ITV

Category: Hollywood

  • ‘Interstellar’ grosses $621 million plus at the worldwide box office

    ‘Interstellar’ grosses $621 million plus at the worldwide box office

    BENGALURU:  Paramount Pictures (Paramount) and Warner Bros Pictures (WB) critically acclaimed film Interstellar has surpassed US$ 621 million (about Rs 3900 crore) at the worldwide box office to date says Viacom.

     

    Further, the movie has surpassed US$100 million (about Rs 620 crore) in Imax Theatres worldwide since its release on 5 November, marking the fourth time an Imax film has crossed the US$100 million threshold.

     

    Continuing the legacy begun by Nolan and his use of the 15 perf 65mm Imax cameras in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, more than an hour of Interstellar was shot using Imax cameras. Exclusively in Imax theatres, these sequences expand to fill the entire screen and deliver unprecedented crispness and clarity and provide audiences with a truly cinematic and immersive experience. Sequences of Interstellar shot in 35mm film have been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The Imax Experience with proprietary Imax DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology.

     

    Directed by Christopher Nolan, Interstellar tells the story of a team of explorers that travel through a wormhole in an attempt to ensure humanity’s survival. The story is written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, and produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Lynda Obst and stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, John Lithgow and Michael Caine.

  • ‘Exodus’ dethrones ‘The Hunger Games’ at the box office

    ‘Exodus’ dethrones ‘The Hunger Games’ at the box office

    MUMBAI:  Exodus: Gods and Kings, which stars Christian Bale, in the lead has topped the U.S. box office with a whopping $24.5 million debut, leaving behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1, which had held the No. 1 position for the past three weeks. The Hunger Games, now it its fourth week, slid only 40 per cent, earning $13.2 million for a domestic total of $277.4 million.

     

    While reviews of Exodus were not all positive as the makers faced criticism for casting mainly Caucasian actors, Fox points out that Exodus’ opening weekend audience was quite diverse, which is promising for the film’s future. The audience was 54 per cent male, and 65 per cent were over 25 years of age. 20 per cent of the audience were African-American while 18 per cent Latino. Top grossing theaters ranged from major metropolitan cities to smaller towns such as San Antonio. Exodus also opened in several international territories, earning $43.3 million around the globe.

     

    Although December openings are known for their slower starts and longer burns, Exodus, which cost $140 million to make after tax breaks, has earned exactly what box office insiders had expected for the weekend. In the upcoming weeks, the movie will face strong competition from the forthcoming movies – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, family musical Annie, Disney’s Into the Woods and Fox’s threequel Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

     

  • Asha Bhosle receives Lifetime Achievement at DIFF

    Asha Bhosle receives Lifetime Achievement at DIFF

    MUMBAI: At the gala opening ceremony of the prestigious Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) held at the famous Madinat Theatre in Madinat Jumeirah Hotel Dubai, Asha Bhosle received the lifetime achievement award for her outstanding contribution to music through hands of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makhtoom.

     

    Bhosle has been earlier honoured as the ‘most recorded artist in music history’ by the Guinness Book of World Records, and also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2000) and the Padma Vibhushan (2008) from the Indian government.

     

    Adding another award to her list of accolades, Bhosle said, “I am delighted to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award from Dubai International Film Festival in Dubai – a place with long historic ties to my country.”

     

    In her acceptance speech, Bhosle, who also made her acting debut at the age of 80 in the 2013 film ‘Mai’, further added, “People while accepting awards thank their family, friends, pets, etc but I wish to here only thank my audience and my stars without which I would have never come so far in life.”

     

    On the popular demand by the audience, she crooned impromptu few lines of her popular “dil chiz kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye” and the evergreen classic “O mere sona re sona re sona” bringing the 3000 strong crowd at the Madinat Theatre in Jumeirah to standing ovation. 

     

    DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said, “Asha Bhosle is a stalwart of the Indian music industry and we are proud to honour her with this DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award. Her work has touched almost every corner of the world such a legend we heartily applause in DIFF.”

