ITV

Tag: Tom Cruise

  • Bond film shooting in India gets I&B nod

    Bond film shooting in India gets I&B nod

    MUMBAI: Giving a reprieve to thousands of James Bond fans who were dejected because the producers of the next installment of the film couldn’t get permission to shoot in India, the Information & Broadcasting (I & B) ministry has given its nod to the makers to shoot across the country.

    The I&B ministry has given permission to the producers to shoot the latest Bond film Bond 23 in places like Daryaganj, Sarojini Nagar market and Ansari Road in the capital. As per the makers request, they have been given permission to shoot in North Goa with the exception of the tunnel at Dudhsagar (south-eastern railway) and Zuari rail bridge over Zuari river (Konkan railways) due to security concerns.

    In Ahmedabad, the producers had sought permission to shoot near the Navagam area that is close to installations like Torrent Power limited, ONGC and IOC. The ministry has asked them to ensure that permissions are taken from the railway ministry and the state government. It is said that talks with the railway ministry were on regarding these particular locales.

    Bond 23 will be the latest addition to films that have already been given permission to shoot in India. Twenty-two films including the Tom Cruise-starrer Mission Impossible, Life of Pi, Singularity and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel have already got clearance to shoot in the country.

  • Mipcom keynotes celebrate power of the great story

    Mipcom keynotes celebrate power of the great story

    CANNES: Taking the cue delivered by CBS Corp. president and CEO Leslie Moonves at yesterday’s opening day main keynote, today’s keynotes harked on quality content as becoming ever more critical in a digitally enabled world.

    United Artists CEO Paula Wagner and NBC Entertainment NBC Entertainment & NBC Universal Television Studio co-chairman Ben Silverman both stressed on how important quality content would be in a world of infinite choice.

    Wagner pointed out how global box office receipts of American movies were worth $ 26 million last year, a growth of 11 per cent CAGR. Not surprisingly, more than two thirds of revenues from the movie business came from international markets.

    Wagner pointed to the days of the captive consumer being over and which in turn necessitated ever higher spends on marketing and distribution. 

    Wagner, who with business partner Tom Cruise reached a deal last November with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to take over United Artists, said her studio was committed to promoting original and daring commercial projects that would have one key underpinning – great storytelling.

    Wagner made it clear though that these were business propositions so there had to be clarity on the finacial aspects of any project that UA would undertake.

    Creativity with financial discipline would determine their business model, Wagner stated.

    Following on her talk on the movie business was Silverman who declared that his network was committed to and believed strongly that what would work was content built for the global market.

    Silverman cited the Bourne movies as an example of cinema that has an international outlook in terms of cast and shooting locations. He pointed to how that kind of international outlook was also coming into his network’s shows with more characters from the UK, India, Japan, China, etc having important roles in the shows that were being green lighted as well as those already on air.

    As did Wagner, Silverman also noted how important it was to help foster creative vision and ensure the servicing of creative voices.

  • MGM partners with Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner to revive United Artists

    MGM partners with Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner to revive United Artists

    MUMBAI: United Artists (UA), the studio founded by movie greats Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and D.W. Griffith some 85 years ago and responsible for delivering film franchises as Rocky, Pink Panther and James Bond will be reborn.

    This is being done through a partnership formed between Cruise, Wagner and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which was announced by MGM chairman and CEO Harry E. Sloan.

    Cruise and Wagner were previously with Paramount before they parted ways earlier this year ending a 14 year relationship.

    Along with their substantial ownership, Cruise and Wagner will have control of setting the company’s production slate, from development to production greenlighting ability, subject to certain parameters. Wagner will serve as chief executive officer of United Artists alongside her longstanding producing partner Cruise, who will star in as well as produce films for United Artists and also be available to appear in film projects for other studios, asserts an official release.

    Cruise last teamed up with the original UA in Rain Man in 1988. In establishing United Artists as a new entity, MGM and Cruise/Wagner will look to return the studio to its former roots by recognising what made UA great in the first place — studio management by creative talent who can best encourage and support other creative talent.

    The studio will be reborn as a place where producers, writers, directors and actors can thrive in a creative environment, developing and producing entertaining film projects. The plan would allow artists throughout the community to pursue their creative visions outside of the traditional studio system, adds the release.

    The studio plans to have a production slate of approximately four films each year, which may increase in the future. Worldwide marketing and distribution will be handled by partner MGM. UA will be a major supplier of feature films to MGM, with production and development of UA movies being fully financed by MGM and its partners.

