Talpa Studios’ Post

The micro drama snowball keeps growing... "there’s always the prospect that all of this is just another Quibi, which attracted $1.75 billion in investment before it folded in late 2020, just months after it launched to great fanfare. Zuiker, the CSI creator who is producing verticals for GammaTime, doesn’t think it is. “Number one, I don’t think the consumptive nature of shortform content tangibly in your pocket is a fad,” "It’s an interesting writing challenge, he says, to keep viewers swiping every few minutes to see what happens next, especially when he only has three actors and one and a half locations. He appreciates that GammaTime is quick to greenlight, produce and release its series (often in six to eight weeks), in contrast to the increasingly tortuous process that TV writers and producers experience with studios and streamers, where development can take years." https://lnkd.in/eQSuu9Z7

At the 40th Independent Spirit Awards, Sean Baker delivered one of the most vital speeches of the season — not just as an award-winner, but as a loudspeaker for the independent-filmmaker community. Key take-aways He didn’t simply accept his award; he issued a call to action. He said, “The system has to change, because this is simply unsustainable.” He confronted the reality many of us feel: indie films are under threat—whether it’s from diminished funding, collapsing theatrical windows, or the expectation that indie work must serve as a stepping stone to “bigger” films rather than stand on its own. He urged fellow filmmakers to stop undervaluing their work and to demand more — in terms of resources, visibility, and respect. Why this matters to us As a filmmaker and podcast host, you live in the indie space. Baker’s message hits home for someone like you: His speech reinforces that independent cinema is worth fighting for, not just as a stepping-stone, but as a destination. He highlights that the creative struggle is often structural—so it’s not just about talent or hustle, but about the systemic limits that many indie filmmakers face.

Film director Shariff Korver takes DQ inside the making of Sky action drama Atomic to reveal: 💥 How the creative team subverts audience expectations from the opening scene 💥 How the tone and the world of the series is built through a mix of practical visual and sound design elements 💥 How the stunt design team delivered spectacle and safety on set Read the article here 👇

What Anders Niels Uth-Buur Berg captures so well in this month’s #FutureFrame isn’t just the universality of crime drama — it’s the strategic lesson behind it. #Crime travels because its psychology is borderless: rules broken, order restored, tension released. But its endurance also exposes a paradox for independent producers — familiarity still sells, yet differentiation now depends on tone. The real competitive edge lies in how producers package that tone: finding the balance between comfort and disruption, between what viewers expect and what still surprises them. Those who master that equilibrium will define Europe’s next export wave — whether it’s noir, comedy, or something in between. I’m curious how other producers are adapting their slates to this tonal shift. Are you experimenting, or doubling down on proven formats? 👉 Full feature in the October issue of #FutureFrame (link in the original post)

Micro dramas, those soapy, vertical films watchable in 1-minute blitzes, are giving Hollywood a run for its money. New research from Bernstein shows at least on mobile devices, a top micro drama player DramaBox is beating stalwarts Peacock and HBO in watch time. I've been talking to all the big players lately and wrote about: 💡 How legacy entertainment players are figuring out how to make the format work for them 💣 Why micro dramas aren't another Quibi 💰 How they're offering an onramp to up and comers and lifeline to Hollywood vets 🎭 How early players are experimenting with new genres and formats. Details in Business Insider: https://lnkd.in/e6dHStWD

ST. DENIS MEDICAL executive producer Vicky Luu shares advice for writers on the importance of continuing to put their work out into the world. In a conversation moderated by Mochi Magazine’s Giannina Ong, series star Kaliko Kauahi, director Heather Jack, and Luu provide a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show and discuss how comedy can illuminate the realities of modern healthcare while telling universal, resonant stories. Watch the full conversation, PAGING THE COMEDY WARD: A DOSE OF NBC’s ST. DENIS MEDICAL on our YouTube channel. Recorded at the Filmmaker Summit and Industry Hub at CAAMFest 2025, with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.

Two Nollywood releases, Gingerrr and The Herd, have propelled Nigeria’s box office to new heights, amassing a combined N573.2 million in ticket sales, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Box Office. The increase highlights the growing commercial power of homegrown films and the rising audience appetite for locally produced titles. The review period, which covered late September through October 2025, saw Gingerrr and The Herd dominate cinema screens nationwide. Both movies recorded N435.5 million and N137.7 million, respectively. Gingerrr, directed by Yemi Morafa and backed by executive producers Bolaji Ogunmola, Kiekie, and Bisola Aiyeola, debuted with an impressive N82.8 million, showing the continued strength of Nollywood’s action-comedy slate. In its opening three days, it earned N78.9 million before surpassing N82 million by the close of its first weekend. Six weeks after release, Gingerrr has climbed to a cumulative N435.5 million, making it one of the highest-grossing Nigerian titles of the year, so far. The film’s vibrant cast including Aiyeola, Bimbo Ademoye, and Timini Egbuson, helped draw audiences, while its comedic tone and fast-paced action resonated strongly with younger viewers.

Two Nollywood releases, Gingerrr and The Herd, have propelled Nigeria’s box office to new heights, amassing a combined N573.2 million in ticket sales, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Box Office. The increase highlights the growing commercial power of homegrown films and the rising audience appetite for locally produced titles. The review period, which covered late September through October 2025, saw Gingerrr and The Herd dominate cinema screens nationwide. Both movies recorded N435.5 million and N137.7 million, respectively. Gingerrr, directed by Yemi Morafa and backed by executive producers Bolaji Ogunmola, Kiekie, and Bisola Aiyeola, debuted with an impressive N82.8 million, showing the continued strength of Nollywood’s action-comedy slate. In its opening three days, it earned N78.9 million before surpassing N82 million by the close of its first weekend. Six weeks after release, Gingerrr has climbed to a cumulative N435.5 million, making it one of the highest-grossing Nigerian titles of the year, so far. The film’s vibrant cast including Aiyeola, Bimbo Ademoye, and Timini Egbuson, helped draw audiences, while its comedic tone and fast-paced action resonated strongly with younger viewers.

Serious Kids has signed a new deal with France Télévisions for the first season of the live-action family thriller “The Unreal,” originally commissioned by RTÉ. The acquisition marks the entry of the critically acclaimed Irish mini-series into the French market, with a French-language version currently in production for broadcast later this year on France Télévisions’ youth platform Okoo. “The Unreal” debuted on RTÉ One in October 2024, rolling out in a serialized Sunday evening slot, and resonated strongly with family audiences. The first season comprises four 24-minute episodes, with season two currently in production and scheduled to air in a similar slot in 2025. The new season shifts the setting to a haunted hotel, continuing the spooky and humorous tone that defines the series. Written by Rodney Lee, directed by Bonnie Dempsey, and produced by Nuala Carr and David O’Sullivan of Dyehouse Films. https://lnkd.in/eRp4ECgr

🌍 Scripted stories that conquered the world! ✨ From bite-sized micro-dramas to globe-trotting Turkish sagas and beloved scripted formats, research specialists The WIT highlight how international hits can come from anywhere. 💫 Discover the 3 standout titles shaping today’s scripted landscape — Brazil’s De Volta ao Jogo, Turkey’s Halef: Köklerin Çağrısı, and Germany’s Call My Agent Berlin — each proving there’s no single formula for success in storytelling. 🎬 👉 Read the full feature on MIP BLOG and explore the trends defining the next generation of global TV hits. https://ow.ly/VziU50XgRJs #MIPBLOG #TheWitList #ScriptedSeries #TVTrends #GlobalContent #MIPMarkets