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Tag: Golden Globe

  • Comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s debut performance in Mumbai cancelled

    Comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s debut performance in Mumbai cancelled

    MUMBAI: Emmy and Golden Globe-winning stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s debut in India has been cancelled due to issues related to traffic and parking at the venue. 

     

    The actor, best known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the sitcom Seinfeld, was to perform his stand-up routines on 14 and 15 March.

     

    The performance, a part of Stage42 festival, was supposed to be held at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Stadium, Mumbai. 

     

    The stadium has a seating capacity of 4,000 people and was recently the venue for a charity fashion show attended by politician that led to traffic snarls. Police had been wary of the large turnout expected for Seinfeld’s shows.

     

    “This cancellation is unavoidable due to circumstances beyond the artist’s and our control. Issues related to traffic and parking at the venue, which were brought to our attention only a couple of days ago, forced the cancellation of all artist travel arrangements pending a resolution of these logical issues,” a statement released by the organisers said.

     

    The show’s tickets, which had a starting price tag of Rs 7500, will be refunded by 25 March, 2015. 

  • Fox Cable Network Programming business revenue up 14.2% in Q2-2015

    Fox Cable Network Programming business revenue up 14.2% in Q2-2015

    BENGALURU: Rupert Murdoch’s Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. (Fox) reported a 1.3 per cent drop in total revenue to $8055 million in the quarter ended 31 December, 2014 (Q2-2015, current quarter) as compared to the $8163 million reported for the year ago quarter (quarter ended 31 December, 2013).

     

    In November 2014, the Company sold its 100 per cent and 57 per cent ownership stakes in Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland, respectively, to Sky for approximately $8.8 billion comprised approximately $8.2 billion in cash received, net of $650 million of cash paid to acquire Sky’s 21 per cent interest in NGCI, increasing the Company’s ownership stake in NGCI to 73 per cent.

     

    Excluding the revenue from the satellite businesses that were sold, revenue rose 10 per cent to $7.42 billion in the current quarter over the $6.73 billion of adjusted revenue in the prior year quarter. Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland were a part of Fox’s Direct Broadcast Satellite Television (“DBS”) businesses.

     

    Fox reported OIBDA of $1.72 billion which included $27 million of OIBDA from the DBS businesses. Excluding the OIBDA contributions from the DBS businesses in the current and prior year quarters, adjusted OIBDA grew by $181 million or 12 per cent from $1.51 billion in the prior year to $1.70 billion. This improvement reflects OIBDA growth at the Company’s Cable Network Programming and Television segments says the company. Adjusted OIBDA growth was adversely impacted by approximately $90 million or 6 per cent from foreign exchange rate fluctuations, primarily in Latin America.

     

    Fox chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said, “We delivered solid quarterly results despite continuing currency headwinds and ratings challenges at the Fox broadcast network. Our growth was led by sustained affiliate revenue growth in our channels business. I am also very proud of the creative successes that we have achieved at Twentieth Century Fox, which set a global box office record in 2014 and leads the industry with 24 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture nominations for Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel, as well as at our television production studios, which have produced the Emmy and Golden Globe winning Fargo, the critically acclaimed American Horror Story and the promising new series Empire.

     

    “In addition to the operational success achieved this past quarter, we also executed two significant strategic transactions, the combination of our European satellite television holdings, creating Europe’s leading pay television business, and the formation of the Endemol Shine Group joint venture. These transactions further enhance our ability to drive long-term value for all of our shareholders,” he added.

     

    Cable Network Programming

     

    Fox Cable Network Programming business (CNP), which is its largest segment in terms of revenue and operating profit, reported a 14.2 per cent jump in revenue in the current quarter to $3384 million from $2964 million in Q2-2014. OIBDA (Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization) of CNP segment rose 11.7 per cent to $1159 million in Q2-2015 from $1038 million in the year ago quarter.  The OIBDA improvement in the current quarter was driven by a 14 per cent revenue increase on strong affiliate and advertising revenue growth says the company.

