Category: Movies

MUMBAI: In the video post production field since the past 30+ years, Avitel Universal Media‘s subsidiary Avitel Post Studioz has major expansion plans under its belt. The Jain brothers, who already have a studio in the suburbs of Mumbai, are putting up three more.

While one has been set up in Dubai, the other two are being built in Mumbai itself (Lokhandwala and Bandra).

The studio in Dubai is already functional and is headed by Siddharth Jain, MD – Avitel Post Studioz.

AVitel director Rishi Jain confirms the news, “The machines have already been installed and we have hired a team of 12 Australian animators.”

According to Jain, the Dubai market is saturated and this is the perfect time to get active. The focus of this studio will be on ad films, since the cinema space in Dubai is dried out.

The other two studios are in the process of being set up; only the new machines have been imported till now. As far as the investment structure for the Dubai studio is concerned only, the Jains forked up Rs 140 million just in machinery costs. meanwhile, a total of Rs 300 million is being invested in the Mumbai studios.

Avitel Studioz specialises in animation, VFX and DI.

MUMBAI: With the Bollywood-animation synergy heating up, many animation studios are gaining momentum in the cinema space. Avitel Post Studioz Ltd, which last did animation and VFX for Cash and Superstar, has a lineup of 14 films in its kitty.

Their list of projects includes Heroes, God Tussi Great Ho, EMI, Loot, Khel Khel Main, Mumbai Chakachak, Roshan, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Subway, Kissan, Mr and Mrs Khanna, Partner 2, Zindagi Tere Naam and an untitled film being produced by Sameer Karnik.

While most of the films will have VFX and DI, Rumi Jaffery‘s God Tussi Great Ho, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra, will witness 48 minutes of computer graphics.

Rishi Jain of Avitel says, “The response to our work has motivated us to take up more projects. We plan to do at least 10 films per month.”

The company applies a fixed package for every film and charges the studio rates.

Avitel had locked in a three-year contract with Sunny Deol‘s Sunny Super Sound, but apparently that was called off. “Everything was finalised but we called it quits at the last minute,” adds Jain.

MUMBAI: Audio-visual production company Malhotra Productions has teamed up with Elegant Films Pvt Ltd to produce producer-director Nileish Malhotra‘s Monopoly – the Game of Money.

An Indo-Canadian venture, the film is slated to release around July this year.

Apart from Malhotra, the other producers of the film are Jatinder Minhas, Ramesh Mehta and Manjit Bhatti.

Written by Rajesh Iyer, the film stars Karran Khanna, Zeenat Aman, Chunky Pandey and Vivek Shaque. This is going to be Malhotra‘s first venture as a director.

“The film is almost 80 per cent complete. The subject is first of its kind, and will prove to be ground breaking. The cast and crew will be multicultural,” said Malhotra.

Malhotra Productions has also joined hands with a corporate house from Scotland to produce its next film Beyond Belief.

The corporate house has signed in Malhotra and UK-based writer Sheila Evans to direct the film. Director of photography for this film is Jack Conroy from Hollywood.

MUMBAI: Compact Disc India Ltd (CDI), an integrated media and entertainment company, and White Light Entertainment, the maker of Jurassic Park and Schindler‘s List, have teamed up to co-produce Playing with the Enemy, a movie based on the World War II drama.

CDI will be investing $30 million in the project which is estimated to cost $45-50 million.

CDI chairman Suresh Kumar said, “We are investing $30 million in the project. The entire project is estimated to be around $45-50 million, depending on the star cast, which will be disclosed by the end of April.”

“We are proud to be associated with White Light Entertainment. This association reflects confidence in CDI‘s ability to co-produce the biggest film any Indian producer has ever made so far,” added Kumar.

Playing with the Enemy revolves around a baseball player who finds redemption in teaching a group of German prisoners of war how to play baseball.

The movie, which will start production in Canada in May 2008, is slated to release in the first quarter of 2009.

