ITV

Tag: Sony Pictures

  • Endemol Shine Studios names Sharon Hall as president

    Endemol Shine Studios names Sharon Hall as president

    MUMBAI: Former Alcon Television Group president and Sony Pictures TV exec Sharon Hall has been named as president of Endemol Shine Studios.

     

    At Alcon Television, she launched the studio’s TV division in 2012 and prior to that headed drama development at Sony Pictures TV, where she developed series such as Masters of Sex, Breaking Bad, Justified and Damages.

     

    Endemol Shine Studios, the scripted division of Endemol Shine North America, is behind such series as AMC’s Hell on Wheels, DirecTV’s Kingdom and the upcoming Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here. Endemol Shine Studios currently has 19 series in development across 12 networks, including the U.S. adaptation of UK thriller Utopia at HBO.

     

    “Sharon has helped conceive and develop many of the top dramas of the last decade and brings a great deal of experience and deep relationships with writers, producers and actors alike. We’re thrilled that she’s joining the Endemol Shine team and to have her working closely with our colleagues here and across the globe to develop the next wave of scripted hits,” said Endemol Shine North America co-CEOs and Endemol Shine Americas co-chairmen Charlie Corwin and Cris Abrego.

     

    Hall added, “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Endemol Shine, which is uniquely positioned globally as a leader in scripted programming. The company’s resources, especially the access to top talent and award-winning production companies, offer incredible opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with Charlie, Cris and our well-regarded team to keep the current momentum going.”

     

    Hall has also had stints with MTM Television, BBDO Worldwide, 

  • Endemol Shine Studios names Sharon Hall as president

    Endemol Shine Studios names Sharon Hall as president

    MUMBAI: Former Alcon Television Group president and Sony Pictures TV exec Sharon Hall has been named as president of Endemol Shine Studios.

     

    At Alcon Television, she launched the studio’s TV division in 2012 and prior to that headed drama development at Sony Pictures TV, where she developed series such as Masters of Sex, Breaking Bad, Justified and Damages.

     

    Endemol Shine Studios, the scripted division of Endemol Shine North America, is behind such series as AMC’s Hell on Wheels, DirecTV’s Kingdom and the upcoming Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here. Endemol Shine Studios currently has 19 series in development across 12 networks, including the U.S. adaptation of UK thriller Utopia at HBO.

     

    “Sharon has helped conceive and develop many of the top dramas of the last decade and brings a great deal of experience and deep relationships with writers, producers and actors alike. We’re thrilled that she’s joining the Endemol Shine team and to have her working closely with our colleagues here and across the globe to develop the next wave of scripted hits,” said Endemol Shine North America co-CEOs and Endemol Shine Americas co-chairmen Charlie Corwin and Cris Abrego.

     

    Hall added, “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Endemol Shine, which is uniquely positioned globally as a leader in scripted programming. The company’s resources, especially the access to top talent and award-winning production companies, offer incredible opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with Charlie, Cris and our well-regarded team to keep the current momentum going.”

     

    Hall has also had stints with MTM Television, BBDO Worldwide, 

  • Multi Screen Media rebrands as Sony Pictures Networks

    Multi Screen Media rebrands as Sony Pictures Networks

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media, which was earlier known as Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India, has rebranded as Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) in India as the company marks its 20th year in the country. SPN will be a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

     

    It was back in December 2007 that SET India was renamed as Multi Screen Media (MSM). The then CEO of the company Kunal Dasgupta had said that the new name was reflective of the company’s evolution from a pure television broadcaster to a multimedia one. And that was exactly what the company did. Today, SPN’s bouquet of channels includes a range of channels like Sony Entertainment Television (SET), Max, Max 2, Sab, Pix, AXN, Aath, Mix, Six and Kix as well as the digital entertainment channel Liv.

     

    PlNow, as Sony completes its two decade run in the country, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) president of worldwide networks Andy Kaplan said of the re-branding, “Our channels in India represent an important part of Sony Pictures Television’s global portfolio and we are proud to be part of the fabric of the diverse Indian culture. As we celebrate bringing the best entertainment to viewers in India for 20 years, it’s only fitting that these networks be branded as part of our Sony family. Like the Sony brand, which stands for innovation, creativity and delight, SPN brings the same qualities to our viewers.”

