ITV

Category: Movies

  • Technicolor sells first film-3D equipment

    MUMBAI: Technicolor, that has tied up with Mid-Atlantic regional exhibitor Bow Tie Cinemas, sold its first film-3D equipment on Monday. The exhibitor will install of its 150 screens with the 3D systems.


    Film-based 3D allows exhibitors to install 3D adapters on conventional 35mm projectors though a separate conversion from conventional movie screens to so-called silver screens is still required, just as with a few digital-3D systems.


    Technicolor has been marketing a film-3D system as a lower-cost alternative to digital 3D and thus targeting smaller circuits.


    New York-based Bow Tie operates 18 theatres in New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Colorado.


    Technicolor plans to outfit Bow Tie screens in time for the release of two films in its film-3D format like DreamWorks Animation‘s How to Train Your Dragon due for release on 26 March and Clash of the Titans that is to open on 2 April.


    Said Technicolor creative services president Joe Berchtold, ” the company‘s film-3D technology represents “a high-quality solution that addresses the 3D screen scarcity issue and allows exhibitors an affordable way to bridge the gap to digital.”


     

  • Piracy raid nets Rs 1. 5 lakh worth of film CDs and VCDs

    MUMBAI: Anti-piracy raids in two locations of Mumbai have uncovered 21,000 CDs and DVDs worth Rs 150,000.


    The first raid at Lamington Road resulted in the seizure of around 6000 pirated CDs and DVDs that included those of last week’s release Toh Baat Pakki, Up in the Air, It’s Complicated and My Name is Khan. The total value of confiscated goods was around Rs 60,000.


    The second, carried out at Chembur at a shop in Basant Park and Orbis Shop near the railway station, helped the raiding team uncover 15000 pirated CDs and DVDs. Goods confiscated at Chembur were pegged at around Rs 99,800.


    The raids were conducted by a four-member team from AA Khan & Associates along with officials from the area-specific police station.

  • Film industry welcomes duty rationalisation on raw stock, decries service tax on copyright

    MUMBAI: The film industry is disappointed with the 2010-2011 Budget for ignoring most of their demands. The one exception, though, is the rationalisation in the customs duty structure for import of raw stock by charging customs duty only on the carrier medium to remove the differential rates between importing digital masters of films and cinematograph film.


    Says Motion Picture Dist Association (India) Managing Director Rajiv Dalal “ We are pleased with the Finance Ministry‘s decision to address the film industry‘s concerns over customs taxation on the import of DVD Masters. Charging customs duties on DVD Masters based on carrier medium instead of transactional value will allow for greater importation transparency as well as increased foreign direct investment into the Indian film and television sector.” 


    Explains Shemaroo Entertainment Director Hiren Gada, “Earlier Customs duty used to be charged on intellectual property (DVD and Beta formats) imported from abroad on the carriage medium. But with the FM’s decision to rationalize the customs duty structure on the carriage medium, importing films from overseas would get cheaper. By this Hollywood would be the biggest beneficiary.”


    The Budget also seeks to imply service tax on IPR copyright film and music. “Earlier, only VAT was imposed on the copyright (film) because the government had said that copyright was a product. Now, you cannot subject service tax on a product on which we pay VAT,” questions Gada.


    “This would mean that the industry will have to shell out 10 per cent of its revenue by way of tax. As it is, the film industry is reeling under high entertainment tax and growing piracy. Producers are furious and I am sure in the coming week, there is bound to be a serious reaction to this step of the government,” adds Gada.


    Laments producer Harry Baweja, “As it is there is a considerable drop in the production of films and if the government sticks to its proposal of charging service tax, production is bound to go down considerably.”

  • Freida Pinto to star in Greek epic drama, Dawn of War

    MUMBAI: Freida Pinto, the Slumdog Millionaire actress, has been roped in to play a priestess in fantasy-action drama, Dawn of War.


    The Greek epic will be directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar. While the movie has been written by Charley Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides, it has been edited by Robert Duffy.


    With production due to start in April, the film is slated for a 2011 release.


    Freida Pinto will play the oracle priestess Phaedra who joins Greek mythic warrior hero Theseus, portrayed by Henry Cavill who heads a successful war against imprisoned Titans.

  • Warner Bros to release four films during IPL

    MUMBAI: Even as film producers are developing cold feet to release their movies during the IPL window, Hollywood major Warner Bros. Pictures is readying to open up its movie pipeline for viewing across cinema theatres in India.


    The first release will be ahead of the Indian Premier League that kicks off on 12 March while the other three will hit the screens before the T20 matches ended on 25 April.


    Warner Bros will release Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge on 5 March, followed by Clash of the Titans on 2 April. Coming to the cinemas next will be Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai on 9 April, followed by Hindi animation film Bird Idol that would release on 23 April. 


    Says Warner Bros. Pictures India deputy managing director (Theatrical) Denzil Dias, “We are extremely excited to release not one but four films in this period where most distributors stay away. We are confident that our films will appeal to all audiences and will make them laugh, cry, fall in love, cheer and most importantly be entertained. Whereas IPL will engage people from 12 March to 25 April, we hope that unlike yesteryears where cinema halls have seen a very low attendance, this year Warner Bros. will bring a lot to cheer amidst the cinema lovers.”


