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Tag: VFX

  • Toronto and FICCI to increase collaboration in films, VFX & animation

    Toronto and FICCI to increase collaboration in films, VFX & animation

    NEW DELHI: An agreement has been signed between Toronto and India to engage in mutual co-operation and advance their common interests in the creative screen industries to foster business partnerships, linkages and exchanges.

     

    The Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the City of Toronto will act as a catalyst for new investment and knowledge sharing opportunities.

     

    Both parties have also agreed to provide assistance or any facilities necessary for trade missions, summits, seminars, festivals and other similar activities.

     

    Toronto mayor John Tory, Consul General of India in Toronto Akhilesh Mishra, and FICCI-Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, & Comics Forum chairman Dr Ashish Kulkarni signed the document.

     

    “This agreement will help Toronto to access and collaborate with the Indian film industry, the largest producer of films in the world,” said Tory. “This agreement will stimulate economic trade and investment in both countries. Toronto’s film industry does better each and every year – this will help us continue that trend and keep us on top.”

     

    “I would like to applaud the visionary and dynamic leadership of Mayor John Tory, Councillor Thompson and Zaib Shaikh, the City’s Film Commissioner and Director of Entertainment Industries, for their efforts to initiate the MoU with FICCI for co-operation in the fields of film, television, visual effects and gaming,” said Mishra.

     

    “This is a significant development in the spirit of the India-Canada audio-visual co-production agreement signed in February 2014. I believe the MoU signed today will catalyze co-operation not only between our film industries, but also strengthen ties of culture, tourism and friendship between peoples of India and Canada,” added Dr. Kulkarni.

     

    The creative screen industries include location and studio production, post-production, visual effects, animation and interactive/digital media. Toronto is the first municipality in Canada to sign an agreement stemming from an audio-visual, co-production treaty established in 2014 between the governments of India and Canada.

     

    FICCI took a 20-member delegation from Film, Animation, and Visual Effects industry to Toronto from 8 – 13 September to promote audio-visual co-production activities between India and Canada post signing of co-production treaty between the two countries. This was the first such delegation from India after signing of the co-production agreement between the two countries.

  • MDS to debut at MIPCOM 2014

    MDS to debut at MIPCOM 2014

    MUMBAI: It has been a pioneer in the art and technology of computer animation and digital VFX in India since the early 90s. Carrying the legacy of world-class 3D animation and digital visual effects for over 17 years, Maya Digital Studios (MDS) stands for continuous innovations and cutting-edge technology.

     

    It also offers competence in high-quality 2D animation as well as Stereoscopic 3D conversion of content. It has demonstrated the capability to conceptualise and produce complex feature film length animated films like Ramayana: The Epic.

     

    Travelling for the first time to MIPCOM, the biggest content market in the world which attracts more than 12,000 participants from more than 100 countries, MDS is all geared for it.

     

    Says MDS head sales and marketing, creative writer Devdatta Potnis: “We are one of the largest television animation production houses in the country. We are doing shows for all the leading broadcasters in India and are looking at widening our horizons with MIPCOM.”

     

    As an exhibitor, it plans to sell animated TV series and capture those audiences with the Hindi content that it has on its plate. Moreover, the company is seeking international co-productions for its upcoming projects. “We have set up a few meetings where we will be discussing selling of rights of the shows that we already have. That is our main agenda,” says Potnis.

     

    Apart from a focus on the high-end animation outsourcing, MDS is now also focussed on the development of IPR content, through the creation of Indian content that crosses over globally. MDS’s recent offerings, The Adventures of Motu Patlu and VIR -The Robot Boy, are drawing high TRPs in the Indian kids TV space.

     

    At this year’s MIPCOM, the company is moving to broader territories like outside of Asian or European markets. Its aim is to focus on platforms like television, digital and VOD.

     

    MDS has had undertaken international collaborations to produce content for BBC (UK), Ragdoll (UK), Rainbow, Mike Young Productions (USA), Electronic Arts (Canada), Sony (USA), Activision (USA), Google (USA), Big Screen Entertainment (India), VGI Entertainment (UK), Brown Bag Films (Ireland), Flickerpix (USA), Norm Hill Entertainment (USA) and Sparky (Singapore) amongst others.

  • Path-breaking VFX for ‘Singham Returns’ by Reliance MediaWorks

    Path-breaking VFX for ‘Singham Returns’ by Reliance MediaWorks

    MUMBAI: Reliance MediaWorks, the techno-creative provider and part of the Reliance group delivered breathtaking VFX for Rohit Shetty’s Singham Return starring Ajay Devgan and Kareena Kapoor.

     

    Crossing the 100 crore mark in just five days after its release, Singham Returns is the story of  D.C.P. Bajirao Singham(Devgan) and his quest to track a black marketer with tremendous influence within the political system.

     

    Talking about the use of VFX in large scale director Rohit Shetty said, “Singham Returns required shooting grand scale action scenes which required intensive VFX. The team at Reliance MediaWorks has done a splendid job, the outcome of which is realistic action packed scenes.”

