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Category: Film Production

  • Mipcom Cannes 2022 launches new co-production market alongside exhibition

    Mipcom Cannes 2022 launches new co-production market alongside exhibition

    Mumbai: RX France, formerly Reed Midem, on Tuesday confirmed a robust first raft of stand bookings for Mipcom Cannes 2022, whilst announcing plans to launch a new international c0-production market alongside the exhibition in the Palais des Festivals dedicated to accelerating international co-production and development business in Cannes.

    Billed as ‘the mother of all entertainment content markets’, the 38th Mipcom Cannes takes place 17-20 October in the Palais des Festivals. Mipjunior returns to its pre-market weekend schedule 15-16 October at the JW Marriott Cannes.

    To date, more than 200+ exhibitors from 30 countries have already booked stand space for the October entertainment content market, with the majority of returning exhibitors back to their pre-pandemic booth sizes or larger, bolstered by the re-opening of major outdoor stands on the Croisette beach and surrounding the Palais des Festivals. The robust demand for exhibit space affirms a strong content sales and acquisitions climate supported by an overwhelming sentiment by buyers and sellers to return to in-person international business meetings.

    Also new for 2022 is ‘The Seaview Producers Hub’, an inaugural 1000 SQM (10,673 sq. ft.) networking lounge and event space, set against the backdrop of Cannes’ iconic sea view and introduced to reflect the increased focus at the market for exploring early-stage development and co-production partnerships.

    RX France Entertainment division director Lucy Smith said, “2022 is undoubtedly the comeback year for Mipcom Cannes. A healthy set of confirmations four months out from the market, with more being added daily, demonstrates the huge appetite for the return of a full strength Mipcom. And, unhampered by last year’s travel restrictions, to meet increased demand we have a supersized edition planned for this October in Cannes. More to come over the coming months.”

  • Applause Entertainment announces plans to acquire and produce regional content

    Applause Entertainment announces plans to acquire and produce regional content

    Mumbai: Aditya Birla Group venture Applause Entertainment plans to foray deep into acquiring and upgrading the regional offerings and aim to have a robust and comprehensive slate of content. The content house will continue to focus on premium dramas for its regional productions.

    The content and IP creation studio has been a powerhouse of disruptive and entertaining storytelling since inception. It recently took the internet by storm with back-to-back announcements of upcoming shows including Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, Gandhi and Tanaav. In June, it released three new shows including Udan Patolas on Amazon miniTV, Salt City and Avrodh 2: The Siege Within on Sonyliv.

    The second franchise of Scam will feature the story of the 2003 stamp paper scam by Abdul Karim Telgi. Gagan Dev Riar will play the lead as Telgi in Scam 2003: The Telgi Story. Applause Entertainment also announced a biopic on Mahatma Gandhi, based on the writings of historian and author Ramachandra Guha. Pratik Gandhi has been roped in to play the Mahatma. And lastly, the studio announced the multi-starrer Indian adaptation of the hit Israeli series Fauda soon to stream on Sonyliv.

    Moreover, after a prestigious win at the Busan International Film Festival, Applause Entertainment’s film “The Rapist”, directed by Aparna Sen will be screened at the London Indian Film Festival.

  • Applause Entertainment to make a series on Mahatma Gandhi

    Applause Entertainment to make a series on Mahatma Gandhi

    MUMBAI: Production house Applause Entertainment will make a series on Mahatma Gandhi. The company has bought the rights to two books by Ramachandra Guha. Actor Pratik Gandhi will play Mahatma Gandhi.

    Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair said, “Ramachandra Guha is a historian and storyteller par excellence, and we are honoured to adapt his classic books – Gandhi before India, and Gandhi – The Years That Changed the World – to screen. We couldn’t think of anyone better than the incredibly talented Pratik Gandhi to bring alive the Mahatma, and his philosophies of peace and love that shook the world. We believe that only a richly layered, multi season drama series will do real justice to Gandhi and to all the great personalities that embed the proud and illustrious history of India’s Freedom Struggle. This is a story of the birthing of modern India for a global audience.”

    Historian Ramachandra Guha said, ‘Gandhi’s work transformed the world, and his legacy still sparks the most intense debates. His life was an epic journey, played out across three great countries: India, England and South Africa. He fought nobly for freedom, for inter-faith harmony, and for the rights of the underprivileged. Along the way he made many friends and not a few enemies too. I am delighted that my books on Gandhi are now being adapted for this ambitious and exciting series being produced by Applause Entertainment. I am confident that it will bring the complex contours of Gandhi’s life and the moral essence of his teachings to viewers across the globe’.

