ITV

Category: Film Production

  • BSE seeks clarification from Eros on movie channel launch plan

    BSE seeks clarification from Eros on movie channel launch plan

    MUMBAI: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has sought clarification from film production and distribution firm Eros International Media with regards to its plans of launching a movie channel and tweaking business verticals.

     

    The notice to Eros reads, “The Exchange has sought clarification from Eros International Media Ltd with respect to news article appearing in Mint on 6 April, 2015 titled ‘Eros plans new movie channel, acquisition of technology startups.’”

    The publication has reported that the film production company is looking at generating more content and acquiring technology startups.

     

    Eros International group CEO and managing director Jyoti Deshpande, in an interview to the publication, has said that the company is entering south India and newer areas of content creation and distribution. With Eros looking at producing 125 movies as compared to the approximately 70 it currently produces, Deshpande, is expecting a steady increase in margins for the current financial year.  

     

    The Exchange has sought a reply from Eros with regards to this news item and the reply is still awaited.

  • Lionsgate launches new specialty distribution label

    Lionsgate launches new specialty distribution label

    MUMBAI: As part of the continued diversification of its portfolio of films, Lionsgate has launched a new specialty film distribution label called Lionsgate Premiere.

     

    Marketing initiatives for the new label will be headed by Lionsgate senior vice president of marketing and research Jean McDowell under the supervision of Lionsgate chief marketing officer Tim Palen. Adam Sorensen, currently manager of western sales at Lionsgate, will oversee Lionsgate Premiere’s distribution operations.

     

    Lionsgate Premiere, which will release films from both the Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment labels, will extend the reach of the company’s motion picture group to new audiences and platforms. It will encompass a diverse slate of up to 15 films annually that will be released in theatres as well as across a broad spectrum of digital platforms.

     

    Lionsgate Premiere will focus on customizing innovative multiplatform and other release strategies for its slate of films in order to capitalize on the fast-changing motion picture environment, reach affinity audiences with branded content and targeted marketing and enhance the profitability of individual films.

     

    Lionsgate Premiere’s slate will kick off this fall with the Chinese hit Dragon Blade, whose all-star cast includes Jackie Chan, Adrien Brody and John Cusack. Next up will be the offbeat zom-com and Sundance Film Festival sensation Cooties, starring Rainn Wilson and Elijah Wood and written by Saw franchise co-creator Leigh Whannell. Other Premiere titles will include the comedy Don Verdean, starring Sam Rockwell, Danny McBride and Will Forte; horror/thriller Knock Knock, from Cabin Fever and Hostelwriter/director Eli Roth, starring John Wick’sKeanu Reeves, and the action thriller Extraction, featuring Bruce Willis, Kellen Lutz and MMA fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano.

     

    “Lionsgate Premiere embodies the unique attributes of our motion picture business – our diversity, our focus on audiences in our sweet spot and ability to create release strategies attuned to next generation moviegoers. We’re thrilled to launch our newest label with a wide-ranging slate that features films from horror maestros, star-driven action thrillers as well as a blockbuster that has already conquered the Chinese box office,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger.

     

    “Our new Lionsgate Premiere brand positions us to further expand our portfolio of releases and capitalize on opportunities to deliver an exciting slate of films to next generation audiences. We have put in place a dynamic marketing and distribution team that will ensure that the Lionsgate Premiere brand is distinguished by provocative and original storytelling, innovative marketing campaigns and forward-looking multiplatform and other release strategies that maintain our leadership at the cutting edge of industry innovation,” said Lionsgate co-chief operating officer and Motion Picture Group president Steve Beeks.

     

    Before his recent promotion, McDowell served as vice president of research for the studio.

  • Sony Pictures Television acquires Netherlands’ Film 1 channels

    Sony Pictures Television acquires Netherlands’ Film 1 channels

    NEW DELHI: Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPT) has acquired the Film1 group in the Netherlands from Liberty Global.

     

    Under the deal, SPT will fully own and operate the five premium pay-TV channels under the Film1 umbrella along with its Film1 Go service, pending regulatory approval.

     

    The five Film1 channels include Film1 Premiere, Film1 Action, Film1 Comedy & Kids, Film1 Spotlight and Film1 Sundance, as well as the Film1 Go OTT service.

     

    All five Film1 channels will continue to be carried on Liberty Global’s Ziggo and UPC cable tv platforms in the Netherlands.

