ITV

Category: Post Production

  • Unleash your inner detective with Kaun? Who did it?

    Unleash your inner detective with Kaun? Who did it?

    MUMBAI: As a nation, we have always been fascinated by crime stories – the unpredictable nature of a case, analysing the crime scene, and the thrill of the detective-suspect chase. We've often caught ourselves getting ahead of the detectives, wanting to get past the TV screen, and catching the killer! So what if the next time you're watching a whodunit, you could actually be a part of the process? Flipkart Video in collaboration with Guneet Monga’s production house, Sikhya Entertainment gives you the one-of-a-kind chance to play detective from the comfort of your phone, with their all-new interactive crime fiction series – Kaun? Who did it? 

    The showrunner is Umesh Bist, director of the upcoming movie Pagglait and the series is written by veteran TV writer Sunjoy Shekhar.

    Every episode will feature a spine-chilling murder case, giving audiences the ultimate opportunity to don the detective's hat and win exciting prizes as they manoeuvre through intriguing twists, solve cryptic clues, and identify suspects in real-time. The series features versatile actor Sushant Singh playing the lead role of Adi, an ex-cop turned private detective. His disdain for the police force, the brace on his leg, and his walking sticks leave a lot to be discovered about his past. Seen playing his partner-in-solving-crime, is film and theatre actress Samvedna Suwalka AKA Malini, a gritty assistant police inspector who teams up with Adi for his innate deductive skills, in solving seemingly unsolvable cases.

    Flipkart growth & monetisation VP Prakash Sikaria said, “Our consumer-first approach helps us to be at forefront of innovation, enabling us to push the boundaries and bring interactivity to content. Guneet has been a valuable partner who shares our vision and brings her creative zeal to help us raise the bar each time. Kaun? Who did it? is built on people's increasing fascination for shows with an element of ‘guessing’ and the innate urge to unravel a mystery. This show will provide the thrill of visceral entertainment and the rush of decoding a secret before the protagonist does. We’re excited to have users at the edge of their seats and will continue to explore many more engaging concepts within this genre.”

    Sikhya Entertainment CEO Guneet Monga said the show was conceptualised, shot and delivered this show in the lockdown.

    “Umesh Bist and Sunjoy Shekhar ensured that the content is cleverly planned within the limitations of lockdown without compromising on the much-loved flavour of a crime thriller. I’m happy to partner with Flipkart Video after Zindagi Inshort. I am confident that Flipkart’s enormous reach amongst the masses and knowledge of consumer behaviour will help the show reach its audience.

    The trailer gives audiences a peek into the characters of the show. Fast-moving and fascinating, the series will feature captivating episodes each day on the Flipkart App. The unique concept will not only keep you at the edge of your seat but will also give you an opportunity to win exciting prizes by recognising the killer before the protagonists.

  • Javier Perez Teuffer Lopez to head operations at Endemol Shine Boomdog

    Javier Perez Teuffer Lopez to head operations at Endemol Shine Boomdog

    MUMBAI: Endemol Shine Boomdog has named Javier Perez Teuffer Lopez as operations & business affairs senior vice president. 

    Lopez joins Endemol Shine Boomdog, a division of Endemol Shine North America, from Sony Pictures Television’s Teleset Mexico, where he most recently served as executive director, operations.

    In his new position, Lopez will oversee Endemol Shine Boomdog’s physical production efforts, business affairs, facilities, IT and general services. He will be based at Boomdog’s Mexico City offices and report directly to Rincon.

    “We are thrilled to have someone with Javier’s vast operational experience joining our team here at Endemol Shine Boomdog,” said Endemol Shine Boomdog CEO Alejandro Rincon. “He is the perfect executive to oversee our production efforts as we look to continue ramping up our programming output in 2021.”

    Lopez added, “I am so honoured to be part of the Endemol Shine family. I hope my experience and hard work can help Endemol Shine Boomdog accomplish its goals and continue growing as they have done so successfully in recent years.”

    For the last year, Lopez oversaw operations for Sony Pictures Television’s Teleset Mexico and was a member of Sony Pictures Television’s Latin America strategy committee.

    Previously, Lopez spent nearly 15 years at Televisa in Mexico, rising through the company’s ranks to his last role as director of finance and operations, entertainment, for Grupo Televisa. In that role, he led all TV rights and license negotiations, strategy and financial planning and oversaw the company’s annual production budget. Lopez also served in a variety of roles for Televisa International, including strategic planning coordinator from 2014-2016.

