ITV

Category: Hollywood

  • Two funding agencies to jointly promote children’s cinema at BIFF

    Two funding agencies to jointly promote children’s cinema at BIFF

    NEW DELHI: The Netherlands Film Fund and the MDM, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH, have established a co-development fund to jointly support script development for original children’s film projects.

     

    Children’s films have always played a major role within the policy of both funds. By joining forces the funds aim to develop and coproduce high quality stories for children that will find their audience in both countries and beyond.

     

    MDM director Manfred Schmidt and Netherlands Film Fund CEO Doreen Boonekamp launched the initiative at the Berlinale co-production market at the International Film Festival Berlin. The initiative reinforces the recently signed coproduction treaty between Germany and the Netherlands in order to enhance the collaboration and coproduction between the two countries.

     

    Proposals for original, live action feature films for children in the age groups 4-6, 6-9 and 9-12 years old are eligible. The film projects should be about contemporary matters and are to be told from the perspective of children. There are no limitations regarding style or genre.

     

    Priority will be given to projects that already have a co-producer or co-writer attached from Germany or the Netherlands. Applications should originate from the Netherlands or from the region of Mitteldeutschland (Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thueringen).

     

    The initial budget of the fund amounts up to € 100,000, each party contributing € 50,000. Projects will be selected by a selection committee existing of the CEOs of both funds or their representatives. The first application date for the new fund is 14 April 2015.

     

    In the past years several German Dutch children’s films were developed and produced like Supernova (2013, script writer, director Tamar van den Dop, production: Revolver Amsterdam (NL) in co-production with IJswater Films (NL) Coin Film (DE) and Epidemic (BE), Tony Ten (2012, script writer Mieke de Jong, director Mischa Kamp, production Lemming Film (NL), in co-production with Heino Deckert Ma.ja.de. (DE) and Lepel (2004, script writer Mieke de Jong, director Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen, production Lemming Film (NL), in co-production with: Egoli Tossel Films (DE).

  • Lady Gaga to perform at the Oscars

    Lady Gaga to perform at the Oscars

    MUMBAI: Six-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Lady Gaga will make a special tribute performance at the 87th Oscars.

     

    “Lady Gaga is a once in a lifetime artist who’s musical evolution keeps growing. We are proud to have her perform on the Oscars for the very first time,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

     

    Since breaking in 2008, Lady Gaga has sold over 27 million albums, 130 million singles, and over 4 million tickets globally to her award-winning live performances. Lady Gaga has won a total of six Grammy Awards – her most recent this week for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Cheek To Cheek, her 2014 collaboration with Tony Bennett, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

     

    The 87th Oscars will be held on 22 February, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. It will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.

  • Weinstein Company acquires ‘The Eichmann Show’

    Weinstein Company acquires ‘The Eichmann Show’

    MUMBAI: The Eichmann Show starring Martin Freeman (Hobbit, Sherlock) has been acquired by the Weinstein Company for the US.

     

    Co-produced by India’s Sheetal Talwar (Vistaar Film Fund) with BBC and Laurence Bowen and Ken Marshall of Feelgood Fiction from the UK, the film directed by Paul Andrew Williams recounts the global transmission of the trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the major organisers of the Holocaust, which was broadcast to over 37 countries.

     

    Bowen felt that the extraordinary story of how the Eichmann trial came to be televised and shown around the world has never been told. “By allowing Holocaust survivors to share their stories with a huge viewing audience, it unblocked whole strata of shame and denial. It literally changed history. We believe the BBC, Vistaar and Goldfinch helped us put together a project we are all extremely proud of.”

     

    The deal of the Weinsteins boarding the film was announced at the start of the 65th Berlin Film Festival’s market (EFM), and was struck by Content Media, the sales agency representing the film.

     

    Vistaar Film Fund managing director Talwar said, “We are extremely thrilled to have someone like the Weinstein’s who understand quality cinema on board. It only bolsters our faith that good cinema will always find good partners.”

  • George Lucas is Hollywood’s richest movie mogul

    George Lucas is Hollywood’s richest movie mogul

    MUMBAI: In the run up to the Academy Awards on 22 February, Wealth-X has released a list of the top 10 richest individuals in the American film industry. George Lucas tops the list with $5.4 billion as the wealthiest Hollywood tycoon.