     

    SPN CEO NP Singh added,  “As MSM, we’ve served television audiences worldwide for the last 20 years, during which time we pioneered new formats, new shows and actually set the trends for television entertainment. We changed the dynamics of how cricket and cinema were viewed on Indian television and contoured a variety of genres in TV entertainment. So while Kaun Banega Crorepati and Dus Ka Dum created new waves in television gaming, and Boogie Woogie and Indian Idol brought the commoner’s talent on the telly, we were also the first ones to embrace the cultural fabric of India by providing Sab – an out-and-out family humour channel.”

  • Sony Pictures bolsters international production team with dual hires

    Sony Pictures bolsters international production team with dual hires

    MUMBAI: In two new hires that bolster Sony Pictures Entertainment’s moves to expand the creation of international films and television for worldwide markets, the studio has named Diego Suarez as senior vice president, international television production, and Matthew Stein as vice president, international film production.

     

    The duo will report to Sony Pictures Entertainment president of international film and television Sanford Panitch.

     
    In their new roles, Suarez and Stein will acquire and develop both local and international film and television content with key international production partners. 

     

    Panitch said, “Diego Suarez is for me the definition of the modern international television executive with his wide-ranging experience at both the studio level and in the international channel business. We see tremendous opportunity in producing both international and local language television content, and we are thrilled to have Diego join the team. In Matt Stein, we get a resourceful film executive with a well-trained background in overseeing smartly budgeted film franchises. He will be an asset in further igniting our local production activities, and in finding internationally oriented films for the world.”

     

    Suarez comes to SPE from Fox21 Television Studios, where he was senior vice president, creative affairs. Some of the projects Suarez brought in to the studio include The Queen of the South to air on USA in January 2016, as well as Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, based on the 1988 hit film from Pedro Almodovar, and Hamelin, written by award-winning Spanish filmmaker Paco Plaza.

     

    Prior to his tenure at Fox21, Suarez served stints at Fox International Channels, Italy; Spain’s television production companies Boca Boca Producciones; and at Cuatrocabezas (Eyeworks).

    On the other hand, Stein joins SPE after most recently serving as independent producer on a variety of feature film projects. Prior, Stein held the role of executive vice president of Production at Dimension Films, where he oversaw production and development for the company.

  • Sony Pictures revises Q3 results; posts profit of $51 million

    Sony Pictures revises Q3 results; posts profit of $51 million

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures has posted a profit of $51 million in the quarter ended 31 December, 2014, which is the same period that was affected by the email hacking attack. This more than the $20 million profit figure that the company had anticipated in February this year. The profit was down 75 per cent from the year-ago period in yen.

     

    Sony Pictures’ revenue stood at $1.71 billion for the fiscal third quarter, up from the company’s estimate of $1.63 billion. When compared to the same quarter in 2013, the company’s revenue was down 20 per cent on a dollar basis, but only 7.7 percent in yen. The significant decrease in revenue on a US dollar basis was primarily due to a decrease in sales for motion pictures and TV productions. The decrease in motion pictures sales was due to significantly lower home entertainment and theatrical revenues. 

     

    The decrease in TV production sales was attributed to the same quarter of the previous fiscal year benefitting from higher home entertainment and subscription video on demand (SVoD) revenues from the US television series Breaking Bad.

     

    It may be recalled that Sony had delayed its third quarter earnings owing to the hacking of its servers last year.

     

    Additionally, the mother company – Sony Corp’s official Q3 operating profit stood at $1.5 billion, which was up 2.2 per cent from the estimate it reported last month.

  • Sony Pictures unveils teaser of ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’

    Sony Pictures unveils teaser of ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’

    NEW DELHI: Sony Pictures Animation is back with the sequel of Hotel Transylvania. The studio has released the first teaser of the movie, which is slated to release later this year.