    Endemol Shine Boomdog currently produces such hit series as MasterChef Mexico (Azteca), Mira Quien Baila (Television/Univision), Quién es la Máscara (Televisa/Univision), Nicky Jam: El Ganador (Netflix), LOL (Amazon), Me Caigo de Risa (Televisa), Súbete a mi Moto (Amazon) and Tu Cara Me Suena (Univision).

    Boomdog is also home to Latin superstar actress Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur) who has an overall deal to develop, produce and star in original scripted and unscripted series with the studio. Acclaimed producer Gaston Pavlovich and his Mexico City-based production company Fabrica de Cine also have a development and production deal with the studio.

  • Tips Industries mulling demerger of film division

    Tips Industries mulling demerger of film division

    NEW DELHI: The board of directors of Tips Industries has in-principal agreed to consider the demerger of the film division of the company into a separate entity.

    A demerger committee formed by the board will appoint the valuer, merchant banker for fairness opinion and other intermediaries for this purpose. The board on receipt of the valuation report will study, discuss and initiate the next steps.

    Following this announcement, the Kumar Taurani-led company’s stocks declined 1.2 per cent on the NSE.

    Over the years, Tips’ film division has churned out many popular Bollywood flicks like all three instalments of the Race franchise, Coolie No.1 , Entertainment, Ambarasiya, and Kunwara, to name a few.

    Tips Industries is extremely popular for its large library of music and has a strong forte in music promotion. It recently inked a global deal with Facebook, under which the social media giant has licensed its music for videos and other social experiences across Facebook and Instagram. With the move, Facebook and Instagram users will be able to add Tips' music catalogue to their posts and stories.

  • Covid effect: Warner Bros, Disney, Universal TV postpone LA-based shows

    Covid effect: Warner Bros, Disney, Universal TV postpone LA-based shows

    MUMBAI: Close to two dozen southern California-based television shows have been put on extended hiatus as Covid2019 infection rates continue to rise in Los Angeles county.

    Warner Bros TV has confirmed that series productions such as comedies Mom, B Positive, CBS’ Bob Hearts Abishola, and dramas Shameless (Showtime) and You on Netflix will not resume shooting next week as scheduled. The studio aims to return the week of 11 January but will evaluate as conditions get better.

    On a similar note, Universal TV has pressed pause on six comedies — NBC’s Mr. Mayor, Kenan, Good Girls and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, HBO Max’s Hacks, and Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. Universal is also eyeing a 11 January return date for most of its originals.

    Both Walt Disney-owned 20th Television and ABC Signature have extended production hiatuses on 16 shows: 911, Lone Star, American Crime Story: Impeachment, American Horror Story, American Housewife, Big Shot, Black-ish, Grey’s Anatomy, Last Man Standing, among several others. Reports stated that none of the Disney shows are expected to return to production floor before 18 January.

    Sony Pictures Television has also deferred The Goldbergs and Atypical; both of the shows were slated to resume production next week.

    The moves follow the decision Tuesday by CBS Television Studio to extend the holiday production hiatus after Los Angeles county suggested that shooting in the area be suspended amid a surge in Covid2019 cases.

    “Although music, TV and film productions are allowed to operate, we ask you to strongly consider pausing work for a few weeks during this catastrophic surge in Covid2019 cases,” public health department representatives wrote in a 24 December email, according to FilmLA. “Identify and delay higher risk activities, and focus on lower-risk work for now, if at all possible.”

    According to the reports, Los Angeles county on Wednesday hit a single-day high with 262 Covid2019-related deaths.

  • Entertainment production to stay on hiatus until mid-January: SAG-AFTRA

    Entertainment production to stay on hiatus until mid-January: SAG-AFTRA

    MUMBAI: SAG-AFTRA leaders have informed their members that most entertainment production houses will remain on hiatus through at least the middle of January. The details come a day after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health requested the film and TV industry to consider pausing production for a few weeks during the ongoing surge in new Covid2019 cases throughout the county.

    SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris and national executive director David White said, “We are closely monitoring the recent surge in Covid2019 infections along with the reported lack of intensive care unit beds throughout the state of California and particularly in Los Angeles County. This is deeply concerning to us all and we have taken immediate action to connect with our epidemiologists and public health experts regarding the surge in cities across the nation.”

    Production of films and TV shows will stay on hiatus until the second or third week of January if not later. This means that the number of its member performers working on sets right now will be reduced. They stressed adherence to safety protocols to ensure appropriate precautions for the holiday hiatus period, including additional time for testing prior to the resumption of production.

