Latest news with #Dracula
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dracula mythology: ‘Golam' director Samjad's ‘Half' to bring a fresh twist on Dracula myth
May 26th marked World Dracula Day, commemorating the 1897 publication of Bram Stoker's legendary 'Dracula', a novel that shaped modern vampire mythology worldwide. Over 128 years later, the vampire saga continues to captivate audiences globally, and now it's finding new life in Indian cinema. Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Login to view result Malayalam director Samjad, known for 'Golam', has launched production on a vampire action film titled 'Half'. High-concept vampire action filmed amid Rajasthan's desert 'Half' is currently being shot across dramatic desert locations in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, giving the film an atmospheric and gritty backdrop rarely seen in Malayalam movies. The film reunites director Samjad with Golam's lead Ranjith Sajeev, alongside 'Officer on Duty' fame Aiswarya Raj. However, production was briefly paused due to escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan, with the team returning to Kerala. Filming is scheduled to resume from June 2nd, reigniting excitement among fans. Expectations rise for plot, visuals, and release details As the team prepares to resume shooting, anticipation builds around the film's intriguing take on vampire mythology and its visual style. The project is also rumored to include shoots in Serbia, adding international flair. With Malayalam cinema embracing such a dark fantasy genre, 'Half' could pioneer a new wave of genre experimentation in regional films. Golam - Official Trailer More details on the storyline, visuals, and release timeline are expected in the coming weeks. For now, the shadows of vampirism loom large, ready to enter the spotlight in a Malayalam setting for the first time. Meanwhile, Samjad's mystery thriller movie 'Golam' turned out to be one of the best crime thrillers of the last year. Executed in an Agatha Christie style narrative, 'Golam' featured the talented Ranjith Sajeev in the lead.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Xumo CEO's AI-Powered Fairground Raises $4M, Debuts Dracula And Robin Hood Shows With Viant And Myspace Founder Support
A new player in AI entertainment is stepping into the spotlight, and it's already making bold moves. Colin Petrie-Norris, the former CEO and co-founder of Xumo who helped pioneer the free, ad-supported television movement, is now betting on the future of AI-generated television with his latest venture, Fairground Entertainment, according to Variety. The startup, based in Laguna Beach, California, has raised $4 million in seed funding. The round was led by Viant Technology (NASDAQ:DSP), a programmatic advertising firm that originally co-founded Xumo alongside Panasonic. The move extends a longstanding partnership between Petrie-Norris and Viant CEO and co-founder Tim Vanderhook, who previously served as CEO of Myspace, Variety reports. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Fairground aims to create and distribute TV series entirely generated with AI tools, with a special focus on animation, sci-fi, horror, and kids' content. According to Variety, the first slate of original programming is set to launch in the third quarter of this year. Among the debut titles are reimagined versions of public domain classics like Dracula and Robin Hood. Petrie-Norris told Variety that his team is in talks with studios to secure licensing rights to more widely recognized IPs in the future. Fairground's creative process has at the core a curated group of AI creators who are using a range of generative platforms to produce high-quality, engaging content, and according to Petrie-Norris, more than a dozen AI-powered series are currently in development. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — According to The Desk, Fairground is focused on helping creators apply existing tools to bring their stories to life, not looking to reinvent the technology behind AI. The studio will act as a creative and strategic partner, guiding projects from concept to completion using the best AI platforms available. 'I'm not trying to compete with the generative AI services; I'm here to sell picks and shovels to the coal miners,' Petrie-Norris told The Desk. 'I don't profess to be an expert in AI. I am an expert in the entertainment industry first. I know how monetization and distribution works.' Vanderhook voiced strong support for the venture, telling The Desk that the startup 'shares our vision for innovation in streaming, centered on the transformative power of AI.'Vanderhook, along with his brother, Chris, has long been a force in the digital media space. Their company Viant was acquired by magazine publisher Time in 2016, but the Vanderhooks later bought back the company's shares and took it public in 2021, Variety says. Petrie-Norris also had words of praise for the Vanderhook brothers. 'This team led by the Vanderhooks are world-class, and some of the best ideas and the best entrepreneurs you can get,' he told The Desk. Their work in AI mirrors the kind of innovation Fairground is leaning into. Fairground's approach reflects a broader shift in how entertainment may be conceived and produced in the future, The Desk says. With its strong backing, a slate of recognizable IPs, and a founder who spots trends before they go mainstream, Fairground is positioning itself as a next-gen content studio to watch. Read Next:Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Former Xumo CEO's AI-Powered Fairground Raises $4M, Debuts Dracula And Robin Hood Shows With Viant And Myspace Founder Support originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