    Warner Bros. Pictures has recently released hit films like Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, The Dark Knight and The Hangover.
     

  • Walter Koeing son Andrew expires

    MUMBAI: The actor son of Star Trek veteran Walter Koenig was found dead in a wood in Vancouver. Koenig said his 41-year-old son Andrew, who suffered from depression committed suicide.


    On Thursday, his body was discovered in Vancouver‘s 1,000-acre Stanley Park, where Andrew liked to walk and was last seen.


    Police has said that they were not of the view that anyone else had been involved. Andrew was best known for his recurring role as ‘Boner‘ on US sitcom Growing Pains, between 1985-1989.


    Andrew‘s parents reported him missing when he failed to return home to Los Angeles after visiting friends in Vancouver earlier this month.


    Walter, who played Lieutenant Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series, said his son was “obviously in a lot of pain” to have taken his own life. In a statement he said that Andrew had given away his belongings and had not been taking his medication. He urged others suffering from depression to seek help.
    “If you are one of those people who can‘t handle it any more, know people are out there who really care before you make that final decision,” Koenig, 71, said.
     

  • Precious bags six Image awards

    MUMBAI: Precious that has been inspired by the novel ‘Push by Sapphire bagged six awards yesterday night at the 41st NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles.


    Oscar aspirants Gabourey Sidibe and Mo‘Nique took home best actress and best supporting actress prizes respectively while director Lee Daniels and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher also annexed awards.


    Precious that chronicles an abused, illiterate teen‘s steps towards independence and self-confidence, completed its Image Awards run with prizes for both outstanding motion picture and outstanding independent motion picture.


    On the TV side, Tyler Perry‘s House of Payne was named outstanding comedy series garnered acting honours for lead actress Cassi Davis and also the supporting players Lance Gross and Keshia Knight Pulliam.


    The TNT original movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story won multiple honors including outstanding TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special and acting honours for leads Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kimberly Elise.


    Other winners of the evening included Chris Rock‘ documentary Good Hair; Grey‘s Anatomy‘s; singers Maxwell, Mary J. Blige and newcomer Keri Hilson and actors Daryl Mitchell for Brothers, Hill Harper for CSI:NY, Jada Pinkett Smith for HawthoRNe, Delroy Lindo for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and S. Epatha Merkerson for Law & Order.


    The NAACP Image Awards celebrate the accomplishments of people of colour working in the fields of literature, music, television and film. Special honours were given to Tyler Perry, Wyclef Jean, music exec Clarence Avant and activist Van Jones.

  • Universal, MPCA getting into comedy mode

    MUMBAI: Universal and Motion Picture Corporation of America have partnered with Broken Lizard on Rogue Scholars and also an untitled project from the same comedy group.


    Universal will co-finance both the projects through its studio feature film investment fund.


    Rogue is being developed as a college comedy revolving around five unruly professors played by the members of Broken Lizard — Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske. The group also handles writing chores for their films.


    Details of the second project are being kept under wraps sine both are in the script stage. The films will be produced by Brad Krevoy, Mike Callaghan and Reuben Liber of MPCA with Richard Perello of Broken Lizard Industries.


    Universal‘s Tracy Falco and Kiska Higgs will oversee the projects for the studio while Callaghan will oversee for MPCA.
     

  • James Ivory film opening attraction at Method Fest

    MUMBAI: James Ivory‘s City of Your Final Destination will be the opening night attraction at the 12th annual Method Festival that runs from 25 to 31 March in Calabasas and Aguora Hills, California.


    City stars Anthony Hopkins, Omar Metwally, Laura Linney and Charlotte Gainsbourg in Ruth Prawere Jhabvala‘s adaptation of Peter Cameron‘s novel.


    Other titles in the line-up include Bruce Webb‘s The Be All and End All, Paul Hills‘ Do Elephants Pray?, Dagur Kari‘s The Good Heart, Marc Rensing‘s Parkour and Jeff Phillips‘ UrFrenz.


    Don Franken, the festival‘s executive director said, “We now have become a worldwide showcase of quality independent film. We also have many world premieres this year. But, even more importantly, we have films with captivating performances and riveting stories.”

  • Budget: Customs duty on raw stock of film material rationalised

    NEW DELHI: In a major disappointment to the infotainment sector and particularly the film industry, the Union Budget for 2010-2011 has ignored most of the demands made by the industry and even by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.


    However. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today announced a rationalisation in the customs duty structure for import of raw stock by charging customs duty only on the carrier medium to remove the differential rates between importing digital masters of films and cinematograph film. The same would apply to music and gaming software imported for duplication.


    However, Mukherjee said “in all such cases the value representing the transfer of intellectual rights would be subjected to service tax.”


    He justified the service tax, saying that “in keeping with the tradition of Indian cinema, I shall provide a surprise ending.”


    At the outset, Mukherjee said India is a nation of movie-goers, and the film industry had been experiencing difficulties in importing digital masters of films for duplication or distribution loaded on electronic medium vis-a-vis those imported on cinematographic film, owing to a differential customs duty structure.


    However in such cases the value representing the transfer of intellectual rights would be subjected to service tax, implying thereby that all revenues generated out of transfer of Intellectual Property Rights will be subject to service tax.


    Also, promotional material like trailors and making of films imported free of cost in the form of electronic promotion kits will be fully exempted from basic customs duty and countervailing duty.