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Tag: Howard Stringer

  • Shirley MacLaine to receive AFI honour

    Shirley MacLaine to receive AFI honour

    MUMBAI: The American Film Institute (AFI) has selected Shirley MacLaine to receive its highest honour, the AFI Life Achievement Award that will be presented to her at a gala tribute on 7 June, next year, in Los Angeles.


    Said AFI’s board of trustees chairman Howard Stringer, “Shirley MacLaine is a powerhouse of personality that has illuminated screens large and small across six decades.


    From ingénue to screen legend, Shirley has entertained a global audience through song, dance, laughter and tears, and her career as writer, director and producer is even further evidence of her passion for the art form and her seemingly boundless talents.”


    An Oscar winner in 1984 as best actress for her performance in Terms of Endearment, MacLaine made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble With Harry in 1955. During the course of her career, she has earned six Academy Award nominations, six Emmy noms and seven Golden Globe Awards.
    Synapse Films recently released brand-new remastered Blu-ray releases of James Glickenhaus’ The Exterminator, William Lustig’s Manic Cop, and Frank Henenlotter’s Frankenhooker with Tarantino-producer Lawrence Bender’s Intruder releasing this December.


    Her latest film, Bernie had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.

  • ‘Our aim is to see that India is a top 5 market for us in 2 years’ : Sony chairman, CEO and president Sir Howard

    ‘Our aim is to see that India is a top 5 market for us in 2 years’ : Sony chairman, CEO and president Sir Howard

     

    Sony Corporation expects India to be among its top five markets by sales in the next two years.

     

    Betting big on 3D, Sony chairman, CEO and president Sir Howard Stringer is targeting 30 per cent of its India sales to come from 3D products by 2012.

     

    The first non-Japanese head of Sony feels that the company needs to improve its broadcasting business in India and build synergies across all its verticals.

     

    Stringer was in Mumbai to inaugurate Sony Media Technology Centre (SMTC) in association with Whistling Woods International (WWI), Indiantelevision.com‘s Ashwin Pinto unravels Stringer‘s plans in India.

     

    Excerpts:

    India only forms three per cent of Sony‘s global sales of around $88 billion. How do you explain this, given the large consumer base here?
    While this is true, our aim is to see that India is a top five market for us in the next two years. Year on year we have experienced a 50 per cent growth in turnover. Our commitment is to establish a strong brand here.

     

    We were not quick to come here with all the facets of our business. Twelve years back, India was not a focus market for us. You have to remember that our television sets have premium margins; they are expensive.

     

    Now as India‘s economy has grown, Indian consumers are getting aspirational for our products. You can only be as big as the market is. We expect solid growth in the coming four years.

    Is it fair to say then that India has become very important for Sony?
    Yes! When it comes to entertainment, we love India. We are trying to cash in on our success. We are the No. 1 consumer electronics brand here.

     

    On the television front, we do the IPL. Our film studio has had great success here. Everything that we do works here. The size of the Indian film industry is why India is so important. We have a good relationship here.

     

    A few years back, we started building infrastructure for 3D; digital cinema has helped us grow here and in other markets. Being in this industry is like no other. This is a wonderful business to be in.

    Are you confident that 3D will penetrate here?
    Yes! India will adopt 3D faster due to the size and scale of the film industry. People said that I should not tie my career in with 3D. However, I have never doubted this medium. 3D is not about special effects; it is about capturing the reality around us.

     

    Avatar focused a lot on special effects and the story was secondary. That is why I think that it lost the Best Picture Oscar.

     

    However now what you are seeing is that the technology is being integrated with the storyline. On television, it will be a feature but not everything needs to be in 3D. For instance, you would not want to see Gadaffi in 3D. We have a channel 3D Net. Sony Pictures Imageworks made Alice In Wonderland. 3D is an art form. Sony is home to engineers and film directors working on this technology.

    From a revenue standpoint, what difference is 3D making to Sony?
    It is becoming an important avenue with home video sales declining. You can charge a premium on tickets. Of course, there are films that are not good and so 3D will not work there. However if the product is good, then it offers a premium.

