ITV

Tag: Monika Shergill

  • FICCI FRAMES 2024: From playgrounds to pixels: Evolution and emerging trends in kids entertainment

    FICCI FRAMES 2024: From playgrounds to pixels: Evolution and emerging trends in kids entertainment

    Mumbai: The discussion traced the trajectory of this evolution, examining the impact of technology on content consumption, educational aspects, and the evolving preferences of young audiences. Emphasising the fusion of entertainment and education, the panel delved into the latest trends, such as interactive media, augmented reality, and immersive storytelling, offering valuable insights for creators, educators, and parents alike. The panel aimed to unravel the past, present, and future of kids’ entertainment, navigating the fascinating intersection of play and pixels.

    The moderator of the panel was Powerkids Entertainment CEO Manoj Mishra.

    “The essence of our content has remained consistent since the beginning. While storytelling and content creation have seen minimal alterations, there was a notable shift when I entered the industry. Initially, we relied heavily on foreign content, merely dubbing it for local audiences. However, over time, we began crafting our narratives that resonated more deeply with our audience, particularly children. The fundamental stories haven’t changed; it’s the platforms that evolve continually, and our adaptability has allowed us to broaden our horizons.” : Viacom18 kids TV network business head Anu Sikka.

    “In the future, animation will undeniably continue to hold a prominent position, Drawing insights from diverse channels, including online platforms like Netflix, and learning from the successes of digital endeavors, whether on Netflix or other platforms, we’ve adeptly tailored these achievements to suit the Indian landscape.”: Warner Bros Discovery head, kids network Uttam Pal Singh.

  • FICCI FRAMES 2024: Lights, camera, action: Golden era of storytelling

    FICCI FRAMES 2024: Lights, camera, action: Golden era of storytelling

    Mumbai: This session brought together seasoned storytellers and content creators to unravel the transformative impact of disruptive technologies on narrative formats. Delving into the shift from traditional blockbusters to the era of binge-watching, the panel explores how storytelling has evolved. Participants witnessed a dynamic discussion on changing audience dynamics, emerging platforms, and the innovative strategies employed by storytellers to captivate and engage audiences in an era marked by a constant evolution in entertainment consumption.

    The fireside chat was moderated by Indian critic and journalist Naman Ramachandran.

    “We are here to serve our audience with the most diverse & high-quality content. We find ourselves at an intriguing juncture in our streaming journey. Despite being a nascent industry, it is evolving rapidly, with people adopting it at an exceptionally fast rate.”: Netflix India VP – content Monika Shergill.

    Answering the question about the secret sauce in the theatrical business, Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani said, “As an organisation, we don’t punish failure. That is the secret sauce at YRF.”

    Answering the second part of the question on what YRF looks for when commissioning a film or a series, Widhani said, “It is a creative business. Either you go right or wrong, but it’s about the story. The north star for us is the story. We’ve been telling stories for the last five decades and we hope we’ll keep telling stories much after that. When it comes to what we decide on how we decide to greenlight, it’s pretty much based on what that story is and how it appeals to us.”

  • BAFTA announces its Breakthrough 2023 cohort across India, UK and USA for the first time

    BAFTA announces its Breakthrough 2023 cohort across India, UK and USA for the first time

    Mumbai: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in  partnership with Netflix, has unveiled 10 upcoming individuals from the screen industries  selected for BAFTA Breakthrough in India. In this historic first, BAFTA simultaneously introduces its UK,  USA, and India participants, with 42 talented individuals selected globally.

    The ten names for BAFTA Breakthrough India were selected by a distinguished jury of industry experts, including Jury Chair and BAFTA Breakthrough Ambassador Guneet Monga Kapoor, Sikhya Entertainment producer founder & CEO Guneet Monga Kapoor, Lakshya Digital CEO Manvendra Shukul,  Monika Shergill (vice president, content – Netflix India), Rajiv Menon (Filmmaker), Naman  Ramachandran (Critic & Journalist), Sid Roy Kapur (Founder of Roy Kapur Films & Producer),  Shaunak Sen (Filmmaker) and Ratna Pathak Shah (actor, theatre director).