     

    The revenue improvement was partially offset by a 16 per cent increase in segment expenses, approximately half of which reflected the combined impact of the planned investments in the new sports channels, Fox Sports 1 and Star Sports, coupled with the consolidation of the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (the YES Network). The expense growth at the new sports channels was led by increased rights fees related to the inaugural broadcast of Major League Baseball Divisional and League Championship playoff games at Fox Sports 1. Segment OIBDA growth was adversely impacted by over $65 million or approximately 6 per cent from foreign exchange rate fluctuations, primarily in Latin America, as mentioned above.

     

    Television business

     

    Fox Television business reported almost flat revenue (drop of 0.4 per cent) at $1623 million in the current quarter versus the $1630 million in the year ago quarter. Television business OIBDA increased 33 per cent in Q2-2015 to $290 million from $218 million in Q2-2014.

     

    The increase in segment OIBDA was driven by lower programming costs at the FOX Broadcast Network from the cancellation of ‘X-Factor’, the absence of’ Glee’ in the current year quarter and the shift of the Major League Baseball League Championship Series to Fox Sports 1, all of which were partially offset by higher rights fees related to the new National Football League contract. Quarterly segment revenues were consistent with those from the corresponding period in the prior year as strong retransmission consent revenue growth was counterbalanced by a 3 per cent decline in advertising revenues. This advertising revenue decline reflects the impact from lower general entertainment ratings at the Fox Broadcast Network, which was partially offset by increased political advertising revenue growth at the local television stations.

     

    Filmed Entertainment business

     

    Filmed Entertainment (FE) business reported revenue growth of 11.1 per cent in Q2-2015 to $2753 million from $2477 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. This growth was led by the performance of several successful worldwide theatrical releases including ‘The Maze Runner’ and ‘Gone Girl’, which have grossed over $340 million and over $365 million in worldwide box office to date, respectively. As a result of these and other successful releases in the year the studio has broken the all-time global box-office industry record, having generated more than $5.5 billion in 2014 claims the company.

     

    FE reported flat OIBDA (down 0.3 per cent) of $336 million versus $337 million in the corresponding year ago quarter. This was due to increased contributions from the film studio, led by a strong theatrical slate was offset by lower contributions from the television production businesses driven by fewer series deliveries, including the absence of ‘How I Met Your Mother’, ‘White Collar’ and ‘Glee’.

     

    Direct Broadcast Satellite Television (DBS)

     

    DBS segment revenue in Q3-2015 was down 56.3 per cent to $663 million from $1517 million in Q2-2014. DBS reported OIBDA of $27 million in Q2-2015 versus $30 million last year.

     

    Consolidated revenues by component

     

    Affiliate Fees grew 17 per cent to $2480 million in Q2-2015 from $2119 million in Q2-2014. Subscription was down 55.7 per cent due to the sale of Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland in Q2-2015 to $605 million from $1366 million in the year ago quarter. Advertising revenue was almost flat down 0.6 per cent) to $2370 million in Q2-2015 as compared to $2385 million in Q2-2014.

     

    Revenue from Content was up 15.4 per cent to $2487 million in the current quarter from $2156 million in Q2-2014. Revenue from ‘Other’ component was down 17.5 per cent to $113 million from $137 million in Q2-2014.

  • George Clooney to receive Cecil B DeMille award at Golden Globes

    George Clooney to receive Cecil B DeMille award at Golden Globes

    MUMBAI: Hollywood star George Clooney will be the recipient of the Cecil B DeMille Award at the 2015 Golden Globes, announced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA).

     

    HFPA president Theo Kingma stated that the HFPA is honoured to bestow the Cecil B. DeMille Award to George Clooney to celebrate his outstanding contributions both in front of and behind the camera.

     

    The actor, producer, writer and director co-founded ‘Not On Our Watch’, an organisation that works to fight genocides around the world. In 2008, Clooney was designated as a UN Messenger of Peace and two years later, he with Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions co-produced a telethon, ‘Hope for Haiti’, which raised $66 million for the Haiti earthquake relief.

