www.picklemag.com

From theindianentertainment.com ● Volume No: I-25● pickleMarch 17-23, 2007 ● New Delhi ● Photo: K K Laskar

Areas around New Delhi’s refreshed Central Park are good locales for film BEAUTIFUL DELHI shoot. It is time for someone to plot a movie around this place Simplified rules for for foreign film shoots in India. But... OK in 21 days is Tough India is losing out to locales like Thailand,Malaysia. Industry wants synergy with 119 High Commissions

t is a sweetener for the production reach in time for the file to be cleared complete sensitive/negative list should service companies to get a reitera- in India. Industry representatives have be circulated in all Indian High tion that the government has called for a greater synergy between Commission enabling filmmakers to simplified the procedure for Indian High Commissions, Ministry of wait to get approvals to shoot in sensi- film shooting rules for foreign External Affairs and the Ministry of tive areas or look for alternative loca- Ifilmmakers. Information & Broadcasting. Film tions. The government recently announced shoot for films and documentaries are Working through the government- that If all the relevant papers required cleared by the I&B Ministry and docu- backed NFDC or a local line produc- for the film shoot in India are collated mentaries by the Ministry of External tion company (after checking creden- properly, the application to get permis- Affairs. tials) is recommended. Industry sion will be cleared within three weeks. Majority of the overseas filmmakers representatives want the government But in actual practice it is tough to put usually look to shoot in sensitive areas to compile a rating list of line this into execution as many a times in India and had made complaints of production companies in India as a ref- the communication exchanged with not obtaining approvals in time. erence guide in various High Indian High Commissions doesn't Industry representatives said that a Commissions.

1 pickle March 17-23, 2007 ● New Delhi● India

India is cost effective to shoot. The worry area is transparency Trust is what is lacking The concern among foreign filmmaker to shoot in India is not to get government approval but to spot a reliable line producer hat does the foreign film- PICKLE PICKS: TOP LINE PRODUCERS an agreement is drawn. maker or an overseas s- Transparency: There is very little tudio look for when they KAS Movie Makers: Highlight Films: transparency among the line pro- Wdecide to offshore work They are transparent, Respected production duction companies. This is a gen- from Indian line production com- ethical and has been in talent house in India. eral complaint. Recently a film- panies. They are primarily looking production service for Projects: Zazie (France), maker from Europe found that for trust, transparency, quality of 18 years. Projects The Journey (USA) and unit people working for the proj- work and long term relationship. Westlife (UK), Lipton, HSBC (UK). Mail: ect are not paid according to the Cost cutting is last in their priority Italy, Shell [email protected]. budget submitted by the line pro- list. A large number of foreign Mail:[email protected] Contact: Srila Chatterjee duction company. Quality of filmmakers have been taken for Contact: Aruna Har Prasad Work: The offshoring company ride by fly-by-night production doesn't mind paying extra for houses. Lack of Trust: The general complaint is that the quality in work. There are very few who believe Internet production companies in India are not trust worthy. For ex- Websites of any line production company. Long Term ample a film producer from LA got a big shock when ex- Relationship: Majority of the people who are getting jobs perienced that the line producer is making commission in India are through referrals. There is huge business po- even in foreign exchange. The budgets sent by line pro- tential in India. Overseas filmmakers look forward to a duction companies are now scrutinised by auditors before guide which rates the line production companies .

ADVT

2 Premiere World Market Screenings at the Cannes Film Market

Drama, 35mm Feature Film, Run time: 98 Mins, Language: English, Produced by : Saregama Films, Directed by : Manish Gupta, Co-Producer : David Roma, Drena De Niro Cast: Sushmita Sen, Randeep Hooda, Suresh Oberoi, Rati Agnihotri, Kavita Krishnamoorthi, Deepal Shaw, Naomi Campbell

FRIDAY 18TH MAY : TIME: 2.00PM : PALAIS G MONDAY 21 MAY : TIME: 3.30PM : ARCADES 3

For trade enquries contact: Rohit Sharma President-International SalesIdream Independent Pictures Mobile : 91 9820189556 www. idreamindependent.com Email: [email protected]

