Japanese director Miike Takashi, who is known for slasher film “Ichi the Killer” and stomach-churning “Audition,” has signed with CAA for representation.
Miike is one of Japan’s most prolific and bold directors, with more than 100 feature film credits, spanning genres, including horror, comedy and action. “Ichi The Killer” and “Audition” enjoy cult followings globally.
The auteur has also received acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival for “Shield of Straw,” “Gozu” and “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai.”
His film “Crows Zero” is immensely popular in Asia, especially among Gen Z.
In March, Miike was selected to represent Japan in Apple’s “shot on iPhone” project, directing a short film based on Osamu Tezuka’s iconic 1986 manga “Midnight,” now streaming worldwide.
In 2022, he directed drama series “Connect,” produced by South Korea’s Studio Dragon and distributed by Disney+, which is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. “I’m...
Miike is one of Japan’s most prolific and bold directors, with more than 100 feature film credits, spanning genres, including horror, comedy and action. “Ichi The Killer” and “Audition” enjoy cult followings globally.
The auteur has also received acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival for “Shield of Straw,” “Gozu” and “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai.”
His film “Crows Zero” is immensely popular in Asia, especially among Gen Z.
In March, Miike was selected to represent Japan in Apple’s “shot on iPhone” project, directing a short film based on Osamu Tezuka’s iconic 1986 manga “Midnight,” now streaming worldwide.
In 2022, he directed drama series “Connect,” produced by South Korea’s Studio Dragon and distributed by Disney+, which is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. “I’m...
- 5/14/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Ubisoft has not begun the year in the best way possible after the failure of Skull and Bones, which was immediately forgotten after it launched. Today, the company announced the development of xDefiant, a first-person shooter set for release later this month.
This title has the potential to attract some players from Call of Duty, given Activision Blizzard’s lackluster player support. This IP is an Fps based on abilities in close encounter matches. The game will have five different factions to choose from, each with different features.
Later this Month, Ubisoft Will Finally Officially Launch XDefiant The new rival of Call of Duty is xDefiant releasing on PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC.
Announced back in 2021, this Fps showcased factions facing each other with different abilities and perks that almost became xDefiant in a sort of hero shooter. This Modern Warfare-like title has short but fast matches with two teams of four members.
This title has the potential to attract some players from Call of Duty, given Activision Blizzard’s lackluster player support. This IP is an Fps based on abilities in close encounter matches. The game will have five different factions to choose from, each with different features.
Later this Month, Ubisoft Will Finally Officially Launch XDefiant The new rival of Call of Duty is xDefiant releasing on PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC.
Announced back in 2021, this Fps showcased factions facing each other with different abilities and perks that almost became xDefiant in a sort of hero shooter. This Modern Warfare-like title has short but fast matches with two teams of four members.
- 5/2/2024
- by Lucas Lapetina
- FandomWire
BAFTA Circles Calendar
The British Academy has confirmed the date of the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, which will now be held on Sunday February. 16.
As per recent scheduling arrangements, the awards — arguably the biggest film awards outside the U.S. — takes place two weeks before the Oscars on March 2, 2025. Regular film festival attendees may note that the BAFTA awards will, once again, be held during the Berlinale, set to run February 13-23, with there likely to be a spike in industry professionals flying back to London on the morning of Feb. 16.
The full timeline and eligibility details for the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards will be announced in due course. Voting will take place over three rounds: longlisting, nominations and winners, by the academy’s global voting film membership which comprises more than 7,800 industry creatives.
The 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, which saw “Oppenheimer” dominate with wins for best film, director and actor, were watched...
The British Academy has confirmed the date of the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, which will now be held on Sunday February. 16.
As per recent scheduling arrangements, the awards — arguably the biggest film awards outside the U.S. — takes place two weeks before the Oscars on March 2, 2025. Regular film festival attendees may note that the BAFTA awards will, once again, be held during the Berlinale, set to run February 13-23, with there likely to be a spike in industry professionals flying back to London on the morning of Feb. 16.
The full timeline and eligibility details for the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards will be announced in due course. Voting will take place over three rounds: longlisting, nominations and winners, by the academy’s global voting film membership which comprises more than 7,800 industry creatives.
The 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, which saw “Oppenheimer” dominate with wins for best film, director and actor, were watched...
- 4/19/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Star Wars Outlaws is an upcoming title that is being developed, and it is also being marketed as the first-ever open-world Star Wars game. Massive Entertainment is developing the game. Ubisoft is publishing it.
Soon after the controversy regarding the game’s microtransactions, which saw fans express dissatisfaction with the company, another news story left fans livid. This time, the company has gone on to do something even more questionable.
After the Star Wars Outlaws Battle Pass Outrage, Ubisoft Invites Trouble Again After the recent Star Wars Outlaws controversy, the studio is in trouble again.
The Crew was a title released by Ivory Tower and published by Ubisoft. It was also the first installment in the racing game series, which now has three titles. Being an always-online title, the game received a lot of criticism, but it came with a map that was massive, being a scaled-down version of the United States map.
Soon after the controversy regarding the game’s microtransactions, which saw fans express dissatisfaction with the company, another news story left fans livid. This time, the company has gone on to do something even more questionable.
After the Star Wars Outlaws Battle Pass Outrage, Ubisoft Invites Trouble Again After the recent Star Wars Outlaws controversy, the studio is in trouble again.
The Crew was a title released by Ivory Tower and published by Ubisoft. It was also the first installment in the racing game series, which now has three titles. Being an always-online title, the game received a lot of criticism, but it came with a map that was massive, being a scaled-down version of the United States map.
- 4/17/2024
- by Sparsh Jaimini
- FandomWire
Ubisoft has been one of the most popular video game publishers in the world for a long time now, thanks to its franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, For Honor, Just Dance, Prince of Persia, Rabbids, Rayman, Tom Clancy’s, and Watch Dogs. The studio has faced some criticism, particularly about their weak game narrative and problems with Ubisoft Connect, but nothing tops their hefty pricing.
Star Wars Outlaws
They have continued the tradition by pricing their upcoming game Star Wars Outlaws at outrageous figures. The official story trailer was dropped recently and the game is now available for pre-ordering. Ubisoft’s evil strategy has been criticized for many years and now, gamers have united to expose them.
Ubisoft is getting exposed for its atrocious pricing strategy
Star Wars Outlaws
Ubisoft is certainly one of the biggest video game publishers in the world but at the same time, they are also hated by the community.
Star Wars Outlaws
They have continued the tradition by pricing their upcoming game Star Wars Outlaws at outrageous figures. The official story trailer was dropped recently and the game is now available for pre-ordering. Ubisoft’s evil strategy has been criticized for many years and now, gamers have united to expose them.
Ubisoft is getting exposed for its atrocious pricing strategy
Star Wars Outlaws
Ubisoft is certainly one of the biggest video game publishers in the world but at the same time, they are also hated by the community.
- 4/10/2024
- by Farhan Asif
- FandomWire
The official trailer for Star Wars Outlaws is out now, and the game will release on August 30, 2024. Ubisoft has also released details about the various editions and prices for the game.
The base game will cost $69.99. Those who pre-order it will get the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack and the Trailblazer spaceship with additional cosmetic upgrades. The game will not be available on Steam at launch, so PC players will have to buy Star Wars Outlaws off Ubisoft Connect.
Outlaws will also come in a Gold Edition priced at $109.99. It will offer players a 3-day early access to the game along with the Season Pass. Those who opt for the Ultimate Edition will have to shell out $129.99 for a digital art book and two cosmetic bundles plus everything in the Gold Edition. Players who have the Ubisoft+ Premium subscription will be able to get the Ultimate Edition on day one.
