Small Screen: Ilana Peña New Show At CBS; Rhonda Stubbins White Died; Byron Allen Raise $10Billion For New Deal
CBS/Myung Chun
Broadcast: CBS and Ilana Peña, known for creating and executive producing Diary of a Future President on Disney+, is developing a hybrid comedy series entitled How to Get Over Brian Byers. Peña will partner with Anne Sundell to co-write the script and will be executive producing through her Tilde Production company. The plot of the show is as follows: ‘How to Get Over Brian Byers is about two enemies-turned-best friends Anna and Izzy band together to get over their shared ex-boyfriend. Together, they tackle their 20s, helping each other navigate work, dating, and moving on. Eventually, they’ll learn that the only way to truly get over someone is to fall in love with yourself.’
Aria Mia Loberti - Ryan Collerd/Netflix
Streaming: First-time actor, Aria Mia Loberti, has been cast in Netflix’s adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel entitled Al The Light We Cannot See. The four-part limited series will see Loberti as Marie-Laurie ‘the blind teenager at the heart of the story, whose path collides with Werner, a German soldier, as they both try to survive the devastation of World War II in occupied France.’ Producers Shawn Levy and Steven Knight launched a worldwide casting call for blind and low-vision actresses to play the lead. After reading the book, Loberti was encouraged to try out by her childhood teacher and beat out thousands to secure the role.
Rhonda Stubbins White - Tibrina Hobson
Industry: In an attempt to secure U.S. regional TV station operator Tegna Inc (TGNA.N), media mogul Byron Allen has raised $10 billion in preferred equity in a chance to prevail over other offers. Apollo Global Management Inc (APO.N) and Standard General LP are also interested. Allen’s financing is supported by 10 different investors and 14 different banks including Ares Management Corp (ARES.N), Fortress Investment Group, Oaktree Capital Management, and Michael Milken’s family office, with Ares in the lead with $2.2 billion in preferred equity investment. According to sources the winner could be chosen as early as this month.
In an attempt to amplify diverse voices, Viacom CBS International Studios’ VIS has signed five new writers from the United Kingdom as a part of the company's Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. The writers include Morgan Bailey, Bec Boey, Chris Bush, Iman Qureshi, and Kaamil Shah. According to the Studio, each writer was chosen “based on their proven scriptwriting talent, their variety of interests and writing styles, and potential to collaborate on distinctive development projects intended for Paramount+.” It went on to say “These deals mark the first round of creatives confirmed to work with the international studio as part of a new, ongoing program in the U.K. intended to provide meaningful opportunities for diverse creators. As a part of the first-look deal strategy, the VIS content and production team has identified five initial writers from underrepresented groups in the U.K., all of whom will have the opportunity to pitch five ideas to VIS over two years.”
‘Saudi Arabian stand up comedian, actor, writer and producer Hisham Fageeh in 2013 posted a satirical video on YouTube titled “No Woman, No Drive” that became the country’s most popular YouTube video and probably helped the movement to strike down Saudi’s ban on female motorists in late 2017. He also acted and co-produced groundbreaking Saudi rom-com “Barakah Meets Barakah.” Recently Fageeh was appointed director of the Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, the training and mentorship program launched in 2018 to boost the careers of Arabic TV writers and producers that now has ties to both the Cairo Film Festival and Saudi’s nascent Red Sea fest. He spoke to Variety about what he sees as some of the sore spots in Arab TV.’
M-Net's senior marketing manager for general entertainment, Georginah Machiridza has been promoted to MultiChoice's head of content and third-party DStv channels. She is succeeding Aletta Alberts who unfortunately died from Covid-19-related complications earlier this year. MultiChoice confirmed Machiridza's appointment as the Randburg-based pay-TV operator's new head of content saying: "Georginah Machiridza has been appointed as the executive head of content strategy and third-party channels from 1 December. Georginah Machiridza will be responsible for managing our third-party content and strategy teams, working hand-in-hand with our regional content heads in South Africa, Northern and Southern regions, and Portuguese markets to ensure alignment, collaboration, and execution of our content strategy."
Famous soap actor Rhonda Stubbins White died of cancer on Monday in Los Angeles. Todd Baker, a close family friend, announced her passing on her official Facebook page. She was 60 years old. “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend Rhonda Stubbins White,” Baker writes. “She was an amazingly talented woman, full of positivity and energy, and grounded by her faith. We were all fortunate to have known her and shared her short time on this earth.” White was best known for her roles on Tyler Perry’s BET drama series Ruthless and for her recurring role in 2000 on NBC’s Days of Our Lives
