Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: BBC 4

  1. Banijay Rights Sells Premium Drama Wisting Into The UK

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    Banijay Rights, the leading distribution arm of Banijay Group, has today confirmed that high-end crime drama Wisting starring Carrie-Anne Moss and Sven Nordin has been acquired by BBC Four in the UK.

    The drama is based on the best-selling books ‘The Caveman & The Hunting Dogs’ by writer Jørn Lier Horst. Set in the unique and stunning landscape of Norway, this series follows homicide detective William Wisting as he wrestles with the most challenging and shocking case of his career: a wanted American serial killer preying amongst them.

    Hollywood actress Carrie-Anne Moss known for her roles in The Matrix and more recently Marvel’sJessica Jones, plays FBI Agent Maggie Griffin alongside British actor Richie Campbell (Anuvahood, The Frankenstein Chronicles) who plays Special Agent John Bantham. The pair are brought in to help Wisting and his team apprehend the infamous killer who has eluded capture for years. Leading Norwegian theatre and film actor Sven Nordin (Valkyrien) stars as Detective William Wisting.

    Meanwhile, Line – Wisting’s intrepid journalist daughter – is chasing headlines, leading her straight into the path of the serial killer. Suddenly, an old case comes back to haunt Wisting, and a dreadful accusation is hurled at him. How will Wisting save other lives when he finds himself suspended and fighting for his own reputation, career and life?

    The 10 x 45’ series is produced by Cinenord in co-production with Good Company Films, Viaplay, Degeto Film, TV3 Norway and Ripple World Pictures. Wisting will hit UK screens later this year.

    Chris Stewart, Commercial Director – Scripted comments, “Wisting is a multi-layered drama. that is sure to keep BBC audiences in suspense throughout. It’s a classic cat and mouse thriller interwoven with some scintillating character performances from a stellar cast. I’m sure the UK viewers will enthusiastically embrace this fantastic screen adaptation.”

    Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition says, “Wisting has already been a tremendous success in the Nordic countries, and we have no doubt that BBC viewers will be equally engaged by such a likeable, emotionally complex lead character, and a compelling plot full of twists and turns.”

    Wisting is created by Katrine Valen Zeiner (Valkyrien) and Trygve Allister Diesen (The Third Eye) who also directed the series.

  2. IWC Sets Sail on Yacht Rock

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    IWC, a Banijay Group company, today announces it is producing I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock, a 2×60’ documentary series for BBC Four. The shows, which are set to air this summer, will explore the smooth sounds of the 70s and 80s.

     

    In I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock, Katie Puckrik will explore a period of time where Los Angeles studio-based artists like The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and Hall & Oates produced smooth R&B and married it to adult themes about longing, aspiration and melancholy, to create a unique brand of soft rock. In its day, this music was never categorised as a genre, but now, in the 21st century, it has be known as Yacht Rock due to its finely crafted nature.

     

    Since Puckrik considers Yacht Rock the soundtrack to her teenage years in America, she argues this critically neglected genre of music is in need of a re-appraisal. The first of this two-part series will focus on the 70s and the second, the 80s, and will feature contributions from John Oats (Hall & Oates), producer Mark Ronson, the writer who popularised the term Yacht Rock JD Ryznar, and elite musician Jay Gradon, who played on tracks by Steely Dan and Hall & Oates. The second episode features members of the band Toto.

     

    Katie Puckrik said: “When I was growing up in the Virginia suburbs in the 70s and 80s, Yacht Rock was the music that sailed out of my girlfriends’ cassette players, the older boys’ muscle cars, and the grown-ups’ cocktail parties. I’ve never stopped loving Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, and the rest of those smooth movers, because they twang my bittersweet spot of escapism and melancholy. The magic of Yacht Rock is that just listening to it makes us feel sexy, happy, and rich. I think of it as ‘millionaire’s make-out music’ – the sound of endless summers.”

     

    Executive Producer Franny Moyle said: “Katie Puckrik is perfectly placed to guide us though this underappreciated musical genre, and her knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject has helped us create this fantastic series. This music was written in a sun drenched past, but it feels timeless.”

     

    The series has been commissioned by Emma Cahusac, Commissioning editor BBC Arts and Music and is Executive Produced by Franny Moyle for IWC. Ben Whalley produces and directs. I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock will be distributed globally by Banijay Rights.