     

    Lucas is the director and producer of the Star Wars blockbuster films. His fortune of $5.4 billion is mostly derived from revenue from the Star Wars franchise and the sale of LucasFilm to Disney for $4 billion in 2012.

     

    Unlike other directors and producers, Lucas, 70, banked on one film idea, directing only six feature films over the course of his career – four of which were Star Wars movies.

     

    In contrast, Steven Spielberg – who ranks third on the Wealth-X list with an estimated fortune of $3.3 billion–has directed more than 30 feature films, including classics such as ET, Jaws and Jurassic Park.

     

    All 10 individuals on the Wealth-X Hollywood Rich List are male film producers and directors. Collectively, they control more than $20 billion of personal wealth.

     

    The complete list of the richest movie moguls in Hollywood is as follows: 

     

    1) George Lucas – $5.4 billion (Star Wars films)

    2) Arnon Milchan – $5.2 billion (Pretty Woman, 12 Years A Slave)

    3) Steven Spielberg – $3.3 billion (ET, Jaws)

    4) Austin Hearst – $1.9 billion (The Vow)

    5) Ryan Kavanaugh – $1 billion (The Social Network, Little Fockers)

    6) Jeffrey Katzenberg – $910 million (The Lion King, Shrek)

    7) Thomas Tull – $870 million (The Hangover, 300)

    8) Jerry Bruckheimer – $850 million (Top Gun, Pirates of The Caribbean)

    9) Steve Tisch – $720 million (Forrest Gump)

    10) James Cameron – $670 million (Avatar, Titanic)

  • Jennifer Hudson to perform at the 87th Oscars

    Jennifer Hudson to perform at the 87th Oscars

    MUMBAI: Oscar and Grammy-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson will be performing on the 87th Oscars.

     

    “We’re creating several musical sequences for the Oscars and we couldn’t be happier that our friend, Jennifer Hudson, will be performing in one of them,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

     

    Hudson won the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for the 2006 film Dreamgirls. Her other acting credits include Sex and the City (2008), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Winnie Mandela (2013) and The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013). 

     

    Hudson’s self-titled debut album won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and was certified Gold, as was her second album, I Remember Me. This year she was nominated for Best R&B Performance for the song It’s Your World, from her 2014 album, JHUD.

     

    The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will be held on 22 February.

  • Oscars unveils stellar line-up of presenters

    Oscars unveils stellar line-up of presenters

    MUMBAI: This year’s Oscars will see a stellar line-up of presenters. 

     

    From Josh Hutcherson, Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldana, Octavia Spencer, Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey to Lupita Nyong’o, the who’s who of Hollywood will take to the stage to present various awards this year.

     

    Cotillard, Cumberbatch, Streep, Winfrey and Witherspoon have all been nominated for the Oscars this year. Cotillard is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for Two Days, One Night. She previously won an Oscar in this category for La Vie en Rose (2007). On the other hand, Cumberbatch is nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for The Imitation Game.

     

    Streep earned a record 19th acting nomination this year for her supporting role in Into the Woods. She previously took home Oscars for her lead performances in Sophie’s Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011), and her supporting performance in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). Streep’s previous Best Actress nominations were for The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), Silkwood (1983), Out of Africa (1985), Ironweed (1987), A Cry in the Dark (1988), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), One True Thing (1998), Music of the Heart (1999), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Doubt (2008), Julie & Julia (2009) and August: Osage County (2013). She also received Best Supporting Actress nominations for The Deer Hunter (1978) and Adaptation (2002).

     

    Winfrey is nominated for Best Picture as one of the producers of Selma. She was previously nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role for The Color Purple (1985). She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011.

     

    Witherspoon is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for Wild. She previously won an Oscar in this category for the 2005 movie Walk the Line.