With...
The base game will cost $69.99. Those who pre-order it will get the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack and the Trailblazer spaceship with additional cosmetic upgrades. The game will not be available on Steam at launch, so PC players will have to buy Star Wars Outlaws off Ubisoft Connect.
Outlaws will also come in a Gold Edition priced at $109.99. It will offer players a 3-day early access to the game along with the Season Pass. Those who opt for the Ultimate Edition will have to shell out $129.99 for a digital art book and two cosmetic bundles plus everything in the Gold Edition. Players who have the Ubisoft+ Premium subscription will be able to get the Ultimate Edition on day one.
With...
- 4/9/2024
- by Ashish Yadav
- GamesHorizon
Vampire Weekend’s fifth studio album, Only God Was Above Us, has arrived.
Released via Columbia Records, Only God Was Above Us clocks in at 10 songs, recorded in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo with Ezra Koening co-producing alongside Ariel Rechtshaid. First announced this past February, its release was preceded by the singles “Capricorn,” “Gen-x Cops,” “Classical,” and “Mary Boone.”
Get Vampire Weekend Tickets Here
The album is described in a press release as “direct yet complex, showing the band at once at its grittiest, and also at its most beautiful and melodic.” It takes inspiration from raga singing and 20th century New York City, with lyrics Koening wrote between 2019 and 2020, and then fleshed out with his bandmates in the following years. The title comes from its artwork, a photo of a man reading a newspaper with the headline, “Only God Was Above Us,” a reference to Aloha Airlines Flight...
Released via Columbia Records, Only God Was Above Us clocks in at 10 songs, recorded in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo with Ezra Koening co-producing alongside Ariel Rechtshaid. First announced this past February, its release was preceded by the singles “Capricorn,” “Gen-x Cops,” “Classical,” and “Mary Boone.”
Get Vampire Weekend Tickets Here
The album is described in a press release as “direct yet complex, showing the band at once at its grittiest, and also at its most beautiful and melodic.” It takes inspiration from raga singing and 20th century New York City, with lyrics Koening wrote between 2019 and 2020, and then fleshed out with his bandmates in the following years. The title comes from its artwork, a photo of a man reading a newspaper with the headline, “Only God Was Above Us,” a reference to Aloha Airlines Flight...
- 4/5/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
Vampire Weekend’s recordings have frequently been characterized by a kind of tidiness, a clean fusion of Ezra Koenig’s pop songwriting smarts and the group’s instrumental economy. The band’s new album Only God Was Above Us offers something different, pivoting away from the brighter, jammier aspects of 2019’s Father of the Bride with a decided bent toward experimentation and surprising, often harsh, new textures. The results showcase a band that, nearly two decades in, is willing to issue a challenge to its fans and produce a soundtrack...
- 4/3/2024
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
While Vampire Weekend’s prep-school narratives have toyed with subcultural statements and big ideas about youth and love, singer and chief songwriter Ezra Koenig never seems to be revealing much about himself. That admittedly could make the sweeping emotions that the group’s songs tried to invoke feel trapped behind glass, even on a work of pop craftsmanship as stunning as 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City.
Vampire Weekend’s first album in five years and their first with (most of) their original lineup in more than a decade, Only God Was Above Us doesn’t tell us a whole lot more about the interior lives of Koenig, bassist Chris Baio, or drummer Chris Tomson. What it lacks in confessionals, though, it makes up for with a sharp conceit: a Cold War allegory about romance, contrasting references to conflict in Eastern Europe and Russia with domestic issues and memories.
In mounting this framework,...
Vampire Weekend’s first album in five years and their first with (most of) their original lineup in more than a decade, Only God Was Above Us doesn’t tell us a whole lot more about the interior lives of Koenig, bassist Chris Baio, or drummer Chris Tomson. What it lacks in confessionals, though, it makes up for with a sharp conceit: a Cold War allegory about romance, contrasting references to conflict in Eastern Europe and Russia with domestic issues and memories.
In mounting this framework,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Charles Lyons-Burt
- Slant Magazine
After stints heading local-language production at Disney Apac and HBO Asia, Hong Kong-based Jessica Kam-Engle is now heading CreAsia Studio, a new Banijay Asia venture in Southeast Asia, in the role of EVP & Business Head.
Sitting down with Deadline in Hong Kong in the run-up to Filmart, Kam-Engle told us more about the new venture, which was first unveiled in early February. She says she’s recently enjoyed delving into Banijay’s vast library of formats, some of which are being lined up for local adaptations, and is also developing a slate of originals across multiple territories.
Kam-Engle is reporting into and working closely with Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO, Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India, who is based in Mumbai.
During her time at Disney, Kam-Engle commissioned more than 60 original series including Korean dramas Moving, Big Bet and Connect, Japan’s live-action Gannibal, and Chinese-language anthology series Taiwan Crime Stories.
Sitting down with Deadline in Hong Kong in the run-up to Filmart, Kam-Engle told us more about the new venture, which was first unveiled in early February. She says she’s recently enjoyed delving into Banijay’s vast library of formats, some of which are being lined up for local adaptations, and is also developing a slate of originals across multiple territories.
Kam-Engle is reporting into and working closely with Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO, Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India, who is based in Mumbai.
During her time at Disney, Kam-Engle commissioned more than 60 original series including Korean dramas Moving, Big Bet and Connect, Japan’s live-action Gannibal, and Chinese-language anthology series Taiwan Crime Stories.
- 3/11/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Jude Law’s Riff Raff Entertainment has received “significant funding” via a new TV development deal with France’s Newen Connect.
Unveiled at Newen’s London TV Screenings event, the deal sees Riff Raff, which the two-time Oscar nominee co-founded with Ben Jackson, handed a cash injection to develop a slate of TV projects, while giving the company a distribution pipeline.
The development partnership has already spawned three early-stage projects: political thriller Foreign Desk starring Law and written by Marek Horn, a female-led show from Pure writer Kirstie Swain and a “talent-led TV project with acclaimed playwright Chris Urch.”
The investment figure was not disclosed but is referred to as “significant.” It is being underwritten by European studio-financier Anton, which separately invested €50M ($54M) in Newen in early 2022 that allowed the French major to move into features.
Riff Raff CEO Stephen Fuss said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering...
Unveiled at Newen’s London TV Screenings event, the deal sees Riff Raff, which the two-time Oscar nominee co-founded with Ben Jackson, handed a cash injection to develop a slate of TV projects, while giving the company a distribution pipeline.
The development partnership has already spawned three early-stage projects: political thriller Foreign Desk starring Law and written by Marek Horn, a female-led show from Pure writer Kirstie Swain and a “talent-led TV project with acclaimed playwright Chris Urch.”
The investment figure was not disclosed but is referred to as “significant.” It is being underwritten by European studio-financier Anton, which separately invested €50M ($54M) in Newen in early 2022 that allowed the French major to move into features.
Riff Raff CEO Stephen Fuss said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering...
- 2/27/2024
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the most iconic franchises in pop culture is definitely Terminator. James Cameron pushed the genre to a whole new level. According to a very popular X account, a new Terminator open-world game will be revealed on February 29. The game will have some survival aspects. The company that has the rights to make video games based on this universe is Nacon.
It will present the Nacon Connect, with a lot of its games being shown in this event. This Terminator title was announced in 2022.
Nacon and a New Terminator Open-World Game The new Terminator game will be open-world.
The Terminator franchise has been around for more than 40 years since the first movie was released back in 1984. The video games based on this character were good or average at most. Thanks to Nacon, which has the rights to characters like Robocop and Rambo, a new opportunity for Terminator is ahead.
It will present the Nacon Connect, with a lot of its games being shown in this event. This Terminator title was announced in 2022.
