ITV

Category: English Entertainment

  • Award changes for 66th Primetime Emmy Awards

    Award changes for 66th Primetime Emmy Awards

    MUMBAI: The Television Academy’s Board of Governors has voted to approve several Award and category changes for this year’s 66th Primetime Emmy Awards. These changes were carefully considered by the Television Academy Awards Committee along with the Board of Governors to ensure that the Primetime Emmy Awards accurately celebrates the excellence in our ever-evolving industry. The following changes will be implemented into this year’s award competition:

     

    Separation of Outstanding Miniseries and Movie Program Category

     

    Outstanding Miniseries or Movie will now be split into two separate program categories. The new categories will be Outstanding Miniseries and Outstanding Television Movie. This separation is only for the program category with all other awards in the category remaining combined between the two formats. Movies and Miniseries were consolidated into a single program category in 2011 due to a general industry downtrend of the genre. The Television Academy acknowledges the increased programming of both movie and miniseries over the past three years and returned them to their pre-2011 status as separate program categories.

     

    Split of Outstanding Reality Program Category

     

    Outstanding Reality Program will now be separated into two categories – Outstanding Structured Reality Program (i.e. “Antiques Roadshow,” “MythBusters,” etc.) and Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program (i.e. “Pawn Stars,” “Duck Dynasty,” etc.). As with miniseries and movies, there is a general industry uptrend in two different types of narrative reality programming and the split accommodates that trend.

     

    Split of Outstanding Voice-Over Category

     

    Outstanding Voice-Over Performance will now be separated into two categories – Outstanding Narrator and Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. As with longform and reality, this split acknowledges and accommodates a general industry uptrend in the distinctly different achievements that are VO narration and VO character performance.

     

    Increase in Number of Nominees for Directors, Writers and Performers in the Miniseries/Movie Category

     

    The number of longform nominees in writing, directing and performing has been increased from five to six nominees. Additionally the final voting procedure has been changed from a preferential vote in which nominations are ranked one against the other in a head-to-head competition to a ratings-score vote, in which each nomination is considered on its own terms and given its own score (with the top scorer emerging as the award recipient).

     

    Implementation of the 2% Rule for Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series Categories

     

    The 2% rule will now be applied to the comedy and drama series program categories. Under this change, a comedy or drama series whose total first-round votes are within 2% of the sixth place series would also receive a nomination, creating the possibility of seven nominees in each category. Previously the 2% rule had only applied to categories with five nominees.

     

    Outstanding Technical Direction/Camerawork/Video for a Series

     

    This award will now be classified as an area award with the possibility of one or more than one award. The nominations would continue to be proportioned according to the entries. Additionally, the number of nominations will be increased from five to six.

     

    The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 25, 2014 live coast-to-coast (8-11 PM ET / 5-8 PM PT) on NBC from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.

  • Prisoners of War sells into Asia

    Prisoners of War sells into Asia

    MUMBAI: Keshet International, the global distribution arm of Keshet Media Group, has sold its successful drama Prisoners of War, on which Emmy® Award winner Homeland is based, to Korea’s Star J Entertainment, marking its entry to a fourth continent worldwide.

     
    The local adaptation of the show will be produced in partnership by Youngbeom Jeong, Sebastian Lee and Teddy Zee, Nam-gil Kim is also attached to star. He is best known for his role of Bidam in the hit Korean drama Queen Seondeokand stars in the film Pirates: The Bandit goes to the Seathat will be released later this year.
     

    Prisoners of Warscooped the top prize at the Seoul International Drama Awards in September 2013 beating its US adaptation Homeland, the eighth season of US series House and several other high profile international dramas for the Grand Jury Prize.
     

    Keshet Internationalhas enjoyed unprecedented international success with Prisoners of War having brokered deals for local adaptations in territories like Russia (WeitMedia), Turkey (Medyapim) and the US (Fox21 and Showtime – Homeland). The finished show has sold to more than 20 territories including the UK (Sky Arts), Australia (SBS), Brazil (Globosat), Arte (German and French-speaking Europe) and Norway (NRK). Prisoners of War is also available on several streaming and VOD platforms such as Hulu, Netflix Scandinavia, Universal Pictures German-speaking Europe and iTunes Canada as well as through a range of physical DVD partners worldwide.