    Pratik Gandhi said, “I deeply believe in Gandhian philosophy and his values that echo simplicity in its purest forms. Personally too, I strive to achieve and imbibe many of his qualities and teachings in my daily life. Moreover, playing the role of Mahatma is very close to my heart ever since my theater days, and now it is a huge honor to yet again essay the role of this legendary leader on screen. I believe it’s a huge responsibility to essay this role with dignity, grace and conviction, and I can’t wait to embark on this journey with Sameer Nair and his team at Applause.”

  • Balaji Telefilms reported an income of Rs 119 crore for Q4 FY22

    Balaji Telefilms reported an income of Rs 119 crore for Q4 FY22

    Mumbai: Balaji Telefilms has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended 31 March 2022. The group posted an income of Rs 119 crore for the quarter and a loss of Rs 33.3 crore.

    The group revenues for the year stood at Rs 337 crore and a loss of Rs 133 crore. Altbalaji contributed Rs 102 crore to overall revenues. It sold 3.88 million subscriptions in FY22 excluding subscribers on partner apps. Its direct subscription revenue stood at Rs 52.39 crore.

    The TV business clocked 863 hours of production across seven shows for four broadcasters. There are two more shows lined up and should commence shortly.

    Altbalaji added 13 shows over 12 months on its platform. Its reality show Lock Upp has crossed more than 500 million views. The watch time on the OTT platform stood at 15.75 billion minutes, with an engagement time of 66 minutes. Video views stood at 1.29 billion cumulative to date.

    The company also has seven movie projects in the pipeline with leading actors and directors in the country.

    “The movie business continued to make good progress in completing its productions given that normal operations were fully resumed on account of easing of restrictions,” said the statement. “Further, with the relaxations implemented in terms of re-opening of cinema theatres, the theatrical distribution business is steadily on its way to regain momentum and this has accordingly allowed the company to pursue its monetization strategies for completed productions in terms of theatrical launches as well as deals for direct to digital.”

    The company has seven movies planned for release in FY23 and pre-locked existing deals on a few movies. As part of its strategy, Balaji Telefilms continues to control investments in movies and pursue pre-sales and co-production deals where feasible.

    “The relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and norms in this financial year allowed us to operate at our optimum efficiency levels,” said Balaji Telefilms Limited managing director Shobha Kapoor. “Altbalaji continues to drive subscription growth and we added 3.88 million subscriptions during the twelve months. We added 13 shows in the twelve months which included the highest watched reality show Lock Upp in OTT space signalling the reach of the business. We continue to have strong controls on the cash spend while driving overall profitability including some strong strategic content sharing deals which allows us to further our growth. Our TV business has shown good recovery in terms of production hours and we hope to improve this momentum as two new shows will commence. In the movie business, production for some exciting projects is at various stages of completion. We closely monitor the availability of theatrical releases and direct to digital launches. Overall, the year has been good and expected to continue the momentum.”

  • Maharashtra unlock begins; TV, film shoots resume with limited working hours

    New Delhi: After nearly two months of lockdown, Maharashtra is all set to begin easing its strict rules in stages, starting Monday. The film and television industry will also resume shooting, but work in limited hours, as regular shooting will be permitted only after Mumbai gets a grip on the second wave of Covid-19, said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

    As per the state government’s unlock plan, the film, TV shoots are allowed in Mumbai and Thane only for eight hours (till 5 pm) and that too, in a bio-bubble. According to producers, the timings aren’t feasible for the industry, as they require atleast 12 hours and requested the government for relaxation in shoot timings.

    “Permissions for regular film and TV shootings in Mumbai would be given if the city’s daily Covid-19 cases are brought under control,” Thackeray told the representatives of the film and TV industry during a virtual interaction on Sunday.

    One of the worst-affected states, Maharashtra has begun to show a slowdown in the number of new infections over the last week. On Sunday, the total number of daily infections came down to 12,557 which is the lowest in the last three months. The last time the state recorded Covid-19 cases less than 12,000 was on 9 March.

    “After the second wave of Covid-19, film and TV shootings were stopped in the state, but now the number of cases have started getting under control and the unlock process has also begun,” said Thackeray giving a glimmer of hope to the entertainment industry which has been struggling to get back on its feet for almost a year.

    The chief minister also sounded a note of caution and appealed to the industry to cooperate with the government in the unlock process and follow all the safety rules and take adequate precautions while shooting. ‘We should ensure that we do not get knocked down by the virus,’ he said.