     

    Clooney has already been nominated for Golden Globe awards 13 times and won three including ‘Best Actor in a Drama’ for The Descendants (2011), ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Syriana (2005) and ‘Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical’ for O Brother, Where Art Thou (2000).

     

    The 53-year-old has also won two Oscars – one for his supporting role in Syriana and the other as a producer of 2013’s best picture winner, Argo

     

    Clooney most recently appeared in Gravity and The Monuments Men, the latter of which he also directed, co-wrote and produced. He stars next in Brad Bird’s sci-fi adventure Tomorrowland for Disney and is also slated to direct a film about Britain’s phone-hacking scandal.

     

    Previous recipients of the Cecil B. DeMille award include Jodie Foster, Steven Spielberg, Anthony Hopkins, Michael Douglas and Martin Scorsese. Woody Allen received the honour last year.

     

    Clooney will receive his award when the Golden Globes air on NBC on 11 January 2015.

  • Zee Café is all set to captivate viewers with – ‘The Good Wife’

    Zee Café is all set to captivate viewers with – ‘The Good Wife’

    MUMBAI: Zee Café brings ‘The Good Wife’ one of the most awarded shows on primetime television to every Indian home! Come 26th May, 2014 and Zee Café will telecast the original series from season 1 to 5, weekdays at 9 pm for all its judicious fans. There is no place you’d rather be than at the edge of your couch anticipating Alicia Florrick’s (the protagonist) next move!

    The scandalous series is critically acclaimed bagging over 30 nominations and prestigious wins that include 4 EMMYs and a Golden Globe. Zee Café is a front runner when it comes to providing the best of International content to the Indian audience and the channel has designed an exhaustive campaign to promote The Good Wife. With billboards placed strategically around key areas in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, Zee Café aims to make the run up towards the premiere, a roaring success. Branding at Café Coffee Day outlets in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai along with extensive promotions across print, radio and social media will ensure optimum recall.

    Fans can visit the official page on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZeeCafe or can log onto Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeeCafe to experience the series, follow the cast or share their views.The online buzz for the show has already started with an increase in engagement on both twitter and Facebook. Daily engaging activities like creating a courtroom scenario on twitter and asking the followers to be the jurors has received immense participation and there is a lot of anticipation for the show.

    Mr Anurag Bedi, EVP & Business Head- Zee Café, when asked about the series stated; “In our efforts to provide the best of international content to our Indian viewers we pick shows that appeal to the mindsets of our target audience. The Good Wife is a series that’s a favorite at the awards and has done brilliantly in the US, and we are sure that our viewers here will love the show.”

    The Good Wife is all set to take the stage on Friday, 26th May, 2014 at 9 pm only on Zee Café!

  • Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Hercules’ movie trailer released

    Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Hercules’ movie trailer released

    MUMBAI: MGM and Paramount have come together to re-envision the classic Greek tale of the legend of Hercules starring Dwayne Johnson (The Scorpion King, Fast & Furious) as the legendary hero, adapted from Steve Moore’s graphic novel.

    The film boasts a stellar cast that includes Golden Globe Award winner Ian McShane (Deadwood, The Pillars of the Earth), BAFTA Award nominee Rufus Sewell (Eleventh Hour), BAFTA Award winner Joseph Fiennes (American Horror Story: Asylum), Emmy Award nominee Peter Mullan (Top of the Lake) and Golden Globe Award winner John Hurt (Midnight Express) and is directed by Brett Rattner (Rush Hour series).

    Ratner’s film follows the story of the warrior who, in the wake of his legendary twelve labours, becomes a mercenary. When the King of Thrace and his daughter seek him out for help to defeat a tyrannical warlord, his life is tested in a way it never has been before. Based on the graphic novel series Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steven Moore and Admira Wijaya.

    The Rock took to Instagram to talk about the grueling preparations he undertook to get into the titular role for Hercules, which hits the big screen this summer.

    Click here to watch the trailer

    “I trained and worked harder than ever for eight months for this role. Lived alone and locked myself away (like a moody 260-lb. monk) in Budapest for six months while filming.” He said on his Instagram page, “Goal was to completely transform into this character. Disappear in the role. Press journalist asked me today, with the mental & physical toll the role had on me, would I do it again? Not only would I do it again… I’d do it twice!”

