January 16, 2012


GOLDEN GLOBES - DOWNTON ABBEY WINS
Downton Abbey picked up the Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television at The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards last night in Los Angeles. Carnival Films’ Managing Director Gareth Neame, said, "To receive six Emmys and a Golden Globe within a few months of each other is a testament to the incredible writing, production and acting talent on Downton Abbey. I am very proud that the show has been honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press with this Golden Globe and that the second series continues to grow its audience in the U.S." The show’s creator and writer, Julian Fellowes added, "Winning a Golden Globe is thrilling and a great honor. We couldn't be more delighted." Press Highlights: Guardian: Downton Abbey wins Golden Globe Telegraph: British Stars shine at Golden Globes Daily Mail: British invasion! Kate Winslet, Idris Elba and Downton Abbey earn gongs at the Golden Globes PA: Downton Abbey claims Golden Globe Broadcast: Downton, Luther and Episodes win Golden Globes Daily Mirror: Golden Globes 2012: Kate WInslet and Downton Abbey among British success stories Metro: Brits Downton Abbey, Idris ELba and Kate Winslet see Golden Globes glory Daily Express: Downton Abbey toast of the Golden Globes BBC News: Golden Globes: The Artist wins three awards Huffington Post: Golden Globes 2012: Kate Winslet, Downton Abbey lead British wins New York Times: The Artist and The Descendents take Globes LA Times: Golden Globes: Downton Abbey wins for best TV series The Scotsman: Golden Globes: Downton Abbey among the winners as Ricky Gervais tones it down The Sun: Downton and Kate led Brit charge at Golden Globes

DOWNTON ABBEY HITS HIGH WITH FINALE
10.7 MILLION WATCH DOWNTON ABBEY SERIES FINALE ON ITV1 Downton Abbey’s second series concluded last night on ITV1 with a record average audience of 10.7 million viewers (10.5 million excluding ITV1+1), 40 percent share of viewing – the drama’s highest ever overnight audience and up +1.0 million viewers on the final episode of the first series. With consolidation (accounting for PVR and recorded playback viewing), the figure for Downton Abbey is expected to rise considerably. The consolidated average audience for the first six episodes of the second series currently stands at 11.5 million – up 21 percent on the first series (9.5 million average); making it the most popular drama series on UK television for over 10 years. Downton Abbey returns for a Christmas special over the festive period, and last week ITV confirmed the commission of an eight-part third series of the hit drama.

MILK Become Record Breakers!!
Guinness World Records has awarded Downton Abbey with the accolade of the ‘Highest critical review ratings for a TV show’.This means that Downton Abbey is the most critically well-received TV show in the world, snatching the title from US shows Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy and Modern Family, who all shared the previous record in 2009. As the publicity team behind the show Milk has been also given a Guinness World Record Certificate for our work on the show!

DOWNTON EMMY
The Carnival Films production, Downton Abbey, cleaned up at last night's Emmys with 4 wins in the prestigious TV miniseries or movie category, writing (Julian Fellowes), supporting actress (Maggie Smith), direction (Brian Percival). Adding to it's previous 2 wins in Cinematography and Costume, giving the show a well deserved 6 Emmys in total.

MILK SEEKS NEW RECRUITS
MILK Publicity is a leading PR agency in the entertainment industry and we are growing! With a list of high-profile entertainment clients spanning the TV and Film industries, the company is on the lookout for additional team members to join their successful team specifically a Publicist and a Senior Publicist. The ideal candidates will have experience working in a dedicated PR role within the television industry. They will have strong contacts within the trade and entertainment press and will have an excellent understanding of the industry at a corporate level. They will be experienced and show excellence in writing press releases, press packs, generating coverage, managing talent, liaising directly with clients, managing budgets, reporting at an Executive level. Good knowledge of digital platforms is also preferred. If this sounds like you please email info@milkpublicity.com. Be quick we are on a deadline!

MILK CREATES DOWNTON SERIES 2 BRAND
For the second year running the team at Milk have created a strong visual identity for Downton Abbey. Commissioning photographer Nick Briggs and the design team at TEA, Victoria Brooks at Milk produced the final key art for the show. "I am thrilled at how quickly the key art from series 1 became a recognisable brand and I wanted to maintain that identity for series 2. The changes to the cast, uniforms, fashion as well as the tonal changes have provided us with a clearly distinct image while allowing us to uphold the Downton tradition."

