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Tag: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

  • Q2-2016: PS4, Music mitigate lacklustre results by other Sony segments

    Q2-2016: PS4, Music mitigate lacklustre results by other Sony segments

    BENGALURU: Good performances to the extent of double digit percentage revenue growth by Sony Corporation’s (Sony) Games & Network Services (G&NS) and Music segments helped mitigate the lacklustre and poor performance by the company’s Mobile Communications (MC) and more specifically its Financial Services segments. ‘All Other’ segment reported almost flat revenue growth. Sony’s other segments – Imaging Products & Solutions (IPS&), Pictures, Devices, segments reported almost flat to growth in single digit percentage terms. The company’s Home Entertainment & Sound (HES) segment and reported a slight decrease in revenue, but a growth in operating income. On a constant currency basis, Sony’s sales decreased seven per cent YoY.

     

    Sony reported almost flat sales and operating revenue (decline of 0.5 per cent) in Q2-2016 (Quarter ended 30 September, 2014, current quarter, second quarter of 2015) at ?1892.7 billion as compared to the ?1901.5 billion in Q2-2015. The company reported net income attributable to Sony shareholders of ?33.6 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to a loss of ?136 billion in the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Sony says that sales were essentially flat YoY mainly due to a decrease in Financial Services segment revenue, reflecting a deterioration in investment performance in the separate account, and a decrease in MC segment sales, reflecting a significant decrease in smartphone unit sales, substantially offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates and a significant increase in G&NS segment sales, reflecting an increase in PS4 software sales.

     

    Segment Performance

     

    Mobile Communications

     

    Sony’s MC segment reported a 15.2 per cent decline in sales to ?279.2 billion in the current quarter as compared to the ?329.5 billion in Q2-2015, which Sony says was due to a significant decrease in smartphone unit sales resulting from a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability.

     

    Consequently the segment reported a lower operating loss of ?20.6 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to ?170.6 billion in Q2-2015. Sony says that this decrease in operating loss was primarily due to a ?176.0 billion impairment charge of goodwill recorded in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. The operating results were also primarily affected by the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs, and an increase in restructuring charges. The negative impact of the above-mentioned decrease in smartphone unit sales was offset by an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models, as well as reductions in costs including marketing and research and development expenses. During the current quarter there was a ?24.4 billion negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Game & Network Services (G&NS)

     

    GN&S segment reported a 16.5 per cent increase in sales to ?360.7 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to the ?309.5 million in Q2-2015, which Sony says was primarily due to an increase in PS4 software sales as well as the impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by a decrease in PlayStation3 (PS3) software sales.

     

    This segment’s Operating Income increased 9.8 per cent to ?23.9 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to the ?21.8 billion in Q2-2015. The gain due to increase in PS4 software sales was partially offset by the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs and the above-mentioned decrease in PS3 software sales. During the current quarter there was a 13.1 billion yen negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations informs Sony.

     

    Imaging Products & Solutions (IP&S)

     

    IP&S segment reported a 4.1 per cent improvement in sales to ?186 billion in the current quarter as compared to the ?178.6 billion in Q2-2015 due to an improvement in product mix of digital cameras reflecting a shift to high value-added models and the impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by a decrease in unit sales of digital cameras reflecting a contraction of the market.

     

    IP&S operating income increased 28.6 per cent to ?25.9 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to the ?20.1 billion in Q2-2015. During the current quarter there was a 1.9 billion yen positive impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations says Sony.

     

    Home Entertainment & Sound (HE&S)

     

    Sony’s HE&S segment reported an almost flat (declined 0.2 per cent) in revenue to ?289.1billion in the current quarter as compared to the ?289.7 billion in Q2-2015 due to a decrease in home audio and video unit sales reflecting a contraction of the market, offset by an improvement in product mix of LCD televisions reflecting a shift to high value-added models and the impact of foreign exchange rates.

