Showing posts with label No Time To Die. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No Time To Die. Show all posts
Give background score its due credit, say music composers
7:52 AM
After music composer Clinton Cerejo’s recent outburst over not being credited for his work in a film’s review, other composers join in and explain how background score truly makes or breaks a film and the people behind it must be credited and recognized
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; December 8, 2022)
Clinton Cerejo, who has composed the music for Kartik Aaryan’s latest OTT release, Freddy, recently shared on social media that his work was wrongly credited to someone else in the film’s reviews. Calling it out, the music composer said that it was not okay to attribute the background score to someone else and negate months of hard work done by the entire music department.
Speaking to Bombay Times, Clinton said, “My post was not intended to target any one individual. The point of the post was to highlight the larger problem where critics sometimes credit the person who has done one or two songs as the film’s scorer.”
Clinton said, “This doesn’t happen abroad. Billie Eilish composed the opening credits song in the Bond film No Time To Die, but was the music credit of the film given to her because of that? Of course not! The credit goes to Hans Zimmer, who has done the background score. He is the film’s composer. You cannot attribute the entire music credit of the whole film to someone who has just composed for a few minutes over someone who has done it for over 100 minutes.”
Clinton feels that most of the time, background scores are treated like the second cousin of songs in the Hindi film music industry. “Today everything is content-driven, and the musical element of a film is an essential part. The background score really pushes a film. People are realizing that when a film works, it works because of the sound. Of course, songs too are important when it comes to a film, but 50% of the film experience is the background score and the sound design. These are the elements that are there throughout the film,” he added.
Clinton is not the only one who feels strongly about the issue. A number of composers agree with him. We spoke to a few of them and here’s what they had to say:
IF YOU PULL OUT THE BACKGROUND SCORE, A FILM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAND AT ALL: AMAAL MALLIK
Composer-singer Amaal Mallik said, “If you pull out the songs, maybe the film can still survive, but if you pull out the background score, the film will not be able to stand at all! In Christopher Nolan’s Batman (The Dark Knight), if you remove the score (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Hans Zimmer, certain serious scenes may look comical. Everyone has both worked in synergy to create that intense soundscape and that’s what makes it great. You cannot disregard the musicians, the music team, the music supervisors, the sound engineers, the background score composers — all of us together make the sound of a film.”
BACKGROUND SCORE COMPOSERS SHOULD BE GIVEN MAIN CREDITS AND BE ON POSTERS TOO: SALIM MERCHANT
Salim Merchant, of the Salim-Sulaiman composer duo, who have been creating BG music since 1997and have worked in around 100 films, strongly feels that the BG scorers should be given due credit. “The background score of a film is actually the unseen character in the film. It plays quite an important role and it truly makes or breaks the film. So many times a film has succeeded because of the BGM, which helps build the story and take it ahead. It also helps in making the audience ‘feel the film’ in its true sense. It is important to give the BG score the main credit in the film. I also feel that it should be on the posters. In the West, the person who does the background score is credited first as music by so-and-so and after that credits for the songs are given. Background score is the heart of any film,” said Salim.
REVIEWERS DID NOT CREDIT ME FOR MY WORK IN BRAHMASTRA’S BG SCORE: PRITAM
Pritam, who worked on Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra Part One: Shiva for two years, is miffed at the way some film critics have wrongly credited Simon Franglen instead of him for the score. “Simon was
initially supposed to be a part of this, but that never happened eventually. We began working on the background music of the film in early 2019. I did the score, and he was in no way even remotely a part of the background score of Brahmastra. Yet, my name was not mentioned in many reviews, only his was. In fact, it was a long battle to get even Wikipedia to correct this mistake. They only corrected it recently,” he said.
COMPOSING SONGS AND COMPOSING BG SCORE ARE TWO DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES OF MUSIC: EHSAAN NOORANI
Songs and background score are very different from each other, say composers. There are technicalities involved while giving background music, which is not always the case in composing songs. Ehsaan Noorani explained, “I wouldn’t say that one is easier and the other isn’t because they both are completely different disciplines of music. For a background score, you need to be mature and very objective. You can’t use a piece just because you like it. The main thing about the background score is to see how it works with the scene. And at the same time, silences are important too. Also, one must make sure that the music in the film is changing. However, you must do it with such subtlety that it doesn’t overpower the film. The background score is incidental and yes, the film cannot do without it, but at the same time, it cannot be showcased so strongly that it will overtake it.”
Not just film shoots, Indian celeb weddings have also led to a spike in tourism in Italy
7:57 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; November 2, 2022)
Recently, the Embassy of Italy organized Italian Screens, a three-day film festival in several Indian metros, to present the best of Italian cinema to the country. The initiative was part “of a wider project of deepening cultural relations between Italy and India, to ensure a rapprochement with Bollywood and to stimulate meeting opportunities between producers, distributors and creatives of both countries”.
