Fremantle Buys Israeli ‘Shadow Of Truth’ Producer Silvio Productions & Guy Hameiri Becomes Silvio Chair

Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in Israeli producer Silvio Productions and Fremantle-owned Shtisel indie Abot Hameiri’s Guy Hameiri will become Chair.

Alongside Fremantle Group COO/Continental Europe CEO Andrea Scrosati, Hameiri spearheaded the deal and Silvio Founders Yotam Guendelman and Mika Timor will report to him, with both indies working closely together.

The move is the latest in a flurry of Fremantle M&A activity and is the RTL-owned super-indie’s second in Israel, following the 2016 Abot Hameiri deal, which was extended to a 100% stake in 2021.

Silvio is best known for Hot8 true crime doc series Shadow of Truth, which was picked up by Netflix globally and examines the mysterious murder case of an Israeli girl found murdered in her high school toilets, along with Showtime’s Emmy-nominated Buried. A new season of Shadow of Truth is in production alongside Kan’s 1948 and Yes Docu’s Dunam and a Half.

The acquisition comes with Fremantle looking to “scale-up our global documentaries capabilities” under Mandy Chang, according to Scrosati, who hailed Silvio’s “proven track record and great pride in their filmmaking and storytelling.”

Hameiri said Silvio’s shows “not only connect with a local audience, but importantly globally, which has been recognized by international outlets,” while Silvio’s Guendelman and Timor described the move as a “unique opportunity.”

Fremantle has been averaging what feels like one acquisition a week over the past months as the company seeks to meet RTL’s €3B ($3.1B) revenue target by 2025.

Recent buys include highly-rated 9/11: One Day in America producer 72 Films, British natural history firm Wildstar Films, Normal People indie Element Pictures and veteran Italian outfit Lux Vide.

European M&A is moving at such a pace at present that last week three deals were announced within the space of one morning.

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Crypto King Sam Bankman-Fried & FTX Draw More Hollywood Interest From Graham Moore & Vox’s New York Magazine

EXCLUSIVE: The wild story of crypto king Sam Bankman-Fried and the $32B meltdown of FTX is drawing considerable interest from Hollywood.

Michael Lewis is writing a book that has the likes of Amazon, Netflix, David Fincher, Josh Gad and David Heyman circling, while Scott Burns and Jonathan Glickman’s Panoramic are looking at a potential project with the New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Graham Moore, the Oscar-winning writer behind Benedict Cumberbatch film The Imitation Game, has also thrown his hat in the ring.

Moore is set to write and direct an adaptation of New York Magazine’s deep dive into the subject.

The magazine cover story, which looks at Bankman-Fried’s rise from an honest crypto guy ready to spend his fortune to save the world, to FTX’s fall into Chapter 11 with him having to sell his property in the Bahamas.

Scoop Wasserstein will produce on behalf of Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine. 

It marks Moore and Wasserstein’s latest project together as the pair were behind The Outfit, a psychological crime thriller feature starring Mark Rylance and Zoey Deutch, that Moore wrote and directed and premiered earlier this year.

Moore is considering the project as either a series or a feature film.

“Like everybody else on the planet, I’ve been unable to pry my eyes off of this story for weeks,” said Moore. “Thanks to New York Magazine’s peerless reporting, each new revelation is more shocking, fascinating, occasionally horrific and frequently hilarious than the last. I’m elated to partner with a team of world-class journalists as they report in real-time on a story that’s moving as fast as the internet. I’ve spent a lot of time writing about the complex and singular characters at the center of huge technological moments. In SBF, ‘complex’ and ‘singular’ sound like understatements. Whether or not he intended on changing the world — it looks like he just did.”

New York Magazine and Vox Media Studios are also developing a documentary on the topic with the companies working alongside its reporters and sources across the country and in the Bahamas.

It would be the latest documentary project on the topic, similar to the Fyre Festival and Gamestop saga with competing projects. Vice is working on a doc, as is XTR and David Darg.

In addition, Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine are currently in development on a documentary working alongside its reporters and sources across the country and in the Bahamas. 

“The projects that we have put together around Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX are a model for how Vox Media Studios extends the storytelling of our incredible journalists,” added VMS’ Chief Creative Officer, Chad Mumm.

