MUMBAI: Ang Lee, who is awaiting the release of his latest film Life of Pi will reportedly helm the Angelina Jolie-starrer Cleopatra after talks with filmmaker David Fincher broke off. It is said that Fincher was the third filmmaker who decided to pass on the project that was in development since 2010.
In October last year, ‘Titanic‘ helmer James Cameron was attached to the project but he let it go because of his commitment to the Avatar film franchise. Later, Paul Greengrass, director of The Bourne Ultimatum was tapped but he too remained hesitant to take up the project.
The film is an adaptation of Stacy Schiff`s book Cleopatra: A Life, the story of which sees Cleopatra as a firm ruler and military tactician who embarks on a ruthless rise to power. She twice married her brothers, killing each of them as well as a sister.
Romantic alliances with the much-older Roman honchos Julius Caesar and Marc Antony helped Cleopatra solidify power, but her relations with Antony undid both of them.
Tag: Julius Caesar
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Ang Lee to helm Cleopatra with Angelina Jolie in lead
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Amitabh Bachchan lashes out at news media, insists on professional code
NEW DELHI: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who recently enacted the role of a media baron in the film Rann, feels there is “general failure of trust in the mainstream media” and so it needs to “re-examine” its role and responsibility to the people.
In a hard-hitting speech after giving away 14 CNN-IBN Citizen Journalist Awards here at a glittering function, Big B stressed the need for a professional code of ethics for the media.
Bachchan said that professional journalism is a crucial necessity in a democracy and the role should be to provide the public with reliable and accurate information through balanced reporting. The media should be accountable to people, he added.
The news media had “a duty to double-source facts; to thoroughly investigate material for the possibility of error, bias, prejudice, slander and its various vicious mischiefs. They also have a duty of responsible, reasoned, transparent judgement, not mere opinion,” he said, adding the media should not use cheap hackneyed language, or promote “garbage celebrity.”
If one looks at the cost-benefit analysis of blogs versus newspapers, prospects for the professional news media look grim, he observed. He said the responsibility should increase with such a large number of channels to work towards greater integrity.
“As we stand on this threshold of change, we have a seeming infinity of channels before us. With this privilege of multiplicity of choice, with whatever individual preference we hold, may we choose hopefully. And may the institutions that provide this wealth of choice give us dignity, and honour the greatest gift of humanity, our spirit of intelligent enquiry. Do not switch off the TV controls, not just yet. Keep watching,” Bachchan added.
In a speech modeled on that of Mark Anthony in William Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’, he addressed “friends, Indians, countrymen and women” to point out that when one citizen upholds the right for another, he does his duty. This is the essence of liberty.
He praised the valour and intelligence of the citizen journalists of India and the virtue of professional news media epitomised by CNN-IBN, “who have demonstrated the imaginative foresight to embrace change, to cultivate the nascent seed of citizen journalism so that it may flourish, bloom and bear its fruit of civic culture.”
He concluded his long speech with a rendition of the poem ‘Agneepath’ by his late father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
The awards were given in six categories: CJ Fight Back, CJ Save Your City, CJ Be the Change, CJ Photo, CJ Video and Special CJ. The awardees included a 13-year-old girl fighting against child labour, a 90-year-old woman freedom fighter fighting for restoration of her pension, two differently enabled persons fighting for reducing accidents in Mumbai local trains and improving standards of schools in small towns and villages, and a civil servant ensuring education to children of workers on archaeological sites.
Bachchan announced a five-year pension from his personal funds for the 90-year-old Gayatri Devi who had been brought on a wheelchair.
In the programme sponsored by Idea Cellular Limited, IBN18 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said the aim was to empower the citizen to help Indians climb any mountain. IBN7 managing editor Ashutosh said the aim was also to draw the attention of the government to the reportage by the CJs.
The evening also saw a special performance by famous playback singer Shilpa Rao which left the audience mesmerised.
The award ceremony will be telecast on 20 February on IBN7, IBN-Lokmat and CNN-IBN at 7 pm, 8 pm, and 9:30 pm respectively.
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The History Channel’s ‘Great Battles of Rome’ to be adapted as a video game
MUMBAI: US video game developers Slitherine Software and Black Bean Games have partnered with US broadcaster The History Channel to deliver a gaming experience, The Hustory Channel Great Battles of Rome.
Combining gameplay, historical footage and battle simulation, the product allows players to fully immerse themselves into history as never before. The game will begin to roll out worldwide in the second quarter of this year.
Merging action and strategy in a setting that replicates the atmosphere of the period, the game allows players to take control of a series of campaigns against Barbarian hordes, while carving out the Roman Empire.
Over 100 battles are available for play including the Punic and Samnite Wars, and Julius Caesar’s conquest of Britain. Players can customize and control massive armies with an array of soldiers including legionaries, archers, cavalry and even mighty war-elephants. The game delivers battle realism in various environments, including steppe, forest, desert and coastline, with both day and night lighting.
Players can also choose to either plan their own battle tactics by selecting an army to suit a gameplay situation, or they can leave strategy decisions to the AI, freeing them to be involved in nothing but action.
The game also features 3D special effects and instant control response.
In addition, 30 programme clips from the archives of The History Channel have been specially blended and narrated to match the game and guide the player through the greatest story of all time.
Black Bean marketing head Marco Minoli says, “We are proud of this collaboration between The History Channel, Slitherine and Black Bean enabling us to publish a licensed video game with excellent graphics and realism. The endorsement of such a prestigious brand, reinforces and confirms Black Bean’s global credentials as one of the most innovative and respected publishing houses in the business.”
Slitherine’s Iain McNeil says, “We have been working with The History Channel and our partner Black Bean to bring the highest quality and exciting historical video games to our audience. Our relationship with The History Channel has enabled us to use material from their archives that we could only dream about. This builds on our previous range of historical strategy games and brings a new dimension to the genre”
The History Channel director licensing Carrie Trimmer says, “We are very pleased to be working with Slitherine and Black Bean on the development of The History Channel Great Battles of Rome, the first international console game to be released under our brand. The History Channel is always looking for ways to make history experiential for our viewers, and by giving them the power to build their own armies and plot battle strategy, this game truly allows players to be a part of the building of the Roman Empire.”