ITV

Category: International

  • Lionsgate reports Q1 loss of $44.2 mn

    Lionsgate reports Q1 loss of $44.2 mn

    MUMBAI: US film and entertainment studio Lionsgate has reported revenue of $471.8 million, adjusted EBITDA of $17.1 million, and net loss of $44.2 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2012. The loss was in part due to theatrical marketing costs.
    Revenue in the first quarter increased by 81 per cent compared to $261.3 million in the prior year quarter, driven by the North American theatrical revenue of ‘The Hunger Games‘ and the films ‘Cabin In The Woods‘ and ‘What To Expect When You‘re Expecting‘ as well as revenue gains in the company‘s home entertainment business.
    Adjusted EBITDA of $17.1 million and EBITDA of $(13.4) million in the first quarter compared to EBITDA of $28.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $27.5 million in the prior year quarter and net loss of $(44.2) million in the first quarter compared to net income of $10.3 million in the prior year quarter due in part to an increase of $90 million in theatrical marketing costs associated with five releases in the quarter (including four wide releases) compared to one release in the prior year quarter.
    The company noted that all five releases are anticipated to be profitable on an ultimate basis.
    EBITDA and net loss in the quarter were also affected by increased G&A costs due primarily to increased stock-based compensation largely associated with the increase in the Company‘s stock price as well as increased costs associated with the integration of Summit Entertainment.
    Profitability in the quarter was also impacted by increased interest expense, a non-cash charge for early retirement of a significant portion of the Summit term loan debt and the application of purchase accounting required by GAAP.

    Lionsgate‘s film backlog was $992 million till 30 June 2012. Filmed entertainment backlog represents the amount of future revenue not yet recorded from contracts for the licensing of films and television product for television exhibition and in international markets.
    Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said, “We completed our first quarter on target for our fiscal year and our three-year plan. Our financial results in the quarter were affected by marketing costs for a slate of five films, primarily noncash stock-based compensation and a noncash charge for paying down a significant portion of our Summit term loan debt early. However, with two-thirds of the profitability of the first HUNGER GAMES film still ahead, we anticipate that the combined benefits of our Summit acquisition, the strength of our young adult franchises and the continued evolution of our television business will translate into significant and growing contributions for the balance of our three-year plan.”
    Overall motion picture revenue for the first quarter was $406.5 million, an increase of 111 per cent from the prior year quarter. Within the motion picture segment, theatrical revenue was $137.6 million, a fivefold increase from the prior year first quarter, attributable to the box office performance of The Hunger Games, the 12th highest-grossing North American release of all time, and the other theatrical releases mentioned above.
    Lionsgate‘s home entertainment revenue from both motion pictures and television was $145.5 million in the first quarter compared to $92.9 million in the prior year quarter driven by five major DVD and digital releases in the quarter.
    Television revenue included in motion picture revenue was $37.1 million in the first quarter, a decrease of 14 per cent from the prior year quarter.
    International motion picture revenue of $48.6 million (excluding Lionsgate U.K.) for the first quarter increased more than fourfold from the prior year quarter driven by the worldwide theatrical release of ‘The Hunger Games‘ as well as revenue contributions from the ‘Twilight‘ films, ‘Cabin In The Woods‘, ‘What To Expect When You‘re Expecting‘ and ‘Man On A Ledge‘.
    Lionsgate UK revenue was $32.6 million, a nearly threefold increase from the prior year quarter, on the strength of a theatrical slate driven by ‘The Hunger Games‘ and Lionsgate UK‘s ‘Salmon Fishing In The Yemen‘ Television production revenue was $65.3 million in the first quarter, a decline of 5 per cent compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to fewer deliveries from the company‘s Debmar-Mercury syndication arm offset in part by increased digital media revenue from ‘Weeds‘ seasons six and seven and Mad Men season five in their home entertainment windows.

