1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business, Variety's weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: Cynthia Lyttleton, co editor in chief of Variety Today. My 4 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: guests are Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, head of Amlin Television. 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: Darryl and Justin are rare birds. Indeed, they've been running 6 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: Steven Spielberg's TV company for nearly thirty years. They've set 7 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,279 Speaker 1: the standard for a busy boutique with great shows like 8 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: The Americans, Under the Dome Bowl, Falling Skies, Rescue Me, 9 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: and Going All the Way Back to Spin City. Now, 10 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 1: the company has moved into documentary and unscripted production in 11 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: a big way. In October, they sent a nature documentary 12 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: to the top of the Netflix charts with the launch 13 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: of the Life on Our Planet series. Upcoming projects include 14 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: Big Vape, The Rise and Fall of Jewel, and other 15 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: documentary features and series that probe very interesting and distinct 16 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: new worlds. As we will hear in our conversation, Daryl 17 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: and Justin also lay out exactly why the company moved 18 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: into premium unscripted, and it's very similar to the changes 19 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: that affected writers to such a degree that they went 20 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: on strike for nearly five months this year. It's all 21 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 1: about piecing together a portfolio of shows at a time 22 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: when the world of twenty two episode seasons are no 23 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: longer the norm. Darryl and Justin have the confidence to 24 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: be candid about where they see the business heading, where 25 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: some of the problem areas are, and hopefully where some 26 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: of the solutions are. 27 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: Coming in twenty twenty four. 28 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: That's all coming up after this break, and we're back 29 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: with an interview with one television heads, Darryl Frank and 30 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: Justin Falvey. Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, thank you so 31 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: much for joining me today when we were talking about, 32 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: you know, what's new and interesting at Amblin Partners. Of course, 33 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: I know the unscripted has been a real priority for 34 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: you for a while. To break into that in a 35 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: big way. You certainly have with Life on Our Planet, 36 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: which you know, Rock literally rocketed to the top of 37 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: Netflix in its first week in review, first week in release, 38 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: which is a pretty impressive thing for a natural history documentary. 39 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: But let's step back. 40 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: A little bit from the specific titles, and first i'd 41 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: love to hear from both of you why was it important? 42 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: What motivated you to get to Amblin to bring Amblin 43 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: Television into the business of high end, very well produced 44 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: documentary and unscripted content as a compliment to your very 45 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: you know, long and robust business that you have on 46 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: the scripted scripted contents. What what drove you into the 47 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: what what motivated you to get into the unscripted and 48 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: documentary arena? 49 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: Well, well thanks for having us. First of all, it 50 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 3: really was twofold one was we have a real passion 51 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 3: for documentaries. Is this is sort of what we both 52 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 3: watch on sort of weekends. You know, having been in 53 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: the scripted world for so long, it's sort of a 54 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 3: lot easier to go home and relax watching a doc 55 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 3: than it is watching a scripted show when you're looking 56 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 3: at every who directed this, who wrote it, who was 57 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 3: the production signer, who was the cinematographer. It's it's easier 58 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 3: to sort of tune out a little bit on those. 59 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 3: But you know, the you know what a lot of 60 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 3: the platforms have done over the last few years in 61 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 3: documentary has just been incredible, and so it started with 62 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 3: the passion, but it also was a real important business 63 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 3: move for us. You know, as episodes episodic orders got shorter. 64 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: You know, we justin and I have been around for 65 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 3: a long time and been doing this, uh you know, 66 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: uh since the deficit financing days, and you know, when 67 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 3: we would do twenty four episodes of a scripted show 68 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: for network, and it went from twenty four episodes of 69 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 3: a scripted show for network to thirteen episodes for Basic Cable, 70 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 3: to ten episodes at streaming, and then nine episodes, and 71 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 3: then eight episodes, and now certain people are doing six 72 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 3: episodes and with back ends disappearing completely given that there's 73 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: no syndication market and the sort of back end buyouts. 74 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: It really sort of we looked at our business and 75 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 3: we said, wow, we're really turning into a business where 76 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 3: episodic fees are really driving everything. And when we used 77 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: to do twenty four episodes and now we're doing eight, 78 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 3: we have to do three times as many scripted shows 79 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: to make the same amount of money. So for us, 80 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 3: it was twofold one creative. We feel like there's you know, 81 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 3: it's a great expansion of our business and we love 82 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 3: telling these stories. To us, they are just nonscripted dramas. 