In this episode of Publisher's Verdict, Eric Mika, founder and publisher of The Film Verdict, sits down for a conversation with Dough Schwalbe, veteran co-producer and founder of The Co-Production Company, now part of the Superprod Group. Schwalbe has also worked with major studios like 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks, and helped bring to life some of the most beloved IP in family entertainment.

In this episode, he shares his insights on the evolving media landscape and the economic of co-production. And central to the conversation is a discussion on the responsibilities of children's content creators in the age of streaming and violent content, as well as whether it's still possible to combine social responsibility with commercial success.

Doug Schwalbe is founder of The Co-Production Company, a film and television financing and distribution company acquired by the Superprod Group in 2022, and also serves as President of Superprod USA. He has financed production for franchise IP such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Lassie, and George of the Jungle, and managed the coproduction protfolios at HBO, 20th Century Fox, and DreamWorks, distributing such series as The Sopranos, The Simpsons, and more.

Publisher’s Verdict is a new series from TFV Network, where Eric Mika, Founder and Publisher of The Film Verdict, delves into the latest global developments, industry trends, and pressing issues shaping the world of film.

With over 30 years of industry experience, including roles as Publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, SVP at Nielsen Entertainment, and Head of Variety‘s international division, where he spearheaded its global expansion, Mika offers an insider’s take from an outside viewpoint. A true globalist, he has lived in Rome, London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles, and now splits his time between Los Angeles and Mexico, bringing a rare international perspective to the conversation.

Listen to more podcasts from the world of film at https://filmverdictnetwork.com/

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(00:58) A Return to International Co-Productions

(05:35) Flaws in the Netflix Distribution Model

(08:39) Is There to Much Violence in Kids' Programming?

(11:41) Do We Need More Regulation?

(14:54) Lack of Support for American Public Television

(17:02) The Supremacy of Major Studio Content on Streamers

(20:19) Brands in Film and Television

(21:30) The Need for Discussion About Kids' Programming

(29:09) Outro

From scratch DJ to graphic novelist to now animation director, Kid Koala joins us on the latest episode of the Showcast to discuss his moving and visual inventive directorial debut, the animated feature Space Cadet, screening at the 2025 Annecy Animation Film Festival. Based on his own graphic novel, the film is poignant tale of interstellar dreams, parental bonds, and "technological" tenderness, all told through a beautiful tactile animation style and an evocative original score. In this conversation, Kid Koala reflects on his early love for animation, the influence of silent cinema legends like Charlie Chaplin, and some of the deeply personal experiences that inspired the film. He also dives into the production process behind Space Cadet, from collaborating on the screenplay to learning the language of animation filmmaking.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(01:08) The Multifaceted Artistry of Kid Koala

(03:45) The Origins of "Space Cadet"

(04:43) Wordless Storytelling

(08:36) A Robot Guardian

(12:08) Making a Film to Remember

(14:21) Learning to Speak the Language of Animation

(18:08) Outro

A group of Polish resistance fighters desperately try escape Nazi forces via Warsaw's sewage system. Listen to a quick review of "Kanal," the 1957 film directed by Andrzej Wajda.

Welcome to "Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Review

(01:25) Final Rating and Movie Recommendation