Friday, November 30, 2007

Hollywood sensation “Beowulf” Animator Joe Harkins




(Courtesy :fullsail,Florida,America)
Computer Animation grad Joe Harkins talks about his work at Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Computer Animation graduate Joe Harkins has built an impressive list of visual effects credits since starting in the visual effects industry in 2002, including such blockbuster films as 300, X-Men: The Last Stand, Hellboy, and The Matrix Revolutions. Having recently finished up his latest gig as Lead Character Technical Director on Beowulf at Sony Pictures Imageworks, Joe talked with us about his work on the film right as it was set to hit screens.The project was helmed by Robert Zemeckis, the director who behind 2004’s animated hit The Polar Express. Following up that film was no easy task, but the artists were able to push the quality and detail of the animation on Beowulf beyond expectations. Joe explained that he and the crew crafted the realistic animation by utilizing the latest in motion capture technology. “It is quite a fascinating process,” he says. “Sony’s Imagemotion has come a long way since The Polar Express, and we were able to achieve things on this project that could not have been done a few years ago. A focal point for the animators and artists were the eyes. They spent a great deal of time and effort trying to get the eyes to look alive. If you see this film and believe there is a person behind the eyes, the window into the soul, that to me is the most exciting prospect.”The Imagemotion process has breathed new life into the cassic story with the fluid movement it afforded the character models. Blending live action and animation, the images in Beowulf offer a depth that you don’t get from most animated films – and it didn’t take long into the development process before Joe knew he was working on something special. “Once I did an animation test of all of the work combined, that's when I really felt like this was something unique,” he says. “Once it was textured and lit, it looked very real. The body was extremely realistic and all of the modeling and rigging appeared to be paying off. I really like the sequence where Beowulf first meets Grendel's mother in her cave. I feel like the work we did on Beowulf's body really paid off here, and the subtle motions really help sell the performance.”After three years of work on Beowulf, Joe can’t wait for audiences to see what he and the team at Sony Pictures Imageworks have been doing. Consider yourself warned though, because you might end up fighting him for a place in line on opening day.“I love my job, and what I do, and I love seeing the movies I get to work on,” he says about the film’s release. “I really enjoy going to see them with an audience and listening to their reactions – I can't wait to hear what they think! That to me is the biggest reward. In the end, it's a very fulfilling process, even though sometimes it feels like your job is never done.”

All Time Greatest films in the World(5) :Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End