Downton Abbey in Emmy Battle
Emmy battle: 'Mildred Pierce' vs. 'Downton Abbey' September 1, 2011 | 1:34 pm When it comes to the movie/miniseries categories, Emmy voters love to take a trip down memory lane. Just take a look back at recent winners like "The Pacific," "Temple Grandin, "Grey Gardens," "John Adams," "Recount," "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and "Elizabeth I" to see the trend in action. It is more apparent than ever this year because all six nominees are period pieces in the newly combined category of best TV movie/miniseries. Of the 2011 candidates, four are multi-part miniseries and only two are movies. They all come with healthy pedigrees in both their stories and creative talents. Most Emmy pundits predict victory for HBO's "Mildred Pierce," which has 21 nominations, the most of all programs competing this year. Academy Award-nominated director-writer Todd Haynes ("Far From Heaven") adapted the book by James M. Cain that was a film in 1945, winning an Oscar for Joan Crawford. Another Oscar winner, Kate Winslet, stars as the title character as the story follows her romances, tragedies and estranged relationship with her overdemanding daughter (nominee Evan Rachel Wood) in 1930s California. However, watch out for an upset by "Downton Abbey," which was the most buzzed-about, critically hailed show on the BBC last year. Airing on PBS in America, it focuses on aristocratic family members and their servants. Academy Award-winning writer Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park") penned "Downton Abbey," which is set in England after World War I and is nodded in 11 Emmy categories. It is favored to win some major awards itself, especially for writing and supporting actress Maggie Smith. Emmy voters are suckers for snooty British fare, as proved by recent upsets in this category by "Little Dorrit" (2009) and "The Lost Prince" (2005). "Downton Abbey" looks a lot like the original "Upstairs, Downstairs," which won the Emmy for best drama series three times (1974, 1975 and 1977) and best miniseries once (1976). However, "Downton Abbey" is vulnerable on the contemporary awards scene. Last year, when it competed at BAFTA as a drama series, it got usurped by "Sherlock." Now at the U.S. Emmys, there's much controversy over it being repackaged as a miniseries. Another contender in this category, with 11 bids, is "Too Big to Fail," an HBO movie directed by Oscar- winning screenwriter Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential"). Emmy nominee William Hurt leads an all-star cast, which also includes nominees Paul Giamatti and James Woods in the behind-the-scenes story of the 2008 financial meltdown and its effects on Wall Street and Washington. The miniseries "The Kennedys" almost never aired at all when the History Channel dumped it, but ReelzChannel stepped in and surprisingly reaped 10 Emmy nominations for it. Emmy winners Joel Surnow and Jon Cassar ("24") were the creative forces behind this telling of the Kennedy story, which focuses on patriarch Joseph (Tom Wilkinson), future president John (Greg Kinnear) and future attorney general Robert (Barry Pepper), all of whom received Emmy nods. Oscar-nominated screenwriters Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") helmed the HBO movie "Cinema Verite," which is up for nine Emmy Awards. It tells the story of the first reality series, "An American Family," from the early 1970s and is especially noted for the performance by nominee Diane Lane as Patricia Loud. Starz received its first ever bid in this category with the miniseries "The Pillars of the Earth," which earned seven nominations. It is based on the historical novel by Ken Follett and centers on the fictional Kingsbridge, England, during the 12th century. The multi-parter competed earlier this year at the Golden Globes as did its stars Ian McShane and Hayley Atwell.

Page Eight is BBC2’s second biggest single drama in five years.
A BBC/Heyday Films/Runaway Fridge/Carnival Films/Masterpiece Co-Production in association with NBC Universal. Produced by David Heyman and David Barron Co-Producers Rosie Alison and Celia Duval. Written and directed by David Hare, Page Eight captured BBC2’s second biggest audience for a single drama in five years. The special drama, starring Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz and Michael Gambon, was watched by an average audience of 3.56m (15.7%) from 9pm to 10.40pm on BBC2, while a further 324,200 (1.43%) watched on BBC HD. It demolished BBC2’s slot average of 2.51m (10.67%) viewers for the year to date and was the channel’s highest rating scripted piece since Eric and Ernie, which attracted an audience of 6.08m (23%) in January. It meant that Page Eight is BBC2’s second biggest single drama in five years.