Nacon and a New Terminator Open-World Game The new Terminator game will be open-world.
The Terminator franchise has been around for more than 40 years since the first movie was released back in 1984. The video games based on this character were good or average at most. Thanks to Nacon, which has the rights to characters like Robocop and Rambo, a new opportunity for Terminator is ahead.
- 2/22/2024
- by Lucas Lapetina
- FandomWire
Retail giant Walmart is acquiring smart TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion in a deal that will alter the streaming advertising landscape.
While Vizio is a leading manufacturer of televisions, rivaling Samsung for supremacy in North America, Walmart is not mainly interested in its hardware business, however. Instead, it has coveted Vizio’s SmartCast Operating System, which has 18 million active accounts to be targeted by advertisers. With Amazon knitting together e-commerce and streaming ads with increasing potency, Walmart identified an opportunity in Vizio to counter-attack.
Walmart has had phases of interest in the U.S. media business, selling its Vudu streaming subsidiary to NBCUniversal’s Fandango in 2020 after a 10-year run.
Given that Walmart is a top retailer of smart TVs, integrating Vizio should be a more streamlined process than building out Vudu. It also sends a shot across the bow of Roku, whose interface is in one-third of all smart TVs in North America.
While Vizio is a leading manufacturer of televisions, rivaling Samsung for supremacy in North America, Walmart is not mainly interested in its hardware business, however. Instead, it has coveted Vizio’s SmartCast Operating System, which has 18 million active accounts to be targeted by advertisers. With Amazon knitting together e-commerce and streaming ads with increasing potency, Walmart identified an opportunity in Vizio to counter-attack.
Walmart has had phases of interest in the U.S. media business, selling its Vudu streaming subsidiary to NBCUniversal’s Fandango in 2020 after a 10-year run.
Given that Walmart is a top retailer of smart TVs, integrating Vizio should be a more streamlined process than building out Vudu. It also sends a shot across the bow of Roku, whose interface is in one-third of all smart TVs in North America.
- 2/20/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
(Courtesy image)
Walmart has agreed to buy smart TV maker Vizio for more than $2 billion in cash, the company announced on Tuesday.
The affirmation came as Walmart was set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings for 2023 early Tuesday morning.
Executives say Walmart will spend $2.3 billion to acquire the California-based hardware company. Walmart is hoping to leverage Vizio’s connected TV platform to boost its ad business as it competes with online retail giant Amazon.
“We believe Vizio’s customer-centric operating system provides great viewing experiences at attractive price points,” Seth Dallaire, the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Walmart U.S., said in a statement. “We also believe it enables a profitable advertising business that is rapidly scaling.”
Vizio was scheduled to report its own fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 earnings next week. It wasn’t clear if the company is planning to continue with the event as scheduled.
Walmart has agreed to buy smart TV maker Vizio for more than $2 billion in cash, the company announced on Tuesday.
The affirmation came as Walmart was set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings for 2023 early Tuesday morning.
Executives say Walmart will spend $2.3 billion to acquire the California-based hardware company. Walmart is hoping to leverage Vizio’s connected TV platform to boost its ad business as it competes with online retail giant Amazon.
“We believe Vizio’s customer-centric operating system provides great viewing experiences at attractive price points,” Seth Dallaire, the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Walmart U.S., said in a statement. “We also believe it enables a profitable advertising business that is rapidly scaling.”
Vizio was scheduled to report its own fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 earnings next week. It wasn’t clear if the company is planning to continue with the event as scheduled.
- 2/20/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
In a major move into the connected TV space, retail giant Walmart is acquiring the smart TV maker Vizio via a deal that values the company at $2.3 billion.
Walmart said in a press release Tuesday morning that Vizio would help the company grow its nascent advertising business and give it a foothold in “innovative television and in-home entertainment and media experiences.”
The deal, if completed, would instantly make Walmart a major player in the streaming TV wars, which count Roku, Samsung and tech giants Amazon, Google and Apple among the competitors. While many companies sell sticks and boxes that hook into TVs and serve as an Os for streaming (Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV stick and Apple TV being the most popular), TV makers have gained ground by preloading their sets with advanced operating systems.
Samsung, Vizio, LG and Hisense are among the TV makers that have been aggressively investing in the space,...
Walmart said in a press release Tuesday morning that Vizio would help the company grow its nascent advertising business and give it a foothold in “innovative television and in-home entertainment and media experiences.”
The deal, if completed, would instantly make Walmart a major player in the streaming TV wars, which count Roku, Samsung and tech giants Amazon, Google and Apple among the competitors. While many companies sell sticks and boxes that hook into TVs and serve as an Os for streaming (Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV stick and Apple TV being the most popular), TV makers have gained ground by preloading their sets with advanced operating systems.
Samsung, Vizio, LG and Hisense are among the TV makers that have been aggressively investing in the space,...
- 2/20/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“This is a very, very romantic film,” Gael García Bernal said of his Berlin competition title, Another End.
The Mexican actor was speaking at the press conference for the pic this morning in the German capital alongside his co-stars Renate Reinsve, Bérénice Bejo, Olivia Williams, and Pal Aron.
“I’m very proud and happy to be part of a film,” he continued to say, that carries large elements of romance because “there aren’t so many romantic films around anymore.”
The fantasy drama is set in a near future in which new technologies allow the bereaved to temporarily bring back their departed loved ones in a different body to help them say goodbye. Bernal plays a man who loses the love of his life and is then encouraged by his sister (Bejo) to work through his grief with the help of this new technology. He connects with his dead lover...
The Mexican actor was speaking at the press conference for the pic this morning in the German capital alongside his co-stars Renate Reinsve, Bérénice Bejo, Olivia Williams, and Pal Aron.
“I’m very proud and happy to be part of a film,” he continued to say, that carries large elements of romance because “there aren’t so many romantic films around anymore.”
The fantasy drama is set in a near future in which new technologies allow the bereaved to temporarily bring back their departed loved ones in a different body to help them say goodbye. Bernal plays a man who loses the love of his life and is then encouraged by his sister (Bejo) to work through his grief with the help of this new technology. He connects with his dead lover...
- 2/17/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Gael García Bernal and Renate Reinsve (“The Worst Person in the World”) star as lovers caught in an unusual bind in Italian director Piero Messina’s unconventional sci-fi film “Another End,” which is competing in Berlin.
Set in a near-future when a new technology exists that can put the consciousness of a dead person back into a living body in an attempt to ease the grief of separation, the English-language film sees Bernal play Sal, a man who loses his wife. Reinsve plays Zoe, the woman who rents her body for the implantation of Bernal’s wife’s consciousness. Rounding out the cast is Bérénice Bejo as Sal’s sister Ebe. Newen Connect is handling international sales of the Indigo Films-Rai Cinema production.
What attracted Bernal to the role was “the philosophical journey that he goes on, because this film challenges an elemental question, which is: What happens after death?...
Set in a near-future when a new technology exists that can put the consciousness of a dead person back into a living body in an attempt to ease the grief of separation, the English-language film sees Bernal play Sal, a man who loses his wife. Reinsve plays Zoe, the woman who rents her body for the implantation of Bernal’s wife’s consciousness. Rounding out the cast is Bérénice Bejo as Sal’s sister Ebe. Newen Connect is handling international sales of the Indigo Films-Rai Cinema production.
What attracted Bernal to the role was “the philosophical journey that he goes on, because this film challenges an elemental question, which is: What happens after death?...
- 2/17/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Vampire Weekend are teasing their new album, Only God Was Above Us, with a 30-second clip of a noisy yet upbeat guitar cacophony skating over some funky bass and drums. The clip for the album, due out April 5, shows a man jumping through an old New York City subway car sideways, a French horn, a recording studio, the World Trade Center, and sheet music with the word “Hope,” among other images. “Hope” is the title of the final track on the album, and its lyrics contain the words, “I hope...