    What content is coming from Sony in 3D?
    The Smurfs is coming in 3D. Spiderman 4 is currently being shot. We are present across the spectrum of 3D. Last year, Hollywood made 40 films in 3D. By 2013, you will see 120 films using this technology. 3D is actually growing faster than HD.
    ‘We were not quick to come to India with all the facets of our business. Now as India‘s economy has grown, Indian consumers are getting aspirational for our products. You can only be as big as the market is. We expect solid growth in the coming four years‘

    What is the size of the 3D market?
    In India, we have a 60 per cent share of 3D related products. Sony‘s target is that 30 per cent of India sales will come from 3D products by 2012.

     

    We launched 3D LCDs last year in India. More 3D capable products will be launched by us, one after the other.

     

    Globally, we are targeting sales of more than $12 billion for the current fiscal from 3D products. This includes consumer and professional products and games.

    There has been criticism that the 3D experience at home is not good. Your views?
    I do not agree. With high quality glasses, 3D becomes a riveting experience. We haven‘t had complaints about our products. The problem, though, is there is a lack of awareness about 3D.

     

    I have seen stores abroad where 3D TV sets are on display, but the glasses are not offered. So the picture is fuzzy and unclear. We test our 3D by seeing how many consumers can view it at a time. 3D is not a fad. At the moment you cannot view 3D glassless, but it will come in at some point in time.

    How did the collaboration with Whistling Woods International come about?
    Through the new initiative, we can learn from each other. This was not a hard choice. We have been impressed by their staff and use of technology.

     

    Whistling Woods International is a mirror of the American Film Institute (AFI), of which I am the chairman. We have a film studio and Whistling Woods International is a great school. We want to create a new world of Indian filmmaking.

     

    The Sony Media Technology Centre (SMTC) is the result of an on-going conversation. It is one of just three facilities we have globally. The others are in Hollywood and in the UK.

     

    The facility will provide a forum for us to offer our latest high definition and 3D technologies. We will be able to share Sony‘s expertise in 3D content creation with aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals. We aim to enhance and develop India‘s entertainment industry by popularising HD and 3D content creation.

    SMTC continues an effort started a year back with the opening of the first Sony 3D Technology Centre in Los Angeles where over a 1000 industry professionals have visited and trained to date.

     

    What is the investment being made here?
    We are investing $4.5 million in this centre. Sony has installed HD and 3D content creation and digital cinema projection equipment in Whistling Woods International. Sony will also provide its knowhow in HD content creation from acquisition to post -production of content. The 3D market will grow and we know that creation of high quality 3D content is essential to this growth.

     

    As a filmmaker ,you have to know what you are doing all the time. That is because your work is out there for everybody to see. India produces more films than any country. Your films are seen in 80-90 countries globally. As you migrate towards the latest technologies and go digital, the Indian film industry will be able to go global. Digital allows you to be both national and international.

    As a filmmaker ,you have to know what you are doing all the time. That is because your work is out there for everybody to see. India produces more films than any country. Your films are seen in 80-90 countries globally. As you migrate towards the latest technologies and go digital, the Indian film industry will be able to go global. Digital allows you to be both national and international.

    SMTC continues an effort started a year back with the opening ofustry professionals have visited and trained to date.

    What is the investment being made here?
    We are investing $4.5 million in this centre. Sony has installed HD and 3D content creation and digital cinema projection equipment in Whistling Woods International. Sony will also provide its knowhow in HD content creation from acquisition to post -production of content. The 3D market will grow and we know that creation of high quality 3D content is essential to this growth.

     

    As a filmmaker ,you have to know what you are doing all the time. That is because your work is out there for everybody to see. India produces more films than any country. Your films are seen in 80-90 countries globally. As you migrate towards the latest technologies and go digital, the Indian film industry will be able to go global. Digital allows you to be both national and international.
  • Sony cuts profit forecast for the year

    Sony cuts profit forecast for the year

    MUMBAI: Japanese electronics major Sony CEO Howard Stringer has his hands full in his attempts to turn the company’s fortunes around.

    The firm has cut its annual profit outlook. This is because of poor sales, rising costs at its games unit and a recall of millions of batteries.

    Media reports quote Sony stating that net income for the year ending 31 March 31 will drop 35 per cent to $675 million. Sony also revised its net profit for the year to $673 million. This marks a decline of 38 per cent from the $1.1 billion it had projected in July 2006.

