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"Shogun's 18 Emmy Wins Lead TV Nominations for Critics Choice Awards"

2024-12-05

FX's "Shogun" made a remarkable impact earlier this year by collecting a record-breaking 18 Emmy Awards. Now, it has earned a leading six nominations for the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards, with a well-deserved nod for best drama series. This achievement showcases the excellence and popularity of the show. Peacock's "The Day of the Jackal", Netflix's "The Diplomat", Paramount+'s "Evil", HBO's "Industry", AMC's "Interview with the Vampire", FX's "The Old Man", and Apple TV+'s "Slow Horses" have also been nominated for the drama series prize. In the category of best comedy series, ABC's "Abbott Elementary", FX's "English Teacher" and "What We Do in the Shadows", HBO's "Hacks" and "Somebody Somewhere", Netflix's "Nobody Wants This", Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building", and NBC's "St. Denis Medical" will be competing. "Abbott Elementary", Apple TV+'s "Disclaimer", "Hacks", "The Diplomat", "What We Do in the Shadows", and HBO's "The Penguin" all received four nominations. "Disclaimer" and "The Penguin" were nominated for best limited series along with Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" and "Ripley", Apple TV+'s "Masters of the Air", PBS' "Mr Bates vs the Post Office", HBO's "True Detective: Night Country", and Hulu's "We Were the Lucky Ones". The Critics Choice Awards will take place on January 12 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and will be hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler for the third consecutive year. The show will be aired live on E! and will be available for streaming on Peacock the next day. Film nominations for the awards will be announced on December 12, and both the film and TV awards will be presented during the January 12 ceremony.

Uncover the Prestigious Nominations of the Critics Choice Awards

FX's "Shogun" - A Drama Series to Watch

FX's "Shogun" has truly made its mark in the entertainment industry. With its record-setting 18 Emmy Awards and now six nominations for the Critics Choice Awards, it stands out as a force to be reckoned with. The show's captivating storylines and exceptional performances have earned it a well-deserved place among the top nominees. It showcases the talent and creativity of the cast and crew, making it a must-watch for drama enthusiasts.

Not only has "Shogun" received nominations, but other notable shows like Peacock's "The Day of the Jackal" and Netflix's "The Diplomat" have also been recognized. These nominations highlight the diversity and quality of programming available in the entertainment landscape. It's an exciting time for fans of different genres as they eagerly await the awards ceremony to see which shows will take home the top honors.

Comedy Series Battles for the Critics Choice Awards

In the highly competitive category of best comedy series, ABC's "Abbott Elementary" faces off against FX's "English Teacher" and "What We Do in the Shadows", along with other popular shows like HBO's "Hacks" and "Somebody Somewhere", Netflix's "Nobody Wants This", Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building", and NBC's "St. Denis Medical". Each of these shows brings its own unique brand of humor and charm to the table, making the competition fierce.

"Abbott Elementary" has won the hearts of viewers with its relatable characters and witty writing. FX's "English Teacher" offers a fresh take on the comedy genre, while "What We Do in the Shadows" brings a supernatural twist to the mix. HBO's "Hacks" and "Somebody Somewhere" showcase the comedic talents of their casts in different settings. Netflix's "Nobody Wants This" and Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" add to the excitement with their distinct comedic styles. It will be interesting to see which show emerges victorious in this battle for the Critics Choice Awards.

Limited Series Nominations and Contenders

The nominations for best limited series are equally impressive. "Disclaimer" and "The Penguin" join forces with Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" and "Ripley", Apple TV+'s "Masters of the Air", PBS' "Mr Bates vs the Post Office", HBO's "True Detective: Night Country", and Hulu's "We Were the Lucky Ones". These limited series offer a diverse range of stories and performances that captivate audiences.

"Disclaimer" stands out with its thought-provoking narrative and exceptional acting. "The Penguin" brings a unique spin to the crime genre, while Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" and "Ripley" offer different takes on suspense and mystery. Apple TV+'s "Masters of the Air" showcases the power of storytelling on a grand scale, and PBS' "Mr Bates vs the Post Office" presents a historical drama with a touch of humor. HBO's "True Detective: Night Country" and Hulu's "We Were the Lucky Ones" add to the excitement with their intense and emotional stories. The limited series category is sure to deliver some memorable moments at the Critics Choice Awards.

The installation of Germany's first Sony Crystal LED VERONA video wall in Munich marks a significant milestone in the field of virtual production. This cutting-edge technology is set to revolutionize the way films are produced and trained at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF).

Unleashing the Potential of Virtual Production in Munich

Installation at the CreatiF Centre

The CreatiF Centre, a renowned innovation laboratory, has integrated the Sony VERONA LED screen within one of its film studios. Measuring 4 x 2.5 metres and consisting of 40 modules with four LED panels each, this wall is designed to familiarize HFF students with the new standards in virtual production. It serves as a technology platform for research projects like the CreatiF Centre, exploring new approaches to film production, postproduction, and content usage. The partner and system integrator for this project is Pro Video GmbH based in Berlin, with the planning carried out by macom GmbH.This installation on a rolling structure allows for flexible use by students and researchers within the studio. It enables digital backdrops and realistic backgrounds to be projected in real time on a huge screen surface, transforming conventional green screen technology. Through the live interaction of physical and digital elements, film scenes can be visualized directly on set, offering new creative collaboration opportunities and cost efficiency.

