Movistar+ alum Domingo Corral talks up risk

Domingo Corral, the former content chief at Movistar Plus+, has urged commissioners to embrace riskier dramas to deliver hits and avoid “conservative proposals”.

Corral, who had led the Spanish streamer until earlier this year, had been a vocal supporter of ambitious projects such as La Bola Negra and Sîrat, which were both seen as boundary-pushing shows that went on to perform for the Telefonica-owned streamer.

The Movistar alum, who spent more than a decade at the company but now has a production deal with HBO Max, said he had always tried to support creativity during his stint with the company.

“If there was ambition with the producer, we had to make sure the vision became a reality. We wanted vision and passion for original shows and the role of the commissioner was key.

“As an independent producer now, if you don’t have a strong commissioner who promotes the strategy, it’s very difficult.”

Corral’s departure from Movistar prompted an outpouring of anger from Spain’s creative sector, with the likes of Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruzan supporting the exec and his commissioning choices after his exit was announced.

“Formulaic, conservative proposals will always be there,” he added, “but you cannot reject shows that are the other way round.”

Corral was speaking at MIA in Rome, where his view was reflected by fellow panellists including Elastica Films’ Maria Zamora, Belén Atienza from Suspense Entertainment and Mod Producciones exec Fernando Bovaira.

The quartet agreed that the improved performance of films this summer in Spain was largely due to increasing ambitions, with Bovaira (Vanilla Sky) adding that he wanted commissioners “who are willing to go the casino and gamble.”