    Earnings in the second quarter slid 93 per cent to ¥2 billion after the company recalled notebook batteries because several burst into flames. Sony maintained its sales forecast at ¥8.23 trillion.

    Media reports state that Sony has already delayed the PlayStation 3 next-generation video game console for the European market by four months. It is also delaying the sales date of LocationFree TV Box LF-Box1. The product streams television shows wirelessly to other gadgets.

    The number of battery packs being recalled globally by Sony is 9.6 million. This means a cost of $429 million. Reports however add that the scene might become worse as this figure doesn’t cover the damage compensation that companies may demand. Toshiba has said it may demand compensation.

    The battery problem stemmed from lithium-ion batteries that can short-circuit, causing some computers to overheat or burst into flames. On the video game side last month, Sony said that it had run into production problems for its PlayStation 3 video game console. It was expected to start selling the product in the US and Japan next month.

    Reports adds that Sony is equipping the console with the Blu-ray high-definition DVD player and the cell chip. This enables more lifelike graphics by making the console about 35 times faster than the previous edition of the product PlayStation 2. The company hopes that these features will justify the price and that the perception will be that the PlayStation is more than just a toy.

  • Sony Pictures Entertainment promoted Pascal as co-chairman

    Sony Pictures Entertainment promoted Pascal as co-chairman

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment has promoted Amy Pascal to cochairman and has extended her deal with the studio to 2011. This announcement was made by chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

    In addition to her new title, Pascal will continue to serve as chairman of the studio’s Motion Picture Group. Both Pascal and Lynton will continue to report to Sony Corporation chairman and CEO Howard Stringer.

    The move recognizes Pascal’s vast contributions to the company and was initiated by Lynton, who wanted to formalize the strong relationship he and Pascal have forged as partners, managing the operations of Sony Pictures, according to an official release.

    “This richly deserved promotion reflects the reality of our partnership here at Sony Pictures,” Lynton said. “Ever since Howard brought us together, Amy and I have been partners in running the studio, and I really wanted our titles to reflect our teamwork.”
    Sony is the only studio to exceed the $6 billion dollar mark in domestic box office sales between 2002 and 2006. To date this year, Sony has released eight films, including The Da Vinci Code, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Click.

    Upcoming films from Sony Pictures include the launch of Sony Pictures Animation and their debut title Open Season, Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith, Casino Royale, the 21st James Bond adventure, The Grudge 2, and Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law and Kate Winslet, among many others.

  • LCDs, cameras allow Sony to post a better than expected quarterly result

    LCDs, cameras allow Sony to post a better than expected quarterly result

    MUMBAI: Japanese consumer electronics conglomerate Sony has reported better than expected results for the first-quarter ended 30 June 2006.

    Net income was ¥32.3 billion with a loss of ¥7.3 billion a year earlier. Media reports indicate that analysts had expected the company to report lower income. Sony got a boost from sales of its Bravia brand LCD televisions and Cybershot digital cameras.

    For the full year to next March, Sony revised up its operating profit forecast by 30 per cent to 130 billion yen as it started booking patent-related income as recurring revenue rather than miscellaneous income. It kept unchanged its net profit forecast of 130 billion yen.

    Sales rose 11 per cent to ¥1.74 trillion from a year earlier. Operating profit, or sales minus the cost of goods sold and administrative expenses, was ¥27 billion for the period, compared with a restated ¥6.6 billion loss a year earlier.

    Profit from the electronics division, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of the company’s sales, was ¥47.4 billion, from a loss of ¥26.7 billion a year earlier. Sales of electronics including Bravia TVs, Cyber-shot cameras and Vaio personal computers increased by 14 per cent to ¥1.28 trillion.

    Sales of its TVs rose by 75 per cent to ¥262 billion. Sony joins rivals Sharp and Matsushita Electric Industrial in reporting higher profit because of TV sales.

    It looks like Sony CEO Howard Stringer’s cost cutting measures are starting to pay dividends. In September Stringer had outlined a plan to axe 10,000 jobs and shut down 11 factories. Stringer also stopped paying 44 retired executives, sold two corporate jets and some retail businesses, including a cosmetics maker and a restaurant chain.

    On the film front Sony benfited from The Da Vinci Code. This helped the company increase sales by 42 per cent in the quarter. However, higher marketing costs meant that the film division suffered an overall loss.