Optimized for Virtual Production

The VERONA is optimized for demanding virtual production applications. The HFF uses VERONA modules with a 1.5mm pixel pitch (ZRD-VP15EB), controlled via the Brompton Tessera SX40 processor. It builds on Sony's leading technology for film and entertainment production, providing content developers, creators, and AV distributors with a combination of exceptional image quality, installation flexibility, ease of maintenance, and low cost of ownership.Sony's newly developed Deep Black and Anti-Reflection surface technology delivers very high picture quality with an impressive brightness of 1,500 cd/m², a wide colour spectrum, and a high refresh rate. Complemented by extremely deep black levels, it makes it possible to create the most realistic virtual sets. The VERONA series uses high-performance LED driver ICs that achieve extremely high refresh rates of up to 7,680 Hz, significantly higher than other commercially available LED solutions for virtual production studios. A low refresh rate can lead to flickering and image artefacts, which are particularly disruptive in virtual production environments.

New Opportunities for Filmmakers

"The Virtual Production System allows us to explore the limits of technology in a very flexible way and to develop new innovative approaches," says Simon von der Au, project manager of the CreatiF Centre. "This expands creativity and technical feasibility in film production. With this system, HFF Munich can train its students in state-of-the-art technology and prepare them for the future of work. At the same time, we are opening up completely new opportunities for filmmakers to realize their visions.""We are delighted to have integrated such a modern virtual production system at HFF Munich," says Slava Luft, Project Manager at Pro Video. "With this project, we are continuing our pioneering work in the field of studio LED walls and our ongoing support for the education sector throughout Germany. This innovative system gives HFF students and teaching staff the opportunity to learn and further explore both current and future virtual production workflows.""We are particularly pleased that the first Crystal LED VERONA screen for virtual production in Germany is located at the HFF in Munich," says Georg Armborst, Key Account Manager Media Solutions at Sony Europe. "This underlines HFF's pioneering role and commitment to operating at a top international level and helping to shape future trends in the film industry. In addition, thanks to its modular design, our Crystal LED VERONA system offers flexible application options for the HFF and its students."The official launch of Sony's Crystal LED VERONA at the HFF is scheduled for spring 2025.

The Bundesliga, with its governing body, die Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), has recently made a significant announcement regarding the national television rights deal for the 2025/26 to 2028/29 season. This outcome is nothing short of a major victory, bringing in a substantial €1.121 billion ($1.185 billion) per season and a total revenue of €4.484 billion ($4.736 billion). In contrast to other major football leagues like Ligue 1, Serie A, and LaLiga, where national rights deals have either decreased or stagnated, the Bundesliga is experiencing a 2% increase in television revenue. It stands as the second-strongest national media contract globally, trailing only the English Premier League.

Trust and Unity: The Foundation of Success

DFL co-CEO Steffen Merkel emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, "The result of the tender underlines the unbroken popularity of German professional football, despite economically challenging times. Trust and unity within the league association have truly paid off. After an intensive process, we have now achieved a very good and comprehensively secured financial result. This provides the clubs with planning security at a high financial level for another four years."Adding to this, co-CEO Marc Lenz said, "The financial security achieved with this result is a key foundation for the positive development of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. From this position of strength, we must tackle the various economic, sporting, and political challenges and continue to develop our leagues together with the 36 clubs, ensuring their future readiness."The television contract negotiations' outcome is undoubtedly a major win for the two league CEOs, Lenz and Merkel. However, their journey wasn't without its challenges. In February, the failed international investor deal had put them under fire. Subsequently, in the spring and summer, the initial tender process faced significant obstacles. The DFL had initially awarded one of the major packages to SKY, overlooking a better offer from competitor DAZN. DAZN then took the matter to court, forcing the DFL to restart the tender process.There were doubts about whether Sky and DAZN would remain interested in bidding if one of them lost out on a major package. To address this, the DFL devised a compromise that would benefit all partners. Most games will remain with Sky, while DAZN has won the rights to show the highly popular Konferenz on Saturday afternoons. The individual games that were part of Package B and initiated the legal process will stay with Sky.Keeping both pay-TV partners on board was crucial for the DFL decision-makers as they restarted the television auctions. There was some hope that new bidders like Amazon or Apple would enter the negotiations, but with no such prospects on the horizon, it was essential for the DFL to maintain the partnership with both DAZN and Sky.Today, the Bundesliga is looking ahead to another four years of stability and measured growth, while most European top leagues face financial insecurity. This success story showcases the Bundesliga's resilience and ability to adapt in challenging times.