Category: Production House

DreamWorks Animation wins two awards from Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

MUMBAI: DreamWorks Animation has been awarded two Technical Achievement Awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the development of two revolutionary tools used in feature filmmaking: Foliage System and OpenVDB.

Both of these tools were most recently used in the making of How to Train Your Dragon 2, an Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature and winner of this year’s Golden Globe, six Annie Awards from ASIFA-Hollywood and named Best Animated Feature by the National Board of Review. In addition to these two awards, Hewlett-Packard also received a Technical Achievement Award for its HP DreamColor LP2480zX Professional Display monitor, created in collaboration with DreamWorks Animation engineers.

“At DreamWorks Animation, engineers, technicians and artists come together to create new technology stimulated by the vision and imagination of filmmakers such as writer/director Dean DeBlois (HTTYD2). I want to congratulate our engineers and artists, as well as the DreamColor team at Hewlett-Packard, on their Technical Achievement Awards that recognize outstanding innovation in the development of tools and technology that enhance the industry’s creative storytelling ability,” said DreamWorks Animation chief technology officer Lincoln Wallen.

The Foliage System was first developed for 2001’s Shrek, where it was used to create more than 10,000 trees, the largest deployment of digital vegetation in any film at its time. Since then, DreamWorks Animation has continued to be the industry leader in innovating new tools and techniques that provide the greatest artistic flexibility in rendering foliage. DreamWorks Animation effects artists Scott Peterson, Jeff Budsberg, and Jonathan Gibbs received the award for the design and implementation of the Foliage System.

OpenVDB is an open source data structure and set of tools that help manage the storage of enormous amounts of information created by complex visual effects such as water, dust, smoke and fire, found in both animated and live action films. OpenVDB’s efficiency reduces digital storage requirements and the need for long wait times when running simulations, which have resulted in it becoming a standard in the animation and VFX industry. With adoption at studios including Weta Digital, Disney Animation, and ILM, the tools were used in the making of several of this year’s Academy Award nominated films for Best Visual Effects, including X-Men: Days of Future Past, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Guardians of the Galaxy. DreamWorks Animation engineers Ken Museth, Peter Cucka, and Mihai Alden, received the award for the creation of OpenVDB.

HP’s DreamColor monitor was jointly developed with DreamWorks Animation to provide the highest color quality level LCD monitors required for graphic intense workflows, such as those for producing feature animation and visual effects. Karl Rasche, a DreamWorks software engineer, was recognized by the Academy, along with the other award winners from Hewlett-Packard, for the joint development of the HP DreamColor LP2480zx Professional Display.

February 10, 2015
‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment is bringing Marvel Studios into the amazing world of Spider-Man.

Under the deal, the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on 28 July, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.

Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.

The new relationship follows a decade of speculation among fans about whether Spider-Man – who has always been an integral and important part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comic books – could become part of the Marvel Universe on the big screen. Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU.

The Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”

“We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man. This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

“Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” added Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group president Doug Belgrad.

“I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie. Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

Spider-Man, embraced all over the world, is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.

February 10, 2015
FremantleMedia and Sundance TV partner to take ‘Deutschland 83’ to US

MUMBAI: FremantleMedia International (FMI) and SundanceTV today announced a partnership that will see the network broadcast the major new eight-part drama, Deutschland 83 on its US channel. The UFA Fiction series will become the first ever German-language drama to be aired on a major US network.

Created by Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, Deutschland 83 is executive produced by UFA Fiction’s Joerg Winger and Nico Hofmann and directed by Edward Berger and Samira Radsi. The series is a UFA Fiction production for RTL Television in Germany, in partnership with SundanceTV in the US and distributed by FremantleMedia International worldwide.

The series is set to have its exclusive World Premiere during the inaugural Berlinale Special Series at the 65^th Berlinale International Film Festival.

Lisa Honig, SEVP, Television & Digital Distribution, North America, FremantleMedia International said, “We are thrilled to be working with SundanceTV on this high-tension, intense and yet wonderfully relatable drama. The Deutschland 83 story, popular soundtrack and unique filmic style all blend perfectly to create an outstanding piece of drama. Anna and Joerg did a tremendous job – I have never seen anything quite like this.”

Sarah Barnett, SundanceTV President, stated, “Deutschland 83 is a fresh and heart pounding thriller set against the remarkable political backdrop of 1980s East and West Germany. It’s evocative and emotional and we are delighted to be collaborating on a show of such daring and originality. FremantleMedia International is a terrific partner and we are excited to bring this series to US viewers.”