(Courtesy:disney.go.com)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is a 2007 adventure film, the third in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Gore Verbinski directed the film, as he did with the previous two. It was shot in two shoots during 2005 and 2006, the former simultaneously with the preceding film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.The plot follows the crew of the Black Pearl rescuing Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), from Davy Jones' Locker, and then preparing to fight the East India Trading Company, led by Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) and Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), who plan to extinguish piracy. The film was released in English-speaking countries on May 24, 2007 after Disney opted to move the release date to a day earlier than originally planned. Critical reviews were mixed, but At World's End was a box office hit, becoming the most successful film of the year.
Story and Plot point
Lord Cutler Beckett begins executing anyone associated with piracy and commands Davy Jones to destroy all pirate ships. To confront Beckett’s assault, the nine pirate lords making up the Brethren Court have been summoned to convene on Shipwreck Cove. However, Captain Jack Sparrow, pirate lord of the Caribbean, never appointed his successor, and therefore must be present. Captain Barbossa leads Will, Elizabeth, Tia Dalma and the Black Pearl crew to rescue Jack. Sao Feng, pirate lord of Singapore, possesses a map to World's End, the gateway to Davy Jones' Locker. Elizabeth and Barbossa attempt to bargain with Feng for the map and a ship, but Feng is furious that Will already attempted to steal it. The British Royal Navy, acting under orders from Beckett, suddenly attack Feng's bathhouse. During the ensuing chaos, Will strikes a bargain with Feng for the Black Pearl in exchange for Sparrow, whom Feng wants to turn over to Beckett, presumably in exchange for immunity from Davy Jones' attacks on pirates. Will wants the Black Pearl to rescue his father from the Flying Dutchman.The crew journey through a frozen sea and sail over an enormous waterfall into the Locker. Aboard the Pearl, Sparrow is suffering hallucinations about an entire crew comprising himself, each representing a different facet of his character. The Pearl is dragged to an ocean shore by crab-like creatures, and Jack is reunited with his old shipmates, though he is initially reluctant to rejoin a crew who, among them, include four people who had attempted to kill him in the past. As the Black Pearl crew seek an escape route, they see dead souls floating under the water. Tia Dalma reveals that Davy Jones was appointed by his lover, Calypso, goddess of the sea, to ferry the dead to the next world. In return, Jones was allowed to step upon land for one day every ten years to be with his love, but when she failed to meet him, the scorned captain abandoned his duty and transformed into a monster. Elizabeth sees her father, Governor Weatherby Swann's soul pass by in a boat; he was murdered by Beckett. A distraught Elizabeth vows revenge.The Black Pearl remains trapped in the Locker until Sparrow deciphers the map, realizing the ship must be capsized to return to the living world. They overturn the ship, and at sunset, upturn back into the living world. Upon their return, Sao Feng attacks, revealing his agreement with Will. But he betrays Will, having made a deal with Cutler Beckett to hand over the crew and keep the Black Pearl. Onboard Endeavor, Sparrow refuses to divulge to Beckett where the Brethren Court will convene. Beckett double-crosses Feng by keeping the Black Pearl for his armada, and in turn Feng gives Sparrow the ship back, while taking Elizabeth, whom he believes is Calypso. Aboard his warship, the Empress, Feng tells Elizabeth that it was the first Brethren Court who trapped Calypso into human form so they could control the seas. Feng is mortally wounded when Davy Jones attacks his ship. Before dying, he appoints Elizabeth his heir, making her captain and the pirate lord of Singapore. She and the crew are imprisoned in Flying Dutchman's brig. Also aboard is Admiral James Norringtow, who betrays Beckett and frees Elizabeth and her crew who escape back to their ship, although Norrington is killed when he is discovered by Bootstrap Bill.Will leaves a trail of corpses for Beckett's ship to follow. Sparrow catches him and tosses him overboard, but he first gives him his magical compass, apparently intending for Beckett to find them. Will is picked up by Beckett's ship, and it is revealed that it was Davy Jones who masterminded Calypso's imprisonment by the pirate lords. At Shipwreck Island, the nine pirate lords disagree over freeing Calypso. Barbossa calls upon Captain Teague Sparrow, Keeper of the Pirata Codex and Jack's father, to reveal that a Pirate King is needed to declare