On the sidelines of the event, Roberto Stabile, Head of Special Projects of the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) at Cinecittà, Italy, spoke about the filmy ties between the two countries, and how desi movies and ads shot in Italy, as well as Indian celebrity weddings there, have not just deepened this relationship but also led to a spike in tourists in the region. Excerpts:
‘CINEMA, ADVERTISEMENTS AND EVEN CELEBRITY WEDDINGS HAVE LED TO RISE IN TOURISTS IN ITALIAN DESTINATIONS’
Talking about how ‘cinema is a powerful tool to promote culture, lifestyle, and above all, tourism’, Roberto Stabile says, “Thanks to certain local TV series or international blockbusters, off-track spots have become exquisite and precious touristic destinations. For example, in Europe, the Swiss Alps became very popular among Indian tourists. Sometimes, the place might not even have been that mesmerising, but it gained popularity just because it was the house of the main character of a series.”
He adds, “Our target is to attract international productions to locations lesser known to the general public, instead of the usual cultural destinations, that are already overcrowded with tourists, such as Rome, Venice and Florence. A very interesting case study for this is the most recent James Bond movie No Time To Die, which features 14-minute long breathtaking shots of Matera (south of Italy).”
“We have seen a hike in the number of visits of Indian tourists to places such as Tuscany or Milano, where movies or even commercials were shot”. Not just films and ads, Stabile says that “even Indian celeb weddings celebrated in Italy are a fantastic eye-catcher for tourism,” he further says.
STRENGTHENING TIES BETWEEN ITALIAN AND INDIAN FILM INDUSTRIES
He says that they plan to attract more Bollywood filmmakers to Italy, adding, “Very efficient services are being offered by the film commission. The regional funds and the tax credit policy supports up to 40% of foreign productions working in Italy. We plan to expand the trend and become one of the favourite destinations for Bollywood and Indian productions win general.”
Stabile adds that initiatives like Italian Screens are designed to promote the new Italian cinema in the huge Indian market, adding, “We will share with Indian distributors all the policies that the Italian government, through Cinecittà, offers to the distributors who buy Italian movies and screen them in Indian theatres. Not everybody is aware of the fact that, thanks to the Film Distribution Fund, we cover up to 30% of the costs of launch and distribution of the movie up to a maximum of 30,000 Euros (24 lakh, approx).”
With Italy and India having signed a co-production agreement, Stabile says, “We should constantly strengthen the exchange of information and knowledge among the creative directors and the producers. It is crucial to organize throughout the year a dialogue for authors and producers from both the countries.”
SOME CELEB WEDDINGS IN ITALY
> Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh
> Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli
> Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra
Among the most recent Indian films to be shot in Italy is the Prabhas and Pooja Hegde-starrer Radhe Shyam (2022), that was shot in Piedmont
The song Ghungroo from Hrithik Roshan-starrer War (2019) was shot at the Positano Beach on the Amalfi Coast in Italy
The 14-minute long sequence of Daniel Craig performing stunts in Matera (south Italy) in the James Bond film No Time To Die (2021) has cast a spotlight on the lesser-known region
(Crisp) Movie Review: NO TIME TO DIE by FENIL SETA
4:40 PM
No Time To Die is a fun-filled entertainer and despite being nearly 160 minutes long, it manages to engross viewers from start to finish. The introductory sequences are splendid and also the best part of the film. There are enough dramatic and action sequences to keep the interest going. The villain track, however, is weak and also towards the end, the film tends to drag. However, the finale is memorable. Daniel Craig is terrific and this performance is even more special as it's his last performance as James Bond. Léa Seydoux leaves a mark. Rami Malek is strictly okay. Lashana Lynch is too good and adds to the madness. Ana de Armas is stunning and rocks the show despite being there for just 10-15 minutes. Christoph Waltz doesn’t get much scope. Jeffrey Wright, Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory) and Ben Whishaw (Q) are dependable. All in all, No Time To Die is a well-made film and deserves the critical and commercial success that has come it's way.
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
We wanted PVR Maison to be like a seven star hotel, where people can come and rejuvenate-Gautam Dutta
8:21 AM
The special auditorium at the BKC property
As Maharashtra theatres reopen today, leading cinema chain chief discusses upping the ante to lure audiences; is confident that movie halls will co-exist with OTT
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 22, 2021)
Cinemas are finally back in action today. Where the exhibitors are heaving a sigh of relief, it’s not lost on them either that content alone will no longer be able to lure people back to the movies. Two days before the reopening of theatres in Maharashtra, we paid a visit to PVR’s new luxury property in Bandra Kurla Complex. With this endeavour, Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR, hopes to start a new concept in movie-viewing — one that he describes as “movie-cation”. What does that entail, you ask? Private screening rooms called The Loft, artisanal coffee, menus curated by chefs from five-star hotels, an elaborate sushi section, and vegan desserts handcrafted by Parisian patisseries.
