News round-up: APC’s Jane Goodall doc goes global; ‘Harry Potter’ producer adapts ‘Treachery Of Spies’; RTS goes online

Jane New Generation

APC acquires global rights to Jane Goodall doc

Paris-based co-pro and distribution outfit About Premium Content (APC) has acquired the global rights to JF2 Prod and Tedhano Productions’ Jane New Generation.

Originally produced for French broadcaster Ushuaïa TV, the 1 x 52-minute documentary explores the life and legacy of famous primatologist, paleontologist, ethnologist Dr Jane Goodall, looking back on her 60-year fight for conservation.

Laurent Boissel and Emmanuelle Guilbart, joint-CEOs and co-founders at APC, said: “Jane New Generation is a heart-felt and personal conversation with Jane Goodall reflecting on both her own work and the challenges of the future as she travels the world to promote environmental and social projects.”

They added that the film examines “how she has motivated and inspired so many young people to care about and advocate for the environment and the people who protect it.

“This intimate film presents Jane’s lasting legacy as she sets up groups of young activists to pick up the mantel of her work.”

BeaglePug & Enriched Media to adapt ‘A Treachery Of Spies’

BeaglePug, the UK prodco launched by Harry Potter producer David Barron, and Enriched Media Group have secured all TV, film and ancillary rights to author Manda Scott’s novel A Treachery Of Spies.

The novel is the second of Scott’s crime thrillers featuring Detective Inspector Inés Picaut and will be the first to be adapted for the screen. Discussions are currently taking place in both the UK and US with production partners.

This marks the first foray into long form TV drama for both companies, which previously partnered on the theatrical release Escape From Pretoria.

A Treachery Of Spies is part of a trilogy and was published by Transworld Publishers, a division of Penguin Random House, in 2018. The story follows Picaut as she investigates the murder of an elderly victim who was killed in the manner of traitors to the resistance during World War Two. The trail leads her to the events of 1940s France and long-buried secrets.

BeaglePug’s Barron said: “Seeing the impact of the crime through the eyes of Inès, an ordinary woman with unique skills, only highlights how extraordinary the events were. I’m thrilled to be adapting this wholly distinctive piece of European IP for the global market.

“During these increasingly challenging and difficult times, we’re more aware than ever of the importance of innovative storytelling”, added Enriched Media Group’ producer and co-founder Mick Southworth. “Manda Scott’s painstaking and thorough research has enabled her to create a gripping, thrill-packed drama with a unique female protagonist solving a crime through two distinct historical periods and takes a close look at the world not dissimilar from our own through the history, the players, the victories and the spoils.”

Theresa Wise

RTS 2020 London Conference goes digital

The UK’s Royal Television Society (RTS) has moved its biennial London Conference online as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead of a physical gathering, The RTS has partnered with YouTube to stream a number of key sessions for free.

The virtual sessions will tackle industry issues as well as broader challenges in society and take place around the original conference date – 15 September – with the sessions streamed live and then also available to watch on the RTS website later.

The RTS has also announced that YouTube will be the principal sponsor for its Cambridge 2021 Convention, due to take place from 15-17 September next year, with Ben McOwen Wilson, regional director, YouTube EMEA and MD, to take the position of convention chair.

Theresa Wise, RTS CEO said: “Whilst we adapt to the current challenges we are all facing, we are very grateful to YouTube who will help us jointly host informative, sessions – both industry-related and broader ‘brain food’ for the global community who would usually be with us in London. They can now join us virtually in September.

“We are also very pleased to continue to work with Ben in the lead up to Cambridge 2021, which is sure to be an important event at a critical time for our industries.”

Home Quiz

Global Agency acquires Covid-19-themed ‘Home Quiz’ format

Independent TV content distributor Global Agency has acquired the international rights to the Covid-19-inspired game show format Home Quiz.

The company said that the show had attracted “huge interest” because it is “ideal for the time of coronavirus” and that there were ongoing negotiations for the format in several territories.

The format, which has acquired from an individual independent creator, features celebrities competing over video link from home for cash prizes, which will be donated to a foundation battling Covid-19. Each episode features the host and three celebrity contestants interacting over a video conference call.

There are 10 questions in total and the prize amount gradually increases at each question. Once all 10 questions are completed in the same flow, the celebrity who has the most amount in his/her bank wins the contest and donates the big prize to an organization battling with COVID-19.

Izzet Pinto, founder and CEO of Global Agency, said the show “will be a perfect way to impose the ‘stay at home’ message to people while entertaining and motivating at the same time.”