‘She was an unsung hero’: Billie Piper on playing producer Sam McAlister in a new drama about Prince Andrew’s Newsnight fiasco

In Scoop, the story behind the prince’s disastrous TV appearance, Piper plays McAlister, the woman who landed the interview. They discuss their unlikely alliance, the pitfalls of fame and the extent of Andrew’s delusionsThe Netflix film Scoop, which retells the story of how Newsnight landed its infamous, eye-popping 2019 interview with Prince Andrew, has a strong Working Girl vibe, which may be one reason why I enjoyed it (I’m talking about the Oscar-winning 1988 movie, in which Melanie Griffith plays a girl from Staten Island who dreams of climbing the corporate ladder). In part, this is thanks to the blond wig worn by one of Scoop’s stars, Billie Piper, which comes with a powerful whiff of the late 1980s. Mostly, though, it’s because Peter Moffat’s screenplay pitches Piper’s character, Sam McAlister, as a plucky outsider surrounded by somewhat toffee-nosed types who only finally begin to take her seriously when she lands the TV exclusive to end them all. One minute, her lip is trembling with the unfairness of it all. Why do her bosses disdain all her brilliant ideas? The next, she’s at Buckingham Palace telling the queen’s favourite son to his face that his brand is distinctly grubby and could do with a generous spin in the Newsnight washing machine.Was it really like this? When I meet Piper and the real life McAlister at Netflix HQ in the weeks before Scoop has its premiere, I hope vaguely to get to the bottom of some of the gossip that trails it; there’s talk, for... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-03-31 06:00:30 UTC ]

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Amazon is reportedly fast tracking a live-action Blade Runner series

A few months back, Blade Runner director Ridley Scott said a live-action series set in that universe is in the works. The project looks to be a step closer to reality, as Amazon Studios has reportedly put it in development. Amazon's TV and film production arm is said to be fast tracking scripts... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-02-11 18:28:55 UTC ]
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A documentary about Anthony Broadwater’s exoneration, called Unlucky, is in the works.

Yesterday, a footnote to an op-ed in the LA Times revealed that Red Badge Films is now producing a documentary about Anthony Broadwater’s conviction and then exoneration of Alice Sebold’s rape, called Unlucky. Red Badge Films is helmed by Tim Mucciante, previously the executive producer for the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-12-03 17:48:54 UTC ]
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Cairo international book fair turns away jailed publisher's company

Khaled Lotfy, whose firm Tanmia published a new edition of a book about Egyptian double agent Ashraf Marwan, has been sentenced to five yearsCairo international book fair has excluded imprisoned publisher Khaled Lotfy’s firm from the event citing “security reasons”, the International Publishers... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-01-22 13:55:22 UTC ]
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David Carey Returns to Hearst in New Full-Time Role | People on the Move

[caption id="attachment_175473" align="alignright" width="150"] David Carey[/caption] David Carey, the former president of Hearst Magazines from 2010 to 2018, is returning to the company as SVP of public affairs and communications, effective January 2, Hearst announced Wednesday. Carey returns... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-12-12 19:55:16 UTC ]
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Pippi Longstocking musical in works to celebrate 75th anniversary

A "musical circus show" based on Pippi Longstocking is in the works, with ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus on board as executive producer, as part of celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the children's classic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 06:48:24 UTC ]
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All the latest production moves, hires and partnerships: October 16, 2019

Park Pictures has signed director Jaci Judelson for U.S. commercial and worldwide representation.  Judelson's Gatorade “Sisters in Sweat” spot starring Serena Williams won a Cannes Lion, two Clios and a One Show award in 2018. She has also directed spots and branded films for the likes of... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-16 14:14:29 UTC ]
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What’s Next for American Media, LLC? | News & Notes

After nearly two years of ongoing scrutiny related to the alleged activities of its CEO, David Pecker, and chief content officer, Dylan Howard, the company now known as American Media, LLC is moving on to life after The National Enquirer, the cornerstone upon which Pecker built his tabloid... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-10-15 20:27:22 UTC ]
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RockYou Successor Wild Sky Media Hires New CEO | People on the Move

[caption id="attachment_171661" align="alignright" width="150"] Emily Smith[/caption] Wild Sky Media has hired Emily Smith as its new CEO. Smith previously served as the company's SVP of content and marketing at Wild Sky Media, a role which Johanna Torres, formerly VP of content and editorial... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-09-26 17:39:26 UTC ]
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Agency Brief: WPP revenue rises but profits dip in first half; MediaMonks ramps up production

WPP reports its second-quarter earnings on Friday,with some better-than-expected surprises. The company sees its revenue return to growth, up 1.6 percent in the first half of the year and 2.3 percent in the second quarter. In North America, revenue rises 0.4 percent in the second quarter but... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-08-09 19:31:00 UTC ]
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PRH acquires novelisation of Netflix film The Prom

Penguin Random House has acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights to the novelisation of ‘The Prom’, a musical and film that launches on Netflix next year, written by Saundra Mitchell. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-09 10:57:52 UTC ]
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Podcasters join FutureBook Live for symposium

A podcast symposium, involving some of the UK’s most established book podcasters, will take place at FutureBook Live, The Bookseller’s publishing conference, due to take place on 30th November in London. Hosted by Clarissa Pabi, manager and executive producer of Mostly Lit, the session,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Piers Torday | 'Reading, writing, telling and sharing stories are the building blocks of humanity and civilisation'

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe had a lasting impression on author Piers Torday—so much so, that his latest book is loosely based on the classic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joanna Coles to Depart Hearst Magazines

Long-time Hearst exec Joanna Coles is departing the company, Coles confirmed in a Instagram post on Monday. This announcement follows in the wake of the recent appointment of Troy Young to president of Hearst Magazines. "My route is being recalculated. It's time for a new adventure. I'm going to... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst's Joanna Coles on diversity, online dating and living offline

Joanna Coles doesn't spend much time online.The chief content officer at Hearst, executive producer on the Freeform series "The Bold Type," and author of the new book "Love Rules," is certainly incredibly busy. But during a brief moment when she wasn't on panels at Cannes she told Ad Age that... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In search of authenticity

Misha Glenny talks about bringing his novel on global crime to the small screen in his role as executive producer and script consultant. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stylin’ and Profilin’

Mindhunter’s first scene begins with a hostage negotiation and ends in a spatter of blood and brain matter. The gore is a fake-out. Though the series, which premiered last week on Netflix, brims with gruesome murders, but for some hide-your-eyes crime photos we only ever hear tell of them. The... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2017-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo 2017: Neil Patrick Harris, Lemony Snicket, and Chris Harris Create Magic

In an event billed as “A Fortunate Stage Talk,” actor Neil Patrick Harris, of "Doogie Howser" and "How I Met Your Mother" fame, who currently stars as Count Olaf in the TV adaptation of "A Series of Unfortunate Events," will reunite with Chris Harris (no relation), who was the executive producer... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TV deal for Finlay's Sherlock-inspired Arrowood

Mick Finlay’s Sherlock-inspired novel Arrowood has been snapped up for a television adaptation by the makers of "Bad Education" with Kathy Burke joining as executive producer. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Intense' debut from 'Mad Men' creator to Canongate

Canongate has acquired Heather, The Totality, the debut novel by Matthew Weiner, writer and creator of "Mad Men" and executive producer of "The Sopranos". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here's What Top Industry Execs Think About the Future of Video

  brightcove.createExperiences(); With the goal of surfacing best-in-class thought leadership on the convergence of video and television, Adweek, along with sponsor and partner NCC Media, convened a half-day Video 2020 Executive Lab late last month in New York for media buyers and... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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