ITV

Category: Movies

  • Future Films set to make a Maria Callas biopic

    MUMBAI: UK-based Future Films is set to co-produce a feature biopic on opera diva Maria Callas with Italy-based De Angelis Group (DAP).


    Future Films‘ Carola Ash and Albert Martinez Martin are producing under the company‘s 2B Pictures production arm, together with DAP‘s Nicola de Angelis.


    Niall Johnson is adapting the screenplay for Callas from a Alfonso Signorini‘s biography of the singer So Proud, So Fragile.


    The film will focus on the New York born Callas‘ tempestuous relationship with billionaire shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.


    It is the third biographical project in three years for Future Films, following Fifty Dead Men Walking and Goodbye Bafana that was a biographical look at Mandela‘s later years at Robben Island prison.


    The cast and director of the film are yet to be announced.

  • CineAsia gets underway

    MUMBAI: With a focus on multiplex development and the rollout of d-cinema systems in the mainland China market, which is currently enjoying 40 per cent box-office growth, the CineAsia distribution and exhibition conference got going in Hong Kong on Tuesday.


    On an average, at least one new screen is being opened every day in China.


    Rance Pow, president of theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway, gave a visual depiction of the way that multiplexes are mushrooming across the country – 90 cinemas with 386 screens have opened so far this year – and argued that there is still plenty of room for further growth.


    According to Pow, China currently has 1,635 cinemas with 4,483 screens, which is estimated to grow to 2,000 cinemas with 6,000 screens by the end of 2010. In comparison, the North America market, with a fraction of China‘s population, has around 5,400 cinemas with 39,000 screens.


    Delegates also heard about the impressive rollout of d-cinema and 3D systems in mainland China, which is now the world‘s second biggest territory in terms of digital screens.
    The rollout has been driven by the Chinese government that provides subsidies and other forms of support to help cinemas upgrade. As a result, local players such as Time Antaeus – a real estate turned exhibition company – have been encouraged to join the fray. Time Antaeus has already deployed 895 DCI-compliant screens across China and aims to hit 2,000 by the end of 2010.


    According to Yang Buting, chairman of China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association, China now has 1,388 2K D-cinema screens of which around 500 can play 3D. By November 2009, a total of 102 movies had been released in digital formats, grossing a combined $167m (RMB1.14bn), compared to 62 digital titles grossing $76m (RMB520m) in 2008.


    The growth in traditional and d-cinema screens is having a direct impact on the mainland box office, which is on course to hit $882.4m by the end of 2009, a 40 per cent increase on the $635.5 haul in 2008. As of the end of November, with the normally lucrative month of December yet to come, box office had already reached $755.3m.


    In addition to new cinemas, growth is also due to a strong line-up of Chinese movies and the fact that the Chinese authorities are allowing big-ticket US movies, such as Transformers 2 and 2012, for exhibition.

  • Rocket Singh to grace Dubai International Film Festival

    MUMBAI: Even before its worldwide release on 11 December, Yash Raj Films‘ Rocket Singh- Salesman of the Year has bagged an important laurel. The film has been invited to the 6th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) that takes place in Dubai from 9 to 16 December.


    The film will be part of the Gala Celebration of Indian Cinema section of the Out of Competition DIFF programme. In a way this would mean that the film would have its world premiere at the festival.


    The film is likely to be screened on 10 December in Madinat Arena Cinema.
    Lead player Ranbir Kapoor, director Shimit Amin and Jaideep Sahni have been invited to be part of the festival this year.


    Now in its sixth year, DIFF 2009 is held in association with Dubai Studio City and supported by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Since its first edition in 2004, DIFF has established itself as an important cultural event in Dubai and the UAE.

  • UTV makes documentary on Chandrayaan 1 mission

    MUMBAI: UTV has made an half-hour documentary on the Chandrayaan-1 mission for the XP Division of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.


    With the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1 mission on 22 October, 2008, India became a coveted member of the Space Club. It was a first in many ways for the Indian Space Programme, when an indigenous spacecraft was launched beyond the earth‘s orbit.


    The Chandrayaan documentary celebrates this successful venture. It will be sent to opinion leaders, NGOs, High Commissions and Embassies across the globe to promote India‘s space capabilities.


    Showcasing the Chandrayaan-1 mission, the film encapsulates its various facets starting from the idea being mooted for the moon mission to the objectives of the mission and the scientific marvel that the project is.


    Shot extensively at the ISRO establishments, it is one of the rare and exclusive insights which the UTV team has gathered on the entire Chandrayaan-1 mission. Beyond this, the film also talks about the ground facilities of the mission wherein the information being sent by the spacecraft are being collected and collated for an in-depth analysis of the moon, not only in India, but across the global scientific community.


    The film also features the top scientists associated with the project including
    G Madhvan Nair, former Chairman-ISRO, G Kasturirangan, former Chairman-ISRO and other key members of the mission, sharing their apprehensions, journey and the excitement of the successful project. Former president APJ Abdul Kalam also shares his views on the Chandrayaan-1 mission.


    Said Rahul Bhatia, Vice President, dubbing and North TV, UTV Television, “It is an honour for us to be associated with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and a delight to be a part of the Chandrayaan mission.”


    The film also talks about what led to aborting the mission in August 2009, almost a year before its schedule.


    The path-breaking finding that evolved from the detailed analysis of the data obtained from M3, carried out by a joint team of scientists from US and India, was the most significant of them.


    The film finally talks about the next phase of the Chandrayaan Mission and the future of Indian Space exploration.

