Firoz Nadiadwala to set-up state of the art film studio near Pune

Firoz Nadiadwala is certainly one of the most lavish producers in tinsel town. After producing several hit films, Firoz now plans to open a state of the art film studio on the outskirts of Pune.

To be called Nadiadwala Entertainment Technology (NET), the studio will be built on a 460 acre property and would also feature other amenities like a 3 star hotel, a 5 star hotel and a convention centre. This dream project of Firoz Nadiadwala is expected to cost over Rs.1000 crores.

Must say the film industry is surely going to get a boost if producer Firoz Nadiadwala’s dream project materialises.

Disney bringing Miss Marple to big screen

LOS ANGELES: Agatha Christie’s elderly detective Miss Marple is getting the big-screen treatment from Disney.

After months of negotiations, the studio has closed a deal to capture the movie rights to the character, who first appeared in print in 1927.

Disney is not making a period movie, however, but is looking do a contemporary version with an edge. It has commissioned a script from Mark Frost, who is best known for co-creating the landmark TV series “Twin Peaks” with David Lynch.

Jane Marple was one of Christie’s most famous creations, a sweet old lady with a deep understanding of the dark side of human nature.

The character first appeared on screen in 1961 in “Murder, She said,” portrayed by Dame Margaret Rutherford, who was 70 at the time and went on to reprise the role in three other films with a comedic bent.

Springboard Films to release animated feature Ashoka – The Hero

Its animated festival season!

As we all set to get started with a brimming list of Bollywood movies in the year 2011, here is one thing which will give some bliss to the Indian animation lovers.

Mumbai based animation house Illusion Interactive is all set to release its first animated feature Ashoka – The Hero on 7th of January 2011. To be distributed theatrically by PVR Pictures’ Springboard Films, the film is made in 2D with few portions in CG.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Gaurav Jain, CEO of Illusion Interactive, shared, “Kids in India are exposed to a great deal of western animation. Ashoka – The Hero is our attempt to give them an indigenous superhero that is as action oriented and interesting as any of their western counterparts. Our intention is to give the audience a film that will not only keep them entertained but also give them a positive message”

The film is made at a budget of Rs. 2.5 Cr and is being released with 50 prints. Talking about the merchandising and licensing plans, Gaurav shared, “We have created a line of merchandise which include mugs, small cricket bats, bags which are being distributed at our promotional events being held in metropolitans”

The film is the story of a young boy Ashoka who wants to grow up and help others. His inspiration is his father, a policeman who died in the line of duty. Ashoka finds a powerful medallion created by the Emperor Asoka after the war of Kalinga to protect mankind from self destruction and evil. On obtaining these powers he becomes a super hero and must learn to use his powers and help others. How he fights off the corruption of power and saves the city from destruction is what the rest of the film is all about.

Illusion Interactive is an independent animation studio based out of Mumbai with core strengths in concept development and production. Over the years, the studio has worked on numerous shorts, created episodic content for others as well as worked with international advertising agencies and internet portals. Ashoka – The Hero is the first feature to come out from the studio’s kitty.

Studio 18 has a slew of projects lined up

Studio 18 was once an active player, but the corporate entity, which was associated with several big-budget and talked-about films and also top notch names,

took a backseat some time back. But Studio 18 is all set to bounce back with renewed enthusiasm.

To start with, the company has started a film with Abbas-Mustan called PLAYERS, which happens to be an official remake of THE ITALIAN JOB. The first shooting

schedule of this multi-starrer concluded in Goa recently. In the meantime, Studio 18 has joined hands with A.B. Corp to co-produce BUDDAH, which will star

Big B in the central role. Puri Jagannath, a leading director of South, will direct this film.

There’s a multiple film deal with Anurag Kashyap: Two low cost films, SHAITAN directed by Bijoy Nambiar and MICHAEL directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, and an

expensive film GANGS OF WASSEYPUR directed by Anurag Kashyap himself. In fact, GANGS OF WASSEYPUR will be made in two parts and is being filmed at one

stretch in the Hindi heartland. GANGS OF WASSEYPUR will have 9 songs in each part music is composed by Sneha Khanvilkar.

