‘Musk vs Bezos’ Sells Across Europe as Java Films Attends Unifrance Rendez-Vous
variety.comEd Meza @edmezavar “Musk vs Bezos: The New Star Wars,” about the space race between the two richest men in the world, is attracting plenty of attention from broadcasters in Europe, where new TV documentary has secured multiple sales.
Commissioned by France 5 from French documentary production shingle Magneto, “Musk vs Bezos” examines the intense competition between Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin as they vie for the top spot in the U.S.’s burgeoning space travel business and the potential consequences for the world if the two billionaires develop the capacity to monopolize all future terrestrial communications. “When Musk first tried to buy a Russian rocket back in 2001, the chief engineer of the Russian Space Agency thought it was a joke,” Java Films notes. “By 2008 SpaceX had a contract with NASA to supply flights to the International Space Station.” Magneto added: “In 20 years, these ambitious, determined and somewhat megalomaniac entrepreneurs have succeeded in launching their own rockets, a feat hitherto reserved only for states.” Paris and London-based Java Films has so far sold the title to Germany’s ZDFinfo; RTBF in Belgium; Spain’s TVE; SIC in Portugal; and Croatia’s HRT, with additional deals expected soon.
Java Films is currently in Biarritz for the Unifrance Rendez-Vous TV market with 20 new documentaries, among them “Chip War,” commissioned by French-German pubcaster Arte from French company Babel Doc, which has pre-sold to to Switzerland’s RTS. “Chip War” looks at how the persistent shortage of semiconductors, essential in modern society, is reshaping geopolitical relations, fueling inflation and increasing tensions between the U.S.
Read more on variety.com