World Dracula Day 2025: 7 Creepy Facts About Dracula You've Never Heard
Muskan Kalra May 26, 2025 The Name 'Dracula' Means 'Son of the Dragon': Vlad's father belonged to the Order of the Dragon, a knightly group, which gave Vlad the nickname Dracula — meaning 'son of the dragon' or 'devil.' Dracula Was Inspired by a Real Bloodthirsty Prince: Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century Romanian ruler, was notorious for his brutal methods — including impaling his enemies on stakes. Dracula's Character Was Partly Inspired by an Austrian Count: Bram Stoker researched an Austrian nobleman named Count Johann Helfried von Dracula, which influenced the aristocratic vampire image. The Dracula Legend Helped Create the Modern Vampire Myth: Many vampire traits we know today—like transforming into bats or being repelled by crosses—were popularized through Dracula's story. Bram Stoker Never Visited Transylvania: Despite writing a detailed setting in Transylvania, Stoker never traveled there — he based his descriptions on library research. The Original Dracula Was Afraid of Garlic: Folk legends and vampire myths often associate garlic with repelling vampires; this was woven into the Dracula lore, but there's no historical evidence Vlad feared it. Dracula Was One of the First Monsters to Become a Pop Culture Icon: Since the 1920s, Dracula has appeared in hundreds of films, TV shows, and books — making him one of the most famous monsters ever. Read Next Story
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
I went to UK's best seaside town - but was stunned by what I found
Whitby, North Yorkshire, is one of the UK's most famous seaside resorts, but an urban explorer found it was eerily quiet and had many closed shops when he visited A British coastal gem, hailed as the most famous in the UK, was surprisingly deserted during one urban explorer's visit to see if it lived up to its lofty reputation. David Burnip, better known to his 140,000 YouTube fans as The Wandering Turnip, was taken aback by the lack of tourists and numerous shuttered shops on his trip to Whitby, North Yorkshire. Despite being crowned the UK's "Best Seaside Resort" by Which? holiday magazine back in 2006, two decades later, the allure of Whitby seems to have diminished. The town is also famed for hosting "the best fish and chip shop in Britain" as per celebrity chef Rick Stein, yet the YouTuber's first impressions were underwhelming. "I did expect it to be a lot busier than this," David remarked. "Maybe because the weather's not as good, but I thought more things would be open," reports the Express. Even the few attractions that were open, like the sailing ship turned floating restaurant, were eerily quiet – echoing Whitby's eerie connection to Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic novel where Count Dracula's ship arrives at the British seaport. Glancing uneasily at the vacant seats, David commented: "I might have been duped when I was told that this is the best fish and chips in Whitby, because literally no-one else is on this boat which is a restaurant and a bar." In all honesty, the battered cod served to David was as fresh and flavoursome as one would expect from a Northern Sea fishing port, though he reckoned the chips didn't quite hit the mark. On the subject of unnecessary garnish, he quipped: "I'm having fish and chips, not a bloody Joe Wicks meal. "Come on you don't need that on there!" As day broke, Whitby awakened with its beachside bars springing into action and the town's unique indie stores welcoming customers. You could spot several shops offering jewellery crafted from jet, the local semi precious stone forged from ancient fossilised wood, a nod to Whitby's heyday as a jet mining hub. The town is not just famed for its Dracula connections, but also as the starting point for the legendary 18th Century navigator Captain James Cook, celebrated for charting Australia 's eastern coastline and Hawaii. A tribute to this pioneering seafarer can be found in a Whitby museum, where it's disclosed that after Cook's fatal encounter with Hawaiians, he was identified only by a notable scar on his right hand, given little else of him remained. These days, Whitby buzzes with excitement during the iconic Goth Weekends, a celebration for one of the UK's enduring pop subcultures, complete with music festivals graced by top bands like Heaven 17, The Damned, and Altered Images, attracting a sea of fans in their gothic best.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
SQA accused of 'slap in the face' to teachers
One teacher described the exam board's actions as 'a real slap in the face to those wanting to do the best for the young people in their class.' The country's biggest teaching union said that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) should have carried out 'proper consultation' with schools and urged them to 'think again' about the changes. The course updates were announced in the SQA's regular newsletter on 15 May and include the removal of an entire question paper from Higher Drama, the introduction of a prescribed text list for another, and alterations to exam questions and marking schemes at National 5 and Advanced Higher levels. According to one senior teacher who approached The Herald, this was the 'first notification' to schools that significant changes would be introduced and made mandatory for the 2025/26 academic year. Under a sub-heading of 'What you'll need to do differently', teachers were informed that they will have to select one of 15 prescribed texts for paper one of the exam. In addition, they were