ITV

Category: Movies

  • Disney pacts with China’s Youku Tudou to market Marvel films online

    Disney pacts with China’s Youku Tudou to market Marvel films online

    MUMBAI: Disney and China’s online video platform Youku Tudou have partnered, wherein the latter will be the exclusive online movie marketing platform in China for Marvel collection of movies and TV series.

     

    Youku Tudou will drive online marketing through promotion of trailers, online ticketing, live events and original programming dedicated to silver screen movies.

     

    Youku Tudou’s strength as the leading online movie marketing platform in China comes from its market position. Leveraging its 500 million unique monthly users across screens, marketing efforts are able to disseminate across Youku Tudou’s media and entertainment ecosystem resulting in greater audience impact than traditional offline movie advertising.

     

    Disney and Marvel titles resonate with Youku Tudou’s audience with over 530 million cumulative views of titles across movies, television series, trailers, Youku Tudou original productions, and live-streaming.

     

    Online marketing efforts contributed to boosting the box office revenue of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy and in the case of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, to almost 800 million, compared to 80 million RMB of the previous installment of the franchise in China. The trailers and Youku Original productions for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy have over 41 million cumulative views with over 15.8 million combined movie VOD views on the Youku Tudou platform. The Avengers: Age of Ultron trailers and Youku Original productions have received over 25.7 million cumulative views with the movie currently in theaters.

     

    “We are committed to expanding our media and entertainment ecosystem by working with strong partners. These partnerships, like the one with Disney, are multifold and give Youku Tudou the opportunity to use its strengths to further its business model and drive future revenue streams through high-quality content, innovative marketing efforts, and merchandising channels,” said Youku Tudou chairman and CEO Victor Koo.

  • Muzaffar Ali’s ‘Jaanisaar’ with Imran Abbas & Pernia Qureshi almost complete

    Muzaffar Ali’s ‘Jaanisaar’ with Imran Abbas & Pernia Qureshi almost complete

    NEW DELHI: Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, who is remembered for the first version of Umrao Jaan starring Rekha, is back at the helm of yet another period drama, set in 1877.

     

    The new film, which is once again the story of a revolutionary dancer, is about the love between a westernized young man and a girl who is deeply rooted in the ethos of revolution. The guy is brought up in England and when he sees what British is trying to do is not right for the country, he becomes a rebel.

     

    Jaanisaar, produced by Meera Ali, also features Creature 3D fame Imran Abbas and Pernia Qureshi, who is considered to be India’s one of the leading style icon and fashion entrepreneur.

     

    A song shoot was held in the capital in a farmhouse at Gurgaon. Most of the shooting of the film was done at the same venue.

     

    When asked about the long gap from direction, Ali said, “I was actually working on a lot of stories and various projects but then this story seemed the best to portray the modern and different period cinema.”

     

    He also revealed his interest in promoting Uttar Pradesh by saying “my interest is really doing things in UP (Uttar Pradesh).”

     

    Abbas added, “I am fortunate enough to work with Ali as my career’s first Pakistani TV series was also named Umrao Jaan where I played the character of the prince, Siddharth. Ali sir is a very understanding person to work with. I indeed gained a lot from him.” 

     

    Qureshi said, “I am very nervous not only because it is my first film but also because Muzaffar sir was a dream to work with. As we all know that he directed Umrao Jaan with the legendary Rekha, so I was a bit scared but he proved to be very comfortable during the shoot.”

     

    The shooting of the film is almost complete and the release date will be announced soon, Ali said.

  • ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ on a barrier-breaking spree; collects Rs 69.85 crore

    ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ on a barrier-breaking spree; collects Rs 69.85 crore

    MUMBAI: Tanu Weds Manu Returns is on a barrier-breaking spree. Riding solely on Kangana Ranaut’s petite shoulders playing her double roles, the film is slated to set new benchmarks at the box office.

     

    This is Ranaut’s hat trick after Tanu Weds Manu and Queen, all three being her personal triumphs and rewards of her outstanding talent. The film had a sort of tepid opening day but went on to consolidating over the weekend as well as taking a solid grip on the box office to end its first week with Rs 69.85 crore.