     

    “The acquisition of Film1 marks a key move  into the Dutch market and underlines our continued commitment to grow our highly successful and diverse suite of channels across Europe. Film1 complements and expands our successful Networks portfolio and we are looking forward to working with all our partners to continue to build on the success of the Film1 proposition,” said SPT executive vice president, Networks, Western Europe Kate Marsh.

     

    “When approaching the sale of Film1 as part of the group’s acquisition of Ziggo, we wanted to ensure the new owner would be focused on building on a strong portfolio of channels. We are pleased that Film1 will be in good hands under Sony’s ownership,” added Liberty Global media investments group president Niall Curran.

  • Graphic India raises $2.8 million to create mobile content

    Graphic India raises $2.8 million to create mobile content

    MUMBAI: Graphic India has closed a new seed-financing round of $2.8 million. 

     

    The financing was led by CA Media, the Asian investment arm of Peter Chernin’s The Chernin Group that had picked up a stake in Graphic India in 2013, and Michael Maher’s New York based Start Media. The other investors in the seed-financing include Backflip Studios Julian Farrior and Dale Thoms.

     

    The funds raised will be utilised to create content in English, Hindi, Tamil and other Indian languages for the Indian youth to consume on their mobile devices. India has more than 850 active mobile connections and 550 million people under the age of 25.

     

    Graphic India is looking at launching a new wave of enduring characters and mythic heroes for audiences in India and around the world.

     

    Graphic India CEO and co-founder Sharad Devarajan said, “The next Steven Spielberg, JK Rowling, Stan Lee or Miyazaki exists somewhere in India, ready to change the world through their stories. At Graphic, we will find these breakthrough talents and give them the resources and the digital platform to share their creativity with the world. This new financing will expand our content offering and allow us to create India’s premiere mobile platform for comics and animation – engaging and building a passionate community of superhero, sci-fi and mythology fans through Graphic’s content and characters.”

     

    Over the next few months, Graphic India will unveil a number of digital products and apps in India to build direct engagement with the growing community of comic book and animation fans in the country.

     

    “We have always believed in the immense potential of Graphic India. An amalgamation of talent and creativity, the characters, heroes and stories from Graphic India, tap into the unique ingenuity and culture of India, but appeal to audiences worldwide. With smart phones increasingly becoming the preferred medium of entertainment for the youth and the ever increasing consumer reach of mobiles in India, the move towards expanding their offering and creating content for smart phones and tablets will give them with a significant boost and enthuse the next generation of comic buffs,” added Chernin Asia Media Group COO Rajesh Kamat.

     

    Founded in January 2013, by Devarajan, Gotham Chopra and Suresh Seetharaman, Graphic India had previously raised $2.5 million in initial seed financing from CA Media.

     

  • LAFF inks film licensing deals with Sony, Disney, Miramax

    LAFF inks film licensing deals with Sony, Disney, Miramax

    MUMBAI: Continuing to assemble impressive programming assets as it prepares to debut on 15 April, over-the-air broadcast television network devoted to comedy – LAFF – has inked three individual film licensing agreements with Sony Pictures Television, The Walt Disney Studios and Miramax. The deals will bring the network some of the biggest comedic stars and performances of recent times.

     

    Stars and titles headed to LAFF from the Sony Pictures Television library include: Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise; Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle, Punchline and Nothing in Common, which co-stars Jackie Gleason; Gleason’s classic pairing with Richard Pryor in The Toy; Pryor and Gene Wilder teaming for Stir Crazy; Steel Magnolias starring Julia Roberts; Robin Williams in The Fisher King and Moscow on the Hudson; Steve Martin in Roxanne and Mixed Nuts; John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as Neighbors and also This is Spinal Tap, About Last Night and St. Elmo’s Fire.

     

    Library movies from The Walt Disney Studios include: Splash, starring Tom Hanks; Robin Williams and John Travolta in Old Dogs; Ellen DeGeneres chasing Mr. Wrong; Jungle 2 Jungle, starring Tim Allen and Martin Short; Eddie Murphy as The Distinguished Gentleman; John Cusack in High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank as well as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and its sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Cool Runnings, Mr. 3000 and The Ref.