    The list of BAFTA Breakthrough India participants for 2023 is:

    ● Abhay Koranne | Writer – Rocket Boys

    ● Abhinav Tyagi | Editor – An Insignificant Man

    ● Don Chacko Palathara | Director/Writer – Joyful Mystery

    ● Kislay| Writer – Soni

    ● Lipika Singh Darai | Director/Writer – Some Stories Around Witches

    ● Miriam Chandy Menacherry | Producer – From the Shadows and The Leopard’s Tribe  

    ● Pooja Rajkumar Rathod | Cinematographer – Secrets of the Elephants

    ● Sanal George | Sound Editor/Mixer/Designer – Gangubai Kathiawadi

    ● Satya Rai Nagpaul | Cinematographer – Ghoomketu

    ● Shardul Bhardwaj | Performer – Eeb Allay Ooo!

    Over the last two years, the BAFTA Breakthrough programme, in partnership with Netflix, has  supported the cohorts in networking with global industry experts, including D.B Weiss (producer,  director, writer), Emma Lawson (BBC Comedy Commissioner), Howard Shore (Composer), Phoebe  Waller-Bridge (Actress, Producer, Writer), and Vishal Gondal (CEO, GOQii, nCore Games),  amongst others.

    The initiative has also opened doors for participants, facilitating industry meetings with Chaitanya  Hegde (Tulsea), Rob Carlson (United Talent Agent, US), Tarsame Mittal (TM Talent Management),  and more. Breakthroughs like Jay Pinak Oza have received one-on-one mentorship from Mira Nair  and Shonali Bose with potential collaborations in the works, while Karthikeya Murthy is working on  a Hindi feature film, with multiple projects lined up in Hindi, Tamil and English.

    BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said, “BAFTA Breakthrough is a gold standard  programme. And the fact that we are celebrating our ten-year anniversary is testament to the  dedication of our incredible alumni, industry supporters, juries, and industry advisers. I’d like to say  a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed over the years, and particularly to our partner  Netflix. This year’s cohort is really impressive, having already achieved credits in high-end TV  drama, debut films, documentaries, hair and make design; and game design. BAFTA  Breakthrough is designed to harness that early success and develop the skills for life-long,  rewarding careers. Congratulations to this year’s BAFTA Breakthroughs.”

    BAFTA Breakthrough India Ambassador and Jury Chair Guneet Monga Kapoor said, “There is no  shortage of creative talent in India as demonstrated by the previous two iterations of  Breakthrough. We had a tough time choosing ten deserving candidates from an enormous pool  of fresh candidates. It will be exciting to see how they harness BAFTA Breakthrough’s opportunities  to hone their craft on a global stage.”

    Netflix India content VP Monika Shergill said, “India has a wealth of emerging  talent and we’re thrilled to be able to work with BAFTA on the BAFTA Breakthrough initiative to  provide them an opportunity to be chosen. It’s truly rewarding to be able to empower these  emerging creatives to showcase and enhance their skills. This year, we’ve identified an incredible  group and we look forward to helping to nurture their talents and make this an enriching and  once-in-a-lifetime moment for them.”

    During the course of the year-long programme, the BAFTA Breakthroughs will receive professional  development, industry meetings and global networking opportunities with the academy’s 12,000- strong global membership, alongside free access to BAFTA events and screenings for 12 months  and full BAFTA voting rights on the academy’s world-leading film, games and television awards.  Further details are in the notes to editors.  

    BAFTA’s flagship new talent programme celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Since 2013, it  has supported over 200 rising talents, including Aadip Desai, Arati Kadav, Charu Desodt, Florence  Pugh, James LeBrecht, Jay Pinak Oza, Josh O’Connor, Karthikeya Murthy, Letitia Wright, Sumukhi  Suresh, Tanya Maniktala, Tom Holland , amongst many others.