     

    Additionally, last year’s Oscar winners Blanchett, Leto, McConaughey and Nyong’o will also be seen presenting awards this year. “The great tradition of having the previous year’s Oscar-winning best actors and actresses in all four categories happily continues this year with the amazing quartet of Cate, Jared, Matthew and Lupita. We’re thrilled to have them back,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

     

    Blanchett has been nominated for six Oscars and has won two, including last year’s award for Blue Jasmine. Her previous win was for Actress in a Supporting Role for the 2004 film The Aviator. Blanchett also received leading actress nominations for Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), and supporting actress nominations for Notes on a Scandal (2006) and I’m Not There (2007).

     

    Last year, Leto won the Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role and McConaughey for Actor in a Leading Role, both for Dallas Buyer’s Club. Nyong’o took home the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for 12 Years a Slave.

     

    The Oscars will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and will be held on 22 February.

  • Anna Kendrick to perform at 87th Oscars

    Anna Kendrick to perform at 87th Oscars

    MUMBAI: Actress and singer Anna Kendrick will make a special appearance at the 87th Oscars. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will be held on 22 February.

     

    “Out of the woods and on to the Oscar stage, Anna will be performing something special that is sure to be an “Only on the Oscars” moment,” said show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

     

    Kendrick was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in the 2009 film Up in the Air. Her other film credits include Into the Woods (2014), Pitch Perfect (2012) and the Twilight film series. In 1998, at the age of 12, Kendrick was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for High Society. She will star in the films The Last Five Years, The Hollars and Pitch Perfect 2 later this year.

  • Sam Smith wins the ‘Record of the Year’ at Grammy Awards 2015

    Sam Smith wins the ‘Record of the Year’ at Grammy Awards 2015

    MUMBAI: Sam Smith dominated the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, which was held on 8 February, 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

     

    Smith swept the top honours for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album for his smash hit song Stay With Me.

     

    Pharrell Williams beat Smith in the Best Pop Solo Performance category while Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament scored the Best Recording Package.

     

    Beyoncé took back home the honour for the Best Surround Sound album and closed the night with a powerful performance of Take My Hand Precious Lord.

     

    Kristen Wiigg gave an electrifying dance performance with Sia, while Smith performed to his hit song – Stay With Me with Mary J. Blige. 

     

    The complete list of Grammy Awards 2015 winners are as follows:

     

    Record of the Year: Stay with Me (Darkchild Version), Sam Smith

     

    Album of the Year: Morning Phase, Beck

     

    Best New Artist: Sam Smith

     

    Song of the Year: Stay with Me, Sam Smith, songwriters Sam Smith, James Napier & William Phillips

     

    Best Pop Solo Performance: Happy, Pharrell Williams

     

    Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Say Something, A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera

     

    Best Pop Vocal Album: In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith

     

    Best Dance Recording: Rather Be, Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne

     

    Best Dance/ Electronic Album: Syro, Aphex Twin

     

    Best Country Album: Platinum, Miranda Lambert

     

    Best R&B Performance: Drunk in Love, Beyonce and Jay Z

     

    Best Rock Album: Morning Phase, Beck

     

    Best Rock Song: Ain’t It Fun, Paramore, songwriters Hayley Williams and Taylor York

     

    Best Rock Performance: Lazaretto, Jack White, songwriter Jack White

     

    Best Music Video: Happy, Pharrell Williams

     

    Best Alternative Music Album: St. Vincent, St. Vincent

     

    Best Urban Contemporary Album: G I R L, Pharrell Williams

     

    Best Country Song: I’m Not Gonna Miss You, Glen Campbell, songwriters Glen Campbell, Julian Raymond

     

    Best Country Solo Performance: Something in the Water, Carrie Underwood

     

    Best Country Duo/Group Performance: The Band Perry – Gentle On My Mind

     

    Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Cheek to Cheek, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

     

    Best Spoken Word Album: Diary of a Mad Diva, Joan Rivers

     

    Best Metal Performance: The Last in Line, Tenacious D

     

    Best Rap Album: Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP2

     

    Best Surround Sound Album: Beyoncé – Beyoncé

     

    Best Musical Theatre Album: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

  • BAFTA: Redmayne, Moore win top honours; ‘Lunchbox’ loses to Polish film

    BAFTA: Redmayne, Moore win top honours; ‘Lunchbox’ loses to Polish film

    MUMBAI: Held at the Royal Opera House in London on 8 February, 2015, the 68th edition of the annual British Academy of Film and Arts (BAFTA) awards was hosted by Stephen Fry in the presence of a string of international film celebrities.