Press Launch For Downton Abbey S2
Held at Highclere Castle, with over 140 journalists in attendance the ITV1 launch for the Carnival Films produced show was a huge success. To download the press pack visit: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/presspacks/downtonabbeyseriestwo/default.html

Downton smashes ratings Down Under
Downton Abbey is the biggest new drama launch in Australia since 2008. The period drama, debuted on the Seven Network with 1.8 million viewers on 29 May. Broadcast in an 8.30pm slot, it gave Seven the best Sunday night performance of any channel in Australia this year and delivered the third highest share of any programme in the country in 2011. It is the latest international ratings success for the period drama, which had the highest audience of any new series in the UK since 2007 when it aired on ITV1 last autumn and has been sold around the world by NBCUniversal International Television Distribution.

BAFTA CRAFT AWARDS
We wish both Any Human Heart and Downton Abbey all the very best at this year's BAFTA Craft Awards this Sunday.

Mayor of London Launches Wimbledon Film & Television Studios
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, joined a crowded screening room at The Soho Hotel last night to watch a 3D virtual tour of the newly opened Wimbledon Film and Television Studios. Boris, joined Managing Directors Piers Read and John Brennan, Andrew Perloff CEO of Panther Securities and Film London CEO, Adrian Wootton to celebrate the opening of the studio complex. www.wimbledonstudios.com

WHITECHAPEL GOES TO SERIES
ITV commissions 6 new episodes from Carnival Films ITV has commissioned a 6 x 60” series of Whitechapel from Carnival Films. The drama written by Ben Court and Caroline Ip, and starring Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis and Steve Pemberton will begin filming this spring for transmission in 2012. The new series sees the team spread their investigations beyond the boundaries of Whitechapel. Three stories each comprising two episodes will peel back the layers of some of the East End’s most gruesome history. Whitechapel viewers will be taken back over three hundred years as the present day investigations preoccupying Chandler and his team begin to echo crimes from the city’s darkest recesses. Murder in the tunnels under Whitechapel, body-snatching, poisoning and grisly discoveries are amongst the tales to be told as the East End again provides fertile ground. Executive Producer, Sally Woodward Gentle says: “I am delighted we are getting the chance to tell brand new Whitechapel stories but this time as a series. The East End of London is steeped in history, secrets and gore and we now have the opportunity to take Chandler, Miles and Buchan to places darker still. If you thought the Ripper and Krays were scary, just wait.” Laura Mackie, Director of Drama, ITV says: “Whitechapel is a striking and distinctive crime drama that has struck a real chord with the ITV1 audience. The longer run will allow us to tell an even richer range of stories from the Whitechapel area” The original three part serial of Whitechapel debuted on February 02, 2009 with overnight ratings reaching 8.13 million viewers. A second serial was commissioned by ITV in September 2009 with the focus on the infamous Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie. The first episode of this second series was broadcast on 11 October 2010 and achieved 7 million viewers (25% share of the audience). The ratings average for series two was 6.5 million and a 23% share. The new series is produced by David Boulter (He Kills Coppers) and executive produced by Sally Woodward Gentle, Creative Director of Carnival Films (Whitechapel, Any Human Heart).

MILK ONBOARD FOR DOWNTON ABBEY SERIES 2
After the massively successful publicity campaign of Series 1, Milk Publicity have been commissioned as the publicists for series 2. The team are thrilled to be starting 2011 with the next series of Downton Abbey and to be working with the hugely talented cast and crew. "We couldn't have a better start to the new year. We loved working on the first series and were very proud the campaign we created for DA. The team involved in the show is fantastic and we are really glad to be part of it." Victoria Brooks, MD Milk Publicity

MILK MAKES HUGE SPLASH WITH DOWNTON ABBEY
There are celebrations here at Milk Towers at the news that Downton Abbey smashed the ratings once again last night on ITV1. Milk has provided all the unit publicity, picture publicity, EPK, DVD Extras, launch events, screenings and social media services for the show and is thrilled with the response to the publicity campaign and the audience figures the show has achieved. "Una and Victoria can guarantee. The world will know about your work. What they make of it, of course, must be their own affair." Julian Fellowes.