    The list of BAFTA Breakthrough UK participants for 2023 is as below:

    ● Adjani Salmon |Writer/Performer/Exec Producer – Dreaming Whilst Black (TV)  

    ● Bella Ramsey |Performer – The Last of Us (TV)

    ● Cash Carraway |Creator/Writer/Exec Producer – Rain Dogs (TV)  

    ● Charlotte Regan | Writer/Director – Scrapper (Film)  

    ● Cynthia De La Rosa |Hair & Makeup Artist – Everyone Else Burns (TV)  

    ● Ella Glendining | Director – Is There Anybody Out There? (Film)  

    ● Funmi Olutoye | Lead Producer – ‘Black History Makers’ (Good Morning Britain) (TV)

    ● Georgia Oakley | Writer/Director – Blue Jean (Film)  

    ● Holly Reddaway | Voice and performance director – Baldur’s Gate 3 (Games)  

    ● Joel Beardshaw |Lead Designer – Desta: The Memories Between (Games)  

    ● Kat Morgan |Hair & Makeup Designer – Blue Jean (Film)  

    ● Kathryn Ferguson | Writer/Director – Nothing Compares (Film)  

    ● Kitt (Fiona) Byrne | 2D Artist/Game Designer – Gibbon: Beyond the Trees (Games)  

    ● Michael Anderson | Producer – Desta: The Memories Between (Games)  

    ● Pete Jackson |Writer/Creator – Somewhere Boy (TV)  

    ● Raine Allen-Miller | Director – Rye Lane (Film)  

    ● Rosy McEwan| Performer – Blue Jean (Film)  

    ● Samantha Béart | Performer – The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow (Games)  

    ● Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson | Writer/Director/Presenter – Too Autistic for Black (TV)  

    ● Vivian Oparah| Performer – Rye Lane (Film)  

    The list of BAFTA Breakthrough USA participants for 2023 is as below:

    ● Amanda Kim | Documentary Director – Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV (Film)  ● Aminah Nieves | Performer – 1923 (TV)

    ● Apoorva Charan | Producer – Joyland (Film)  

    ● Cheyenne Morrin | Senior Games Writer – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Games)  

    ● Edward Buckles Jr.| Documentary Director – Katrina Babies (Film)  

    ● Gary Gunn | Composer – A Thousand and One (Film)  

    ● Jingyi Shao | Writer & Director – Chang Can Dunk (Film)  

    ● Maria Altamirano | Producer – All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (Film)  

    ● Santiago Gonzalez | Cinematographer – Shortcomings (Film)  

    ● Shelly Yo | Writer & Director – Smoking Tigers (Film)  

    ● Sing J Lee | Writer & Director – The Accidental Getaway Driver (Film)  

    ● Vuk Lungulov-Klotz | Writer & Director – Mutt (Film)  

     

  • Netflix to stream Malayalam film ‘Ariyippu’

    Netflix to stream Malayalam film ‘Ariyippu’

    Mumbai: After a good response on the film festival circuit, Mahesh Narayanan’s Malayalam film, Ariyippu, is all set to stream on OTT platform Netflix. The film made history as the first Indian film in 17 years to compete at the Locarno Film Festival in the international competition section. The film is also nominated for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2022 and will premiere at the Busan International Film Festival on 12 October 2022.

    Ariyippu centres around the lives of a struggling Malayali couple who dream of migrating out of the country for a better life. The film also explores emotional, social, and marital imbalances in their relationship.

    Ariyippu is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, and Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. As the film continues to tour other major film festivals across the world, audiences globally will soon be able to stream the film exclusively on Netflix.

    It is directed by Mahesh Narayanan and produced by Shebin Backer Productions and Kunchako Boban Productions in association with Moving Narratives.

    Narayanan said, “With the ongoing recognition and love for our film, we are extremely honoured that Netflix is bringing the film as direct-to-digital globally, which will help cinephiles across the world experience the film very soon.”