    In 2012 author Stephen King included Hatufim (season one) at number 8 in his top 10 TV shows of the year.* In 2013 The New York Times placed Hatufim (season two) at number 2 in its top 12 TV shows of the year.**  

    Teddy Zee, Hollywood-based producer and former studio executive, said “We believe that the ongoing conflict between South Korea and North Korea makes the adaptation of Prisoners of Warespecially compelling and timely.”

    Sebastian Lee, producer, co-founder of EnterMedia Contents and international consultant for ABC Networks added, “With this cooperation with Keshet, we hope to expand the influence of the so-called Korean Wave in Asia and beyond.”

    Alon Shtruzman, CEO Keshet International, said, “We are very excited about the first Asian adaptation of Prisoners of War, I look forward to seeing how the Koreans interpret this incrediblestory. It’s a gem in our portfolio which is continuously evolving and extending its lifecycle internationally.”

    Youngbeom Jeong, CEO of Star J Entertainment shared, “This production represents a dream come true for my partner and client Nam-gil Kim.”

     
    Prisoners of War follows two soldiers as they attempt to re-adjust to their lives after returning home from captivity for 17 years. In addition to their personal struggles, it becomes clear that there is a profound secret that the two are keeping from everyone. The first season was the highest-rated drama of the year in Israel in 2011, achieving a 37% share (HH). Season two launched on Keshet Channel 2 in 2012, and scored a 40% average share, making it the most viewed drama of the year and peaking with an incredible 47.9% audience share during the season two finale.

     

  • TV channels gear up for V-Day

    TV channels gear up for V-Day

    MUMBAI: Even as the week-long drum-up to Valentine’s Day draws to a grand finale, television channels are pulling out all stops to up the love quotient. Ergo, come 14th February, you and your loved one will be spoilt for choice, what with a slew of romantic comedies and epic love stories on offer on the small screen.

    Among the leading English entertainment channels, Romedy Now will air seven of the most loved English movies of all time – Titanic, No Strings Attached, 27 Dresses, You’ve Got Mail, Valentine’s Day, Sleepless in Seattle and Another Cinderella Story – 7:50 a.m. onward.

    While Movies Now, will bring love in its different hues with the likes of Titanic, P.S. I Love You, Little Manhattan, He’s Just Not That into You and Two Weeks’ Notice.

    On Star Movies, romance will range from the classic – My Best Friend’s Wedding, As Good As It Gets and Bridget Jones’ Diary to the contemporary – Just Go with It, Hitch, Friends with Benefits and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 !

    And while on the subject of Twilight, if you want to see how it all began, catch The Twilight Saga: Twilight followed by The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on HBO Defined. The channel has also lined up new and old favorites like The Notebook, The Lake House, LOL, When in Rome and No Reservations.  

    By contrast, Sony Pix offers couples who choose to be anything but cliché  a range of action packed films like Hancock, Skyfall, The Terminator, Spiderman 2 and Mission: Impossible 2.   

    Coming to English GECs, Comedy Central will offer lots of love and laughs with a back-to-back telecast of award-winning series, Rules of Engagement.

    While Star World, will treat die-hard romantics with a marathon session of popular series Melissa and Joey.

    AXN however, will stick to its trademark thrills and chills even on a day meant for love. The channel will bring viewers back-to-back episodes of season 3 of the contemporary crime drama Sherlock starting 12 noon.

    Not to be left behind, Vh1 will go to town with the choicest line-up of love songs in a special show titled Valentine’s Day Special, to be aired at 8am and 7pm on D-day.

    With a celebration so big and varied and colourful, we think even Saint Valentine would approve…

  • AXN Thrillionaire awards celebrates the fandom for the top English shows

    AXN Thrillionaire awards celebrates the fandom for the top English shows

    MUMBAI: After a successful stint with the Action Awards, AXN is back with yet another on air property —AXN Thrillionaire awards. Unlike other Indian awards, AXN Thrillionaire is an award for the viewers who love international English content. Through these awards, AXN will hunt for the biggest AXN Total Thrill Junkie [TTJ] and provide the winner an opportunity to be on the sets of The Voice in Los Angeles.

    Lisa Haydon, whose performing career spans movies, television and the stage, will host the AXN Thrillioniare Awards. From her film debut with Ayesha and second outing as an actress in ‘Rascals, Kingfisher’s sultry model is all set to now play a pivotal role in the movie Queen. Watch out for the excitement, spontaneity and thrill that Lisa Haydon will bring to the show.