  • Wood, Williams return for ‘Happy Feet’ sequel

    MUMBAI: Elijah Wood and Robin Williams are in negotiations to play thei respective roles as lead voices in Happy Feet 2, Warner Bros.‘ sequel to Village Roadshow‘s 2006 Oscar-winning animated hit. George Miller will again occupy the director‘s chair.


    While Wood will play Mumble, the penguin who can‘t sing but can dance the tuxedo off of any waddler around him, Williams will essay the role of the hyper-acting and wise-cracking penguin Ramon.


     The actors will travel to Australia in late January/early February to record the voice tracks.


    The original film grossed almost $198 million at the domestic box-office and won a slew of awards.

  • NFTS board set to have chairman in Simon Shaps

    MUMBAI: Former director of television of ITV, Simon Shaps has been appointed as chairman of the National Film and Television School (NFTS) board. He replaces Michael Kuhn, who steps down after two terms.


    The school has also announced that media financier Stephen Louis will succeed Peter Bazalgette as deputy chairman.
    The new appointments take effect from 8 December.


    Shaps, who was also recently appointed as chairman of documentary distributor MercuryMedia, held a variety of roles at ITV, the UK‘s largest commercial broadcaster, over a 20 year career.


    As director of television, he was responsible for developing and commissioning shows across all genres, including Britain‘s Got Talent and Loose Women. He currently has a portfolio of roles with a number of media-related businesses, including advertiser-led programming companies Brand Apart.


    Kuhn and Bazalgette joined the NFTS board in 2003 and served two terms each. During the tenure, the school committed to remaining at its Beaconfield site paving the way for the launch of new courses and the construction of a new building.


    Said NFTS director Nic Powell, “Under their leadership, they stabilised funding, built its first news teaching building for more than 30 years, modernised its courses and added much-needed new ones.


    “More importantly, they re-established the NFTS as one of the world‘s leading film schools producing multi award-wining graduates and work. The industry and school owe them a debt of gratitude.”

  • Overture laps up US rights of De Niro-thriller Stone

    MUMBAI: Overture Films has lapped up the US rights of Stone, a thriller starring Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich and Frances Conroy.


    John Curran has directed the film written by Angus MacLachlan‘s script about a convicted arsonist who uses his beautiful wife to manipulate an older parole officer into securing his parole.


    While Mimran Schur Pictures and Millennium Films have financed the project, Nu Image is handling its international sales.


    “Curran is a gifted director working from a fantastic script and with a top-notch ensemble of actors,” Overture‘s CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett said in a statement. “All of us at Overture are excited to be adding this exciting film to our slate for next year.”


    “Chris and Danny have made clear their passion for Stone,” Schur added. “Overture is intent on presenting the film with vigour and grace, and figures to be a great fit for Mimran Schur”, they averred.


    Stone will join the 2010 roster of Overture that includes The Crazies, Brooklyn‘s Finest and Jack Goes Boating.

  • Palm Springs to honour Crazy Heart star Jeff Bridges

    MUMBAI: Jeff Bridges will receive the 21st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival‘s (PSIFF) Desert Palm Achievement Award. He is an awards contender for his portrayal of an alcoholic country music singer seeking redemption in Crazy Heart.


    Bridges will collect The honour will be besotted on Bridges at the PSIFF awards gala on 5 January, when he will join a pantheon of previous honourees that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Penn, Liam Neeson, Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and James Stewart.


     
    Said, festival chairman Harold Matzner of the four times Academy Award nominee, “Bridges‘ career is the very embodiment of the Desert Palm Achievement Award, which was created to acknowledge acting excellence, and years of consistent and memorable work.”


    “This year, in his remarkable performance in Crazy Heart, he once again shows us why he is considered one of America‘s greatest actors.”


    The festival will run from 5 to 18 January, next year.

  • Amitabh Bachchan presented with Asian Film Culture award

    MUMBAI: The Asian Film Foundation felicitated Amitabh Bachchan with the the Asian Film Culture Award on 7 December.


    Producer-director Ramesh Sippy was the chief guest of the evening. Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Asian Film Foundation chairman Kiran Shantaram, Festival director Sudhir Nandgoankar and Abhishek Bachchan.


    The Asian Film Festival aims to bridge the gap between the Asian Film fraternities and promote Asian cinema. This award is given each year to a master of Asian Cinema, alternatively to an Indian and a non-Indian stalwart.


    Amitabh Bachchan was voted the star of the millennium in a BBC news poll, ahead of such luminaries as Charlie Chaplin, Sir Lawerence Olivier and Marlon Brando.


    With a success record so consistent, over a period of time, Bachchan has come to symbolize the Indian film industry to viewers in the country abroad.


    Bachchan has won many major awards including 3 National Film Awards and 12 Filmfare Awards. He holds the record for most number of best actor nominations at Filmfare Awards.


    Previous recipients of the Asian Film Culture Award have been personalities like
    Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Park Kwang – su, Tapan Sinha, Majid Majidi, Kanneto Shindo, Mrinal Sen and Lester Junes Peries.

  • Leornado in animation film The Guardians

    MUMBAI: Leonardo DiCaprio will make his animated feature film debut as Jack Frost in DreamWorks Animation‘s The Guardians.


    The film, a collection of storybook subjects who are also a band of superheroes, who possess their own special powers is based on The Guardians of Childhood, a series of books by William Joyce.


    The Guardians produced by Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein, and directed by Peter Ramsey is due for a November, 2012 release.