    “To ensure the utmost safety, we are in close contact with our sister unions and guilds, the industry, our expert epidemiologists, industrial sanitation specialists, public health officials, member leaders and staff. We remain focused on ensuring the safest possible work environment and protocols for SAG-AFTRA members,” Carteris and White stated.

    They added that SAG-AFTRA will continue to monitor the situation and its impact on production and employment in all contract areas, and take appropriate measures as needed to ensure the continued safety of members and others.

    In the meantime, studios have been urged to remain vigilant and adhere to the safety principles to protect themselves, their families, communities and colleagues.

  • Reliance Big Synergy’s Rajiv Bakshi awarded ‘CEO Of The Year’ by World Brand Congress

    Reliance Big Synergy’s Rajiv Bakshi awarded ‘CEO Of The Year’ by World Brand Congress

    MUMBAI: Reliance Entertainment’s Reliance Big Synergy CEO Rajiv Bakshi has been conferred the ‘CEO Of the Year’ 2020 award by the jury of World Brand Congress, World Marketing Congress and CMO Global.

    The award was given in recognition of Bakshi’s differentiated strategy to establish Reliance Big Synergy as a leading content development and production powerhouse in India. As the CEO of Reliance Big Synergy, he leads a team of creative visionaries committed to create high-impact web series, direct to OTT movies, TV fiction and unscripted/factual content across OTT and broadcast platforms in Hindi and regional languages.

    The jury included, IIM Ahmedabad ex. dean Prof Indira Parikh, Onward Technologies chairman & Nasscom founding member Dr Harish Mehta, Edvance Schools executive chairman and The Economic Times former CEO Dr Arun Arora, and World CSR Day founder Dr R L Bhatia.

    Reliance Entertainment group CEO Shibasish Sarkar said, “Rajiv, time and again, has proved himself to be a brilliant leader. His knowledge, wisdom and vision have been the driving forces behind his exemplary career. It’s a proud moment for all of us at Reliance Entertainment.”

    “I am grateful to my team, our esteemed partners, talent and crew and the viewers of our shows who have contributed to this recognition. I humbly accept this honour on behalf of my entire team. I am passionate about transformative disruptions that change consumer and societal behaviours and create long-term competitive advantage. This award is a vindication of the success of our business and content strategy to cater to the rapid transformation and diversity of the Indian media sector,” said Bakshi.

     An alumnus of Harvard Business School, Bakshi has 20 years of multi-functional experience of working with global and Indian consumer product and services companies. He has a deep understanding of broadcast media, OTT streaming platforms, smartphones, consumer durables and electronics industries.

    Earlier in his career, Bakshi turned around Discovery Networks’ India and South Asia business as the head of products and marketing, and is credited for building its 11-channel portfolio, as well as ten year leadership of Discovery Channel; pioneering lifestyle category with TLC; launching kids' business – Discovery Kids and introducing HD experience to viewers in India.

    Prior to Reliance Entertainment, Bakshi was the CMO of a homegrown Indian disruptor in smartphones and consumer durables where he envisioned the brand transformation and go-to-market strategy across product verticals – mobile phones, LED TV’s, ACs, washing machines and accessories.

  • Vice Media’s International VP Dominique Delport resigns

    Vice Media’s International VP Dominique Delport resigns

    MUMBAI: Vice Media’s International vice president and global revenue director Dominique Delport has stepped down from his role after three years.

    A Deadline report stated that Delport has not left the company completely and will continue to advise Vice part-time through his newly launched consultancy firm Arduina Partners. Apart from Vice, Arduina handles four other clients. Delport also supports three start-ups, including artificial intelligence and intellectual property.

    Delport joined Vice in May 2018 after working for 17 years with entertainment group Vivendi and advertising firm Havas. In his role, he has helped oversee Vice’s global footprint, including its London-based production unit, Vice Studios, which is headed by former Refinery29 executive Kate Ward.

    In addition to resigning from his position, Delport is no longer the director of Pulse Films, which made the Sky / AMC drama Gangs of London and Netflix’s The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann. He has also quit as director of the Vice Edition Worldwide agency.

    “I’ve had a fantastic run at Vice for almost three years and it’s a bittersweet feeling to leave such a talented team, but I will remain a shareholder and business partner. 2021 will be a year of consolidation in Europe and globally for the media / entertainment and advertising industries. And I want to participate fully in this accelerated post-Covid2019 digitisation,” Deadline quoted Delport as saying.