Other projects by CDI include a 3D-animation film Soccer, which has a budget of $20.15 million and Eternal Love, a $15.70 million film that revolves around the Taj Mahal.

MUMBAI: The 12th edition of Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart 2008), which kicked off today (17 March) at the Hong Kong Convention Centre, saw the participation of over 480 exhibitors from 30 countries.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Filmart is Asia‘s major entertainment industry fair showcasing the latest in film and TV productions, post-production services, locations and digital entertainment applications. It promotes Hong Kong as one of the leading players in film and TV production and distribution.

The seminars to be held in the fair include Asian co-productions, film merchandising in this new era of electronic gadgets and digital distribution.

With the theme “Get into the Scene,” this year‘s Filmart has several features. They include:

Locations world – Tax breaks and government support in Asia and the Chinese Mainland, and spotlighting shooting locales.

TV world – Targeted at showcasing new opportunities available in the global TV business.

Animation and digital entertainment world – Showcasing convergence of film, music, TV and new media.

Equipment and post-production services pavilion – Spotlighting one-stop sources for post-production partners and showcasing the latest trends in film equipment.

There is also the Asia Film Awards (AFA), which takes place today. The awards ceremony will celebrate the best of Asian cinema, organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festivals (HKIFF) Society, and sponsored by HKTDC and the Film Development Fund.

Nominees in the best actor category include Hong Kong‘s entertainment ambassador Tony Leung for his role in Ang Lee‘s film Lust, Caution.

There will also be The Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA). These are awarded for excellence in Hong filmmaking and will be held on 13 April at the Hk Cultural Centre.

The 32nd edition of HKIFF kicked off today and will continue till 6 April. It includes screening of almost 300 motion pictures from 50 countries.

On 8 April, there will be a digital entertainment leadership forum, organised by the Hong Kong Cyberport Management, highlighting the themes “immersive media” and “creative digital content.”

MUMBAI: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has granted permission to producer Thakur Dinesh Kumar to release his film on Sonia Gandhi.

Earlier, the CBFC had asked Kumar to obtain a no-objection certificate (NoC) from Sonia Gandhi despite giving the film, Sonia-Sonia, the U certificate in December 2005, reports PTI.

On receiving a notice from the censor board, the producer had sent letters to the Congress president to acquire the certificate. However, there was no reply from her end.

Hence, Kumar approached the board once again asking it to release his film on grounds that the absence of a reply may be construed as an NoC.

Even then when the producer did not receive permission to release the film, he moved the Bombay High Court wherein his lawyer Shyam Keswani argued that the board had no right to impose such a condition.

Finally, additional solicitor general Rajendra Raghuvanshi told the HC last week that the board was withdrawing the condition. The HC has disposed of the petition.

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, has announced Bob Osher as the president of its Digital Production division while Hannah Minghella will become president of production at Sony Pictures Animation.

The Digital Production division, formerly known as Sony Pictures Digital, is made of Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation.

“Bob‘s experience in production and finance, along with his strong background in animation, make him qualified to lead our Digital Production division. Staying ahead of the vast technological changes occurring in our industry has been a priority for Sony Pictures, and I know Bob will continue to make our visual effects and animation business grow,” said SPE Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

Minghella currently serves as director of creative affairs for Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“For the past three years, she‘s been a key part of my team, actively engaged in our creative process every step of the way. She‘s going to do a great job working in concert with the incredibly accomplished team of writers, artists and all who make Sony Pictures Animation such an exciting part of this studio,” said SPE co-chairman Amy Pascal.

Minghella and Tim Sarnoff, president of Imageworks, will report to Osher who joined Sony Pictures in 2004. He has been chief operating officer of the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture Group, overseeing operations, business affairs and production-related film financing.

“Osher will continue to have oversight over his current areas of responsibility within the Motion Picture Group,” confirmed Lynton.

Osher will replace Yair Landau, who leaves Sony Pictures to begin a new games and animation venture.