Clearly, theatre owners are amping up their game to ensure they don’t lose out in the race against OTT platforms. But we’ll get to that later. When we begin our conversation with Dutta, the obvious question is: How did cinemas survive the past one-and-a-half years? “We knew we would bounce back. People had said movie halls will shut down when the Indian Premier League started, and when piracy [hit the industry]. Now they say the same because of the OTT [boom]. Over the past 18 months, we saw severe salary cuts, but we didn’t lay off people. We raised money through capital, equity and loans. Our leaders liquidated assets, but better days were bound to come,” states Dutta.
Many filmmakers expressed solidarity with exhibitors by holding off the release of their movies. The line-up ahead is impressive, with Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi, Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey, Ayushmann Khurrana’s Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Ranveer Singh’s '83 and many more awaiting their turn at the marquee. On their part, the theatre owners are pulling out new tricks from their bags.
“We’re no longer in the business of showing movies. We wanted this property to be like a seven-star hotel, where people can [come and rejuvenate].”
Pricing could be a matter of concern, at a time when the spending power of people is probably at an all-time low. He counters that, saying, “We will have schemes and introductory offers to lure people back. When we started gold class and recliners, people said nobody would pay for those. Even now, those are the first seats to go. Property investments essentially are for posterity. We have a long-term vision of expanding the experience.”
Four biggies are lined up for the first week — Daniel Craig’s No Time to Die, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Dune and Bellbottom. All eyes though are on Kumar’s cop caper that will hit the screens on Diwali. “The whole circuit will [hopefully] come alive, like the Punjab market did with Diljit Dosanjh’s Honsla Rakh. The market is registering better numbers than what it did pre-pandemic.”
The coming months will determine whether the measures will be enough to draw audiences, who are now accustomed to having movies only a click away. Surprisingly though, Dutta doesn’t view OTT entertainment as its competitor. “People who consume more OTT, consume more cinema. Data proves there is co-relation. We [function] as parallels, and not as one versus the other. That said, filmmakers want their movies to open on the big screen.”
Not long ago, some cinema chains were in conversation with Netflix and Amazon to bring OTT content to the big screen. “We felt we could host special screenings of pilots and finales. But to have 10-hour binge-athons felt too laborious. The length of the episodes is the roadblock. Hopefully, that will happen in the near future. Shershaah, after all, premiered at Chanakya in Delhi.”
Dutta is hopeful that the earlier routine of Fridays will return. Sharing an analogy, he says, “I put on weight every time I eat sweets. So I ask my wife not to bring sweets home. Movies are just like that box of sweets. Mithai ka dabba kholne ki deri hai.”
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 696
11:41 PM
CINEMA HALLS TO FINALLY OPEN IN MAHARASHTRA THIS FRIDAY!
The day is finally around the corner. Two days from now, on October 22, theatres will finally be allowed to resume operations in the crucial state of Maharashtra. We have spoken in this column about how the Maharashtra government has been quite unfair to the film industry. The state contributes nearly 30% of all India business. Hence, without Maharashtra, it was not practical to release a Hindi film. It was no surprise that only 3 major Bollywood films released post the second lockdown – Bellbottom, Chehre and Thalaivii. The first two announced the release dates with the hope that Maharashtra would open up by August 15.
What shocked many was that the cases have been declining steadily almost everywhere in Maharashtra since June. The same month, the government announced a very practical plan of starting theatres and other businesses in cities or districts with least positivity rate. As a result, cinema halls opened in some towns for a few weeks. But this plan was taken back after fears of Delta Plus. Meanwhile, from July onwards, theatres were allowed to open in several states. By mid-August, except for Maharashtra, Kerala and some minor states, cinemas were operational all over the country.
The industry sadly was too scared to openly speak about their anger. Nevertheless, they continued having meetings with the government. Finally, on September 25, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray agreed to open cinemas but from October 22. The industry was overjoyed. However, a few wondered why can’t the theatres start immediately. Also, there were fears that the government might push this date if the cases increase due to the festivals. Moreover, cinema hall owners were also worried that if the government doesn’t allow shows at night, then it can affect the business. The last bit worried the producers too.
But fortunately, the cases reduced instead of increasing. The government didn’t play any mischief and cinemas are opening on October 22 as scheduled. And earlier this week, it allowed restaurants to operate till 12 midnight and shops and malls till 11:00 pm. This made it clear that there’ll be no night curfew and that theatres can play night shows.
