Tag: Madagascar

  • Indian director Ramana’s short film ‘Living Idle’ wins international acclaim

    MUMBAI: Prolific filmmaker Ramana’s short film ‘Living Idle’ has received accolades by winning 26 international awards at various Film Festivals across the globe. Five Continents International Film Festival (FICOCC) is the latest win, in May 2017.

    The film revolves around the basic idea of unconditional love and how a woman loves her husband and family and goes to any extent to fulfilher duty of love without any expectations or biases towards her oppressors. It runs for duration of seven minutes.

    Ramana is, at present, the Art Director at Assemblage – a leading feature film focused CGI production animation studio based out of Mumbai. At Assemblage, Ramana closely works with its Hollywood clients in areas related to visual development, visual scripting and design.

    Throughout his career, he has worked on many great films like Puss in Boots, Madagascar, Elizabeth 2 & 3, and Prince of Persia, etc. Ramana has been working in the movie business for over 20 years and has been a part of renowned studios including the likes of DreamWorks and mentored by great film-makers such as Shekhar Kapur. He has always been an inspiration the artists in the Indian animation and creative industry.

    Ramana is the latest addition to the award-winning team at Assemblage Entertainment, that consists of technocrats, artists and production managers with several years of experience in creating world-class animation productions in collaboration with major Hollywood studios and independent production companies globally.

    On his film receivingworldwide appreciation, Ramana said, “The most important thing for a creative person to excel at his work is when he is allowed the freedom of expression. This automatically translated into one’s body of work. Working here at Assemblage, I have been given the kind of freedom that a film maker can only dream of!”

    Congratulating Ramana on his recent success, ArjunMadhavan, Head of Strategy and New Business at Assemblage adds, “Ramana’s ability to translate his creative visualisation into celluloid, over a weekend’s worth of a shoot has been very impressive. Kudos to him, the brilliant actors and execution team for pulling this off!”

    Living Idle is a symbolic short film that reflects actions have consequences. This is the story of an artist, a creative sculptor of idols,that puts life and colour into clusters of mud and clay. Ironically, he fails to add colour to his own creation- his world, his family, his child. The narrative revolves around how a creation of the sculptor- an idol of Ma Durga punishes him (by rendering him indisposed and idle), when he crosses all limits of abuse and shows him a life of yearning. The film concludes with a deep dawn of realisation – of how a single action- takes away from him his ability to be a prolific sculptor- that of clay and stone and that of his child’s future. The film is embedded with contrasting symbolism, as aptly reflected in its title, most strongly that of the strength of a woman, of a mother, which is – representative in Ma Durga’s rendition of ‘Good over Evil’.

    The hunger for food, the hunger for physical fulfilment and the hunger for creativity are natural, necessary, and common human instincts. However, an unbalanced, excessive, and uncontrolled desire to fulfil one’s hunger leads to dire consequences, which is the story of ‘Living Idle’.

  • Assemblage Entertainment strengthens team with three key hires

    Assemblage Entertainment strengthens team with three key hires

    MUMBAI: Indian 3D animation studio Assemblage Entertainment has strengthened its leadership team across the CGI process verticals.

     

    The company has hired three new professionals namely animation veteran Vivek Ram as CG supervisor, Saswat Sahoo as technical director & pipeline supervisor and Rakesh Patil as studio producer.

     

    Assemblage Entertainment COO Milind D. Shinde said, “We are proud to be in company of such esteemed talent. Being one of the largest congregation of Indian animation industry’s marquee talent, we at Assemblage are not only confident of designing and delivering world-class quality projects; but more importantly, are focused to carve a formidable niche in the global arena in the coming years. In doing so, I am sure our leaders in the organisation, including the new members – Vivek, Saswat and Rakesh will play a key role.”

     
    Ram has 15 years of experience as a senior industry veteran and VFX Supervisor with extensive experience across the CG animation process. He was engaged in projects such as Madagascar, Madagascar 3, Penguins of Madagascar, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Incredible Hulk amongst others. He has also worked with studios such as DreamWorks Animation and Rhythm, and Hues.