Vox Media Studios and New York Magazine are behind projects such as the forthcoming Sex Diaries docuseries adaptation for HBO, Razzlekhan: The Infamous Crocodile of Wall Street with Lily Collins at Hulu, and Who Killed Tulum? with Annapurna at Amazon Studios. 

Moore is represented by CAA and Felker Toczek, New York Magazine and Vox Media Studios are represented by WME and Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks.

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Women In Film And Television International Sets New President, Susan Liddy Takes Over From Outgoing Helene Granqvist

Irish academic Susan Liddy has been elected as the new president of Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI), replacing Swedish producer Helene Granqvist who has been in the role since 2018.

Founded in 1997, WIFTI has led the way in advocating for better representation and conditions for women working in the screen industries. The umbrella body encompasses 50 WIFT and WIFT partner chapters worldwide.

Liddy is a lecturer at the Department of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Limerick. She is also on the board of the Irish Film Institute, the Writers Guild of Ireland and Raising Films Ireland, the body set up to help parents and carers working in the screen sectors.

Her research papers have included Women in the Irish Film Industry: Stories and Storytellers (2020); Women in the International Film Industry: Policy, Practice and Power; (2020) and Media Work, Mothers and Motherhood: Negotiating the International Audio-Visual Industry (2021).

She has also co-authored two industry reports for the Broadcasting Authority Of Ireland and Raising Films Ireland, with fellow academic Fergal Rhatigan. They are also currently researching the working culture in the Irish Screen industries for a WFT research project, funded by Screen Ireland.

Her collection Women, Ageing and the Screen Industries: ‘Falling Off a Cliff’? will be published in February 2023.

Liddy is also the founder and director of the Catalyst International Film Festival, in Limerick, a festival that prioritises films from underrepresented groups, in front of and behind the camera.

She has led WFT Ireland as Chair since 2018.

Liddy and Granqvist will work together as co-presidents for the coming months, with the former taking the helm alone in August 2023. 

“I’m looking forward to sharing the leadership of WIFTI with Dr. Liddy during the transition period. Susan is a researcher and I am a practitioner but we are both activists who work strategically for change. I couldn’t wish for someone better to take over the leadership for WIFTI!,” said Granqvist.

Liddy praised Granqvist’s work over the past four years.

“I salute Helen Granqvist who has worked tirelessly to build a global organisation that is united in a vision of female empowerment and advancement. Our goal remains firm: to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the screen industries everywhere.” 

The WFTI Board said in praise of Granqvist: “Since her election as President of WIFTI in 2018, Helene Granqvist has positioned WFTI as a global influencer.  During her tenure, the organisation spread across six continents and has a diverse Board drawn from all the chapters and affiliate organisations”. 

The WFTI board is currently made up of Sarah Inya Lawal (Africa), Ajoke Silva (Nigeria), Rubaiyat Hossain (Bangladesh), Tsiako Abezadze (Caucasus); Susan Brinton (Vancouver), Brigitte Monneau (Montreal), Nicole Ackermann (Germany); Patricia Watson (New Zealand); Katrina Graham (Australia), Nerissa Scott) (New England), Serena Mmifinyana (Botswana), Marjaana Mykkänen (Finland), Domizia De Rosa, (Italy), Katerina Kaskanioti (Greece); Osnat Bukofzer (Israel), Nadean Rawlins (Jamaica), Susana Campos (Brazil), Cynthia Lopez (New York) and Kirsten Schaffer (Los Angeles).

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‘Power Rangers’ Stars Amy Jo Johnson, Walter Jones, Austin St. John & More Mourn The Loss Of Jason David Frank

Jason David Frank, best known as Tommy Oliver in the 90s kids’ action series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, died at the age of 49 and his co-stars are morning his loss.

Viewers that watched the show growing up remember that the Green Ranger’s (and later on the White Ranger) love interest was the Pink Ranger, played by Amy Jo Johnson. After news of Frank’s death, the Felicity alum paid tribute to the late actor on social media.

