Tag: Locomotive Global

Applause Entertainment teams up with Case Closed Entertainment & Locomotive Global for crime pro-serial drama

Mumbai: In collaboration with Locomotive Global, Applause Entertainment has teamed up with international content maverick Simon Mirren and his partner Benjamin Anderson to develop a crime pro-serial drama.

The term “pro-serial” describes a procedural drama series with some serialised elements in the plots.

Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair said, “Stories are universal, and yet must have intense and local authenticity. Telling international stories in an Indian context has always been an integral part of us at Applause, and now, taking it a notch higher, we are bringing international creators to work with us.”

He further added, “Simon and Ben are veterans in the field of crime dramas, and we believe having them on board will help us develop a local ‘international’ series with a fresh pair of eyes applying international best practises in narrative storytelling. These two mavericks, along with Sunder Aaron and the creative team at Applause, have set out to create an original multi-season crime drama series.”

Mirren was the driving force behind popular programmes like Waking The Dead, Spooks, Without A Trace, Versailles, and the iconic 15-year-long running series Criminal Mind, bringing the global phenomenon to India.

A pro-serial precinct project will be developed by Case Closed, the company owned by Simon and his partner Ben.

Locomotive Global co-founder Sunder Aaron said, “Our vision at Locomotive Global is to create global quality content with rooted Indian stories. It’s a pleasure to work with Sameer Nair and the Applause team, who share the same vision and ambition for storytelling. Simon and Benjamin bring with them heaps of experience and global best practices for the creation and execution of high-quality iconic content. I really look forward to working with the duo and Applause to create a potent partnership and an unprecedented writing team in India to create a never-seen-before crime drama.”

Simon, who is credited with developing, writing, and directing authentic crime procedurals, will establish a creative eco-system using his years of experience to enable regional writers to manage the program. He and Ben will then continue to collaborate to fully develop and produce the series.

Simon said, “As a storyteller, I really like to go out into the world and find new stories, meet real people. There is nothing more impactful than tapping into local storytellers, and we aim to bring forth the talent’s authentic voices into our show. Applause Entertainment is the hub of some gripping crime dramas, and it is truly a pleasure and a whole new experience to work on an Indian crime drama, collaborating with the best of entertainers—Applause and Locomotive.”

Benjamin added, “With the growth of Indian OTT, there is a wide canvas of scope and creative potential in storytelling. It is the start of an interesting journey ahead to work with a force of creative minds at Applause to create an Indian story for a global audience.”

The creative and production teams at both Locomotive and Applause will support this new approach at all stages of the creative process.

It all begins with a select and talented pool of committed writers who will collaborate closely with the team and have the opportunity to explore the creative, visual, technical language, and other best practises used in international procedural dramas.

Simon and Ben are currently engaging in an experiential process to bring the storylines for the first series to life by meeting with the judiciary, police experts, crime reporters in India, and production facilities.

August 25, 2022
Locomotive Global aims to build scale with a strong slate in India: Sunder Aaron

Mumbai: Ask Locomotive Global Media managing director Sunder Aaron what he believes is the best media market in the world and his answer comes with no hesitation. “Without a doubt it’s India. There is no bigger market, no greater challenge and no more incredible opportunity for creators than to be in India right now,” Aaron asserts. “China can’t compare to our relative ease of doing business and reaping profits, while Europe just feels quaint, small and slow compared to what is happening here.”

The company, which is based in LA, California and India, is aggressively building a slate of premium scripted series which are firmly rooted in Indian storytelling, and yet aim to deliver global quality shows to be enjoyed on streaming platforms around the world. “We believe that our content should be grounded and authentic to India, and in making that our objective with every script, exceptional stories will naturally blossom and find an audience all around the world,” he shares, adding, “If top shows can emerge from Korea, Spain, Israel, then it’s only a matter of time before we crack that code also. I want one of our shows from India to be the first on Apple TV+ or even to get a Primetime Emmy award!”

Locomotive Global is collaborating with Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Films and Sameer Nair’s Applause Entertainment. It is also working on a project for Amazon Prime Video that is in advanced stages of scripting, confirms Aaron, who only revealed that it is a horror series. The production house has also partnered with Endemol Shine India for another series that is currently under wraps. In 2020, it acquired the screen adaptation rights to the book “The Making of Star India” by Vanita Kohli-Khandekar. “The ‘Making of Star India’ is a terrific book and we’re setting that project up. I expect to talk more about it in the coming months. We’re also looking to acquire the rights to remake a French show, a British show and a couple of US shows,” says Aaron.

Locomotive Global is also set to complete its first Indian original series “Rana Naidu” in early 2023. The series will feature actor Rana Daggubati who will appear alongside his uncle Venkatesh Daggubati and will stream on Netflix. The series is an adaptation of the acclaimed show “Ray Donovan” that airs on the US network Showtime.