     

    Welcome To Karachi, yet another attempt to launch Jackky Bhagnani in a home production, comes as a cropper. A poorly selected, mundane subject, unimaginative treatment and patchy making take their toll. Rather overconfidence of opening the film on Thursday evening for paid previews marred the film’s Friday prospects as the bad reports spread instantly. Resultantly, the film failed to attract viewers on Friday ending it with poor collections even as the following Saturday and Sunday could not lend any respectable figures to the opening weekend tally of Rs 5.55 crore.

     

    P Se PM Tak, a script Kundan Shah had been working and reworking on for eons, released post undergoing a slaughter at the Censors and lack of promotion, fails miserably.

     

    Ishqedarriyaan, a comeback vehicle for Mahakshay Chakraborty, son of Mithun Chakraborty, fails to find audience to avail of screenings. An also ran.

     

    Bombay Velvet drops to about Rs 1 crore in its second week after a miserably devastating first week of Rs 21.65 crore. The film rates as the biggest disaster in last few decades and will lose almost all of its investment and some.

     

    Piku managed to hold its own during its third week despite the Tanu Weds Manu Returns onslaught to put together a decent Rs 9.65 crore to take its three-week total to Rs 74.87 crore.

     

    Gabbar Is Back collects Rs 1.45 crore in its fourth week taking its four-week total to Rs 79.25 crore and marginalizing its deficits.

  • Entries invited for 16th Calgary International Film Festival

    Entries invited for 16th Calgary International Film Festival

    NEW DELHI: The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has invited entries from filmmakers all over the world.

     

    The 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre films from Canada and over 40 other countries will be held from 23 September to 4 October. The entries close on 15 June.

     

    The festival hosts gala events, screenings, award ceremonies and special presentations. A large number of participating filmmakers from around the world connect with the audience through post-screening question and answer periods, and through panels and film talks open to the general public.

     

    Each year’s line-up is presented in series that group CIFF’s offerings into easily identifiable categories including Canadian, American and world cinema, documentaries, late shows, music on screen and shorts. A number of awards are selected by audiences and juries for outstanding films and performances.

     

    In a release, CIFF said that it “exists to transform the way visual stories are shared and experienced. The aim is to discover and share the best and most remarkable, especially those that would not otherwise be seen.”

     

    CIFF’s vision emphasizes discovery and it claimed to have been the platform for debutantes including new filmmakers, particularly championing and fostering Alberta’s own creative voices.

     

    Films invited to the 2015 Festival are automatically considered for nomination in all Award categories for which they are eligible. Nominations are made on the basis of achievement in form and content in their category by a jury of industry experts and leading cultural figures from Canada.

     

    The awards are: Discovery Award for Emerging Filmmakers (Feature films only – Documentary and Narrative categories) – Audience vote; Alberta Spirit (Shorts films only) – Jury award; Audience Choice Award (Feature & Short films – various categories).

     

    Only films completed after 1 January, 2014 and not previously submitted to CIFF are eligible. 

  • South Indian International Movie Awards set to enthral Dubai in August

    South Indian International Movie Awards set to enthral Dubai in August

    NEW DELHI: The fourth edition of the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) is slated to be held in Dubai on 6 and 7 August.

     

    Title sponsored by Micromax, the awards enjoy the highest popularity in South India with over 45 per cent of South Indian TV viewers watching the award ceremony every year.

     

    The nomination process of the movie awards is executed by a panel of veteran judges from Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam industries, followed by online voting for the final verdict of winner selections. 

     

    The event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. SIIMA chairman Brinda Prasad said, “This year, SIIMA is back in Dubai and we are looking forward to a grand night that will only get bigger and better with over 20 stars performing over two days in Dubai.”

     

    Kick starting this year’s Micromax SIIMA Celebrations is Ivede, a Malayalam crime and drama thriller holding its premiere in Dubai with the star cast- Prithviraj Sukumaran, Nivin Pauly and Bhavana. 