    Netflix India VP of content Monika Shergill commented, “At Netflix, we are constantly working towards bringing you the most entertaining and compelling stories. We are excited to bring Ariyippu (declaration), a powerful film on the complex theme of a man-woman relationship, directed by the acclaimed director and producer, Mahesh Narayanan, along with stellar performances by Divya Prabha and Kunchacko Boban. Just like Minnal Murali won immense love across the world, we want our members to be won over by the dramatic universe of Ariyippu on Netflix.”

  • Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK collaborate with Netflix for creative partnership

    Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK collaborate with Netflix for creative partnership

    Mumbai: Filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK on Thursday announced their collaboration with Netflix, in a multi-year creative partnership. Under their D2R Films banner, they will develop and produce their upcoming projects for Netflix.

    The filmmakers will also be the show-runners and directors of Netflix’s upcoming comedy crime thriller series, “Guns & Gulaabs,” a story of love and innocence in a world of crime, a nostalgic tale of all kinds of firsts, from first love to first kill.

    With an impressive slate of cult films, blockbusters, and premium shows, Raj & DK are undoubtedly one of India’s finest and most successful creators. The dynamic duo have mastered distinct genre mash-ups with their quirky style, creating extraordinary stories that have won both critical acclaim and commercial success.

    The duo also produced one of the most critically acclaimed and loved films of last year, the Telugu film “Cinema Bandi,” currently streaming on Netflix.

    Sharing details about the partnership, Netflix India VP-content Monika Shergill said, “Raj & DK are one of the most original creative voices in the country. Along with their unique and ingenious storytelling style, they are also a powerhouse studio. We are excited to continue our relationship with them for a multi-year creative partnership that will bring superlative entertainment to Netflix members around the world.”

    Raj & DK added, “Netflix is a pioneer in the streaming space backed by its unstinting, passionate support for filmmaking and filmmakers. We are looking forward to creating big, unique stories and challenging ourselves to push the storytelling into exciting and fresh spaces.”

  • Netflix faces strong headwinds due to slowdown in revenue growth

    Netflix faces strong headwinds due to slowdown in revenue growth

    Mumbai: On Tuesday, Netflix reported a loss of almost 1 million subscribers during the spring amid soaring inflation that’s squeezing household budgets while the company faced tougher competition from rivals including HBO Max and Disney+.

    However, the drop was not nearly as high as the two million cancellations that had been forecast. Nonetheless, Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings didn’t try to minimize things during a Tuesday conference call about the results. “It’s tough losing a million subscribers and calling it a success,” he said.

    Netflix was probably spared from deeper losses by the ongoing popularity of Stranger Things, its science fiction/horror series that debuted in 2016. Stranger Things 4 is the second-most-popular TV series on Netflix, drawing more than 1.3 billion hours of watch time on the platform in its first 28 days, according to the company.

    Despite the downturn, Netflix still earned $1.4 billion, or $3.20 per share during the quarter, a 6 per cent increase from the same time last year. Revenue rose 9 per cent from the same time last year to nearly $8 billion. Netflix’s stock price had previously plunged by nearly 70 percent in the last year, wiping out about $180 billion in shareholder wealth.

    Netflix is taking steps to decrease costs and bump revenue. The company has been cutting costs with employee and contract worker lay-offs in such areas as marketing and social media. In April, the company announced a crack-down on subscriber password sharing.

    To attract and retain subscribers, the company began branching out last year by adding free video games to its streaming service and is also reportedly exploring live-streaming content, such as comedy specials. In addition, Netflix has taken another step toward putting together a cheaper, ad-supported subscriber option when it announced it will team up with Microsoft to deliver the commercials.

    “We have some headwinds right now and we are navigating through them,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said at the end of Tuesday’s conference call. “We’ve seen entertainment formats come and go, we’ve seen entertainment business models come and go, and we have managed to grow through all of them, though all kinds of economic conditions and through all levels of competition.”

    Last year, Netflix India made a bold move in slashing prices across its four subscription tiers, notably cutting its popular ‘Basic’ plan by a huge 60 per cent, reducing it from $6.24 (Rs 499) a month to just $2.49 ( Rs 199).