- 2/8/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Vampire Weekend are officially back with the announcement of their new album, Only God Was Above Us, out April 5th via Columbia Records.
Marking Vampire Weekend’s first full-length in five years, Only God Was Above Us clocks in at 10 tracks. Inspired by 20th-century New York City, the album was recorded in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, with vocalist/guitarist Ezra Koenig sharing production duties with longtime collaborator Ariel Rechtshaid. It was mixed by Dave Fridmann and mastered by Emily Lazar.
Koenig penned the majority of the lyrics to Only God Was Above Us in 2019-2020, and spent the next five years with bandmates Chris Baio and Chris Tomson fleshing out the lyrical and melodic structures. The album is described in a press release as “direct yet complex, showing the band at once at its grittiest, and also at its most beautiful and melodic.”
The album’s title comes from the cover artwork,...
Marking Vampire Weekend’s first full-length in five years, Only God Was Above Us clocks in at 10 tracks. Inspired by 20th-century New York City, the album was recorded in Manhattan, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, with vocalist/guitarist Ezra Koenig sharing production duties with longtime collaborator Ariel Rechtshaid. It was mixed by Dave Fridmann and mastered by Emily Lazar.
Koenig penned the majority of the lyrics to Only God Was Above Us in 2019-2020, and spent the next five years with bandmates Chris Baio and Chris Tomson fleshing out the lyrical and melodic structures. The album is described in a press release as “direct yet complex, showing the band at once at its grittiest, and also at its most beautiful and melodic.”
The album’s title comes from the cover artwork,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Disney Apac’s former content chief Jessica Kam-Engle has exited to launch a Banijay Asia venture in Southeast Asia.
The veteran exec has been named EVP & Business Head of CreAsia Studio, which will sit within Banijay Asia and focus on creating local originals and producing adaptations of Banijay formats.
Kam-Engle will report to Dhar, and is responsible for driving business strategy and growth in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
The producer and studio exec is known for runs at HBO Asia, Warner Media Entertainment Networks, MTV Networks/Viacom, MGM Gold Network, Dow Jones Newswires, and Celestial Pictures.
Most recently, she was Head of Content and Development for Disney+ in Apac, during which time she commissioned more than 60 original series such as Korean dramas Moving, Big Bet and Connect; Japanese live action Gannibal; and Chinese-language series Taiwan Crime Stories and Delicacies Destiny. She left the business last year.
The veteran exec has been named EVP & Business Head of CreAsia Studio, which will sit within Banijay Asia and focus on creating local originals and producing adaptations of Banijay formats.
Kam-Engle will report to Dhar, and is responsible for driving business strategy and growth in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
The producer and studio exec is known for runs at HBO Asia, Warner Media Entertainment Networks, MTV Networks/Viacom, MGM Gold Network, Dow Jones Newswires, and Celestial Pictures.
Most recently, she was Head of Content and Development for Disney+ in Apac, during which time she commissioned more than 60 original series such as Korean dramas Moving, Big Bet and Connect; Japanese live action Gannibal; and Chinese-language series Taiwan Crime Stories and Delicacies Destiny. She left the business last year.
- 2/7/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Created by Sashti Nandani, and co-directed by Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah, the five-episode series opens with flashbacks of a terminally ill Soeraja (Pritt Timothy) is visited by, and who ends up pleading his son Lebas (Arya Saloka) to find a woman called Jeng Jah (Dian Sastrowardoyo). The lad is given a tin jar which contains a key to a safe in his grandfather's office, but when he gets there, his only clues become an old photograph showing a big group of people, and a bunch of letters written to Soeraja by Dasiyah that happens to be Jeng Jah's second name.
Follow our tribute to Netflix by clicking on the image below
Based on the eponymous best-selling novel written by Ratih Kumala, the Netflix series “Cigarette Girl” is one of the most interesting shows currently showing on the popular streaming platforms, vintage not only in terms of the era it plays in,...
Follow our tribute to Netflix by clicking on the image below
Based on the eponymous best-selling novel written by Ratih Kumala, the Netflix series “Cigarette Girl” is one of the most interesting shows currently showing on the popular streaming platforms, vintage not only in terms of the era it plays in,...
- 1/14/2024
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
Bill Abbott, the Chief Executive Officer of the media company, Great American Family, tried to distance the organization from the controversial opinions made by former Full House star Candace Cameron Bure, the network’s new chief content officer, after her anti-lgbtq comments.
Back in November 2022, the actress gave an interview to The Wall Street Journal about her new position at the network. She said that due to the network’s focus on “traditional” marriage, viewers should not expect any LGBTQ plot lines in its movies.
Her comments in this interview were quickly denounced by other celebrities like JoJo Siwa and groups that support LGBTQ rights.
Abbott had no other choice but to speak up about Bure’s comments.
“We’re proud to have her here, and she works so well with the team alongside me, and we have a really talented and dedicated team that’s committed to high-quality faith and family content,...
Back in November 2022, the actress gave an interview to The Wall Street Journal about her new position at the network. She said that due to the network’s focus on “traditional” marriage, viewers should not expect any LGBTQ plot lines in its movies.
Her comments in this interview were quickly denounced by other celebrities like JoJo Siwa and groups that support LGBTQ rights.
Abbott had no other choice but to speak up about Bure’s comments.
“We’re proud to have her here, and she works so well with the team alongside me, and we have a really talented and dedicated team that’s committed to high-quality faith and family content,...
- 11/5/2023
- by Alessio Atria
- Uinterview
Los Angeles, CA – Publisher Tokyopop announced the forthcoming launch on December 14th of Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, an original new boys’ love manga inspired by the Netflix anime series featuring alter egos of characters from the hit Ubisoft video games in a highly referential homage to the early 90s.
The Netflix series follows Dolph Laserhawk, a rebel super-soldier who escaped the army and planning a final big heist with Alex Taylor before they sail into the sunset. The show was created by Adi Shankar (producer of Netflix’s Castlevania series) and is currently streaming.
“I’m so thankful to Adi, Ubisoft, and Tokyopop for letting me play in this wonderful sandbox that they’ve created,” says Ben Kahn. “I can’t wait for fans to see how Dolph Laserhawk’s doomed romance began, and how it irrevocably set him on his current path.”
Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix,...
The Netflix series follows Dolph Laserhawk, a rebel super-soldier who escaped the army and planning a final big heist with Alex Taylor before they sail into the sunset. The show was created by Adi Shankar (producer of Netflix’s Castlevania series) and is currently streaming.
“I’m so thankful to Adi, Ubisoft, and Tokyopop for letting me play in this wonderful sandbox that they’ve created,” says Ben Kahn. “I can’t wait for fans to see how Dolph Laserhawk’s doomed romance began, and how it irrevocably set him on his current path.”
Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
San Francisco, Sep 10 (Ians) Gaming platform Roblox has announced ‘Roblox Connect’ at its annual developer’s conference — a new feature for friends to call each other as their avatars — together in a shared experience.
The company will launch the feature later this year.
“Launching later this year, Connect will enable people to call a friend from their Roblox friends list using their real name and facial expressions — conveying nuance with their own body language — and be transported to a shared immersive space on Roblox for their conversation, sitting together by a campfire or standing beside a waterfall,” Roblox said in a blogpost.
The product will be made available to developers, allowing for additional innovations from its creator community.
Additionally, the company plans to incorporate motion mapping for hand gestures and upper body movements into its avatars down the road.
Those features probably would be available on a wide range of...
The company will launch the feature later this year.