     

    Sukumaran said, “I am excited about the premier of Ivede happening in Dubai. SIIMA believes in taking the South Indian film industry globally and it gives us immense pleasure to be associated with the event. Also, Dubai has always been a great market for South Indian movies and I would love to see the movie response with our Dubai audience”

     

    Micromax Informatics CMO Shubhajit Sen added, “Micromax is proud to partner with SIIMA, which has been a part of the magical journey of South Indian cinema. Being an iconic youth brand, we have been consistently connecting Indians to their passions and nothing, not even cricket, evokes as much engagement as movies. I would like to thank all the members of the organizing committee for their effort of bringing together best talent in the industry and felicitate their notable contribution to South Indian cinema.”

     

    Those present at a press meet in Chennai to announce the awards included Rana Daggubati, Shriya Saran, Pranitha Subhash and Yash. 

     

    Saran said, “To be representing the South film industry globally, is both a responsibility and a privilege and SIIMA is just the right platform to be a part of. I am now eagerly looking forward to the awards ceremony in Dubai.”

  • WB Sound acquires Digital Cinema New York

    WB Sound acquires Digital Cinema New York

    MUMBAI: WB Sound has acquired Digital Cinema New York, following its two-year relationship with the studio.

     

    The addition of Digital Cinema New York adds to the full complement of sound and picture services Warner Bros. offers in Burbank, New York, and London.

     

    “As the industry moves to a broader consolidation of picture and sound, Warner Bros. continues to expand and develop the full scope of our post production services. The volume of production in and around the New York area grows more and more robust, and we are fully committed to creatively serving the increasingly greater needs of the community,” said Warner Bros. Entertainment SVP, post production services worldwide Kim Waugh.

     

    WB Sound New York, helmed by Oscar-winning sound supervisor and re-recording mixer Skip Lievsay, provides sound design, sound supervision, sound editorial, re-recording, and ADR services at its state-of-the-art Midtown Manhattan facility (formerly occupied by Digital Cinema).

     

    “This acquisition is representative of our overall expansion of the post production services business at Warner Bros. We are pleased to meet our clients’ needs wherever they prefer to post their productions – between the greater Los Angeles, New York, and London areas, we’re truly able to creatively serve the industry at a global level,” added Warner Bros. Entertainment president, worldwide studio facilities Jon Gilbert.

     

    Lievsay’s creative team includes sound supervisor and re-recording mixer Paul Urmson, supervising sound editors Eliza Paley and Ben Cheah, and re-recording mixer Michael Barry. Recent features edited and mixed at the WB Sound NY facility include Into the Woods, Rikki and the Flash, Family Fang, Miles Ahead, and Run All Night.

     

    Warner Bros. began working from the Digital Cinema facility in May 2013. Together with Digital Cinema and Sync Sound veterans Bill Marino and Ken Hahn, Warner Bros. re-equipped the existing re-recording stage and built out eight new sound design and picture editing suites. Marino and Hahn will continue to operate Sync Sound, which was established in 1984.

     

    Warner Bros. is planning a number of significant upgrades to the Digital Cinema facility in the coming months to bring it in line with the Burbank and London locations. 

  • Universal plans six-network roadblock on NBC for ‘Jurassic World’ preview

    Universal plans six-network roadblock on NBC for ‘Jurassic World’ preview

    MUMBAI: A roadblock broadcast of the original Jurassic Park will be hosted by three-time Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg and Chris Pratt, the star of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World, beginning on 5 June and concluding on 6 June.

     

    They will also introduce a two-minute, exclusive sneak preview of Jurassic World, which arrives in theaters on 12 June.

     

    Spielberg and Pratt will share their respective memories of Jurassic Park and drive to a debut of a two-minute exclusive sneak preview of Jurassic World, which will air during the program.

     

    This first opportunity to see new material from the upcoming film will be aired on 5 June on NBC. The following evening, on 6 June, the program will air on Bravo, Syfy, USA Network, E! and NBC Universo. For its part, NBC Universo will telecast a Spanish language version of Jurassic Park.

     

    In Jurassic World, the story of Spielberg’s original comes full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life. Jurassic World is a fully operational luxury resort off the coast of Costa Rica where 20,000 guests explore the wonder of Earth’s most magnificent living prehistoric marvels—of every shape and size—and interact up close with them every day.