  • Warner Bros. WWE Studios form tag team for Scooby Doo film

    Warner Bros. WWE Studios form tag team for Scooby Doo film

    MUMBAI: US film studio Warner Bros. and sports entertainment company WWE Studios, the film division of WWE, will co-produce a Scooby-Doo animated feature that will find Scooby and the gang solving a mystery at WrestleMania.
    WWE Superstars and Divas, including Triple H, John Cena, Kane and The Miz, will appear in animated form and lend their voices to the project. WWE chairman, CEO Vince McMahon will also lend his voice and appear in animated form.
    WWE Studios president Michael Luisi said, “We are excited to partner with Warner Bros. on this wonderful animated film. Kids and adults are going to enjoy seeing their favorite WWE Superstars in animated form join forces with an icon like Scooby-Doo to solve a mystery at the biggest pop-culture event of the year – WrestleMania.”
    When Shaggy and Scooby win tickets to WrestleMania, the entire gang travels in the Mystery Machine to WWE City to attend the epic event. However, when a mysterious ghostly bear appears and threatens to ruin the show, Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred work with WWE Superstars to solve the case.
    Warner Home Video executive VP, GM, TV Jeff Brown said, “Warner Bros. is thrilled to get into the ring with WWE Studios to bring fans an unprecedented animated adventure. We’re excited to leverage the WWE’s family-friendly brand and passionate fan base and integrate some of the most popular WWE Superstars and Divas within the Scooby-Doo gang.”

  • Dark Knight Rises still on top in fifth consecutive week

    Dark Knight Rises still on top in fifth consecutive week

    MUMBAI: Weak overseas box office intakes enabled The Dark Knight Rises to again rule the No. 1 spot for the fifth consecutive week pushing the film‘s overseas gross total past that of its predecessor, The Dark Knight that released in 2008.
    The $20.6-million weekend tally recorded by The Dark Knight in 61 overseas markets was this year‘s third lowest for a No. 1-ranked title. But, in spite of this, the Christopher Nolan-helmed film totaled its foreign accumulation to $487.8 million, which is $18.1 million more than Dark Knight‘s $469.7 million.
    The gap, in mention, should widen since The Dark Knight opens in Greece this week, China on 27 August and in Italy on 29 Aug. The two biggest markets of the film, to date, are the UK and Australia.
    The weekend‘s notable foreign circuit newcomer was undoubtedly The Expendables 2 that stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Dammes and Arnold Schwarzenegger among many others.
    Universal opened the Millennium Films-Nu Image Films action sequel.
    Upon opening, the film took the top market spot with $7.9 million drawn from 750 sites. This was 45 per cent bigger than the opening tally grossed by The Expendables in 2010. In Italy, the film recorded a No. 1 debut gross of $2 million at 259 locations.
    In the UK, the film tallied $2.8 million (including previews) at around 450 situations.
    The total gross of Russia, Italy and UK stands at an estimated $12.7 million.
    It may be remembered that the original Expendables had grossed $171.4 million overseas compared to $103.1 million in the US and Canada.

  • Top Gun creator Tony Scott commits suicide

    Top Gun creator Tony Scott commits suicide

    MUMBAI: Filmmaker Tony Scott ‘Top Gun‘ has committed suicide by jumping from a Los Angeles County Bridge.
    The death is being investigated as a suicide. Onlookers saw Scott parking his car on the Vincent Thomas Bridge and leaping into the water below.
    The body was recovered by law enforcement from the harbour and was then identified. He is the younger brother of director Ridley Scott.

    A suicide note was found inside Scott‘s car add reports. Director Ron Howard went to Twitter and wrote , “No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day.”
    Another director Robert Rodriguez wrote, “Tony Scott. Damn. Great knowing you, buddy. Thanks for the inspiration, advice, encouragement, and the decades of great entertainment.” Actor Elijah Wood wrote,”awful news about Tony Scott. rest in peace.”
    Scott‘s ‘Top Gun‘ was the film that made Tom Cruise a star. A few years later, Scott re-teamed with Cruise for ‘Days of Thunder‘ about car racers.
    ‘True Romance‘, which Scott made from a script by Quentin Tarantino, achieved cult status. He also worked four times with Denzel Washington including ‘Crimson Ride‘, while ‘Beverly Hills Cop 2‘ cemented Eddie Murphy‘s position as an A Lister.

  • Robert Downey Jr. injures ankle on sets of Iron Man 3

    Robert Downey Jr. injures ankle on sets of Iron Man 3

    MUMBAI: Following a stunt on the sets of Iron Man 3, Robert Downey Jr. has ended up with an injured ankle. The production house, Marvel Studio has now delayed the film to allow him time to recover from the mishap.

    Said a statement of Marvel Studios, “Robert Downey Jr. sustained an ankle injury on the set of Iron Man 3 in Wilmington, North Carolina while performing a stunt.

    There will be a short delay in the production schedule while he recuperates,” said a statement issued by Marvel Studios.”

    The film, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce, is set to hit screens in May next year.

