Category: Hindi

MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company is deepening its relationship with Indian partner UTV Software Communications where it holds equity stake. The global media major has allowed UTV to handle sales and distribution of all of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures‘ Hollywood releases in India, handing over the task which was earlier handled by Sony Pictures.

MUMBAI: Warner Bros is set to re-release The Dark Knight across the US theatres on 23 January with an aim to take its box office collection past the $1 billion mark.

Warner Bros Pictures domestic distribution president Dan Fellman says, “The Dark Knight is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity to moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

The sequel to Batman Begins, which was named as one of the top 10 films of the year by The National Film Review Board, became the second-highest grossing movie in the US, earning $529.1 million. The film‘s gross collection is just behind Titanic, which became the highest grossing movie in the US, earning $600.8 million.

MUMBAI: The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has introduced two new awards for its Dubai Film Connection co-production market that aims to provide a platform for collaboration between Arab and international film industry professionals.

MUMBAI: Warner Bros’ Four Christmases, a comedy flick that was released on 26 November, has garnered an estimated amount of $18.2 million in its second week at the US box office.

The film, starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, had earned approximately $31.1 million during the first week at the box office.

Four Christmases, made at a production budget of $80 million, talks about the story of a couple who struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas day.

MUMBAI: Fox Star Studios is set to release Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle of The Beach fame, on 23 January in India.

“We will be releasing Slumdog Millionaire in India and Pakistan in January. While the film will hit the Indian theatres on 23 January, the release date in Pakistan has not been finalised yet,” said Fox Star Studios India CEO Vijay Singh.

The film, which won the People‘s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, is based on the book Q and A by Vikas Swarup, and is shot and set in India.

Slumdog Millionaire, with Dev Patel and Freida Pinto as stars, follows a young street beggar who appears on a game show and exceeds people‘s expectations, raising suspicions from the game show host and law enforcement. The film also stars Anil Kapoor as Prem Kumar, the game show host.

Slumdog Millionaire, released by Fox Searchlight in the US, has earned approximately $3.8 million at the North American box office.

MUMBAI: The Twilight star Kristen Stewart is set to play lead guitarist Joan Jett of ‘The Runaways’ in a biopic that is based on the all-girl rock‘n‘roll band of the 1970s.

The film, whose production is expected to begin in 2009, is written by Floria Sigismondi.

The biopic aims to focus on Jett and Currie (of ‘The Runaways’) and follow them from the band‘s spectacular rise to their dissolution and disillusionment.

Some of Stewart’s upcoming films include Welcome to the Rileys (2009) and the recently announced Twilight sequel New Moon (2010).

MUMBAI: New York-based Marvel Entertainment, which holds the rights of iconic characters like Spider-Man, Ironman, Hulk and X-men, is hunting for Indian properties to produce live action movies.

The plan also includes animated films and TV series. Says Marvel Entertainment International president Simon Philips, “We are looking at acquiring or licensing Indian superhero characters, which are popular among kids. The idea is to build Bollywood franchises and stories on Indian superheroes.”

Marvel Entertainment is in talks with several Indian superhero franchise owners. Some of the superheroes of Indian origin are Krrish, Drona, Shaktiman, Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruv and Doga.

Marvel Entertainment is also planning expansion in the Indian comics market with localised content. It has signed a deal with Spacetoon India to publish, distribute and market these in India.

The comic giant will add new offerings including Indianised versions of international superheroes – in both Hindi and English, in addition to its already existing English imports.

Last year, Marvel Entertainment had announced a tie up with Spacetoon Media’s subsidiary Kids Media India (KMI) for licensing, merchandising, publishing and promotions in India.

MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Pictures has named Erik Ellner as senior vice president business affairs.

Ellner‘s appointment continues to be the studio‘s focus on theatrical expansion under the direction of MGM worldwide motion picture group chairman Mary Parent.

Ellner will report to executive vice president business affairs Jonathan Bader.

“Erik is a respected industry veteran who understands the landscape of our business. Coupled with his love for film and superb work ethics, we are elated to have him as part of our growing team,” said MGM worldwide motion picture group chairman Mary Parent.

Ellner joins MGM following 14 years at New Line. During his tenure there as an executive, he oversaw deals on a number of projects including Four Christmases, The Golden Compass and Rush Hour.

Ellner is a graduate of Columbia University and UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law.

MUMBAI: Wildfire Films, a film production company, has launched in Austin, Texas.

Wildfire Films will now provide full-service development and production for feature films, television and new media. The company will take an active role in the development of the Texas film industry, with productions that will include a number of films that will support the diverse cultures the state offers, said an official release.

Wildfire Films‘ executive team has approximately 25 years of experience in the production of films for Hollywood. Anton Diether is a writer whose miniseries Moby Dick and Cleopatra received two Golden Globe and five Emmy nominations. Mark Hacker has written and been story editor for studios including Warner Brothers, 20th-Century Fox, MTV Films and Paramount Pictures. Leon Rodriguez has over 30 years of production experience for Sony, CBS and BBC, and he recently directed Sony/BMG‘s feature film Double Tap. Jesus Carrera is a production designer, known for his “artistic vision” in films such as 20th-Century Fox‘s Dragonball.

“Wildfire Films possesses the vision and integrity needed to succeed in the film industry. The company has a rich source of creativity and entertainment experience and comprises a proven team of writers and creators with a good sense for business,” said producer Fred Roos.

The company also aims to take an active role in the Texas Motion Picture Association and Austin Producers Association.

“The executives of Wildfire Films have made a commitment to improve the Texas film industry and help build the community they love. By selecting Austin as the location for Wildfire Films productions, the company can create films with a great depth of transparency, which is typically difficult to achieve in Hollywood,” said Starz Entertainment executive director of original series development and production Rob Markovich.

Wildfire is currently co-producing and developing 16 Minutes with Academy Award-winning producer Fred Roos and Overture Films. It is also producing two projects with Humble Journey Films. In addition, Wildfire Films is working on projects with Starz Entertainment, HBO, Creation Studios, NBC, CBS, Troublemaker Studios and Pinewood Studios Group near London.

Wildfire Films was created from four separate film production companies located in both Austin and Los Angeles.

MUMBAI: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision has incorporated four wholly owned subsidiaries – Shree Ashtavinayak Angel Media, Shree Ashtavinayak Dream Pictures, Shree Ashtavinayak Passion Movies and Shree Ashtavinayak Light Cameraaction.

The company, however, has not provided any details about what these subsidiaries will look after. The speculation is that they will address different genres. Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision MD Dhilin Mehta was not available for comment.

Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision specialises in the production, distribution and exhibition of films.

Some of the films that the company has produced in the past include Golmaal, Bhagam Bhag, Jab We Met and Kidnap.