     

    While the work ranged from elaborate sequences to set extensions, the highlight of the work done by the company is evident in the action scene shot on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, some of which was live while most of it was created using computer graphics and VFX. The scene also involved missiles and high on speed vehicles which were created solely with special effects.

     

    In total Reliance MediaWorks has worked on 2500 VFX shots for the film, which constitutes almost 90 minutes of the run time. It took the company about three months to create, wherein Reliance MediaWorks creative head for VFX Naveen Paul was personally present on the sets to ensure the scenes were shot in sync with the VFX required.

     

    Commenting on the efforts, Paul said, “Rohit Shetty was clear about the requirements from day one, that of bringing to life an entertaining action packed film. 2500 VFX shots required intensive work by the entire team. We are all proud of the results.”

     

    Excited and happy with the results, Reliance MediaWorks CEO Venkatesh Roddam said, “We are glad to have partnered with Rohit Shetty for Singham Returns. The team headed by Naveen Paul and Nishit Shetty put in three months of work involving extensive detailing and we are glad the efforts have shown result.”

     

    Paul credits the team for being able to deliver detailed VFX shots within such a short time frame. This team comprises VFX supervisors Ranadheer Reddy and Pankaj Kalbende, production head (VFX) Vinoth Ganesh, VFX producer Abrez Mohd, concept and mattepaint head Chandrakanth Shenoy, CG supervisor Guru Prasad and matchmove head Sohel Shaikh.

  • Reliance MediaWorks: 400 and counting…

    Reliance MediaWorks: 400 and counting…

    MUMBAI: The field of visual and special effects is really gaining ground in films nowadays and a company that has done some great work in this area is the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani run Reliance MediaWorks – the media and techno-creative solutions provider and a part of the Reliance Group.

    The company commemorated the landmark achievement of completing 400 films with a star studded event graced by accomplished cinematographers, directors and producers that Reliance MediaWorks has worked with including Mahesh Limaye behind the Dabangg fame, Anil Mehta renowned cinematographer behind Saathiya, Laagan and Ketan Mehta director of Mangal Pandey: The Rising, to name a few.

    Reliance MediaWorks CEO Venkatesh Roddam in a statement said: “At Reliance MediaWorks we have always believed in adding value to the filmmaking process by keeping up to date with the latest technology and techniques. The completion of 400 Films is a testimony of our commitment and hard work.”

    Set up in 2008 as Asia’s first digital intermediate lab with a 4K facility, the Reliance film lab has revolutionised the way films are processed in India. Having worked with reputed production houses such as Dharma Productions, Yashraj Films, Balaji Motion Pictures and Red Chillies Entertainment, amongst others, its consistent efforts have helped reduce the costs of films and increase the speed of overall production.

    Amole Gupte with the team of Reliance MediaWorks

    Reliance MediaWorks also offers cutting edge VFX Solutions to Indian and International productions through its state of the art VFX studios in LA, London and Mumbai. With specialisation in highly complex VFX, the company and its team of award winning artists stand at the forefront of an extremely dynamic world of VFX production.

    Reliance MediaWorks post production services president Krishna Shetty added: “Digital filmmaking has opened up greater possibilities and opportunities for filmmakers than ever before. Every movie, from the massive big budget blockbusters, to the small independent films made on a shoestring budget, has been influenced by the advents in digital technology and filmmaking. We look forward to continuing our efforts to reinvent the ways in which movies are viewed.”

    Equipped with a state of the art DI facility to cater to film, TV and web related video content, the team has worked on a slew of recent blockbusters that include Chennai Express, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela, Krrish 3, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 3 Idiots and Singham, amongst others.

    (L-R) Mahesh Limaye, Nishith Shetty, Ketan Mehta, Anil Mehta, Anita Kaul Basu, Siddharth Basu and Venkatesh Roddam

     

  • Milk to create VFX for next ‘Doctor Who’ series

    Milk to create VFX for next ‘Doctor Who’ series

    MUMBAI: The company behind the VFX for the BBC’s popular show Doctor Who 50th anniversary special, ‘Day of the Doctor’ – Milk Visual Effects – has been commissioned by the broadcaster to work on the eighth instalment of the series, starring new Doctor Peter Capaldi.

    The company is currently working with BBC to create the VFX for the one-hour Doctor Who Christmas special, ‘The Time of the Doctor’, in which Matt Smith’s Doctor will regenerate into Capaldi’s incoming thirteenth Doctor.
    The 50th anniversary broke records on 23 November when it drew an average audience of 10.2 million in the UK and was simulcast in 94 countries and in more than 1500 cinemas across the world.

  • Milk to create VFX for next ‘Doctor Who’ series

    Milk to create VFX for next ‘Doctor Who’ series

    The company behind the VFX for the BBCs popular show Doctor Who 50th anniversary special, Day of the Doctor – Milk Visual Effects – has been commissioned by the broadcaster to work on the eighth instalment of the series, starring new Doctor Peter Capaldi.

