ITV

Category: Hindi

  • Warner Bros closes down Picturehouse, Warner Independent

    MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Time Warner has decided to cease the operations of its independent studios, Picturehouse and Warner Independent Pictures.

    Warner Bros president and COO Alan Horn said, “With New Line now a key part of Warner Bros, we‘re able to handle films across the entire spectrum of genres and budgets without overlapping production, marketing and distribution infrastructures. After much painstaking analysis, this was a difficult decision to make, but it reflects the reality of a changing marketplace and our need to prudently run our businesses with increased efficiencies. We‘re confident that the spirit of independent filmmaking and the opportunity to find and give a voice to new talent will continue to have a presence at Warner Bros.”


    Bob Berney has served as president Picturehouse and Polly Cohen as president Warner Independent Pictures. The management teams from both companies will be meeting in the weeks ahead with executives from the Warner Bros Pictures Group.


    The meeting will be held to determine the status of projects in various stages of development and acquisition, as well as distribution of already-dated films.


    Warner Bros Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov said, “Working with Polly and her team at Warner Independent has been great for me personally and a valuable experience for the company. I‘d like to thank everyone at Warner Independent for their passion and dedication to independent films and filmmakers. They were involved with some very important films and helped further the talents and careers of a number of writers and directors, and between Warner Bros Pictures and New Line, we‘ll continue to nurture those relationships and produce those types of films.”


    Horn adds, “Bob is an incredibly talented film executive and made Picturehouse an important player in the world of independent film in a relatively short time. I‘m extremely grateful to Bob and the entire team at Picturehouse. Their accomplishments and the films they created speak volumes about their dedication to and understanding of the art of film.”


    Upcoming Picturehouse films include Mongol, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl and The Women. Warner Independent‘s upcoming releases include Towelhead and Slumdog Millionaire.

  • Asia Pacific Screen Awards to launch movie academy

    MUMBAI: The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSAs), along with Australian actor Jack Thompson, is set to launch its movie academy.

    APSAs, held in collaboration with UNESCO, FIAPF International Federation of Film Producers Associations and CNN International, attempts to acknowledge the cinematic excellence of Asia-Pacific films that best reflect their cultural origins.


    “One of the significant aims of the APSAs is to promote the films and filmmakers of the Asia-Pacific region to a global market and to develop new markets for their work,” said APSA chairman Des Power.


    All 65 nominees of the inaugural 2007 APSAs will now be inducted into the academy, with a similar number from 2008 to be inducted later this year. With this induction process, APSAs aims to establish a world-class body of Asia-Pacific filmmakers. In time to come, Academy members will have a voting influence on the Awards.


    “The Academy of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards is the next step in encouraging dialogue, collaboration and business opportunities for the region‘s filmmakers,” added Power.

  • Paramount Pictures sews deal with Sopranos creator for film

    MUMBAI: David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos, has inked a deal with Paramount Pictures to write, direct and produce his first feature film.


    The Sopranos is an Emmy Award-winning American television drama series created by David Chase.


    Paramount Studios chairman Brad Grey said, “David is one of the great storytellers of our time, and his debut as a filmmaker is both highly anticipated and long overdue. In truth, David has been creating cinematic-quality filmed drama for more than a decade – spanning nine seasons and 86 episodes of The Sopranos.”


    As a writer, producer and director, Chase‘s television career spans three decades and includes critically lauded shows as The Rockford Files, I‘ll Fly Away and Northern Exposure, apart from the telefilm Off the Minnesota Strip.

  • Universal to make film from BioShock video game

    MUMBAI: 2K Games, a US game company, has reached an agreement for video game BioShock to be developed as a feature film by Universal Pictures.


    2K Games, whose 2K Boston and 2K Australia studios developed BioShock, is a video game publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software.


    Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, is slated to direct and produce the BioShock movie. John Logan, who won Oscar nominations for writing Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd is in talks to do the screenplay.


    The expected release date and terms of the agreement were not disclosed. BioShock has sold approximately 2 million units worldwide since its release in August 2007. A sequel to the game, BioShock 2, is planned for a release in 2009.


    Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick said, “We are excited that 2K Games’ vision for BioShock will be carried forward in a new medium. BioShock has been hailed as one of the most highly cinematic and richly plotted titles in interactive entertainment, making it extremely well-suited to film. In partnering with Universal and Gore Verbinski, we have assembled a team that respects the uniqueness of BioShock and will translate it into a powerful movie experience.”


    “Our ability to attract a major studio and unparalleled creative team speaks volumes about the strength of our BioShock franchise. It also demonstrates how Take-Two is delivering value, based on our strategy of creating and owning our industry’s most powerful intellectual property,” Zelnick added.


    In the game after barely surviving a plane crash, the player lands in icy uncharted waters and discovers an undersea city called Rapture, a failed utopia whose citizens had embraced genetic engineering before the city descended into pure anarchy. Power and greed have run amok and the city has succumbed to civil war.


    2K Games, president Christoph Hartmann said, “BioShock fans appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, and our partnership with Gore Verbinski will introduce the world of Rapture to an even wider audience. In addition to his impressive body of work, Gore is an avid video gamer and true fan of BioShock. That was extremely important to us in deciding to move forward with this project.”


     

  • Xenon Pictures acquires Amexicano

    MUMBAI: Xenon Pictures has acquired North American rights to Amexicano, starring 2008 Grammy nominee Jennifer Pena, in a mid-six figure deal. The film is slated for a summer release.


    Amexicano, helmed by Matthew Bonifacio, made its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and recently won the Grand Jury Prize for best narrative feature at the 2008 Sonoma Valley Film Festival.


    The film also stars Manny Perez (Bella, El Cantante), newcomer Raul Castillo, and Carmine Famiglietti, who has also written the film.


    Famiglietti and Bonifacio are the producers of the film through their production company, The Brooklyn-Queens Experiment, in association with Madison Park Pictures. Cesar A Baez and Stephen Ashkinos are the executive producers of the film.

    “We wanted to put a face on the undocumented day laborers in America,” said Bonifacio.


    “With the coming presidential election, immigration is obviously going to be a major issue. We feel Amexicano allows the audience to look at the face of an illegal alien and decide for themselves if our nation is making the right choices,” said Famiglietti.


    Adding further, Xenon chief operating officer Steve Housden said, “The political aspects of the film are certainly intriguing and mirror (in a very different way) those that made A Day Without a Mexican such a success for us. But just like with A Day Without a Mexican, Amexicano is enjoyable entertainment, rather than bare political discourse.”

  • Zee Talkies to release Manjrekar’s De Dhakka on 16 May

    MUMBAI: Zee Talkies is set to release Mahesh Manjrekar‘s latest venture, De Dhakka, pan Maharashtra on 16 May.


    Produced under Manjrekar‘s Satya films banner, the film has been directed by Sudesh Manjrekar and Atul Kale.


    “We have aquired all the rights to the film from Mahesh Manjrekar‘s Satya Films and will now be distributing, marketing and promoting the film all across Maharashtra,” said Zee Networks director of regional channels Nitin Vaidya.

    Written by Mahesh Manjrekar, De Dhakka stars Shivaji Satam, Makrand Anaspure, Siddarth Jadhav, Medha, Saksham Kulkarni and Gauri Vaidya.


    The movie has bagged two Maharashtra State awards in the best supporting actor and best singer category for Siddarth Jadhav and Arati Ankalikar respectively.

  • Caruso-Conte to produce The Adventures Of William Tell

    MUMBAI: Fred Caruso (Blue Velvet) and D Constantine Conte (The Presidio) are set to co-produce the film The Adventures Of William Tell.

    The project is worth $60 million under the Tell Productions banner.


    Motion picture rights have been acquired by Tell Productions to Friedrich von Schiller‘s 1805 work Wilhelm Tell from the University of Chicago Press.


    It is being co-financed by the Caruso/Conte 2010 Pan-European Fund, and there is also an independent equity financing.


    Pre-production stage of the film will begin from the fourth quarter of 2008. The film is slated for a 2010 release.


    Filming will take place in Lucerne and several other locations in the central region of Switzerland. Also, Swiss-native actress Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin has been cast to portray Tell‘s wife.


    The film is a medieval epic adventure, featuring the story of Tell forced to use his crossbow to shoot an apple off his son‘s head.