    Commenting on the pioneering initiative, Sunil Punjabi, Business Head, AXN India says, “We are ecstatic to introduce the very first edition of the AXN Thrillioniare Awards. As one of the pioneers in the English entertainment genre in India, we wanted to reward the AXN fans for their relentless love and fandom for the shows on AXN. Through this initiative, we intend to celebrate and thank the AXN viewers for their unconditional support and hope our viewers are just as thrilled as we are. We believe that Lisa Haydon is the perfect host for the show as she truly defines the class that AXN stands for. Moreover, her versatility and charisma will serve her very well as the host of AXN Thrillionaire Awards.”

    With the Thrillionaire Awards, AXN continues the format of voting wherein the fans will play the most important role of choosing their favorites from the various categories. To find out more on the nominees and the voting procedure, viewers can log on to www.axnawards.com.
    Log on to catch a dose of action entertainment only on AXN!

     Categories:

    •    Thrilling moments

    •    Thrilling premieres

    •    Thrilling series

    •    Thrilling Reality

    •    Thrilling gang

    •    Thrilling man

    •    Thrilling woman

    Watch out for the toxic amalgamation of thrill, adventure and the alluring Lisa Haydon only on AXN Thrillionaire Awards.

    About AXN

    Backed by the powerhouse of Sony Pictures Entertainment, AXN is the first 24 hour cable and satellite TV channel in Asia exclusively dedicated to action and adventure programming. Launched in 1998 in India, it is a leading English general entertainment destination among upscale, affluent adults aged 18-44. The channel delivers four distinctive types of programming which includes the latest global hit series, action movie blockbusters, latest seasons of adventure-reality and lifestyle sports programs and innovative AXN original productions. The channel not only enjoys a high penetration and viewership in the metros, but is also popular in tier II and tier III cities and reaching 110 million viewers in India yearly. As promised by the brand, AXN brings to its viewers intelligent, edgy, exciting, unpredictable, high energy and an unparalleled entertainment experience.

    AXN India is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and managed by SPE Networks – Asia. Visit www.axn-india.com for more information.

     

  • Warner Bros TV signs acquisition of Eyeworks’ operations in 15 countries, except US

    Warner Bros TV signs acquisition of Eyeworks’ operations in 15 countries, except US

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros Television Group has entered into an agreement to acquire independent television production company Eyeworks Group’s businesses in 15 countries across Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand for $273 million.

     

     

    The acquisition, which does not include Eyeworks’ operations in the US, will add 13 new territories to Warner Bros Television’s network of production companies, according to a statement from Warner Bros Television.

     

     

    Once completed, this acquisition will further strengthen Warner Bros’ international television production capabilities and also see Warner Bros take over all of Eyeworks’ international distribution activities.

     

     

    Warner Bros Television is expected to complete the acquisition of Eyeworks later in 2014, subject to regulatory approvals.

     

     

    The announcement was made by Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution President Jeffrey Schlesinger, Warner Bros Television Group President, Business and Strategy Craig Hunegs, Warner Bros Television Group President and Chief Content Officer Peter Roth and Eyeworks Group Founder and current Chief Executive Officer Reinout Oerlemans.

     

     

    Founded in The Netherlands by Oerlemans in 2001, Eyeworks is a major international independent producer and distributor of scripted and non-scripted content across a range of genres, including entertainment, drama and film, which airs in more than 150 countries worldwide.

     

     

    The acquisition of Eyeworks will mark a milestone for Warner Bros International Television Production, led by Warner Bros International Television Production  Head and Executive Vice President Ronald Goes, which was originally formed in 2009 to establish operating production companies.

     

     

    Warner Bros Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Kevin Tsujihara said: “Our proposed acquisition of Eyeworks’ 15 local production companies, represents a significant next step in our strategy, further strengthening Warner Bros’ position in global television.”  

     

     

    Hunegs, Schlesinger and Roth added: “This is an important move for the Warner Bros Television Group, as we establish local production companies around the world, each with a mandate to develop original local programming and adapt the output from the studio. We see Eyeworks as a strong complement to our existing US and international production capabilities.”

     

     

    This follows the acquisition in 2010 of Shed Media, a leading production company in the UK, and in 2011, BlazHoffski in The Netherlands and Belgium.

     

     

    In connection with the transaction, Reinout Oerlemans would move to Los Angeles for his new role in the industry, as Chairman of Eyeworks USA, leading the further expansion of that company in the US. Reinout will step down as CEO of the Eyeworks Group once the acquisition is completed.