2 pickle March 17-23, 2007 ● New Delhi● India

UTV & Fox in strategic co-production tie-up UTV’s Happening with Shyamalan is set to be another No. 1 movie Studio in the world and great year for UTV. It the reputation of having the best mar- 2007 has managed to keting and distribution set up in the US clinch a strategic tie-up with Rupert and worldwide on board with us, this Murdoch’s 20th Century Fox. UTV will Sci-Fi thriller is going to get the best co-produce Manoj Night Shyamalan’s worldwide release.” ‘The Happening’ is UTV’s Ronnie Screwala video thriller ``The Happening’’ with Fox. The a big-budget studio film focusing on conferencing with Manoj Shyamalan Movie has a budget of US$ 57 million. Earth vs Man issues and portraying the UTV and Fox will co-produce and environment as the victim of enjoy global revenues in all media in mankind’s villainy. Most of the shoot- UTV and Fox perpetuity, equally. According to ing is currently taking place on the Ronnie Screwvala, CEO – UTV, “Night East Coast of America and in will enjoy is an immensely talented Writer–direc- Philadelphia – Night’s hometown. The tor. We have developed a great chem- simultaneous worldwide release of global revenues istry ever since our first conversation ‘The Happening’ is slated for June/July in all media in about two months back and I am re- 2008 being the summer of 2008 Tent ally glad things moved fast to allow us Pole Release for Fox. UTV has produc- perpetuity, to work together. Ever since his “Sixth tion relationship with three major Sense”, I have followed and admired Hollywood studios --Fox, Disney and equally his work. With 20th Century Fox, the via Wilbur Smith with Sony.

ADVT

Gattu is all set to March to the French Riveria For trade enquries contact: Kalapi Nagada International Sales: Shemaroo Video Pvt Ltd Mobile: 91 9867623504 Web: www.shemaroo.com; Email: [email protected]

3 pickle March 17-23, 2007 ● New Delhi● India The big challenge is to enforce IP laws DO NOT MISS THEM Opportunities in AT FRAMES S.K. Arora: Secretary, Ministry of Information & Licensing industry Broadcasting Phillip Graf: Deputy Chairman, OFFCOM, UK Charles M Riotto, President, LIMA will be at Regulator. the FICCI FRAMES conference next week. He Bobby Srinivasan: CEO & President, Roamware, spoke to Pickle on the licensing industry USA. Bill Jasper: CEO & What is LIMA”s objective at FRAMES? As the trade association for the global President, Dolby licensing industry, LIMA's mission is to Laboratories, USA. LIMA's objective at FRAMES (May 26- make its membership aware of new Barrie M Osborne: Eminent 28, Mumbai) is to provide an educa- opportunities worldwide, especially in Hollywood producer. tional platform about the licensing in- emerging markets. We are organizing Shakir UR Rehman dustry to an ever growing global a fact-finding delegation to : Chairman, Jang Group, audience. LIMA seeks to provide India, in conjunction with the Pakistan. an introduction and basic under- conference, whereby partici- standing of the many facets of li- pants will be able to attend in- Tom Wilhite: CEO, censing and the advantages it formative presentations that will Hyperion Pictures, USA. offers brand owners and li- allow them to understand the e- Goggredo Bettini: censees in terms of overall conomic, trade, social and busi- President, Fondazione brand building as well as rev- ness issues existing in India Cinema per Roma, Italy. enue opportunities. Michael McAlister: Visual What are the major issues related Effects Supervisor, Hollywood, Does LIMA have member companies with Licensing-- specifically in the USA. in India? entertainment space? John Malcom: :Motion Licensing is still a relatively new mar- One of the biggest issues, especially in Pictures Association, USA keting strategy in India and, as such, emerging licensing markets, is foster- Sharad Devrajan: CEO, the FRAMES conference is our first ing a better understanding of the need Virgin Animation and Virgin foray into the Indian market. We re- to respect IP rights, and for local agen- Comics, USA cently enrolled our first Indian mem- cies to enforce IP laws. Piracy affects Amit Khanna Chairman, ber, Toonz Animation India Pvt. Ltd., not only entertainment licensors, but : Reliance Entertainment and we look forward to significant manufacturing licensees as well membership growth in India as the from fashion to music to movies and Neeraj Roy: CEO, Hungama concept of licensing becomes better toys. Counterfeiting takes away rev- Tao Libao: Executive understood in this market. enue from the rightful IP owner Director, programming and and puts sub-par products into the scheduling, CCTV, China. What is LIMA's Indian strategy? marketplace that are detrimental to the life of a brand. Trend in Hollywood: Keep film critics out of preview Do not preview movies to critics he general feeling among to see ``300'' a movie featuring stopped showing movies for re- the decision makers in the a Scottish-accented Spartan war- view. Give your views on what T showbiz industry is that rior. This was poorly reviewed you think about this emerging movie critics (especially from the by critics. Other films like Norbit, trend. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's print medium stable) are out of Ghost Rider and Wild Hogs en- Eklavya got a minimum four touch with what the public joyed a good box office collec- stars from well-known critics wants. There is a clear discon- tions. Ghost Rider reported $156 praising the director than judg- nect between what critics view million in box office collections ing what it would mean for the and how the audience react. worldwide. Studios have audience. It bombed at the box Increasingly movies are office. It is time to cri- not even shown to critics tique the critics.Share prior to the release. Who your views on what you would have thought Critics are out of touch think about this emerg- Americans would spend ing trend at $70 million in three days with what the public wants [email protected]

