MIPTV 2013: Sierra/Engine Takes 'Siberia' to International Broadcasters

The plot of the drama mystery series has reality TV contestants fighting for survival in the Russian wilderness.

7:49 AM PDT 3/21/2013 by Scott Roxborough

          

Sierra/Engine Television has hooked up with producer Michael Ohoven of Infinity Media to produce and distribute the new one-hour drama series Siberia.

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Ohoven, whose screen credits include the Oscar-nominated Capote (2005) and the upcoming Pawn Shop Chronicles starring The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, Paul Walker and Elijah Wood, will executive produce Siberia together with Sierra/Engine CEO Chris Philip. Sierra is handling worldwide distribution rights for the series and will launch the first 13-episode season at the international television market MIPTV in Cannes next month.

The drama is set in the remote Siberian territory of Tunguska, the location of a Survival-style reality-TV show.  The show's unwitting contestants soon realize something isn't right when strange things begin to happen, somehow linked to a meteor that struck the region in 1908. Soon, the competitors find themselves banding together to survive. Siberia is currently in production with six episodes in the can.
Also on the Sierra/Engine MIPTV slate this year is NBC's pirates series Crossbones starring John Malkovich which British writer Neil Cross, creator of Emmy-nominated series Luther, developed for the small screen; The After, the new series from X-Files creator Chris Carter and action series Rescue 3 starring Dolph Lundgren.


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/miptv-2013-sierra-engine-takes-430176

Sierra/Engine Television Takes Viewers to Siberia

VideoAge International 

Sierra/Engine Television is joining forces with producer Michael Ohoven from Infinity Media to distribute and produce Siberia. The series is in production with six episodes already complete. Executive producers are Ohoven for Infinity Media and Chris Philip, CEO of Sierra/Engine Television.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=ayubtyiab&v=001T68Z-93cJFYKFEQ4742eNofgHLEk-T9ku8ksCiFe0h6YiikUoM39x5tRDoWnjI6WTta_douevIJqMJcPIsYvhOgBFY4KLvIlEY5_nqek49y3J5R7o_uPXA%3D%3D

Sierra/Engine Television has teamed with Infinity Media

Cynopsis

~ INTERNATIONAL HAPPENINGS ~

Sierra/Engine Television has teamed with Infinity Media to distribute and produce Siberia internationally. The reality series, which takes contestants to Tunguska where they must band together to survive, is currently in production with 6 completed episodes.

http://www.cynopsis.com/editions/cynopsis/032213/

Sierra/Engine Backs ‘Siberia’ Mystery Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 21, 2013 @ 10:29am PDT

Sierra/EngineTelevision (NBC’sCrossbones) has teamed with producer Michael Ohoven (Capote) from Infinity Media to distribute and produce 13-episode drama series Siberia. It is set in the remote Siberian territory of Tunguska, location of the largest impact event on Earth, the massive 1908 explosion, believed to have been caused by a meteoroid or comet, which knocked down some 80 million trees over an area of 830 square miles. More than 100 years later, 16 reality-show contestants descend on Tunguska unknowing of the land’s mysterious past. When a contestant is badly injured and no help arrives the contestants realize that the strange occurrences are not part of the show. With their safety threatened, competing contestants must band together in an effort to survive. The series, said to be in the vein ofThe Blair Witch Project, is currently in production with 6 episodes completed. Sierra/Engine will handle worldwide distribution with a launch at MIPTV next month. The timing is fortunate given the extensive worldwide coverage of the big meteor explosion in Russia a month ago. Ohoven and Sierra/Engine CEO Chris Philip executive produce.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/sierraengine-backs-siberia-mystery-series/

Sierra/Engine Television Highlights Siberia

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: March 21, 2013

LOS ANGELES: Chris Philip, the CEO of Sierra/Engine Television, is working with the Oscar-nominated producer Michael Ohoven from Infinity Media on the seriesSiberia.