     

    When the massive and mysterious Indominus rex stages an escape and disappears into the jungle, order turns to mayhem and guests turn into prey. Dinosaurs escape into the open, skies and water to engage in an all-out war for survival, and no corner within the world’s greatest theme park is safe anymore.

     

    Pratt, Irrfan Khan, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy and BD Wong star in the 3D epic action-adventure that is directed by Colin Trevorrow and based on characters created by Michael Crichton.

  • ‘Welcome To Karachi’: No thanks!

    ‘Welcome To Karachi’: No thanks!

    MUMBAI: Jackky Bhagnani is being launched for the fifth time in Welcome To Karachi by his home production, Puja Films, owned by his father, Vashu Bhagnani. There are two reasons why the producer should have been very, very selective about the subject he chose and should have had a better team writing it: the first is that what is at stake here is the career of the family scion, and the other is the investment of personal money. 

     

    Entering Pakistan by mistake is no more a novel or exciting theme even if the guys doing it, Jackky and Arshad Warsi, are certifiable morons in the film. A recent film, Filmistan had the same theme, even the television serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has had a few episodes where the protagonist, Jethalal, ambles into Pakistani territory. And, of course, our fishermen are also accused of straying on that count. So what’s new? Also, with such a subject you can only make a comedy and for that you need writers, a species missing in our industry.

     

    The producer holds a fancy for Gujaratis and here again, the lead man, Jackky, is from a Gujarati family, his father being Dalip Tahil. Tahil runs a ferry service in Jamnagar, a port town of Gujarat, and caters to the demand of wedding receptions on his boats. Tahil passes off his son, Jackky and his close pal, Arshad, both duffers, as geniuses who will look after the security of the guests. Arshad is supposed to be an ex-Navy man court-martialled for sinking a submarine. 

     

    Now, there is a booking and Tahil’s instructions to his son are that, as soon as the baraat arrives, you take off. Jackky follows the instructions to the T. He watches as the baraat arrives near the jetty and the boat takes off. But, what do you know? This Jamnagar seems to be somewhere in the US (Jackky’s dream destination) for the boat is full of scantily dressed white women of varied ages and figures; as long as they are white, who cares! The usual dance and daru event follows till a storm strikes. The boat is sinking, half the white girls are conveniently sacrificed to the storm. 

     

    Arshad and Jackky have landed on the coast of Karachi, lying unconscious the way thousands of marooned seafarers have done in as many fairy tales as well as in films. Karachi being a violent and lawless city, soon there is a bomb blast on the beach that they have landed at. A petty thief descends on the victims relieving the dead bodies of their belongings and this duo is not spared either. The wallets and, hence, the identities of both are stolen. 

     

    Jackky and Arshad are now on the ISI’s radar and later handed over to the Taliban where they unwittingly destroy the entire Taliban camp. The CIA wants to hog the credit and on one side, a Pakistani minister wants to do the same by calling the two brave soldiers as his party members while the Indian electronic media catches on to the story identifying them as Indians from Jamnagar. Poor morons know nothing of all that they have done and the stories being built around them. Their only wish is to return to India. You wish too that they return to India and the charade ends. Alas!

     

    Welcome To Karachi is a grossly ill-conceived idea and further done to death in execution. The director had nothing to go on and not realizing that shows his lack of script sense. The film is designed as a comedy and the only funny thing about it is that the film is a joke. Neither there is humour, nor any witty dialogues. Music is functional. Editing is not visible. Production is patchy.

     

    As for performances, it is mainly buffoonery on the parts of both main actors. Arshad, otherwise an accomplished actor, is at sea here. Jackky is not an actor so nothing is expected of him and he delivers nothing; his Kathiawadi Gujarati accent sticks to same tone and decibel all along. The heroine, Lauren Gottlieb, plays more of a cameo than the lead. The rest are incidental. 

     

    Welcome To Karachi is a poor fare on all counts.

     

    Producer: Vashu Bhagnani

     

    Director: Ashish R Mohan

     

    Cast: Arshad Warsi, Jakky Bhagnani

  • Universal Pictures to restore 15 classic silent films over the next four years

    Universal Pictures to restore 15 classic silent films over the next four years

    MUMBAI: Building on its 2012 Centennial celebration, Universal Pictures will be restoring some of the world’s most classic silent films.