Sandra Rabins, who had been in charge of Sony Pictures Animation as SEVP, will return to her roots as a producer and continue working with Sony Pictures Animation in that capacity.

MUMBAI: Novex Communications has acquired sole cable TV distribution rights for the films and film programmes of Shemaroo library.

Novex plans to increase the rights from 1800 to 2000 movie titles of various languages from Shemaroo‘s library by the end of this month.

As of now, popular titles like Raja Hindustani, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Mr India, Mann, Masti, Hum Kisise Kum Nahi, Gangajal, Kuch Na Kaho, Murder, Jaan-e-Mann and Omkara are with Novex.

Apart from this, Novex has put in place systems wherein they can track any cable network in any city at any time to check the film, or film show, being telecast. This system enables them to constantly check copyright violation of their property.

Thus, to telecast films and film shows acquired by Novex on local cable channels, a cable operator or multi-system operator (MSO) needs to sign a contract with Novex.

“We have signed up licensing agreements with all the multi-system operators for screening of the movies from the Shemaroo library,” says Novex Communications promoter Ketan Kanakia.

Further elaborating on this, Kanakia adds: “We have already initiated action against the errant cable operators and carried out raids in various cities like Dhulia, Nandurbagh, Nagpur, Sholapur and Akola of Maharashtra. In fact, the Maharashtra government has already approved implementation of Detention Under Gunda Act to curb copyright violation. Now, we are going across the country to ensure that we get what is our due.”

Every month all the registered MSOs are sent posters of Hindi and local language film titles, a demo DVD and one letter educating them about the company, their rights and activities by Novex Communications.

“This is the first time ever that a copyright holder has dispatched posters declaring the film titles held by them. It is because of this that anybody actually and legally has the titles as well as ready software with them. The day a deal is signed, we deliver the software and permissions. Unlike some other very old companies claiming to hold the film rights, we have nothing ambiguous about our titles. And that is why we are able to print them on the posters and send across,” says Kanakia.

MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has released Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury‘s Anuranan on home video with both Hindi and Bengali language tracks.

While the VCD of the film is priced at Rs 149, the DVD will be retailed at Rs 349.

“Anuranan, a Screenplay Films production, has got official selections at nine prestigious film festivals, and has been screened at several of them. We are proud to release this film on home video,” said Shemaroo Entertainment director Hiren Gada.

Director Roy Chowdhury added, “Surely the home video penetration is huge and will, thus, expose Anuranan to a larger audience. And in today‘s age of watching films on DVDs and VCDs, Anuranan is definitely a movie which can be enjoyed within the four walls of your home.”

After Bal Ganesh, Shemaroo‘s animation division is creating animation content with their forthcoming film Ghatothkach – Master of Magic.

MUMBAI: Former Universal Pictures vice chairman of worldwide production Mary Parent has been named chairperson, worldwide motion picture group at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

In this newly created position, Parent will be responsible for oversight of worldwide theatrical production, distribution, marketing and business affairs for MGM. Parent reports directly to MGM chairman and CEO Harry E Sloan, and to the MGM board of directors.

Said Sloan, “MGM is in the midst of an evolutionary process, moving from our initial revitalisation effort into the next phase of growth and development. As we commence production on some of the biggest film franchises in Hollywood, we are fortunate to be able to enlist Mary to spearhead what promises to be MGM‘s most exciting period yet. Her production expertise, relationships in the creative community and distribution and marketing savvy will be instrumental in confirming MGM‘s position as a competitive player alongside other major Hollywood studios.”

Parent said, “I look at what Harry has strategically built and assembled – from ramping up the distribution efforts of MGM as well as breathing new life into United Artists with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner at the helm – and I believe this studio is poised for a true re-vitalisation. This comes at a great time for the business and I am honoured to have been chosen to play this role.”

This year in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM will bring new installments of two of its tentpole franchises – the new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and Steve Martin in Pink Panther 2. MGM will also release United Artists’ thriller Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise on 3 October.