals.

VAI: To favor the studios, would you consider moving MIP to early March, before MIPIM?
LG:  We speak to our clients regularly throughout the year and we are ready to consider suggestions if they make sense for the majority of companies that attend MIP-TV. We also have to take into consideration the availability of the Palais des Festivals venue.

VAI:  In addition to the large number of independent distributors, what is MIP’s main attraction this year?
LG:   There are several main attractions this year; our focus on formats with the launch of MIPFormats, the MIP Digital program, the Producers’ Forum featuring coproduction spotlights on Brazil, China, Japan, Malaysia, Canada and a special focus on Singapore. In addition there will be several new coproduction initiatives at MIPDOC. We also have a stellar line-up of keynotes representing some of the industry’s most influential and creative executives including Chris Albrecht, president and CEO, Starz, and ex-president of HBO; Tim Kring, executive producer/creator, of the world famous series Heroes and recipient of the Pioneer Prize at the International Interactive Emmy Awards; Jonathan Miller, chief digital officer and chairman and CEO, Digital Media Group for News Corporation, Elisabeth Murdoch, chair and CEO, Shine Group and Joanna Shields, who are launching a new company together within Shine Group; Ben Silverman, founder and CEO, Electus will talk about his new venture backed by Barry Diller’s IAC group and Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of Sky will kick off Wednesday’s 3D focus.

VAI:   What is MIP doing to encourage more buyers to participate?
LG:   Actually we are seeing a significant increase in the number of buyers this year compared to the same time last year particularly from Eastern Europe and Russia, China and India. The choice and diversity of content is paramount in encouraging buyers to attend MIP and we have many new exhibitors this year from around the world and numerous country pavilions including an Argentinean pavilion for the first time. MIPFormats is also attracting buyers and more than half of the participants registered for the event are buyers. In addition, at MIPDOC we are introducing a service of online screenings to help buyers prepare for the screenings onsite and continue to screen afterwards. Buyers will also be interested in attending the Producers’ Forum which features the highly anticipated Fresh TV Around the World Showcase as well as regional co-production accelerators.

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Jose Escalante: Latin Media has partnered with WRC to coproduce Telenovelas in Malaysia. Under the accord, WRC is also distributing LMC’s content in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

VA: Recently, both LMC and WRC teamed up with FINAS of Malaysia to produce two telenovela-style Malaysian dramas for the international market, can you explain what FINAS is?
JE: FINAS is a department of the Ministry of Communication of Malaysia.

VA: Can you elaborate about the telenovelas?
JE: WRC and Latin Media will be producing two Telenovelas for the government owned TV networks RTM.

In March we started to produce the first drama, Bola Cinta. The first season comprises 30 one-hour episodes and the second season will consist of 30 more hours. It will be entirely produced in Bahasa, Malaysia, with a Malysian cast. It’s final cost is estimated to be between 80,000 - 90,000 Ringits (U.S.$24,000- $27,000) per one hour episode.

VA: How will the international distribution rights be divided?
JE: Bola Cinta will be distributed in Asia, Africa and the Middle East by WRC, and in the  rest of the world by LMC.

VA: In addition to Malaysia's programs, what other content is LMC distributing?
JE: Currently, Latin Media distributes the catalogue from Channel 13, Chile; Ecuavisa, Ecuador, and other independent producers from Latin America. Latin Media is also distributing Asian content to Latin America and Hispanic TV in the U.S.

VA: At MIP-TV will you be exhibiting as LMC?
JE: Yes, LMC will be at the Palais at stand 5-19.

VA: Will LMC be attending the L.A. Screenings?
JE: Yes, LMC will attend the Los Angeles Screenings.

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By Monica Gorghetto

Cartoons on the Bay is the 14-year old children’s TV festival organized by Italy’s RaiTrade, RAI’s program sales division. For the second consecutive year, the four-day event will be held in Portofino starting on April 15, just before the conclusion of MIP-TV. Portofino and the other event’s venues (Rapallo and S. Margherita Ligure) are a two-hour car ride from Cannes.

To get a sense of this year’s Cartoons on the Bay from a business perspective, VideoAge asked five pointed questions to the festival’s  artistic director Roberto Genovesi.

VideoAge: In your view, why is a children’s TV festival more important than a TV market?

Roberto Genovesi: It depends how the festival is conceived. If it has a classic structure, its importance should be determined by the contents. Cartoons on the Bay has both an artistic and market-oriented structure, which is important because it allows executives to see both sides of the world of animation.

VA: What does Cartoons on the Bay offer that other kids fests don’t offer?

RG: First of all, it is the first cross-media animation festival, and one of the first ones to have entirely opened to other sectors related to animation, like videogames and comics, which are crucial for future scenarios of this industry. These sectors, on our opinion, are very open-minded, and this is how we want to be. It is not possible to be close-minded anymore.

VA: What is the monetary value (or added value) for a producer and/or a program distributor of participating at Cartoons on the Bay?

RG: At Cartoons you are able to confront worlds other than animation, and confront professionals and sectors that can bring much to the final product; we are talking about different worlds influencing each other.

VA: How does Cartoons on the Bay facilitate business interactions among participants?

RG: This year’s edition of the festival will have, for the first time, an area exclusively open to business, where participants can network and tie up new business relationships. Moreover, the largest delegation of Chinese television and animation producers will be there.

VA: In one sentence, why is important for executives in the children’s TV biz to be at Cartoons on the Bay?

RG: At Cartoons, you will get a clear a complete view of animation today, from both artistic and commercial point of view.

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