  • SodaStream unveils Scarlett Johansson as its first-ever global brand ambassador

    SodaStream unveils Scarlett Johansson as its first-ever global brand ambassador

    NEW JERSEY: SodaStream International has signed actress Scarlett Johansson as its first-ever Global Brand Ambassador. Johansson, a Tony winner and four-time Golden Globe nominee, will become the face of a new marketing campaign for the world’s leading home carbonation system. The multi-year partnership will kick-off when SodaStream premieres its first ad featuring Johansson during Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, February 2, 2014.

     

    “We are thrilled to welcome the remarkably talented Scarlett Johansson into the SodaStream family,” stated Daniel Birnbaum, CEO of SodaStream. “Scarlett is a long-time user and genuine fan of our products, a role model for healthy body image and a champion for environmental responsibility, making her the perfect choice for our global ambassador. She truly embodies our brand values and we are honored to have her join our team.”

     

    Johansson believes that being healthy is about commitment, determination, and self-empowerment. These core values emulate SodaStream’s mission to revolutionize the beverage industry by empowering people with easy-to-use, fun ways to enjoy better-for-you, better-for-the-environment bubbly beverages.

     

    The actress has loved sparkling water since childhood, which led her to discover SodaStream. Now a loyal user for years, Johansson has a soda maker in her home and is an enthusiastic fan of the brand.

     

    “I’ve been using the SodaStream products myself and giving them as gifts for many, many years,” said Johansson. “The company’s commitment to a healthier body and a healthier planet is a perfect fit for me. I love that the product can be tailored to any lifestyle and palate. The partnership between me and SodaStream is a no brainer. I am beyond thrilled to share my enthusiasm for SodaStream with the world!!”

     

    SodaStream empowers consumers to create their own carbonated beverages at home, just the way they like them. SodaStream soda mixes are available in over 100 flavors, and generally contain 2/3 less sugar, 2/3 less calories, no high-fructose corn syrup and no aspartame. With an innovative re-usable bottle, the SodaStream system drastically reduces the waste created by plastic bottles and cans; a true revolution in the way people consume carbonated drinks. The company is confident that in her role as Global Ambassador, Johansson will help consumers embrace home soda making as the future of the beverage industry.

     

    About SodaStream 

    SodaStream International is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of home beverage carbonation systems, which enable consumers to easily transform ordinary tap water instantly into carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. Soda makers offer a highly differentiated and innovative solution to consumers of bottled and canned carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. Our products are environmentally friendly, cost effective, promote health and wellness, and are customizable and fun to use. In addition, our products offer convenience by eliminating the need to carry bottles home from the supermarket, to store bottles at home or to regularly dispose of empty bottles. SodaStream products are available at more than 60,000 retail stores in 45 countries around the world, including over 15,000 retail stores in the United States. For more information please visit www.sodastream.com.

     

    Forward Looking Statement 

    This release contains forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of management. Such statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

     

    Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to expand into our target markets, including the United States; our ability to continue to develop or maintain our presence in retail networks; our ability to develop and implement production and operating infrastructure to effectively support our growth; the success of our marketing campaigns and media spending in terms of increased sales or increased product and brand name awareness; our ability to maintain our customer base in markets where we have an established presence; the risks associated with our reliance on exclusive arrangements for the distribution of our home beverage carbonation systems and consumables in each of the markets in which we use third-party distributors; our ability to compete effectively with other companies which currently offer, or may offer in the future, competing products; potential product liability claims if any component of our home beverage carbonation systems is misused; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; our being found to have a dominant position in certain markets which may place limits on our ability operate; risks associated with our being subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates; our potential exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities; our products being subject to extensive governmental regulation in the markets in which we operate; adverse conditions in the global economy which could negatively impact our customers’ demand for our products; and other factors detailed in documents we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

     

    About the Super Bowl ad production:-

     

     
    Agency: 

    Humanaut

     