     

    HE&S operating income reported 73.9 per cent growth in operating income to ?15.8 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to the ?9.1 billion in Q2-2015 due to cost reductions and an improvement in product mix, partially offset by the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs as well as the impact of the above-mentioned decrease in home audio and video unit sales. During the current quarter there was a ?10.4 billion negative impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    In Televisions, sales increased 1.6 per cent YoY to ?203 billion. This increase was primarily due to an improvement in product mix reflecting a shift to high value-added models and the impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by a decrease in LCD television unit sales resulting from a strategic decision not to pursue scale in order to improve profitability. Operating income increased ?4.8 billion YoY to ?9.7 billion. This increase was primarily due to cost reductions and an improvement in product mix, partially offset by the negative impact of the appreciation of the US dollar, reflecting the high ratio of US dollar-denominated costs, and the impact of the decrease in unit sales.

     

    Devices

     

    Devices sales increased 7.4 per cent YoY to ?258.1 billion in the current quarter from ?240.4 billion. This increase was primarily due to the impact of foreign exchange rates and an increase in demand for image sensors, partially offset by a decrease in battery business sales. Sales to external customers increased 17.3 per cent YoY.

     

    Operating income of the segment in Q2-2016 increased ?4.4 billion YoY to ?32.7 billion from ?28.3 billion in Q2-2015. This increase was due to the positive impact of foreign exchange rates and the above-mentioned impact of an increase in sales of image sensors, partially offset by an increase in depreciation and amortisation, an increase in research and development expenses and a decrease in battery business sales. During the current quarter there was a ?12 billion positive impact from foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

     

    Pictures

     

    Sony’s Pictures segment reported 0.9 per cent growth in sales to ?183.7 billion in Q2-2016 as compared to the ?182.2 billion in Q2-2015. However, in terms of US dollars there was a 14 per cent decrease due to significantly lower sales for Motion Pictures reflecting lower home entertainment revenues, as the same quarter of the previous fiscal year benefitted from the home entertainment performances of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Heaven is for Real, as well as lower television licensing revenues.

     

    Operating loss in the current quarter increased ?21.4 billion YoY to ?22.5 billion from ?1 billion in Q2-2014 due to the impact of the above-mentioned decrease in Motion Pictures sales as well as higher worldwide theatrical marketing expenses due to a greater number of significant theatrical releases in the current quarter as compared to Q2-2015.

     

    Music

     

    Music reported 15 per cent increase in sales to ?138.7 billion in q2-2016as compared to the ?120.6 billion in Q2-2015 due to the impact of the depreciation of the yen against the US dollar. The increase in sales on a constant currency basis was primarily due to an increase in Visual Media and Platform sales reflecting higher live entertainment venue revenue and higher sales of animation products. Best-selling titles included David Gilmour’s Rattle that Lock, Future’s DS2 and Maitre Gims’ Mon Coeur Avait Raison.

     

    Operating income increased ?2.4 billion year-on-year to ?14.6 billion ($122 million). This increase was primarily due to an improvement in product mix, reflecting an increase in digital streaming revenues.

     

    Financial Services

     

    Financial Services reported a steep decline of 21.8 per cent in sales in the current quarter to ?201.7 billion as compared to the ?269.6 billion in Q2-2015 due to a significant decrease in revenue at Sony Life.

     

    Operating income decreased ?6.5 billion YoY to ?41.2 billion mainly due to a decrease in operating income at Sony Life.

     

    All Other

     

    Sales increased one per cent YoY to ?87.4 billion in the current quarter from ?86.5 billion in Q2-2015.

     

    Operating income of ?0.5 billion was recorded in Q2-2016 compared to an operating loss of ?19.8 billion in Q2-2015 due to a decrease in PC exit costs, including restructuring charges and after-sales service expenses, as well as the absence of sales company fixed costs charged to the PC business in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year which were allocated based on the prior year results.

  • ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ garners highest Hollywood BO opening of all time in India

    ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ garners highest Hollywood BO opening of all time in India

    NEW DELHI: Bypassing the record set by its predecessor, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 posted the highest opening in history for a Hollywood film in India.

     

    Sony Pictures India announced that the film grossed approximately Rs 41.7 crore ($ 6.92 million) in its four day opening weekend starting 1 May  with a final tally of 1523 screens – the widest release ever for a Hollywood film. 

     

    The film also registered the highest ever opening day gross for any Hollywood title when it opened on 1 May. It released in four languages – English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and in 3D, 2D, IMAX 3D and in Dolby Atmos where available. 