    Ever since the restrictions were announced on 14 April, television producers and broadcasters in the state have been struggling to run daily shows and bring fresh content. The Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC) has also been beseeching the Shiv Sena-led government to allow shoots to continue under strict safety protocols.

    With no relief in the restrictions, producers shifted their production set up to other states to continue shooting for shows which are on air. Neighbouring Goa, Silvassa, and Daman became the hotspots for most of these TV shoots, along with Hyderabad, Surat, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

    Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), president B N Tiwari said the work will resume immediately in Mumbai and Thane, and producers who have been shooting outside the city will also return after wrapping up the schedule.

    Meanwhile, the IFTPC has also begun the process of vaccinating over 10,000 workers from the media and entertainment industry, starting 4 June.

    On Sunday, Maharashtra lost 233 lives to the deadly virus and crossed the grim milestone of as many as one lakh deaths due to Covid-19. The case fatality rate now stands at 1.72 per cent for the state, while it is 5.56 per cent in Mumbai.

    Terming the unlock decision as a ‘calculated risk’, the state CM urged people to take care of themselves. “Nothing is going to be eased immediately. Some criteria and levels have been fixed and the local administration will take decisions on whether to ease restrictions and further tighten them,” he said.

    According to the government, the overall process of easing the restrictions will extend across five phases based on the positivity rate and occupancy of beds with medical oxygen. Restaurants, shops selling non-essential items, and public places will reopen from Monday in Mumbai, but malls, theatres, and multiplexes will continue to remain shut. Private offices can function at 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm on working days. Local trains in Mumbai will carry only essential workers, while buses in the city will be allowed to ply full capacity.

    The virtual meeting on Sunday was attended by several prominent actors, anchors, and industry representatives including J D Majethia, Nitin Vaidya, Punit Goenka, Aadesh Bandekar, Prashant Damle, Bharat Jadhav, Subodh Bhave, Amol Kolhe, Amit Behl, Ajay Bhalvankar, Sangamon Shirke, Vijay Kenkre, Sharad Ponkshe, and Siddharth Roy Kapur.

  • From Maharashtra to Punjab, how TV industry is navigating Covid’s second wave

    From Maharashtra to Punjab, how TV industry is navigating Covid’s second wave

    KERALA: The second wave of Covid2019 that is wreaking havoc in India has reshaped the way in which television shows are made and broadcasted. As several states including Maharashtra have suspended the shooting of TV shows due to the surge in Covid cases, producers are now choosing states like Punjab to complete the filming of ongoing projects. 

    Producers compelled to shift shoots to other states

    During the initial days of shooting suspension, most showrunners shifted to states like Goa and Karnataka to complete their pending shoots. And now, as several states have started imposing strict restrictions, producers are going further afield – moving to Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan to quickly film the pending episodes. 

    For television producers, this inter-state expedition is a costly proposition, especially because the shooting in these states has to be carried out in adherence to all Covid protocols. 

    “Shooting in other states outside Maharashtra is undoubtedly a very expensive deal, and producers are struggling financially. We are quickly trying to complete the filming of pending episodes in states like Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Punjab. We are facing huge loss, but the show must go on,” said Indian Films and Television Producers Council chairman JD Majethia. 

    Filming of non-fiction shows impacted

    According to Majethia, production of non-fiction shows has been largely impacted due to Covid restrictions, especially due to the huge funds and infrastructure involved in the filming process. 

    “Even in normal scenarios, running a non-fiction show is very challenging, and now, during the time of the pandemic, it has become more challenging than ever before. Contestants who participate in these shows come from different cities, and producers should take care of various things including their accommodation. We have to be very careful to ensure that no person in the sets is infected. It is a financial and moral responsibility, and it is stressful too,” added Majethia. 

    The actor-director also noted that it is really difficult to replicate everything on the new sets that are being erected to ensure continuity of shows. 

    Artists and technicians stranded in various states

    IFTPC revealed that several artists from Maharashtra are currently stranded in other states. To avoid this situation, producers have urged the government to permit the shooting of television shows within Maharashtra, and assured that filming will take place by maintaining all Covid protocols. Majethia also added that producers in Maharashtra are ready to work together with the government to curb the spread of the pandemic. 

    “There are several technicians and artists who are now in other states for shooting activities. To enter Maharashtra and to go back to other states for filming is not an easy task, as RT-PCR tests are mandatory to enter other regions. We also love to be a part of the government’s initiative to curb the spread of the pandemic,” added IFTPC. 

