"A Cut Above"
Distribution360 is preparing to launch “A Cut Above” at Mipcom Cannes next week, alongside new seasons of popular series “Race Against the Tide,” “Best in Miniature” and “Blown Away,” all produced by Marblemedia.
High octane competition “A Cut Above” (12x60’ + format) sees 12 of the world's best chainsaw carvers put to the ultimate test of creativity, strength, and skill, as they turn ordinary logs into extraordinary works of art. In each episode, the carvers race against the clock to compete in two challenges: the Quick Carve and the Master Carve. Sculptor Katharine Dowson and chainsaw carver Ryan Cook decide who out-carved the rest and send one person home. In the finale, where the logs are bigger and the challenge is longer, the final three carvers fire up their chainsaws one last time.
Furthermore, D360 is launching a second season of “Race Against the Tide” (season 2, 10x30’ + format), where world-class sand sculpting teams return to face the highest tides in the world and be put to the ultimate test as they compete against each other and Mother Nature to produce extraordinary sculptures before the tide comes crashing in to take their creations back out to sea. They also need to nail the theme, impress the judges and avoid elimination.
Also available at Mipcom is “Best in Miniature” (season 2, 8x60’ + format), the series that tasks expert miniaturists with building their dream home in miniature form, creating it room by room in painstaking detail, all at 1:12 scale. Each week, probe lens technology immerses viewers in innovative room “walkthroughs,” in a way that makes them feel like they are viewing at full-size, while the remaining miniaturists battle it out until only three remain in the final, where one will be crowned Best in Miniature.
Finally, D360 is presenting “Blown Away” (season 2, 10x30’), the award-winning original series that broke the mould for skills-based competition programmes when it first launched on Netflix. Week after week, this compelling glass blowing show proves "make or break" as the competitors look to create stunning works of art and beautiful objects out of glass in themed challenges. Season three recently launched to critical acclaim on Netflix and reached top 10 status in all key markets. This third season will be available for license next year.
In related news, D360 announced that broadcast partner A+E Networks EMEA pre-bought “A Cut Above” for its feeds in UK, Ireland, Benelux, Sweden, Iberia, and sub-Saharan Africa, and has also licensed the first two seasons of “Blown Away” (20x30’), while Mediawan has picked up season one (10x30’) of “Blown Away” for French-speaking Belgium, Europe (excluding France) and Africa. Meanwhile, season one of “Best in Miniature” (10x60’) has just been acquired by TV2 Denmark and by discovery+ Brazil, while Reservoir Productions has optioned the format for France.
“We are excited to be heading into Mipcom with ‘A Cut Above,’ another authentic and unique skills-based series packed with high-energy, big characters, and the sort of truly incredible final reveals for which our competition series are fast gaining an enviable reputation. Each of these four series is a stand-out title and with new second seasons now available and recommissions in the pipeline, we are starting to provide useful volume for buyers of finished programmes as well as give a clear signal to buyers and producers of formats, that these titles are definitely ones to watch,” commented Diane Rankin, SVP Rights and Executive Producer at Distribution360.