HBO's Lovecraft Country Takes New Approach in Telling America's Story of Racial Injustice
Imagine it's 1950s Jim Crow America. A Black man and Black woman are traveling together in search of his missing father, while simultaneously battling white racists, and big, monstrous creatures that look like they came straight out of a sci-fi film. Today's rap and hip-hop music play in the background. Sounds … different, right? This is the story of HBO's Lovecraft Country, a series which premieres this weekend and will roll the horror, sci-fi, and drama genres into one while exploring the racial injustices of the time period. There are many elements that go into making the show a unique
VIDEO: How Do Consumers Think About TV?
Inside ViacomCBS’s approach to crafting content that connects with today’s audiences.
Behind Lifetime's Mission to 'Stop Violence Against Women'
At this week's Television Critics Association press tour, conducted virtually this year, Lifetime brought together a panel on the network's upcoming two-night documentary, Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, which premieres this coming Sunday. Panelists included the filmmakers and real-life sexual assault survivors of the late financier's crimes. These women spoke to the challenges of sharing their trauma for television, as well as the empowerment that came with having worked on the film. The documentary is a follow-up to the Peabody Award-winning Surviving R. Kelly, which brought to the forefront the
National Geographic Showrunners Share How They Film in a COVID World
This past March, along with countless other businesses and industries, numerous TV and film productions were forced to shut down when it became clear that COVID-19 was becoming a widespread health threat. National Geographic alone had to shut down nearly 77 productions in countries all over the world. Yesterday, at CTAM's portion of the Television Critics Association press tour, held virtually this year, National Geographic Senior Vice President of Communications Chris Albert explained that it's been equally as challenging for the network to get production back up and running. But audiences
Virtual Reality, Virtual Sets, Real Entertainment
While 2020 has forced many industries to quickly adapt to new ways of working, TV and film have always sought creative solutions to create amazing programming. These challenges, more recently, have been made easier with new technologies that require high-capacity broadband connections. How would different parts of a TV or film crew, be it the set design department or post-production team or visual effects team, learn to work together, remotely? That conundrum was at the center of a panel discussion at this year’s Comic-Con, which was held remotely this year due to COVID-19. “The main thing I
What Will the Future of Entertainment Look Like?
The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt accelerated the speed at which most people are adopting next generation technologies and applications. Broadband has also proven to be the enabler of these technologies, as networks continue to run at full capacity and power the amazing virtual interactions that Americans are engaging in as they spend more hours at home. And with 10G around the corner—the cable industry's commitment to bringing ultra-fast speeds to U.S. households—these technologies and experiences will get that much closer to becoming staples in American life. During a virtual panel at the
Cartoon Network's 'Stop Bullying: Speak Up' Campaign Hits 10-Year Milestone
This month, Cartoon Network celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign. That's a decade of the network using its large influence, leverage, and reach to promote kindness and empathy to millions of kids across the country. When the campaign first launched in 2010, Cartoon Network's goal was to raise national awareness about the prevalence of bullying in America's schools. Since then, the campaign has evolved to meet the needs of the kids of the current generation, using creative storytelling, digital tools, and Cartoon Network's TV air space to capture their
And the Show Goes On
Some Hollywood movies and TV shows were recently given the green light to resume production, albeit with a series of new guidelines now in place, and it will certainly be interesting to see how America's favorite shows adapt to the COVID-19 environment. As the new TV world order kicks off, it's worth saluting those showrunners and TV production teams for their extraordinary work over the past few months in keeping their shows running. Old and nostalgic TV shows came back to the forefront. Zoom interviews were broadcast with talent to discuss their television shows. Children's programs hosted
40 Years of Black Excellence at BET
In January of 1980, Robert L. Johnson left his position at NCTA and, with his wife Sheila Johnson, launched the first TV network “that allowed Black people to see themselves, their stories, and their culture on television,” according to BET President Scott Mills. In the 40 years since its founding, BET has successfully stood as a leader in elevating Black voices and experiences, and inspiring generations of writers, actors, and creatives to tell their own stories. From awards shows like the BET Awards, to community projects, from nationwide campaigns, to its latest initiative, “Content for
How Cable TV Networks Are Helping Kids Get Through the Pandemic
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, young people went from seeing their friends, classmates, and teachers on a daily basis to quarantining with their parents and guardians. These changes have been particularly challenging for kids, many of whom relied on the adults in their life to help make sense of the situation. Early on, cable TV networks recognized that families would need help during these unprecedented times and started working to support them. From specials to town halls to virtual events, producers and showrunners put their heads together behind the scenes to provide creative