  • Namak Issk Ka looks into the societal gaze at female performers: Gul Khan

    Namak Issk Ka looks into the societal gaze at female performers: Gul Khan

    MUMBAI: Can a nachaniya (dancing girl) not be accepted as a dulhaniya (bride) or bahu? Colors’ latest romantic drama, Namak Issk Ka, questions this very outlook. Set in the heartland of Bihar, Namak Issk Ka is the story of Chamcham, who is looked down upon for her profession, but in a twist of fate is married off into a reputable family in Mumbai. But as she tries to fend off prejudice, she sets out on a journey to find her footing in the new family and, eventually, love. Produced by Four Lions Film founder and producer Gul Khan and co-produced by Sunny Side Up Films’ Dipti Kalwani, the show started airing 7 December onwards.

    Both Khan and Kalwani clarified that the serial is not inspired by any particular person, but is based on the life of dancers that populate that belt, and how these performers are a part of every celebration in the family.

    Everybody appreciates these dancers and their performances, but still people look down upon them. It’s not about the male mindset, but the societal gaze in general. While the entire family will be a part of the function with the dancer, somehow, they will consider her beneath themselves. This is what the makers have tried to bring out through the show.

     

     

    Kalwani went on to elaborate that while a love story is at the core of Namak Issk Ka, the show is a romantic thriller with multiple interesting genres running in parallel, including a murder mystery and family drama. “With Namak Issk Ka, we have made a fast-moving, plot-driven potboiler of a show which is not just relegated to romance, and where every character has a very interesting backstory,” she said.

    It was last year when Khan and Kalwani decided to do Namak Issk Ka. But then the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown happened, delaying the show. However, it also gave them a chance to iron out the details, and once the lockdown was lifted, they began shooting.

    Due to Covid2019, the makers could not risk traveling to Bihar hence recreated the entire set in the backdrop of Maharashtra and outskirts of Mumbai. Khan mentioned, “We are very skilled at recreating the places that we feature. We shot in Wai, in and around Maharashtra. We tried to match the landscapes and terrains with those of Bihar. We also had people from Bihar help some of our actors with the language, dialogue and diction training.” She said they have ensured that viewers get the authentic experience of the place in the way she has shot the show.

    Still, filming during the age of Coronavirus has been no easy task, shared Kalwani.
    Additional challenges notwithstanding, the makers of the show have strictly adhered to all the safety protocols and are fumigating and sanitising the set regularly. They have conducted regular and compulsory medical checks for cast and crew members. They have, in fact, reduced the size of cast and crew present on the set.

    The show also marks Khan’s first production venture with Colors. “We were trying to work with Colors for a very long time. After conceptualising the story, we pitched it to Colors and the team really liked it. From then on, we have gone ahead all guns blazing! So far, my experience has been amazing while working with Manisha Sharma and the entire team. We are happy to be associated with a channel that has always presented unique and entertaining concepts, and look forward to a great partnership,” she further added.

    The producers discussed with Colors the language, casting, music and background score, the look of the show along with the level of glamour quotient that they wanted to have in Namak Issk Ka, and the audience it would cater to. The broadcaster and showrunners have been pretty much on the same page on all parameters before it went on the floors, Khan said.

     

     

    Namak Issk Ka stars Shruti Sharma as Chamcham, and famous Bhojpuri actor Aditya Ojha as Yug Pratap Singh. According to Khan, there is a particular requirement for this show. The actors have to connect with the audiences and they have to look like they are from the heartland. While Aditya Ojha and Monalisa are from the Bhojpuri entertainment industry, Shruti Sharma, with her inclination and her talent, fit the bill as Chamcham. While casting for the show, the makers had to look for people who looked like they belonged in this universe.

    The show is aired Monday to Friday at 9 pm, which is a very competitive slot – Sony TV airs Indian Idol, whereas Star Plus telecasts Maharaj Ki Jai Ho. Revealing how the production house is trying to make Namak Issk Ka stand out, Kalwani detailed, “The trick is to make a great show that the audience can relate to and narrate a story that you enjoy telling. In this case, we were very excited about telling the story coming from the Hindi heartland. We wanted to talk about music and dance, the people and their language, their food and everything about them. So, culturally we were very keen to do something from this belt, and we have woven a story around it. The story has its own element of love, hatred, thriller, mystery. There is no such exact formula to success. This is what we wanted to do.”