     

    Eddie Redmayne and Julianne Moore received the top acting honours for their roles in The Theory Of Everything and Still Alice respectively. The American coming-of-age tale Boyhood won a BAFTA for ‘Best Film’ while the award for the ‘outstanding British Film’ went to The Theory Of Everything.

     

    India’s acclaimed movie, The Lunchbox was nominated for the foreign film category. It was competing with Russian drama, Leviathan, Brazilian-British adventure drama thriller film, Trash and Belgian drama Two Days, One Night but eventually Polish-Danish drama movie Ida, was named the winner in the category.

     

    Actress Nimrat Kaur, the leading lady of The Lunchbox looked lovely on the red carpet in a pink Georges Hobeika dress.

     

    Below is the complete list of BAFTA 2015 winners: 

     

    Film: Boyhood, Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland
     

    Director: Boyhood, Richard Linklater
     

    Leading Actor: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory Of Everything
     

    Leading Actress: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
     

    Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash
     

    Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
     

    Adapted Screenplay: The Theory Of Everything, Anthony Mccarten
     

    Animated Film: The Lego Movie, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
     

    British Short Animation: The Bigger Picture, Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka 
     

    British Short Film: Boogaloo And Graham, Brian J. Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney
     

    Cinematography: Birdman, Emmanuel Lubezki
     

    Costume Design: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Milena Canonero
     

    Documentary: Citizenfour, Laura Poitras
     

    EE Rising Star: Jack O’Connell
     

    Editing:Whiplash, Tom Cross
     

    Film not in the English Language: Ida, Pawel Pawlikowski, Eric Abraham, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczynska
     

    Make-Up And Hair: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon
     

    Original Music: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Alexandre Desplat
     

    Original Screenplay: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson
     

    Outstanding British Film: The Theory Of Everything, James Marsh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony Mccarten
     

    Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director or Producer: Stephen Beresford, David Livingstone,Pride
     

    Production Design: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock
     

    Sound: Whiplash, Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann
     

    Special Visual Effects: Interstellar, Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley

  • Tom Felton’s ‘Against The Sun’ to release on 6 March

    Tom Felton’s ‘Against The Sun’ to release on 6 March

    MUMBAI: Tom Felton, best known for the character of Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, stars in one of the most harrowing true stories of World War II called Against The Sun. The movie is all set to release in India on 6 March, 2015.

     

    Against The Sun is the story of three US Navy Airmen who crash land their torpedo bomber in the South Pacific and find themselves on a tiny life raft, surrounded by open ocean. No food. No water. No hope of rescue.

     

    Against incredible odds, these virtual strangers must survive storms, sharks, starvation and each other as they sail more than a thousand miles to safety.

     

    Felton, who was looking for a challenge after literally growing up in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts, said, “It’s a very unique film in that its only three characters and the film stays with these three characters the entire way, there are no set changes or anything like that. That presents a challenge for any actor or filmmaker. Anything that seems challenging right now is a good thing.”

     

    The film also stars Garret Dillahunt, who essays the role of Navy pilot Harold Dixon. “I liked the physical challenge of what it represented. And honestly, it was a little more serious of a diet than I thought. When we spoke, we all thought, well I’ll lose a little bit and then make-up will help us out because we will never be able to get as skinny as those guys really were. But then when I got (to the studio) and there was a nutritionist, I was like ‘oh this is serious – you want us to lose a pound a day’,” said Dillahunt.

     

    The third leg of the trio is played by Jake Abel. “I’ve done a lot of genre work, franchise work and there’s been specific reasons to do those because of the filmmakers and the people involved and I’ve been so wanting something more contained and based in the real world where I’m not having to twist the mustache — and to work with a filmmaker who’s really hungry. And I never want to leave the genre world for good, its treated me so well and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, but I’m very happy for the introduction of period dramas and biopics,” added Abel.

     

    Against The Sun is an Aghor Raj Productions’ Presentation. The company also makes its foray into the field of distribution with this film.