  • Anurag Kashyap on the jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015

    Anurag Kashyap on the jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015

    MUMBAI: Come January, celebrated filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will be seen as a part of the jury of an online French film festival – MyFrenchFilmFestival 2015. Kashyap, who is known for all things niche – especially the films he makes and likes to watch – was a part of the festival’s international jury last year.

     

    Bringing the young generation of French filmmakers to the rest of the world, the festival will feature 10 French feature films and 10 French shorts. Beginning from 16 January 2015, the month long online festival will have these films available for viewing to Indian users who can visit VoD platform www.halfticket.tv to catch all the films, free of cost.

     

    “If there is any language I would learn, it will be French,” said the Dev-D director while talking about his love for French cinema and the upcoming film festival. “The people in France, they support cinema, and the liberation from the moral codes in France makes me envious. French films have always taught me to be brutally honest without any fear. I will never miss any chance to watch any film, being a jury is just an excuse to watch all the films of these new filmmakers. And last year I was a jury of MyFrenchFilmFestival in France so why not now in India?”

     

    While talking about the reaction he expects from these films being made available free of cost in India, Kashyap quipped, “I expect the traffic is so much that the VoD platform Halfticket.tv crashes, and after MyFrenchFilmFestival they have to rebuild their website to show more French and international films.”

  • Debra Messing gets Shining Star award in the Bahamas Filmfest

    Debra Messing gets Shining Star award in the Bahamas Filmfest

    NEW DELHI: American film and television actress Debra Messing, who is often compared to fellow redhead and physical comedienne Lucille Ball, has been honoured as the Shining Star at the ongoing Bahamas International Film Festival.

     

    The Festival also screened her film Like Sunday Like Rain. The Bahamas International Film Festival is dedicated to providing the local community and International visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world, educational programmes, and forums for exploring the future of cinema.

     

    Immediately following its 10th annual festival, the Bahamas International Film Festival will travel to Eleuthera for a continuation of this year’s celebration to be known as ‘The Best of the Fest Eleuthera’. During its visit to Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour, a full programme of films and festivities will be offered including daily film screening at Seagrapes, Harbour Island and the Globe Princess Theater in Governor’s Harbour and Closing Night Film and Farewell Party. Visiting Filmmakers will be on hand for panel discussions, seminars and training sessions.

     

    Messing landed her first television job in a recurring role on the hit drama NYPD Blue in 1994. Her career advanced steadily from there, with guest spots on shows such as Seinfeld and a series of film roles: Keanu Reeves’s wife in A Walk in the Clouds (1995), a bit part in Woody Allen’s Celebrity (1998), and Mary Magdalene in the miniseries Jesus. Messing took her first star turn as comedic lead Stacey Colbert in the sitcom Ned and Stacey, opposite Thomas Haden Church. The show ran from 1995 to 1999.

     

     In 1998, Messing landed the role that would make her a household name – that of Grace Adler, a neurotic interior decorator sharing an apartment with her gay best friend in the hit sitcom Will & Grace. Before accepting the role, Messing ensured she would have the freedom to make her character “funny and unusual in a way that tickled me and surprised me,” she recalled. “I didn’t want to be the pretty straight woman. I knew I would not be happy. I grew up watching Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett with curtain rods in her arms, falling down stairs. To me, that’s funny.” Will & Grace, one of the first major network programmes to feature gay characters in starring roles, was considered rather controversial at the time in the late nineties. But audiences immediately took to the brash banter between Messing and co-stars Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes. “As much as this is an extraordinary premise because two of the four main characters were gay and we’d never seen this before, it was really a universal theme and that was friendship,” Messing said of the show’s success. The show remained a popular staple of NBC’s prime-time lineup for eight seasons.