     

  • Kristen Stewart stripped of Snow White sequel

    Kristen Stewart stripped of Snow White sequel

    MUMBAI: Universal Studio has reportedly laid-off Kristen Stewart from the sequel of Snow White and the Huntsman.

    Reportdely, the studio Universal has decided to cut out Snow White from the script and focus purely on the Huntsman.

    However, it is yet not clear whether or not Rupert Sanders will direct the film or not though he‘s certainly on the short list.

    The studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise,” a Universal spokeswoman has been quoted to have said.

    The 22-year old Stewart is planning to get under loads of assignment in order to get over her split from Pattionson whom she dated for three years but it‘s rumoured that she decided to call it quits.

    While she struggles to get back on track, Pattinson, 26, is going from strength-to-strength. He is busy promoting his new film Cosmopolis.
     

  • Jake Gyllenhaal to star in Mississippi Grind

    Jake Gyllenhaal to star in Mississippi Grind

    MUMBAI: Jake Gyllenhaal, who annexed an Oscar nomination for his performance in Brokeback Mountain, has been signed to star in a new film titled Mississippi Grind. 

    Gyllenhaal will play a young gambling addict who teams up with a down-on-his-luck gambler in debt for a road trip to win back what they‘ve lost.

    The film will be written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden who are known for their film Half Nelson.

    The actor will make his New York stage debut in Roundabout Theatre Company‘s upcoming production titled If There Is I Haven‘t Found it Yet. He is also known for his work in films like Love and Other Drugs and Donnie Darko among others.

  • Ed Zwick to helm biopic on chess genius Bobby Fischer

    Ed Zwick to helm biopic on chess genius Bobby Fischer

    MUMBAI: Director Ed Zwick has been signed by Tobey Maguire to direct a biopic on chess genius Bobby Fischer. The film, Pawn Sacrifice, will have Maguire play Fischer.

    The film will focus on Fischer‘s rise as a chess champion in the 1960s, leading up to the famous match against Soviet player Boris Spassky in 1972, one of the high points of the Cold War.

    Steven Knight wrote the most current draft of the project, which previously had David Fincher attached as director.

    The film is being produced under the banner of Maguire‘s Material Pictures. Gail Katz is the co-producer.

    Zwick last directed Love and Other Drugs.

  • Phyllis Thaxter expires at 90

    Phyllis Thaxter expires at 90

    MUMBAI: Phyllis Thaxter, who played Ma Kent in Superman made in 1978, has expired at the age of 90. The actress is also remembered for the role of the faithful girlfriend to vengeful POW Robert Ryan in Act of Violence, a 1948 film.
     A contract player at MGM and Warner Bros., before her career came to a halt by an illness, Thaxter also starred in the psychological thriller Bewitched.
    Born 20 November, 1921 in Portland, Maine, Thaxter‘s mother was a former Shakespearean actress, while her father was a state Supreme Court justice. She joined the Montreal Repertory Theatre troupe as a teenager before she joined Broadway.
    She made her film debut in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, made in 1944 as the wife of Van Johnson. A year later, she played a role in Bewitched after which she appeared in Week-End at the Waldorf, which was a remake of the Greta Garbo classic Grand Hotel.
    Films that followed were The Sea of Grass, Tenth Avenue Angel, Blood on the Moon and Act of Violence. She then joined Warner Bros. and appeared in films like The Breaking Point, Come Fill the Cup, Springfield Rifle, Jim Thorpe- All-America and She‘s Working Her Way Through College, after which her contract was terminated.
    That led Thaxter to television, where she appeared in guest-starring roles in Lux Video Theatre, Climax!, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Defenders, Medical Center, Marcus Welby, M.D. and many other series.

  • Zurich Film Festival to honour John Travolta

    Zurich Film Festival to honour John Travolta

    MUMBAI: The upcoming Zurich Film Festival will present John Travolta with a special lifetime achievement award next month.
    Travolta will be honoured with the Golden Eye for his career that has spanned five decades at the annual event in Switzerland before the premiere of his new film Savages that co-stars Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Blake Lively.
    Observed festival director Karl Spoerri in a statement, “We‘re excited to welcome John Travolta to Zurich to bestow him with this honour and celebrate his amazing career. We‘re gearing up for a momentous opening night.” said Karl Spoerri, festival director.
    The festival will also honour Ocean‘s Eleven producer Jerry Weintraub for his achievements.
    The festival runs from 20 to 30 September.