“Launching later this year, Connect will enable people to call a friend from their Roblox friends list using their real name and facial expressions — conveying nuance with their own body language — and be transported to a shared immersive space on Roblox for their conversation, sitting together by a campfire or standing beside a waterfall,” Roblox said in a blogpost.
The product will be made available to developers, allowing for additional innovations from its creator community.
Additionally, the company plans to incorporate motion mapping for hand gestures and upper body movements into its avatars down the road.
Those features probably would be available on a wide range of...
- 9/10/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
"It's nice to meet you, monster. I'm a monster, too." Oh, wow. Hulu has revealed an official US trailer with English subtitles for a Korean superpowers series called Moving. This was actually produced by Disney+ in Korea, similar to the extra crazy series Connect from last year. Based on the webtoon of the same name by Kang Full, the series is a supernatural drama that deals with three teenager high school students and their parents who discover their super powers. It's a play on superheroes, much closer to the X-Men series with its narrative, than anything in the MCU. These teens must conceal their superpowers to shelter their parents who have lived with painful secrets facing great danger over generations. Are the monsters? Or heroes? Who is coming after them now? The cast features Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, Cha Tae-hyun, Ryoo Seung-bum, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Jung-ha, Go Youn-jung,...
- 8/4/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
South Korea is known globally for its web series, movies and K-pop, with content including Squid Game and Parasite and groups like BTS and Blackpink becoming household names internationally. But there is another Korean cultural export – webtoons and their associated IP – that is starting to have an impact, not just in Korea, but around the world.
Webtoons are comics that have been designed specifically for mobile phones. Unlike Western comics and Japanese manga, they’re composed of single panels arranged vertically so that they can be easily scrolled through with one hand while you’re using the other to hang off the strap of your local commuter train.
Originating on the platforms of two Korean tech giants, Daum (which was later absorbed into Kakao) and Naver, in the early 2000s, the format is already huge across Asia and has become an invaluable source of IP for the region’s booming streaming industry.
Webtoons are comics that have been designed specifically for mobile phones. Unlike Western comics and Japanese manga, they’re composed of single panels arranged vertically so that they can be easily scrolled through with one hand while you’re using the other to hang off the strap of your local commuter train.
Originating on the platforms of two Korean tech giants, Daum (which was later absorbed into Kakao) and Naver, in the early 2000s, the format is already huge across Asia and has become an invaluable source of IP for the region’s booming streaming industry.
- 7/7/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix’s most-watched series ever, South Korean death-match drama Squid Game, unveiled new and returning cast for its wildly anticipated second season over the weekend.
The surviving stars of season one — Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-joon and Gong Yoo — will all be back for more, Netflix revealed at its Tudum fan event in Brazil on Saturday.
Announced newcomers include four male stars: Im Siwan (formerly of K-pop group Ze:a and known for film roles like The Attorney and Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha Neul (from K-dramas like Midnight Runners, When the Camellia Blooms), Park Sung Hoon (Netflix’s Korean hit The Glory) and Yang Dong Geun (from Disney+’s popular K-drama Connect).
In the wake of the announcement, some fans took to social media to ask why no female castmembers had been unveiled — especially after the breakout popularity of model-turned-actress HoYeon Jung from season one.
Season two of Squid Game...
The surviving stars of season one — Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Wi Ha-joon and Gong Yoo — will all be back for more, Netflix revealed at its Tudum fan event in Brazil on Saturday.
Announced newcomers include four male stars: Im Siwan (formerly of K-pop group Ze:a and known for film roles like The Attorney and Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha Neul (from K-dramas like Midnight Runners, When the Camellia Blooms), Park Sung Hoon (Netflix’s Korean hit The Glory) and Yang Dong Geun (from Disney+’s popular K-drama Connect).
In the wake of the announcement, some fans took to social media to ask why no female castmembers had been unveiled — especially after the breakout popularity of model-turned-actress HoYeon Jung from season one.
Season two of Squid Game...
- 6/19/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The ever-prolific Takashi Miike is back this year, following his Disney+ series Connect last winter. Based on a novel “Kaibutsu no Kikori” by Mayusuke Kurai, the Japanese director’s latest feature is Lumberjack the Monster, a serial killer vs. psychopath thriller that will arrive in his native country this December and is awaiting a U.S. release. Starring Kazuya Kamenashi, Nanao, Riho Yoshioka, Shota Sometani, and Shido Nakamura, the first teaser and set of posters have arrived.
Here’s the synopsis: “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a “monster mask.” Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murder occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies. While police conduct an intensive investigation,...
Here’s the synopsis: “Akira Ninomiya (Kamenashi) is a remorseless lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way. One night he is brutally attacked by an unknown assailant wearing a “monster mask.” Although he miraculously survives the assault, Ninomiya becomes fixated on finding the attacker and getting revenge. Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murder occur where the victims are found with their brains removed from their bodies. While police conduct an intensive investigation,...
- 6/8/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The next high-profile Korean drama from Disney+, romantic revenge series Red Swan, will star Kim Ha-neul (A Gentleman’s Dignity, On Air) and Jeong Jihun, aka Rain (Ghost Doctor, Ninja Assasin).
The series follows Oh Wansoo (Kim) a woman born into an impoverished family who turned her life around by becoming a world-class golfer – attracting the attention of many, including her future husband, heir to the Hwain Group, Kim Yongguk (Jeong Gyeoun — You Are Too Much, Sooni). Struggling to clear her mother’s debt, Wansoo agreed to marry Yongguk but quickly became unhappy after discovering her husband’s infidelities. For over 10 years, she has stayed with her husband, determined to make it work, but things quickly begin to change on the biggest night of her life. Shortly after arriving in Manila for her debut appearance as a Goodwill Ambassador, Wansoo is caught in the middle of a hail of gunfire, narrowly...
The series follows Oh Wansoo (Kim) a woman born into an impoverished family who turned her life around by becoming a world-class golfer – attracting the attention of many, including her future husband, heir to the Hwain Group, Kim Yongguk (Jeong Gyeoun — You Are Too Much, Sooni). Struggling to clear her mother’s debt, Wansoo agreed to marry Yongguk but quickly became unhappy after discovering her husband’s infidelities. For over 10 years, she has stayed with her husband, determined to make it work, but things quickly begin to change on the biggest night of her life. Shortly after arriving in Manila for her debut appearance as a Goodwill Ambassador, Wansoo is caught in the middle of a hail of gunfire, narrowly...
- 5/26/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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Sony’s Wh-1000XM4 headphones are still among the best noise-cancelling cans we’ve ever tested. If you’ve been looking to pick up a pair for yourself, Amazon’s surprise sale has the Sony Bluetooth headphones marked down to $278 — a whopping $71 discount and their lowest price since Black Friday (these top-rated headphones are regularly $349+).
This new deal gets you 21% off the original price and makes it a...
Sony’s Wh-1000XM4 headphones are still among the best noise-cancelling cans we’ve ever tested. If you’ve been looking to pick up a pair for yourself, Amazon’s surprise sale has the Sony Bluetooth headphones marked down to $278 — a whopping $71 discount and their lowest price since Black Friday (these top-rated headphones are regularly $349+).
This new deal gets you 21% off the original price and makes it a...
- 5/25/2023
- by Tim Chan
- Rollingstone.com
As Chile hosts its third Docs in Progress Showcase at Cannes’ Marché du Film, it brings to the fore one of the richest and most prolific documentary traditions in Latin America, led by such figures as Patricio Guzmán, whose 2019 “The Cordillera of Dreams” won the Cannes Golden Eye, and Maite Alberdi, whose 2020 “The Mole Agent” snagged an Oscar nomination.
Spurred by a major jump in co-productions and a modest increase in state funding, more Chilean documentaries are being made — 24 are co-productions to date this year, many driven by women producers, says Paula Ossandon, head of Chiledoc, a public-private alliance between the Chilean Documentary Corp. (CCDoc) and ProChile.
The latest crop shows a greater diversity of genres and themes, with a growing number of docs about marginalized groups, from Chile’s Indigenous tribes to its LGBTQ+ community and the current socio-political climate in the country.
To foster more films by Indigenous filmmakers,...
Spurred by a major jump in co-productions and a modest increase in state funding, more Chilean documentaries are being made — 24 are co-productions to date this year, many driven by women producers, says Paula Ossandon, head of Chiledoc, a public-private alliance between the Chilean Documentary Corp. (CCDoc) and ProChile.
The latest crop shows a greater diversity of genres and themes, with a growing number of docs about marginalized groups, from Chile’s Indigenous tribes to its LGBTQ+ community and the current socio-political climate in the country.
To foster more films by Indigenous filmmakers,...
- 5/16/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Backup Systems, the Paris-based company behind the owner of the cloud-based app MovieChainer, has launched Connect, which is being presented as the first AI-powered app enabling smart data upload and data management for filmmakers.
Rolled out on the eve of the Cannes Film Market, this new tool has been created to help filmmakers with non-creative tasks and has been designed to identify entertainment-related data, including all sorts of creative, financial and contractual data used in the film and TV industry.
The app scans hard drives or dedicated folders in search for user’s raw material – scripts, videos, contracts, budgets, accounting reports etc, automatically archives files at the right place in user’s own cloud-based secured drive. Connect also identifies relevant data contained in the files and extract them to feed user’s database – enabling data-centric approaches and models to generate intelligence for the user. Backup Systems will be at Cannes to present the app.
Rolled out on the eve of the Cannes Film Market, this new tool has been created to help filmmakers with non-creative tasks and has been designed to identify entertainment-related data, including all sorts of creative, financial and contractual data used in the film and TV industry.
The app scans hard drives or dedicated folders in search for user’s raw material – scripts, videos, contracts, budgets, accounting reports etc, automatically archives files at the right place in user’s own cloud-based secured drive. Connect also identifies relevant data contained in the files and extract them to feed user’s database – enabling data-centric approaches and models to generate intelligence for the user. Backup Systems will be at Cannes to present the app.
- 5/11/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Canela Media‘s name translates to “cinnamon,” and the Latino-focused streaming service is adding some spice to its content lineup. At its 2023 NewFronts presentation, Canela unveiled a slate of original programming across verticals like sports, kids, and music.
The new originals will join existing Canela content across the company’s Ott network, which includes connections to Roku, Samsung, and Vizio. Canela’s in-house production unit, Canela Studios, will lead the development of the upcoming shows and will work with partners to create branded content.
Of the 12 new originals Canela revealed at the NewFronts, one of the most interesting titles is Secretos de las Indomables. As its translated title implies, the nonfiction show will highlight “untamed ladies” who have established themselves in the world of Hispanic entertainment. And that’s not the only secrets Canela will tell: It’s also developing a new season of Secretos de Villanas, which brings novela superstars together under one roof.
The new originals will join existing Canela content across the company’s Ott network, which includes connections to Roku, Samsung, and Vizio. Canela’s in-house production unit, Canela Studios, will lead the development of the upcoming shows and will work with partners to create branded content.
Of the 12 new originals Canela revealed at the NewFronts, one of the most interesting titles is Secretos de las Indomables. As its translated title implies, the nonfiction show will highlight “untamed ladies” who have established themselves in the world of Hispanic entertainment. And that’s not the only secrets Canela will tell: It’s also developing a new season of Secretos de Villanas, which brings novela superstars together under one roof.
- 5/4/2023
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Award
British presenter, broadcaster, filmmaker, author and historian, professor David Olusoga, will be presented with a BAFTA Special Award at the upcoming BAFTA Television Awards on May 14. The award is one of BAFTA’s highest honors recognizing an outstanding contribution to film, games or television.
Olusoga’s credits include presenting history series “A House Through Time” (BBC Two), writing and presenting series “Black & British: A Forgotten History” (BBC Two) and the BAFTA-winning “Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.” In recent years he led major interviews with the former President of the United States, Barack Obama and lectures including the Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart Lecture in 2020.
Olusoga said: “It is humbling to have my work in television, as both a producer and a presenter, recognized in this way.”
Jane Millichip, CEO at BAFTA added: “We are honoured to present David Olusoga the BAFTA Special Award at our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards with P&o Cruises.
British presenter, broadcaster, filmmaker, author and historian, professor David Olusoga, will be presented with a BAFTA Special Award at the upcoming BAFTA Television Awards on May 14. The award is one of BAFTA’s highest honors recognizing an outstanding contribution to film, games or television.
Olusoga’s credits include presenting history series “A House Through Time” (BBC Two), writing and presenting series “Black & British: A Forgotten History” (BBC Two) and the BAFTA-winning “Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.” In recent years he led major interviews with the former President of the United States, Barack Obama and lectures including the Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart Lecture in 2020.
Olusoga said: “It is humbling to have my work in television, as both a producer and a presenter, recognized in this way.”
Jane Millichip, CEO at BAFTA added: “We are honoured to present David Olusoga the BAFTA Special Award at our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards with P&o Cruises.
- 5/2/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Bose’s line of wireless speakers, soundbars, headphones, and earbuds might deliver high-quality portable sound that music fans dream of, but finding them at a steep discount can sometimes feel like a bit of a nightmare — until now. Bose has cut the price on its popular SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker to just $89.99 — down from $119 and a generous 25% discount.
This is one of the best Bose speaker deals online...
Bose’s line of wireless speakers, soundbars, headphones, and earbuds might deliver high-quality portable sound that music fans dream of, but finding them at a steep discount can sometimes feel like a bit of a nightmare — until now. Bose has cut the price on its popular SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker to just $89.99 — down from $119 and a generous 25% discount.
This is one of the best Bose speaker deals online...
- 3/28/2023
- by John Lonsdale
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Newen Connect CEO Rodolphe Buet is happy to be back in person at the Berlinale’s European Film Market after the three-year Covid-19 hiatus.
“It’s fun to be in Berlin. When I started in the industry in 2005, my first market was Berlin with Studiocanal,” he says.
In the interim, Buet rose through the Studiocanal ranks to become president of distribution and marketing from 2015 to 2017, overseeing the rollout strategies for Paddington and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy among other major films.
He was appointed CEO of Paris-based Newen Connect in 2020, piloting its creation in the wake of TF1’s 100 acquisition of Newen Studios out of the merger of their distribution arms TF1 Studio, Newen Distribution and Reel One International.
He has spent the last three years steadily putting in place a structure in step with the convergence between the audiovisual and cinema worlds, appointing Leona Connell as Chief Commercial Officer...
“It’s fun to be in Berlin. When I started in the industry in 2005, my first market was Berlin with Studiocanal,” he says.
In the interim, Buet rose through the Studiocanal ranks to become president of distribution and marketing from 2015 to 2017, overseeing the rollout strategies for Paddington and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy among other major films.
He was appointed CEO of Paris-based Newen Connect in 2020, piloting its creation in the wake of TF1’s 100 acquisition of Newen Studios out of the merger of their distribution arms TF1 Studio, Newen Distribution and Reel One International.
He has spent the last three years steadily putting in place a structure in step with the convergence between the audiovisual and cinema worlds, appointing Leona Connell as Chief Commercial Officer...
- 2/17/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
UK producers and sales companies can apply now to take part in the UK-Australia programme that kicks off in May.
The British Film Institute (BFI) has partnered with Australian national body Screen Producers Australia (Spa) and Australian film industry conference Screen Forever to launch UK Connect, a co-production programme strand taking place May 3-5, that forms part of the Spa Connect Market.
Spa Connect is the business end of Screen Forever, that takes place on Australia’s Gold Coast in Queensland.
For the UK Connect programme, Spa and the BFI are inviting 10 film and television producers from the UK and...
The British Film Institute (BFI) has partnered with Australian national body Screen Producers Australia (Spa) and Australian film industry conference Screen Forever to launch UK Connect, a co-production programme strand taking place May 3-5, that forms part of the Spa Connect Market.
Spa Connect is the business end of Screen Forever, that takes place on Australia’s Gold Coast in Queensland.
For the UK Connect programme, Spa and the BFI are inviting 10 film and television producers from the UK and...
- 1/27/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
San Francisco, Jan 12 (Ians) Meta has introduced a new heart rate tracking feature and Health Connect by Android integration on Meta Quest, so that users can keep track of all their fitness statistics.
“One of the most-requested fitness features for Meta Quest has been heart rate tracking, so that you can easily see tangible and real-time results,” the company said in a blogpost on Wednesday.
With the new heart rate feature, users will be able to see their heart rate, when measured by a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor, even while they are in a virtual reality (VR) workout.
When users pair a heart rate monitor to their headset, they will have access to better information about how their VR workouts are raising their heart rate.
“Heart rate monitors that can work with Meta Quest are the Garmin Hrm-Dual and the Polar H10. Other heart rate monitors that use Bluetooth for...
“One of the most-requested fitness features for Meta Quest has been heart rate tracking, so that you can easily see tangible and real-time results,” the company said in a blogpost on Wednesday.
With the new heart rate feature, users will be able to see their heart rate, when measured by a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor, even while they are in a virtual reality (VR) workout.
When users pair a heart rate monitor to their headset, they will have access to better information about how their VR workouts are raising their heart rate.
“Heart rate monitors that can work with Meta Quest are the Garmin Hrm-Dual and the Polar H10. Other heart rate monitors that use Bluetooth for...
- 1/12/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Veteran Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike's work cannot be categorized into one genre of movies. The prolific filmmaker is particularly well-known for his brand of horror and depravity (have you watched "Audition" yet?), but has also dabbled in legal comedies, musicals, samurai adventures, and much more over the course of his 30-plus years of directing (and counting).
His latest project, "Connect," is a live-action TV show that was inspired by Shin Dae-sung's webtoon of the same name. Miike's grisly body horror series follows Ha Dong-soo (South Korean actor Jung Hae-in), who gets abducted by a gang of organ harvesters and has his organs removed. As if that wasn't horrifying enough, his eye ends up being transplanted into a serial killer named Oh Jin-seop (Ko Kyung-po), causing Ha to experience visions of Oh's various murders. As such, it falls to Ha to put an end to the killer's rampage.
"Connect...
His latest project, "Connect," is a live-action TV show that was inspired by Shin Dae-sung's webtoon of the same name. Miike's grisly body horror series follows Ha Dong-soo (South Korean actor Jung Hae-in), who gets abducted by a gang of organ harvesters and has his organs removed. As if that wasn't horrifying enough, his eye ends up being transplanted into a serial killer named Oh Jin-seop (Ko Kyung-po), causing Ha to experience visions of Oh's various murders. As such, it falls to Ha to put an end to the killer's rampage.
"Connect...
- 1/7/2023
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
KollywoodThe posters lining the entrance of Vettri Theatres in Chennai’s Chrompet on New Year’s weekend were all women-led films — Trisha’s ‘Raangi’, Kovai Sarala’s ‘Sembi’, Aishwarya Rajesh’s ‘Driver Jamuna’, and Nayanthara’s ‘Connect’.Tnm StaffTwitter/ @kannandeepanThe sight of large banners, posters, and life-size cutouts being placed outside cinema halls have always brought joy to movie buffs. In addition to functioning as advertisement, it speaks to the fan-following and power that celebrities hold. In what was perhaps a first for Tamil cinema, the banners placed outside well-known cinema halls across Chennai last week featured only women actors as all the major releases of the week were women-led films. The posters lining the entrance of Vettri Theatres in Chrompet — Trisha’s Raangi, Kovai Sarala’s Sembi, Aishwarya Rajesh’s Driver Jamuna and Nayanthara-starrer Connect — were highlighted by a social media user on January 2. The first three films hit...
- 1/3/2023
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
While Nayanthara starrer horror thriller ‘Connect’ has been creating examples of its success with its release in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, the film is all set to release in Hindi today. With its release in the South, the film has started to collect love from all across and the actress just couldn’t resist sharing a thankful note to her fans for showering a great response.
While taking to her social media, Nayanthara shared a thankful note to her fans. She further jotted down the caption, “Thank you guys for making #Connect a big success ♥️ Connect Hindi Releasing today...
While taking to her social media, Nayanthara shared a thankful note to her fans. She further jotted down the caption, “Thank you guys for making #Connect a big success ♥️ Connect Hindi Releasing today...
- 12/30/2022
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Such is the timing of the release of Connect that it not only brings shivers down your spine bringing back the memories of the worst days of our lives but also when the threat is looking back at us yet again! Ashwin Saravanan had in an interview stated that there was hopelessness and uncertainty about whether we would ever recover from Covid. So, he wanted to portray those emotions in a film and that the only genre that would work was horror. Anxiety, dread, sense of hopelessness and fear; the horror genre lends itself to these emotions beautifully. What happens when we are unable to connect?
Story
The story revolves around Susan (Nayanthara), her doctor husband Joseph (Vinay Rai), music loving daughter Anna (Haniya Nafisa) and Father Arthur (Sathyaraj), a happy foursome. On a beach planning the future of Anna, whether she should pursue studying music abroad Joeseph gets a...
Story
The story revolves around Susan (Nayanthara), her doctor husband Joseph (Vinay Rai), music loving daughter Anna (Haniya Nafisa) and Father Arthur (Sathyaraj), a happy foursome. On a beach planning the future of Anna, whether she should pursue studying music abroad Joeseph gets a...
- 12/30/2022
- by Nitin Jain
- GlamSham
Takashi Miike's brand of horror can be described as visceral and deeply disturbing, often verging on lurid depictions of violence and gore. While the prolific Japanese director possesses the gift to tackle a wide range of genres, Miike's horror offerings stand out for their transgressive and (subjectively) taboo subject-matters. His horror series, "Connect," is yet another grisly story that features sadistic killers and perverse truths, but also lacks the telltale gore that characterizes Miike's horror oeuvre. While Miike's "Connect" plates up unsavory themes in a palatable manner, his contribution to the anthology series "Masters of Horror," which was scheduled to air on Showtime in 2006, was ultimately shelved after being considered too extreme for American viewers.
I'm talking about Miike's "Imprint," which follows an American journalist in search of his first love, whose fate might or might not have ended up being horrifying beyond comprehension. Now, Mick Garris put together...
I'm talking about Miike's "Imprint," which follows an American journalist in search of his first love, whose fate might or might not have ended up being horrifying beyond comprehension. Now, Mick Garris put together...
- 12/24/2022
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Reacting to trolls targeting popular actress Nayanthara’s outfit and body shaming her, Telugu singer Chinamyi Sripaada called them out for their cheap comments, terming those trolling the actress as ‘creeps’ and ‘perverts’.
Nayanthara’s recent appearance for the preview of her latest movie ‘Connect’ was subjected to brutal trolling. A video clip of the event went viral on social media, drawing insensitive remarks on her looks and personal life.
“Comments in this post… All perverts, creeps. It is good that the comments were not moderated. So we know who the dangerous ones are. I am wondering whether all these men were breast fed or not? I wonder what will happen if all these men have daughters,” Chinmayi said.
Swathi Jagadish, who runs a sex education page on social media, also slammed “the men commenting on Nayanthara, about her husband, their s** life etc”.
“I feel bad for the women in your life.
Nayanthara’s recent appearance for the preview of her latest movie ‘Connect’ was subjected to brutal trolling. A video clip of the event went viral on social media, drawing insensitive remarks on her looks and personal life.
“Comments in this post… All perverts, creeps. It is good that the comments were not moderated. So we know who the dangerous ones are. I am wondering whether all these men were breast fed or not? I wonder what will happen if all these men have daughters,” Chinmayi said.
Swathi Jagadish, who runs a sex education page on social media, also slammed “the men commenting on Nayanthara, about her husband, their s** life etc”.
“I feel bad for the women in your life.
- 12/24/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Review‘Connect’ uses many old-fashioned tropes that we’ve seen in supernatural Christian horror flicks, and the jump scares are certainly startling. But when scene after scene relentlessly shoves jump scares in your face, there is no suspense. Sowmya RajendranTwitterAshwin Saravanan’s Connect (co-written with Kaavya Ramkumar) is set during the pandemic — a horror film unravelling at a time when reality was already full of it, and people struggled to connect with their loved ones. The whole world learned to conduct its business over Zoom calls, from online school to international conferences, and weddings. So, why not an exorcism? The film opens with an idyllic scene at Mahabalipuram beach. Susan (Nayanthara), her husband Joseph (Vinay Rai), their daughter Anna (Haniya Nafisa) and Susan’s father Arthur (Sathyaraj) are enjoying a peaceful day. Joseph, who is a doctor, receives an urgent call from his hospital, and from then on, the story...
- 12/22/2022
- by MariaR
- The News Minute
The Nayanthara-starrer Tamil horror film ‘Connect’ arrived in theatres on Thursday for a special reason. December 22, being Winter Solstice, also happens to be the longest night of the year. The Ashwin Saravanan directorial, unsurprisingly, has the majority of the night shows packed to the last row.
When asked Nayanthara about the film releasing on the longest night of the year, she said: “It’s a coincidence to be honest. But, to now think of this, it all makes sense to release a film that’s relevant to night and horror stories!!! All night shows have been sold out now and for the weekend. Happy to see that on this special day.”
The film’s Hindi version will be released in theatres on December 30. The film, which features Nayanthara as the lead, also stars Anupam Kher and Sathyaraj in crucial roles.
Produced by Nayanthara’s husband, Vignesh Shivan, under the Rowdy Pictures banner,...
When asked Nayanthara about the film releasing on the longest night of the year, she said: “It’s a coincidence to be honest. But, to now think of this, it all makes sense to release a film that’s relevant to night and horror stories!!! All night shows have been sold out now and for the weekend. Happy to see that on this special day.”
The film’s Hindi version will be released in theatres on December 30. The film, which features Nayanthara as the lead, also stars Anupam Kher and Sathyaraj in crucial roles.
Produced by Nayanthara’s husband, Vignesh Shivan, under the Rowdy Pictures banner,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Kollywood Nayanthara said that things have only got better for her post-marriage because of her support system, adding that she feels that she can achieve more and understand films better. Tnm StaffActor Nayanthara: Image Credit/Rowdy PicturesActor Nayanthara, whose horror flick Connect released in theatres on Thursday, December 22, appeared in a recent interview with television host Dd (Dhivyadharshini). The actor is rarely seen in interviews and avoids media interactions. In the recent interview released by Connect’s production banner Rowdy Pictures, Nayanthara spoke about her stint in cinema, choice of films, how she handles criticism, and notions around marriage. When asked about perceptions around women’s lives changing post marriage, Nayanthara said, “Why are there restrictions for women? I don’t understand why it is so relevant. You are posing it as a question because it is relevant, but I feel it should not be. Why is it a topic...
- 12/22/2022
- by Jahnavi
- The News Minute
InterviewAs he gears up for the release of his latest film ‘Connect’, director Ashwin Saravanan speaks to Tnm about his inclination towards making thrillers, working with Nayanthara, his ‘women-centric’ films, and more.Rajeswari ParasaInstagram/AshwinSaravananFilmmaker Ashwin Saravanan, who has already raised the bar in Tamil cinema’s thriller genre with hits such as Maya (2015) and Game Over (2019), is gearing up for his latest horror thriller to hit the screens on Thursday, December 22. Connect, starring Nayanthara, will be released in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages. The film is set in the backdrop of the Covid-19 lockdown, when a mother realises that her child has been possessed by a spirit. With all road connectivity stalled, how the family navigates the situation by seeking help from an ‘expert’ online forms the crux of Connect. Apart from Nayanthara, the movie features actors Anupam Kher, Satyaraj, and Vinay Rai among others. “Inherently, thrillers make for a visceral film experience.
- 12/21/2022
- by RajeswariP
- The News Minute
The Hindi trailer of the Nayanthara-starrer ‘Connect’ was unveiled on Saturday. It shows a happy family that gets stuck at various locations because of the pandemic that has struck the world. There’s, however, more than meets the eye as pandemic is not the only thing that has stressed the family.
The film, which stars Nayanthara, Sathyaraj, Anupam Kher, and Vinay Rai, has Nayanthara playing the mother to a teenage daughter, while Vinay plays her husband, Sathyaraj plays her father and Anupam Kher essays a Mumbai-based priest.
Nayanthara’s character gets stuck with her daughter in their house, the daughter uses an Ouija board to invite a spirit that she wants to meet but ends up bringing some other spirit.
After she realises that her daughter is possessed, Nayanthara’s character has to deal with the situation all by herself. Anupam, who is the priest, suggests that exorcism needs...
The film, which stars Nayanthara, Sathyaraj, Anupam Kher, and Vinay Rai, has Nayanthara playing the mother to a teenage daughter, while Vinay plays her husband, Sathyaraj plays her father and Anupam Kher essays a Mumbai-based priest.
Nayanthara’s character gets stuck with her daughter in their house, the daughter uses an Ouija board to invite a spirit that she wants to meet but ends up bringing some other spirit.
After she realises that her daughter is possessed, Nayanthara’s character has to deal with the situation all by herself. Anupam, who is the priest, suggests that exorcism needs...
- 12/17/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
As the Nayanthara-starrer Tamil film ‘Connect’ gears up for its December 22 release, the makers of the film have decided to release its Hindi version looking at the response from all around. The film marks the second collaboration of director Ashwin Saravanan with Nayanthara, after ‘Maya’. Aswhin has also worked with Taapsee Pannu in ‘Game Over’ and has a strong grip on the horror-thriller genre.
Talking about the development, producer Vignesh Shivan, who is Nayanthara’s husband, shared, “The audience is appreciating the work of Nayanthara in the north and since the topic is widely relatable to the masses, we are planning to release the film in Hindi post its release in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. “
He mentioned, “It is yet another amazing horror film by our director Ashwin who is the best in this genre. His previous films, ‘Maya’ and ‘Game Over’ were both watched by the Hindi belt audience and garnered immense love,...
Talking about the development, producer Vignesh Shivan, who is Nayanthara’s husband, shared, “The audience is appreciating the work of Nayanthara in the north and since the topic is widely relatable to the masses, we are planning to release the film in Hindi post its release in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. “
He mentioned, “It is yet another amazing horror film by our director Ashwin who is the best in this genre. His previous films, ‘Maya’ and ‘Game Over’ were both watched by the Hindi belt audience and garnered immense love,...
- 12/15/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
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