“Jase, you were beautiful and truly unique,” she posted on Instagram along with a selfie next to Frank during a fan convention. “My life just won’t be the same without your frenetic, hilarious, caring, driven and creative ball of energy. I will always love you, dear friend. Please Rest now In Peace…”

Walter Emanuel Jones also took to Instagram to share the following: “Can’t believe it…. RIP Jason David Frank. My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family.”

Austin St. John, the original Red Ranger, posted on Instagram: “Once a ranger, always a ranger” thoughts and prayers….”

Paul Schrier, who played bully Bulk in the 90s show, said on Instagram, “Rest In Peace, my friend.”

Blake Foster, who shared screentime with Frank in the Power Rangers movie sequel Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, said, “Can’t believe this… Cried all night. Heartbroken yet again. Lost my hero, our leader, my friend and an icon. Life really sucks man.”

Nakia Burrise also took to Instagram to express her thoughts.

“I have really struggled with finding the right words to say… In every family there is chaos, miscommunication, support, but most of all love,” she said. “I have been blessed to be apart of the Power Ranger family for 27years and losing a family member is difficult…. May the Lord wrap his arms around JDF’s wife and kids during this time.”

Steve Cardenas, who took over the role of the Red Ranger after Austin St. John’s exit from MMPR, shared a collage of images on Instagram with Frank over the years.

“Words simply cannot describe the shock and sadness I’m feeling in this moment. Jason David Frank is and forever will be an icon,” he posted. “He dedicated his life to the Power Rangers brand and most importantly his fans. Jason was the first person to welcome me on set in 1994 and later introduced me to social media, comic cons and event promoters all around the world so that I could reconnect with all of you as we did back then. I will be forever grateful.”

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How To Watch The World Cup: TV Schedule, Fixtures & More

The FIFA World Cup in Qatar gets underway Sunday with an official opening ceremony leading into the first game, host Qatar vs. Ecuador, launching the monthlong tournament showcasing the world’s most popular sport.

In the U.S., Fox Sports has English-language rights to the 32-team tournament, with all 64 matches airing live across Fox and Fox Sports 1 as well as via streaming on the Fox Sports app. Telemundo has U.S. Spanish-language rights, meaning all matches will air live across Telemundo, Universo and NBCUniversal’s Peacock (the only U.S streaming service to carry this year’s games) as well as via TelemundoDeportes.com and Telemundo Deportes’ app. The tournament is also available on FuboTV.

Check out the full U.S. TV schedule, and the list of international World Cup broadcasters, below.

The unusual winter-set tournament (moved from its traditional early summer slot every four years owing to the summer heat in the Arabian Peninsula) features three round-robin group stages before the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout rounds which begin December 3.

The final is Sunday, December 18 at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT at Lusail Stadium, one of eight constructed by the host city at a cost of around $10 billion. Each of the stadiums is within a 35-mile radius of central Doha, the capital city, making for compact travel for fans and teams.

As for the teams, all three U.S. games in Group B play will air on Fox at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT: its opener Monday, November 21 in Al Rayyan against Wales; versus England on Black Friday, November 25, in Al Khor; and against Iran on Tuesday, November 29 in Doha.

Overall, the 32 teams include defending champion France, as well as current world No. 1 Brazil, which has five World Cup victories the most in history. Germany has four titles, as does Italy which is easily the biggest team not to qualify for this World Cup.

Other favorites to watch include England and Argentina, the latter of which has possibly the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, playing in what he says is his last World Cup. Look also for Belgium, Uruguay, Netherlands and African champion Senegal to make noise. Joining the U.S. from its region, CONCACAF, are rival Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica.

Outside the games, Fox Sports will air 98 hours of studio programming from Doha including its FIFA World Cup Live show beginning at 4 a.m. ET on Fox or FS1 through the tournament’s first eight days, shifting to 9 a.m. ET after that. There’s also FIFA World Cup Today, to air between matches, and FIFA World Cup Tonight, which will air each night of the tournament on Fox at midnight in all time zones.

Fox’s talent lineup includes Rob Stone and Kate Abdo hosting in the studio along with analysts including U.S. veterans Clint Dempsey, Carli Lloyd and Maurice Edu, England’s Eni Aluko and Kelly Smith, and former NFL star Chad Johnson.