Since cinema halls were open in other states, a lot of Hollywood films were released and some of them even did well. Most of these films would make it to cinemas in Maharashtra from October 22. These include Venom: Let There Be Carnage, No Time To Die, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Free Guy and Jungle Cruise. Bellbottom, Chehre, Thalaivii and a small Hindi film starring Faisal Khan, Faactory, will arrive in cinemas too. Then regional films like Doctor (Tamil), Love Story (Telugu), Honsla Rakh (Punjabi) and Qismat 2 (Punjabi) would be screened in select multiplexes.
Two Hindi films would release tomorrow across India, and also in Maharashtra. One is Bhavai, starring Scam 1992 star Pratik Gandhi. It was earlier titled Raavan Leela but its title was changed due to protests. Despite this controversy and Pratik Gandhi’s presence, there’s no excitement. The other Hindi film is Babloo Bachelor, starring Sharman Joshi and Pooja Chopra. Its trailer was poor and it’ll sink without a trace.
Finally, two Hollywood films are also arriving in cinemas tomorrow. While The Last Duel would release across India, the much awaited film Dune would release everywhere except Maharashtra. This is because it won’t get sufficient IMAX and 4DX screens in the state as these screens will be taken over by films like Venom: Let There Be Carnage, No Time To Die and Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. Hence, Dune will be available in Maharashtra from October 29.
Hence, as one can see, there are plenty of options for cinemagoers from tomorrow. Most of the films sadly won’t get sufficient footfalls but a lot of hope is riding on Venom: Let There Be Carnage as it released just last week elsewhere and did great business.
Trade says Sooryavanshi will be litmus test of audience’s interest in flocking to halls
8:22 AM
Even as industry cheers about Maharashtra cinemas reopening on October 22, trade says Sooryavanshi will be litmus test of audience’s interest in flocking to halls
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 5, 2021)
Bollywood is abuzz with activity ahead of cinemas in Maharashtra reopening on October 22. Relieved filmmakers have started lining up their movies for their big-screen date, resulting in four to five releases each month. Despite the encouraging signs, trade analysts predict that theatres will face multiple challenges in the coming months. With the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cinemas in the state still unclear, it is heard that movie halls will initially open only for the fully vaccinated at 50 per cent occupancy.
Buzz in the trade circles is that the bigger hurdle will be reviving the consumers’ habit of going to cinemas, given the shift in behaviour pattern and the reduced spending power post the pandemic. On that count, all eyes are on Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi, which will be the litmus test to determine the audiences’ attitude.
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala explains, “Currently, releasing on the big screen is a matter of prestige rather than money. Producers [taking] the OTT route get a fixed profit, but with theatres, it’s a gamble. For the next three months, consumers won’t go for a movie every week. But there’s a big film every Friday. Some good movies will be affected. Films won’t be able to run for multiple weeks because of the [backlog]. After all these odds, one can’t be certain that the audience will show up.”
Sooryavanshi’s release will be followed by countless big-ticket movies, including Bunty Aur Babli 2, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, 83 and Jersey. Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi believes overcrowding isn’t a problem. “The only thing is that similar films shouldn’t clash. The Matrix [Resurrections] and '83 belong to different genres, so their clash is [not a cause of concern]. But Raksha Bandhan and Adipurush should avoid locking horns at the box-office.”
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Bond comes to Mumbai on Oct 22
While No Time to Die opened in theatres across India last Friday, Maharashtra cinemas will have a date with James Bond on October 22. Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says, “One would assume that the film will lose its charm three weeks later, but it’s tracking unusually high. Daniel Craig has amped up the action in his final film of the franchise, and people will flock to cinemas to watch it.”
The International box office comes alive thanks to No Time To Die and Venom: Let There Be Carnage
8:33 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
This weekend saw the box office come back in a big way across the world and its probably the biggest weekend since the pandemic as the audience came back in numbers in many countries. This weekend probably put an end to debate of cinema vs streaming which has been going on for months in the West.
The United Kingdom box office which was in the doldrums came back in a big way as NO TIME TO DIE grossed around £25 million making it the biggest grosser post pandemic in the market in just four days. The Bond franchise is the biggest for UK and all the major theatre chains needed the film to put up numbers and that is exactly what it did.
SKYFALL in 2012 had a £20 million weekend in three days. SPECTRE in 2015 grossed £21 million in its first four days which were Mon - Thu and £41 million over the seven day period which included the real Fri - Sun weekend. This film did £20 million over the Fri - Sun period. Basically the collections are comparable to the last two Bond films despite coming after the pandemic and that is more than good enough for the present time.