     
    Sahoo holds more than a decade’s experience as senior technical director and CG pipeline architect. He has been associated with various projects including Puss in Boots, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Incredible Hulkand The Golden Compass, which won his team an Academy award. Previously, he has worked at studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Rhythm & Hues, and Prime Focus.

     

    Patil is armed with a decade of experience in the animation industry as a production supervisor focusing on resource management and planning. He has previously worked with DreamWorks and Crest and has played a significant role in animated movies such as Puss in Boots, Madagascar, Dragons, Scared Shrekless and Casper.

     
    Assemblage recently appointed PMV Ramana as art director as well as Rahul Nair and Vaibhav Shah as the lighting and modeling supervisors respectively.

  • Assemblage Entertainment expands leadership team with three key hires

    Assemblage Entertainment expands leadership team with three key hires

    MUMBAI: Indian 3D animation studio Assemblage Entertainment has made key additions to its leadership team. The company has appointed Indian animation industry long timer PMV Ramana to head the creative function as art director. Additionally, two senior level professionals – Rahul Nair and Vaibhav Shah have been hired to head its lighting and modeling verticals respectively.

     

    Ramana has more than two decades of experience in creative art direction, visual development and scripting. He has been associated with various projects including Puss in Boots, Madagascar, Elizabeth 2 & 3 and Prince of Persia. He has worked with studios such as DreamWorks, Qyuki and Prana.

     

    Nair has fifteen years of experience across TV and feature films in a creative and technical capacity. He has worked with studios such as DreamWorks and Prime Focus and has been associated with projects including Puss in Boots, Madagascar and TinkerBell. He joins Assemblage as its lighting supervisor.

     

    With a decade of experience in the animation industry, Shah is a senior character modeler with high proficiency in concept art, texturing and modeling lead characters. He has previously worked with DreamWorks and UTV Toons and has played a vital role in animated movies such as Puss in Boots, How to Train Your Dragons 2 and Rise of the Guardians amongst others. He joins Assemblage as its modeling supervisor.

     

    Assemblage Entertainment founder & CEO AK Madhavan said, “It is a proud moment for us at Assemblage to welcome the industry’s leading professionals to work with and among us. Since its inception, not so long ago, we have always believed in investing in good people, who can not only drive the Company’s deliverables to the next level but more importantly, also inspire and guide the young aspiring team members to think beyond their limitations. We’re looking for creative and hard working artists and are building a culture and platform to harness their skill sets. I feel excited to have three senior members join us and believe that they would help us craft an exciting future.”

     

  • Romedy Now sets the festive season aglow this October

    Romedy Now sets the festive season aglow this October

    MUMBAI: One of India’s English General Entertainment channel, Romedy Now has the perfect celebration in store for viewers to magnify the Diwali bonanza. It has come up with three new properties – Welcome Goodness (Dusshera Special), Diwali Delights, and the Romedy Sparkler. Presenting the best series such as F.R.I.E.N.D.S., 2 Broke Girls and many more along with the best movies, Romedy NOW will make sure you have a truly terrific Diwali filled with happiness, love and laughter.

     

    This season, party it up with your favorite characters from Ally McBeal, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Two Broke Girls, Jake in Progress and Traffic Light. From two cupcake entrepreneurs, to three best friends at different stages in their life, Romedy NOW has the best guest list this October. Whether you’re hanging out with your favorite Manhattan gang, a hopelessly romantic lawyer or a Don Juan celebrity publicist, Romedy NOW is the place to be.

     

    Dusshera is a special time to remember the goodness and happiness that surround us celebrate every night at 9pm and 11pm. With a vibrant line-up featuring Spanglish, PS I love You, No Strings Attached, Grown Ups, 28 Days, Message In A Bottle, The Devil Wears Prada, That Thing You Do, Crazy, Stupid, Love and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, join Romedy NOW for nine colorful nights of revelry culminating on October 3rd 2014.