  • Screenlife partners with Graphic India & Reliance Entertainment

    Screenlife partners with Graphic India & Reliance Entertainment

    MUMBAI: Russian director and producer Timur Bekmambetov, whose creation of the innovative Screenlife format has spawned hit movies such as Profile and Unfriended, is setting his sights on India by striking a partnership with local players Graphic India and Reliance Entertainment.

    Bekmambetov and Graphic India founder Sharad Devarajan will team up to develop a slate of original local-language films leveraging the Screenlife genre in India. The deal will commence with three films from up-and-coming Indian filmmakers, the first of which is aiming to go into production early next year.

    Bekmambetov’s Screenlife format has seen Unfriended gross $65M globally, off a $1M budget, and Searching take more than $75M. In the US, he has a five-picture deal with Universal. He is also looking to shoot the world’s first vertical format blockbuster.

    This year, Bekmambetov has continued to develop and produce throughout the pandemic, with a Screenlife adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, R#J, set to premiere at Sundance, as well as a sequel to Searching. He also founded tech startup Screenlife Ltd, which is partnered with Microsoft and is developing products and services powered by artificial intelligence and neural networks to boost mainstream production of Screenlife content.

    “Screenlife films are universally relatable to people around the world, and audiences intuitively understand this storytelling language, because it’s how we live. I believe our devices can reveal more about a person than they would ever say out loud, because we never lie to our screens,” said Bekmambetov.

    “India is one of the world’s leading fastest-growing entertainment economies. We are delighted to partner with Timur and Sharad to bring Screenlife, a new digital onscreen filmmaking language, to India and provide a new and powerful platform to showcase talent of Indian writers and directors,” said  Reliance Entertainment group CEO Shibasish Sarkar.

    “I have been fortunate to learn so much from Timur over the past few years, and his unbounded creativity and disruptive thinking is an inspiration. At Graphic India, we strive to push the boundaries of storytelling with new genres and experiences, and this wonderful partnership with Reliance Entertainment will give us an amazing opportunity to showcase some of India’s pioneering filmmakers and creators,” added Devarajan.

    Devarajan’s Graphic India is the company behind numerous Indian superhero IPs, spawning film and TV adaptations as well as a series of short motion comics which have been hugely successful on TikTok India. Devarajan is also the creator of Baahubali: The Lost Legends, the long-running original TV animated series which is part of the hugely successful Baahubali franchise.

  • MGM Studios explores prospect of sale

    MGM Studios explores prospect of sale

    NEW DELHI: Iconic Hollywood studio MGM has appointed two investment banks to explore the prospect of a sale, The Wall Street Journal has reported. For the record, there have been talks in the market about MGM being sold for several years now, all of which have failed to materialise.

    MGM, currently valued at $5.5 billion, has brought onboard Morgan Stanley and LionTree LLC as consultants on the process of a formal sale. The studio is owned by hedge funds Anchorage Capital, Highland Capital and Solus Alternative Asset Management, who acquired the company out of bankruptcy in 2010. The acquisition reportedly cost $10 billion but the onslaught of the novel Coronavirus has further devalued the legacy production company, which has a chequered history when it comes to its financial well-being. MGM also gave the pink slip to at least 50 employees and furloughed a third of its staff in April due to the economic fallout from Covid2019.

    In fact, the next instalment of its blockbuster James Bond franchise, No Time to Die, has been delayed several times due to the pandemic, and is now slated for an April 2021 release. However, industry pundits forecast the movie will be pushed back further because people are not going to theatres, as evidenced by the lukewarm response to the international release of Warner Bros’ superhero flick Wonder Woman 1984.

    As streaming gained rapid momentum, MGM held preliminary talks with Apple, Netflix and other global media companies about an acquisition earlier this year. It’s no secret that these OTT giants are continually looking to bolster their libraries to slake audiences’ thirst for more content, in their quest to dominate the streaming arena. And MGM, one of the oldest studios in Tinseltown, has a lot to offer.

    MGM owns the entire James Bond catalogue. On the TV side, the company's library includes popular police procedural Live PD, Vikings, Fargo and The Handmaid's Tale, which streams on Hulu. It also owns premium cable network Epix. The studio’s film reel is even more impressive, with over 4,000 titles including hit film franchises like Rocky and The Hobbit, as well as The Silence of the Lambs, The Magnificent Seven, Mad Max, and Four Weddings and a Funeral.