     

    When Will & Grace was not filming, Messing continued to act in movies. She took roles in The Mothman Prophecies, Along Came Polly and The Wedding Date. She also played Woody Allen’s girlfriend in the famed director’s 2002 film Hollywood Ending, a role she viewed as a dream job. “I erupted!” Messing said, recalling the call from her agent telling her that Allen wanted her for the part. “This scream came from the lower depths of my body. I don’t know how I didn’t get into a car accident. It was as if I went blind for a minute with joy and shock.” 

  • US$100 million media fund launched at the Singapore Media Festival

    US$100 million media fund launched at the Singapore Media Festival

    MUMBAI: During the Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore, a US$100 million media fund was jointly launched to enhance China’s media and entertainment industry.

     

    The memorandum of understanding was signed by three parties namely China film industry tycoon Yu Dong, private equity firm Tembusu founder and chairman of NASDAQ-listed Bona Film, Singapore PE fund Tembusu Partners and local media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng.

     

    Minister for culture, community and youth and the second minister for communications and information, Lawrence Wong was also present at the occasion to witness the launch.

     

    The Singapore-based private equity media fund will be the first such non-reminbi dominated fund to invest in China’s media and entertainment Industry. It will be based in Singapore and will leverage on the country’s legal framework and status as a financial hub to attract investors from and outside the region. The US$100 million closed-end five-year media fund will be formalised on 31 March 2015, with fund raising to begin shortly after. Anchor investors are likely to include Bona Film Group as well as Thailand’s Chia Tai Group. The fund will focus on the Chinese market, home to the fastest growing media industry in the world. It will target media companies, content and technologies as investment targets. The promoters will also promote international cooperation opportunities between China and countries such as Singapore and the United States through co-productions or joint-ventures.

     

    Yu Dong commented, “Singapore is the perfect place to launch this fund as it is not only a financial capital of the world, but also as the place where East meets West. This fund will allow foreign investors to participate in the fastest growing media and entertainment market in the world. China’s media and entertainment industry is forecast to overtake Japan’s by 2018, and become the second-largest in the world, behind only the US. It is already the second-largest film market in the world, and China’s TV industry is set to surpass the UK and Germany by 2016 to also become the second-largest behind the UKThis phenomenal growth in China will create many exciting investment opportunities.”

     

    Tembusu Partners chairman Andy Lim said, “Tembusu Partners is proud to partner Yu Dong and Calvin Cheng in taking advantage of the exciting opportunities of the Chinese media and entertainment industry. Now investors in and outside the region will be able to participate in the exciting growth of this industry.”

     

    Calvin Cheng, who put the deal together, said, “I am excited about the establishment of this fund in Singapore and the boost it will bring to Singapore’s media industry. The existing Film and TV co-production agreement between Singapore and China opens up opportunities for the Fund to invest in projects that involve Singapore-based media companies. In addition, we will be looking at media companies globally that have a ‘China-story’; with the convergence of traditional media with the internet, there will be many exciting new opportunities that will emerge from the vast Chinese landscape, and we will be looking to invest in the best of them. ”

     

     “The establishment of this media fund in Singapore is a testament to the country’s position as a regional centre for the financing, production, management and distribution of compelling content. This fund will create an opportunity for Singapore’s media companies and talent to participate in the fast-growing media market in China,” said MDA assistant chief executive (Industry) Angeline Poh.

     

    “We are glad that the partners have chosen to launch the fund at the Singapore Media Festival (SMF) as we strive to establish SMF as the choice platform in Asia to foster international media partnerships and deals,” she said.

  • Revolution wins the Green award at the 2nd Voices from the Waters

    Revolution wins the Green award at the 2nd Voices from the Waters

    NEW DELHI: Eminent British filmmaker Rob Stewart’s film Revolution has won the Green award at the 2nd Voices from the Waters held in Sweden.

     

    Commenting on the film which has already won more than 50 awards, the jury said: “The Green Award goes to Revolution, an inspiring film about humans’ destructive impact on the environment, which bereaves all life in the ocean a future. We get to follow Rob Stewart on his travel around the globe to try to find an answer on what that has to be done to save the planet. He meets environmental activists and visionaries and their fight is inspirational. Something has to be done and we have to engage our self in the ocean. Revolution is a strong story about an uncertain future, which with the tools of film, activates and moves us.”