war. Elizabeth, newly ordained Pirate lord of Singapore, is elected "Pirate King" after Sparrow’s vote breaks a stalemate (during previous elections, each pirate lord voted only for himself/herself). She orders the pirates to fight Beckett. During a preceding parlay with Beckett and Jones, Elizabeth and Barbossa swap Sparrow for Will.Barbossa tricked the other pirate lords into giving him their insignias, which he needs to free Calypso, who is Tia Dalma. When Barbossa releases her in a ritual, her fury over Jones' betrayal unleashes a violent maelstrom just as the Navy's massive fleet appears on the horizon. During the battle, Sparrow escapes the Flying Dutchman with the Dead Man's Chest. As the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman face off near the centre of a massive whirlpool, Will proposes to Elizabeth. They insist Barbossa marry them as Jack is onboard the Flying Dutchman, and so unavailable to marry them as Captain of the Black Pearl. Barbossa agrees, marries them and continues fighting as they exchange vows and kiss in the ensuing chaos. When Davy Jones mortally wounds Will aboard his ship, Bootstrap Bill attacks Jones. Jack, who wanted the heart for his own immortality, places a knife in Will's hand and helps him stab Jones' heart, killing Jones and making Will the Flying Dutchman's captain. After Jack tears Elizabeth away from the seemingly dead body of her husband, they escape the Flying Dutchman from some quick thinking on Jack's part. The crew cut out Will's heart and place it into the "Dead Man's Chest": the crewmen regain their humanity, and Will and Sparrow captain the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl respectively to destroy Beckett's ship, the Endeavor, forcing the enemy fleet to retreat.Although Will has been saved and the Dutchman crew has regained their humanity, he must now spend the next ten years at sea. He and Elizabeth have one day together and consummate their marriage on an island before Will must leave for his new life. Will gives Elizabeth the "Dead Man's Chest" for safekeeping. Shortly after, Barbossa again commandeers the Black Pearl, stranding Jack and Gibbs in Tortuga. Having anticipated Barbossa's deception, however, Sparrow has already removed the map's middle that leads to the Fountain of Youth. In a post-credits scene set ten years later, Will appears on the horizon aboard the Flying Dutchman and is seen sailing towards land to meet Elizabeth and their adolescent child.
Box office Records and Reaction
Like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, At World's End received mixed reviews with the most common criticism of the film from reviewers was that the plot was too convoluted for them to follow. Drew McWeeny was an exception, praising its complexity as giving it repeat-viewing value, and its conclusion as "perhaps the most canny move it makes." Todd Gilchrist found the story too similar to other cinematic trilogies such as Star Wars but praised the production values. Brian Lowry felt that "unlike last year's bloated sequel, it at least possesses some semblance of a destination, making it slightly more coherent - if no less numbing during the protracted finale." Total Film praised the performances but complained that the twists and exposition made it hard to care for the characters. Edward Douglas liked the film but had issues with its pacing, while Blake Wright criticized the Davy Jones' Locker and Calypso segments. James Berardinelli found it the weakest of the trilogy as "the last hour offers adventure as rousing as anything provided in either of the previous installments... which doesn't account for the other 108 minutes of this gorged, self-indulgent, and uneven production." Peter Travers praised Richards and Rush but felt "there can indeed be too much of a good thing," regarding Depp's character. In review aggregate websites, At World's End has a "rotten" rating of 45% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50% at Metacritic.Favorable reviewer Alex Billington noted, "This is just how the film industry works nowadays; critics give bad opinions, the public usually has a differing opinion, and all is well in the world of Hollywood since the studios made their millions anyway." On May 24, 2007 the film earned US$58 million worldwide, and earned the fifth-biggest three-day opening yet, breaking the Memorial Day weekend record of X-Men: The Last Stand, with a domestic gross of $142 million. The addition of the Thursday screenings brought the opening total to $156 million. Elsewhere, it grossed $205 million, bringing the worldwide opening gross to $332 million. By June 13, 2007, the film had grossed $500 million overseas in 20 days, breaking Spider-Man 3's record for reaching that amount the fastest. The film has grossed $961 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing film of 2007, and the fifth-highest grossing film worldwide.
Srivenkat