Studio 18 is also producing the official remake of CHASHME BUDDOOR, which will be directed by David Dhawan. The script has been locked and the casting is

under finalization. It is expected to start in April/May 2011. Besides the above-mentioned projects, Studio 18 is also developing several projects

in-house.

Child mortality rates up in Africa

NAIROBI: Ten African countries have halved their poverty rates over the last two decades, but child mortality rates have increased in six sub-Saharan nations, a report on the U.

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Child mortality rates up in Africa

Orlando Bloom to marry model Miranda Kerr

SYDNEY: Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr is set to marry her Hollywood leading man, Orlando Bloom, the couple’s publicists told media on Tuesday.

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Orlando Bloom to marry model Miranda Kerr

Lady Gaga says has finished new album

LONDON: U.

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Lady Gaga says has finished new album

Johnny Depp off for more adventures in Pirates

LOS ANGELES: In the next Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp’s seafaring character Jack Sparrow will face a woman from his past and board another buccaneer’s ship, the studio behind the film said on Monday.

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Johnny Depp off for more adventures in Pirates

Sandeep Bhargava resigns from Indian Film Company

Sandeep Bhargava has resigned from the advisory post of The Indian Film Company. His last day will be 30th June, 2010. Sandeep embarked on an extremely challenging journey in mid-2006 to give birth to a new company, Studio 18. His first and foremost challenge was to hand-pick key talents from varied backgrounds and to put together a group of professionals who were later recognized by the industry as one of the most formidable teams in film business.

Within one year of its operation, not only was the company listed on London Stock Exchange and raised 55 million pounds as The Indian Film Company, but had also established as a prolific film studio. The rise of Studio 18 under the leadership of Sandeep Bhargava is considered one of the quickest cases of a full-fledged studio starting, consolidating and reaching business leadership stage in motion picture business, which is one of the toughest for new companies given its unique character.

During his tenure as a CEO, The Indian Film Company & Studio 18 gave iconic successes like JAB WE MET, WELCOME, GOLMAAL RETURNS, SINGH IS KINNG and GHAJINI. Two films from Studio 18′s portfolio with debutant directors, Sooni Taraporwala’s LITTLE ZIZOU and Amrit Sagar’s 1971, got critical recognition and received National Awards.

Sandeep pioneered the model of syndication of content for televised viewing as well as limited music rights. Both these have changed the rules of the business as far as sales of satellite and music rights are concerned. Sandeep not only set up the India operations of Studio 18, but also put together international talent and offices. He worked very closely with international directors like Mira Nair, Gurinder Chadha and Dev Benegal for projects that targeted international markets.

After 13 years of extensive advertising experience, Sandeep joined entertainment industry in 2003. Previous to Indian Films, Sandeep worked as COO with Sahara One Motion Pictures and UTV.

anita baker

Multi-platinum Grammy Award winning R&B singer Anita Baker to perform National Anthem at the NBA finals on Thursday, June 10 . Anita Baker currently in the studio recording new album

Multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning R&B legend Anita Baker will perform the National Anthem in front of a global audience on Thursday, June 10, 2010 prior to Game 4 of The Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

The performance will be televised live on ABC in the U.S. and to a worldwide audience in 215 countries and territories beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Anita Baker is currently in the studio recording her forthcoming album due out in the Fall. Baker will be producing the album with Nathan East, Daniel Moore, George Duke and others.

The album will include collaboration with Snoop Dogg on a “big, lush” version of Curtis Mayfield’s Give You My Love that she promises “is going to raise eyebrows.” The rest of the album will be original material.

Anita Baker was born in Detroit, Michigan and started singing in church and later in groups throughout Detroit, before landing a gig with Chapter 8, with whom she had the hit I Just Wanna Be Your Girl in the early 80s. Anita later went solo and recorded the classic collection The Songstress (Angel, and No More Tears) before finding her way to Elektra Entertainment and a decade-long collaboration that birthed such completely perfected projects as Rapture, Giving You The Best That I Got, Compositions, and The Rhythm Of Love, and honing a powerhouse songbook that includes such masterpieces as Watch Your Step, Been So Long, Lead Me Into Love, Talk To Me, Body and Soul and I Apologize.

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