The film not only scored in UK but the rest of Europe bought excellent results as well be it Germany, Switzerland, Holland or Austria. Wherever it released in Northern Europe it was simply outstanding. It will be a weekend in the region of $120 million for NO TIME TO DIE in Overseas markets without China. The USA market will see a release next week.
North America also saw the best results post the pandemic as VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE hit a weekend of $90 million apprx. There have been a few good opening weekends in the US but the box office has been held back with increasing Covid-19 infections but now with cases dropping the box office should forge ahead.
Both these films - NO TIME TO DIE and VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE - have shown the importance of releasing films in the traditional way with theatres first and it will only get better from here as the pandemic becomes endemic across the world.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 693
3:51 PM
WILL NO TIME TO DIE COLLECT BETTER THAN SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS?
We have been reporting since July 2021 about the multiple Hollywood films that have been released in India after the second wave subsided. And now, the biggest Hollywood release of 2021 will be out tomorrow – No Time To Die. It’s the 25th James Bond film and stars Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux and Ana de Armas.
No Time To Die was supposed to release in April 2020 but was pushed to November 2020 due to the pandemic. Since cases didn’t subside by November, it was again postponed, this time to April 2, 2021. And finally, it will now be released in the United Kingdom, India and many other countries on September 30 and in the USA and Canada on October 8. The film carries tremendous buzz as the trailers have been exciting. Also, it’s the last film of Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond. This has made it even more special.
In India, too, there’s a lot of hype for No Time To Die, even among the masses who’ll consume the film in dubbed versions. Another special aspect of No Time To Die is that it’s the first Bond film to release in 3D! This would further pull audiences to cinemas. Many Hollywood films had a delayed release in India and hence were out on pirated websites. As a result, films like Fast & Furious 9, Jungle Cruise, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, etc could have collected far more but their business was not so encouraging since many viewers had already seen it in their homes.
However, the first release of September, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, had a release in India on the same day as in the rest of the world. Also, unlike other Disney films, it was not released simultaneously on digital. So, the pirated copy was not available on the day of release. Audiences had to go to cinemas to watch the film in all its glory. Skeptics had claimed that the collections would be affected as there’s a lot of fear over going to cinemas. But they had to eat their words as Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings opened at Rs. 3 crore in India, more than the day 1 collections of Akshay Kumar’s Bellbottom!
This shows that if there’s an exciting Hollywood film up for release and it's not available online, viewers would come to see it in cinemas for sure. James Bond is loved by both the youngsters and the older generation. Hence, its opening might be higher than that of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. In three days, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings had collected Rs. 10.75 crore and it remains to be seen if No Time To Die is able to cross this figure.
The other release of the week is Shiddat, which will premiere digitally on Friday, October 1. It stars Sunny Kaushal, Radhika Madan, Mohit Raina and Diana Penty and is directed by Jannat director Kunal Deshmukh. The trailer is decent and the soundtrack has some melodious songs. The awareness about the film is low but it can find an audience as it’s releasing on Disney+ Hotstar, which has the maximum subscribers. Mohit Raina’s presence will also help once it’s out. He was seen in Mumbai Diaries 26/11, a recently-released web series by Nikkhil Advani. Audiences loved him in the show and his fans and admirers would definitely check out Shiddat to see him.
Logjam at the box office in 2021?
8:29 AM
Even as a number of Hindi as well as Hollywood biggies shift to 2021 due to the pandemic, experts feel it will only ensure ‘a steady and robust flow’ of quality films
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 9, 2020)
It’s a given that 2020 has been nothing less than disastrous for movie exhibition business. But now that the year is nearing it’s end, 2021 may see a box- office logjam of sorts as all the films — Bollywood, Hollywood and others — that have moved to next year, besides the ones that were anyway set for a 2021 outing, will have back-to-back dates with the big screen.
From Bollywood, titles such as Sooryavanshi, '83, Maidaan, Jersey, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai and Laal Singh Chaddha among others have moved to 2021. Plus, a number of films such as Mumbai Saga, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Brahmastra, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Prithviraj, Shamshera and Bellbottom are either complete or nearing completion.
Experts, on their part, feel a “steady flow” will help the entire ecosystem. “The year 2021 will be a very exciting year as a number of big films will finally hit theatres, which, in turn, will contribute in bringing back people to theatres and, help theatres finally earn some revenue,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, adding that the “big films are the need of the hour” for theatres.
Not just Bollywood movies, a number of topline Hollywood biggies such as West Side Story, Mission: Impossible 7, The Suicide Squad, Top Gun: Maverick, Fast & Furious 9, Black Widow, A Quiet Place Part II, No Time To Die, Morbius and The French Dispatch among others also made their way towards 2021. “After a remarkably bad 2020, a steady and robust flow of quality movies next year can really help bring a lot of things back on track, which is the need of the hour for the entire exhibition sector,” says exhibitor-distribitor Akshaye Rathi.