     

     

    Oerlemans said: “For Eyeworks, this is a defining step towards our ongoing objective to be a major player in content production around the globe. I realise this is the end of an era, because I will no longer be the CEO of the Group, after an amazing period of 12.5 years.”

  • Go Back to Black & White with the Pretty Little Liars!

    Go Back to Black & White with the Pretty Little Liars!

    MUMBAI: Next Saturday, be there for the black and white affair. It’s the Pretty Little Liars (PLL) like you’ve never seen.

    For the first time in its 4 season run, the groundbreaking teen phenomenon has filmed an entire episode completely in black and white called “Shadow Play”, with heavy throwback at the classic Hollywood noir films of the yesteryear.

    PLL writer and spin-off Ravenswood co-creator Joseph Dougherty is helming the episode which revolves around the character of the smart, yet headstrong and stubborn Spencer Hastings (played by Troian Bellasario), who has been going through many a sleepless night fueled by Aderol and she’s trying desperately to find out whether or not Ezra Fitz is A, the sinister antagonist hell-bent on exposing their lies and lives. Just to push her further, Spencer takes another pill as a result of which she loses touch completely with her own reality and wakes up in a new reality which has her life “Noir-ified”.

    Making it “one of the photographed episodes of the series”, writer-director Joseph Doherty elaborates, “The central portion of the storytelling will be told in a particular kind of black and white which is meant to honor a form of very lush story-telling from American films of the forties.”

    “With this episode, you could literally stop it at any point and print it out blow it up on a poster and it will look stunning”, says Shay Mitchell, who plays the role of the lesbian swimmer Emily Fields in a behind the scenes video on YouTube. Lucy Hale, who plays the artsy girl Aria Montgomery is still amazed at how all the liars faces “work for the era” making the episode incredibly authentic. Bellasario welcomed the prospect of the episode as a surprising world where people were bold, brash and adventurous, taking chances and risks, quite similar to that of the actual story.

     

     

    Shadow Play continues the storyline with where the characters are and how the story is progressing, but the dialogue is “dated”!

    While Mitchell is of the opinion that Shadow Play is one that goes down in history, PLL costume designer Mandi Line states that designing the costumes for an episode based in the period of the 1940’s and one that is shot completely in black and white comes with a unique set of challenges. What Line originally had been planned for the episode didn’t work out at all, because when it comes in black and white, “Color Doesn’t Matter.”

    Line’s challenge was convincing the Pretty Little Liars that along with peach and green and leopard and all these different colors, and how in black and white they actually pop. So the actors are wearing green shoes with purple dress with leopard green trench coat, which in color would make them look crazy because they might not match, but it makes complete sense in black and white.

     

     

    Line concludes that the best of working on this episode was that the script taught her something, and it had been a while she’d been taught something. Working on Shadow Play has certainly heightened her skills as a costume designer.

    Follow the Liars as they enact a “Shadow Play” with more classic drama, passion, secrets and of course, lies on Saturday, 22 February at 2 p.m. with an encore telecast at 10 p.m. on Zee Café.

  • Comic books series Preacher being developed by AMC

    Comic books series Preacher being developed by AMC

    MUMBAI: Preacher, the hugely popular comic book series from the ’90s is finally being adapted into a television series. According to Deadline, American Movie Classics (AMC) and Sony Pictures Television have closed a deal to develop Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s controversial comic book series Preacher into a drama series. 

     

    AMC’s official statement states, Preacher follows Reverend Jesse Custer, a tough Texas preacher who has lost his faith, has learned that God has left Heaven and abandoned His responsibilities. He finds himself the only person capable of tracking God down, demanding answers, and making Him answer for His dereliction of duty.

     

    Accompanying Jesse on his journey is his former girlfriend and a friendly vampire who seems to prefer a pint in the pub to the blood of the innocent. On his tail is one of the most iconic bad guys in print – an immortal, unstoppable killing machine named the Saint of Killers – a western lone gunman archetype whose sole purpose is to hunt and kill Jesse.

     

    The project will be written/executive produced by This Is the End writers/directors Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) and Evan Goldberg (This Is The End), with Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad) serving as executive producer/showrunner and Original Films’ Neal Moritz (The Fast & The Furious) and Vivian Cannon (The Big C) also executive producing. 

