VideoAge caught up with Munich-based Studio100 Media’s managing director, Patrick Elmendorff and Tel-Aviv-based Dori Media Group’s CEO and president Nadav Palti to find out what their companies have planned for MIPCOM and what they consider the biggest challenges for the market.
VideoAge International: What are Studio 100’s plans/expectations for MIPCOM?
Patrick Elmendorff: Studio100 Media now has an extensive library of new and existing programming which we will be offering to buyers, and we expect to sell our key properties into an increasing number of European markets and internationally.
We will also continue with our sales activities, network with our existing partners, meet with new customers, establish co-production and co-financing partners for new projects and productions and pursue third party content.
VAI: What are Dori Media’s plans/expectations for MIPCOM?
Nadav Palti: As always we’ll arrive at MIPCOM anxious to introduce Dori Media Group’s new titles, as well as already proven success titles from our varied catalogue. We know our clients have high expectations of us, and as always, we plan to introduce to the European market to wide scope of telenovelas and daily dramas.
VAI: What new product is are you bringing to the market?
PE: Studio100 will be showcasing Florrie’s Dragons (52 x 10’), a new 2D animation. The series is based on the successful book by Belgian author and illustrator An Vrombaut and aimed at three to six-year-olds. Florrie’s Dragons tells the story of a precocious little princess who lives in a magical kingdom rife with friendly dragons. We will also present Woodlies (26 x 24´); created by Cornelia Funke, a multiple award-winning author of children’s fiction. Targeted at 6-11 year olds, this series is about the adventures of Woodlies, the woodland folk who inhabit a campsite. Then there’s the 3D animation Enyo (26 x 24´). Against an exciting backdrop of prehistoric beasts and shamanism, Enyo takes us on a spectacular Journey of fantasy and adventure. We will also be offering the new modernized and revived animation classics Maya the Bee, Vicky the Viking and Heidi.
NP: We’re bringing Split 2. After the first season of Split surpassed all expectations (it was recently sold to Turner Latin America), the vampire trend is still ongoing and it’s one of the most attractive plots for the young audience. The continuing alliance with Turner International Inc. is a further milestone for Dori Media, and we are happy that the great potential of Split has been recognized by Turner. The show’s second season has been produced under the highest standards, in full HD with great emphasize on visual aspect and effects. The turns in the plot will continue to surprise and conquer the hearts of teenagers around the world. In order to continue this fascinating story, we’ve already decided to produce a third season.
VAI: What do you expect attendance to be like this year?
PE: We hope to meet strong and courageous partners who are open-minded towards new properties and new ideas. MIP-TV proved to be very satisfactory, as our fully booked scheduled proved, and in our experience, MIPCOM usually attracts more attendance, so this year we expect it to be well attended.
VAI: Are you targeting any regions in particular?
NP: One of Dori Media Group’s big advantages is that we produce for one single territory — the world. This is the reason that all our productions are known for their ability to cross boundaries with universal storylines, trendy themes, updated editing, unique shooting techniques, neutral looking cast etc. When we are working on the new productions, we are focused on the international market. Not only we do concentrate on achieving a high production quality, with dynamic and appealing dialogues, but we also work to conceive the production as an international program in terms of topics, character profiles, settings and style. Clear examples of this are Split, which has been sold to over 45 countries around the globe in less than 1 year, and Date Blind, which has been sold to 16 countries in only 9 months and so on.
VAI: What do you expect to be your biggest challenge at the market?
PE: It is always a challenge to stand out from the crowd with programming. Taking into account the huge amount of new programming presented to buyers during the market, we are confident that with Studio100 Media’s content and high quality programming being presented.
NP: We are aware that technology is making progress at full speed by offering new support for our programs and extraordinary platforms we would have never thought of. While technology develops, the audience also evolves. We are quite aware of this, and even when there are no “determined” rules about new ways of making businesses, our strategy is to be pioneers, and stay one step ahead of our competitors. MIPCOM will be a good opportunity for us to present our pioneering content such as uMan, our innovative interactive reality format.