     

    A true life adventure following director Rob Stewart in the follow up to his smash hit Sharkwater, Revolution is an epic adventure into the evolution of life on earth and the revolution to save us.

     

    Discovering that there is more in jeopardy than sharks, Stewart uncovers a grave secret threatening our own survival as a species, and embarks on a life-threatening adventure through four years and 15 countries into the greatest battle ever waged.

     

    The film brings some of the most incredible wildlife spectacles ever recorded and audiences are brought face to face with sharks and cuddly lemurs, into the microscopic world of the pygmy seahorse, and on the hunt with the deadly flamboyant cuttlefish. From the coral reefs in Papua New Guinea to the rainforests in Madagascar, Stewart reveals that all of our actions are interconnected.

     

    Through it all, Stewart’s journey of encouragement and hope meets activists and individuals all over the world that are winning the battle to save the ecosystems we depend on for survival.

    Presenting the most important information on human survival and inspiring people all over the world to fight for life, Revolution is essential viewing for everyone. Startling, beautiful, and provocative, Revolution inspires audiences across the globe to start a revolution and change the world forever.

     

    Revolution premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has already gone on to win numerous awards, including the audience award for best documentary at the Atlantic Film Festival, most popular environmental film award at the Vancouver International Film Festival, the audience award at the Victoria Film Festival and the social justice award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. 

  • Daniel Craig to return as James Bond 007 for fourth time in ‘Spectre’

    Daniel Craig to return as James Bond 007 for fourth time in ‘Spectre’

    NEW DELHI: The 24th James Bond adventure ‘Spectre’ will feature Daniel Craig in his fourth film as Ian Flemings James Bond 007.

     

    Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and directed by Sam Mendes, the film is all set to begin production.

     

    This announcement was made at 007 Soundstage, Pinewood Studios in London. The film, from Albert R. Broccolis EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment begins principal photography on 8 December and is set for global release on 6 November next year.

     

    The other cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear as well as introducing Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Andrew Scott.

     

     Mendes also revealed Bonds sleek new Aston Martin, the DB10, created exclusively for ‘Spectre.’

     

    A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind ‘Spectre.’

     

    The 007 production will be based at Pinewood Studios, and on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud, in Morocco.  Bond will return to the snow once again, this time in Sölden, along with other Austrian locations, Obertilliach, and Lake Altaussee.

     

    Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, “We’re excited to announce Daniel’s fourth installment in the series and thrilled that Sam has taken on the challenge of following on the success of Skyfall.”

     

    Written by John Logan and Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, director of photography for the film is Hoyte van Hoytema and editor is Lee Smith. Production designer Dennis Gassner returns along with costume designer Jany Temime and composer Thomas Newman. Action Specialist Alexander Witt is the 2nd unit director. Stunt coordinator is Gary Powell, special effects supervisor is Chris Corbould, and visual effects supervisor is Steve Begg.

     

    Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond film, was a worldwide box office phenomenon, opening #1 in 70 territories around the world, taking over $1.1 billion worldwide and setting a new all-time box office record in the UK by becoming the first film to take over ?100 million.

     

    The launch of Spectre was streamed live on 007.com <http://007.com/> and Facebook.com/JamesBond007, and the video is now available on demand at both sites.

     

    Promotional partners returning to the Bond franchise include Aston Martin, Bollinger, Heineken, Jaguar Land Rover, Omega, Sony Electronics, and Sony Mobile.

     

    James Bond is the longest running, and one of the most successful franchises of all time, with twenty-three films produced and the twenty-fourth about to go in to production. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli succeeded Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and have produced the past seven Bond films together, including the highly successful Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. All of the James Bond films have been made in collaboration with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios or United Artists, its predecessor.