     

    Sony Pictures India MD Kercy Daruwala said, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2 once again consolidates Spider-Man’s position as a franchise that cannot be beaten. We are happy to say that the film garnered unprecedented buzz in the weeks before release. We have taken a mass marketing approach to this film with some unique and very local innovations, further amplified with the invaluable support of the entire Sony group. Thanks to these innovations, the film has the fourth highest opening amongst all films, including local titles, released in India this year.”

     

    “The film’s response has been excellent with many people calling it the best Spider-Man film ever and enjoying the spectacular 3D effects. We have some very good weeks ahead of us as we continue to reap the benefits of an open release period coupled with great word-of-mouth and repeat viewing,” he added.

     

    Sequels to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 have already been announced for release in 2016 and 2018.

     

    A report from Hong Kong said The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has set a new opening day record at the Hong Kong box office on the Labour Day holiday, making HK$9.56 million (US$1.23 million) from 720 screenings.

     

    According to figures from Hong Kong’s Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA), the previous record holder was 2007’s Spiderman 3, which made HK$7.56 million (US$975,000) from 641 screenings on its opening day exactly seven years ago.

     

    It ends its theatrical run with HK$55 million (US$7.1 million).

     

    While Spiderman 3 was in 2-D, The Amazing Spider-man 2 has also released in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, formats that impose considerable ticket surcharges in Hong Kong.

     

    The record for the highest opening day gross for a local film still belongs to Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle (2004), which opened with HK$4.43 million (US$571,000) for a total gross of HK$61.3 million (US$7.9 million).

     

  • Hindi promotional music for ‘The Spider Man 2’ released by Sony Music

    Hindi promotional music for ‘The Spider Man 2’ released by Sony Music

    NEW DELHI: The promotional Hindi music video of ‘The Amazing Spider Man 2’ has been released officially by Sony Music.

     

     The film is being released on 1 May in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The music can be heard on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVT93bhOntk.

     

     Main Hoon has been composed, sung and produced by Sanam Puri with lyrics has been given by Samar Puri and Manoj Yadav.

     

    Sanam Puri is from the band ‘SANAM’ and is its lead vocalist, co-composer and producer of India’s biggest pop band and is also the voice behind Bollywood hits like ‘Dhat Teri Ki’ and ‘Ishq Bulava’. With a number of other Bollywood songs already in the pipeline, Sanam Puri is known today as one of India’s most loved, upcoming voices.

     

     Samar Puri from ‘SANAM’ is the lead guitarist, co-composer and producer of the band.  Samar is Sanam Puri’s real brother.  Besides making incredible guitar parts for the band, Samar Puri is also the man behind all the lyrics written for the band ‘SANAM’.

     

     Keshav Dhanraj  is the drummer, co-composer and producer. Dhanraj is also the brand manager for some of the world’s top drum brands like Pearl Drums, Zildjian and Evans in India.

     

     Venky S is the bass guitarist, co-composer and producer ‘SANAM’.  He is also a soulful, versatile singer of western music, which brings in an entirely new element to music composed by the band.

  • Sony Pix pushes the envelope with on-ground activations

    Sony Pix pushes the envelope with on-ground activations

    MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s English movie channel – Sony Pix – is leaving no stone unturned to push the envelope in creating engagement with its viewers with clutter breaking on-ground activities.

    “We constantly push the envelope in the English movie channel space and that has helped us to keep our viewers engaged with our ‘Stay Amazed’ proposition,” says Sony Pix business head Saurabh Yagnik. “We will continue to do such clutter breaking activities and do our best to continue to cement our position at number two in the space and inch closer to becoming the leader in the space.”

    The channel is taking its ‘Pix Premiere Nights’ initiative to a whole new level by providing its viewers a chance to experience the second installment to the Andrew Garfield starrer The Amazing Spiderman a day prior to its 1 May India release.

    “The idea is to build the Hollywood audience, and by increasing the consumption along with the familiarity, it builds traction for movies before their theatrical release,” expounds Yagnik.