     

    Films and stars from the Miramax library include: Kevin Smith’s breakthrough comedy Clerks; Flirting With Disaster, starring Ben Stiller; Keeping Up With The Steins with Jeremy Piven and Cheryl Hines; Kristen Stewart, Kristen Wiig, and Bill Hader in Adventureland; Robert Altman’s Pret-A-Porter, with Julia Roberts and Tim Robbins; an all-star cast in Beautiful Girls; Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler and Jason Biggs in Jersey Girl; Matthew Broderick in The Night We Never Met and William H. Macy and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas.

     

    LAFF will feature a mix of contemporary off-network sitcoms and popular theatrical motion pictures, with a target audience of adults 18-49.

  • Lionsgate inks co-financing deal with China’s Hunan TV

    Lionsgate inks co-financing deal with China’s Hunan TV

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate and China’s Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co. Ltd. have inked a partnership that includes a multiyear slate co-financing deal covering qualifying Lionsgate feature films.

     

    The agreement marks another step in Lionsgate’s continued growth into key markets around the world.

     

    Under the terms of the agreement, Hunan’s wholly-owned TIK Films subsidiaries will co-finance all qualifying Lionsgate feature films annually for the next three years, including such eagerly-anticipated branded properties as the action-adventure film Gods of Egypt, an epic reimagining of ancient Egypt, Now You See Me 2, the sequel to Lionsgate’s 2013 global blockbuster, which grossed more than $350 million at the worldwide box office, the supernatural action thriller The Last Witch Hunter, starring Vin Diesel, the critically-acclaimed thriller Sicario and the romantic thriller Age of Adaline, starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford. 

     

    TIK Films, in partnership with Leomus Pictures, also has the option to distribute up to four of the co-financed films each year in China. In addition, Lionsgate, TIK and Leomus are already planning several feature film co-development and co-production projects in China. Leomus recently distributed the hit films Now You See Me and Escape Plan from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label in China, where Escape Plan grossed more at the box office ($42 million) than it did in North America.

     

    “We’re delighted to expand our relationship with one of the pre-eminent entertainment brands in China to build our film and television presence in that territory as well as to explore opportunities around the world. This agreement reflects our strategy of teaming with entrepreneurial partners to expand our global operations in key markets while underscoring our commitment to a business model that mitigates risk,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer.

     

    “We’re thrilled to partner with Lionsgate, an innovative and forward-looking company that has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace. We look forward to joining hands in creating a feature film pipeline filled with some of the most commercially exciting movies in the world as well as exploring other strategic opportunities throughout our complementary film and television businesses,” added Hunan TV & Broadcasting chairman Qiu Yun Long.

     

    Lionsgate is working with Hunan CATV Network Group Co., LTD., a subsidiary company of Hunan TV & Broadcast, which reaches over 15 million subscribers. Lionsgate is cooperating with major shareholder Hunan TV, the second most watched broadcaster in China, to explore opportunities for Hunan series outside China.

     

    Financing for the deal was provided by East West Bank and Bank of China.

  • Lionsgate’s Codeblack Films signs output deal with Eagle Films

    Lionsgate’s Codeblack Films signs output deal with Eagle Films

    MUMBAI: Lionsgate’s Codeblack Films has signed an output deal with Eagle Films, a motion picture producer and distributor based in the Middle East and North Africa. 

     

    The agreement marks Codeblack’s second output deal and will enable it to distribute the films it produces or co-produces throughout the region, beginning with Lionsgate/Codeblack’s Addicted. 

     

    “Codeblack is expanding its footprint beyond the domestic marketplace. We’re dedicated to providing international growth and visibility for our content partners and look forward to pursuing additional alliances with distributors in markets around the world,” said CodeBlack Entertainment founder, CEO and president Jeff Clanagan.

     

    Eagle Films is one of the largest distributors in Western Asia and Egypt and has released Lionsgate’sThe Hunger Games and Expendables franchises as well as The Wolf of Wall Street in the region.

     

    Codeblack signed its first international output deal with Times Media Films, one of South Africa’s largest distributors, in October 2014. Three months later, Times Media launched Addicted, the first film released under the agreement, to a top 10 box office debut in its opening weekend. 

     

    Codeblack Films executive vice president and general manager Quincy Newell is overseeing the company’s international expansion initiative. The Eagle Films output deal was negotiated by Lionsgate executive vice president of international sales Wendy Reeds.