  • Hollywood’s hot and sexy ladies at their wicked best on MOVIES NOW

    Hollywood’s hot and sexy ladies at their wicked best on MOVIES NOW

    MUMBAI: MOVIES NOW, this Feb showcases some of the most iconic blockbuster hits that are a perfect combination of sexy and tough.  Watch the sexy ladies at their wicked best beating men at their own game only on ‘Knockouts’. Featuring the best line-up of Hollywood blockbusters, these movies will blow your minds out starting 6th Feb, every Friday at 9PM.

    Presenting its fans with simply the best, ‘Knockouts’ will showcase movies that have done exceptionally well at the Box Office. Watch these stunning, hot action-packed women Angelina Jolie, Milla Jovovich, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz and Emily Browning at their witty plots! Featuring Salt, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Bandidasand Sucker Punch, ‘Knockouts’will be an entertaining mix, starting 6th February, every Friday at 9 pm.

    Topping the Box-office worldwide with over $294 million, Salt was recognized for the sexiest star of all time by the BBC poll- Angelina Jolie!Originally designed for a male protagonist with Tom Cruise playing the lead, the script was rewritten especially for Jolie. From jumping out of helicopters, shooting, hanging from the edge of buildings, this film has Jolie performing it all!  Catch her in one of her most impactful performances of her career.

    Resident Evil – Afterlife, featuring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coatesand created by writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson, showcases a new aspect of action horror coupled with the best sci-fi which will take the viewers on a nightmare thrill-ride. It is one of Paul W.S. Anderson’s sleekest movie so far, thanks to the 3D and star Milla Jovovich’s body-hugging catsuit. Watch two iconic Hollywood’s best Salma Hayak and Penelope Cruzslicing and shooting their way through to combat a ruthless enforcer terrorizing their town. Produced by Luc Besson, this movie is a comedy, action, sexy mix of two exceptionably talented women with captivating appeal and a skilled approach.Zack Snyder’s latest CGI action spectacular, Sucker Punch featuring Emily Browning will take viewers into an intense imagination of a young girl who envisions a plan to escape from the mental facility.

    Watch the sexiest women of all times play the toughest protagonistsin ‘Knockouts’ only on MOVIES NOW, starting 6th Feb, Mon-Fri at 9PM~

     

  • Ring the wedding bells with ‘27 Dresses’ this February on Romedy NOW

    Ring the wedding bells with ‘27 Dresses’ this February on Romedy NOW

    MUMBAI: Love is certainly in the air and that too in the month of Valentine. Grab that bowl of popcorn and cuddle up with your loved one as it’s time for a lot more love and laughter with the Romedy of the Month – 27 Dresses.

    27 dresses is a story of Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl) who is always the bridesmaid, never the bride. She is selfless and caring and somewhere, out there, she knows that the man of her dreams does exist!

    After walking to the altar 27 times holding the bride’s gown, Jane wants to walk down the aisle for her own wedding. But instead she has to settle for standing next to her younger sister Tess who has stolen George, the man of Jane’s dreams.

    If Jane’s life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Kevin, the incorrigible star – commitments column writer. He, who initially makes her life a living hell falls head of heels in love for his unsuspecting and unrelenting muse.

     

    Watch the story unfold like the many ruffles in Jane’s unique dresses.  Don’t miss the ROMEDY OF THE MONTH presented by Airtel this Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 9 PM only on Romedy NOW Love.Laugh.Live.

  • Top Gear returns with a new season on AXN

    Top Gear returns with a new season on AXN

    MUMBAI: One of the best automobile show on television – Top Gear – is back to storm the auto world. The new Season 21 premieres in India on 7 February, and will be telecast every Friday at 9:00 pm, exclusively on AXN. The trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will be back in action, and the Indian viewers will get a chance to watch their favorite show even before its US premiere.

     

    Commenting on the premier of the new season, AXN India business head Sunil Punjabi said, “At AXN, our efforts have been focused to provide our viewers with the latest international content on the channel. As one of the pioneers in the English entertainment genre in India, we understand the pulse of our viewers and are always striving to provide thrilling and trend setting quality entertainment. Top Gear is the world’s biggest auto show and we are really excited to be able to bring it to the Indian fans before the US. We believe that with this show we will strengthen our relationship with our viewers.”

    The new season promises more excitement, more thrills and more speed along with a lot more tear, break and crush. The show in its latest season features some of the swiftest cars on the planet, some more street-legal than others. In the all-new series, hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will take the viewers on an array of new adventures, challenges and stunts which will keep all the car fanatics glued.