    While the company didn’t state a reason at the time for the price cut, Netflix India’s vice president of content Monika Shergill told the entertainment news portal Deadline that the strategic move was made in a bid to open up the service to a broader range of audiences across the Indian market.

    Six months down the line, Shergill says the pricing cut is “working very well for us, and it’s brought in a whole new set of audiences,” enabling Netflix India to prioritize subscriber growth at a time when the company had begun to ramp up its licensing and original programming slate beyond Hindi and English-language content. “It’s a very different pricing model,” she says of the Indian streaming market, adding that most local competitors work on annual plans with the benefit of big discounts from telco partners.

    “For us, our revision of the pricing was very well-timed with our content strategy and the new slate we were rolling out. We were very clear that when we started programming for a broader set of audiences that we would need to increase access and the pricing was a very important part of it,” said Shergill.

    After Netflix’s better-than-expected second-quarter earnings on Tuesday, the company’s shares continued their recent upturn as Wall Street analysts had differing opinions on the takeaway from the report. After weeks of worry, investors took a brief sigh of relief. However, sceptics point out that the loss was the biggest in any quarter in the company’s 25-year history.

    In a bold move to woo back subscribers and attract new ones, Netflix will stream the action thriller, The Gray Man this weekend after a limited release in theatres. The film cost a reported $200 million, the most expensive movie in Netflix’s history.

     

  • Netflix drops ‘Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls’ trailer

    Netflix drops ‘Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls’ trailer

    Mumbai: OTT platform Netflix has dropped a new trailer for Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls. This shows the actor facing some tough choices. Should he rappel down a craggy cliff or traverse a mountain line across a nail-biting drop to descend from high ground? What should he do when he meets bears — play dead or dance for them?

    Except that Ranveer Singh is not the one making the decisions in India’s first interactive reality special; the viewers are. Produced by Banijay Asia and The Natural Studios, the special will air on 8 July 2022. 

    At an event today to launch the trailer with fans and media, the indefatigable powerhouse reminded his fans that his fate is literally in their hands, button dabao aur Ranveer ko bachao!  Zip-lining from the sky in true blue Ranveer style, the superstar made his way to the main stage to unveil the trailer and deliver a very special message. “Dil Darega Nahi, Karega”, said Ranveer as he urged his fans to embrace their fears and pursue their ultimate passion.

    Embed Link: https://youtu.be/joH3je2HrxA

    Trading the comforts and fashion of cosmopolitan Mumbai to plunge headlong into the unforgiving forests of Serbia, Ranveer is risking his life all for one thing — a rare flower for the love of his life. From rappelling rocky terrains to facing ravenous wolves, he keeps on forging ahead with adventurer Bear Grylls.

    Long a fan of the man he calls ‘king of the wild’, the actor is over the moon to team up with Bear for this adventure of a lifetime.

    Actor Ranveer Singh said, “This is a fresh offering in the adventure reality genre. Embarking on this great, big challenge was a thrill for me and we feel that the audience will also experience the same adrenaline rush! It’s packed with action, humour, emotion, suspense – just about all the ingredients of a wholesome watch! And the best part is that the audience gets to engage in a truly interactive format, which in many ways is the USP of the show. I am excited to be working with Netflix to bring to you a project that we believe is both novel and thoroughly entertaining!”

    Out in the jungle, Singh does his own stunts for the first time ever, while picking up new survival skills from Grylls the intrepid explorer, who at one point helpfully informs the actor that he’s smeared wolf scat on his forehead.

    British adventurer, writer, television presenter and businessman Bear Grylls said, “I am excited to be working with Ranveer. He is a supremely talented actor and a fireball of energy. The best part about him is his insatiable thirst for growth and adventure. Together with Netflix, Ranveer and I are thrilled to bring the ultimate adventure to audiences across the world.”

    “At Netflix, we are constantly pushing our boundaries of storytelling to create truly immersive experiences for our members. Ranveer vs Wild with Bear Grylls puts interactivity at the heart of telling this story with viewers in the driver’s seat and participating in his thrilling adventure from start to finish” said Netflix India VP content Monika Shergill.  