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Pyramid Saimira plans IPO for content arm ...

Inimitable Growth continues…
Pyramid Saimira, a prominent pioneer in the entertainment arena has struck again with a big bang by embarking on western region. By acquiring dimples cine advertising it is building up a strong threshold in that region. Since bollywood is reckoning in terms of its growth in entertainment segment,to cash in on this growth trajectory a strategic alliance with dimples cine advertising is a preemptive approach.
DNA, one of the leading paper had come up with the report of Pyramid Saimira’s aggressive IPO plans to be executed in the month of December and had commended the initiative taken by Pyramid Saimira to strengthen its productions line, the report highly appreciated the efforts taken by Pyramid Saimira to synergies the TV content operation as well and take it to unimaginable levels at the earliest.
Pyramid Saimira plans IPO for content arm ...
(Nirmal John ,, Thursday, November 29, 2007 03:38 IST)
MUMBAI: Chennai-based Pyramid Saimira group is planning an IPO of its content production subsidiary Pyramid Saimira Productions, which is expected to raise around Rs 750 crore through this. The proceeds will then be invested to increase production of television content as well as for feature film production. P S Saminathan, MD, Pyramid Samira Theatre, said: “The papers for the IPO are being put together and we should be taking the next step in December.”
He added the company would be producing one multi-lingual film every year with a budget of Rs 150 crore. This film would then be distributed across various parts of the world in different languages. Announcement on the first such film is expected in January.
In terms of television content, the company, which currently produces around 2.5 hours of content daily will increase it to 24 hours of content eventually.
In a bid to expand its activities into Europe, the company is also planning to acquire a UK-based exhibitor through the leveraged buyout route. Saminathan indicated that talks were on for the transaction, which would possibly cost the company in the region of $100 million.
Pyramid is currently present in Malaysia, Singapore and the US besides India. It also has plans for a DVD rental chain, catering primarily to the Indian diaspora.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1136111