But what about the logjam at the box office? “In a way, it will be a good problem to have after a disastrous 2020. So, exhibitors and distributors may not complain with the sheer variety,” says filmmaker Anees Bazmee, adding: “But I hope that the release windows can be worked out in a way that no one faces any loss.”
Industry experts are confident that release windows can be spaced out and “makers will do that”.
Adarsh says: “I am sure everyone will space out their releases instead of stepping onto each other’s shoes. Be it screens, footfalls or box-office, they can be divided for everyone’s benefit.”
For Rathi, spacing out a film’s release is directly proportional to a film’s revenue share. “I only hope that all the tentpole films space out their release dates by at least a week because we wouldn’t want a situation wherein two or three of them are out on a day, resulting in business getting divided,” he says.
No Christmas cheer at BO?
While Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has brought in some cheer to Indian box-office with opening weekend collections of ₹4.25 crore (it’s expected to make ₹10-12 crore in India), exhibitors -distribitors are surprised that no premium Hindi film has gone for the lucrative Christmas weekend. As of now, only Wonder Woman 1984 and Shakeela are slated for December 25 release. “Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production, Tuesdays And Fridays may come out on Christmas,” says a source.
No cinematic fireworks this Diwali?
8:16 AM
Biggies such as No Time To Die and Sooryavanshi have moved release dates. With no other mega release in sight, the lucrative festive period has no takers, as of now
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 7, 2020)
Traditionally, Diwali has been one of the most lucrative periods for Hindi film releases. But this year, the Indian box office may not see fireworks as no Hindi film – especially any biggie – is lined up to hit theatres around the ‘festival of lights.’ Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer Sooryavanshi, which was supposed to be the Diwali release, has moved to an unspecified date. Also, James Bond’s latest adventure, No Time To Die that was expected to hit screens around the festival has set an April 2021 date.
Technically speaking, the lucrative Diwali period is still up for grabs, as of now, and for a change, there are no clashes or promotional blitzkrieg. But industry insiders hope that “things will change in the coming days”. “Undoubtedly, a big film, starring top names, would have been ideal, especially since theatres are going to reopen after over six months,” admits exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi, adding that he understands “makers’ fears about enough footfalls or audiences’ participation” to their films.
At the same time, given that Diwali is still over a month away, experts are hoping for something to work out. “For example, I read a prominent exhibitor saying, ‘why can’t Laxmmi Bomb [releasing on an OTT platform on November 9] come out in theatres as well?’ So, let’s see. But one thing is for sure, that this year’s Diwali may be quite subdued. Coronavirus scare is still around, and people continue to be scared,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
For makers, the central government’s decision to reopen theatres has been a “great announcement” but they are still waiting for all the states also to be on the same page. “We are waiting for everyone [states] to open up. That’s why we felt that releasing Sooryavanshi [on Diwali] wasn’t practical. Assuming that all the theatres [in India] open on November 1, you still can’t release a big film with just 15 days’ promotion,” says Shibasish Sarkar, group CEO, Reliance Entertainment that has backed Sooryavanshi and '83.
Rathi, too, feels that once states such as Maharashtra and Delhi [states that contribute the most to a film’s revenues] open theatres, things will change. “Also, if nothing else, I expect some mid-segment Hindi films to come out on Diwali. Plus, some regional films are being dubbed in Hindi for a big release. Let’s see how things go,” he says. As of now, the only Hindi films that are likely to have a stint with theatres, this year, include Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer '83 and Kiara Advani’s Indoo Ki Jawani.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 617
10:40 AM
HOLLYWOOD FILMS GET PUSHED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
One of the first biggies of Hollywood of 2020 was going to be No Time To Die. It is the 25th film of the popular James Bond franchise and there was a lot of hype for it worldwide. The release date was set for April 10 in most markets and April 3 in India. But then the Coronavirus outbreak caused panic all around the planet. Hence, on March 4, the producers decided to postpone the film to November 12 in United Kingdom and November 25 in the USA. This decision led to shockwaves all over. While some feel it’s justified, many felt it was wrong to push the film by almost 6 months. After all, in the first week of March, the world had not woken up to the fact that this disease is going to cause madness like never before.
If this was not enough, the Fast & Furious 9 makers went a step ahead. This actioner was to release on May 22. In India, it was to clash with 2 other Eid releases – Radhe and Laxmmi Bomb. However on March 12, the makers announced that it has been postponed to, believe it or not, April 2, 2021! The message was clear – there’s fear that the outbreak will take a lot of months to subside.
