"Own IP or own nothing:" Entertainment in the era of tech giants
Plus: Super Bowl Sunday Ads, Telly Awards Final Deadline, Sundance Acquisitions
Happy Thursday, friends.
With the game three days away, the Big Budget Super Bowl Commercial™️ previews (and past year recaps) have officially begun. Brands aren’t the only ones unveiling their content strategies: the Kansas City Chiefs just announced the launch of their own production studio.
Is your commercial debuting this week? Share it on the Portrait app.
Not a football fan? There’s more in store this weekend. Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hi to featured Portrait members on the Portrait app.
What to Watch This Weekend
Pushing the Bounds of the Genre
Bring Them Down. “A brutally violent directorial debut... veers between pitch-black humor and pervading melancholy” (Variety). Alex Stylianou, ADR Mixer; Niamh Fagan, EP; Tristan Lilien, VFX Supervisor; James Donnelly, Art Director; Patrick Redmond, Still Photographer. In Theaters Friday.
I Love You Forever. “A suffocating beau ties together genres in a nifty millennial rewrite of rom-coms” (Variety). Christine Ng, DP; Faylyn Johnson, Art Dept. Coordinator; Delores Flynn, Script Supervisor. In Theaters Friday.
Piece by Piece. “An ingenious, infectious new spin on the music doc” (Time Out). Howard Baker, Animation Director; Roy Margalit, Lead Animator; Loïc Miermont, Animation Supervisor; Jason Zeldes, Editor; Yehonatan Rubinstein, Jacob Taylor, Leonardo Bitti, Animators; Stephanie Leke, Associate Producer; Shani Saxon, EP; Andrea Chlebak, Supervising Colorist; Yemane Deneke, Asst. Editor; Julia Szromba, Assistant Editor. Peacock Friday.
Powerful Social Commentary: Mothers, Sons, Daughters
Armand. “A big social-commentary swing with a stellar performance” (Rolling Stone). Live Becker Knudsen, Additional Makeup Artist. In Theaters.
Rizoo. “Follows a rebellious girl who asks questions about when and why she needs to wear a hijab” (New Yorker). Azadeh Navai, Director, Writer; Brian O'Hare, Producer; Sepideh Abdolvahab, Associate Producer; Wenti Wu, Co-Editor; Ben Neufeld, Colorist; Shahin Gorgani, Co-Producer; Christa Scherck, Film Publicist. The New Yorker.
Capturing the Arc of Childhood
Jazzy. “[Director Morrisa] Maltz excels in capturing the small, seemingly insignificant moments that make childhood so magical” (Deadline). Elliott Whitton, Producer. In Theaters.
In the Summers. “It increases in power as it proceeds, as Violeta and Eva grow older and gain sharper understandings of their father’s flaws” (NYT). Jan Suter, Rob Quadrino, Lynette Coll, Sergio Lira, Nando Vila, Producers; Alejandro Mejía AMC, DP; Angie Rodriguez, Asst. Editor; Javier Gonzalez, Co-Producer; Thomas Culliver, Arturo Sampson, EPs; Johnny Sanchez, Heidi Marshall-Sanchez, On Set Acting Coaches; Emma Ramos, Cast; Oscar Ignacio Jiménez, 2nd Unit: DP; Elizabeth Arnott, Publicity & Marketing; Joseph Winterbotham, Sound Supervisor; Estefania Larrain, Production Designer. Hulu.
What We’re Reading
Consulting firm’s advice for Hollywood this year: Own IP or own nothing.
Adobe’s Behance founder Scott Belsky to join A24 as partner.
Sweeter New York production incentives get industry push (including for indie film).
WATCH: Producers Roundtable from Sundance. Rebecca Green, Founder, Dear Producer.
On the Festival & Awards Circuit
Santa Barbara Film Festival kicks off this week. Click I’m attending in the app. Congrats to Portrait member Albert Pritchard. His film Indigo Blue and 9 others were selected by Neon, Sean Baker, and Kodak to premiere at the fest.
Sundance Film Festival award winners announced. Say congrats to the 58 members with winning films in the app.
The Acquisitions Beat: Sundance Edition
Netflix acquires Train Dreams. Molly Hans, Script Supervisor; Melisa Jusufi, Set Decorator; Alexandra Schaller, Production Designer; Avy Kaufman, Casting Director.
A24 acquires Sorry, Baby. Eva Victor, Director / Writer; Mia Cioffi Henry, Cinematographer; Alex Orlovsky, Executive Producer; Caity Birmingham, Production Designer; Randi Atkins, Editor; Frank Ariza, Producer; Catalina Rojter, Executive Producer; Rebecca Serra, Additional Hair & Makeup Artist; Brian Nunez, Key Hair Stylist; Emily Costantino, Costume Designer; Dalia Glazman, Assistant Costume Designer.
Sideshow and Janus Films acquire Peter Hujar’s Day with Ben Whishaw & Rebecca Hall. Jordan Drake, Jonah Disend, Producers; Ellis Fox, Corin Taylor, EPs; Alex Ashe, DP; Masha Zhak, Property Master; Shuli Huang, BTS Camera Operator; Fletcher Wolfe, B Camera Operator; Laura Burns, Hair Designer.
Window of Opportunity 🔎
See more funding, deadlines, and jobs in the Portrait app
Submit your work for the Telly Awards. Our partner, The Telly Awards, celebrates the creativity that emerges when Stories Take Shape in bold and innovative ways. Whether you are a brand creator, social media innovator, television veteran, or independent artist, enter your work before February 21st.
Sign up for film master class March 8th. Learn more on the app from Portrait member Gabriela Garcia Medina. 10% off if you sign up before February 15th.
Closing Soon: February Deadlines
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
Diverso Fellowship (2/6 deadline)
MacDowell Fellowship (2/10 deadline)
UFO Short Film Lab (2/10 deadline)
Sundance Producers Fellowship (2/12 deadline)
Sundance Doc Producers Lab (2/12 deadline)
Catapult Development Grant (2/12 deadline)
New Voices Filmmaker Grant (2/13 deadline)
Shifting Voices Film Fund (2/14 deadline)
Imaginar Producers Residency (2/14 extended deadline)
Princess Grace Awards (2/15 deadline)
Asian Women Giving Circle (2/21 deadline)
The Telly Awards (2/21 Deadline)
Select Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Senior Animator, Blizzard Entertainment.
Editorial Producer, Apple.
Editorial Producer, Paramount.
Global Planning Domestic Sr. Live Editor, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Sr. Coordinator, Domestic Sales Strategy & Planning, Lionsgate.
TV Assoc Director DGA, NBC & Telemundo New York, NBCUniversal.
Senior Video Producer, SVP - Marketing, Blackstone Group.
Senior, Photo Editorial, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Art Director, Movers+Shakers.
Director, Podcast Sales, Cineverse.
Assistant Professor of Film Production, Texas State University.
Director of Creative Strategy, Verizon.
Freelance Digital Editorial Producer, Milan Cortina Olympics, NBC Sports.
Associate Producer, The Pokémon Company International.
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on the Portrait app.
Portrait is an invite-only network and professional platform for creative careers. Apply to join or nominate a friend.