Category: Movies

“Since the launch of SBS in The Netherlands, we‘ve been broadcasting the James Bond movies and now we will be able to continue this tradition with the newest edition: Quantum of Solace,” adds SBS Broadcasting acquisitions – head Rozan Hamaker.

The contract includes titles such as Quantum of Solace, Valkyrie, Rocky Balboa, Lions For Lambs, Pink Panther 2, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Usual Suspects, Four Weddings And A Funeral and The Silence Of The Lambs.

Turner Entertainment promotions and marketing senior VP, Katherine Johnson says, “Universal is a valued partner that continues to challenge us to think creatively and develop strategic marketing platforms for its high-profile releases,” Universal recognises that truTV is a growing network with a diverse programming lineup that continues to attract young movie-going audiences.”

truTV will promote Universal‘s political thriller State of Play ithat has Oscar winner Russell Crowe leading the cast. This will be done through a custom promotion built around a mini-marathon for Dominick Dunne: Power, Privilege & Justice which airs on 12 April. truTV will feature a 90-second sneak-peek of the film, as well as branded tune-ins and in-show graphics that integrate a character‘s image from the film. Custom vignettes airing during the stunt will be created to feature State of Play cast commentary that highlights first-person accounts of the actors‘ roles in the film. For the thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated homicides, Crowe is joined by Oscar-winners Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren as well as Rachel McAdams. State of Play releases on 17 April.

This summer, truTV will also drive awareness for Land of the Lost starring Will Ferrell, through custom promotions that will air across the two weeks that lead up to the film‘s release on 5 June. The promotional package will be wrapped around the Thursday primetime programming lineup on 28 May and 4 June. Each evening, truTV will feature a 90-second exclusive sneak peek of the film for viewers.

The network will drive viewers to the sneak-peeks through custom integrated tune-ins each week and integrated in-show graphics leading up to and airing throughout the night. In the film, Ferrell stars as a has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, sucked into a space-time vortex and spat back through time. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world—a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedycalled The Land of the Lost.

Aamir Khan suggested the setting up of a common committee that would look into the problems and work out the solutions. “This should be presented to both the sides. A solution should be good for the industry as a whole,” he said.

Film producers who are backing the strike, have decided to choke the supply of their content to the multiplexes. Besides Hindi films, regional films would not be released in multiplexes. Said Eros International COO Jyoti Deshpande, “Though we released Mahesh Manjrekar‘s film Mee Shivaji Raje Bhosle Boltoy, on 3 April (a day before the strike) at the multiplexes, we are not releasing a Punjabi film with them.”

Eros did not release Aa Dekhen Zara on the multiplexes. Said Deshpande, “Multiplex owners wanted us to enter into a very rigid agreement if we had to release our film with them. Since that was against the code of conduct of the Prouducer-Distributor combine, we desisted from releasing the film in multiplexes and released in single-screen theatres. Then we caught up with an idea and released Aa Dekhen Zara on DTH.”

The producers are also determined to stop all old films from being re-released on multiplexes during the strike period. Said Mukesh Bhatt, “We will be supporting single screens with old releases. We are also working out plans on how to provide fresh films to single-screen theatres only.”

Multiplex owners have been resisting a 50:50 revenue share and have indicated that they are comfortable with a performance-linked system. But UTV Software Communications chairman and managing director Ronnie Screwvala pulled down this theory. “A variable model leads to subjectivity. This is not possible and requires a change in strategy. Our aim during a film‘s release is to up our box office share and not to increase the occupancy level at theatres,” he said.

The first part of the event will highlight Ray‘s career that began with Pather Panchali made in 1995. The film was acclaimed internationally and was honoured with a special prize at Cannes Film Festival. Other films relating to his career path such as Aparajito (The Unvanquished) filmed in 1956 and Apur Sansar (The World of Apu) made in 1959 will also be showcased. The series will also include a film made in 1991 about the director titled Satyajit Ray, Filmmaker.

The event will conclude with the showcasing of Ray‘s Calcutta Trilogy from the 1970s – The Adversary (1971), Company Limited (1971) and The Middleman (1975)). The 35 mm prints that will be screened include films like The Music Room, Parash Pathar, Devi, Teen Kanya, Rabindranath Tagore, The Expedition and Kanchenjungha.

A conference based on the director‘s life, to be hosted by Columbia University, will see directors such as Mira Nair, Shyam Benegal, Samik Banerjee and Ray‘s son Sandip Ray participating.

Says Eros International COO and commercial director Jyoti Deshpande, “We spent over Rs 35 million on Aa Dekhen Zara for promotions alone. However, falling prey to the ongoing strike between producers and multiplexes, the film did not get showcased in national multiplexes and was released only in single-screen theatres.”

“With a belief that we must do our best to give the audience an opportunity to watch the film, we have tied up with DTH operators to showcase the film within two weeks of its theatrical release,” she adds.

The movie will be available for downloading on pay-per-view basis.

Avers Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor, “This is the first Indian film to hit DTH in two weeks of its theatrical release. The premiere of Aa Dekhen Zara on Dish TV will enable our five million subscribers to enjoy the latest and best of movies in the comfort of their homes.”

Says 24 Karat Multiplex CEO Padam Sacheti, “Both the parties are adamant, with neither side wanting a solution. Film producers want a 50 per cent share in the revenues for the first three weeks. Right now they are getting 50 per cent in the first week, 38 per cent in the second week and 28 per cent in the third week. We are ready to give them a 50 per cent share for all the initial three weeks, but based on the performance grade.”

The exhibitors had bowed to Yash Raj Films last year as the production house had command over a content pipe that included Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Dostana, Roadside Romeo, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Tashan and Krazzy 4. But with the entire heap of producers joining hands, the multiplexes prefer to get into a tug-of-war situation.

Says Inox head-marketing Harsh Vardhan Gangurde, “Last year, one of the co-owners of EP, who was overseeing the day-to-day operations of the property, approached us to handle the management of the multiplex and we agreed. However, after a change in management at EP‘s end, the decision to part ways was mutually agreed upon by the promoters of EP and Inox.”

With Inox parting ways with EP, it now runs three multiplexes with a total of eight screens in Jaipur. Nationally, the multiplex operator owns 26 multiplexes (91 screens) spread across 19 cities.

“We had bought the stake in the company at par value because it had its distribution and funds in place with Eros. This would help us increase the bandwidth of our production capability. However, since the company did not get the support from Eros, we saw no point in continuing with this relationship,” a senior Mukta Arts executive tells Indiantelevision.com on request of anonymity.

When contacted, Goswami did not elaborate on the reasons behind Mukta Arts‘ decision to exit from Red Carpet Films.

Soon after roping in Mukta Arts as an equity partner, Red Carpet Films had sealed a four mid-budget movie-deal with Eros International worth Rs 400 million. But the projects stayed grounded as Eros divorced its relationship with Red Carpet Films.

“The film festival would motivate students, youths and parents towards objectivity and meaningful films and globalise their attitude and thoughts,” says chairman International Children Film Festival (ICFF) Jagdish Gandhi.

Organised on the theme of world unity and peace, the festival will also see international film directors and producers, including Pinki of Oscar winning film Smile Pinki.

Indian films from as many as six cities will also be screened.