ITV

Category: Movies

  • Universal to make film from BioShock video game

    MUMBAI: 2K Games, a US game company, has reached an agreement for video game BioShock to be developed as a feature film by Universal Pictures.


    2K Games, whose 2K Boston and 2K Australia studios developed BioShock, is a video game publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software.


    Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, is slated to direct and produce the BioShock movie. John Logan, who won Oscar nominations for writing Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd is in talks to do the screenplay.


    The expected release date and terms of the agreement were not disclosed. BioShock has sold approximately 2 million units worldwide since its release in August 2007. A sequel to the game, BioShock 2, is planned for a release in 2009.


    Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick said, “We are excited that 2K Games’ vision for BioShock will be carried forward in a new medium. BioShock has been hailed as one of the most highly cinematic and richly plotted titles in interactive entertainment, making it extremely well-suited to film. In partnering with Universal and Gore Verbinski, we have assembled a team that respects the uniqueness of BioShock and will translate it into a powerful movie experience.”


    “Our ability to attract a major studio and unparalleled creative team speaks volumes about the strength of our BioShock franchise. It also demonstrates how Take-Two is delivering value, based on our strategy of creating and owning our industry’s most powerful intellectual property,” Zelnick added.


    In the game after barely surviving a plane crash, the player lands in icy uncharted waters and discovers an undersea city called Rapture, a failed utopia whose citizens had embraced genetic engineering before the city descended into pure anarchy. Power and greed have run amok and the city has succumbed to civil war.


    2K Games, president Christoph Hartmann said, “BioShock fans appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, and our partnership with Gore Verbinski will introduce the world of Rapture to an even wider audience. In addition to his impressive body of work, Gore is an avid video gamer and true fan of BioShock. That was extremely important to us in deciding to move forward with this project.”


     

  • Xenon Pictures acquires Amexicano

    MUMBAI: Xenon Pictures has acquired North American rights to Amexicano, starring 2008 Grammy nominee Jennifer Pena, in a mid-six figure deal. The film is slated for a summer release.


    Amexicano, helmed by Matthew Bonifacio, made its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and recently won the Grand Jury Prize for best narrative feature at the 2008 Sonoma Valley Film Festival.


    The film also stars Manny Perez (Bella, El Cantante), newcomer Raul Castillo, and Carmine Famiglietti, who has also written the film.


    Famiglietti and Bonifacio are the producers of the film through their production company, The Brooklyn-Queens Experiment, in association with Madison Park Pictures. Cesar A Baez and Stephen Ashkinos are the executive producers of the film.

    “We wanted to put a face on the undocumented day laborers in America,” said Bonifacio.


    “With the coming presidential election, immigration is obviously going to be a major issue. We feel Amexicano allows the audience to look at the face of an illegal alien and decide for themselves if our nation is making the right choices,” said Famiglietti.


    Adding further, Xenon chief operating officer Steve Housden said, “The political aspects of the film are certainly intriguing and mirror (in a very different way) those that made A Day Without a Mexican such a success for us. But just like with A Day Without a Mexican, Amexicano is enjoyable entertainment, rather than bare political discourse.”

  • Zee Talkies to release Manjrekar’s De Dhakka on 16 May

    MUMBAI: Zee Talkies is set to release Mahesh Manjrekar‘s latest venture, De Dhakka, pan Maharashtra on 16 May.


    Produced under Manjrekar‘s Satya films banner, the film has been directed by Sudesh Manjrekar and Atul Kale.


    “We have aquired all the rights to the film from Mahesh Manjrekar‘s Satya Films and will now be distributing, marketing and promoting the film all across Maharashtra,” said Zee Networks director of regional channels Nitin Vaidya.

    Written by Mahesh Manjrekar, De Dhakka stars Shivaji Satam, Makrand Anaspure, Siddarth Jadhav, Medha, Saksham Kulkarni and Gauri Vaidya.


    The movie has bagged two Maharashtra State awards in the best supporting actor and best singer category for Siddarth Jadhav and Arati Ankalikar respectively.

  • Caruso-Conte to produce The Adventures Of William Tell

    MUMBAI: Fred Caruso (Blue Velvet) and D Constantine Conte (The Presidio) are set to co-produce the film The Adventures Of William Tell.

    The project is worth $60 million under the Tell Productions banner.


