People

Maria Chiara Duranti, chief editor of Formatbiz and a well-known figure at the world’s major television markets and one of the leading experts on formats, publishes her first book devoted to a field she has explored for over three decades. Titled Gli scripted format (Scripted Formats), the 136-page volume is written in Italian and released by Carocci Editori, offering an accessible and insightful overview of one of the most influential phenomena shaping contemporary television.

In this book, Duranti examines the rise of scripted formats—drama series adapted from original works—and the fundamental role they have played in redefining the global audiovisual landscape over the past twenty-five years. Drawing on her long-standing experience as a journalist, analyst and consultant, and as an advisory member of FRAPA (Format Recognition and Protection Association), she traces the evolution of a sector that today connects markets, cultures and creative industries across continents.

What makes Gli scripted format unique is Duranti’s ability to combine academic precision with the practical knowledge gained from decades spent traveling through the beating heart of the industry. From MIPCOM to Series Mania, from NATPE to Content London, she has observed the dynamics of international television first-hand, meeting creators, producers, broadcasters and executives who have contributed to shaping a new global storytelling ecosystem. These encounters enrich the book with an authenticity and depth rarely found in publications of this kind.

Duranti offers both an Italian and international perspective, capturing not only the traditional leadership of the United States and the United Kingdom but also the emergence of new creative powers such as Spain, Turkey, South Korea, Scandinavia and Latin America. In doing so, she reconstructs the geography of a sector that has become increasingly interconnected, where stories travel fluidly from one cultural context to another, finding new life through adaptation and local reinterpretation. The book also sheds light on productions that many viewers may not know originated as scripted formats, such as the French series behind the global hit Call My Agent! or the Spanish format that inspired the Italian drama Il Professore starring Alessandro Gassmann.

“Scripted formats,” Duranti writes, “reflect the contemporary world and its most meaningful connections. They show that stories, even when deeply rooted in a specific culture, can speak universally. A format is one of the most powerful tools for transmitting emotions and values across borders.”


About the author
Founder of Formatbiz, the bilingual industry publication that has become a key reference point for international format analysis and market trends, Duranti continues to collaborate with major Italian production companies and renowned institutions. She teaches in the master’s program “Fare TV” at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. As an active member of FRAPA, WAWA and the International Emmy Awards, she regularly speaks at conferences and industry panels dedicated to the evolution of global television.
Gli scripted format is a valuable resource for producers, broadcasters, students, researchers and anyone interested in understanding how contemporary television is made, adapted and reinvented across the world. Through a clear and engaging narrative, Duranti offers a rare panoramic view of the mechanisms, creative processes and industrial strategies that have transformed scripted formats into one of the most dynamic engines of today’s global entertainment industry.

For more information:
www.formatbiz.it
https://www.carocci.it/prodotto/gli-scripted-format