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Top 50 greatest Heroes vs Villains of all times

Famous archeologist Indiana Jones and Batman’s Joker have been named the greatest hero and greatest villain of all time respectively.The 50 best movie heroes and villains of all time have been revealed in alist, compiled by Total Film magazine writers.Harrison Ford’s portrayal of archaeologist Indiana Jones landed him the top spot on the Heroes list, with the Batman in second place and Sylvester Stallone’s gutsy boxer Rocky Balboa in third.
British spy James Bond bagged the fourth spot, while Superman made it to the fifth position, reports News.com.au.
Top of the villains list is Batman’s arch nemesis The Joker , whowas first played on the big screen by Cesar Romero in the 1966 film Batman: The Movie, and later taken on by Jack Nicholson.Star Wars villain Darth Vader came second in the list, closely followed by cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs. At the fourt place was chainsaw-wielding Leatherface of horror classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while the fifth spot went to creepy school gardener and dream-walker Freddy Krueger of Nightmare on Elm Street.
Others who made it to the top heroes list include the friendly neighbourhood Spiderman, the Bourne Identitys Jason Bourne, cyborg assassin The Terminator and Legally Blondes Elle Woods.The top villains list also features The Halloween series Michael Myers, Basic Instincts Catherine Tramell, The Godfathers Michael Corleone, Psychos Norman Bates and Reservoir Dogs Mr Blonde.
The top fifty heroes of all time are:
1 Indiana Jones 2 Batman 3 Rocky Balboa (Rocky) 4 James Bond 5 Superman 6 Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) 7 Spiderman 8 Neo (The Matrix) 9 Han Solo (Star Wars) 10 The Incredible Hulk/Bruce Banner 11 Donnie Darko 12 Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator) 13 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 14 Jason Bourne (The Bourne Identity) 15 Spartacus 16 Wolverine (X Men) 17 Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings) 18 George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life) 19 Philip Marlowe (Murder, My Sweet) 20 Mr Lee (Enter the Dragon) 21 Cherry Darling (Planet Terror) 22 John McClane (Die Hard) 23 Rick Deckard (Blade Runner) 24 Lassie 25 Dewey Finn (School of Rock) 26 Bree (Transamerica) 27 Mr Davis (12 Angry Men) 28 Thelma and Louise 29 Virgil Tibbs (In the Heat of the Night) 30 Optimus Prime (The Transformers: The Movie) 31 Clarice Starling (The Silence of the Lambs) 32 The Terminator 33 Ashitaka (Princess Mononoke) 34 Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) 35 Father Merrin (The Exorcist) 36 Rooster Cogburn (True Grit) 37 Kenji Watanabe (Ikiru) 38 The Tramp (City Lights) 39 The Man with No Name (A Fistful of Dollars) 40 Ellen Ripley (Alien) 41 Laurie Strode (Halloween) 42 Spongebob Squarepants 43 Rachel Stein/Ellis de Vries (Black Book) 44 Jefferson Smith (Mr Smith goes to Washington) 45 Sheriff John T Chance (Rio Bravo) 46 John Shaft 47 Sarah Connor (The Terminator) 48 David Dunn (Unbreakable) 49 Rick Blaine (Casablanca) 50 Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird).
The top fifty villains of all time are:
1 The Joker (Batman: The Movie) 2 Darth Vader (Star Wars) 3 Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) 4 Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) 5 Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) 6 Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) 7 Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men) 8 Michael Myers (The Halloween series) 9 Frank Booth (Blue Velvet) 10 Norman Bates (Psycho) 11 Bridget Gregory/Wendy Kroy (The Last Seduction) 12 Jason Vorhees (Friday the 13th series) 13 Saruman the White (The Lord of the Rings) 14 John Doe (Se7en) 15 Baby Jane Hudson (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?) 16 Peyton Flanders (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle) 17 Gordon Gekko (Wall Street) 18 Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction) 19 The White Witch (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe) 20 Captain Videl (Pan’s Labyrinth) 21 Annie Wilkes (Misery) 22 Tony Montana (Scarface) 23 Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct) 24 Michael Corleone (The Godfather) 25 Dr Christian Sezell (Marathon Man) 26 Reverend Harry Powell (The Night of the Hunter) 27 Ray (Nil by Mouth) 28 The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz) 29 John Ryder (The Hitcher) 30 Suzanna Stone Maretto (To Die For) 31 Combo (This is England) 32 General Zod (Superman) 33 Hans Gruber (Die Hard) 34 Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) 35 Ivan Drago (Rocky IV) 36 Daniel Cleaver (Bridget Jones Diary) 37 Verbal Klint/Keyser Soze (The Usual Suspects) 38 Lex Luthor (Superman) 39 Don (Sexy Beast) 40 Begbie (Trainspotting) 41 Phyllis Dietrichsonn (Double Indemnity) 42 Mr Blonde (Reservoir Dogs) 43 Dr Elsa Schneider (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) 44 Frank (Once Upon a Time in the West) 45 Max Cady (Cape Fear) 46 The Child Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) 47 The Truck (Duel) 48 Hans Beckert (M) 49 Mrs John Iselin (The Manchurian Candidate) 50 Mr Potter (It’s a Wonderful Life).