The company is looking to create high quality written content that can be developed into hit series. It’s also working with the top talent in the industry, for example, “Rana Naidu” is helmed by Karan Anshuman (showrunner and director) and also Suparn Varma (director). “When you talk about a web series, it is a writer’s medium and we love working with writers and showrunners. We have a very fruitful partnership with Karan Anshuman and are talking to a couple of other established showrunner talent for our scripted series projects,” Aaron tells.

Locomotive Global is expanding its team in the subcontinent with senior producer level hires who are practiced in producing film and television. Most recently, it announced the hires Laura Mishra as associate producer and Nikhil Ahuja as finance controller. “As a production company, we are also bringing a lot of technical production ability as those are necessary when you’re building a team from the ground-up.”

Last year in October, Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment acquired a majority stake in Locomotive Global. Its investment will allow the production company to explore more projects. “The reason we got involved with Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment is that we wanted that global resource. There will be an infusion of funds that will come in stages and we will have the ability to make more stuff. If we’re successful we’ll have access to more funds. That’s the intent,” remarks Aaron.

Indian OTTs spend about $500 million in original content production in 2021 according to London-based research firm Omdia. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video were among the top spenders on content. This number is expected to grow further as more global streamers like HBO Max, Apple TV+ among others start investing in local original content. Aaron’s single-minded focus is to create content that appeals to a global audience. “We have an objective as content creators to create global quality content. That’s why, the platforms I typically expect to work with are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar. If you create something as a producer, I want it to be something that people will see around the world.”

When queried if Indian original content will travel like Korean or Spanish shows, Aaron notes, “Indian quality of content and technical production is world-class. We just have to get the writing in place and believe me we are getting there. I hope that one of my shows or some of my shows are able to achieve that.”

Unscripted series are also seeing popularity on OTT platforms, however, Aaron said he doesn’t think he would be up for creating unscripted shows as it does not fit his expertise. The format that he’s personally interested in is the half-hour dramedy. He says, “The half-hour format is underexploited in India with platforms veering towards 40 minutes plus episodes. I believe platforms and viewers would like the frothiness and quickness of a half-hour episode format and a lot of stories can be told in that half-hour format. I’d like to do a sketch comedy show and it is something I’m working on with a particular director in India.”

April 27, 2022
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment acquires Locomotive Global

Mumbai: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment which operates streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks has acquired a majority stake in Locomotive Global Inc.

The homegrown production company is currently producing and developing some original productions including an original series in development with Amazon Prime Video, as well as Indian local language remakes of well-known series including “Ray Donovan” for Netflix India.

“Expanding into India has been a top priority for us in our international expansion strategy and we are excited to be entering the market with an ambitious company like Locomotive Global,” said Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment chairman and CEO William J Rouhana Jr. “This acquisition allows us to utilise Locomotive’s revenue, cash flow and presence in India as a base for further expansion in the region.”

Locomotive Global is led by industry former programming and acquisition strategy head for the Hallmark Channel Scott Anderson, who also was with Starz/Encore and Liberty Media Corporation, and QYOU Media India co-founder and former EVP for Sony Pictures Television Networks India Sunder Aaron.

“India is arguably the largest and most accessible media market in the world right now. While we will continue to manage the business in India, as part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment family, we now have the resources to capitalise on our ambitions and expand more quickly in this market,” said Anderson.

Elaborating on the move, Sunder Aaron said, “There continues to be a major opportunity to produce high-quality content for platforms and services in India. Production costs are also lower than in most Western markets, and we can use our development and production capabilities here to meet this growing demand for quality content. The AVOD business is primed for growth in India as broadband connectivity, FAST channels, and usage of connected televisions are expanding rapidly.”

October 26, 2021
Locomotive Global’s Sunder Aaron on “Seeker” & upcoming projects

MUMBAI: Sunder Aaron’s Locomotive Global develops, produces and distributes Indian-themed TV projects for both the local and international markets. The company has now partnered with Sameer Nair’s Applause Entertainment and Gurinder Chaddha’s Bend It Films & TV for an international drama series named Seeker. Meanwhile the company is focussed on creating IPs and acquiring content.

Elaborating more on this co-production and the series, Locomotive Global co-founder and principal Sunder Aaron tells indiantelevision.com that the story ideas and characters were created by him and Chaddha a couple of years ago. It was only recently that they approached Sameer Nair’s Applause Entertainment for the project. “Sameer has some terrific ambition for his company and the projects that they are doing and they are going to be doing going forward. So, it’s a really terrific firm,” he adds.

The story is at the initial stage where the writers are busy in drafting the script. According to Sunder they will be ready to roll the camera by around the first quarter of 2021.

Sunder also mentions that the shooting will happen in India as well as abroad. He says, “The story is based on the background of India. However, internationally, audiences and viewers are interested in authentic storytelling no matter where it comes from. First and foremost we want the viewers in India to enjoy this show, but I am sure we will find global audiences as well. We will get the primary idea of shooting location once the script is completed. Post that we can finalise the locations and do the recce. In season three we will take the story abroad. We have thought about creating multiple seasons of this show.”