    Motion picture rights have been acquired by Tell Productions to Friedrich von Schiller‘s 1805 work Wilhelm Tell from the University of Chicago Press.


    It is being co-financed by the Caruso/Conte 2010 Pan-European Fund, and there is also an independent equity financing.


    Pre-production stage of the film will begin from the fourth quarter of 2008. The film is slated for a 2010 release.


    Filming will take place in Lucerne and several other locations in the central region of Switzerland. Also, Swiss-native actress Kiera Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin has been cast to portray Tell‘s wife.


    The film is a medieval epic adventure, featuring the story of Tell forced to use his crossbow to shoot an apple off his son‘s head.


    Caruso said, “Everyone knows the story of William Tell and the apple. Yet few know the circumstances behind why Tell was forced to put his eldest son at such risk and what events were yet to unfold. William Tell was a hero well in advance of his time. After having met Urban Frye, Festival Director of the Rose d‘Or, it was obvious that Switzerland, in and of itself, would become an integral character of the film.”

  • Pyramid Saimira to distribute Jimmy in India

    MUMBAI: Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited, a part of the Pyramid Saimira group, is set to distribute Raj N Sippy‘s film Jimmy in India.


    Apart from releasing the film across the Pyramid Saimira Theatre chain pan India, it will also be distributing the film to other multiplexes nationwide.


    Also, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Limited will be releasing Jimmy in five other countries where it operates namely China, Malaysia, Singapore, UK and the US.


    The film stars Mimoh Chakraborty, son of actor Mithun Chakraborty, and Pretty Vivana.


    While the music of Jimmy has been scored by Anand Raj Anand, Nawman Malik and Salman Malik are the producers of the film.


    “We are very excited about launching the son of a legendary actor. Mithunda created a rave with his unique style and attitude and we hope that Mimoh does the same. This movie will definitely help us create sufficient visibility in the Hindi film industry as we look to create stronger roots in Bolluwood,” said Pyramid Saimira Group COO western region Purvi Shah.

  • Marcus Theatres to build a new theatre soon

    MUMBAI: Marcus Theatres has announced its plans to build a new theatre in the area presently known as “The Crossing” at US Highway, on the east side of Madison.

    Marcus Theatres, a division of The Marcus Corporation, is the seventh largest theatre circuit in the United States and currently operates 678 screens at 56 locations.


    The 26-acre site will accommodate the new theatre and any future expansion, as well as a variety of synergistic mixed-uses on the balance of the land. The company has also signed an agreement to sell the nearby Eastgate Cinema property to a Madison-based real estate company. The theatre will be razed and the site redeveloped for other use.


    “Marcus Theatres plans to build an entirely new state-of-the-art theatre and entertainment complex on the east side of Madison to replace the Eastgate. Expansion at the current site was possible, but after carefully evaluating all of our options, relocating and building a new theatre that includes other exciting entertainment and dining options made the most sense. We are currently in the process of due diligence and planning. The opening of our new location will coincide with the closing of the Eastgate, which could be sometime in late 2008 or early 2009. Following approvals with city planning, we expect construction could begin in 2008.” said Marcus Theatres president Bruce J. Olson.


    “The 2,900 seat entertainment destination will feature 16 stadium-seating auditoriums with digital sound and plush, adjustable back memory foam seats. To enhance the movie going experience even further, one of the auditoriums will include our signature 72-foot-wide UltraScreen and another auditorium will feature Digital 3D technology, allowing moviegoers to experience the vibrant quality and lifelike clarity of 3D images,” Olson added.


    Among other features, currently under consideration, are in-theatre dining, a family entertainment center, a movie-themed sports restaurant and bar and outdoor patio.


    “We are still in the preliminary planning stages for the new theatre and will announce additional design elements and amenities when all of the details are finalized. We look forward to offering the latest in technology and amenities to Madison within a completely new theatre and entertainment concept. The theatre will draw upon our experience in integrating food and beverage service into theatres, as well as creating a destination that will attract people from throughout the area,” Olson said.


    The financial details of both transactions were not disclosed.

  • Sony Pictures inks 3-film co-production deal with PNC

    MUMBAI: Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC) has signed a three-film deal with Sony Pictures.

    These films will be made in India as a co-production between PNC and Sony Pictures, stated an official release from PNC.