All Time Greatest films in the World(4): Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)






(Courtesy:guardian.co.uk)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, is a 2001 fantasy/adventure film based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Directed by Chris Columbus, it is the first in the popular Harry Potter films series. The story follows Harry Potter, a boy who discovers he is a wizard on his eleventh birthday, and is sent to the magic school Hogwarts. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The adult cast features Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman and Ian Hart.
Warner Bros. bought the film rights to the book in 1999. Production began in 2000, with Columbus being chosen from a short list of directors to create the film. Rowling insisted that the entire cast be British, in keeping with the cultural integrity of the book and the film. Rowling also approved the screenplay, written by Steve Kloves. The film shot primarily at Leavesden Film Studios, as well as historic buildings around the country, and was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on November 16, 2001. Along with mostly positive critical reception, it made in excess of US$976 million at the worldwide box office and received three Academy Award nominations. The second, third, fourth, and fifth books have also been adapted into successful films, with the sixth and seventh confirmed.
Story and Plot point
Harry Potter is seemingly an ordinary eleven-year-old boy, living with his ultra-conventional, insensitive, negligent relatives, the Dursleys. But his eleventh birthday, Harry learns from an enormous, mysterious stranger called Hagrid that he is actually a wizard, famous in the wizarding world for surviving an attempted murderous attack by the evil dark Lord Voldemort, when Harry was just a year-old infant. Voldemort killed Harry's parents, but was surprisingly unable to kill the baby, being nearly destroyed in the process and only leaving a lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead. Harry is invited to begin attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
In defiance of his aunt and uncle's wishes, Harry chooses to go to the school, where he begins to learn magic and make new friends, as well as enemies, among the Hogwarts students and staff. Harry learns that Voldemort has been in a state of near-death since the attack on Harry ten years earlier, but a plot is brewing for the dark lord to regain his power and strength through the acquisition of a Philosopher's Stone, which grants immortality to its owner. Harry and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, discover the plot and seek to prevent the theft of the stone, which is hidden in a protected chamber at Hogwarts.
Reaction and Box Office Records
The film received generally positive reviews from critics, garnering a 79% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a score of 64 out of 100 at Metacritic representing "generally favorable reviews". Roger Ebert called Philosopher's Stone "a classic," particularly praising the visual effects used for the Quidditch scenes. Praise which was shared by both The Telegraph and Empire reviewers, with Alan Morrison naming it the "stand-out sequence" of the film. Brian Linder of IGN.com also gave the film a positive review, comparing it closely to the book and concluding that it "isn't perfect, but for me it's a nice supplement to a book series that I love". Although criticising the final half-hour Jeanne Aufmuth stated that the film would "enchant even the most cynical of moviegoers." The sets, design, cinematography, effects and principal cast were all given praise from Kirk Honeycutt, although he deemed John Williams' score "a great clanging, banging music box that simply will not shut up." Jonathan Foreman recalled that the film was "remarkably faithful," to its literary counterpart as well as "consistently entertaining if overlong adapatation."
Richard Corliss of Time, considered the film a "by the numbers adaptation," criticizing the pace and the "charisma-free" lead actors. CNN's Paul Tatara found that Columbus and Kloves "are so careful to avoid offending anyone by excising a passage from the book, the so-called narrative is more like a jamboree inside Rowling's head." Ed Gonzalez wished that the film had been directed by Tim Burton, finding the cinematography "bland and muggy," and the majority of the film a "solidly dull celebration of dribbling goo."The film had its world premiere on November 4, 2001, in Leicester Square, London; with the cinema adapted to have a Hogwarts design. Harry Potter was greatly received at the box office. In the United States it made $33.3 million on its opening day, breaking the single day record previously held by Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. On Saturday, the second day of release, the film increased to $33.5 million breaking the record for biggest single day once again. In total it made $90.3 million during its first weekend, breaking the record for highest opening weekend of all time that was previously held by The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Harry Potter held the record until the following May when Spider-Man made $114.8 million in its opening weekend. Similar results were achieved across the world. In the United Kingdom it broke the record for the highest opening weekend ever, both including and excluding previews, making £16.3 million with and £9.8 million without previews. The film went on to make £66.1 million in the U.K. alone, making it the second highest-grossing film of all-time in that country, which it remains to this day.In total, the film earned $976.5 million at the worldwide box office, $317.6 million of that in the U.S. and $658.9 million elsewhere, which made it the second highest grossing film in history at the time, as well as the highest grossing of the year. As of 2007, it is the fourth highest-grossing film of all-time, behind Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
Awrds
The film received three Academy Award nominations: "Best Art Direction", "Best Costume Design", and "Best Original Score" for John Williams although it didn't win in any category. The film was also nominated for seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Robbie Coltrane. The film won a Saturn Award for its costumes and was nominated for eight more. It won other awards from the Casting Society of America and the Costume Designers Guild. It was nominated for the AFI Film Award for its special effects and the Art Directors Guild Award for its production design.

Article and Collection Srivenkat Bulemoni

Pyramid Saimira acquires Dimples Cine Advertising

Pyramid Saimira Impresses again…
Pyramid saimira has added another feather to its cap by acquiring dimples cine advertising, the news coverage of this acquisition appeared on the elitist of newspaper of India( The Economic Times). They have widely appreciated this acquisition. This report from them clearly indicates that pyramid saimira is emerging as a robust player in the entertainment and media industry and states that pyramid have positioned itself as a very big strategic player.
The Economic Times says as-
Pyramid Saimira acquires Dimples Cine Advertising
28 Nov, 2007, 1309 hrs IST, INDIATIMES NEWS NETWORK

MUMBAI: Pyramid Saimira Theatre has announced the strategic acquisition of Mumbai-based Dimples Cine Advertising and Dimples Cine Activations. Pyramid Saimira group has acquired 51 per cent stake for an undisclosed sum. The firm will continue to remain headquartered in Mumbai. "Through this acquisition, we aim to be a major media and advertisement vehicle in India," said PS Saminathan, managing director of Pyramid Saimira. Pyramid Saimira will roll-out a massive business plan for Dimples Cine Advertising and Dimples Cine Activations, through which Dimples will have access to 4,000 digitally targetable screens by 2010. Recently, Pyramid Saimira acquired Texas-based FunAsiA through subsidiary Pyramid Saimira Entertainment America. It also acquired an existing theatre and radio drive-time hours in Chicago and radiotime in Houston. At 12:36 pm, Pyramid Saimira Theatre shares were down 1.79 per cent at Rs 359 on BSE.