  • Malaysia-Singapore co-production gets funds at Golden Horse in Taipei

    Malaysia-Singapore co-production gets funds at Golden Horse in Taipei

    NEW DELHI:  The Malaysia-Singapore co-production The Era of Farewell has won the Grand Prize at the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP) in Taipei. Based on the novel by Li Zi Shu, Era is the multi-generational tale of a gang boss’s wife who fights for her own independence. Director Adric Chong receives a NT$1 million (US$32,300) cash prize.

     

    Juror Lee Lieh said that although Chong’s original treatment was problematic, he was awarded based on the strength of his short films and a revised synopsis. The film, budgeted at US$1.6 million, has yet to secure any financing. Three films won two prizes: Midi Z’s The Road to Mandalay, Maisy Choi’s Have a Nice Trip and Kuo Cheng-chui’s For?t Debussy.

     

    Mandalay, about illegal immigrants in Bangkok, won two prizes: The Pixelfly Digital Award and the inaugural Taipei New Horizon Screenplay Award, valued at NT$400,000 (US$12,900). It has raised US$100,000 of its US$750,000 budget.

     

    Trip, about four elderly relatives visiting Japan, won The Hualien International Most Potential and Creative Award, valued at NT$300,000 (US$9,700), and the Modern Cinema Laboratory Award. Budgeted at US$1.85 million, it is produced by Hong Kong’s Amy Chin and Stanley Kwan.

     

    France-Taiwan co-production Debussy, about a mother and daughter who flee into a forest to escape a media scandal — won the CNC Cash Award and the TMPC Award. The CNC prize, valued at €10,000 (US$12,500) is for projects that have potential as French co-productions.

     

    Jenny Lu’s UK-Taiwan co-production The Receptionist won the Central Pictures Corporation Award for post-production. 2 Love Stories about Liang Liang, which has no director officially attached, won the CPC’s award for pre-production.

     

    Both Debussy and Receptionist are also recipients of government production subsidies that were announced by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture in July. Farewell the Good Old Days is set to be directed by Hong Kong’s Kevin CHU Ka-wang and Judy CHU — the duo behind indie drama I Sell Love — picked up the Moneff Award. The film will be Judy Chu’s directorial debut.

     

    Singapore’s A Small Place won the 3H Sound Studio Award. Packages from Daddy won the LAPCC Award. Notes of a Desolate Man, based on a novel by Chu Tien-wen, won the Arrow Award.

  • Hollywood see’s a return to Biblical-themed films with ‘Exodus: God and Kings’

    Hollywood see’s a return to Biblical-themed films with ‘Exodus: God and Kings’

    MUMBAI:  Ten Commandments, The Bible: In the Beginning, Ben-Hur, The Passion of Christ; Biblical themed movies have inspired many filmmakers to recreate medieval events on a grand scale.

    The latest in the offering is Exodus: Gods and Kings and as the name suggests the film is about the mass departure of the Hebrews from Egypt. The film stars Batman-turned-Moses Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul and Ben Kingsley. The 150 minute film is directed by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian.

    The plot revolves around the defiant leader Moses rising up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses played by   Edgerton. The first half is about Moses discovering he does not belong to the lineage of the Egyptians (he is raised as a brother to Ramses) and after a wakeup call from God, who is portrayed as a kid (Yes, as a kid who goes about guiding  Moses!), returns from exile to free his people and guide them to the promised land.

    While the storyline seems like old wine in new bottle, there are few new twists (spoilers ahead!).  Instead of Moses dipping his staff into the river of Nile, God sends monstrous crocodiles to destroy the river life, giving rise to multiple plagues that command most of the second half of the movie. And instead of the prophet’s staff that works miracles, it is a sword here.

    The movie ends with both Moses and Pharaoh surviving the parting of the Red Sea. The added 3-D effects definitely bring to life the old tale especially the mammoth animals that turn the blessed city of Egypt into a ruin.
    It is produced by 20th Century Fox studios.