    Sloan said, “Tom and Paula are the modern versions of the iconic founders of United Artists — Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D. W. Griffith — and our partnership with them reaffirms our commitment to providing creative talent with a comfortable home at United Artists and a dedicated distribution partner in MGM. ”

    Cruise said, “Paula and I are very respectful of the rich history and tradition of United Artists, and we welcome the opportunity to contribute to that legacy by providing a wide range of releases that appeal to all audiences. It’s our desire to create an environment where filmmakers can thrive and see their visions realized.”

    MGM COO Rick Sands said, “Providing Tom and Paula with the ability to greenlight films under the UA banner validates MGM’s commitment to and recognition of independent producers as the true creative nucleus of Hollywood filmmaking.The resurgence of United Artists will take us another step closer to realizing the full revitalization of MGM. Harry and I are personally thrilled to be working with Tom and Paula.”

  • Tom Cruise, Paramount Pictures to part ways

    Tom Cruise, Paramount Pictures to part ways

    MUMBAI: Paramount Pictures and actor Tom Cruise are set for a bitter break up of their 14-year old association. The decision was revealed by Viacom Inc. Chairman Sumner Redstone, when he told the Wall Street Journal, “As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal.”

    Reportedly, the Viacom chief was hinting at the movie star’s off-screen behaviour. The actor’s camp has taken strong offence of Redstone’s comments as Paula Wagner, Cruise’ longtime partner in his movie company Cruise/Wagner Productions, termed the outburst “offensive” and “undignified.”

    “Whatever remarks Redstone would make about Tom Cruise personally or as an actor have no bearing on what this business issue is. There must be another agenda that the studio has in mind to take one of their greatest assets and malign him this way,” Wagner has been quoted in a Reuters report.

    As reported, five Cruise starrers co-produced by Cruise/Wagner Productions — these include the Mission: Impossible series — have generated theatrical revenues totalling over $2 billion (1 billion pounds) worldwide during the past decade. Wagner claimed that Cruise-starrers accounted for about 15 per cent of the studio’s overall box office gross over that period.

    Wagner has also been quoted as saying that she and Cruise chose to leave the Paramount lot and establish a new venture financed through a private equity fund of $100 million.

    The Los Angeles Times had earlier reported on Paramount’s intention to slash the amount of money the studio pays for the production company. Paramount wanted Cruise/Wagner to cut the remuneration from $10 million to $2 million a year, it said.

  • Pix to launch ‘Inside the Actors Studio’ on 16 July

    Pix to launch ‘Inside the Actors Studio’ on 16 July

    MUMBAI: Pix will be launching the Hollywood talk show Inside the Actors Studio (ITAS) on 16 July. The show will be aired every Sunday at 7 pm.

    Pix has acquired 47 episodes of this series. Some of the guests interviewed include: Will Smith, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant, Charlize Ttheron, Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Al Pacino.
    Inside the Actors Studio has been on air in the US for more than 11 years and is now broadcast in over 125 countries.

    From its origin, Inside the Actors Studio has followed an interesting format in which the show is taped in front of an audience made up of students from the Actors Studio’s Master of Fine Arts program.

    The interviewees share intimate and personal experiences that influenced their choice of career and what it is that continues to fascinate them about showbiz. The interview then concludes with a standardised questionnaire of 10 questions that requires candid answers, leading to hilarious and sometimes touching moments on the show.

    The channel has also weaved an ITAS contest wherein viewers will have a chance to win Pix goodies. Contestants can SMS ‘JL’ to 2525 and win DVDs of Hollywood movies.

    The show has won nominations for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Non-fiction Series, 11 Emmy award nominations, the Cable Ace Award as best talk show and The New York Festival Award for the world’s best talk/entertainment.

  • Pix acquires 47 episodes of ‘Inside the Actors Studio’

    Pix acquires 47 episodes of ‘Inside the Actors Studio’

    MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television’s (SET) English channel Pix has acquired its first international programme – Inside the Actors Studio.

    Pix has acquired 47 exciting and revealing episodes of this series. Some of the guests interviewed include: Will Smith, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant, Charlize Ttheron, Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and Al Pacino.

    James Lipton, the executive producer and host of Inside the Actors Studio since its inception in 1994, has interviewed more than 200 artists – ranging from actors and directors to musicians and comedians. Lipton, in his numerous years of studious research has inspired his guests to open up and confess their deepest thoughts about their craft and careers.

    From its origin, Inside the Actors Studio has followed an interesting and unique format in which the show is taped in front of an audience made up of students from the renowned Actors Studio’s Master of Fine Arts program. The interviewees, all famous Hollywood celebrities, share intimate and personal experiences that influenced their choice of career and what it is that continues to fascinate them about showbiz. The interview then concludes with a standardised questionnaire of 10 questions that requires very candid answers, leading to hilarious and sometimes touching moments on the show.

    Inside the Actors Studio also transcends all demographic boundaries. The program introduces viewers to icons of the entertainment industry in a very natural and personal way. The show is produced by Bravo in conjunction with Betelgeuse Productions.

    This popular award winning Hollywood talk show has been on air in the US for more than 11 years and is now broadcast in over 125 countries.

    The show has also bagged numerous awards including two 14 July, 2005 nominations, for Outstanding Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Nonfiction Series, 11 Emmy award nominations, the Cable Ace Award as Best Talk Show and The New York Festival Award for the World’s Best Talk/Entertainment.

  • Pix to air first series next month

    Pix to air first series next month

    MUMBAI: Sony’s English movie channel Pix has announced that it will air its first show Inside The Actors Studio next month.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com on this initiative Pix programming head Gitanjali Murari says that the show is in line with the channel’s tagline of We Tell Stories.

    “This is an interview based show hosted by James Lipton. He has sat down with some of the world’s most accomplished actors and directors for interviews. What is unqiue about the show is that it is taped in front of students at The Actors Studio Drama School. In addition to his duties as host, Lipton is also the dean of the school.

    “The students are learning to become actors and filmmakers. So, each show will see the actor or director talk about how they approach their roles and why they chose to enter the world of filmmaking. Lipton’s studious research and enlightened curiosity inspires his guests to open up and confess their deepest thoughts about the art of acting. Viewers will get a personal insight into each guest which might otherwise not be possible.”

    Lipton has been hosting the show for eight years now. His guests have included Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Hugh Grant, director Spike Lee and Julia Roberts.

  • MTV, Paramount in global marketing tie up for Mission Impossible III

    MTV, Paramount in global marketing tie up for Mission Impossible III

    MUMBAI: MTV and Paramount Pictures are teaming with United International Pictures (UIP) for a global marketing partnership for the Mission: Impossible (M:i:III) film franchise in advance of the film’s release.

    Different content related to the film will roll out on MTV channels in Asia, US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Russia.

    MTV channels across the globe will premiere two half an hour specials. The first, Making the Movie will be somewhat like a DVD feature and will have interviews with Tom Cruise and other cast members including Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

    The other special Diary of Tom Cruise With Sway, features the actor spending the day with the MTV presenter. Web content related to the partnership will include the M:i:III film trailer, an MTV at the Movies review of the film, banner ads and a link to the official M:i:III site.

    MTV channels will also make region specific content. MTV Italy is producing a special live TRL in Piazza del Poppolo in Rome dedicated to the film, and MTV UK is producing an M:i:III special for its new show 1 Leicester Square.

    In France, MTV will air news reports from the red carpet premiere in Paris. One of the stars from the film Maggie Q will make an appearance at the MTV Asia Awards 2006 in Thailand on 6 May. In Japan, MTV will produce an episode of its weekly film show MTV Screen, as well as air news reports on the film and editorial coverage in its free consumer magazine MTV Paper. And TRL in the US will host Tom Cruise and the cast of M:i:III on 2 May.

    The Yahoo Tie up: Meanwhile, Paramount and Yahoo will provide moviegoers a wide array of special features, behind-the-scenes footage, and music and movie content. As a result of the films presence on the Yahoo! network around the world, audiences will have the chance to see exclusive video from the film’s world premiere in Rome and US premiere in New York; a Q&A with Tom Cruise and director J.J. Abrams; music from the film; and never-before-seen clips.

    Paramount senior VP interactive marketing Amy Powell says, “Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams are bringing a fresh, high-tech look to the ‘Mission’ franchise and we wanted to deliver that to Internet users in an innovative way. As M:i:III kicks off the summer, we’ve got an outstanding lineup of behind-the-scenes and live content that rivals the very biggest interactive movie campaigns. We’re thrilled to be getting creative with Yahoo!.”

    Yahoo! Movies’ exclusive video coverage of the 3 May US premiere of M:i:III currently includes plans to offer a camera view from Tom’s perspective as he arrives at the premiere and steps down the red carpet. In addition, Yahoo! plans to offer users the chance to ask Tom questions in real time and see his answers live from the red carpet. Tom will also be announcing the winner of the People’s Premiere contest, in which one entrant will win a private screening in their hometown, attended by Cruise.

    Interviews with the star and co-writer/director will provide movie fans with DVD-style commentary on exclusive clips from the movie, and also give users a sneak peak into the “Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Mission: Impossible III.” Users also had the chance to use Yahoo! Answers (http://answers.yahoo.com), Yahoo!’s online Q&A community where real people ask and answer questions on any topic, to stump Tom Cruise on trivia from his many hit movies, with J.J. posing the users’ questions.

    All content will be available on Yahoo.com as well as Yahoo! Australia, Yahoo! France, Yahoo! Germany, Yahoo! Italy, Yahoo! Spain, Yahoo! Taiwan and Yahoo! UK.