Deutschland 83 is a suspenseful coming-of-age story set against the real culture wars and political events of Germany in the 1980s. The drama follows Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) as the 24 year-old East Germany native is pulled from the world as he knows it and sent to the West as an undercover spy for the Stasi foreign service. Hiding in plain sight in the West German army, he must gather the secrets of NATO military strategy. Everything is new, nothing is quite what it seems and everyone he encounters is harboring secrets, both political and personal.

Frank Hoffmann, Managing Director, RTL TELEVISION, said, “For RTL Television it is incredibly satisfying to launch a series like Deutschland 83 which, at this early stage has already received a lot of national and international attention. The involvement of FremantleMedia International and SundanceTV strengthens our resolve to continue developing programs that can attract such interest and attention.”

Nico Hofmann, Producer and Chairman of the Board of UFA Fiction said, “Never has a German-language television series received so much attention before broadcast. SundanceTV’s reputation for exceptional series is yet further confirmation of Deutschland 83‘s high quality. This is a milestone for German television production.”

Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, co-creators of Deutschland 83 said, “Deutschland 83 was born of a transatlantic relationship. Conceived at our German-American kitchen table in Berlin, written by an American with an international team, made in Germany with a diverse and remarkably talented cast and crew. We are thrilled to be the first German series on TV in the United States and honored to follow in the footsteps of the other great series on SundanceTV.”

February 9, 2015
Q3-2015: Balaji q-o-q income up 22% on higher programming, less loss

BENGALURU: Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji Telefilms) reported 21.6 per cent growth in consolidated Total Income from Operations (TIO) at Rs 71.54 crore in Q3-2015 (quarter ended 31 December, 2014, current quarter) from Rs 58.84 crore in the immediate trailing quarter and 69.1 per cent more than the Rs 42.30 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. 9M-2015 TIO was however 16.6 per cent lower at Rs 268.68 crore than the Rs 322.38 crore in 9M-2014.

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

All numbers are consolidated unless stated otherwise

The company reported a lower consolidated loss of Rs 6.96 crore in the current quarter as compared to the Rs 7.58 crore in the previous quarter, but higher loss than the loss of Rs 5.75 crore in the year ago quarter. The company reported a loss of Rs 3.98 crore in 9M-2015 versus a profit after tax of Rs 10.18 crore in 9M-2014.

On a standalone basis, Balaji’s EBIDTA at Rs 4.25 crore was more than double the EBIDTA of Rs 2.01 crore in Q3-2014. Standalone EBIDTA for Q2-2015 was negative Rs 2.98 crore, while for 9M-2015, it was Rs 5.07 crore against an EBIDTA of Rs 0.09 crore in 9M-2014.Standalone PAT at Rs 3.09 crore was 86 per cent more than the Rs 1.66 crore in Q3-2014. The company had reported a standalone loss of Rs 2.39 crore in Q2-2015. For 9M-2015, standalone profit was 73 per cent lower at Rs 2.66 crore as compared to the Rs 9.89 crore in 9M-2015.

Higher revenue in the current quarter can be attributed to the fact that Balaji produced 60.1 per cent more hours of programming at 277 hour in the current quarter versus the 173 hours in Q3-2014 and 26.5 per cent more than the 219 hours in Q2-2015. However, the company reported lower revenue per hour of Rs 20.64 lakh in Q3-2015 as compared to the Rs 21.18 lakh in the corresponding year ago quarter and a little higher than the Rs 20.45 lakh in the immediate trailing quarter. The revenue per hour and the hours of programming excludes regional segment, event business and incentives.

Consequently, revenue from commissioned programmes went up 50.6 per cent in Q3-2015 to Rs 61.97 crore from Rs 41.16 crore in Q3-2014 and was 25.6 per cent more than the Rs 49.33 crore in Q2-2015. Commissioned programmes segment reported 41.4 per cent higher operating profit at Rs 7.56 crore in the current quarter from Rs 5.35 crore in Q3-2014 and was 29.2 per cent more than the Rs 5.85 crore in the previous quarter.

Revenue from commissioned programmes increased 68 per cent to Rs 157.30 crore in 9M-2015 as compared to the Rs 98.89 crore in 9M-2015. Operating profit from this segment more than doubled to Rs 19.57 crore in 9M-2015 as compared to the Rs 9 crore in 9M-2014.

Soon, with Balaji’s content portfolio comprises more than 20 films that are expected to hit the silver screen in the near term, the company’s films segment should again start churning out larger numbers and consolidated profits.

February 6, 2015
Deluxe acquires Sony Colorworks; inks deal with Sony Pictures

MUMBAI: Sony has sold its digital intermediate, mastering and restoration company – Colorworks – to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc.

Additionally, Deluxe and Sony Pictures Digital Productions Inc (SPDP) have also entered into a multimillion dollar agreement for post services wherein Deluxe will perform DI, mastering and other services for Sony.

