World Screen

SEATTLE/NEW YORK: Amazon has entered into a multi-year licensing pact with EPIX, adding thousands of new releases, classic library titles and original programs to the Prime Instant Video offering. The agreement includes movies from EPIX’s studio partners, including Paramount Pictures, MGM and Lionsgate. The content deal more than doubles the …

SANTA MONICA: FEARnet has ordered a second season of Holliston, an original horror comedy series starring Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Laura Ortiz and Corri English. Holliston—about two friends trying to become horror movie filmmakers—is produced by Adam Green’s ArieScope Pictures in association with Hacienda Films and A Bigger Boat Productions. …

BURBANK: Jay Levine, formerly the VP of business planning for Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG), has been upped to the post of senior VP of business and strategic planning. In his newly expanded role, Levine will continue to work with the business development and strategic planning department on financial planning, …

ATLANTA: TBS has commissioned a second season of Sullivan & Son, a comedy produced by Wild West Picture Show Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television.  Sullivan & Son, starring Steve Byrne, follows an attorney who switches gears and decides to run his parent’s pub. The sitcom—created by Byrne and …

BURBANK: Warner Bros. Television and writer/producer Chuck Lorre have signed a new, exclusive, multi-year development and production agreement. The four-year deal sees Lorre developing new TV programming, continuing to write and produce comedies while also expanding into drama series and potential long-form projects. This is for both the broadcast network and …

NEW YORK: In honor of the 50th anniversary of James Bond, EPIX is scheduled to broadcast the new documentary Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 as part of a free preview weekend for all subscribers of EPIX distribution partners. The documentary, slated to run on October 5—"Global James …

LOS ANGELES: Osiris Entertainment has signed an agreement with Mexico’s Producciones Cinematograficas Lobo S.A. de C.V. for the theatrical, television and home-entertainment rights to The Eves. CoNation Film Productions’ The Eves is about a group of young people who are stranded at a secluded hunting lodge after their car breaks …

PREMIUM: Depicting frazzled moms, hapless dads, wisecracking kids, devoted gay parents and a voluptuous Latina wife and mother in all their dysfunction and hilarity, Modern Family has marked a comeback of the comedy genre; creator Steven Levitan talks to World Screen.  WS: Jerry Seinfeld famously said of his show, "no …

NEW YORK: Syfy has acquired the rights to Sinbad, BBC Worldwide America’s successful adventure fantasy series, scheduled to begin airing this spring. The 12-part series, starring Elliot Knight and Naveen Andrews (Lost), follows Sinbad’s journey on the sea after he is obligated to leave home. Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), Timothy Spall (Harry …

SANTA MONICA: Ovation has inked its first co-production pact with BBC Worldwide Americas for the TV movie Doors Open, starring Stephen Fry and Douglas Henshall. Doors Open is produced by Fry’s Sprout Pictures for ITV1 in association with Ovation. The movie will make its U.S. debut in the second quarter of …