    Majethia went on to mention that the lockdown imposed in Goa has negatively affected the filming of many shows that had switched production bases to the smallest state in the country. 

    However, Goa Line Producers Association president Sandeep Korecha revealed that the lockdown has not affected indoor shooting. 

    “We are allowed to shoot at indoor venues, until May 30, even during the lockdown. Outdoor shoots aren’t permitted. We have also been asked to shoot with minimum crew members. We put an indicator on our vehicles so that they’re allowed to pass during the lockdown,” said Korecha during a recent interview with The Times of India.

    Television shows essential during Covid times

    Following the spate of restrictions in several states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala, people are now confined to their homes, and for them, the primary means of entertainment is the television. Citing this point, Majethia claimed that makers of TV programs also come under essential services. 

    “People are depressed and frustrated due to the Covid pandemic. Entertainment is very much necessary at this time. Getting ample doses of entertainment will act as a medicine for depressed people,” he asserted. 

    Meanwhile, several television personalities have also succumbed to the deadly virus in recent days. On 30 April, actor and anchor Kanupriya died days after contracting Covid. She was known for her roles in Bhanwar, Ananro, Kahi Aek Gaon, Kartavya, Meri Kahani, Tesu Ke Phool and Tumhara Intezar Hai.  

    On 10 April, veteran Punjabi actor Satish Kaul, who had featured in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, passed away due to Covid-related complications. 

    Television actor Divya Bhatnagar, best known for her role in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, died due to Covid2019 in December last year. She was just 34. 

  • IFTPC proposes Bio-Bubble plan before Maharashtra Govt

    IFTPC proposes Bio-Bubble plan before Maharashtra Govt

    MUMBAI: Film and TV land juddered to a halt on Wednesday after the Maharashtra government imposed a ban on filming for a period of two weeks owing to the skyrocketing cases of Covid2019 in the state.

    The new order is part of the Break The Chain guidelines, that states all shoots of films, television and advertisement will be put on hold from 14 April to 1 May. Until this order, production had been taking place with restrictions like avoiding filming scenes with large crowds or background dancers and no shoots during the weekend lockdown.

    As the television and film industry gears up to brace the impact of the two-week-long restrictions in Maharashtra, several entertainment bodies and broadcasters met on Wednesday and decided to appeal to state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to allow certain production-related activity by following Covid2019 safety protocols.

    Television producer and Indian Films & TV Producers Council (IFTPC) chairman TV wing & web JD Majethia has said that while the entire fraternity supports the government in its fight to curb the spread of Covid2019, they have decided to approach Thackeray to allow shoots to go on with stricter measures.

    “We are writing to the CM for a few exemptions during the next two weeks. People look forward to entertainment and fresh content while being confined to their homes during such a trying time,” said Majethia.

    He also mentioned that the production houses who have created a bank of upcoming episodes will sustain and those who do not have fresh episodes in the pipeline will have to air repeat telecasts.

    “Some film and television producers are also mulling over plans to shift productions to locations outside Maharashtra like Goa or nearby places to commence the shooting,” said Swastik Productions MD Rahul Kumar Tewary, who is currently shooting in Gujarat. “They are also changing the track of the shows to current times. The whole industry is facing a very challenging time despite following all the Covid2019 protocols the situation is uncontrollable and unpredictable. Broadcasters are also planning whether they want to air original content or repeat telecasts.”

    The new restrictions could impact the shooting of around 90 TV shows, 50 Hindi movies, and 40 Marathi films. Apart from these, the production of a large number of web series will also be impacted.

    While echoing the sentiment, Majethia mentioned that rather than changing locations, it would be easier for a fiction show to alter its storyline. However, it can be extremely difficult for a non-fiction property to create a whole new infrastructure, he highlighted. “Moving the entire cast and crew to a new location is a possibility but what will we do if the situation gets worse over there as well? A lot of shootings were happening in Madhya Pradesh but the government soon announced a lockdown, due to which ongoing shootings were immediately halted. These kinds of situations can happen anytime,” the producer said.  

    With the double-edged sword of rising caseloads and production shutdown at any time hovering over their heads, representatives of several producers’ bodies have decided to propose creation of bio-bubbles to the state government.

    “This week, along with other stakeholders of the industry, we will present our plan on bio-bubble to the government. Through this move we are trying to build a confidence among government officials that if shooting gets resumed, we have a protected environment where we can shoot,” Majethia explained. 