As part of the transaction, Deluxe acquired certain assets from Colorworks Inc. Deluxe will operate from a 14,000-square-foot facility, which includes one of the industry’s leading 4K pipelines. The facility is housed in the studio’s Stage 6 and features real-time, 4K processing in a full-digital workflow for top filmmakers from across the industry.

Deluxe, which has been a leader in media and entertainment services for film, video and online content, continues to expand the depth and reach of its exceptional artistry and digital capabilities.

Through Deluxe’s relationship with Sony Pictures, the facility will offer state-of-the-art color grading, mastering, restoration and related services for film and TV projects by studios, networks, independent producers and filmmakers worldwide.

“This agreement is a milestone in our strategic efforts to link our industry-leading artisans arm in arm with world-class content creators,” said Deluxe CEO David Kassler.

“This is yet another example of progress in our relentless pursuit of excellence for our key customers,” added Deluxe vice chairman Cyril Drabinsky.

An official statement from Sony read, “Sony Pictures has made the business decision to close its Colorworks facility. We are pleased to enter into a services agreement with Deluxe to offer state-of-the-art color grading, mastering, restoration and related services for film and TV projects by studios, networks, independent producers and filmmakers at Sony Pictures.”

February 3, 2015
Prime Focus World wins Lumiere for ‘Sin City 2’

MUMBAI: Prime Focus World (PFW) has won the ‘Lumiere’ for its spectacular work on Sin City: A Dame to Kill For at the International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society’s 6^th Annual 3D Creative Arts Awards held in Los Angeles on 28 January, 2015.

The Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller directed ultra-stylized comic book sequel Sin City 2 was awarded in the ‘Best Stereography – Live Action’ category and PFW was the exclusive VFX and 3D conversion provider as well as equity partner.

The 3D Creative Arts Awards honours the best in 3D image making, recognising outstanding achievement across all forms of creative content. Prime Focus founder, executive chairman and global CEO Namit Malhotra received the award at a function held at the Warner Bros. Studios, which was attended by eminent Hollywood personalities.

Accepting the award, Malhotra said, “This is an incredibly proud moment for all of us at Prime Focus World. Sin City 2 has been our largest commission to date and the whole global construct of Prime Focus came together in achieving something that I believe only Prime Focus would have been able to do. This was an opportunity to not only put our best foot forward creatively and technically, but also to take the next step in terms of defining a new business model. This was a huge commitment: to our filmmaking partners, in helping to make this film happen; to the industry, in showing that there is another way for companies such as Prime Focus to engage; and to our own future. I’m delighted with the way this has played out.”

Prime Focus chief creative director and co-founder Merzin Tavaria added, “We accept this independent industry recognition with great humility and pride. Our association with Sin City 2 has been a huge milestone in our global journey. Challenging opportunities such as these have enabled Prime Focus World to redefine 3D experience for the audiences’ world over and establish our leadership position in 3D conversion industry. We would like to thank the International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society for consistently acknowledging our work and honouring us three times in succession, which only validates our best-in-class creative credentials to deliver high quality 3D to the world’s most advanced film making community, Hollywood.”

2014 was a distinguished year for PFW’s 3D team as it delivered the biggest line up of Hollywood’s summer releases – Noah, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Maleficent, Edge of Tomorrow, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Guardians of the Galaxy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sin City: A Dame to Kill for.

January 30, 2015
Amazon Studios adds comedy ‘Catastrophe’ to its original series line-up

MUMBAI: Amazon Studios, known for television series such as multi-Golden Globe winner Transparent, and comedy Mozart in the Jungle, has now added the hit comedy Catastrophe to its line-up of Amazon Original Series available exclusively on Prime Instant Video, for Prime members to enjoy at no additional cost to their membership.

Written by US comedian and bestselling author, Rob Delaney, and award-winning actress, Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe is a half-hour comedy set in London about an Irish woman and American man struggling to start a relationship after their clumsy lust leads to pregnancy. Already a critical hit in the UK, Catastrophe is an Avalon Television production with co-producers Birdbath Productions and Merman. The series will be available exclusively for Prime members in the US this spring and will come to Prime Instant Video in the UK later this year.

“Rob and Sharon have created an engaging, contemporary, funny and moving story. We are excited to bring Catastrophe exclusively to our Amazon Prime customers and can’t wait to hear what they think of the series,” said Amazon Studios vice president Roy Price.

“We are delighted to be working with Amazon Studios, whose programming is rapidly proving to be some of the most original television currently being produced,” said Avalon Television joint managing director Jon Thoday.