In no time, other biggies to followed suit. The Marvel film Black Widow was to release on April 30 was pushed to November 6. On this day in November, The Eternals was to come and it was postponed to February 12, 2021. Mulan, which was scheduled to hit cinemas on March 27, will now arrive on July 24, 2020.
Talking of DC films, they were all set to present Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5. It is now scheduled for a release on August 14. The horror flick A Quiet Place Part II will now release on September 4, 2020 after initially being planned for a March 20 release.
Fans of Tom Cruise, meanwhile, would have to wait longer as Top Gun: Maverick is pushed from July 12, 2020 to December 23, 2020. Minions: The Rise of Gru, like Fast & Furious 9, was also pushed to 2021, from July 3, 2020 to July 2, 2021. Same goes for Jungle Cruise – from July 24, 2020, it has been pushed to July 30, 2021! Ghostbusters: Afterlife too got moved to 2021 but not by 1 full year. From July 10, 2020, it has been postponed to March 5, 2021. Similarly, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, which was to come on April 3, 2020 will now hit theatres on January 15, 2021. Meanwhile, Chirstopher Nolan’s highly awaited Tenet is scheduled for July 17, 2020 release. There has been no change in release plans of this thriller as of now.
Meanwhile, a few films have been moved to digital. Onward released on March 6 but after the outbreak grew bigger, it was released on the streaming platform Disney+. Artemis Fowl, meanwhile, will no longer come to cinemas. It’ll directly arrive on Disney+. Trolls World Tour had a very limited release in USA and has been released on OTT. The release of Kumail Nanjiani’s film The Lovebirds was cancelled and it’ll release directly on Netflix.
There are many more Hollywood movies which have also got postponed. The question in people’s minds is – will these films be able to adhere to the new release dates? Will there be a further postponement? Only time will tell.
We haven’t changed Sooryavanshi and '83's release date yet, but talks are on-Shibasish Sarkar
8:28 AM
While Hollywood has deferred releases and cancelled outdoor shoots, Bollywood is resorting to wait-and-watch strategy for upcoming films
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 12, 2020)
It has been a frantic few days at Rohit Shetty’s Andheri office. The filmmaker is currently juggling post-production of his upcoming Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi with meetings to decide its release date. The daily discussions are also attended by the actor, along with producer Karan Johar and Shibasish Sarkar, CEO, Reliance Entertainment.The team unveiled the trailer with a star-studded event on March 2, but is yet to release a new promo. while a song launch has been deferred. While the cop-drama is slated to arrive on March 24, Shibasish also has Kabir Khan’s Ranveer Singh-fronted ’83 coming out on April 10. There were plans of a trailer launch for the sports-drama on March 11, with the real and reel cricketers assembling at the MMRDA Grounds, which was cancelled recently.
Now, amid the globally intensifying Coronavirus scare—the confirmed number of cases in India reportedly touched 60 on Wednesday—buzz is, both the films could be postponed. “We haven’t changed the release dates yet, but talks are on as the situation is changing every few hours. We are unable to ascertain if the impact of Coronavirus is big enough to alter the releases,” Shibasish confides, adding that the makers are racing against time to take a call by the coming weekend. “I need to have the prints of Sooryavanshi ready for delivery in international markets by March 17; we don’t have much time.”Trade analyst Taran Adarsh attributes the dilemma surrounding the two films to the fear of public spaces in the outbreak’s aftermath. “Malls are not recording requisite footfalls; everyone is fearful of catching the infection. Besides India, the scare is likely to impact numbers abroad. The US, UK, Europe, Australia, UAE-GCC and New Zealand are big markets for Hindi films,” he explains.
He goes on to state that a delay in Sooryavanshi’s release could set off a chain reaction for Bollywood’s summer outings. “Postponing a film is expensive, particularly for a film like Sooryavanshi; its release date is plastered all over the country on hoardings. Moreover, changing the date would mean a massive overhaul in the schedule of the films that are to follow it in theatres,” Taran reasons, pointing out that Akshay, who has Laxmmi Bomb slated for Eid, would want considerable gap between the two films.However, Rajasthan-based exhibitor Raj Bansal urges filmmakers to delay their releases without wasting more time. “Baaghi 3’s collections was affected by 10 to 15 per cent. Since diagnosed cases are on the rise, there is a possibility of the outbreak making a bigger dent in the coming days. The big films should not risk it,” he reasons. While Shibasish agrees with the magnitude of the impact, he would still like to wait and watch.