     

    Gather your family and friends close and have a blast this Diwali with your favorite destination for love and laughter. Starting Saturday 4th October 2014, celebrate the joy of family and togetherness with a heartwarming line-up on Romedy NOW featuring The Family Stone, The Notebook, Guess Who, Madagascar, Monster-in-Law, Horrible Bosses, License to Wed, 17 Again, America’s Sweethearts, 28 Days, What’s Your Number and 27 Dresses. Gear up for a sparkling Diwali every night 8 PM onwards from 4th October to 23rd October 2014 with Diwali Delights, powered by Snapdeal.com.

     

    As the Diwali fireworks light up the night sky, join in the celebrations with the Romedy Sparkler this month – The Lucky One, powered by HUL. Do you believe in second chances? When fate protects marine Logan Thibault (Zac Efron) during combat and sends him travelling halfway across the world for a photograph, he finds everything he’s been searching for. Don’t miss the magic as a battered marine and wary, single mother learn to love again in this incredible story of fate and second chances on Saturday, 18th October 2014 at 11PM.  

  • Hungama TV’s wildlife adventure offering on Sunday noons

    Hungama TV’s wildlife adventure offering on Sunday noons

    MUMBAI: In the month of April, Disney’s Hungama TV is coming up with ‘Junglee Hungama Movies’ to take its viewers on an exciting journey, exploring the wildlife adventures in its natural habitats.

     

    Be it the jungles of Madagascar, the oceans ruled by the sharks or the vast blue sky where the dragons soar; the channels’ new programming block will look to add to the excitement over the weekend this April. The block began 6 April onwards and will showcase some of the most loved animated movies every Sunday at 12:00 pm

     

    The line-up of movies includes How to Train your Dragon, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and Shark Tales. With stories of friendship, courage, determination and adventure coupled with hilarious antics and comedy by the lovable characters these movies are expected to keep one and all entertained.

  • Friends’ Ross Geller is making a comeback on TV

    Friends’ Ross Geller is making a comeback on TV

    MUMBAI: David Schwimmer, best known for his role as Ross Geller, the insecure paleontologist in the hit 90’s sitcom, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. has just signed on to play the lead in an upcoming comedy pilot called Irreversible by American Broadcasting Company (ABC).

     

    Based on the hit Israeli series Bilti Hafich, the comedy centers on an eccentric, self-absorbed couple and the trials and tribulations they often bring upon themselves. Schwimmer will play one half of that couple, a pessimistic writer named Andy.

     

    In addition to F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Schwimmer has guest-starred on 30 Rock and Web Therapy. He also lent his voice to the hypochondriac giraffe Melman in the hugely popular Madagascar film franchise. If Irreversible is picked up to series, this would make his first series regular role since F.R.I.E.N.D.S. The actor will also serve as a producer on the comedy, written by Segahl Avin, co-creator of the original series. Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) and Michael Wimer (10, 000 B.C., Rake) will executive-produce the show.

  • Attend the grandest Bash of the year with MOVIES NOW

    Attend the grandest Bash of the year with MOVIES NOW

    MUMBAI: 2013 may have been tough, rough and downright exhausting for many but with the year coming to an end MOVIES NOW presents its MOVIES NOW party line-up December ? JINGLE ALL THE DAY- 25th December, starting 11.30 am onwards ? HIGH ON 2013- 31st December, starting 1 pm onwards viewers with an outlet for it all! Get loose and join the Christmas and New Year celebrations to be a part of the biggest bash on television till date!

    Ending the festive season with Jingle all the day and High on 2013, MOVIES NOW has undoubtedly escalated the holiday fun with the most superlative line-up of the year.

    Starting 11:30 am onwards on the 25th of December, Jingle All the Day will not only get you in the holiday mood but will also prove to be the biggest family entertainer. Featuring blockbusters for everyone from tots to teens, Jingle All the Day will showcase all-time favorites Baby’s Day Out, Alvin & The Chipmunks, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Madagascar 2, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, The Spiderwick Chronicles. So get set as Santa slides down the chimney with the biggest goodie bag of the season!

