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  • Screwvala’s target for UTV: Rs 5 billion turnover by 2008

    Screwvala’s target for UTV: Rs 5 billion turnover by 2008

    MUMBAI: Hardly has the ink dried on the landmark deal he stitched with Walt Disney, and UTV’s founder-promoter Ronnie Screwvala is already looking to the future. The Indian media pioneer is bullish on turning his company into a Rs 5 billion company by 2008.

    This will mean a jump in turnover of Rs 3 billion, but Screwvala believes high growth will come, particularly from movies and animation. Besides, he is eyeing acquisitions in gaming and expects air time sales to zoom. Incremental growth from TV content business is also expected.

    On the movie front, Screwvala is close to announcing three international co-production movie deals. While global major Fox will be involved in one venture, Ronnie says the other two will also be with major studios. In an earlier project, UTV has partnered with Fox Searchlight Pictures and Entertainment Farm to produce the $9.6 million Mira Nair-directed film The Namesake.

    “They are three mainline movies and will have a big star cast. Unlike The Namesake where we have three co-producers, these will be two-way partnerships,” Screwvala says. When queried, he rules out the involvement of Disney in any of these projects.
    Screwvala aims to have an annual pipeline of 12 movies, one or two international co-productions and possibly an animation film. Already lined up are three movies with Rakeysh Mehra. “We are making Ashutosh Gawarikar’s next movie and three films with other directors. We have also tied up with Vishal Bhardwaj,” he says.

    The film business will be production-led. “We do not have an aggressive distribution agenda at the moment. We may acquire just one or two movies for distribution. But we will be distributing all the movies that we produce,” Screwvala says.

    Gaming is a new area UTV is planning to enter as an extension of its businesses in animation, post production and special effects. “We are eyeing acquisitions of domestic and overseas gaming companies. There is a model for international companies to look at India as an outsourcing model and an Indian story for going overseas. We are spending a lot of time evaluating the gaming business,” he says.

    UTV has made investments in setting up the animation infrastructure and is having a pipeline across the value chain. “We have a good order book in outsourcing and are involved in originating content as well,” says Screwvala.

    The big script with Disney will also begin with both companies in process of identifying areas where they can work together. “We are looking at animation, movies, TV and gaming. On the movie front, we are exploring possibilities of co-producing with them for Hindi films as well as going mainline with English. Home videos is another area we are looking at to expand our Indian movies overseas through their strong retail network,” says Screwvala.

    UTV will be cash rich by Rs 2.36 billion between the sale of Hungama, fresh equity to UTV and Screwvala’s warrants. “We can leverage the company with a 1:1 debt-equity ratio and have a Rs 5 billion war chest. In media, that offers lots of opportunities,” Screwvala says, clearly relishing the challenges ahead.

  • Indiagames develops mobile game for NBC’s sitcom ‘The Office’

    MUMBAI: Indian gaming firm Indiagames is helping US broadcaster NBC Universal in its push into the lucrative mobile games market. It has made a mobile game based on the sitcom The Office.
     
    The series of six mini-games is in soft release. The game will be available on all cellular devices and providers by September.


    NBC‘s The Office Games features the characters from the television series participating in a selection of cubical game-play including Wasteketball, Paper-Football (Hateball), Table-Top Golf, Office Paper War, Chair-Racing and more, everything that Michael Scott would not approve of.


    Indiagames developed these user-friendly games to be played at your office or at home. With shorter play times, the array of games is easy to navigate and simple to play–perfect for a break, after a stressful meeting or on an awkward phone call.


    Indiagames CEO Vishal Gondal says, “We‘d like to see America‘s workplaces fraught with the tension of intense competition at chair races and wasteketball! And, we wanted to give our consumers a game that is fun and provides value for your money. We think we‘ve accomplished both of these goals with the launch of NBC‘s The Office Games”.

  • CNN.com showcases the power of citizen journalism

    CNN.com showcases the power of citizen journalism

    MUMBAI: CNN.com has announced the launch of “CNN Exchange,” a comprehensive user-generated content destination that features user-submitted video, audio, articles and graphics and also allows users to interact directly with the site’s news reports, commentaries and polls.

    CNN.com senior VP, executive producer Mitch Gelman says ,”User-generated content has the potential to play a pivotal role in journalism whether it’s online or offline. With CNN Exchange, we’ve essentially created a one-stop shop for CNN.com users to share their contributions with other Internet users, as well as to weigh in on the day’s most pressing news.”

    Located at www.CNN.com/Exchange, CNN Exchange organizes all of CNN.com’s user-generated content features into a single, easy-to-navigate catalog. The page includes a spotlight section featuring the best user contributions; a section featuring CNN.com’s Web logs, including the popular Anderson Cooper 360° Blog; sections for polls, commentaries and links to other “citizen journalism” sites; and an online toolkit with tips from CNN producers, correspondents and photographers on creating and submitting stories.

    Extending user-generated content across multiple platforms, CNN Exchange will be populated in large part by I-Reports, compelling content captured by CNN viewers with personal cell phones, cameras or other devices. This access will enable viewers to tell the world what is happening where they are through the reach of CNN’s television networks and CNN.com.

    Users can submit material wherever they find a “Send Your I-Report” link at CNN.com or by e-mail at ireport@cnn.com. Submissions will be considered for all of CNN’s networks. All submitted material will be reviewed by CNN prior to publication online or on air.

  • “I was destined to be in show business” : Salil Ankola

    The transition from cricket to acting has never been easy. Several willow-men have tried it, rather unsucessfully. Among these: Salim Durrani, Sunil Gavaskar, and Sandip Patil. But Salil Ankola seems to be doing very fine, thank you. He’s got a clutch of television series under his belt and is also signing on films thick and fast. (see profile) And he looks set to break the hoodoo that has jinxed cricketers-turned actors by succeeding in new vocation. indiantelevision.com’s Nupur Rekhy spoke to this cricketer-at- heart, and actor-by-profession, on his yesterday, today and tomorrow. Excerpts:

    Q. How did television happen?

    A: After my tumor operation I could no longer play. And one day I just got an offer to act. Let me tell you, I was not even thinking of becoming an actor. So I feel it was destined for me to be in show biz.

    Q: What does it take to be a good actor?

    A: I believe, that the only thing that matters is the ‘eye’ statement rather than emoting any other way. So I just let my eyes speak.

    Q: How much do you involve yourself in your work?

    A: See, I did not go to any institute so I have very little knowledge of camera angle or the technical side of acting. I do give my opinions and I do express my point of view, But only when asked! I laugh and enjoy my work. As for scripts I never say the same line in the same way twice. But, I have no clue about direction.

    Q: What roles do you relate to most ?

    A: I relate maximum to intense roles and any thing to do with a hurt past. I love to emote emotions but I want to get into comedy also which will strike instant rapport. Not some slapstick comedy which dominates the scene right now.

    Q: Who are your favourite co-stars?

    A: Pallavi Joshi as she is very helpful and lets you grow a lot. Renuka Shahane is nice, even Mahima Chowdhary.

    Q: Who are your favorite directors?

    A: In films its Gulzar and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. And B.P Singh, the director of Khaki. Its not that I don’t like others. But Singh treats his plot so well. He is the camera man himself. So he is very involved.

    Q: How much have you achieved?

    A: I would say not even one percent. Because if I feel I have got what I wanted, then I would not be able to find fault, and improve myself.

    Q: Do you have role models?

    A: No role models as such but yeah! I do admire Amitabh Bachan, Paresh Rawal and Al Pacino.

    Q: Which is your favorite channel and why?

    A: I like Star Plus, Zee, Channel 9 and B4U as it has excellent quality. I wish India should also get good concepts like Hallmark. I would love to be in it, because I want to do new things all the time.

    Q:Which are your future movie releases ?

    A: Kurukshetra has been released recently. Then there is Deva and Shiva. The others still have to get a name.

    Q: How important are religion and family values?

    A: Religion should be practical and not imposed. I am a Hindu and read my shlokas everyday, as there’s some force behind them. But I believe in all religions. As for family values, I am not a disc or a pub person. I like to go to my club or be with my family or be with my friends.

  • Nick India GM and VP Hema Govindan resigns

    Nick India GM and VP Hema Govindan resigns

    MUMBAI: Nick India general manager and vice president Hema Govindan has put in her papers. An official release cites personal reasons as the reason for her departure from Nick after being at its helm for close to a year.

    MTV Networks India managing director and MTV Networks Asia executive vice president Amit Jain said, “Within the short span of her tenure Hema has done a commendable job with Nick to put it on the right trajectory of growth path. Over the last eight months, Nick’s ratings have tripled and viewership has risen by over 30 per cent. More than anything else, she is leaving behind a team that is one of the most competitive teams in this space.”

    “Nick is a priority brand for MTV Networks India and we will continue to invest substantially in this business to help it attain a leadership position in this country, as it has done across the rest of the world markets, where it occupies the no. 1 or no. 2 position in every territory.”

    Govindan will continue in her current assignment till a replacement is finalised and in this period Jain would work closely with the Nick team to continue to pursue Nick’s growth objectives for the year.

  • ETC ‘Bada Parda’ brings peep into the premier of ‘Fight Club’ with Cinemax

    ETC ‘Bada Parda’ brings peep into the premier of ‘Fight Club’ with Cinemax

    Mumbai, 17th February 2006: ETC and Cinemax are hosting the star-studded Red Carpet Premiere of the much awaited multistarrer ‘Fight Club’ ’. It is an event that left everybody asking for more because star line up is huge and impressive. Celebrities present at the party were Sohail Khan, Salman Khan, Govinda, Daler Mehendi, Ravi Chopra, Diya Mirza, Amrita Arora, Rahul Dev, Sanjay Kapoor, Ashish Choudhary, Seema Khan, Yash Tonk, David Dhawan, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Arbaaz Khan, Aslam Khan, Ashmit Patel, Ritesh Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Vivek Mushran, Ramesh Tolani, Subhash Ghai, Hiten Tejwani, Anant Mahadevan, Gauri Pradhan, Usman Afzal, Harry Baweja, Harman Baweja and many more television artiste.

     

    For the premiere, Cinemax has laid out its Red Carpet, Complete Support and Welcome Smile.

     

    Directed by Vikram Chopra and produced by Sohail Khan, Fight Club is about easily incensed youth who are out there proving to be full of vitality, sporting their strengths and being cohesive. It is the story as to how a group of youngsters start a Fight Club for fun and end up fighting for the injustice.

     

    Premier is hosted by ETC anchors Suresh ‘Muscled’ Menon and Aanchal. They are dressed in rugged clothes ala Fight Club. Special effect in anchoring is added by RJ Rishi Kanan.

     

    ETC Bada Parda of Fight Club will telecast on ETC on Tuesday 21st February 2006 from 8.00PM

     

    ETC has successfully conducted, hosted and telecast exclusive premiers and special events of films like Kyonki…….Its Fate, No Entry, Garam Masaala, Deewane Hue Paagal, Zinda, Wah Life Ho To Aisi, Neal N Nikki, Bunty Aur Bubli and many more. As a window to Bollywood, ETC is committed to give viewers that Little eXtra of film industry and Hindi music. In fact, ETC has become defacto platform for this industry. Association with the premieres of the films is just an extension to this relationship. Films are an integral part of ETC Culture and programming mix. Bada Parda on ETC always associates with films of mega stars and mega directors with power packed performance.

     

    Bada Parda with Fight Club is sponsored by Mak, Spykar Jeans and Vkool.

     

    ETC is a music based entertainment channel with music dominating more than 98% of the programming content. In all India markets, ETC enjoys the largest reach amongst all the music channels. ETC is watched by more then 30 million households.

     

    For Media Information:
    Neelam Gupta
    ETC Networks Ltd.
    022- 2673 2033-7
    corpcomm@entertainmenttv.com

  • Zee Sports comes out with cricket show ’22 Yards’

    Zee Sports comes out with cricket show ’22 Yards’

    MUMBAI: Zee Sports has come out with a cricket show 22 Yards which has various segments.
    22 Yards airs thrice a week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 pm. An overall theme is selected for the week. Then there are three different shows based on that theme. The shows are a magazine show, a panel discussion / one to one interview and an archive show. The themes for the first two weeks are Sachin Tendulkar and The Glamour Boys of Cricket.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Zee Sports VP marketing Gaurav Seth says, “Today Indian fans who are passionate about the bat and ball game want to go beyond just watching live matches. They are becoming more interested in issues around the game.

    “If you look at newspapers you will see pages on cricket even when the Indian team is not playing. Stories on Dalmiya, Ganguly, John Wright’s new book capture the public’s attention. Hence we felt that it was a good idea to come out with a variety show that will appeal to everybody from the connoisseur to the armchair enthusiast.”

    The magazine show is based around a short interview and various packages / vignettes that deal with the weeks happenings in the cricketing world. For example the Pinch Hitters segment looks at the players in the news. The Boardroom looks at the news from crickets governing bodies.

    The second show every week is an in-depth look at the week’s theme. This could be in the form of a one to one interview or a panel discussion depending on the week’s theme. The channel started by doing an interview with the Indian cricket team’s physiotherapist Andrew Leipus.

    The channel has also done a panel discussion on glamour and advertising in cricket featuring Kapil Dev, Lathika Khaneja and Sharada Ugra.

    The 22 Yards archive show is positioned as being quite literally a blast from the past. Here the channel dwells into the archives and feature a performance by a cricketer that best integrates with the theme for the week. For Sachin Tendulkar week the channel had showcased his first Test century.

    For the upcoming Glamour Boys week the channel will be featuring one of Ian Botham’s match winning performances in Bothams Test. Another theme that the channel is looking at is the upcoming tri series involving India, Australia and the West Indies in September. India has not played Australia for two years. So the anticipation is high.

  • Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards sweeps the highest viewer ship as the event gains the highest ratings

    Mumbai, Wed, Feb 1st , 2006 – STAR Plus the biggest , leading entertainment channel of the country; yet again proves and establishes its leadership, when 20.41 million people across the nation tuned-in to watch television’s biggest event of the year Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards during the first fortnight of the year on January 15.

     

    By bringing together the biggest and the best of Bollywood stars on the biggest and the best television channel- STAR Plus, swept away the lions share from its competitors as the award show gained the television ratings of 9.6, a clear 27% growth from the last year show (Source: TAM Media Research). In 2005 STAR Plus established the channels’ domination in the television events category. The top-ten rated events of the small-screen were all on Star Plus in 2005. Now, the channels success with its highest ratings for the industry’s first and biggest award show of the New Year has just vindicated its claim, once again making the channel an undisputed leader in the category.

     

    STAR’s continuous innovation in programming and its consistent efforts to entertain its viewers differently, has ensured channels success and leadership in the year 2005 and now with the highest rated event of the year-2006 already in its pool the channel is well on its path to raise the bar for itself as it reaches and far exceeds its own standards.

    So stay tuned for more entertaining shows from STAR Plus, as the party has just begun!

  • ‘Fantastic Four’ to premiere on Star Movies this Friday

    ‘Fantastic Four’ to premiere on Star Movies this Friday

    Mumbai, November 29, 2006… Astronauts. Superheroes. Celebrities. Together, they turn tragedy into triumph and catastrophe into coalition, using their unique and formidable powers to protect the citizens of New York City against any threat that may arise. To the world, they are the Fantastic Four. To each other, they are a family. Starring Ioan Gruffudd and Jessica Alba, Star Movies presents the exclusive premiere of “Fantastic Four”, this Friday night, December 1st at 9 p.m.

     

    When an experimental space voyage goes awry, four people are changed by cosmic rays. Reed Richards, inventor and leader of the group gains the ability to stretch his body, and takes the name, Mr. Fantastic. His girlfriend, Sue Storm, gains the ability to turn invisible and create force fields, calling herself the Invisible Woman. Her younger brother Johnny Storm gains the ability to control fire, including covering his own body with flame, becoming the Human Torch. Pilot Ben Grimm is turned into a super-strong rock creature calling himself Thing. Together, they use their unique powers to explore the strange aspects of the world, and to foil the evil plans of Doctor Doom.

     

    Fantastic Four is based on Marvel’s longest running comic book series, which has well-earned its moniker as “The Greatest Comic in the World.” The movie required four times the special effects power of any previous comic-to-film epics. But for all its state-of-the-art effects, what makes Fantastic Four special is its humor and emotion.

     

     

     

    So don’t forget to tune in to the exclusive premiere of Fantastic Four, this Friday, December 1st at 9 p.m. only on Star Movies.

    About Star
    STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts 60 television services in nine languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel).

     

    STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world’s largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems, direct-to-home services, terrestrial TV broadcasting, wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com

     

    For further information please contact:
    In Mumbai
    Zeenat Khan
    Asst Vice President, Publicity
    STAR (India) Ltd.
    Tel No. 91-22-28523880

    Shiraz Bhavnani / Aditi Chada
    Vaishnavi Corporate Communications
    Tel: 91-22-5656 8787
    Fax: 91-22-5656 8788
    Email:sbhavnani@vccpl.com / achada@vccpl.com

  • Immersion Program Kicks Off at IAFT

    Immersion Program Kicks Off at IAFT

    CEBU, PHILIPPINES – After much anticipation by international media, the International Academy of Film and Television’s one-year immersion program finally launched on January 17.

    Industry watchers are sitting up because this means a steady stream of filmmakers from film capitals such as Los Angeles and New York, will be making its way for Mactan island in Cebu, where the academy is located, to take up teaching positions. This term, the faculty members include:

    ” Ruel Dahis Antipuesto, an established filmmaker and photographer who won the 2004 Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines Award, among others;

    ” Robert Bell, an award-winning writer-producer-director who has worked in the Middle East, Europe and Asia;

    ” Timothy Doolen, who has worked with New Line Cinema and DreamWorks. His credits include Catch Me If You Can, The Ring and House of Sand and Fog;

    ” Peter Enright, who has been shooting intensively in the former Soviet republics, Australia and Britain for the last 30 years. Specializing in documentaries, he has worked with BBC, ABC and NBC;

    ” Ivan Kintanar, who is the co-founder and was the technical director and head animator of Warhamster Studios in the Philippines;

    ” Marianne Persson, a producer who used to collaborate with eminent Swedish directors, Daniel Bergman, Mai Zetterling and Gunnel Lindblom. She has been teaching film in Sweden and Singapore.

    IAFT has already inked a teaching contract with New York-based photographer and filmmaker, Roberto Minervini, for the second term. Such a list of faculty members reinforces IAFT’s emphasis on combining theoretical work with real-world applications as these professionals will enrich classes with their global experience.

    Despite the stellar line-up of film industry veterans, the One-Year Immersion Program is offered at a surprisingly competitive rate: while similar programs in the United States charge between US$25,000 to US$30,000, the Program costs only US$8,000 for international students and US$5,000 for local Filipino students. According to program director, Stephen Paine, there have been numerous enquiries about this unique beachside campus, stocked with state-of-the-art facilities, from countries as far away as Australia and the United States.

    To encourage budding filmmakers, IAFT even established a Scholarship Fund for students who wish to attend its courses. The Fund comprises three assistance programs: one need-based award, CineLikha Young Filmmaker Scholarship, and two merit-based awards, IAFT Lumi?re Fellowship and Emergent Artists Award.

    Awards with a total value of about US$30,000 will be granted based on student’s annual income (for the need-based award) or prior creative history and demonstrated potential (for merit-based awards). In fact, CineLikha Young Filmmaker Scholarship has already been awarded to 21-year-old Dwight Handro Baisac Buot, who is an IT instructor at AMA Computer College. The other awards are still open for application.

    The Program, which consists of five 9-week courses, The Program, which consists of five 9-week courses, includes courses on cinematography, editing, directing, screenwriting, producing, filmmaking, sound design and other electives. Students will also get to work closely with the faculty members to for their final project which can be part of their professional reel.

    IAFT accepts a new student intake every two months so subsequent terms will begin on: March 27, June 5, August 14 and October 23. Housing is available for students at the 68-room dormitory, Casablanca Inn, which is a five-minute walk from the campus.

    For more information, please call +63-32-342-8889 or 1-866-300-7207 (toll-free from U.S.). Alternatively, you can visit www.filmschool.ph.

    About International Academy of Film and Television

    The International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) offers courses that combine theory and application training under the directions of leading Hollywood filmmakers serving as faculty mentors. Located in the heart of Asia on Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines, this tropical beachside campus houses state-of-the-art facilities for filming and post production. IAFT extends a comprehensive, hands-on approach to making films and videos using the latest in equipment and technology. Courses are designed for aspiring filmmakers as well as industry professionals looking to advance their skill sets.

    The IAFT presents a unique internship program that allows selected students to work on feature films and television productions with Bigfoot Entertainment. Our curriculum serves to nurture the creativity and individual talents of each student, cultivating the next generation of filmmakers, and continuing the entertainment traditions of Hollywood and other film capitals of the world.

    The IAFT creates an interactive learning institution and curriculum that serves to nurture the next generation of filmmakers, thereby continuing the entertainment traditions of Hollywood and other film capitals of the world.

    The International Academy of Film and Television brings Hollywood to Asia.

    For more information, visit www.filmschool.ph.

    ABOUT BIGFOOT ENTERTAINMENT

    Bigfoot Entertainment is a fully integrated entertainment company specializing in four different areas: production, professional training, production services and film financing.

    With newly constructed first-rate production and post facilities in Southeast Asia, Bigfoot Productions produces quality independent feature films, television programming and educational content for all regions of the world. Check out our projects at: www.bigfootentertainment.com

    The International Academy of Film and Television offers professional training programs to create the future filmmakers of tomorrow. Industry mentors from around the world, including Hollywood, teach at our facilities using an immersion and hands-on approach. Find out more at: www.filmschool.ph

    Bigfoot Production Services is a full service, one-stop shop with state-of-the-art sound stages, post facilities, equipment, crew, talent, housing and locations. It offers an infrastructure to make shooting in Cebu easier and competitive rates for productions to save money. More info at: www.bigfootentertainment.com

    Bigfoot Partners invests in emerging as well as established filmmakers who seek financing to produce modest budget yet high quality independent productions. Film projects can be submitted through the fund’s website at: www.bigfootpartners.com