As far as direction is concerned, Chaddha will direct the pilot episode. Post that, depending upon the requirement, she may direct other episodes as well. Typically, in a premium scripted television there is not one director. So in the case of Seeker, Chaddha will be the lead director who will make sure the tone and quality that she sets in the pilot episode gets followed by the other directors.

The production house is in talks with multiple Indian and international directors. It is a hour-long ten-episode series. No production will happen overseas. As Applause Entertainment is the main studio, they will hire the line producers and simultaneously look after production work in India.

He further adds, “Sameer has a very creative team at Applause, Gurinder and my company, the three of us will be looking at hiring key people. It is a joint production effort; we are producing it together. Casting will be done when things are finalised as there are many characters and we need to go a little deeper into things.”

According to Aaron, funding will be done by Applause Entertainment.

“We will put our series on a premium broadcast channel platform. We are also talking to several OTT platforms," he adds.

By the first half of 2021 Locomotive Global will be ready with close to four premium television series that ilwill be taken to production. He says, “There are a number of shows which are under development. We are constantly acquiring IPs. We have acquired the rights of American series named Ray Donovan from CBS Studios International that will be remade in India. It will be mostly done by 2021.”

The Making of Star India, was acquired by Locomotive Global Inc. in partnership with Sidharth Jain's company Story Ink. Sidharth Jain and Sunder Aaron are producing the project together. He is using the book as a primary source material for another scripted drama series set in the late 90s and early 2000s. He thinks that a lot has happened at the beginning when Star TV came to India. At the launch of the industry a lot of stories and shows were made on Silicon Valley and the internet boom but nothing on Indian television.

He says, “I think the Indian television is an extraordinary story waiting to be told. We are adapting it in a way that will fictionalise that era and period. It will be something like Succession and Mad Men. We have started the development and we are working with writers but it will take some time.”

Addressing the challenges that he foresees in the coming future, he notes that the most obvious challenge is production getting back up and accessing key talent.

“Presumably, people will begin full-fledged shooting by the start of new year, but then it will be difficult to get technical talent. A lot of actors will be unavailable because they will be booked. Another important thing is to find another shooting location apart from Mumbai. We will have to look at other places where we can shoot like Hyderabad and Goa. I am doing a film project in Goa.”

Aaron’s Hindi general entertainment channel Q India has also been severely impacted by the pandemic caused by Covid2019. Q India is completely advertising supported and it faced many challenges in terms of viewership and advertisement.

He concludes, “We do not charge a subscription fee for the channel. We were on the verge of a lot of good projects but that got stalled due to pandemic. We are constantly working to evolve the channel under challenging circumstances. Despite the pandemic and the set back, I am sure I will get out of this situation. We were planning to create vernacular channels but that has got pushed now.”

July 4, 2020
Locomotive Global acquires rights to develop local version of “RAY DONOVAN” for the Indian market

MUMBAI: Locomotive Global Inc., an international production company focused on developing, producing, and distributing Indian-themed content for India and the world, has acquired the first scripted remake rights to the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME®drama series RAY DONOVAN from CBS Studios International. Locomotive will develop a new version of the series to be set in India and featuring an Indian cast.

“India is one of the biggest entertainment markets in the world. There is a voracious appetite for high-quality drama series throughout the region,” said Sunder Aaron, co-founder and Principal of Locomotive Global, Inc. “We think RAY DONOVAN, with its complex and gritty storylines and strong anti-hero central character, is in sync with the themes and genres that are resonating with Indian viewers right now. Our adaptation will bring Ray into the Indian milieu with the protagonist now a “fixer” in Bollywood. We look forward to developing this first-rate series for a whole new fanbase.”

Roxanne Pompa, Vice President, International Formats for CBS Studios International said: “India has become an increasingly important market for scripted drama and we are seeing more and more high-quality content coming from the region,” said CBS. “Locomotive’s idea to adapt the story and iconic central character of RAY DONOVAN in India market is both exciting and timely and we look forward to seeing how Indian viewers will respond.”

As a "fixer" for Hollywood's elite, Ray Donovan is the go-to guy for celebrities, athletes, and business moguls to make their problems disappear. Though often a messy job, it’s much more lucrative than Ray’s previous work as a ruthless South Boston thug and it’s given him status to run with the truly wealthy and powerful. But no amount of money can completely mask Ray's past, including a troubled family and a father who threatens to destroy everything Ray has been trying to accomplish for himself.

Starring Liev Schrieber, RAY DONOVAN premiered on Showtime in 2013 and is currently in production on the series’ seventh season. RAY DONOVAN won the Critics Choice Television Award for “Most Exciting New Series” in 2013 and Liev Schreiber has multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his performance in the title role.

Locomotive Global will develop, produce, and film the remake in India, and is currently identifying broadcast and digital distribution partners.

July 9, 2019