     

    Hotel Transylvania 2 will have voices of actors like Adam Sandler, Mel Brooks, Andy Samberg and Kevin James.

     

    The animation film, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, is slated for release on 25 September, 2015. The film will also be available in 3D.

     

    Apart from Sandler (Dracula), Samberg (Johnny), James (Frank) and Brooks (Vlad), the movie will also feature voices of Selena Gomez (Mavis), Fran Drescher (Eunice), Steve Buscemi (Wayne), Molly Shannon (Wanda), David Spade (Griffin) and Keegan-Michael Key (Murray).

  • ‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

    ‘Spider-Man’ swings back to Marvel in partnership with Sony Pictures

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Entertainment is bringing Marvel Studios into the amazing world of Spider-Man.

     

    Under the deal, the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on 28 July, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.

     

    Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.

     

    The new relationship follows a decade of speculation among fans about whether Spider-Man – who has always been an integral and important part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comic books – could become part of the Marvel Universe on the big screen. Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU.

     

    The Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Bob Iger said, “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”

     

    “We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man. This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans,” said Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

     

    “Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” added Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group president Doug Belgrad.

     

    “I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie. Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

     

    Spider-Man, embraced all over the world, is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.

  • Kodak inks deals with six Hollywood studios

    Kodak inks deals with six Hollywood studios

    MUMBAI: Kodak has finalised new film supply agreements with all six major Hollywood studios. As part of these agreements, Kodak will continue to provide motion picture film to 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., NBC Universal Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp. and Sony Pictures for their movie and television productions. 

     

    “Film has long been – and will remain – a vital part of our culture. With the support of the studios, we will continue to provide motion picture film, with its unparalleled richness and unique textures, to enable filmmakers to tell their stories and demonstrate their art,” said Kodak chief executive officer Jeff Clarke.

     

    Kodak has been engaged in broad discussions with prominent filmmakers, studios, independent artists, production companies, and film processors to enable film to remain a fundamental medium. Last July, the studios made known their intent to play a key role in leading this industry-wide effort.

     

    Prior to the agreements being finalized, several highly acclaimed films were produced on film, including Oscar nominees Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Foxcatcher, Into the Woods, Leviathan, Inherent Vice and The Judge. Additionally, some of the most-anticipated films of 2015 are being shot on Kodak film, such as Star Wars: Episode VII –The Force Awakens, Mission: Impossible 5, Batman v. Superman – Dawn of Justice, Jurassic World, Ant-Man, Cinderella, Entourage and Trainwreck.

     

    These agreements make it possible for Kodak to continue to manufacture motion picture film while also pursuing new opportunities to leverage film production technologies in growth applications, such as touchscreens for smartphones and tablet computers. This also positions the company to remain the premier supplier of camera negative, intermediate stock for post production, and archival and print film.

     

    “With the support of the major studios, the creative community can continue to confidently choose film for their projects. We’ve been asking filmmakers, what makes a project ‘FilmWorthy.’ Their responses have varied from the need for its exceptional depth to its distinctive grain, but overwhelmingly, the answer is ‘the story.’ They need film to tell their stories the way they envision them, and hold a strong desire for it to remain a critical part of their visual language. Enabling artists to use film will help them to create the moments that make cinema history. The agreements announced today are a powerful testament to the power of film and the creative vision of the artists telling them,” said Kodak president of entertainment and commercial films Andrew Evenski.

  • Deluxe acquires Sony Colorworks; inks deal with Sony Pictures

    Deluxe acquires Sony Colorworks; inks deal with Sony Pictures

    MUMBAI: Sony has sold its digital intermediate, mastering and restoration company – Colorworks – to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc.

     

    Additionally, Deluxe and Sony Pictures Digital Productions Inc (SPDP) have also entered into a multimillion dollar agreement for post services wherein Deluxe will perform DI, mastering and other services for Sony.

     

    As part of the transaction, Deluxe acquired certain assets from Colorworks Inc. Deluxe will operate from a 14,000-square-foot facility, which includes one of the industry’s leading 4K pipelines. The facility is housed in the studio’s Stage 6 and features real-time, 4K processing in a full-digital workflow for top filmmakers from across the industry.