    He also expressed fears that if the lockdown continues and fresh content dries up, it could be difficult to retain existing viewers, who may migrate to online streaming platforms for good.

    Elara Capital research analyst Karan Taurani said TV shows will be most impacted by the shutdown, specifically Marathi and Hindi fiction and non-fiction shows.

    Meanwhile, broadcasters and producers are working in tandem to tackle the situation. There is no penalty on late delivery of content and discussions are underway on extending the budget in case of outdoor shoots.

    “TV broadcasters generally have a buffer of 10-15 days before a fresh episode is shown, hence the impact will be minimal if this restriction stays for 15 days, however in case of any extension, it will have a negative impact for broadcasters," pronounced Balaji Telefilms CEO Karan Taurani.

    Bollywood is also feeling the heat. Films like Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathan, Salman Khan-led Tiger 3 and Amitabh Bachchan’s Goodbye that were filming under these restrictions are now in limbo. Moreover, the industry is bearing losses as spot boys and other daily wagers have returned to their hometown due to no work.

    “We support lockdown, but there has to be a way for us. The government talks about others but not daily wagers in our industry,” said the president of the All Indian Cine Workers Association.

  • Illusion Reality Studioz aims to revolutionise post-production space in India: Nitin Dadoo

    Illusion Reality Studioz aims to revolutionise post-production space in India: Nitin Dadoo

    MUMBAI: Contiloe Pictures has proved itself a pioneer in the industry since its inception two decades ago. And now, the fully integrated, premium broad-based entertainment content production company announced that its VFX division will be rebranded to Illusion Reality Studioz.

    With the aim to become the one stop destination for all VFX needs, the in-house vertical will solely focus on VFX, animation, previz/techviz, on-set camera tracking, lidar scanning amongst others, and will continue the Contiloe ethos of merging storytelling and art with science. The vertical will be helmed by Illusion Reality Studioz( a Contiloe Pictures group company) animation & VFX business head, Contiloe Pictures CFO Nitin Dadoo.

    “For the last three years, we were evaluating the significance and the extension plan.  Apart from in-house content we started taking external projects – from Hollywood, OTT or regional shows. During this time, we realised that the complexities and number of projects are increasing and it is the best time to start a new vertical which will cater into both VFX and animation,” explained Dadoo, adding that the rebrand was deferred from 2020 to 2021 due to the Covid2019 pandemic.

    At present, the studio has a strength of more than 200 employees who are working from its Mumbai and Bhubaneshwar facilities. The team is bifurcated into two divisions – one solely focused on internal projects and the other handles external projects. The creative team is headed by Nicholas Camecho, along with creative directors Deepak SV and Indraneel Roy. Nicholas boasts of over 35 years experience in the VFX and animation space including his stints with studios like Disney and Warner Bros. He has also held the title of creative supervisor, director and producer across several CG development projects in London. Deepak is an old hand in visual effects and animation, and handles foreign and Indian clients. A national film awardee creative director with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment industry, he has had successful stints working with Pixion, Maya Entertainment and Accel media. Roy’s expertise lies in motion pictures and visual effects. With 25 years of diverse experience, he has worked closely with the directors, producers, production houses, cinematographers and studios as Visual Effects Director / VFX Supervisor to materialize their varied visions. Nishikant is the CGI and VFX supervisor. Head of production Bharat Mistry has been associated with Contiloe Pictures for well over a decade now.

    In the aftermath of the virus outbreak and resumption of filming, it was observed that several production houses are venturing into virtual production to minimise the budget and avoid outdoor shoots. The team at Illusion Reality Studioz is aiming to take virtual production a notch higher, as it is going to be a key pillar in the VFX facility. Under this technology, there will be functions like unreal motion builder which will be used to create photo imagery. Within the camera, the team can showcase what the directors are emphasising. Through this technology, directors, creators  and DOPs can become the part of visualisation process before it goes on the edit table.

    Citing an example, Dadoo mentioned that for their upcoming premium series, they are virtually creating some assets and locations within the script to make it easier for the director to figure out the cast needed for the show and other important details. He shared that this process will save time on post-production.

    Virtual production will allow them to create photo real and hyper real assets within the existing system. Through on-set camera tracking, lidar scanning (used to scan the set) it would be easier to create an environment in real time and it will also allow to create final imagery without going into post production.