MILK WINS PROCAM TELEVISION PR DEAL
We are very proud to announce that we are now providing PR services to Procam Television, a leading international facilities company. Working with major broadcasters, production companies and blue-chip corporations, Procam TV provides quality broadcast equipment, crews and expertise. Check them out at: www.procam.tv

ABOVE SUSPICION: DEADLY INTENT STARTS SHOOTING
Six weeks of principal photography began this week on ITV’s three-part drama, Above Suspicion: Deadly Intent. Adapted by Lynda La Plante and Noel Farragher from her fourth novel in her best-selling series about rookie detective, Anna Travis. Produced by La Plante Productions, the 3x60 minute series will be filmed on location in Greater London. KELLY REILLY returns as the newly promoted DI Anna Travis alongside CIARÁN HINDS, who reprises his role the volatile Detective Chief Superintendent James Langton.

OSCAR WINNER PENS KIND WORDS FOR MILK
"One of the main challenges in today's market is simply to let the public know what's out there. To tell them that this musical, or that book, or those films, exist and are waiting to be tried and tested. Nobody has a clearer grasp of this than Una and Victoria, at least in my experience. They know whom to reach and how to reach them to an astonishing degree. In fact, their contacts must rival Noel Coward's. When you are making a show, you only care that people should know about it, that it won't end up an unexplored secret. And this, at least, Una and Victoria can guarantee. The world will know about your work. What they make of it, of course, must be their own affair." Julian Fellowes.

THE GREAT GHOST RESCUE WRAPS
Filming has now finished but to find out more about the film visit www.thegreatghostrescue.com

ENID WINS AWARD
Enid wins Best Single Drama at this year's Broadcasting Press Guild Awards. The Carnival Films and Television production for BBC Four will be handed the gong at a lunchtime ceremony today, which also honours veteran broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan with a lifetime achievement award.

Whitechapel II
Filming is underway on the second series of the critically acclaimed serial drama, Whitechapel, starring Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis, and Steve Pemberton produced by Carnival Films for ITV1. The principal cast will be joined by Peter Serafinowicz, (The Peter Serafinowicz Show) who plays DCI Cazenove and Craig Parkinson, (Lark-Rise to Candleford) who plays twins, Jimmy and Johnny Kray. Whitechapel II once again draws on a set of iconic cult crimes born out of the area. After Jack the Ripper comes the gangster brutality of the Krays, and in Whitechapel II the paranoia of this era and the faded glamour of the former East End overlords will characterise the drama.

ABOVE SUSPICION HUSTLES THE TOP SLOT FOR DRAMA
ITV1 won drama battle last night, with the return of Lynda La Plante’s Above Suspicion winning 6.7m (25.6%). The first part of the three-part investigation, The Red Dahlia, beat the return of BBC1’s con artist caper Hustle, according to overnight figures from Attentional.

MILK SECURES CARNIVAL DEAL
We are thrilled to have won the contract for both the unit and corporate publicity for Carnival Film & TV, working across Whitechapel II, Downton Abbey and Any Human Heart.

SILENT & GOLDEN !
Carl Davis will be conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra as they perform the UK premiere of his score to the rare screening of the classic silent film Waterloo, at the Royal Festival Hall, London on Thursday, 22nd April 2010. In this very special event, the Philharmonia Orchestra presents a live screening of Karl Grune’s 1928 epic film Waterloo.

ENID IS JOLLY GOOD FOR BBC4 RATINGS !
BBC4's drama about the turbulent private life of children's author Enid Blyton gave the digital channel its third biggest ever audience. Overall, the drama netted an average audience of 1.3m (5.6%) between 9pm and 10.25pm, making it the most watched multichannel programme of the day according to overnight figures from Attentional. The programme built steadily throughout, with 1.2m (4.9%) watching from the outset and peaking with 1.5m (7.4%) at 10.10pm.

LITTLE DORRIT - BIG WIN!
Congratulations to the Little Dorrit team for scooping SEVEN Emmy Awards !!