4 pickle March 17-23, 2007 ● New Delhi● India Cannes Film Festival: 60 days to go for the 60th Edition India will have over 100 films Matured overseas distribution companies from India have chalked out neat plans to get the best out of Cannes Market INDIA IS ALL OCEAN 13 AT TO EACH HIS INSTANT SET FOR CANNES CANNES CINEMA ATTENTION The India preparation for the There is a big buzz in the film What will be special this year A world premiere at Cannes is Cannes Film Festival/Market is trade that Steven Soderbergh's at the Cannes Film Festival. an elegant and high profile way already begun. Over two dozen `Ocean's 13' will make its in- There will be a special screen- of kicking off a picture's global companies from India have al- ternational premiere at the ing on May 20 of "Chacun son release. The Stars get to walk ready strategised on what they Cannes Film Festival 2007, cinema," (To Each His Cinema) to the Red Carpet, lending a want to get out from the screening out of the competi- a feature consisting of three- film a cinematic pedigree-- that Cannes Film Market. tion section. The lead actors in minute shorts by 33 world- it may or may not deserve and Companies who are going with the film include George ranking directors to mark the ensure instant global coverage a clear focus include iDream Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt festival's 60th anniversary. on TV networks. It is a decent Productions, UTV, Adlabs, Damon, Al Pacino among oth- Festival president Gilles Jacob marketing boost to an estab- Studio 18, Shemaroo, Moser ers. This film is the third in- in the festival website has said lished brand. The festival, its Baer, Saregama, Sunstone, stallment from the stable of that ``it was a matter of re- name, logo and location WEG India among others. It is Soderbergh, following 'Ocean's uniting a group of creators - all (French Riveria across the most likely that Indian conti- 11' in 2001 and 'Ocean's 12' in universally famous - who rep- beach) enjoy instant world nent will have around 100 2004. Soderbergh, winner of resent both their countries and wide attention. The festival is movies to be targeted at the the best director Oscar for a proud conception of cinema, an annual tribune for interna- Cannes market. This year India 'Traffic' in 2000, had his 'Sex, for a stroll around a unique tional film, where all styles, is a spotlight country at the Lies and Videotape' winning the theme, springboard for their in- schools and genres have their Producers Network on May 22 prestigious Palme d'Or in 1989. spiration. Hailing from 5 conti- place, and whose enduring and the National Film He was also in the Cannes fes- nents and 25 different coun- goal is to serve the growth of Development Corporation is tival jury in the year 2003. This tries, these 33 directors will re- cinematographic art. working to take 6 to 10 pro- years line-up for the festival, veal, in 3 minutes each, their ducers with potential projects. which takes place from May current state of mind as in- 16-27 May, will be unveiled on spired by the motion-picture April 19. theatre.”