    Titles: 

    Director: Bryan Buckley 
    Creative Director: Alex Bogusky / David Littlejohn 
    Copywriter: David Littlejohn 
    Art Director: Stephanie Galabert

  • Desperate Housewives alum Marcia Cross marks her return to TV

    Desperate Housewives alum Marcia Cross marks her return to TV

    MUMBAI: After a year and a half of bidding adieu to Wisteria Lane, Desperate Housewives alum Marcia Cross is returning to television in the form of the female lead role in Fox’s new TV comedy, Fatrick. Fatrick centers on Patrick, a 30-something man who realises that his life isn’t quite where it should be. The former fat kid is forced to face the damage caused by years of being “Fatrick,” a chubby little kid just trying to survive.

     

    The comedy will take place in the past – showing “Fatrick” at school and at home – as well as in the present. In the series, Marcia Cross would play Patrick’s mother Arlene, a fit, energetic nutritionist who is rigid and intense when it comes to her family’s eating habits. Proud of her skinny daughter, she’s not quite as keen on her “plumper” offspring. Arlene means well when it comes to her family, but she has a little filter problem.

     

    This marks the biggest half-hour commitment for EMMY and Golden Globe nominee Cross, who had largely done drama series before her turn in the comedic one-hour Desperate Housewives. She took a break after the end of the ABC series to spend time with her twin girls, born while Cross was on the show, and is now making her return to TV.

     

    “Fatrick” is written by Nahnatchka Khan (Don’t Trust the B – in Apt 23) and Corey Nickerson. It will mark the TV directing debut for Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the George Clooney starring film The Descendants. The show was ordered last month. Desperate Housewives has been a ratings hit in India for Star World over the past few years.

  • Ram-Leela to open Marrakech International Film Fest

    Ram-Leela to open Marrakech International Film Fest

    MUMBAI: Eros International and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela starring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh will open the 13th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival on 29 November, 2013. Director/producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone will be at the festival during the opening ceremony.

     

    And that isn’t all! Apart from being the first Bollywood film this year to be opening an international festival, the film will also be screened for the festival’s jury, some of the biggest names in world cinema including Oscar winning director Martin Scorsese, Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Patricia Clarkson of The Untouchables and Shutter Island fame, Oscar and Bafta award winner Marion Cottilard who starred in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises and Anurag Kashyap from home turf who has always gone on to say that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one of the finest filmmakers in the country.

  • Juliette Lewis signs with Untitled Entertainment

    Juliette Lewis signs with Untitled Entertainment

    MUMBAI: Lewis will be soon hitting theatres this November in The Weinstein Company‘s star-studded edition of August: Osage County, playing Karen Weston, the youngest daughter of Meryl Streep‘s character, states The Hollywood Reporter.

    Juliette Lewis has inked a deal with Untitled Entertainment. She had been with Buchwald/Fortitude until the agency split this spring.

    She received an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting role in Martin Scorsese’s remake of Cape Fear at the age of 18.

    Her steady and prolific film career has spanned comedy (Christmas Vacation and Mixed Nuts), drama (Husbands and Wives and What‘s Eating Gilbert Grape) and thrillers (Natural Born Killers and From Dusk Till Dawn).

    The recent Portlandia guest star was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her work in Showtime‘s 2001 adaptation of the YA novel My Louisiana Sky, and she followed up the next year with a Primetime Emmy-nominated performance in the HBO movie Hysterical Blindness.

  • Jennifer Aniston to get Hollywood Walk of Fame award

    Jennifer Aniston to get Hollywood Walk of Fame award

    MUMBAI: The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will honour Jennifer Aniston with the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 22 February.

    It may be noted that Aniston received five Emmy nominations, two SAG Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, an Emmy (2002) for her ten-season period on Friends as well as a Golden Globe (2003) in lead actress in a comedy category and five People’s Choice Awards.

    Subsequently, the actress came to doing feature films including Rumor Has It, The Break-Up, Friends With Money and Marley and Me.

    Aniston will next be seen in Wanderlust that would be released by Universal Pictures.