     

    Deluxe, which has been a leader in media and entertainment services for film, video and online content, continues to expand the depth and reach of its exceptional artistry and digital capabilities.

     

    Through Deluxe’s relationship with Sony Pictures, the facility will offer state-of-the-art color grading, mastering, restoration and related services for film and TV projects by studios, networks, independent producers and filmmakers worldwide.

     

    “This agreement is a milestone in our strategic efforts to link our industry-leading artisans arm in arm with world-class content creators,” said Deluxe CEO David Kassler. 

     

    “This is yet another example of progress in our relentless pursuit of excellence for our key customers,” added Deluxe vice chairman Cyril Drabinsky.

     

    An official statement from Sony read, “Sony Pictures has made the business decision to close its Colorworks facility. We are pleased to enter into a services agreement with Deluxe to offer state-of-the-art color grading, mastering, restoration and related services for film and TV projects by studios, networks, independent producers and filmmakers at Sony Pictures.”

  • Sony Pictures, Warner Bros & Singtel ink JV for video streaming service in SE Asia

    Sony Pictures, Warner Bros & Singtel ink JV for video streaming service in SE Asia

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Singtel inked a joint venture – HOOQ – start-up, to offer a regional over-the-top (OTT) video service in Asia.

     

    HOOQ will deliver both Hollywood blockbusters and television series, as well as popular local movies and programmes to customers anytime, anywhere by enabling them to stream and download their favourite shows on their device or platform of choice.

     

    HOOQ will be rolled out progressively in the Singtel Group’s Asian footprint, including Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Thailand, from the first quarter of 2015.

     

    The studios provide access to their premium content and know-how. The Singtel Group provides market access with its customer base of over half a billion mobile customers. HOOQ will also use the Singtel Group’s billing capabilities, a crucial enabler in developing markets where credit card ownership is limited.

     

    Warner Bros. Entertainment chief digital officer and executive vice president, strategy and business development Thomas Gewecke said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Singtel and Sony Pictures Television to help grow the OTT video business across Asia. The combination of Singtel’s expertise and our world-class content is a winning combination for entertainment fans in the region.”

     

    “Consumers expect premium entertainment content to be available to them at their convenience and as a result, over the top delivery has become an important part of our business. Through this partnership, we hope to create a service to meet that demand as it grows in Asia,” added Sony Pictures Television executive vice president – networks, Asia-Pacific George Chien.

     

    Singtel Group Digital L!fe CEO Jonathan Auerbach said, “HOOQ is an important part of Singtel’s digital strategy. We have unique assets that give us a right to play in this space, and with our partnership with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment, we will achieve our vision to be the largest OTT video service in the region.”

     

    Auerbach added, “Demand for OTT video has been growing and is poised for higher growth in these markets fuelled by better data networks and the growing supply of affordable devices. This is a more than S$1 billion opportunity in our markets. Video transmission requires significant internet bandwidth, which greatly affects customer experience. With HOOQ, we are bringing together key elements of technology, service and content to deliver the full internet experience to customers.”

     

    At launch, HOOQ will have a catalogue of over 10,000 movies and TV series including titles from partners Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment.

     

    The service will offer customers a wide variety of programmes ranging from blockbusters such as Spider-Man and Harry Potter to TV favourites such as Friends and Gossip Girl.

     

    Customers can also look forward to an extensive selection of Indian, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean and Japanese movies and TV series.

     

    Peter G. Bithos has been named CEO of HOOQ responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the standalone operation based in Singapore, and expanding the operation. Bithos was previously the chief operating advisor of Globe Telecom in the Philippines.

     

    Bithos said, “We are starting this venture to change the way people across Asia view entertainment. Today, across developing markets, there is limited access to quality entertainment, streamed directly to the screen of one’s choice. It’s either illegal, high cost or difficult to get. We aim to fix that. HOOQ will deliver a new form of entertainment that combines the best of Hollywood with the depth and richness of local Asian video content, across all devices at an affordable price.”