Showing posts with label The Apprentice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Apprentice. Show all posts
Oscar-nominated films pull audiences to cinemas
9:25 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; March 1, 2025)
It’s Oscar season, and cinemas are rolling out releases and re-releases of nominated films. Recently, a screening of Conclave sold out, and most of its shows are pulling in audiences. Last year, Anatomy Of A Fall (Best Original Screenplay) also drew large crowds. There was a time when Oscar-nominated films weren’t widely available in India, but that’s changed. Now, these films are available in cinemas, and some are also available on streaming platforms. However, most films released during Oscar week see increased footfalls in cinemas. Exhibitors say that the market for foreign films in India has grown, which is why they are able to secure more foreign films for theatrical releases. We spoke to cinema experts to understand how Oscar season releases work in cinemas.
‘Films that haven’t released on OTT attract the highest footfalls in cinemas’
Girish Johar, producer and cinema business analyst, says, “A major reason these films get the kind of occupancy they do is that movie buffs prefer the big screen over home viewing. Unlike regular Hindi films, where moviegoers often wait for them to arrive on streaming, award-season favourites drive people to theatres.”
Raj Bansal, exhibitor and cinema business expert, agrees, “It goes without saying that films that haven’t released on any platform tend to attract the highest footfalls in cinemas due to the FOMO factor.”
‘Foreign film market has grown in India, but some films get stuck at the CBFC’
Exhibitors say that the market for foreign films in India has grown, which is why they are able to secure more foreign films for theatrical releases.
Sanjeev Bijli, Executive Director of a cinema chain, says, “Last year, Anatomy Of A Fall and The Zone Of Interest, which were among the top 10 Oscar nominees, were released. This year, two foreign films, Emilia Pérez and I'm Still Here, are set for release. Foreign production houses definitely see India as a growing market. However, sometimes these films get stuck because of censorship. One year, The Favourite got stuck because of censorship and never got released. This year, Anora, a frontrunner for Best Picture, which was to be released in India is facing the same problem and could not get a release date. The Apprentice, which had already been acquired for release in India, also got stuck due to censorship.”
He elaborates, “Distributors are willing to take the risk and release these films in India during the Oscar buzz as it leads to some business. We tried a lot with The Apprentice, as Sebastian Stan has also been nominated in the Best Actor category. But it’s unfortunate that the censor board insisted on cuts. In such cases, the producer or director sometimes refuse to release the film with those cuts because it compromises their narrative and creativity.”
‘Access to news from BAFTA, Golden Globes fuels the appetite of Indian moviegoers to watch these films on the big screen’
Earlier, these films were not available to Indian audiences. In the last 10-12 years, Oscar-nominated films have become available for theatrical release. The availability of these films has increased, and the audience has become more evolved in their tastes, say exhibitors. Sanjeev Bijli says, “The award season buzz, which kicks off in November with the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and BAFTAs, has become very newsy. I think access to all that news has fuelled the appetite of Indian moviegoers to watch these films on the big screen.”
Exhibitors say that by and large, most films released and re-released during Oscar season attract audiences from all age groups. This year, films such as The Brutalist, Conclave, and A Complete Unknown are expected to appeal more to an older audience.
‘A movie ticket costs less than video-on-demand’
Exhibitors say the demand for Oscar-nominated films has grown so significantly that cinemas now schedule screenings in Tier-II and Tier-III cities also, and not just in metros. Yogesh Raizada, Director of a cinema chain, explains, “The response to Oscar-nominated films has grown over the years. When streaming services were not widely available in India, people would go to websites to watch pirated versions of Oscar nominees, so the interest has always been there.”