    Making sure fans have a wild and crazy New Year and end the year on a High, MOVIES NOW brings its fans High on 2013. So rev the music and power-up your New Year fun with the hottest action blockbusters on the 31st December 2013, starting 1 pm onwards. Featuring Hangover, Final Destination, Fantastic Four – Rise of the Silver Surfer, Karate Kid, X Men First Class and Salt, the channel lines-up the bash of a lifetime!

    This December, explore your wild side and join the party bash with the best of Hollywood only on MOVIES NOW – Hollywood in HD!

  • Explore wildlife and landscapes of Madagascar on animal planet

    Explore wildlife and landscapes of Madagascar on animal planet

    MUMBAI: Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and is home to 5% of the world’s plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are found only there.New species are still being discovered every year;hence conservationists are currently placing Madagascar as a top priority.

    Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Animal Planet’s mini-series MADAGASCARpaints the definitive portrait of this truly remarkable island continent. Airing every night at 10:00 PM from December 23 to 27, Animal Planet takes viewers to an island full of strange places and bizarre animals including the charismatic ring-tailed lemurs and the enigmatic Sifaka. The land is also home to more chameleons than anywhere else and the biggest bugs and weirdest spiders in the world. From the rain-drenched forests to the arid extremes, the seriesMADAGASCAR explores the extraordinary wildlife and dramatic landscapes of a fascinating, but fragile, island unlike anywhere else on Earth.

    Madagascar is country that has never been filmed in such detail before. It’s one of the few places left on Earth where there are still wildlife mysteries. Animal Planet brings the weird and wonderful, the beautiful and unique qualities of this island to Indian television screens for the first time.Viewers discover an amazing collection of wildlife, many of which have never before been filmed – cyanide-eating lemurs, cannibalistic frogs, meat-eating plants, cryptic leaf-tailed geckos, tadpole-eating wasps, tunnel-digging chameleons and house-proud flycatchers are just some of the weird and wonderful wildlife featured in this programme.

    Much of Madagascar’s extraordinary wildlife is under threat – from hunting and loss of habitat – and none more so than in the south of the island. Sir David Attenborough said, “We are still unravelling the mysteries of Madagascar’s wildlife. How tragic it would be, to lose it before we’ve even understood it.”

    Lying just off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is a land of misty mountains, tropical rainforests and weird spiny desert scrub.The great mystery of Madagascar is its unique and varied flora and fauna – a diversity of life that makes even the famed Galapagos Islands fade into insignificance by comparison. What is it that makes Madagascar so different from the rest of the world? Discover how the island’s remarkable past has produced its intriguing present, like the Tsingy – a series of jagged limestone peaks which have cut off animals in isolated gorges, allowing them to evolve into their own unique species.

    An island of extremes, where the east is cloaked in soaking rainforest, the west and south is almost a desert. The south of Madagascar is home to its most extraordinary landscapes – from forests of ‘upside down’ trees, to alien ‘spiny deserts’. In stark contrast to the east, this is a place that’s bone-dry for most of the year – but it’s extraordinarily rich in wildlife. Here only the toughest and most opportunistic survive – and some of the strategies for survival are ingenious. The series ravels from the highest mountains, where trees are few and it’s cold enough for frost, through the lush, cloaking rainforests, down to the tropical coast, discovering the ringtailed lemurs, the jewelled geckos and the predatory wasps. So what is it that has made this narrow eastern strip in particular sorich in life? To know, watch MADAGASCAR, every night at 10 pm from December 23 to 27, only on Animal Planet.
    Did you know?