Another trade analyst, Amod Mehra, insists that the Tiger Shroff-starrer Baaghi 3 has done decent business for its genre and that the scare has not affected the industry. “There is nothing to worry about, at least in India. However, since Sooryavanshi is a big film, it might lose Rs 30 crore in international markets,” he agrees, adding that the exhibitors stand to suffer the most if film releases are delayed. “The producers incur losses when interest on the loan mounts with the delay, in addition to marketing expenses. But exhibitors lose all the business if a film doesn’t open,” he points out. Are theatre owners taking steps to keep their premises coronavirus-free? “Nothing can be done. We can’t provide masks. The least we can do is clean the seats with Dettol after every show. But even that’s a costly and tedious task,” Bansal says.
In Kerala, cinema halls have been ordered to remain shut till March 31. By trade expert Sreedhar Pillai’s estimate, this could set the Malayalam industry back by Rs 100 crore. “If Sooryavanshi arrives on March 24, it will stand to lose approximately Rs 2 crore as Kerala is a small market for Hindi films,” he informs, adding that the bigger worry for the state would be Priyadarshan’s magnum opus, the Mohanlal-starrer Marakkar - The Lion of The Arabian Sea, which has been indefinitely postponed from its original release date of March 26.
According to Bansal, this could be a silver lining for smaller films. “They normally lose money due to competition but here, the situation could result in a successful solo run for them.”
While Bollywood mulls the fate of its upcoming releases, the release date of the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, has been deferred from April to November this year. More recently, the Italy schedule of Tom Cruise’s seventh Mission Impossible film was cancelled. According to a source, except for Salman Khan’s Radhe which is sticking to its Eid date, the other A-list summer films, including Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Coolie No 1 and Laxmmi Bomb are waiting for the Sooryavanshi and ’83 makers to finalise their release dates for more clarity on the boxoffice calendar.
At the time of going to press, the Sooryavanshi team was in a closed door meeting to debating the issue. Earlier in the evening, Mumbai had reported its first two cases (out of 10 in the state).
Sooryavanshi, '83's release date to be pushed as Coronavirus cases rise in India?
8:01 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 11, 2020)
Only last week, the makers of No Time To Die announced that the film's release was being pushed from April 10 to November, in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. Like James Bond, the bigwigs of Bollywood too are apparently rethinking the release dates of upcoming films — including Sooryavanshi and 83 — to avoid losses.
mid-day has learnt that Akshay Kumar, filmmaker Rohit Shetty and the head honchos of Reliance Entertainment are expected to meet later this week to decide if the release of Sooryavanshi, that was to hit the marquee on March 24, should be postponed. A source informs, "Rohit Shetty's last offering, Simmba, had opened at approximately Rs 20.7 crore. But the tracking shows that Sooryavanshi may open at a lower figure. It is obvious that the projection has dipped due to the ongoing COVID-19 scare. More importantly, Maharashtra is an important centre for Hindi films, and with new cases in Nashik and Pune, the footfalls are bound to drop in the coming days. So, they are toying with the idea of delaying the release by a few weeks."
With 12 coronavirus cases in Kerala, the government has announced that theatres across the state will remain shut until March 31. If the move is replicated in other states, more and more films will have to rework their release dates. Sources suggest that Ranveer Singh's '83 is already looking at an alternative. "The trailer launch, which was originally scheduled to take place today, has been moved to a later date. It's possible that '83 will release post IPL in the first week of June. Karan Johar's production Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl too may be pushed from its April 24 date."
Trade analyst Amod Mehra believes that the possible postponing of films may have an adverse effect on theatres. "Rumours are rife that both Sooryavanshi and '83 will be pushed ahead. Right now, it's a wait-and-watch scenario. If they are indeed delayed, the theatres will be affected; the movies won't suffer."
Dharma Productions, Reliance Entertainment, Kabir Khan and Rohit Shetty refused to comment for this report.
#Coronascare: Virus outbreak hits global film industry
8:33 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (March 5, 2020)
With over 91,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths, the effects of the coronavirus are now being seen worldwide. The virus has affected not just tourism, education and work life, but even the film industry. China, where the virus first broke out, is the second-largest moviegoing market, and it plunged by nearly $2 billion as compared to January and February 2019. Last year, the country’s box office hit a record $9.2 billion, more than 20% of worldwide revenues. This year, the key holiday period (from January 24 to February 12), generated just $3.94 million in sales, compared to the $1.76 billion last year, according to Artisan Gateway, a consultancy that follows the Chinese film industry.
According to a report by a Hollywood magazine, the global film industry is facing a $5 billion loss amid the coronavirus outbreak. The virus has impacted moviegoers of China, Japan (the third-largest moviegoing market) and South Korea (the fifth-largest moviegoing market). In February, revenue in South Korea slid nearly 70%. According to KOBIS, South Korea’s national box office service, ticket sales for last month totalled $52 million, as compared to the $158 million over the same period last year. In Japan, while official data has not yet been released, local analysts are expecting a slide of around 10-15%.
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