83 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: That's how we look at them. We don't really do 84 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 3: reality game, but we really do you know, premium documentary 85 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 3: narrative stories. But it really sort of came from, you know, 86 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 3: both the creative but then also the business aspect of 87 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 3: like where do we make up the revenue if we're 88 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 3: if we're doing eight episodes on scripted series. 89 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:20,799 Speaker 2: It's a math. 90 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, just I. 91 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: Have one job as moderator when I have two guests, 92 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: and that's to identify the guests. That who was just 93 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: speaking was Darryl Frank. Forgive me, I'm going to say this. 94 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: I'm going to really sound ancient, but Darryl, you look 95 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: more and more like your dad. 96 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 2: All the time. 97 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: Thank you, Rich as one of the very very senior 98 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: folks in the business when I first started and learned 99 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: a lot from him. Justin please, I would love your 100 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: perspective on what Daryl just has. 101 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 4: I'm looking a lot more like my dad. 102 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 5: He's a retired dentists as much chair. 103 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 4: Maybe it's more here than I do. 104 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: He has changed lives and teeth. 105 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 4: That's right, that's right, yes, look at it. 106 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 5: It's it was creating a new revenue stream, you know, 107 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 5: on a purely financial basis. But the Darryl, you know, 108 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 5: nailed it, and that's saying it's a perfect confluence. 109 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 4: Of passion and business. 110 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 5: And you know, we are twenty eight years at this company, 111 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 5: the two of us this month, if you can believe that. 112 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 5: And as people say, you should stop telling people that 113 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 5: because you're basically just saying how old you are. However, 114 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 5: I think it's what's it's interesting because in that time, 115 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 5: it's as though we've been at five different companies. We've 116 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 5: had the ability because of our size, that we've been 117 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 5: able to change and be nibole and adjust to the 118 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 5: to the changing marketplace. And and yes, in this last 119 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 5: you know year has been a seismic shift. 120 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 4: No question about it. 121 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 5: We were you know, it was interesting because the pandemic 122 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 5: really kind of forced us to scale up the nonscriptive 123 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 5: business as all the scripted stuff really came to you know, 124 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 5: came to an end for some time there, and then 125 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 5: we were very well positioned in this last year to 126 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 5: just continue further and continue to scale up and hit 127 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 5: the ground running when I think a lot of companies 128 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 5: were trying to pivot and shift into the nonscripted space 129 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 5: who didn't have that experience, so you know, not that 130 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 5: there was a silver lining of the pandemic for anybody. 131 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 5: But I think that runway really gave us an opportunity 132 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 5: to really focus on it in the last in the. 133 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 4: Last twelve months. 134 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 5: And and also, you know, Strikes Aside twenty three right 135 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,679 Speaker 5: out of the game was proving to be a huge 136 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 5: challenge in terms of the marketplace and selling. You know, 137 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 5: a lot of these companies just didn't have the money 138 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 5: and they were being incredibly selective and fickle. And that 139 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 5: is certainly the case now as we're coming out of this, 140 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 5: and we'll continue on into until twenty four and you know, 141 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 5: hopefully we'll get back to a much healthier place. But 142 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 5: it feels like, you know, it's going to be a long, 143 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 5: a long recovery, and now we have to think forward 144 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 5: in terms of finding that balance once again with scripted 145 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 5: and nonscripted. 146 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 4: So interesting times. 147 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: You guys have very you know, quickly distinguished yourself with 148 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: some very high end production life on our planet. A 149 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: project of that scale and caliber that does not come 150 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: together in six months. There's nothing, you know, there's nothing 151 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: like low budget about just looking at the scope of 152 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: what you've got on the screen there. How are you 153 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: making how are you making how do you make the 154 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: economics of documentary and unscripted work for you in this environment, 155 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: in this environment right now? 156 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 3: Well, each each project's different. I mean that Life on 157 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 3: Our Planet actually came to us from Netflix, and you know, 158 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 3: I think a couple of things that people bring things 159 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 3: to us for is one is sort of access and 160 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 3: another is expertise. On that one they were looking for, 161 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 3: how do you sort of transport people to prehistoric times 162 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 3: and then recreate these animals that were extinct. So obviously 163 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 3: Silverback is the best in class at sort of natural history. 164 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 3: They do it better than anyone, but they hadn't done 165 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 3: visual effects before, and Justin and I have done that 166 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 3: for two decades working for Steven and learning how to 167 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 3: do that. So they came to us on that and 168 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 3: it became just a great sort of collaboration. That's what 169 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 3: we've been looking for in sort of all of our shows. 170 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 2: We sort of we. 171 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 3: Used our scripted playbook in the nonscripted landscape in terms 172 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: of let's partner with the best in each genre, you know, 173 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 3: whether it was Alex Gibney does a certain thing, so 174 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:46,839 Speaker 3: we do a lot of shows with him. 175 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 2: R J. 176 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 3: Cutler does a certain thing, Frank Marshall imagine, So we 177 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 3: tried to sort of find a way to combine forces 178 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 3: with the best in the business. And sometimes it's us 179 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 3: bringing the idea to somebody and other times it's people 180 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 3: bringing the idea to us. 181 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: You know. 182 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 3: Good Night API is another example of access. You know, 183 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 3: NASA has a lot of people knocking at its door, 184 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 3: and to have the Ambulance brand, there's sort of a 185 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 3: guarantee that the show is going to be done in 186 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 3: a certain way and at a certain level. And so 187 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 3: that was one another one where somebody brought us the idea. 188 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 3: So we really sort of do you know what we 189 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 3: do inscripted as we source great material and then we 190 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 3: partner with the best of the best, and then we 191 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,839 Speaker 3: try and as Steven says, he calls us his block 192 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 3: and tackle is like we try and block and tackle 193 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: and allow them, you know, the creative people to do 194 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 3: you know, their best work, and then bring bring something 195 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 3: to it from our end as well, whether that's storytelling, 196 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 3: whether that's packaging, whether that's you know, chasing talent, you know, 197 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 3: getting Morgan Freeman to be the narrator in life on 198 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 3: our planet, we have Lessie Feldman, who runs casting for us, 199 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 3: and we call her our secret weapon, and she was 200 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 3: able to get Angela Bassett to do the vo for 201 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 3: good Night Appia as well. So we kind of use 202 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 3: all of our all of our tools that we use 203 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 3: in the scripted world we use in the non scripted 204 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 3: world as well. 205 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 4: And Life on Our Planet that was a five year endeavor. 206 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 5: It was a long time from the original development to screen, 207 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 5: as by the way, many of our scripted shows have been. 208 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 5: And you know, we always joke with folks we're developing 209 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 5: with if the time in place is not right today. 210 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 4: You know, we've been at this company, as I said, 211 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 4: for twenty eight years. 212 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 5: It will find its time and place, and that's proven 213 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 5: to be true, I think, without a question. But to 214 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 5: answer your question, yeah, I think there are things like 215 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 5: Life and Our Planet that take a lot longer. And 216 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 5: then we had two other Netflix documentaries premiere within the 217 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 5: last six weeks, Encounters which was four hours. 218 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 4: In Big Vape, which was four hours. 219 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 5: Both premiere to number one, and that's a much shorter 220 00:11:58,480 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 5: production period. 221 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: You know. 222 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 6: And as always as a case, let me just ask you, yeah, 223 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 6: excuse me, let me just ask you justin so like 224 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 6: interesting the Jewel story, which is definitely on my list 225 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 6: I want to catch up with because that just story 226 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 6: just seems like how that, how that was allowed to 227 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 6: happen and like you know, ruin the lungs of a 228 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 6: generation of teenagers and twenty some things that you know, 229 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 6: we're marketed to aggressively something like that. 230 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: That's a little more topical kind of off the news 231 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: off of litigation that's going on, is that that obviously 232 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: is going to be a different process than a five 233 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: year natural history documentary with with animation and special effects 234 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: and that kind of thing. So I'm guessing it's like 235 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: you have a portfolio of things. You have your things 236 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: that you know are going to take a couple of years, 237 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: things that you can turn around a little quickly, historical documentaries, 238 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: just looking at your slate. 239 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, that's correct, And you don't often control you know, 240 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 5: we were fortuitives at the end of this year that 241 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 5: we had three you know, very high profile docs between 242 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 5: the counters Vent Life on Our Planet premiering, but the 243 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 5: timing of that was not something that we necessarily control, 244 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 5: and is the case with many things going forward, and 245 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 5: we have you know, fifteen other you know docs in 246 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 5: the in the pipeline and you try to spread them out. 247 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 4: You can't get guarantee that. 248 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 5: So it's it's just an ongoing conversation with these platforms 249 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 5: and when they're you know, when they need something and 250 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 5: when they can't anticipate eating something. 251 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 3: So but that is the advantage of you know, one 252 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 3: of the big advantages of nonscript is you can get 253 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:42,439 Speaker 3: things going much more quickly other than you know, the 254 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 3: outliers like Life on Our Planet that took five years 255 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 3: and we were on you know, visual effects reviews every 256 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 3: Monday for four years. You know, we have we have 257 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 3: stuff like that in the scripted world too. We have 258 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 3: you know, Masters of the Air that's coming out and 259 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 3: you know at the Top of the Ear for Apple 260 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 3: that was literally a ten year journey, or Halo that 261 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 3: took us eight years. And so it's similar in that, 262 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 3: you know, we have the advantage just night being at 263 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 3: the company for so long that we're you know, there's 264 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: things that we've worked on that we could stick with 265 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 3: and deliver on and not have to worry. Okay, well 266 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 3: if we're leaving, you know, they're not going to keep going, right, 267 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 3: But that is an advantage in nonscripted is that you 268 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 3: can really get things going much more quickly. It's a 269 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 3: little easier to sell them in terms of the economics 270 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 3: of them, some of them. You know, it's like anything. 271 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 3: It's like the scriptor world too. If you get a 272 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 3: bidding war going, you're going to have better economics, and 273 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 3: you're going to have a bigger piece of the back 274 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 3: end because the back end will be bigger and other 275 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 3: ones the margins are smaller, and and you're splitting. You know, 276 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 3: a lot of times we're splitting with partners. We don't 277 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 3: mind splitting with partners as long as everyone's bringing something 278 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 3: to the party. To us, we'd rather have, you know, 279 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 3: fifty percent of something than one hundred percent of nothing. 280 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 4: So we just. 281 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 3: Find the best people and we watch all of the 282 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 3: docs and we oh, I would love to work with 283 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 3: that person. And we has been great about they represent 284 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 3: us in TV. They've been great about, you know, introducing 285 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 3: us to people that they're in business with, whether it's 286 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 3: at their own company or other people that they don't 287 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 3: wrap in just trying to make marriages, you know, because 288 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 3: it's such a collaboration mm hmm. 289 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 5: And then and some of these sorry, some of the 290 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 5: some of these ideas that we're developing it documentaries warrant 291 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 5: you know, a scripted conversation, and they're a handful that 292 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 5: we're developing simultaneously. 293 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 4: As scripted and nonscripted. 294 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 5: The upside of the nonscripted and the documentary being able 295 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 5: to move on that quicker is that we could use 296 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 5: that almost as a platform to help launch the scripted shows. 297 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 5: And we have a few things to that end that 298 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 5: we're working on. We're working on right now, or as 299 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 5: you know, I think Netflix has done successfully, you can 300 00:15:55,800 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 5: have you know, a nonscripted doc that is simultaneously launching 301 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 5: when you're scripted show that's maybe in the same area 302 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 5: or arena, and connect those dots. 303 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 4: So that's always something interesting look at. 304 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 5: And we also constantly talk with our creative team about 305 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 5: finding inspiration in you know, in docks that aren't necessarily 306 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 5: that are not our docs. But as you know, as 307 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 5: we know that, you know, the truth is stranger in fiction, 308 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 5: and you'll often find a backdrop or a world or 309 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 5: a character or something that could inspire something on the 310 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 5: scripted side as well. 311 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more from 312 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: Amblin Television Heads Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, and we're 313 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: back with more from Amblin Television chiefs Darryl Frank and 314 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: Justin Falvey. Would you say, I mean, it's it seems evident, 315 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: but would you say that, like star, the cost of 316 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: starting up a unscripted if you have a documentary idea, 317 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: the startup costs are much less. 318 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 2: Than if you say, I have an idea for a sitcom. 319 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, or of course yeah, because you don't obviously don't 320 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 3: have a script, and you you know, it's really a 321 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 3: sizzle and a deck. It's sort of what we go 322 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 3: out with a sizzle, a deck and a great pitch 323 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 3: and then some access. So you can have a lot 324 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 3: more of those going for what it would cost you to, 325 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: you know, do a pilot script if you will, or 326 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 3: do a pilot. 327 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 2: My mom, And would you say that? 328 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: I've also been hearing from people that the especially in 329 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: unscripted reality documentary, that some of the even at Netflix, 330 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,640 Speaker 1: like some of the terms are loosening a little bit. 331 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: It's not like okay, blanket, we're buying you out for 332 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 1: ten years, fifteen years, but that there's a little more 333 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: wiggle room, especially to get like territories outside the US 334 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,959 Speaker 1: and Canada. Okay, well maybe we don't need this documentary 335 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: for eight years in this part of Western Europe. 336 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 2: And you know, after a year you can see. I mean, 337 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 2: I've heard. 338 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: I just came back from Mipcom and I was hearing 339 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: from a lot of the European producers especially that there's 340 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: that suddenly there's a lot more flexibility. I don't know 341 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: if you guys are feeling that at all in terms 342 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: of deal deal making, particularly around the unscripted. 343 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 3: Yeah. Again, it's it depends on how many offers you 344 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: have and you know how frothy you can make the market. 345 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 3: But they are open to licenses in certain scenarios and 346 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 3: it has to be sort of the right group of 347 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 3: people and you have to have multiple offers. But look, 348 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 3: it's something that has to start happening in the scripted 349 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 3: business too, I mean, and that's why I love what 350 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 3: you know, Peter Chernan's doing and Evans is over there 351 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 3: now at North Road and what they've talked about of 352 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 3: sort of you know, you can't these buyers, the platforms 353 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 3: can't supply everything to themselves. You know, they need independence, 354 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 3: they need other people bringing them things. So it makes 355 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 3: it's good business sense to say, okay, well, you know 356 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 3: we we don't want to pay that, we won't pay 357 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 3: the full amount. Let somebody else take a little bit 358 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 3: of risk and then allow, you know, allow there to 359 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 3: be some success based results, you know, where where you 360 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 3: could actually make money off something. You know, right now, 361 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 3: if you have a if you have Stranger Things on Netflix, 362 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 3: or if you have the thing that's you know, number 363 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 3: three hundred, as a producer, you get paid the same amount, 364 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 3: you know, So we're really looking for, you know, the 365 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 3: business to change a little bit where maybe these perpetual 366 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 3: license fees go away, Maybe there's non exclusive licenses after 367 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 3: a couple of years. 368 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 6: Maybe there's. 369 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 3: Territories that you can carve out as you know, if 370 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 3: you put up a little of the money, and I 371 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 3: think for the buyers, it's going to make their money go, 372 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 3: their budgets go a lot further if they don't have 373 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 3: to pay one hundred percent, one hundred and twenty percent, 374 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: one hundred and forty percent of every show. They don't 375 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 3: need these shows for fifteen years, you know, ninety percent 376 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 3: of them, you know know, it's you know, people are 377 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 3: going to watch for three or four years they're not 378 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 3: going to watch for fifteen years, So how do you 379 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 3: how do you change the model so that producers, independent 380 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 3: studios could start making money again. And that's just good 381 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 3: for the health of the business. 382 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, And it's as you said, it's mitigating it's mitigating 383 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 5: the risk, but also allowing them to focus less on 384 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 5: you know, a massive development spend, you know, which is 385 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 5: a lot of them have doug a hole to that extent, 386 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 5: and you know, and if they can be wise about 387 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 5: the way they're spreading the well so to speak, it 388 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 5: will go a lot further. 389 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 4: If their goal mostly for these platforms. 390 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 5: It's subscribers, you know, and it's balancing for them short 391 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 5: term versus versus long term. Well, most of them are 392 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 5: in a position now they need to get healthy quickly 393 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 5: and they have to offset that somehow. 394 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,159 Speaker 4: So I think it's invariable. 395 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 5: I think you're correct, definitely is trending that way, and 396 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 5: that'll be great for everybody. 397 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 2: How about for you all as a business? 