    By placing Ranveer in an environment that is totally out of his comfort zone, viewers will get to see and connect with another side of the city boy. After all, love ke liye kuch bhi karega! 

    On the association with Netflix India, Banijay Asia founder and CEO Deepak Dhar commented, “We have always been committed to creating diverse and varied content. Ranveer Vs Wild with Bear Grylls has given us the opportunity to bring to Indian audiences something that has never been done before. We are delighted to take forward our association with Netflix India and hope to bring more varied content to the country.”

  • Netflix slashes prices for subscription plans; basic plan now costs Rs 199

    Netflix slashes prices for subscription plans; basic plan now costs Rs 199

    Mumbai: Global streaming giant Netflix has reduced the prices of its subscription plans. The biggest hike has come for its Rs 499 basic plan that will not cost subscribers only Rs 199, a decrease of 60 per cent. The basic plan allows users to stream SD quality video across mobile, tablet, laptop and TV devices.

    The streaming company has reduced its popular mobile plan from Rs 199 to Rs 149 per month. Its standard plan has come down from Rs 649 to Rs 499 per month and its premium plan has come down from Rs 799 to Rs 649 per month.

    The new prices come into effect from 14 December onwards.

    “Starting today, everyone in India can get all of Netflix at new, lower prices,” said Netflix India vice president for content Monika Shergill. “So, whether you’re watching with your family or just on your own, in the mood for a superhero tale (Minnal Murali), genre-bending series (Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein), dramedy (Decoupled), family drama (Finding Anamika), thriller (Looop Lapeta) or comedy special (Kapil Sharma), along with films and series from across the world, there’s something for everyone.”

    The OTT platform has also launched a campaign announcing the new prices which features Alia Bhatt. The film is live on its social media handles.

  • Netflix inks multi-year partnership with Excel Entertainment

    Netflix inks multi-year partnership with Excel Entertainment

    Mumbai: Netflix on Wednesday announced a strategic multi-year partnership with Excel Entertainment, the production company behind Bollywood blockbusters like “Dil Chahta Hai”, “Rock On”, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, “Lakshya”, “Toofaan” and the “Don” franchise. This creative pact dovetails Netflix’s diverse series slate in India, it said.

    As one of the pioneers in on-demand long-form storytelling, Excel Entertainment will produce a variety of stories under its series banner Excel Media & Entertainment for Netflix members in over 190 countries commencing with two projects tentatively titled “Dabba Cartel” and “Queen of the Hill”.

    Dabba Cartel is a story of five housewives who run a high-stakes secret cartel. Set in the backdrop of jazz-rich 1960s Mumbai, Queen of the Hill chronicles the dynamic relationship between two ambitious women that will change the city forever.

    Commenting on the partnership, Netflix India, vice-president- content, Monika Shergill said, “We are excited to join hands with Excel Entertainment, one of India’s path-breaking creative studios. They have continuously pushed the boundaries of entertainment and given us stories that have stood the test of time.”

    “Our partnership with Netflix marks a new global chapter for Excel Entertainment after 20 eventful years in storytelling. We are excited with the opportunity to create a variety of extraordinary stories to entertain people in India and around the world. We are thrilled to begin this next chapter with Netflix,” stated Excel Entertainment producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar.

  • Netflix, UNESCO partner to celebrate India’s diverse cultural heritage

    Netflix, UNESCO partner to celebrate India’s diverse cultural heritage

    Mumbai: Netflix and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) have come together to celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage through the popular animated series “Mighty Little Bheem”. Produced by Green Gold Animation, the series was premiered on the streaming platform in 2019.

    Over the next year, Netflix and UNESCO will come up with a series of fun short videos themed ‘One Country, Incredible Diversity’ that will shine a light on India’s cultural journey, including monuments, living heritage, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali and Holi. 

    The short videos to be released on UNESCO New Delhi’s Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter pages, will demonstrate how cultural history enriches people’s everyday lives by covering everything from food and traditions to languages and storytelling. 

    The first video was released on 13 August to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav), a day that brings the entire country together.