    “Currently, the films are at a very initial stage. The budget of the films are yet to be finalised,” Sony Pictures India CEO Uday Singh told Indiantelevision.com.


    One of the these three is Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, which is an action film and is at the last stage of being finalised between the two companies.


    “The co-Production deal is a major breakthrough for Indian cinema and brings together Indian talent and international studio expertise to optimally exploit the global opportunities that exist for our kind of movies,” said PNC chairman Pritish Nandy.


    Recently, Sony Pictures had acquired the worldwide distribution rights to PNC‘s comedy film Meerabai Not Out.


    DQ Entertainment has acquired a 50 per cent stake in the film, which is slated to release this summer.

  • Adlabs buys majority in Malaysian cinema chain

    MUMBAI: Adlabs Films Limited, part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), is foraying into the Malaysian market. The company has entered into an agreement for acquisition of controlling interest in Malaysia-based Lotus Five Star Cinemas.

    As per the pact, the company will be operating a 51 screen cinema chain in Malaysia.

    The deal is a part of the company‘s aggressive strategy to expand its global opportunities.


    The chain, which already has a presence in the US, Nepal and Mauritius, will have a footprint across Malaysia now. It will be playing mainstream Hollywood films in addition to movies in the Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Chinese and Malay.


    Reliance ADAG senior vice president Anil Arjun said, “This acquisition will strengthen Adlabs Cinemas‘ international presence. The international network, in addition to Malaysia, comprises 220 screens covering the East, Mid West and West Coast of USA and also Mauritius and Nepal.”


    Adlabs has a presence of 160 screens across India and an international footprint of 220 screens spread in the East, mid-West and some parts of the United States.


    The company‘s investor update presentation for the quarter established that Adlabs‘ exhibition business has generated revenue of Rs 423.9 million during the quarter to December 2007.

  • UTV to distribute The Happening in India

    MUMBAI: UTV, co-producers with 20th Century Fox of M Night Shyamalan‘s The Happening, is set to distribute the film in India. 20th Century Fox and Spyglass Entertainment will handle the worldwide distribution of the sci-fi thriller which releases on 13 June.

    UTV and Fox have equally co-invested in the $57 million movie venture.


    Addressing the press here today, M Night Shyamalan said: “My partnership with UTV in the making of The Happening has given me, for the first time, a real opportunity to foster my relationship with Indian audiences.”


    UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala added, “This Night Shyamalan film is the biggest co-production as yet from an Asian production house. We are excited to work with one of the best directors in the world. Personally, I have admired and followed his work since Sixth Sense. Night is an extremely talented writer-director and this sci-fi is going to get the best worldwide release.”


    The Happening focuses on the man‘s presence on earth and explores the environment as the victim of his villainy.


    The film has been shot in east coast of America and Philadelphia and stars Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo and Spencer Breslin.


    Shyamalan, director of films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs and The Village, has also been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award.

  • Panega Day global film event for community building on 10 May

    BANGALORE: As part of Pangea Day, a film event will be held on 10 May at 8 pm, with the intention of inspiring people around the world to participate in community building activities.


    Live events in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked to produce a programme of powerful films, live music and visionary speakers. The programme will be broadcast live to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.


    IT consulting firm ThoughtWorks has come forward to support the cause by hosting and sponsoring the Pangea event in its Bangalore office from 11 pm to 4 am on 10 May.


    The organisers aim to connect everyday people with extraordinary activists and organizations through the live programme, the Pangea Day web site, and self-organised local events.


    As part of the programme, 24 short films to be featured have been selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over 100 countries. The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform and allow one to see the world through another person‘s eyes.


    The programme will also include a number of exceptional speakers and musical performers. Jordan’s queen Noor, CNN‘s Christiane Amanpour, musician and activist Bob Geldof and Iranian rock phenomenon Hypernova are among those taking part.


    Many of the films and performances seen on Pangea Day will be made available on the web and mobile phone, alongside open forums for discussion and ideas for how to take social action.


    A Pangea Day documentary will be created to catalyze future activities.


    The advisory board of Pangea Day includes MTV networks chairman and CEO Judy McGrath, Mira Nair, Cameron Diaz, Goldie Hawn, Reed Midem president and CEO Paul Zilk, Nokia EVP entertainment and communities Tero Ojanper?¤, former president of eBay Jeff Skoll among others.