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    INVADER garners Sundance premiere, DGA nomination

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments3014 Views
    Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood co-directed "Happy Happy Joy Joy--The Ren & Stimpy Story," which was selected for the Documentary Premieres lineup at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
    LOS ANGELES --

    Though it’s been barely a year since veteran executive producer Ron Cicero launched INVADER, the company has seen its directors make a couple of high profile industry marks–a documentary set to make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and a DGA Award nomination in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports–Specials category.

    On the former score, the feature documentary Happy Happy Joy Joy–The Ren & Stimpy Story was selected for Sundance’s Documentary Premieres lineup. Written and co-directed by Cicero and Kimo Easterwood, the film explores the rise and fall of the groundbreaking animated series Ren & Stimpy and its controversial creator, John Kricfalusi, through archival footage, show artwork and interviews with the artists, actors and executives behind the show. (Cicero and Easterwood direct commercials via INVADER as a duo under the LGI Collective moniker.)

    As for the DGA Award nomination, that honor was bestowed upon INVADER comedy and celebrity director Andy Fisher for Live In Front of A Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons.  The series was also nominated for multiple Emmys–including directing, taking home a statue for Outstanding Variety series. 

    While directing commercials may seem like an unusual transition from live TV, Fisher’s career took off after directing many of Jimmy Kimmel’s most well-known late night filmed segments, including Bryan Cranston’s Super Sweet Sixty and Josh Groban’s The Best Tweets of Kanye West. This led to spot work for YouTube, Boost Mobile, The Emmy’s and more. “It really comes down to finding the funny and gaining trust from your actors regardless of the platform,” said Fisher, “And once you find a way to deliver a show live, with 10 million people watching, the time pressures of a commercial set seem easy by comparison.” 

    Live In Front of A Studio Audience marks Fisher’s second career DGA Award nomination, the first coming for an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2014.

    On the commercial front, INVADER wrapped a busy 2019 with a three-spot VFX-driven campaign for the National Association of Realtors through Havas Chicago. The three-month project broke this week. Shot both on location and the Disney backlot, the extensive post was handled by MPC’s Los Angeles studio.

    INVADER is represented commercially by Daria Zeliger on the East Coast, Juliusson+ Ratcliffe in the Midwest and has in-house representation on the West Coast. Submarine is handling film representation. 

    Tags:Andy FisherINVADERKimo EasterwoodLGI CollectiveRon Cicero



    Netflix signs U.S. broadcast deal with FIFA for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031

    Friday, December 20, 2024
    Spain's Aitana Bonmati celebrates after scoring a goal, during the women's Group C match between Spain and Japan, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)

    Netflix has secured the U.S. broadcasting rights to the Women's World Cup in 2027 and 2031 as the streaming giant continues its push into live sports.

    The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given, though international competitions in women's soccer have struggled to draw high-value offers.

    "Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix isn't just about streaming matches," its chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. "It's also about celebrating the players, the culture and the passion driving the global rise of women's sport."

    Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a heavily hyped boxing match between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. Some viewers reported streaming problems, however.

    Netflix also will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. That's part of a three-year deal announced in May.

    World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences, and the last women's edition in 2023 earned FIFA less than 10% of the men's 2022 World Cup.

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino had publicly criticized public broadcasters, especially in Europe, for undervaluing offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the U.S.

    "This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the global women's game," Infantino said.

    The World Cup rights mark another major step in Netflix's push... Read More

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