ADVT INDIA SPECIAL PRINT GUIDE @CANNES Reach out to film buyers at the Cannes Film Market Space Reservation: Seriously in the April 18, 2007 Advertisement Materials by business of making April 25, 2007 in Digital Format Indian Cinema Rates Sizes Front Cover Strip Rs 50,000 175mmX50mm GLOBAL Back Page Rs 30,000 195mm X 300 Inside front cover Rs 20,000 175mm X 280mm (booked) Page 2 Rs 20,000 175mm X280mm (booked) Inside back cover Rs 20,000 175mm X280mm Centre spread Rs 40,000 350mmX280mm For more details: Single Page Rs 15,000 175mmX280mm Half Page Rs 8,000 175mmX280mm [email protected]; www.picklemag.com

5 pickle March 17-23, 2007 ● New Delhi● India

MARKET INDICATORS PICKLE DIGEST Media & Entertainment Companies traded in the Bonbay Stock Exchange (value in Rs and crore) Finland woos Bollywood Company March 16 P/E Ratio Market Cap inland has invited Bollywood filmmakers to Fshoot on location in the country. Finpro head Adlabs Films 400.45 63.56 1594 Seppo Keranen said there is no need to pay Bag Films 30.3 75.75 182 any fee for shooting films in public locations in Balaji Telefilm 114.7 13.79 748 Finland. Finpro is keen to work with the Indian Cinevista India 20.9 -14.93 21 film industry and is in the process of convinc- Crest Animation 116.4 10.33 234 ing film directors to shoot films in scenic lo- Cyber Media 84.35 17.43 84 cales of Finland. The country offers 24-hour Deccan Chronicle - - - day light over two months and has preserved forest with over 200,000 lakes. Indian film- ETC Networks 49 10 74 makers will have a chance to meet Finnish film ENT Network India 310.05 77.71 1476 representatives at the first Indo Finnish Galaxy Entertainment 114.8 109.33 146 Business Meet - FIND 2007 - in Goa from April HT Media 187.1 15.75 4378 24 to 26 to network and connect to do joint Inox Leisure 105.85 36.13 635 business. India now has another destination to JagranPrakashan 375.25 54.31 1884 count in the European Market. K Sera Sera 16.45 3.75 32 Mid Day Multimedia 37.9 20.82 170 Moser Baer 290.6 3240 Mukta Arts 67.55 -28.15 153 Export council for showbiz NDTV 288.75 -269.86 1767 he Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has called Prime Focus 400.35 31.85 508 Tfor industry inputs to form an Export Promotion PVR 158.55 69.54 363 Council for the Indian Entertainment sector. Film & TV Pritish Nandy 50 13.02 53 Producers Guild of India is examining the issue with Pyramid Saimira 268.6 253.4 269 various industry representatives. The idea is to set up SAB 16.95 14.87 78.68 an EPC for the film and television sector. According to Sahara One 362.4 84.28 533 the guidelines, the EPC is to be constituted by at least Saregama India 180.5 35.39 570 50 per cent of the exporters representing at least 75 Shringar Cinema 51.05 -32.94 352 per cent of the value of exports of film industry in the previous year. Sun TV 1444.9 71.25 3034 TV 18 531.8 56.7 3084 TV Today Network 113.4 22.96 168 Moser Baer to make films UTV Software 295.35 12541 fter entering the home video market by offering Zee Entertainment 232.15 137.37 AVCDs and DVDs at Rs 28 and Rs 34, Moser Baer has stepped into producing movies. The company has an- nounced that it will produce 14 films. The first CONTACT INFORMATION two projects will be directed by Anthony D’ Souza and Samar Khan. The company is also rolling out 101 Hindi Send your letters, views, suggestions to film titles -- Baazigar, Khakhee, Aankhen, Vaastav, Biwi The Editor Designed by No.1, Ghayal, Betaab and Qurbani for the national aneeta.saha PICKLE @gmail.com market. It has already launched Tamil, and email: [email protected] film titles. Yash Chopra on CG he need of the hour for the Indian film industry is Make your ad Tcorporate governance, professional management and accountability. Industry veteran Yash Chopra said more powerful than the in Kolkatta recently that filmed entertainment compa- nies in India must corporatise must faster. While this Edit in the PICKLE will help fight the onslaught of Hollywood studios, good governance practice will strengthen the individ- Block space for the special Cannes ual company as well as the industry. He said the days of making one film in three years is an old practice. PICKLE print guide Yashraj films has recently announced that they would release five films this year. They have also made plans Write to: [email protected] to release eight films in 2008 and ten fillms in 2010. This thought through process is new to the industry. BY THE NUMBERS Exhibitors in Pakistan shut 300 theatres for a day last week to protest against film piracy. They want to screen Indian films (currently banned) or want the government to ban pirated copies of Bollywood films. Over 450 theatres got shut and lost biz in the last 25 years.

6