ITV

Category: International

  • Quentin Tarantino mulls rewriting history in next

    Quentin Tarantino mulls rewriting history in next

    MUMBAI: Following the success of his film Django Unchained, director Quentin Tarantino has said that he wants to make another film in which ‘history is re-written‘.

    It has been reported Tarantino is planning the new film in the style of Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds. “This rewritten history theme begs a trilogy, it begs to have a third movie on this theme. I haven`t decided about what yet, but I wouldn`t be surprised to do another,” he has been quoted.

    Tarantino won the award for best original screenplay at the BAFTA awards.

  • Argo wins BAFTA award

    Argo wins BAFTA award

    MUMBAI: Iran hostage drama Argo won three awards including best-picture, at yesterday‘s British Academy Film Awards.

    Ben Affleck was named best director for the film based on a real story of a long shot plan to rescue a group of American diplomats from Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the film also took the editing trophy.

    Quipped George Clooney, one of the producers of Argo,”I don‘t know what you‘re going to do for a third act.”

    Daniel Day-Lewis won the best-actor trophy for Lincoln – the only prize out of 10 nominations for Steven Spielberg‘s historical biopic. Emmanuelle Riva, the 85-year-old French film legend, was named best actress for Michael Haneke‘s poignant old-age portrait Amour. It also was named best foreign-language film.

    On the other hand, Les Miserables won four awards including best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway. James Bond adventure Skyfall won trophies for best music and best British film.

    Meanwhile, Suraj Sharma, who was nominated in the EE Rising Star Award for his role on Life Of Pi, lost the trophy to actress Juno Temple. Juno, the actress of The Atonement was clearly more popular than Sharma as the rising star trophy is the only award at BAFTA that is decided by public vote.

  • Die Hard sequel collects $10.1 million in first weekend

    Die Hard sequel collects $10.1 million in first weekend

    MUMBAI: Box-office receipts of 20th Century Fox‘s release of A Good Day To Die Hard, that was released in limited outlets, was the highlight of a sluggish session on the foreign theatrical circuit despite Sony‘s Django Unchained remaining No. 1 overseas for the fourth consecutive weekend.

    Springing a jump on its US and Canada bow this week, the fifth installment of the action franchise starring Bruce Willis opened over the weekend in just seven Asian markets and managed to draw in $10.1 million at 1,102 locations for a per-screen average of over $9,000.

    In South Korea, the opening take including previews was $4.2 million from 459 sites. The film set a Fox record in Indonesia and set a franchise record in Hong Kong ($1.2 million at 87 spots).

    Over a 25-year span the four prior Die Hard titles all starring Willis have made money overseas grossing $694.6 million, while the second sequel of the franchise, 1995‘s Die Hard With A Vengeance roped in $264.5 million.

    The 1988 original Die Hard drew $57.8 million in offshore box office, with the first sequel, 1990‘s Die Hard 2, grossing $122.5 million. The last sequel, 2007‘s Live Free or Die Hard, completed its foreign run with box office of $249.7 million.

    Meanwhile, director Quentin Tarantino‘s Unchained collected $18.7 million from 5,280 locations in 65 markets. The action westerner co starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo Di Caprio that has acquired as many as five Oscar nominations, has grossed a total of $187.1 million since its opening.

    In Germany, its best market, Unchained drew $3.9 million in its fourth round at 843 sites for a market total of $35.6 million while in France, the film has been at the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weeks with the latest weekend tally ($3.3 million) down around 33 per cent from that of the last weekend.

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins production in New York

    The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins production in New York

    MUMBAI: Columbia Pictures has said that the filming has begun on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in New York. The film is the first in the history of the franchise that will be filmed entirely in New York City and New York State.

    The sequel to last year‘s critical and box office hit The Amazing Spider-Man, the film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Shailene Woodley, Dane DeHaan, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, and Sally Field.

    In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, for Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), life is busy – between taking out the bad guys as Spider-Man and spending time with the person he loves, Gwen (Emma Stone), high school graduation can‘t come quickly enough.

    Peter hasn‘t forgotten about the promise he made to Gwen‘s father to protect her by staying away – but that‘s a promise he just can‘t keep. Things will change for Peter when a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), emerges, an old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, and Peter uncovers new clues about his past.

    The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner, with a previous draft by James Vanderbilt, and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are the producers.

    The film‘s key behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Dan Mindel, production designer Mark Friedberg, editors Pietro Scalia and Elliot Graham, and costume designer Deborah L. Scott.

    The latest chapter in the Spider-Man story is set for release in 3D on 2 May, 2014.

  • IMAX enters into expanded $200 million credit facility

    IMAX enters into expanded $200 million credit facility

    MUMBAI: Canadian giant screen exhibitor IMAX Corporation said t has entered into an amended senior secured credit facility for up to $200 million with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, with the participation of Export Development Canada (EDC), the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), HSBC Canada, and the National Bank of Canada.

    Wells Fargo serves as administrative agent, sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner on the transaction. The new facility replaces IMAX‘s previous $110 million facility with Wells Fargo and EDC and will permit IMAX to undertake up to $150 million in stock buybacks and dividends provided certain covenants are maintained.

    IMAX intends to use proceeds from the new facility to refinance the existing revolver and for general corporate purposes, such as funding its strategic initiatives, including its continued global expansion, ongoing working capital requirements, investments and capital expenditures. The maturity date of the new credit facility is 7 February, 2018, compared with a maturity date of 31 October, 2015, for the prior credit facility.