    “In India, we spend 15-20 per cent of our time in pre-production, 40 per cent in shooting and another 35-40 per cent goes in post-production. But in the western world, things are more organised. They spend 40 per cent of their time in pre-production followed by shooting and in post-production they only spend 20 per cent. India is still in the learning process, with our studio we are also trying to get into that space where we plan much in advance and save cost and time,” Dadoo detailed.

    He envisages to become the first VFX studio in the country to use these tools and change the landscape of post-production process.

    Apart from working on current projects like Vighnaharta Ganesha, State of Siege 26: 11, the studio is busy developing an original series – Akshardham, the shooting will commence in may. On the external projects, the team recently finished working on MX Player’s eight-part web series Ram Yug. The series is directed and produced by Kunal Kohli. The studio will also start working on 26-part animation series for The Jim Henson Company.

    Dadoo said he is flexible with working on both co-production and commission based projects. Acquisition and syndication of content is also on the cards, stating that he’s working on syndicating content from Thailand and the Sri Lankan market. However, the major focus will be on creating content where the studio can retain the rights.

  • Banijay’s Don’t Forget the Lyrics heads to Portugal for the first time

    Banijay’s Don’t Forget the Lyrics heads to Portugal for the first time

    MUMBAI: Banijay-owned Shine Iberia has confirmed that it is bringing Não te Esqueças da Letra (Don't Forget the Lyrics) to Portugal in a first series deal with RTP1. Presented by João Paulo Rodrigues, the musical game show will air in Portugal on Saturday evenings from this spring.

    Singing ability plays no part in this entertainment series, instead it is all about correctly remembering the words to hit songs to win a life-changing cash prize.  Contestants choose from different genres and decades, and take to the stage and sing-along with the studio band as the lyrics are displayed. But will they have what it takes when the music stops? Or will they forget the lyrics?

    Originally created in the US, Banijay format Don’t Forget the Lyrics first aired in 2007 and has been adapted in over 25 countries. The format is a long-running hit in France, produced by Air Productions and celebrating 5,000 episodes on France 2 this spring.

    Banijay creative networks content operations global head Lucas Green said: “Don’t Forget the Lyrics is the epitome of feel-good entertainment which is incredibly popular right now. As we celebrate 5,000 episodes in France, it is great to be bringing the show to new markets and we firmly believe other broadcasters will be interested in the mixture of game and music the format offers.”

    Shine Iberia CEO Macarena Rey said: “We are excited to create a local version of this uplifting format which the whole family can enjoy together. The home of Fado, Portugal has always enjoyed a booming music scene and Don’t Forget the Lyrics promises to create the fun, party atmosphere many viewers are craving.”

    Shine Iberia is behind numerous non-scripted shows airing across Spain and Portugal. Currently on-air in Portugal is the country’s first local version of All Together Now, along with entertainment hits such as Hell’s Kitchen and The Voice Kids.

    Other offerings from Shine Iberia include MasterChef, MasterChef Junior and MasterChef Celebrity, alongside Sewing Bee, The Island, Anything Goes, Hunted, MasterChef Portugal, D’Improviso, The Voice Portugal, Kitchen Nightmares and I Love Portugal.

  • Paramount names Michael Ireland & Daria Cereck co-presidents of production

    Paramount names Michael Ireland & Daria Cereck co-presidents of production

    MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures has named former New Line Cinema executive Daria Cercek and former 20th Century Studios executive Michael Ireland as co-presidents of production at the studio.

    Both Cercek and Ireland will report to Paramount motion picture group president Emma Watts. Ireland joined the studio in late November, and Cercek begins her position effective from 11 January.

    “I’m thrilled to be working again with both Daria and Mike,” Watts said in a statement. “The key to success is having the right team, and having watched Daria and Mike grow over the years, I am quite confident their combined creativity, enthusiasm and extensive talent relationships will be a huge windfall for Paramount. They believe passionately in people and projects, which makes for better films.”

    Prior to joining Paramount, Cercek worked in New Line Cinema, where she served as executive vice president of production and development. In her role, she oversaw Olivia Wilde’s upcoming next film Don’t Worry Darling starring Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and Chris Pine.

    “I am absolutely over the moon to be joining the incredible team at Paramount, and working again with some of my most esteemed and beloved friends and colleagues,” Cercek said in a statement. “It is truly an honor to step into this role alongside Mike at such a historic studio, and to continue the legacy of making top-notch movies with world-class talent.”

    Cercek was formerly senior vice president of production and development at Twentieth Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios), having risen through the ranks after starting as a creative executive in 2010.

    Ireland, began his career as a network executive at MTV in 2003.