Sierra/Engine will be handling the international distribution for the series, which already has six completed episodes. Siberia joins the Sierra/Engine slate alongside Crossbones, a new series from NBC starring John Malkovich; The After, created by Chris Carter (The X Files); and Rescue 3, which stars Dolph Lundgren. The company also recently secured international distribution forGhostbreakers, which features Cheaters' Joey Greco, as well as the Korean revenge drama Cruel Temptation.

“Siberia is a timely and unique series that takes episodic suspense to a new level,” said Philip. “We’re very excited to be launching it internationally at MIPTV.”

The story in Siberia is set up as such: In 1908, a meteor struck deep into a remote Siberian territory. Now, more than 100 years later, a group of reality-show contestants head there, unaware of its mysterious past. Their safety is threatened and they must band together in order to survive.

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2013-3-21-dra-sierraEngine-siberia

Sierra/Engine teams with Capote producer for Siberia

by Stewart Clarke
March 21, 2013
Sierra/Engine is teaming with Oscar-nominated movie producer Michael Ohoven for Siberia, a thirteen-part drama series, TBI can reveal.

Producer and distributor Sierra/Engine will make the series with Capote producer Ohoven and his film and TV production business Infinity.

The series follows a group of contestants who think they are taking part in a Survivor-esque reality show in the mystical Siberian wilderness, but soon realise something more sinister is occurring as things start going wrong.

Chris Philip, CEO of Sierra/Engine Television describes the show as The Hunger Games meets Survivor meets The Blair Witch Project.

“It starts to go wrong for the 16 contestants and everything is captured on tape, so it looks like a kind of social experiment,” he says.

As well as having movie production talent on board in the shape of Ohoven, the show has been financed using an indie feature model.

“At Sierra/Engine we have been using a straight-to-series model with [Crossbonesproducer] Georgeville Television’s shows, a syndication and barter model as we did with Rescue 3 and now another one using an indie feature film model,” Philip explains. “People in that world are looking at other areas and TV is an obvious place for them to go.”

That means Siberia is fully funded series, but without a commissioning broadcaster.

Sierra/Engine is handling international sales of the series, which is currently in production.

Six episodes of the thirteen have been shot and filming is underway on the seventh. Sierra/Engine will launch it internationally at MIPTV next month.

http://tbivision.com/news/2013/03/sierraengine-teams-with-capote-producer-for-siberia/53161/

Sierra/Engine Television to Rep New NBC Series Crossbones

LOS ANGELES: The distribution of the new NBC action-adventure series Crossbones, starring the Academy Award-winning actor John Malkovich as the pirate Blackbeard, will be handled by Chris Philip’s Sierra/Engine Television.


The show comes from the creator of Luther, Neil Cross, and the producing team of Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald (Gladiator, Men in Black). The series is set in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence. Here, the diabolical pirate Blackbeard reigns over a rogue nation of thieves and outlaws.
The international distribution will be represented by Sierra/Engine Television, which is a venture between Chris Philip’s Engine Entertainment and Nick Meyer’s Sierra/Affinity. In a separate agreement, Sierra/Engine Television secured international distribution for Ghostbreakers, an 18x30-minute reality series starring Joey Greco, of Cheaters fame. The company also scored the format rights for the Korean drama series Cruel Temptation.
"Over the last three decades, John Malkovich has occupied a singular place in the world of international film, theater, and even opera. We're awed by the opportunity to bring his brilliance to the small screen—particularly in service of the character of Blackbeard, as so brilliantly conceived by Neil Cross," commented Walter Parkes, of Parkes + MacDonald Productions.