  • Warner Bros. begins principal photography of ‘The Jungle Book’ movie

    Warner Bros. begins principal photography of ‘The Jungle Book’ movie

    MUMBAI: Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ new big-screen, 3D adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved classic The Jungle Book, marking the feature film directorial debut of Andy Serkis. Blending live action and performance capture, the film features an impressive roster of stars, including Oscar winners Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett and Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch.

     

    The story follows the upbringing of the human child Mowgli, raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle, under the tutelage of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals of the jungle as one of their own. All but one: the fearsome tiger Shere Khan. But there may be greater dangers lurking in the jungle, as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.

     

    The actors performing the roles of the story’s central animal characters are: Benedict Cumberbatch as the tiger – Shere Khan; Cate Blanchett as Kaa – the snake; Christian Bale as the panther – Bagheera; Andy Serkis as Baloo, the bear; Peter Mullan as the leader of the wolf pack, Akela; Tom Hollander as the scavenging hyena – Tabaqui; Naomie Harris as Nisha, the female wolf, who adopts the baby Mowgli as one of her cubs; Eddie Marsan as Nisha’s mate – Vihaan; and Jack Reynor as Mowgli’s Brother Wolf. On the human side, young actor Rohan Chand will play the boy raised by wolves – Mowgli.

     

    The film is being produced by Steve Kloves, who wrote seven of the Harry Potter films, and Jonathan Cavendish, with Nikki Penny serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Callie Kloves, based on the stories by Kipling.

     

    Among those collaborating with Serkis behind the scenes are production designer Gary Freeman, Oscar-winning editor Mark Sanger and Oscar-winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne.

     

    The film is slated for release on 6 October, 2017.

  • Q3-2015: Mukta Arts’ PAT Rs 21.21 crore despite drop in y-o-y revenue

    Q3-2015: Mukta Arts’ PAT Rs 21.21 crore despite drop in y-o-y revenue

    BENGALURU: Mukta Arts Limited (MAL) reported a Profit after Tax (PAT) of Rs 21.21 crore for the quarter ended 31 December, 2014 (Q3-2015, current quarter) as compared to the Rs 0.92 crore in Q3-2014 and a loss of Rs 0.03 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q2-2015. However for the nine month period ended 31 December, 2014 (9M-2015, YTD), MAL reported a loss of Rs 3.45 crore as compared to PAT of Rs 1.83 crore in 9M-2014. The higher profit for the current quarter could be attributed to the lower distributors and producer’s share paid by the company, which in most quarters equals or exceeds 90 per cent of the company’s operating income (TIO)

     

    Notes:  100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    The company’s TIO for Q3-2015 at Rs 44.40 crore was 42.1 per cent lower than the Rs 76.67 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter, but 85.4 per cent more than the Rs 23.95 crore in the preceding quarter. MAL’s 9M-2015 TIO was a massive 60 per cent lower at Rs 93.33 crore versus the Rs 233.27 crore in the corresponding period of last year. TIO for Q3-2015 includes sale of certain rights by the company for Rs 3.5 crore.

     

    The company’s total expenditure (TE) in the current quarter was 70 per cent lower at Rs 23.05 crore (51.9 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 76.16 crore (99.9 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2014 and 2.9 per cent lower than the Rs 23.74 crore (99.1 per cent of TIO) in the trailing quarter. In 9M-2015, TE at Rs 96.54 crore (103.2 per cent of TIO) was 58.4 per cent lower than the Rs 231.55 crore (99.3 per cent of TIO) in 9M-2014.

     

    A major component of MAL’s TE is distributors and producer’s share (distributors share). For Q3-2015, MAL spent Rs 13.23 crore (29.8 per cent of TIO), less than a fifth (19.2 per cent) of the Rs 69.98 crore (90 per cent of TIO) spent in Q3-2014, but more than double (2.3 times) the Rs 5.74 crore (24 per cent of TIO). For 9M-2015, distributors share at Rs 43.02 crore (45 per cent of TIO) was again a fraction less than a fifth of the Rs 212.13 crore (90.9 per cent of TIO) in 9M-2014.

     

    Other expense in Q3-2015 at Rs 4.92 crore (11.1 per cent of TIO) was 26.4 per cent higher than the Rs 3.89 crore (5.1 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2014, but 5.1 per cent lower than the Rs 5.19 crore (21.7 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015. During 9M-2015, the company’s other expense at Rs 13.72 crore (14.7 per cent of TIO) was 45.7 per cent higher than the Rs 9.42 crore (4 per cent of TIO) in 9M-2014.