told: 'You'll also need to update your teaching notes and assessment materials to reflect the new marking instructions for both sections of the question paper.' The post confirmed that the updated course specifications and exemplar exam papers would be made available four days later on Monday 19 May. This material was published as planned on the SQA website. Most secondary schools in Scotland begin their new timetables in June once students have returned from exam leave, meaning that teachers have just a few weeks to reconstruct their courses to fit the new requirements. In cases where schools have not previously taught any of the new approved texts, class sets will have to be purchased and entirely new teaching materials developed. The EIS has told its members not to carry out unplanned additional work in order to accommodate 'last minute changes from the SQA". READ MORE: A spokesperson for the SQA insisted that the changes have been 'shaped by the thoughtful feedback shared by teachers, and the timing reflects what was important to them.' They also said that 'a range of resources' will be made available 'in the new session' in order to 'help bring clarity and confidence to the classroom". However, a senior teacher disputed these claims, telling The Herald that the SQA had carried out very limited engagement work and had not presented the proposed set text list to teacher to gather their opinions on the plays to be included. They added that the decision to impose the changes immediately creates an 'obvious workload issue' and financial challenges that the SQA should address. In addition to the logistical concerns being raised by teachers, the new set text list has also been described as disappointing and uninspired, with some arguing that it will make it more difficult for teachers to engage young people in the subject. The only women with work included as a set text are Shelagh Delaney (A Taste of Honey), Liz Lochhead (Dracula), Ena Lamont Stewart (Men Should Weep), Zinnie Harris (The Duchess (of Malfi)). An SQA spokesperson told The Herald that the selections on the new list are 'based on the most popular responses' in previous exams, and that the list will be 'reviewed regularly top ensure it remains relevant". The new list of set texts for Higher Drama (Image: James McEnaney) Speaking to The Herald on condition of anonymity, one current drama teacher said that the SQA has 'failed to recognise the huge implications of introducing a set text list and new marking scheme just a few weeks before the change of timetable." They continued: 'In a time where unions are voicing concerns for teachers health and wellbeing as well as workload it's a real slap in the face to those wanting to do the best for the young people in their class. 'I'm hugely concerned at the lack of diversity on the new list - it does not represent a contemporary Scotland. There are no BAME texts, very few females on the list. It's made up with a majority of white men.' Commenting on changes to marking approaches, the teacher added that these have 'now been dumbed down' and expressed a fear that drama will 'now be looked down on by universities' when setting entry requirements. Anne Keenan, Assistant General Secretary of the EIS, said: 'Clearly, where it is necessary to make changes to a course in any subject following what should be consultation with teachers through their representative bodies, it is essential that schools and teachers are provided with adequate information and time to prepare. The workload demands of changes to a course are substantial, and can add significantly to existing teacher workload if not managed correctly. In addition, changes to courses can bring with them resource requirements which place an even greater strain on already tight school budgets. 'In planning any changes to courses, the SQA must be fully cognisant to the impact on schools, teachers and students. It is also important that due consideration be given to the appropriateness of the required materials, including the equality impact of the selected texts. 'Proper consultation with teacher trade unions would have led to much stronger equality considerations at an early stage. The EIS continues to advise members that there can be no expectation that last-minute changes from the SQA will be accommodated over and above existing agreements in respect of teachers' working time. 'The SQA should think again.' The Herald approached the SQA to ask why course changes were being pushed through for the coming school year and whether the exam board would consider a delay in response to concerns raised. Their spokesperson said: 'Following feedback from stakeholders, and evidence gathered from past years' assessments whereby learners were not taking advantage of the full range of marks available to them in the Higher Drama exam, SQA took the decision to review the Higher Drama question paper and the accompanying marking instructions. 'This was done to consolidate the question paper and give learners the best opportunity to maximise their marks from the paper. Feedback received indicated that there was a desire among teachers to adopt the changes for the 2025-26 session. 'These changes were shaped by the thoughtful feedback shared by teachers, and the timing reflects what was important to them. 'To support teachers through this transition, a range of resources will be available in the new session. These will include an event, a webinar, and understanding standards material – such as exemplar answers and commentaries – to help bring clarity and confidence to the classroom. 'We're grateful to teachers for their input, which played a key role in shaping these developments.'
