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Luane has been part of Focus Features (previously Universal Pictures International Production) since 2012. She is currently in charge of increasing UPIP’s presence in Latin America and managing a slate of approximately 20 titles, including local productions, co-productions, remakes, development deals and multi-territory acquisitions originating from over 6 territories.
Prior to joining Universal, Luane worked for the European Film Bonds during the establishment of their London office and, before that, managed international co-production projects at Lago Film, the Berlin-based production company behind A Dangerous Method and Mr. Nobody. Luane holds a Master degree in Media, Communication and Development from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor degree in Film and TV Production from Westminster University in London.
What do you hope to gain from participating in Inside Pictures? What attracted you to the programme?
The elements that attracted me to the programme were Inside Pictures’ professional network, its focus on international cooperation, and its emphasis on the flow of ideas across different areas of expertise. I hope Inside Pictures will set me on a path of intense cooperation with Europe and US based business partners. The programme is already having a very positive impact on my professional development.
Have there been any highlights so far / what are you looking forward to as the programme continues?
Meeting fellow participants, who are experts in a variety of fields, has been great. This diverse pool of skills is very enriching and intellectually stimulating. Another highlight for me was learning about digital business models, which I am fascinated by. The lessons learned from these talks are extremely relevant for any career.
What are the main markets in Latin America you are concentrating on in terms of increasing UPIP’s footprint? How do you go about that?
The main markets I am concentrating on are Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, but I also evaluate opportunities from other territories. Before considering projects from any Latin American territory, I do a strategic and cultural evaluation of the market and look at historical data to find out who the strongest and most consistent players are in each of those markets, how the appetite for certain kinds of content has been evolving and how the industry has been performing overall. Once the strategic approach to a new market has been agreed on internally, I approach the main players in each market to present our work and find out possible ways of working with them. The results of this exploratory phase are usually seen quickly as the numbers of submissions and business proposals we receive tends to increase significantly. After relationships have been established, my priority is to compete for the most attractive projects from each market.
What qualities are you looking for in a Latin American project? What makes it fit for your slate?
Although audiences’ tastes tend to vary significantly across Latin American countries, the combination of strong concept, clear target and great talent is a must for every project on our slate.