ITV

Tag: Bollywood

  • Government announces SOPs to restart film, TV, OTT production

    Government announces SOPs to restart film, TV, OTT production

    MUMBAI: It’s all systems go for TV, film and OTT originals’ productions in India. Minister of information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar today announced the release of standard operating procedures for productions to recommence. Tweeting the announcement Javadekar said, “The general principles behind the SOP will help create a safe working environment for cast and crew in the industry.”

    Amongst the measures the MIB has proposed include:

    ·      Minimum cast and crew to be engaged on sets during shoots.

    ·      Resting and stay over facilities to be provided.

    ·      Staggered call and packup times for production units having multiple production locations.

    ·      Older, pregnant, and comorbid technicians and artistes take extra precautions and preferable not be exposed to front line work requiring direct contact with the public.

    ·      Mandatory wearing of masks by all crew excepting the actors facing the camera for a scene.

    ·      Installation of Aarogya Setu app will be advised to be downloaded and used by all.

    ·      Exit and entry signs

    ·      Special markings to ensure social distancing is maintained at six feet for all during every stage of the film making process.

    ·      Visitors and audiences are barred from sets.

    ·      PPEs for make up technicians as well as hair stylist. Wigs and make up kits to not be shared. As far as possible, actors should do their own makeup.

    ·      Rubber gloves for all working with shared equipment on sets.

    ·      Minimise the use of props, sanitise them, if essential.

    ·      Lapel mikes to be avoided and not share. Direct physical contact with the diaphragms of mikes to be avoided.

    ·      A Covid supervisor to be appointed for each production.

    ·      Permissions to be taken from local authorities.

    The announcement of the SOPs for media production should come as a relief for India’s film studios, ad film and TV and digital originals producers. The sector has for a large part been held back from producing for the past five months, leading to losses running into thousands of crore.

    For a detailed list of the SOPs, click here.

     

     

  • Eros STX Global forecasts 50 mn monthly paid subscribers for Eros Now by 2022

    Eros STX Global forecasts 50 mn monthly paid subscribers for Eros Now by 2022

    KOLKATA: Eros International and STX Filmworks completed the big Bollywood-Hollywood merger last month. The newly combined company Eros STX Global Corporation forecasts 50 million monthly paid subscribers for Eros Now and generate $1 billion in revenue for the calendar year 2022.

    Eros Now reached 33.8 million paid monthly subscribers and 205.8 million registered users as of 30 June. “Despite the business challenges arising from the pandemic, Eros STX has seen a substantial increase in both new subscriptions and consumer engagement on the Eros Now platform driven by increased time spent at home as well as fewer out-of-home entertainment options available,” Eros STX Global co-chairman and CEO Robert Simonds said.

     “Eros Now has a strong slate of films and original series scheduled for release over the coming quarters, and the Company expects this to help drive continued growth in the paying subscriber base in India and around the world. Consumers are watching more content on the platform than ever before, an acceleration of growth that will provide strong tailwinds to the combined business for the coming quarters,” he added.

    Simonds seems extremely optimistic about Eros Now as he said it has one of the largest libraries of local and regional language content in the Indian marketplace which would take a significant investment of capital for a competitor to even try to replicate it. He also cited the independent, third-party valuation that was done in February which valued Eros library at $1 billion approximately. 

    Other than Eros Now, Eros STX’s co-production with some of the largest global players like Amazon and Netflix also opens another growth window for the company. 

  • Priyanka Chopra Jonas signs multi-million dollar two-year deal with Amazon

    Priyanka Chopra Jonas signs multi-million dollar two-year deal with Amazon

    KOLKATA: No celebrity now can miss the opportunity opened up by the streaming platforms. Now, Priyanka Chopra Jonas joins the league signing a two-year multimillion-dollar first-look television deal with Amazon.

    According to a Variety report, a general meeting with Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke led to the first-look deal. Earlier, she was already collaborating with Amazon on two television projects. Amazon hopes the deal will help grow the studio’s footprint in the country.

    “My quest really is to be able to tell female stories, work with creators from around the world and create a cross-pollination of storytelling. Amazon is such a great partner to do that because their reach and outlook is so global. My Amazon television deal is a global deal, so I can do Hindi language, I can do English language, I can do whatever language I want,” she said as quoted by Variety.

    “As both an actor and producer, I have always dreamt of an open canvas of creative talent coming together from all over the world to create great content irrespective of language and geography. This has always been the DNA of my production house Purple Pebble Pictures, and is the foundation of this exciting new endeavor with Amazon,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.

  • ‘Filmfare Lockdown Conversations’ features the biggest names of Bollywood in their candid best

    ‘Filmfare Lockdown Conversations’ features the biggest names of Bollywood in their candid best

    Filmfare, India’s leading entertainment brand, launched Filmfare Lockdown Conversations, a candid video series featuring the biggest and most-popular names in Bollywood. By leveraging the brand’s extensive social media reach of 14 million across all four platforms, the show aims to bring fans closer to A-listers from the industry by giving them a humble insight into the lives of these stars through the free-flowing conversations in this bi-weekly video series. 

    The show features Filmfare editor and B-town expert Jitesh Pillaai as the host with some of the biggest of Bollywood stars such as Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Imtiaz Ali, Shekhar Kapur, Alaya Furniturewala, Janhvi Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Tapsee Pannu  and Madhuri Dixit among others in a candid conversation, as they open up about life in the confines of their homes. Streaming across all social media platforms of Filmfare, over a slew of unfiltered, intimate, real and entertaining episodes. Spanning across six weeks, audiences will get to see both, the celebrity and the host, sitting in the comfort of their homes bond over a cup of tea.

    Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Deepak Lamba – CEO, Worldwide Media said, Filmfare Lockdown Conversations sees the brand explore the digital medium and leverage its reach on social media to once again innovate and connect with our audiences in a relevant environment. We hope that, via this candid video series, Filmfare, continues to engage and entertain our audiences in the midst of this current crisis.”

    Jitesh Pillaai, Editor, Filmfare said, “In these unprecedented and unforeseen circumstances, we seek to offer our audiences content that is entertaining, engaging and at the same time inspiring. Through Filmfare Lockdown Conversations we will be getting up close and personal with the biggest stars in Bollywood and bring them closer to our viewers. The candid video series will see me open a dialogue with these A Listers where they shall speak about their lockdown lifestyle, their mantra to adjusting to the new normal, among many other interesting aspects and topics.”

    From reputed directors to some of the most recognizable faces in B-town; the power-packed line-up of stars in Filmfare Lockdown Conversations will ensure that you see each one of them in a whole new light. 
     

  • Brands mourn the loss of actor Irrfan Khan

    Brands mourn the loss of actor Irrfan Khan

    NEW DELHI: Wednesday morning sent tremors of despair across the country as the news of the untimely demise of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan broke out. The 53-year-old star, who had not only worked in some path-breaking Hindi films like Maqbool, Madari and Piku, but had also been a part of Oscar-winning international projects, including Life of Pi and Slumdog Millionaire, had been suffering from Neuroendocrine tumor. The versatile star was also the face of some popular brands, most notable being Syska LED and MasterCard. He had also appeared in advertisements of Indica Easy Hair Colour (CavinKare India), Candid Dusting Powder (Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd), Envy 1000, CEAT Tyres, and Vodafone, amongst others.

    Syska Group head of marketing Amit Sethiya took to Twitter to share his feelings over the sad demise of the actor. He wrote, “No words to express the sorrow. You will continue to rule our heart Irrfan and will always be remembered for your impeccable performances and humble persona. Strength to your family members. #IrrfanKhan #RIPIrfan #RestInPeace #Legend #Omshanti (sic).”

    The brand also shared an emotional video on its Instagram handle to mark his journey as the face of Syska LED, taking snippets from the very popular ads he did for them.

    Several other brands paid tribute to the actor as well as homage with beautiful creatives and heartfelt messages.

    DLF Promenade

    Limeroad

    MTV Beats

    Oven Story

    Parle G

    T Series

    YouTube India

  • France woos Indian content creators; lays out interesting incentives

    France woos Indian content creators; lays out interesting incentives

    MUMBAI: The French government is laying out the red carpet for Indian film, digital originals and TV series makers.  French minister of culture Franck Riester flew into Mumbai and had a series of whistlestop meetings with members of the creative community at Mumbai’s Soho House. His pitch: come to France, film, do co-productions and we will give you all the permissions through one window, access to regional tax incentives, and credits. 

    Said the minister: “The French president wants to build closer relationships with India. One of the best ways to do it is through the medium of cinema. Both France and India have a long history of cinema. We are the premier film making country in Europe. India’s Bollywood has been making major strides. We have many stories which can be remade in India and likewise. And India and France have a coproduction agreement since 2010 and more than 10 films have been shot in France. ” 

    Centre National Du cinema et de l’mage animee (CNC) president Dominique Boutonnat said that French cinema does about $3 billion euros worth of productions while making about 300 films a year. “Even series which are travelling across the world thanks to global streaming platforms can come and film in France. We have beautiful locations which can be used.”

    The single-window clearance will be done through Film France. Stephan Bender who looks after technical facilities and communications for the organisation, says that procedures have been simplified and all clearances, permissions, finding a local partner, tax credit clearances will be done through his office. “Earlier we had to go through the ministry of commerce; and that would take time. But now that we have stepped in things are bound to speed up. All you need to do to take advantage of our incentives is send us your budget and production services agreement (PSA) with your local producer, your script  – to find out if you are eligible. Non-fiction and documentary makers are not eligible for the incentives though. It has to be scripted and fiction oriented.”

    Riester added that a committee and film commission is being set up to facilitate Indian productions in France, which will assess projects coming to it, and turnaround time is being improved by the day. "I think it''s human relationships which will help strengthen our relations in cinema and other creative industries. I hope we will be able to increase our cooperation, business and artistic exchanges," he acknowledged.

    Bender added that producers will  require to spend a minimum of Rs 2 crore in France to be eligible for the incentives which tots up to 30 per cent. If VFX is added to it, then the incentives will be higher at 40 per cent for expenditure up  to two million euros. The incentive and tax credit has a limit of 30 million euros for a project, but for that the expenditure in France will have to be in excess of 100 million euros. 

    Among the filmmakers who turned up for the interactions included Reliance Entertainment’s Shibashis Sarkar, Red Chillies Gaurav Verma, Dipti Jindal, a representative of  Sajid Nadiadwala, Vivek Singhania, actor turned producer R Madhavan, Sunil Khetrapal from Azure Entertainment, Narayan Srinivasan from In2tainment, TVC digital series and film maker Rajnish Lall, Brio Studios Amit Ranekar, India Spark’s Khalid Khan, among many others.

  • MissMalini launches MissMalini Trending

    MissMalini launches MissMalini Trending

    MUMBAI: MissMalini proudly launches MissMalini Trending – a social media news desk at an upscale Juhu outlet. The beloved blog’s first-ever news desk will feature digital influencers and experts in all their glory. The pioneer of Indian lifestyle blogging, MissMalini is a multi-media and multi-platform content portal with more than 10 million unique monthly followers across platforms.

    MissMalini founder and creative director Malini Agarwal said “MissMalini is delighted to introduce MissMalini Trending. This platform will feature the favorite digital superstars as today everyone wants to know what superstars wear, whom they date, what they eat, etc. I think these creators have a huge impact on the millennials in the nation. They also face immense pressure to live up to their image. A lot of work goes into keeping up with the perfect image that they put forth on the internet. This platform recognizes their work and motivates them to keep flourishing on social media.”

    In today’s world of social media, a digital influencer occupies the space of a Bollywood celebrity. Gaining popularity on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, they have managed to position themselves as leaders and role models of the internet generation. They have become an integral part of the modern youth culture in India and play a fundamental role in shaping their personalities. This initiative works as a dossier to provide a personal account of all the creators enlisted on the page. The platform acknowledges their work and highlights any new developments and expansions made by them in their respective fields.

    Malini Agarwal launched her blog perched on a couch in 2008. Taking the digital world by storm, MissMalini's on the list of leading entertainment portals in India. MissMalini Entertainment supports emerging talent and uplifts fresh content creators. A productive digital space for new-comers, the company dedicates its efforts to guide up-coming influencers through their journey.

    An influencer herself, Agarwal has taken several initiatives including Malini's girl tribe to transform social media into a better place. She promotes positivity and spreading joy by eliminating trolls and shaming. Focusing efforts on building the women’s community, she contributes to associations such as the Women Innovation Entrepreneurship Foundation (WIEF) and the women by attending events organized by them. Empowering women and making a difference has always been centric to the celebrated blogger.

  • Star Jalsha to host 10-hour long super audition for Super Singer

    Star Jalsha to host 10-hour long super audition for Super Singer

    MUMBAI: Star Jalsha is all set to host the super auditions for Super Singer, the newest addition to its weekend primetime. An explosion of talent and entertainment will follow as the auditions will bring the biggest names from Bollywood and Tollywood to kickstart this musical extravaganza.

    For the first time, Bengali television will be privy to a 10 hour long super audition. Earlier, Super Singer Junior had enthralled the viewers with its momentous 10-hour long super finale.

    Taking forward the legacy of that monumental occasion, the channel is ready showcase the super auditions of Super Singer which will comprise 28 musical talents who have been chosen from the length and breadth of Bengal. The 10-hour long spectacle promises to be a gala affair with scintillating performances and by the likes of one and only Asha Bhosle along with Sadhna Sargam, Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Udit Narayan and Monali Thakur. Bengal’s very own will be seen performing on a medley with his group comprising of renowned Bengali singers like Rupankar, Lopamudra, Emon, Raghav, Somlata, Surojit, Jayati and Anwesha, during the extravaganza as well.

    These experts will join hands with judges – Kumar Sanu, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Jeet Ganguli to handpick the rising stars of tomorrow. The multi-faceted Jisshu U Sengupta will also be seen taking charge as the show’s host.

    The show is being produced by none other than Subhankar Chatterjee Productions who has changed the dynamics of Bengali television with their diverse and innovative nonfiction shows.

    Super Singer producer Subhankar Chatterjee said, “With the super audition, we begin our search for Bengal’s next singing superstar. We have some very exciting surprises and stellar performances for the audience during the course of the show. And I hope they enjoy them thoroughly.”

    Star Jalsha & Jalsha Movies channel head & EVP Sagnik Ghosh said, “We are extremely excited to have the maestros of the music industry to flag off the journey of Super Singer. We believe in presenting new and unique concepts to our audience. The grand audition is one such effort which we promise will captivate our viewers. This is just a sneak peek of the exciting journey which will be witnessed by the audience during Super Singer. We can’t wait for them to embark upon this journey with us.”

    Shortlisted contestants from the auditions held in 12 districts of Bengal, will be seen battling it out for a spot in the show and only 14 will be selected for the journey ahead. The mega music carnival will start on 12 January 2020 from 1 pm onwards only on Star Jalsha SD & Star Jalsha HD.

  • Eros Now partners with EUROSTAR Group

    Eros Now partners with EUROSTAR Group

    MUMBAI: Eros Now, the cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform owned by Eros International, a global Indian Entertainment Company, has announced its partnership with UAE-based digital retail giant, EUROSTAR Group. The association enables the large diaspora from the Indian sub-continent and locals across GCC countries to access Eros Now’s vast content library of more than 12,000 movies, music videos, original shows, short format content quickie and more.

    The massive fan base of Indian entertainment content in the GCC markets can now take advantage of monthly and annual subscription packs of Eros Now from their nearest EUROSTAR-serviced retail outlet. The partnership promises to deliver entertainment and enhance customer convenience by offering seamless access to the premium OTT platform.

    Expats from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt living in UAE and other GCC markets are massive fans of Indian entertainment, especially Bollywood movies and stars. Eros Now, apart from offering a huge Bollywood film catalogue, is also known as the one-stop destination for regional films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, among other Indian languages. The Company’s direct-to-digital offerings, ground-breaking original shows and short-format content category, quickie, further encourages GCC market consumers to avail subscription from EUROSTAR retail outlets.

    Eros Now chief executive officer Ali Hussein said, “We at Eros Now believe in constantly enhancing consumer experience and expand reach by partnering with relevant leading brands globally. The partnership with EUROSTAR is a testament to our endeavor in offering easy accessibility and unparalleled entertainment to the massive consumer base across GCC countries. We are confident that with a plethora of choices as well as regional languages to choose from, audiences in GCC will find there is no better place to go.”

    EUROSTAR spokesperson and executive director Shaan Jethwani said, “We are happy to partner with India’s leading OTT platform Eros Now to offer their bouquet of content to our audience. The increasing demand for Indian entertainment content in GCC markets is the driving force behind this decision. With EUROSTAR’s legacy on Pay TV distribution, we envisage to deliver its vast entertainment content to a massive consumer base across GCC countries.”

  • Eros Now Channel live on Wasu Media for Chinese users

    Eros Now Channel live on Wasu Media for Chinese users

    MUMBAI: Eros Now, the cutting-edge digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform owned by Eros International Plc (NYSE: EROS) (“Eros” or “the Company”), a global Indian Entertainment Company, in 2019 had announced a partnership with Wasu Media, a major cable television, broadband network OTT and IPTV service provider in China. Eros Now is pleased to reveal that the service is now live on Wasu Media in China and able to deliver Bollywood and digital original series to the Chinese viewers.

    Eros Now further cements its position as a pioneer as it is the only Indian OTT player which will have live services for Video on Demand in China, including on Wasu Media and iQiyi.

    Wasu Media, which has a strong base in the country, reaches 125 million users via its Cable TV, OTT and IPTV distribution network to more than 100 cities in China is now providing Eros Now a platform to further expand its subscriber base. The partnership will enable Wasu Media to provide Bollywood content as a SVOD service to Chinese viewers and further enhance the demand that Bollywood content has seen in China over the last few years.

    There is a massive cultural overlap in the viewing behaviour of Chinese audiences with that of South Asian audiences. This has been demonstrated by the success of movies like Dangal, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Andhadhun released in China over the last few years with significant success at the Chinese box office. The trend now has escalated to digital platforms with Eros Now at the forefront with this transformation of building viewership of Indian movies with digital viewers in China.

    Eros Digital chairman & CEO Rishika Lulla Singh said, “Eros Now is the most popular destination for Bollywood & Indian movies across the globe. We are glad to go live in China in partnership with Wasu Media which caters to 125 million users in the country. The partnership with Wasu Media and uCast ties in with our ethos of connecting with Bollywood fans across the world. Through such alliances, we will continue to build on our global reach for Eros Now.”

    Wasu New Media Operations general manager Lu DanQiang said, “Wasu Media's partnership with Eros and uCast significantly promotes the development of Indian film and television in China, delivering more Bollywood content to Chinese audiences. Chinese film fans now have the opportunity to watch high quality Indian film and TV content, which is win-win cooperation for both parties.”