The play-by-play and analyst teams calling games for Fox Sports include lead duo John Strong and Stu Holden, who will call the U.S. games and the final. They will be joined in coverage by Derek Rae and Aly Wagner, JP Dellacamera and Cobi Jones, Ian Darke and Landon Donovan, and Jacqui Oatley and Warren Barton.

Telemundo’s takeover includes its Hoy en la Copa, a 30-minute daily preview and recap show, along with sporting an A-list roster of ex-players joining for coverage and analysis including the likes of Carlos Hermosillo, Fernando Hierro, Mauro Silva, Claudio Borghi and Diego Forlán along with anchor play-by-play announcer Andres Cantor, who will call the main gaims (including the U.S ones) with Manuel Sol and former U.S. star Tab Ramos.

Here is the schedule, times (all ET) and U.S. networks for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. See below for a list of international networks with rights to the tournament.

GROUP STAGE

Sunday, November 20

Qatar vs. Ecuador (Group A)
11 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Monday, November 21

England vs. Iran (Group B)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Senegal vs. Netherlands (Group A)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

United States vs. Wales (Group B)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Tuesday, November 22

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia (Group C)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Denmark vs. Tunisia (Group D)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Mexico vs. Poland (Group C)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

France vs. Australia (Group D)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Wednesday, November 23

Morocco vs. Croatia (Group F)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Germany vs. Japan (Group E)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Spain vs. Costa Rica (Group E)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Belgium vs. Canada (Group F)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Thursday, November 24

Switzerland vs. Cameroon (Group G)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Uruguay vs. South Korea (Group H)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Portugal vs. Ghana (Group H)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Brazil vs. Serbia (Group G)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Friday, November 25

Wales vs. Iran (Group B)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Qatar vs. Senegal (Group A)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Netherlands vs. Ecuador (Group A)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

England vs. United States (Group B)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Saturday, November 26

Tunisia vs. Australia (Group D)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Poland vs. Saudi Arabia (Group C)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

France vs. Denmark (Group D)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Argentina vs. Mexico (Group C)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Sunday, November 27

Japan vs. Costa Rica (Group E)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Belgium vs. Morocco (Group F)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Croatia vs. Canada (Group F)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Spain vs. Germany (Group E)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Monday, November 28

Cameroon vs. Serbia (Group G)
5 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

South Korea vs. Ghana (Group H)
8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Brazil vs. Switzerland (Group G)
11 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Portugal vs. Uruguay (Group H)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Tuesday, November 29

Netherlands vs. Qatar (Group A)
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Universo, Peacock)

Ecuador vs. Senegal (Group A)
10 a.m. ET on (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Wales vs. England (Group B)
2 p.m. ET (FS1/Universo, Peacock)

Iran vs. United States (Group B)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Wednesday, November 30

Tunisia vs. France (Group D)
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Australia vs. Denmark (Group D)
10 a.m. ET (FS1/Universo, Peacock)

Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico
2 p.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo, Peacock)

Poland vs. Argentina
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Universo, Peacock)

Thursday, December 1

Croatia vs. Belgium (Group F)
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Canada vs. Morocco (Group F)
10 a.m. ET (FS1/Universo, Peacock)

Japan vs. Spain (Group E)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Costa Rica vs. Germany (Group E)
2 p.m. ET (FS1/Universo, Peacock)

Friday, December 2

South Korea vs. Portugal (Group H)
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Ghana vs. Uruguay (Group H)
10 a.m. ET (FS1/Universo, Peacock)

Serbia vs. Switzerland (Group G)
2 p.m. ET (FS1/Universo, Peacock)

Cameroon vs. Brazil (Group G)
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

ROUND OF 16

Saturday, December 3

1A vs. 2B
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

1C vs. 2D
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Sunday, December 4

1D vs. 2C
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

1B vs. 2A
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Monday, December 5

1E vs. 2F
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

1G vs. 2H
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Tuesday, December 6

1F vs. 2E
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

1H vs. 2G
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

QUARTERFINALS

Friday, December 9

W53 vs. W54
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

W49 vs. W50
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Saturday, December 10