    Caruso said, “Everyone knows the story of William Tell and the apple. Yet few know the circumstances behind why Tell was forced to put his eldest son at such risk and what events were yet to unfold. William Tell was a hero well in advance of his time. After having met Urban Frye, Festival Director of the Rose d‘Or, it was obvious that Switzerland, in and of itself, would become an integral character of the film.”

  • Pyramid Saimira to distribute Jimmy in India

    MUMBAI: Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited, a part of the Pyramid Saimira group, is set to distribute Raj N Sippy‘s film Jimmy in India.


    Apart from releasing the film across the Pyramid Saimira Theatre chain pan India, it will also be distributing the film to other multiplexes nationwide.


    Also, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited will be releasing Jimmy in five other countries where it operates namely China, Malaysia, Singapore, UK and the US.


    The film stars Mimoh Chakraborty, son of actor Mithun Chakraborty, and Pretty Vivana.


    While the music of Jimmy has been scored by Anand Raj Anand, Nawman Malik and Salman Malik are the producers of the film.


    “We are very excited about launching the son of a legendary actor. Mithunda created a rave with his unique style and attitude and we hope that Mimoh does the same. This movie will definitely help us create sufficient visibility in the Hindi film industry as we look to create stronger roots in Bolluwood,” said Pyramid Saimira Group COO western region Purvi Shah.

  • Marcus Theatres to build a new theatre soon

    MUMBAI: Marcus Theatres has announced its plans to build a new theatre in the area presently known as “The Crossing” at US Highway, on the east side of Madison.

    Marcus Theatres, a division of The Marcus Corporation, is the seventh largest theatre circuit in the United States and currently operates 678 screens at 56 locations.


    The 26-acre site will accommodate the new theatre and any future expansion, as well as a variety of synergistic mixed-uses on the balance of the land. The company has also signed an agreement to sell the nearby Eastgate Cinema property to a Madison-based real estate company. The theatre will be razed and the site redeveloped for other use.


    “Marcus Theatres plans to build an entirely new state-of-the-art theatre and entertainment complex on the east side of Madison to replace the Eastgate. Expansion at the current site was possible, but after carefully evaluating all of our options, relocating and building a new theatre that includes other exciting entertainment and dining options made the most sense. We are currently in the process of due diligence and planning. The opening of our new location will coincide with the closing of the Eastgate, which could be sometime in late 2008 or early 2009. Following approvals with city planning, we expect construction could begin in 2008.” said Marcus Theatres president Bruce J. Olson.


    “The 2,900 seat entertainment destination will feature 16 stadium-seating auditoriums with digital sound and plush, adjustable back memory foam seats. To enhance the movie going experience even further, one of the auditoriums will include our signature 72-foot-wide UltraScreen and another auditorium will feature Digital 3D technology, allowing moviegoers to experience the vibrant quality and lifelike clarity of 3D images,” Olson added.


    Among other features, currently under consideration, are in-theatre dining, a family entertainment center, a movie-themed sports restaurant and bar and outdoor patio.


    “We are still in the preliminary planning stages for the new theatre and will announce additional design elements and amenities when all of the details are finalized. We look forward to offering the latest in technology and amenities to Madison within a completely new theatre and entertainment concept. The theatre will draw upon our experience in integrating food and beverage service into theatres, as well as creating a destination that will attract people from throughout the area,” Olson said.


    The financial details of both transactions were not disclosed.

  • Sony Pictures inks 3-film co-production deal with PNC

    MUMBAI: Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC) has signed a three-film deal with Sony Pictures.

    These films will be made in India as a co-production between PNC and Sony Pictures, stated an official release from PNC.


    “Currently, the films are at a very initial stage. The budget of the films are yet to be finalised,” Sony Pictures India CEO Uday Singh told Indiantelevision.com.


    One of the these three is Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, which is an action film and is at the last stage of being finalised between the two companies.


    “The co-Production deal is a major breakthrough for Indian cinema and brings together Indian talent and international studio expertise to optimally exploit the global opportunities that exist for our kind of movies,” said PNC chairman Pritish Nandy.


    Recently, Sony Pictures had acquired the worldwide distribution rights to PNC‘s comedy film Meerabai Not Out.


    DQ Entertainment has acquired a 50 per cent stake in the film, which is slated to release this summer.