     

    MAL paid 61.9 per cent more towards finance costs in Q3-2015 at Rs 2.43 crore (5.5 per cent of TIO) as compared to the Rs 1.50 crore (2 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2014 and 15.2 per cent more than the Rs 2.11 crore (8.8 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015. For 9M-2015, finance cost at Rs 6.51 crore (7 per cent of TIO) was 54.4 per cent more than the Rs 4.22 crore (1.8 per cent of TIO) in 9M-2014.

     

    Four divisions contribute to MAL’s numbers – Software division; Equipment Division; Theatrical Exhibition Division; others (Rent). Software and ‘Others’ divisions contributed positive results – operating profits, while the other two reported operating loss. Software division is a major contributor to revenue and results. In Q3-2015, MAL’s Software division reported revenue of Rs 33.56 crore, which was 44.3 per cent lower than the Rs 60.24 crore in Q3-2014, but almost 2.5 times (2.42) the Rs 13.89 crore in Q2-2015. For 9M-2015, Software Division revenue at Rs 64.21 crore was less than a third (1/3.35) the Rs 214.83 crore in 9M-2014.

     

    Software division reported operating profit of Rs 21.35 crore in Q3-2015 as compared to an operating loss of Rs 0.73 crore in Q3-2014 and an operating profit of Rs 0.33 crore in Q2-2015. For 9M-2015, operating loss from this division was Rs 3.35 crore as compared to an operating profit of Rs 0.31 crore in 9M-2014.

     

    Equipment division contributed a very small amount to revenue and operating results of MAL. Theatrical division reported revenue of Rs 8.91 crore, which was 9.8 per cent more than the Rs 8.11 crore in Q3-2014 and 72.6 per cent more than the Rs 5.16 crore in Q2-2015. 9M-201 revenue from this segment at Rs 23.35 crore was 88.8 per cent more than the Rs 12.36 crore in 9M-2014.

     

    Theatrical division reported operating loss of Rs 0.16 crore in Q3-2015 as compared to operating profit of Rs 0.37 crore in Q3-2014 and an operating profit of Rs 0.07 crore in Q2-2015. For 9M-2015, this division reported operating loss of Rs 0.23 crore as compared to an operating profit of Rs 0.21 crore in 9M-2014.

     

    Revenue and operating results from ‘Others’ division was Rs 1.84 crore and an operating profit of Rs 1.49 crore in Q3-2015; revenue of Rs 2.18 crore and operating profit of Rs 1.7 crore in Q3-2014; Revenue of Rs 1.85 crore and operating profit of Rs 1.68 crore in Q2-2015; Revenue of Rs 5.55 crore and operating profit of Rs 4.74 crore in 9M-2015; revenue of Rs 5.67 crore and operating profit of Rs 4.64 crore in 9M-2014. 

  • DMG Entertainment invests in Valiant; to make new superhero movies

    DMG Entertainment invests in Valiant; to make new superhero movies

    MUMBAI: Watch out Spiderman, Superman and Batman. The superhero universe just got bigger. Valiant Entertainment has secured an undisclosed nine-figure investment from Chinese entertainment company DMG, the co-producers and co-financiers of Iron Man 3. The investment will be for feature-film financing as well as publishing, television and licensing opportunities.

     

    DMG chief executive officer Dan Mintz said, “Comic superheroes are profitable and highly sought intellectual properties for film franchises so taking a stake in the last indecent massive comic universe is a strategic investment for DMG that will produce movies and TV that are both appealing and relevant to a global audience.”

     

    Current projects under development at Valiant include Shadowman, Bloodshot and Archer & Armstrong. Bloodshot is in development with Sony Pictures and Neal Moritz’s Original Film (producers of the Fast and the Furious and Jump Street franchises). Shadowman, with a script by J. Michael Straczynski, and Archer & Armstrong, being written by Bendavid Grabinski, are also in development.

     

    In addition to developing films for release in the United States and China, Valiant and DMG will develop the former’s characters for new audiences in China and the Asia-Pacific region. DMG and Valiant will also be pursuing Chinese licensing for Valiant properties beyond film in publishing, animation and theme parks, as well as toys and apparel.