W55 vs. W56
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

W51 vs. W52
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, December 13

W57 vs. W58
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

Wednesday, December 14

W59 vs. W60
2 p.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

THIRD-PLACE MATCH

Saturday, December 17

RU61 vs. RU62
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

FINAL

Sunday, December 18

W61 vs. W62
10 a.m. ET (Fox/Telemundo, Peacock)

International World Cup rights

Australia: SBS

Austria: ORF, ServusTV

Argentina: TVP, TyC Sports

Belgium: RTBF and VRT

Brazil: TV Globo

Canada: Bell Media

China: CCTV, Migu (mobile streaming)

Denmark: DR, TV2

France: TF1, BeIN Sports

Hong Kong: PCCW

Indian subcontinent: Viacom18

Ireland: RTE

Israel: IPBC

Japan: Fuji TV, NHK, TV Asahi, Abema (streaming)

Latin America: Vrio Corp (fka DirecTV Latin America)

Malaysia: Astro, RTM

MENA: BeIN Sports                

Mexico: Sky, Televisa, TV Azteca

Netherlands: NOS

New Zealand: Sky

Norway: NRK, TV2

Pakistan: ARY Digital Network

Philippines: TAP DMV

Poland: TVP

Portugal: RTP, SIC, Sport TV, TVI

Russia: Match TV

Senegal: RTS

Serbia: RTS

Singapore: MediaCorp, SingTel, StarHub

South Africa: SABC

South Korea: KBS, MBC, SBS

Spain: Mediapro, RTVE, Movistar Plus+ (streaming)

Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport, New World TV

Sweden: SVT, TV4

Turkey: TRT

Ukraine: Suspilne, MEGOGO (streaming)

UK: BBC, ITV

Uruguay: ANTEL, Canal 4, Canal 10, Teledoce, TyC Sports

Zambia: ZNBC

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John Paragon, Aka ‘Jambi The Genie’ on ‘Pee-Wee’s Playhouse’, Is Laid To Rest In Unique Urn

Friends and family of actor/writer/director John Paragon paid tribute to him earlier this week, laying him to rest at Hollywood Forever in a unique urn that memorializes his character from Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Jambi the Genie.

The purple and gold box containing his remains is a recreation of a similar Jambi box seen on the television show. It can be found at Abbey-Haven of Devotion, E-2 East wall, Niche D-3 at the cemetery, where many celebrities and Hollywood executives are interred.

Paragon died on April 3, 2021 at age 67 of heart disease complications. His ashes were stored by actress Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira), who came up with the idea for the Jambi box with actor Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman). A fundraiser on GoFundMe raised more than $14K toward the memorial celebration.

Paragon was a writer, director and performer in numerous television series and specials, He started with The Groundlings improv group, where he connected with Reubens and the late Phil Hartman.

On Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, he played Jambi the Genie and provided the voice for Pterri the Pterodactyl. He also wrote many of its regular season episodes, and cowrote with Reubens the Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special in 1988, for which they were nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Children’s Special.

His other roles include Cedric, one half of the couple Bob and Cedric on the television series Seinfeld; the title character in the children’s movie The Frog Prince; the sex shop salesman in Eating Raoul; and the owner of a strip-o-gram business in the 1986 film Echo Park.

Paragon worked with Peterson on numerous Elvira projects, including the recurring role of “The Breather,” an annoying caller, for her first television series on KHJ-TV-Los Angeles.

He also made multiple appearances at Knott’s Scary Farm with Elvira at the Good Time Theater. One of the show’s highlights was when he walked amongst the audience as Ramone Azteca.

Paragon also worked with Walt Disney Imagineering on ways to incorporate improvisational performance into attractions at Disney parks. In this capacity, he performed as the keeper of Lucky the Dinosaur during test runs of the animatronic figure.

He returned to his performance as Jambi the Genie in the Broadway outing of the Pee-wee Herman stage show that began performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theater on October 26, 2010.

Peterson is credited by Paragon’s sister, Mary Roberts, with moving the urn concept forward. Its creators included Chad Colebank of Tweeterhead, Jack Matthews, Chie Izuma, Aaron McNaught, and Queenie Black.

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CBS West Coast Station KPIX-TV Steps Back From Twitter; Elon Musk Polls Followers On Trump’s Return

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