     

    During the next four years, the studio will restore approximately 15 silent film titles from Universal’s early years. The complete list of films is still in development in collaboration with outside film historians, institutions, and preservationists. Partners and collaborators in the initiative include the Library of Congress, The Film Foundation, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, George Eastman House, UCLA Film & Television Archives, Association of Moving Image Archivists, and Hollywood Heritage.

     

    The announcement was made at the Opening Night of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. 

     

    “The company understands its responsibility and need to preserve our silent film legacy. This early art of filmmaking is the foundation on which Universal Pictures was built more than 100 years ago, and it’s important we honor our rich history,” said NBC Universal vice chairman Ron Meyer.

     

    The silent film era is best known for instantly recognizable storylines, settings, costumes, and characters. Most early silent films were accompanied by a full-fledged orchestra, organist or pianist to provide musical background and to underscore the narrative on the screen. Some even included live actors or narrators. The major genre emphasis was on swashbucklers, historical extravaganzas, and melodramas, although all kinds of films were being produced throughout the decade.

     

    According to a report released by the Library of Congress, 70 per cent of the America’s silent feature films have been completely lost. Universal’s restoration team will work with archives and collectors worldwide to secure copies of prints and additional elements needed to complete this restoration effort and augment the silent film titles currently in its library.

     

    Universal Pictures silent film restoration initiative builds on the company’s ongoing restoration commitment. Since the program was first announced in 2012, nearly 30 titles have been restored and 25 more titles are expected to be restored by 2017. Fully restored titles to date include All Quiet on the Western Front, The Birds, Buck Privates, Dracula (1931), Dracula Spanish (1931), Frankenstein, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Out of Africa, Pillow Talk, Bride of Frankenstein, The Sting, To Kill a Mockingbird, Touch of Evil, Double Indemnity, High Plains Drifter, and Holiday Inn.

  • Roger Deakins to shoot sequel of 1982 sci-fi film ‘Blade Runner’

    Roger Deakins to shoot sequel of 1982 sci-fi film ‘Blade Runner’

    MUMBAI: Twelve-time Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins will join director Denis Villeneuve on Alcon Entertainment’s shoot the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi film Blade Runner.

     

    Deakins, who was presented with the Pierre Angenieux Excellens in Cinematography Award at the Cannes Film Festival, reteams with Villeneuve on what will be their third feature collaboration, having previously worked together on Alcon’s Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal as well as Villeneuve’s upcoming film Sicario, a drug-trafficking drama starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro from Black Label Media.

     

    Deakins received his latest Academy Award nomination this year for his work on Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken. He was previously nominated for Joel and Ethan Coen’s Fargo, The Man Who Wasn’t There, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men and True Grit; Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption; Martin Scorsese’s Kundun; Andrew Dominik’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Stephen Daldry’s The Reader, which he shared with Chris Menges; and, more recently, Prisoners and Sam Mendes’ Skyfall.

     

    Blade Runner is scheduled to start principal photography in summer of 2016. Hampton Fancher (co-writer of the original) and Michael Green have written the original screenplay based on an idea by Fancher and Ridley Scott. The story takes place several decades after the conclusion of the 1982 original. Harrison Ford will reprise his role as Rick Deckard.

     

    Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said, “Roger is an extraordinary talent and we are very excited that Denis and Roger have chosen to continue their collaboration in bringing the sequel to Blade Runner to the big screen.”

     

    Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights to Blade Runner in 2011 from producer Bud Yorkin to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Yorkin will serve as a producer on the sequel along with Kosove and Johnson. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will also produce.

     

    Thunderbird Films CEOs Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble will serve as executive producers. Ridley Scott will also executive produce.

     

    Among its many distinctions, Blade Runner has been singled out as one of the greatest movies of all time by innumerable polls and media outlets, and overwhelmingly as the greatest science-fiction film of all time by a majority of genre publications.

     

    Released by Warner Bros., Blade Runner was adapted by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples from Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and was directed by Ridley Scott following his landmark Alien. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards.