Emmy 2015: Limited Series/Movie, HBO Goes Forward With Fincher and Katims, Fox’s Next Franchise, Oscar Rule Changes, Rep Moves For 6/24/15

   

LIMITED SERIES/MOVIE

From ‘American Crime’ to ‘Wayward Pines,’ Limited Series Invade Network TV

If you consider that everything runs in cycles, then it was probably inevitable that miniseries would become cool again. If it seems like that particular cycle came around a little faster than anyone might have thought — and that the broadcast networks would so readily buy into the format’s return — then credit is probably due to Ryan Murphy. (VAR)

Best Actress In a TV Movie Contender Maggie Gyllenhaal On Her Role and the Rough Sex Scene In It

Gyllenhaal joined fellow actresses Ruth Wilson (The Affair), Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Freak Show), Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex) and Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) for a roundtable discussion, where they talked about the dynamic and powerful dramatic roles currently being offered for women on television. (HTV)

An Important Question: Will Limited Series & Reality Competition Races Shake Up This Year's Emmys?

In response to the ever-changing genre, the TV Academy clarified the rules for the 2015 ceremony. Miniseries has morphed into limited series, which is defined as a show with two or more episodes totaling at least 150 minutes of run time with a self-contained story. The show can’t have recurring characters and must air under the same title each season with continuity among the production team. (AL)

And Now, Who Will Benefit Most From That New “Limited Series” Category?

Strategically positioning a limited series for a win hardly is new. PBS' Prime Suspect, which returned over and over with Helen Mirren playing the same character, was categorized as a miniseries because it offered only a few episodes. Showtime's Sleeper Cell's first two seasons received different designations — the first as a miniseries, the second as a drama — ostensibly because its creators didn't plan on expanding it beyond one season. (HRE)

SSN ORIGINALS

Emmy 2015: Can Good Reality TV Rival the Best Traditionally Scripted TV? Yes, and Here’s Why

There are a couple hundred reality shows in the running this year to land Emmy nominations.  That number keeps growing, especially with new, separate categories for Structured and Unstructured Reality Program along with Reality Competition Program and Outstanding Host. There’s been a boatload of criticism thrown the format’s way, but for all the write-ups it receives, there are plenty of shows that use the format to tell stories well. (SSN)

Rep Moves For 6/24/15: Jim Rash and Nat Faxon Get Snagged By CAA, Dax Shepard Moves To WME, and More

It was a light week for the various comings and goings of the Hollywood folk from one agency to the next, but there were some big names involved, including the three above, a well-known writer of romantic comedies and an Emmy-winning songwriter/composer. Click on the link to find out all the info. (SSN)

OTHER HEADLINES

HBO May Have Pumped the Brakes On One David Fincher Show, but It’s Hitting the Gas On Another One

The remake of Dennis Kelly’s U.K. mystery thriller series, Utopia, has Rooney Mara eyeing an unspecified starring role that would reunite her with Fincher for the first time since 2011’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Fincher, who intends to direct every episode of Utopia‘s first season, is also re-teaming with Gone Girl author/screenwriter Gillian Flynn to adapt the Channel 4 series. (COL)

And, While the Network Is At It, HBO Is Also Continuing Jason Katims’ Hot Streak

Cable net has picked up Us., an hourlong relationship drama pilot from the Parenthood and About a Boy executive producer. This marks the first premium cable project for Emmy winner Katims, who also recently expanded into the digital space with drama series The Way at Hulu. New show is described as a sweeping examination of the often baffling, sometimes unexpected but ultimately heart-wrenching ways love and human connection can be found today. (DH)

Twentieth Century Fox May Have Just Found Its Next Big Franchise

Studio has struck for Jason Micallef's red-hot pitch titled Shadows, which will be directed by Rio and Ice Age helmer Carlos Saldanha. The live-action/CGI monster project is set in the world of cryptozoology. Fox sees the project as a franchise starter for its in-house helmer who has directed the two Rio movies for the studio as well as three of the four Ice Age movies. Shadows is poised to be Saldanha's live-action debut. (THR)

The Academy Has Made Some Changes To Its Oscar Rules, Though Best Picture Is Status Quo

There were plenty of changes, however, including the increase of the number of eligible films to be considered for the eventual shortlist of 10 in the Visual Effects category to a maximum of 20 titles, the number of Doc Shorts, Animated Shorts and Live Action Shorts also increased, and the producer eligibility for Best Picture. (TOH)