A senior programmer of a cinema chain adds, “Some of these Oscar-nominated films are available on streaming, but not everyone has subscriptions to five or six streaming platforms. Plus, some platforms have a model of video-on-demand model, where you must pay additional Rs. 200-500 for a film. A movie ticket costs less. So, beyond the two or three films available on widely accessible platforms, there is an audience that eagerly waits for Oscar season releases.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: THE APPRENTICE by FENIL SETA
10:38 PM
The Apprentice is based on a young Donald Trump and his relationship with his lawyer, Roy Cohn. The film seems to be made in the 1970s and 80s, which is also the period shown in the film. Certain films have tried doing this but Ali Abbasi succeeds on this front and how. The treatment and the madness shown in the film also remind one of The Wolf Of Wall Street. The film moves at a great pace and several scenes stand out. However, a few scenes are too quick and the makers don’t show certain aspects of Trump’s life which would have added to the principal plot. The absence of subtitles is also a problem. Sebastian Stan, however, rocks the show as Donald Trump. Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn is also too good. There are times viewers would miss him when he’s not on screen. Both deserve to be nominated for the Oscars. Maria Bakalova (Ivana) leaves a huge mark. Charlie Carrick (Fred Trump Jr; Donald's brother) and Martin Donovan (Trump’s father) do well. Catherine McNally (Mary Anne Trump) is okay and she overacts in a crucial scene. All in all, The Apprentice is a must-watch film and comes at an apt time when the USA elections are just around the corner.
My rating - **** out of 5!
My rating - **** out of 5!
Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice gets stuck with Censor Board for this reason
8:22 AM
The Apprentice’s India release pushed after filmmaker Ali Abbasi refuses to comply with CBFC’s cuts, which include removing nudity and reducing non-consensual sex scene
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 18, 2024)
First Monkey Man, then Punjab ’95, and Emergency—in each instance, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has pulled out its scissors, much to the dismay of the concerned filmmakers. Now, another movie has been subjected to the CBFC’s snip-happy attitude. Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice, which was scheduled to hit Indian theatres today, has been postponed. It is heard that the filmmaker, known for his uncompromising stance on creative integrity, has refused to comply with the censor board’s recommended cuts.
With Sebastian Stan playing Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong, his lawyer Roy Cohn, the biopic chronicles the former US President’s early years as a real-estate mogul. It opened in US cinemas on October 11, while its India release hangs in the balance. So, which scenes in the biopic are in contention? A source from the CBFC shared the details, stating that the suggested snips make it a 122.42-minute affair.
“The cuts weren’t drastic. The CBFC requested for the deletion of nude scenes wherever they appear in the film. This was more than a minute-long content. What upset the director was the CBFC’s request that the scene, which depicts Trump having non-consensual sex with [then] wife Ivana Trump, be reduced by 75 per cent. The board members also asked the studio to provide the source from where this information has been obtained. Abbasi and the studio countered that the scene has been put for a reason and not with the objective of titillation. The filmmaker, through his representatives, made it known that reducing the sequence takes away its impact altogether. The word ‘Negro’ was also instructed to be dropped, while the standard disclaimers in drinking and smoking scenes were asked to be added.” Examining officer Govind Mishra had presided over the CBFC viewing.
PVR Inox Pictures has partnered with the makers to bring The Apprentice to India. A source from the studio revealed that the film now stands indefinitely pushed.
“Making cuts to the film is something Abbasi ethically stands against. We thought we could probably negotiate and release it a little later, but there is no scope for it. He believes that these cuts would diminish the impact of his work. He would rather halt the India release than agree to them,” said a source.
mid-day texted Abbasi, who did not respond till press time.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 852
10:14 PM
DRY WEEK AHEAD AS LAST WEEK’S FILMS FLOP
A lot was expected from the Dussehra releases, namely Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video and Jigra. Sadly, both had a negative word of mouth. As predicted, Jigra opened at Rs. 4.50 crores and jumped to Rs. 6.50 crores on Saturday. But that was due to the Dussehra holiday and on Sunday, it dropped to Rs. 5.50 crores. It rang alarm bells as a Sunday drop is a very bad sign. Jigra is expected to collect around Rs. 22 crores in its first week and despite an open run, it’ll not even cross the Rs. 30 crores mark.
Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video was expected to open around Rs. 6-7 crores but it opened at just Rs. 5.50 crores. Just like Jigra, it saw a jump on Saturday (Rs. 6.75 crores) and then on dropped on Sunday (Rs. 5.75 crores). The reports were negative and surprisingly, it didn’t perform in certain mass belts though it is a mainstream comedy. The only plus for the film is that it did better than Jigra and would end up collecting around Rs. 35-37 crores.
This week was going to see the release of the classic animation film, Ramayana: The Legend Of Prince Rama. It would have got an audience but sadly, its release got postponed. The re-releases would once again take centre stage. The biggest of them is Singham followed by Khosla Ka Ghosla and Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. The first two might get some audience. There are zero hopes from Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari. This is because there’s no recall value or popularity though it’s a lovely entertainer.
As for Hollywood, a film named The Apprentice, based on Donald Trump, was all set to be released. But its release got delayed after the makers refused to accept the Censor cuts. The biggest Hollywood film of the week is The Wild Robot. It was released in North America on October 4 and has received a humongous response. It now remains to be seen if it manages to bring some respite at the box office in India.
The other new releases from Bollywood and Hollywood are Aayushmati Geeta Matric Pass, Settlement and Goodrich. All these films will sink without a trace.
The Apprentice's online promotions stalled as Meta flags Donald Trump biopic for election messaging
8:26 AM
The Apprentice’s online promotions hit as Meta blocks Trump biopic’s reels; platforms designed to curb any content that it views as election-related messaging
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 5, 2024)
An aggressive online promotional plan was charted out for The Apprentice, leading up to its October 18 release in India. But, with two weeks to go, the marketing team has encountered an unexpected hurdle. The biopic, which sees Sebastian Stan step into the shoes of former US President Donald Trump and also stars Jeremy Strong, has found its promotional campaign under fire after Meta’s platforms Facebook and Instagram have blocked all of the film’s reels.
Reason? It turns out the parent company has stringent policies on content that touches on political themes, and blocks content that it interprets as political advertising or election-related messaging.
Despite Ali Abbasi’s directorial venture tracing only Trump’s formative years, its association with the Republican nominee for the presidential race has drawn the attention of Meta’s AI-powered content detection system. That has made the film’s digital promotion tricky. An insider told mid-day, “While we knew The Apprentice would stir conversations, we didn’t expect Meta to block the reels entirely.”
The source further adds, “Their AI systems seem to flag anything associated with Donald Trump, especially when it’s tied to elections, even if the content is unrelated to contemporary politics. It directs us to the policy on election advertising. We keep getting messages stating that these ads don’t comply with the platforms’ policy. Several accounts are getting deactivated for promoting this film.”
Digital platforms have become an integral part of film promotions. With Instagram and Facebook blocking most of The Apprentice’s reels, the India marketing team is scrambling to change its strategy. Vishaal Shah, co-founder of a communication consulting firm working in the entertainment space, said that such a blanket blocking hinders them from reaching out to a wide audience.
“When platforms restrict the promotion of content centred around Donald Trump in relation to The Apprentice, it hinders the ability to share key narratives about his life and career. Such limitations not only affect marketing strategies, but also deprive audiences of a well-rounded understanding of the topics the film aims to highlight,” he stated.
Now, the team will have to resort to traditional methods of advertising to drum up the buzz before the biopic’s release. The source adds, “We are now strategizing how to navigate this digital blockade. We are exploring other creative alternatives. We are also reaching out to media outlets and entertainment influencers, who may not be bound by such rigid content policies.”
Meta’s strict stance on content is said to stem from its ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation during election periods. However, critics argue that these technologies sometimes apply overly broad restrictions, inadvertently censoring content that isn’t necessarily political.
An employee of Meta India, on condition of anonymity, explained, “Meta’s policies surrounding elections have become increasingly cautious after the backlash from the 2016 and 2020 US elections, where the platform was accused of being a breeding ground for disinformation. In an effort to regain trust and control over the content circulating on its platforms, the company has since tightened its guidelines. But if the film’s marketing team reaches out to us and explains it, it can be rectified.”
mid-day reached out to the US team of Meta, but did not receive an official response.
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