Catastrophe is produced by Jack Bayles and directed by Ben Taylor along with executive producers Richard Allen-Turner, Kara Baker, Rob Delaney, Sharon Horgan and Jon Thoday.

January 30, 2015
Shashi Sumeet Productions launch marketing and creative agency

MUMBAI: Shashi Sumeet Productions, the makers of Diya Aur Baati Hum, have launched Shashi Sumeet Innovations – a fully integrated marketing, activations and creative agency with a focus on creation of intellectual brands and breathing new life into old brands.

The Shashi Sumeet Group will now provide innovative services for those corporates who desire differentiated brand launches, corporate events and experiential marketing creating close bond between the customer and their brand.

Shashi Sumeet Innovations co-founder Sumeet H Mittal said, “We are extremely proud to have diversified into Shashi Sumeet Innovations. Every brand has a story and we believe that through the combination of our vast experience and superior ability to narrate a story the way it deserves to be told we have the proficiency to deliver to the growing needs of brands and their customers.”

With over 14 years of experience in strategy management, operations management, administration & sales management in the media sector, Pankaj Khanna has been appointed as the business head of Shashi Sumeet Innovations and will lead the team. Khanna has previously worked with industry big-wigs such as Indian Express, HT Media, RED FM, NDTV Media and Bloomberg TV to name a few.

Shashi Sumeet Innovations has already bagged mandates for corporates such as Kotak, Kissan, Closeup, Condé Nast, Moneygram, HP, Allana, Orra, Finlinea and Lava & Indear.

January 29, 2015
Prime Focus inks technology licensing deal with Gener8

MUMBAI: Prime Focus Group has entered into a licensing and 3D conversion partnership with Gener8 Media Corp.

As per the terms of the definitive agreement, Prime Focus will enter into an exclusive worldwide license to use the company’s proprietary 3D conversion technology throughout the entertainment industry.

The Gener8 brand and team, which has become synonymous with top-quality 3D conversion in Hollywood, will continue to provide even more capacity for the 3D conversion business with help from the Prime Focus worldwide workforce. This will give Hollywood more confidence in Gener8’s ability to perform 3D conversion on a larger volume of movies. Further, by licensing the company’s technology, Prime Focus will push the quality and technical standards of the 3D even higher.

“We could not hope for a better partner in this transaction, and we strongly believe the partnership will be good for Hollywood and the 3D conversion industry. This is the absolute perfect agreement for both parties–it facilitates the spread of technology to help improve the quality for all in the industry, while also allowing Gener8 to prove it can handle greater volume, which has been what has held back Gener8’s ability to grow. It is exciting to tap into Prime Focus’s production systems, experience and workforce,” said Gener8 CEO Rory Armes.

“We are focused on building a comprehensive creative services business, with an emphasis on visual effects and 3D conversion services. Our strength to date has been our significant offshore capabilities, which have now been enhanced by our technology partnership with Gener8. As well, with our recent merger with Reliance MediaWorks, we can leverage the Reliance infrastructure as a back end to help Gener8 increase capacity. This partnership will harness the strengths of both companies to create the best options for Hollywood in terms of 3D conversion and visual effects and leverage the existing workforce and scale of Prime Focus’s production capacity in India,” added Prime Focus CEO Namit Malhotra.

Upon transaction closing, Prime Focus will enter into a five-year worldwide exclusive license agreement to use its 3D technology. Total consideration payable by Prime Focus to Gener8 over the five-year period will range between $11.5 million to $16.5 million. The two companies will also enter into a Technology Services Agreement, where Gener8 will provide technical service and support on a cost recovery basis. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to grow Gener8’s 3D technology as well as its other new and disruptive technologies, Cumul8 and Reelhouse.

January 28, 2015
ErosNow inks partnership with RailTel

MUMBAI: The on-demand entertainment platform of Eros International Media, ErosNow has inked a tie-up with RailTel Corporation of India (RailTel).

RailTel is a PSU under the Railway Ministry and the tie-up is for ErosNow streaming services, which has been launched through broadband for railway passengers.

The Wi-Fi service was implemented at New Delhi and Bangalore stations recently for providing high speed internet to passengers with plans to provide the facility to 75 major category railway stations in India and in trains too very soon.

The broadband streaming service will enable passengers at railway stations across the country to download and view their favourite entertainment content from ErosNow on their phones.

RailTel has launched high speed Wi-Fi network on key railway stations and passengers will be informed about this exclusive service on arrival at stations.

Eros Now CEO Rishika Lulla Singh said, “We are happy to partner with RailTel in the Indian government’s endeavour to provide Wi-Fi facilities to the common man, which has increasingly become a necessity. The association will further amplify the reach of ErosNow in providing the best in entertainment to a wider range of consumers.”

January 28, 2015