    The channel is expected to be spending anywhere between Rs 2-3 crore to push this initiative. “The scale at which the property – ‘Pix Premiere Nights’ – has grown is really encouraging for us. With Hobbit we had travelled to three cities, it went up to six cities during Robocop where we saw a participation of 8,000 plus viewers and now with The Amazing Spider Man 2 we will be travelling to 10 cities and have 11 screenings with a clear message of ‘watch it before India does’. We have already seen nearly 2,500 plus participants with 20 more days to go before the result of the contest is declared,” Yagnik beams.

    The 10 cities being targeted are Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Chennai. The contest began on 4 April and is being marketed and pushed on social media as well as on the channel and is being sponsored by Snapdeal.com.

    “Nowadays if a movie is marketed well, it translates into great box-office numbers and also gets good television viewership when premiered on a channel,” explains Yagnik. “Plans are afoot to really push the property on the channel with innovative programming and trivia, which will soon go on air.”

    Pix will be building the buzz for the movie and the contest by running the Spiderman and Iron Man movie franchises among others through ‘Pix Doubles’ along with giving great insights and trivia during the movies with its very own ‘Pixipedia’.

    “We will also be showcasing a special ‘Behind the Scenes’ exclusive footage from The Amazing Spider Man 2. The idea is to build salience with the brand ‘Pix’ and create a recall value for our viewers,” reveals Yagnik.

    The 2,000 odd contest winners from across the length and breadth of the country will receive calls to invite them for the screening. “If we want to become leaders in the space, and sizably scale up our market share, we need to invest in building our brand and keep coming with such engaging innovations and clutter breaking initiatives,” Yagnik ends.

  • Amazing Spiderman sequel to hit Indian shores a day before US screens

    Amazing Spiderman sequel to hit Indian shores a day before US screens

    NEW DELHI: The first trailer of The Amazing Spider Man 2, which will see its Indian release a day prior to the release in US, has been released.

     

    Presently in English, the trailer will soon be out in Hindi as well.

     

    The film is being released by Sony Entertainment Pictures in 2D, 3D and IMAX on 1 May in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The US release will be on 2 May.

     

    Actor Vivek Oberoi will be lending his voice in the Hindi version for the role of Max Dillon aka Electro. In the original English version, Electro is played by Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx.

     

    Sony Pictures India MD Kercy Daruwala said: “We are very happy to have Vivek on board for the Hindi version of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The Hindi version is a large part of our box office and it’s a very important role that Vivek will be playing in its success. Vivek has played a villain so brilliantly in the past and is already a familiar face in the genre. Kids in particular love him.”

     

    Oberoi, ecstatic on giving his voice to Electro said: “I have always been a huge fan of the Spider-Man comics and films and am thrilled to see that the franchise has just grown bigger and better with each film. I have been tremendously excited for The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s release ever since the first trailer came out, and when I was offered to voice Electro for the Hindi version, I was immediately interested in this unique opportunity. Max Dillon/Electro is an immensely fascinating and complex character and it will be interesting to face off with Spider-Man. After my turn as super villain Kaal in Krrish 3, (which grossed Rs 250 crore at the box office) was incredibly gratifying, this is just the icing on the cake. I have already begun dubbing.”

     

    Directed by Marc Webb, the film has big stars like Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Colm Feore with Paul Giamatti and Sally Field associated with it.

     

    Spider-Man’s most important conflict has been within himself:  the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man.  But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that his greatest battle is about to begin.

  • Supergroup formed to create music for The Amazing Spider-Man 2

    Supergroup formed to create music for The Amazing Spider-Man 2

    NEW DELHI: Oscar-and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer will work with Pharrell Williams, Johnny Marr, Michael Einziger, and Dave Stewart to create music for The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

     

    Making this announcement in Culver City, Sony Pictures Worldwide Music president Lia Vollack said the film, directed by Marc Webb from a screen story and screenplay by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, is produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.  

     

    The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be released in theaters in the United States on 2 May 2014, and international release dates commence 16 April 2014.

     

    Commenting on the announcement, Zimmer said, “Marc and I were talking about Spider-Man, and as the word got out, so many of our friends and musicians started calling us up, wanting to be a part of it because they love Spider-Man. That was the thing that united all of us – the great love for Spider-Man. With all of these hugely talented people wanting to join us, it was Marc who said, ‘Why not start a band?’ Marc and I have had a great start jamming with everybody, and we still have a few surprises up our sleeve.”