398 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: How you know, it's a it's a challenge right now 399 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: to kind of peg a value on anything, right what's 400 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: the value of a show coming off of NBC coming 401 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: on that may go on to the you know, might 402 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: be sold in the kind of streamer syndication market that 403 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: the valuation of content. How are you guys, how do 404 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: you guys kind of figure out what's your ROI what 405 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: are you willing to spend? Do you do you the 406 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: same kind of financial metrics that you would consider for 407 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 1: a scripted project. Do they apply same? Is the same 408 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: general principles that that that where you decide what you're 409 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,199 Speaker 1: going to commit to what's worth investing in in the 410 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: unscripted documentary. 411 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it's it's basically the same thing. I 412 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:55,439 Speaker 3: mean right now in scripted and nonscripted, the buyers are 413 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 3: paying one. 414 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 4: Hundred percent of the or more of the budget. 415 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 3: So it's really about if if the producers want a 416 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 3: bigger piece of the back end, they got to risk something. 417 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 3: And I think those are the companies that are going 418 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 3: to really change things going forward. Is okay, who's willing 419 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 3: to who's willing to put up the deficit? But then 420 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 3: what buyers are willing to let you do that? That's 421 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 3: the biggest issue is that they don't. 422 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 2: Want to let me put the money out right, and they. 423 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,400 Speaker 3: Want to own it. They want to own it all. 424 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 4: They want to be the studio. 425 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 3: They want to buy you out of being the studio. 426 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,360 Speaker 3: But that's what's broken the business. 427 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 5: But it's also that's where it's our responsibility to know 428 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 5: to know the marketplace and anticipate what is going to 429 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 5: become a potential bidding war, and how much money are 430 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 5: we going to put into our sizzle reel, and and 431 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 5: what kind of presentation are we bringing out into the 432 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 5: community that. 433 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 4: Could create that you know, that binning war. 434 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 5: That will ultimately hopefully result in in having some you 435 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 5: know that our financial position. 436 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: Well, my goodness, thank you for talking me through your 437 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: documentary work and kind of the reasoning and the business 438 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,919 Speaker 1: strategy behind it. I know you too long enough to 439 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: know you always have a lot of ores in the water. 440 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: Are there any things anything coming up in twenty four 441 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,719 Speaker 1: hoping that obviously business can get back to something like 442 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: the normal, the normal of Hollywood, which is always unusual, 443 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: but you know, assuming business can get back to normal. 444 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: Are there one or two things, whether scripted or unscripted, 445 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: anything that you're excited about coming in twenty four, anything 446 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: we should stay tuned for. 447 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely, I mean two things right off the bat 448 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 5: Masters the Air, which is our third installment, and Band 449 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 5: of Brothers and the Pacific is premier a. 450 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: Little matter like that that's going to be you know, incredible, 451 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: and the timing with anniversaries and World War two coming 452 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 1: is going to be really impactful. 453 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, So that's co production again with our friends at 454 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 5: Playtone on Apple at the end of January and B 455 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 5: seventeen Bombers based on a Donald Miller book. 456 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 4: It's incredibly. 457 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 5: You know, compelling, kind of a spectacular look at it 458 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 5: again grounded, you know, Journey of Two Gentlemen in particular, 459 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 5: but that is something we're really excited for people to anticipate. 460 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 5: And then Halo season two finally coming back, and that 461 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 5: is going to be in February of twenty four and 462 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 5: again something we worked on for eight years, developing that 463 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 5: thing to get it up and going in. 464 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:36,719 Speaker 4: First in the first season. 465 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 5: So obviously second season, having the ability to look at 466 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 5: our first season, which we are really proud of, and 467 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 5: we feel like the second season is even even stronger. 468 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 5: And then behind that, you know, we're thrilled to finally 469 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 5: be talking to writers again and we've got seventeen other 470 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 5: things set up and hopefully many of those will see 471 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 5: the light of day. So We're keeping our fingers crossed 472 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 5: for a happy the twenty four and really excited that 473 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 5: we can kind of get out of the gate with 474 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 5: two really really special, unique projects. 475 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. Be sure to leave us a review 476 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: at Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. We love to hear 477 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 1: from listeners. Please go to Variety dot com and sign 478 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 1: up for the free weekly Strictly Business newsletter, and don't 479 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: forget to tune in next week for another episode of 480 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 1: Strictly Business.