By Kristin Brzoznowski

Published: March 12, 2013

http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2013-3-12-dra-sierraengine-crossbones-nbc

John Malkovich To Star In NBC’s Pirate Drama Series ‘Crossbones’ As Blackbeard

In a major casting coup for NBC, the network has landed Oscar-nominated John Malkovich to topline new action-adventure series Crossbones, from Luther creator Neil Cross and feature producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald and Georgeville TV. He will play the notorious English pirate Blackbeard, a role Brit Hugh Laurie flirted with for a while but ultimately did not commit to. The 10-episode Crossbones is set in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence, the first functioning democracy in the Americas, where the diabolical pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard (Malkovich), reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors. Part shantytown, part marauder’s paradise, this is a place like no other on Earth — and a mounting threat to international commerce. The series, originally picked up for this midseason, has not been slotted and will likely launch next season.
Cross wrote the script and is executive producing with Parkes, MacDonald and Ted Gold for Parkes/MacDonald Prods; Georgeville Television, Reliance Entertainment/Motion Picture Capital’s new TV Studio; and Universal Television. “Over the last three decades, John Malkovich has occupied a singular place in the world of international film, theater, and even opera,” Parkes said. “We’re awed by the opportunity to bring his brilliance to the small screen — particularly in service of the character of Blackbeard, as so brilliantly conceived by Neil Cross.” Chris Philip’s Sierra/Engine TV handles international distribution.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/john-malkovich-to-star-in-nbc-series-crossbones/#more-450821

Malkovich joins Crossbones

Big screen star John Malkovich has signed up to star in Crossbones, the pirate drama being launched by Sierra/Engine TV at MipTV next month.
Malkovich, star of movies including Red, Burn After Reading, Changeling, Death of a Salesman and In the Line of Fire, will play the part of Blackbeard in the NBC action-adventure series. The role was reportedly offered to House star Hugh Laurie but that deal was never inked.
Crossbones is from Luther creator Neil Cross and Gladiator production duo Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. Ted Gold (Three Rivers) will also executive produce.
Based on the book The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard, the period drama is set in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence. Ten episodes were commissioned by NBC, in a straight-to-series deal last May.
The series will be produced by Parkes/MacDonald Productions, Georgeville Television and Universal Television. Sierra/Engine Television, the joint venture set up by Chris Philip’s Engine Entertainment and Nick Meyer’s Sierra/Affinity, will handle international distribution.

Ed Waller 12-03-2013 ©C21Media

http://www.c21media.net/archives/104044?ss=crossbones

John Malkovich to Play Blackbeard in NBC Pirate Drama Series 'Crossbones'

 

John Malkovich is heading to the small screen.

 

The two-time Oscar nominee has been tapped to star as Blackbeard in NBC's action-adventure drama seriesCrossbones, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Malkovich will star as the famed pirate in the 10-episode drama based on Colin Woodard's book The Republic of Pirates about the golden age of piracy in the 1700s.

NBC's series takes place in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence, the first functioning democracy in the Americas, where the pirate Edward Teach -- aka Blackbeard -- reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors. Part shantytown, part marauder's paradise, the island is unlike any other and presents a mounting threat to international commerce. To combat the threat, skilled undercover assassin Tom Lowe is sent to take down Blackbeard, but the closer he gets, the more enthralled with the community he becomes.

Luther creator Neil Cross is on board to write and executive produce alongside husband-and-wife duo Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald (The Kite Runner) as well as Ted Gold (Three Rivers). The drama hails from Parkes/MacDonald Productions, indie studio Georgeville Television, Reliance Entertainment/Motion Picture Capital and Universal Television. Sierra/Engine Television will handle international distribution.

House's Hugh Laurie previously had the offer to star in the drama but could not commit. He remains one of pilot season's most sought-after actors.

"Over the last three decades, John Malkovich has occupied a singular place in the world of international film, theater and even opera," Parkes said. "We're awed by the opportunity to bring his brilliance to the small screen -- particularly in service of the character of Blackbeard, as so brilliantly conceived by Neil Cross."

Crossbones marks Malkovich's scripted TV debut. He earned Academy Award nominations for his supporting turns in features In the Line of Fire and Places in the Heart. His credits include Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Secretariat and Jonah Hex. On the producing side, the Principato Young-repped actor's credits include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Young Adult and Juno.

A premiere date for Crossbones has yet to be announced.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/john-malkovich-play-blackbeard-nbc-crossbones-424616