     

    The company is currently working with BBC to create the VFX for the one-hour Doctor Who Christmas special, The Time of the Doctor, in which Matt Smiths Doctor will regenerate into Capaldis incoming thirteenth Doctor.

     

    The 50th anniversary broke records on 23 November when it drew an average audience of 10.2 million in the UK and was simulcast in 94 countries and in more than 1500 cinemas across the world.

  • Release of Ragini MMS 2 postponed

    Release of Ragini MMS 2 postponed

    MUMBAI: What was supposed to be the second outing of porn star-turned-reality TV star-turned actor, Sunny Leone seems to be facing a hurdle.

     

    The film that has been produced by Balalji Motion Pictures was earlier supposed to release in October, 2013. However, an official announcement was made by Balaji that it would release on January 10. Now, with another announcement, the release has been rescheduled to March 21.

     

    The film in being billed as a ‘horrex’ – a combination of horror and sex and is the sequel of the 2011 sleeper hit, Ragini MMS.

     

    The reason for this change is said to be the VFX and upgrading work.
    In a statement issued to the press, Balaji’s Ekta Kapoor said, “We need substantial time to bring quality visual effects to the big screen. After the success of the first film, the bar has been raised. The Ragini MMS sequel promises to be the sexiest and scariest date movie ever.”

  • Sanjay Gupta to use extensive VFX in ‘Mumbai Saga’

    Sanjay Gupta to use extensive VFX in ‘Mumbai Saga’

    MUMBAI: Old, decrepit mills from yesteryear Mumbai make their way into Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming film Mumbai Saga. It will showcase the city from the bygone era. And the filmmaker will be incorporating a lot of special effects in the project to bring back the old and out- of use mills that used to once operate out of the city in the ’ 80s and the ’ 90s.

    The film dwells on the subject of how hordes of mills, some famous for the wrong reasons, were forced to shut shop during that era.

    Says Gupta, “The movie will show these vacant properties, fully operational. We will be recreating miniatures of these mills to show them being burnt down.” The film’s crew will also be heading to Belapur to shoot some action sequences.

    “We will be shooting some scenes with a train that used to run on the tracks in the ‘90s. Now, it can only be seen in Belapur,” adds the director.

  • Sanjay Gupta to use extensive VFX in Mumbai Saga

    Sanjay Gupta to use extensive VFX in Mumbai Saga

    MUMBAI: Old, decrepit mills from yesteryear Mumbai make their way into Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming film Mumbai Saga. It will showcase the city from the bygone era. And the filmmaker will be incorporating a lot of special effects in the project to bring back the old and out- of use mills that used to once operate out of the city in the ’ 80s and the ’ 90s.

     

    The film dwells on the subject of how hordes of mills, some famous for the wrong reasons, were forced to shut shop during that era.

     

    Says Gupta, “The movie will show these vacant properties, fully operational. We will be recreating miniatures of these mills to show them being burnt down.” The film’s crew will also be heading to Belapur to shoot some action sequences.

     

    “We will be shooting some scenes with a train that used to run on the tracks in the ‘90s. Now, it can only be seen in Belapur,” adds the director.

  • Intex campaign becomes bigger, better for Aqua i7

    Intex campaign becomes bigger, better for Aqua i7

    Mumbai: As the smartphone market continues to grow at a brisk pace, the manufactures are coming up with better and bigger campaigns to promote their products.

    The multi-crore TVC was shot in Mumbai and Malaysia while the VFX and editing had been done out of Singapore, says Keshav Bansal

    This time, Intex has launched a new campaign for its latest smartphone, Aqua i7. The insight for the campaign came from a research highlighting Intex’s hold across major tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The TVC is done by an in-house team.

    Keeping in mind the target consumers for Aqua i7, the focus was to devise a TVC that will help in its aggressive marketing of the product in Tier 1 cities, majorly in the metros like Delhi, Mumbai and others.

    The phone comes with features packed at an aggressive price range of Rs 22,000 which is a huge leap from the 12,000 price range of its previous flagship smartphone. “The phone caters to a niche segment, therefore the richness and the elegance of the phone needs to be communicated to the audience through TVC. Thus, the objective was to communicate these features to the consumer in an engrossing manner,” said Intex Technologies director – marketing (mobile) Keshav Bansal.

    Talking about the key issues kept in mind while executing the TVC, Bansal says, “We wanted the TVC to focus on the remarkable features of Aqua i7 and hence the TVC was crafted in a way that it is able to etch these features in the mind of consumers with its visual grandeur. The multi-crore TVC was shot in Mumbai and Malaysia while the VFX and editing had been done in Singapore to give it an unmatched appearance. Since we are coming out with a quality product for a niche segment, we left no stones unturned in terms of execution, visual effects or editing to bring out a one of its kind TVC in the fastest possible time.”

    The TVC features the brand ambassador Frahan Akhtar and an action packed fight sequence between a Samurai and Ninja.

    The major media vehicles chosen are TV, print, outdoor hoardings and digital. “Intex is giving extra importance to social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and is aggressively engaging with its customer base on these platforms,” emphasises Bansal.