Amazon signs a deal with Woody Allen
Amazon's quest to make television -- or television-like entertainment -- more of a meritocracy continues. First-time TV writer Woody Allen's getting a series.
Amazon's quest to make television -- or television-like entertainment -- more of a meritocracy continues.
First-time TV writer Woody Allen's getting a series.
The streaming service, which now provides series like the Golden Globes-winning "Transparent" to customers of its Amazon Prime service (who may initially only have signed up for the free two-day shipping) has made much of the selection process, in which anyone can upload a script for consideration and chosen pilots are judged and voted on by viewers.
There may be easier (or harder) ways to catch Amazon's attention, though, and the announcement Tuesday that Allen had signed to create and direct his first-ever television series puts him in company with "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau ("Alpha House") and well-connected cousins Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman ("Mozart in the Jungle") than with David Anaxagoras, the preschool teacher who created Amazon's critically acclaimed kid series, "Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street."
"Woody Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest films of all-time, and it's an honor to be working with him on his first television series," said Roy Price, vice resident of Amazon Studios, in a prepared statement. "From 'Annie Hall' to 'Blue Jasmine,' Woody has been at the creative forefront of American cinema and we couldn't be more excited to premiere his first TV series exclusively on Prime Instant Video next year."
Woody Allen (also in a statement released by Amazon) added, "I don't know how I got into this. I have no ideas and I'm not sure where to begin. My guess is that Roy Price will regret this."
By the way, if you, too, think you have a series in you, here's what Amazon still says about its process:
"Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series—one that's open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script online and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public can also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community."