Sony Pictures India Exit; Indie Crime Thriller ‘If It Bleeds’ Casting (Exclusive); BBC Buys Aussie Drama & Adds Trio To Doc Unit — Global Briefs

Jesse Whittock and Nancy Tartaglione
·3-min read

Lada Guruden Singh Steps Down From Sony Pictures India Role

Lada Guruden Singh has stepped down from his role as General Manager, Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP), India, where he oversaw local production, and has entered a producing deal with the studio. At SPIP India, Singh has been instrumental in acquiring and developing superhero IP Shaktimaan while other projects included the remake of Spanish hit Campenoes and Chetan Bhagat’s One Indian Girl. Singh also expanded Sony Pictures’ footprint in Telugu with breakout hit Major and spearheaded the studio’s debut in Tamil with Amaran which is due for release later this year. Said Singh: “I am grateful to Sony for its belief and support as I chart a new producer path, beginning with the films I set up at studio itself… My producing role will allow me to chase clutter breaking IPs and produce larger than life theatricals that cut across languages, more actively.” The news comes soon after NP Singh announced he was stepping down from his role after 25 years.

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Indie Crime Thriller ‘If It Bleeds’ Adds Gigi Gustin & More To Cast (Exclusive)

Bonnie Aarons (The Nun), John Kassir (Tales From the Crypt), Gigi Gustin (Stiletto), Kirby Bliss Blaton (Green Inferno), Andy Davoli (The Sopranos) and Chris Labadie (Walker) have joined Matthew Hersh’s debut feature If It Bleeds. The anthology-style crime thriller stars Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), Justin Miles (Old Dads), Doug Jones (The Shape of Water), Dee Wallace (E.T. The Extra Terrestrial) and Krsy Fox (Underworld: Evolution). The plot follows young and ambitious news reporter Diane Winters (Corcoran) and her cameraman Simon (Miles), as they uncover a mysterious series of gruesome murders that unfold throughout the course of a chaotic and violent day. Hersh is the writer-director, with Allison Victoria-Wolfe and Doug Hawley the producers, and Corcoran and Fox consulting producers. Above is a first-look image.

BBC Acquires Aussie Drama ‘High Country’

The BBC has swooped for High Country, an Australian mystery drama series starring Leah Purcell (Wentworth), Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones), Sara Wiseman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) and Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road). The UK pubcaster struck the deal for the ‘rural noir’ with Sony Picture Televisions, which has been shopping the Curio Pictures eight-part show since last year. Plot follows a female detective, who is transferred to the Victorian High Country and trust into the mystery of five missing persons who vanished into the wilderness. “With its eerie setting and tense atmosphere, High Country is a gripping new take on Australian rural noir,” said BBC Head of Program Acquisition Sue Deeks. Sony-owned Curio produces in association with Rage Media.

BBC Studios Doc Unit Adds Exec Trio

BBC Studios Documentary Unit has added a trio of executives to its ranks. Beth Ambrose joins as Head of Production, having previously produced shows such as Netflix’s Our Universe and Attenborough and the Great Sea Monster for BBC One. Sonia Sohal will be Head of Development, having joined from All3Media-backed UK indie Story Films. Her credits include Netflix’s Surviving Paradise and Joanna Lumley’s India for ITV. James W Newton will be Senior Executive Producer. He directed Evacuation, the Channel 4 doc about the inside story of a British military operation to evacuate people from Kabul airport in Afghanistan. The film recently premiered at Sheffield DocFest, He has also exec produced Super Surgeons: A Chance at Life, which is into its second season on Channel 4.

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