    • Madagascar, the world’s oldest island, broke off from Africa and India and has been on its own for more than 70 million years. In splendid isolation, it has evolved its very own wildlife – more than 80% of it is found nowhere else.
    • Sifakas – The Marojejy Massif is the last sanctuary of one of Madagascar’s rarest lemurs, the elusive, ghostly-white silky sifaka. It is estimated that only 200 of these endearing creatures are left on Earth.
    • In the lush rainforests of Ranomafana hides one of Madagascar’s most remarkable animals, the golden bamboo lemur, only discovered a few years ago. It is incredibly specialised, eating just one species of bamboo, a plant loaded with highly-toxic cyanide. Every day they consume twelve times the lethal dose of this poison with no ill-effects – no-one knows how they can do this!
    • Living in the iconic baobab forests on the west of the island are huge-eyed mouse lemurs – the world’s smallest primates – emerging at night to feed on the sugary droppings of bizarre fluffy bugs.

  • Warner Bros Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar

    Warner Bros Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar

    MUMBAI: In a trailer released by Warner Bros – Morgan Freeman narrates the story of the 3D  IMAX documentaryIsland of Lemurs: Madagascar, which follows the endangered title creatures around the remote title republic.

     

    It features scientist Patricia Wright discussing her lifelong mission to help lemurs – of which there are hundreds of species – survive in the modern world. The docu was written and produced by Drew Fellman, and David Douglas is the director of Island of Lemurs that hits the really big screens on 4 April. 

  • Travel service suppliers and traveleres benefiting at www.notseenworld.com

    Travel service suppliers and traveleres benefiting at www.notseenworld.com

    MUMBAI:Travel social network www.notseenworld.com is benefiting registered Travel Service Suppliers by connecting with Individual Travellers and Travel Suppliers from across the world!
    Travel Social networking site www.notseenworld.com in its first month of going live has attracted Travel Service Suppliers from across the globe. The site gives a free platform that works as an interface between Travel Service Suppliers and Individual Travellers. Anyone can scan the offers and attractions with pricing and booking options of every Travel Service Supplier to decide their travel plans with best travel deals.

     

    The site works as a B2B and B2C platform, where Travel service suppliers can be friends with each other, like each other and sell packages as a unit. Travel service Suppliers from USA, Algeria, Mexico, Egypt, India, Madagascar, Kenya, Namibia, Thailand, Ecuador, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Ireland, Portugal, Jordan, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Kuwait, South Africa and many other countries have so far registered across more than 20 categories, got their own micro website, and been promoting their travel services. The categories are Airlines, Theme Parks/Safaris/Attractions, Bed & Breakfast Houses, Bus/Taxi/Limousine Operators, Camp/Outdoor Facility Operators, Currency Exchange, Vehicle Rental Companies/Airport Specialty, Travel Technology Provider, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, Cruise Lines, Ferries, Hotels/Resorts/Casinos, National Tourism Offices, Passenger Rails, Restaurants/Pubs, Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Travel Media, Travel Insurance, Travel Training Institutes, Supplier/Rental of Travel goods and services and Others.

     

    And the best part is, IT IS FREE to register at www.notseenworld.com!
    www.notseenworld.co has also got many Individual Travelers registered with it. These Individual travellers from many countries have got their own profile page and been sharing their travel stories, while scanning and interacting with various listed service suppliers to decide their holidays.

     

    So, how does an Individual traveller benefit here?
    www.notseenworld.com, being a social networking site, has the usual social networking tools. But the site facilitates you with much more than any quality social networking site’s offerings. Beyond the usual Wall, Pictures, Videos, Maps, Contacts, Friends, Groups and Events,
    Here you get ‘self customised’ features to access service providors’ promotions and services along with seasonal packages and facilities that no other social networking site provides you with. It also gives you an opportunity to directly connect and interact with the travel service providers for quality services from across the globe.

     

    And these features can be accessed as and when you want. You can directly seek the features and facilities from any travel service provider who is registered with Notseen World, through innovative search, private chat and messages features. And you choose and utilises their services, you will have an option of to write your sharable quality reviews.

    www.notseenworld.com is founded by Shreedatt Dash and Soumitra Dey, and they feel over time, the site is going to be a bible for ‘self planning tourists’.

     

    If you are a Travel Service Supplier, or just an individual Travel enthusiast, REGISTER NOW FREE, to either BUY or SELL Holiday Plans.