Hollywood
‘Maya the Bee – Movie’ deal signed for release in America and Canada
NEW DELHI: Studio 100 Film has acquired the popular Australian-German film Maya the Bee for the North American market following a distribution agreement with Shout! Factory, a leading multi-platform entertainment company.
Studio 100 Film is an international feature films sales agency based in Munich/Germany. The announcement was made by Studio 100 Film CEO Patrick Elmendorff and Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos.
In this agreement, Shout! Factory has secured exclusive US and Canadian distribution rights to Maya the Bee – Movie, including theatrical, home entertainment, digital distribution and broadcast for cross-platform releases.
Shout! Factory plans a strategic rollout of this film in selected theatres, video-on-demand (VOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), electronic-sell-through (EST), television and in all packaged media through Shout! Factory Kids in 2015.
Elmendorff said: “Following the recent success of Maya the Bee – Movie in Germany, South Korea, Poland, etc., we are very proud to announce the distribution agreement for the North American market. I am delighted to partner with Shout! Factory. They have demonstrated great expertise in distributing feature films.”
Maya the Bee is a worldwide and well-known brand. The books of the little bee were first published over 100 years ago and since then worldwide audiences young and old have loved the brand. “The worldwide sales of the movie to more than 100 countries illustrate the continuous popularity of this well-known and much-loved brand and the rising demand for great family entertainment,” says Elmendorff.
“We are incredibly excited about this new relationship with Studio 100 Film. This highly entertaining family movie is the perfect addition to our library of exciting new films. We look forward to presenting Maya the Bee movie to North American audiences through a wide variety of entertainment distribution platforms and on family home entertainment shelves,” Shout! Factory’s founders said.
Studio 100 Film presents Maya the Bee – Movie as Australian-German co-production of Studio 100 Media and Buzz Studios in association with Flying Bark Productions. Directed by Alexs Stadermann, it is produced by Thorsten Wegener (Studio 100 Media) and Barbara Stephen (Buzz Studios) and executively produced by Patrick Elmendorff (Studio 100 Media) and Jim Ballantine (Buzz Studios). Studio 100 Film, the film division is a hundred percent subsidiary of the international children’s production and distribution company Studio 100 Media based in Munich.
The story is about a freshly hatched bee Maya who is a little whirlwind and will not follow the rules of the hive. One of these rules is not to trust the hornets that live beyond the meadow. When the Royal Jelly is stolen, the hornets are suspected and Maya is thought to be their accomplice. No one believes that she is the innocent victim and no one will stand by her except for her good-natured and best friend Willy. After a long and eventful journey to the hornets hive Maya and Willy soon discover the true culprit and the two friends finally bond with the other residents of the opulent meadow.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