     

    Vollack added, “This kind of collaboration is only possible because of who Marc Webb is – not only a director but also a musician – combined with who Hans is and what Spider-Man means to so many people. Nobody has ever approached film music in this way before and this likely can never be replicated. We are huge fans of Hans, Pharrell, Johnny, Mike, and Dave, and when combined, we know the result will be truly unique… and amazing!”

     

    Zimmer, a nine-time Oscar nominee and winner for his work on The Lion King, previously collaborated with Williams on the film Despicable Me, as Williams produced four original solo songs and several other character-sung pieces. They later collaborated on the music for the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Marr played on Zimmer’s score for the hit film Inception, Einziger played on his score for The Lone Ranger, and Stewart played with Zimmer on the score for Madagascar 3.

     

    Hans Zimmer has composed the scores for more than 100 films taking in more than 17 billion dollars. His many credits include scoring the Pirates of the Caribbean blockbusters, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, 12 Years a Slave, Rush, Man of Steel, Sherlock Holmes, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Gladiator, The Thin Red Line, Rain Man, and many more. He has been honoured with an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and four Grammys. In 2003, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers presented him the prestigious Henry Mancini Award for Lifetime Achievement for his impressive and influential body of work.

     

    Pharrell Williams, a three-time Grammy winner, is one of the world’s most in-demand and influential music producers and recording artists. This summer, Williams became the 12th artiste to hold the #1 and #2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously as he was featured on two songs – Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines, also featuring T.I., which Williams also produced, and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, which Williams co-wrote – both of which have been called the Song of Summer. He has previously composed songs and the score for the hit animated films Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2.

     

    Johnny Marr rose to fame as co-songwriter and founder member of The Smiths. Since then, Marr has continued to push boundaries and work with some of the world’s most exciting musical artistes, including Modest Mouse, The The, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, and Beck. This year NME awarded Marr the Godlike Genius award. He recently released the critically acclaimed solo album, The Messenger.

     

    Michael Einziger is the founder/guitarist/songwriter for the groundbreaking band Incubus. Wake Me Up, the worldwide smash he co-wrote with Avicii, has been #1 in 70 countries. As an acclaimed record producer, he produced /co-wrote/executive produced three projects set for release in the coming months: Chuck Inglish, Yuna and the Internet (Odd Future). In addition to scoring the Josh Duhamel film Scenic Route he has scored Supremacy and is working on three additional film projects. Einziger previously collaborated with Zimmer on The Lone Ranger, for which he composed additional music.

    Dave Stewart is recognized as one of the most respected and accomplished talents in the music industry. “He’s the musician’s musician.”- Rolling Stone. Stewart’s music career spans three decades and more than 100 million album sales, highlighted by his collaboration with Annie Lennox in the groundbreaking pop-rock duo Eurythmics. Behind the scenes, he has produced albums and co-written songs for Bono, Bryan Ferry, Gwen Stefani, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Katy Perry, and Mick Jagger. Beyond his creative work as a musician, he is a renowned producer, author, director, photographer, filmmaker, and philanthropist. Stewart recently released a solo album, Lucky Numbers.

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins production in New York

    The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins production in New York

    MUMBAI: Columbia Pictures has said that the filming has begun on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in New York. The film is the first in the history of the franchise that will be filmed entirely in New York City and New York State.

    The sequel to last year‘s critical and box office hit The Amazing Spider-Man, the film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Shailene Woodley, Dane DeHaan, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, and Sally Field.

    In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, for Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), life is busy – between taking out the bad guys as Spider-Man and spending time with the person he loves, Gwen (Emma Stone), high school graduation can‘t come quickly enough.

    Peter hasn‘t forgotten about the promise he made to Gwen‘s father to protect her by staying away – but that‘s a promise he just can‘t keep. Things will change for Peter when a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), emerges, an old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, and Peter uncovers new clues about his past.

    The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jeff Pinkner, with a previous draft by James Vanderbilt, and based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach are the producers.

    The film‘s key behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Dan Mindel, production designer Mark Friedberg, editors Pietro Scalia and Elliot Graham, and costume designer Deborah L. Scott.

    The latest chapter in the Spider-Man story is set for release in 3D on 2 May, 2014.