Woodcut Secures Pre-Sale with HISTOIRE TV (France)
Woodcut Secures Pre-Sale with HISTOIRE TV (France)
TVF International Deficit Financing & Appointed Worldwide Distributors
London, Thursday 13th February 2020: Discovery has greenlit and commissioned Woodcut Media to produce Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute, a heart-warming immersive commemorative 1-hour documentary special, presented by actor Sir Tony Robinson, and scheduled to TX on the anniversary of VE day.
Following the loss of approximately 75 – 80 million lives, Victory in Europe Day referred to as VE Day took place on the 8th of May 1945 to mark the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s surrender. With highly-charged emotions and celebrations that rippled across Europe and beyond, Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute, captures the unique stories and seminal events that made VE Day such a momentous 24 hours. History specialist and renowned actor and presenter Tony Robinson (Time Team, Blackadder, Egyptian Tomb Hunting etc) transports viewers back to the day, sharing untold tales of revellers in the streets, witnessing soldiers taking their first tentative steps out of POW camps, hearing the King’s celebratory speech in London, as well as the surrender of Nazi divisions, and other stories from around the world.
The documentary is brought to life through a series of moving eye-witness accounts, expert contributions, audio and visual archive footage (memoirs, personal letters, news reports) and visual effects placing Tony Robinson into actual archive from VE Day.
Tony Robinson commented: “Our documentary celebrates the jubilation felt by millions of people on VE Day, and honours those who lost their lives. It explores the fascinating accounts of historical figures and ordinary people who experienced that day, and hopefully will give viewers a vivid insight into what the 8th May 1945 would have felt like as events unfolded.”
Victoria Noble, VP, Original Content, Factual, Discovery said: “We are thrilled to be working with Tony Robinson on this commission that aims to give a new and moving perspective, going beyond the traditional portrayal of such a historic and momentous day. Using a carefully curated collection of stories, the special will give viewers the opportunity to understand the lived, sensory experiences of the day and really appreciate the intensity of emotions felt by people in the UK and beyond.”
Woodcut Media has already presold the documentary special to France’s HISTOIRE TV.
Said Kate Beal, CEO, Woodcut Media: “We can only begin to imagine what it felt like to hear the news that the war was over in Europe, but the ‘minute by minute’ format of this documentary aims to enable viewers to connect with the momentous events and emotions of this historic day in a fresh way. We’re delighted to be working with Discovery again and are thrilled that Tony Robinson, whose passion for history and incredible human stories, is providing his own inimitable take on this extraordinary moment in time.”
Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute is distributed internationally, and deficit financed by TVF International.
Added Will Stapley, Head of Acquisitions, TVF International: “We are delighted to be partnering with fellow indie Woodcut and Discovery on this definitive documentary on one of the most iconic days in modern history. We are constantly being asked for WWII anniversary programming with a unique angle so we can’t wait to get this out to market.”
Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute was ordered by Victoria Noble, VP, Original Content, Factual (Discovery). Producer/Director is Michael Wadding (Blitz Street, Brunel – The Man Who Built Britain, The Queen’s Big Night Out), and Executive Producers are Jon Stephens (Discovery) and Kate Beal (Woodcut Media).
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About Discovery
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.
About Woodcut Media:
With offices in London and Hampshire, Woodcut Media, a member of the Anthology Group of businesses, is one of the fastest growing Indies in the UK, producing a broad range of factual programming. A leading true crime producer in the UK (The Killer in My Family, How I Caught the Killer, Jo Frost on Killer Kids, World’s Most Evil Killers, The Krays: The Prison Years), Woodcut’s growing catalogue also includes specialist factual series (Royals on the Frontline, Wings of War, the hit ‘Combat’ franchise, Combat Ships, Combat Trains, Combat Machines, Combat Machines, Football: A Brief History by Alfie Allen), premium one-off and talent led docs (Fiennes: Return to the Nile featuring Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Joseph Fiennes, Cut From A Different Cloth and Mandela, My Dad and Me featuring Idris Elba and The Ivy) factual entertainment shows (World’s Greatest Palaces, How Hacks Work, Around the World in 80 Tricks, Paranormal Captured, World’s Scariest Hauntings). Woodcut has secured a broad range of commissions from multiple broadcasters worldwide including National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, Discovery, CI, etc www.woodcutmedia.com
About the Anthology Group:
The Anthology Group is made up of Anthology Studios and Anthology Theatre. Anthology Studios is currently six television and film production companies and a licensing company, all operating across the UK and internationally. Anthology Theatre is made up of a media investment fund advised by FCA regulated Anthology Advisory Partners and a theatre production company. The group combines creativity and financial expertise to develop and produce scripted and unscripted, television, film, digital and theatre content. The group was founded by Bob Benton. Hilary Strong is Group Chief Executive Officer. Carolyn Bennett is Chair of the group parent Anthology Media. http://theanthologygroup.co.uk/
About TVF International:
TVF International is the UK’s leading fully independent distributor of specialist factual programming, with a focus on History, Science and World Affairs programming.
Discovery:
Christabel Smith, 44 (0) 7584 509426 / christabel_smith@discovery.com