    Borrowings under the new credit facility will bear interest at the reduced spread of 1.50 per cent to 2 per cent above LIBOR, depending on maximum total leverage outstanding.

    “This new facility, coupled with the recurring cash generated by our business, will provide us with enhanced flexibility as we pursue our strategic initiatives and continue the global expansion of our business,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.

  • ACE names Spielberg as filmmaker of the year

    ACE names Spielberg as filmmaker of the year

    MUMBAI: Steven Spielberg will be honoured with the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at the American Cinema Editors‘ 63rd annual ACE Eddie Awards on 16 February.

    “Steven Spielberg is a cinematic treasure. For over four decades, he has been moving audiences around the world with his unique, powerful brand of storytelling. As one of the most successful directors in history, he has brought us beloved films, which have not only delighted us but have been indelibly woven into our cultural fabric,” the ACE Board of Directors said in a statement.

    Spielberg‘s latest film Lincoln is leading with 12 nominations at the upcoming Oscar awards, including the best picture and best director.

    ACE, the honorary society of film editors, comprises more than 700 editors working in film and television.

  • Antonio Banderas making love story with wife

    Antonio Banderas making love story with wife

    MUMBAI: Donning the director`s hat for a third time, Antonio Banderas is all set to direct a love story titled Akil that will star his wife Melanie Griffith.

    The 52-year-old actor producer will make Akil under the banner of his production house Green Moonbased in Malaga, Spainit is understood.

    Akil takes its title from the name of an African boy who reaches Spain in a small boat. Fleeing from the police, he takes shelter in the house of an American woman. The makers are searching for a boy who would play the character.

    “This is a love story between two completely different people — in age, attitude, religion, wealth — who end up being essential to each other,” Banderas has been quoted to have said.

    “My country, Spain, is in tremendous financial crisis. It`s very difficult to obtain funds to make a movie. I have conceived `Akil` so as not to depend on third-party funding,” he added.

    The shooting of the film depend on Banderas‘ other commitments in 2013. He has earlier directed Crazy in Alabama and Summer Rain.

  • Theron, Tatum, Gordon-Levitt to make appearances at Oscars

    Theron, Tatum, Gordon-Levitt to make appearances at Oscars

    MUMBAI: Hollywood‘s biggest night, The Oscars, will feature special appearances by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe at the upcoming Awards ceremony this month.

    Telecast producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said, “We are quite excited to have Charlize, Chan, Joe and Dan join us on the show. We are happy to feature them as special guests in our production.”

    This will be Gordon-Levitt, Radcliffe and Tatum‘s first time appearing on the Oscar show.

    They join a stellar list of previously announced Oscar presenters including ‘The Avengers‘ cast members Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo; returning 2011 Oscar winners Jean Dujardin, Christopher Plummer, Octavia Spencer and Meryl Streep; co-stars Mark Wahlberg and Ted; and musical performers including Adele, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand.

  • Lucas files for permission to sell $2 Billion in Disney shares

    Lucas files for permission to sell $2 Billion in Disney shares

    MUMBAI: According to a regulatory filing on the United States Securities And Exchange Commission the creator of the iconic series Star Wars George Lucas may be looking at selling the stock he received when selling Lucasfilm to Disney. A spokesperson on his behalf though countered the statement saying, “(he) does not currently have any plans” to sell.

    The regulatory filing signals his right to sell more than 37 million shares, amounting to all the stock he received when he sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $ four billion last year.

    Disney filed the Form S-3 Registration Statement on Wednesday, and a spokeswoman characterized it as a required formalization of Disney‘s acquisition of Lucasfilm. According to the filing, The George W. Lucas, Jr. Fourth Amended and Restated Living Trust could sell 37,076,679 million shares of Disney — amounting to about 2.1 percent of the company — “from time to time” until the trust no longer holds any of the stock.

    According to the filing the sale of stock could occur via “ordinary brokerage transactions or through any other means described in this prospectus.”

  • Life of Pi wins 3 awards at 3D Creative Arts Awards

    Life of Pi wins 3 awards at 3D Creative Arts Awards

    MUMBAI: Ang Lee‘s Life of Pi took away three awards at the recently held International 3D Society‘s 3D Creative Arts Awards. The adventure flick came out winner in the categories for best live-action 3D feature, best stereography in a live-action film and 3D moment of the year for “fish flying over boat”.

    The other winners at the awards included Pixar‘s Brave, which received a pair of awards for best animated 3D feature and best stereography in an animated feature; The Avengers, for best use of 2D to 3D conversion; and Katy Perry: Part of Me, for best motion picture live event.

    DreamWorks Animation was honored with the Sir Charles Wheatstone Award for education and distinguished achievement for its body of work, including How to Train Your Dragon and Puss in Boots. The Century Award went to Panasonic for its support of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games 3D broadcasts from London.

    In the television category winners included 3net for best documentary for Sky Soldier – The Vietnam War in 3D; ESPN for best live sports broadcast for its 3D telecast of the 2012 BCS College Championship game and the Britney Spears: Femme Fatale Tour 3D concert telecast for best 3DTV entertainment. Universal Studios Hollywood was also honoured for best themed attraction for Transformers: The Ride.

    Lee also received the Harold Lloyd Filmmaker Award, which was presented by Lloyd‘s granddaughter, Suzanne Lloyd, and society co-chairman 3net CEO Tom Cosgrove.