Lasting Impressions… (Part 1)

We meet a lot of people in our lives and get introduced to many different personalities. But only some create a lasting impression on our mind. Like wise when we read a book or watch a movie we get involved with the characters …. But only a few are unforgettable.

There are a certain characters that can never die, like the little brown mouse- Jerry and the frustrated cat -Tom , Alice,Cinderella, Humpty Dumpty, James bond, Spiderman ,Superman, Harrypotter, Charles Chaplin, Dracula. etc..

One cannot miss watching Tom and Jerry fight. Tom tries to eat the little mouse but in vain. The plot centers around Tom's frustrated attempts to catch Jerry. But,Tom rarely succeeds in catching Jerry, mainly because of Jerry's craftiness and cunning abilities, but sometimes because of Tom's own stupidity. Jerry also protects Tom's Prey such as ducks, canaries, or goldfish from being eaten. It's a silent cartoon with no dialogues but accompanied with music to bring out the mood and feeling of the characters. When we recall Jerry stuffing Tom's tail in a waffle iron, kicking him into a refrigerator, plugging his tail into an electric socket, it brings a smile on your face. Lately another gray little mouse foundy named Tuffy is another intersting character as he is constantly hungry. Cute !!

Did you know the creators of these interesting charecters ??
They are William Hanna and Joseph Barbera .

***
You must have heard of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in your bed time stories . She is a seven-year-old English girl with lots of imagination and is fond of showing off her knowledge. She is easily put off by abruptness and rudeness of others. She follows a rabbit and falls in to a whole and has fantastic adventures.
Did you know ??
The character of Alice is based on a real girl, called Alice Liddell, who was one of the author's child-friends.

***

Its not easy to make some one laugh! But Charlie Chaplin is the one who brought laughter to millions worldwide. He is thought of by many as the greatest comedian of all time.
He is considered to be one of the finest mimes and clowns ever caught on film and has greatly influenced performers in this field. Chaplin became one of the most famous actors as well as a notable director and musician in the early to mid Hollywood cinema era.The greatest part is that He directed and performed in his own films.


To be Contd...

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Red Carpet Film Ratings:For the week of November 28, 2007

Ratings for Movies Debuting in Theaters This Week
AWAKE :Rating-R
(for language, an intense disturbing situation, and brief drug use)

BADLAND:Rating-R
(for some strong disturbing violence and pervasive language)

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY :Rating-PG-13
(for nudity, sexual content and some language)

THE SAVAGES :Rating-R
(for some sexuality and language)

RATINGS GUIDE
G : GENERAL AUDIENCES (All Ages Admitted)
PG : PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED (Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children)
PG-13 : PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED (Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13)
R : RESTRICTED (Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian)
NC-17 : NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED

Srivenkat Bulemoni

Pyramid Saimira has purchased the Indian theatrical rights of Billa-2007

Billa 2007 is one the greatest remakes of all times. Ajith Kumar will play the role of Rajnikanth. The Director of the film is Vishnuvardhan and the Producer is Suresh Balaji. In the original Billa, Super star Rajnikanth played the lead role in the movie. In Billa 2007, Ajith Kumar replaces Rajnikanth in the roles of Billa and Raja. Nayantara and Namitha are doing the female lead roles in the film. Nayantara will do the role enacted by Sripriya while Namitha will do the role of Praveena.

Music is composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Prabhu plays a prominent role in the movie while Prakash Raj dons Major Sundar Rajan’s role in the original film. Mumaith Khan, the new item girl of Kollywood will be doing an item number.

The film’s release is slated on 12th December 2007 and it is expected to set the box office on fire. For more details www.billathemovie.com.

Cast: Ajith Kumar, Nayantara, Namitha, Prabhu, Prakash Raj.
Director: Vishnuvardhan
Producer: L. Suresh
Distribution: Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja