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The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a balloon theatre bringing the cinema experience to rural India
When a bright yellow inflatable structure appeared in the heart of Leh, a remote Himalayan town 3,505 metres above sea level, Jigmet Angchok initially mistook it for a bouncy castle. But when he stepped inside the "balloon theatre" he found a fully-fledged cinema equipped with Dolby digital sound, plush pushback seats and stunning picture quality. The radio DJ, 32, was inside the world's highest-altitude cinema and couldn't contain his excitement. 'I was always curious about what it was like to watch a film on a big screen,' Angchok tells The National. 'This wonderful theatre had appeared in front of my eyes, just like the ones in big cities.' Cinema frenzy nation India is a nation of movie buffs, with 2,000 different Hindi or Bollywood and regional productions shown in cinemas each year. But for millions, particularly in rural parts of the country, a night at the cinema has long been a distant and expensive dream. Since 1913, when a film was shown on the big screen for the first time, cinemas have evolved from single screen theatres to multiplexes. But there are only 10,000 cinemas and 30,000 screens in a country that is home to 1.4 billion people. Most of them are in big cities or towns, according to research by the Producers Guild of India. For movie buffs like Angchok, watching a film in a brick-and-mortar cineplex was, for a long time, a far-fetched dream. There was not a single cinema hall in Ladakh, an arid region in northern India which generally remains covered in five metres of snow for four months during winter, until Picture Time arrived in 2021 to install an inflatable cinema. Its mobile movie theatres are designed to give an unparalleled experience to enthusiasts like Angchok. 'There used to be a cinema hall in town during my childhood, but it closed in the late 2000s,' Angchok says. 'So I grew up watching films on CD players or screened at a community hall. I always longed to watch a film at a cinema on a big screen.' About 1,500km from Leh, the capital of Ladakh, Tarun Soni had a similar experience. The cinephile had to travel 150km from his small town of Nagaur to a nearby city like Jodhpur in the desert region of Rajasthan, a journey of three hours each way, to watch a film on a big screen. All that changed for Soni when the inflatable cinema arrived. 'Initially we were apprehensive,' says the school principal, 30. 'This is a windy place and we were worried that the structure would be blown away. But once inside, we din't feel any difference. One time we were watching a film and it was raining heavily, but we did not feel a thing. The picture and sound quality is excellent. 'It is a small town and we had never had a theatrical experience before. Since this concept was introduce, people have been excited about films, especially families, because they now have a place to go for an outing.' Cinema in small towns Picture Time is the brainchild of Delhi -based entrepreneur Sushil Chaudhary, who strongly believes watching films in a cinema is 'not just entertainment but a fundamental part of life'. Chaudhary, 50, came up with the idea of bringing the big screen experience to small towns. 'Multiplex cinemas are in malls, but there is a shortage around the country,' he explains. 'I wanted something that would be more accessible and thought a portable cinema could solve the problem.' After years of research, Picture Time opened an experimental inflatable cinema in Chhattisgarh in 2019. It was a huge success, encouraging Chaudhary to replicate his idea across India. He has since set up more than 27 cinemas, from Ladakh to Bommidi in Tamil Nadu in southern India. His inflatable theatres have 120 to 180 seats and can be set up to stand on any ground for 15 years. That idea came to him when he was at a birthday party which had a bouncy castle. 'We were designing at the time,' Chaudhary recalls. 'My aim was to create an air-conditioned cinema that was easy to erect and portable.' His inflatable cinema has proper acoustics and is fire-resistant. Balanced air circulation ensures it can withstand high temperatures. Streaming challenge Streaming is all the rage these days, but a 2023 study by online platform BookMyShow found that 98 per cent of Indians still believe in the magic of cinema. India has 547.3 million users on streaming platforms but only 100 million paid subscribers, according to research by media consulting firm Ormax Media. Cinema's popularity endures. 'When we release a big film, 300 to 400 people turn up every day,' says Stenzin Tankyong, an entrepreneur who owns a Picture Time franchise in Ladakh. The big screen and audio experience are only part of the attraction. Angchok points out that cinemas give audiences a chance to enjoy a film with friends over a large tub of popcorn. 'Cinemas have charm,' he says. 'They are the complete package. People enjoy watching films on big screens with popcorn and this experience is not available at home.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How ‘Rebel Ridge' became the Emmy frontrunner for Best TV Movie
Is Rebel Ridge about to follow in the Emmy-winning footsteps of Quiz Lady, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and ... Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers? The Netflix telefilm has held the No. 1 spot in Gold Derby's Best TV Movie odds all season long, despite increasingly fierce competition from the likes of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Out of My Mind, Mountainhead, Am I OK?, and The Gorge. Why? Perhaps Rebel Ridge is still coasting off its awards juice from earlier in the season, where it claimed prizes at the Critics Choice Awards (Best TV Movie) and Image Awards (Best Actor for Aaron Pierre), and scored nominations from the Producers Guild and Writers Guild, among others. More from GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'Eureka Day' playwright Jonathan Spector talks vaccine debates, vicious comment sections, and 'the failure of a utopia' Breakout star Owen Cooper admits 'Adolescence' was 'very out of my comfort zone' The action thriller stars Pierre as Terry Richmond, a former Marine who has a run-in with a small town's corrupt and racist police force, including Don Johnson's Chief Sandy Burnne. The cast is rounded out by AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Steve Zissis, Zsané Jhé, Dana Lee, and James Cromwell. The movie has a 95 percent at Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it "an intelligent and gripping vehicle for Aaron Pierre's star-making performance." It became one of Netflix's most-watched films of 2024, with 129 million streams. Rebel Ridge is written, produced, directed, and edited by Jeremy Saulnier, the Cannes-winning filmmaker whose prior movies include Murder Party (2007), Blue Ruin (2013), Green Room (2015), and Hold the Dark (2018). On the TV front, he's best known for directing and producing True Detective Season 3, which was considered a return to form for the HBO limited series. With Saulnier in charge, Rebel Ridge is a few notches above your everyday TV movie. Gold Derby This Emmy category has drawn backlash in recent years, particularly with light-hearted fare like Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) and Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (2021) winning. Contemporary TV movies are rarely nominated in other categories, suggesting a general weakness for this fare both above- and below-the-line. One notable exception was 2023's well-respected Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a satiric biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe as the Grammy-winning musician, brought a sense of cachet back to the race with its eight nominations and two wins (Best TV Movie and Best Music Composition). That was followed by Quiz Lady last year, a dramedy starring Awkwafina and Sandra Oh as estranged sisters who try to win money to pay off their mother's debt that received decidedly mixed reviews and no nominations outside the category. But as the first phase of Emmy voting nears, there are signs that the race could tighten. If Gold Derby's odds are any indication, the current lineup of Best TV Movie contenders could result in one of the category's most exciting Emmy races in years. Our 21 experts from major media outlets are divided on this category, with the following four telefilms each receiving No. 1 votes: Ten experts predict Rebel Ridge: Ben Travers (Indiewire), Dave Nemetz (TVLine), Debra Birnbaum (Gold Derby), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Keith Simanton (IMDb), Matt Brennan (L.A. Times), Matt Neglia (Next Best Picture), Peter Travers (ABC), Tariq Khan (KSDK), and Wilson Morales (BlackFilmandTV) Nine experts predict Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy: Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Eric Deggans (NPR), Gregory Ellwood (The Playlist), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Kate Erbland (Indiewire), Kristen Baldwin (Entertainment Weekly), Shawn Edwards (WDAF-TV Fox), Susan King (freelance), and Thelma Adams (freelance) One expert predicts Mountainhead: Matt Roush (TV Guide) One expert predicts Out of My Mind: Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby) Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is the fourth installment in the Bridget Jones film series, with Renée Zellweger returning as the titular love-stricken British woman. The first three films made $759 million worldwide in theaters, but this latest installment was only released theatrically overseas. Here in the United States, it can be streamed on Peacock. Mountainhead is Jesse Armstrong's highly anticipated first film project since winning seven Emmy Awards for Succession (four for writing, three for producing). The HBO movie follows four wealthy tech billionaires — played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef — who meet at a swanky ski resort amid a global crisis. It'll be released on May 31, the last day of Emmy eligibility. Out of My Mind, like Rebel Ridge, is a TV movie that's already hit it big on the awards circuit. It received noms at the Critics Choice and Writers Guild Awards, and won for Amber Sealey at the Directors Guild Awards. It also claimed the Peabody Award for Children's/Youth Program and the Television Academy Honors for inspiring social change. The Disney+ film stars Phoebe-Rae Taylor as a middle schooler with cerebral palsy whose inner thoughts are spoken by Jennifer Aniston. Of all the films in the category, Out of My Mind has seen the biggest spike in predictions in recent days and is trending upwards at the perfect time, narrowing the gap with Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and closing in on second place in the odds. Let us know what you think of this year's Best TV Movie race by sounding off in our TV forum. Make your predictions at Gold Derby right now. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal The Making of 'Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series Click here to read the full article.
The Independent
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sean Baker wins best director Oscar for ‘Anora,' his 3rd of the night
Sean Baker won best director at the Oscars on Sunday for ' Anora,' bookending a dominant awards season for the American filmmaker whose stories seek to humanize sex workers and immigrants. Baker, 53, wrote, produced, directed and edited the film, which is also among the top contenders for best picture. The comedy-drama stars Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch. They impulsively tie the knot on a ketamine-induced Las Vegas getaway, angering his parents, who send their bumbling henchmen after the couple to force an annulment. 'If you didn't cast Mikey Madison in 'Once Upon a Time,' there would be no 'Anora,'' Baker told Quentin Tarantino, who presented the award. Baker came into the night the favorite for the directing Oscar after earning the top prize from the Directors Guild of America, a win that historically all but guarantees an Oscars victory. He also took home the top awards at the Producers Guild and Independent Spirit Awards. This year's best director lineup featured five first-time nominees in the category for the first time in nearly three decades. All had writing credits on their respective films, demonstrating the academy's growing preference for auteurs who can masterfully bring their own vision to life. For the Oscar, he beat out Brady Corbet of 'The Brutalist,' James Mangold of 'A Complete Unknown,' Jacques Audiard of 'Emilia Pérez' and Coralie Fargeat of 'The Substance.' Going into the night, Baker had the potential to win a record four Oscars for 'Anora,' which was nominated for six in total. He won for best original screenplay and best editing — a rarity as directors don't typically cut their own films. He is also up for best picture. 'Anora' brings Baker's signature style of provocative comedy from indie theaters into the mainstream, blending slapstick humor with social commentary in a way that makes lessons about marginalized groups palatable to a wider audience. He made the film on a modest budget of $6 million — an amount one producer joked is smaller than the catering budget of some of its competitors. Last year's best picture winner, 'Oppenheimer,' had a $100 million budget. Baker has been vocal about the difficulty of making independent films and surviving as an indie filmmaker in an industry that increasingly supports big-budget spectacles. In a rousing speech at the Independent Spirit Awards, he said indies are in danger of becoming 'calling card films' — movies made only as a means to get hired for projects at major studios. Without backing for independent films, he said, some of the most creative and innovative projects might never be made. Baker has long been passionate about using his craft to help destigmatize sex work. His 2012 film 'Starlet' follows a budding friendship between an adult film star and a crotchety widow who sells her a thermos full of cash at a yard sale. Baker said the connections he formed with sex workers involved in the project inspired him to feature them in several other films. He received widespread praise for 'Tangerine' (2015), in which he used three iPhone 5S smartphones to tell a story about transgender sex workers in Los Angeles. In 'The Florida Project' (2017), a single mother living in an Orlando motel turns to sex work to provide for her daughter. And 'Red Rocket' (2021) follows a retired porn actor's journey back to his small Texas hometown. ___
Associated Press
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Sean Baker wins best director Oscar for ‘Anora'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean Baker won best director at the Oscars on Sunday for 'Anora,' bookending a dominant awards season for the American filmmaker whose stories seek to humanize sex workers and immigrants. Baker, 53, wrote, produced, directed and edited the film, which is also among the top contenders for best picture. The comedy-drama stars Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch. They impulsively tie the knot on a ketamine-induced Las Vegas getaway, angering his parents, who send their bumbling henchmen after the couple to force an annulment. 'If you didn't cast Mikey Madison in 'Once Upon a Time,' there would be no 'Anora,'' Baker told Quentin Tarantino, who presented the award. Baker came into the night the favorite for the directing Oscar after earning the top prize from the Directors Guild of America, a win that historically all but guarantees an Oscars victory. He also took home the top awards at the Producers Guild and Independent Spirit Awards. This year's best director lineup featured five first-time nominees in the category for the first time in nearly three decades. All had writing credits on their respective films, demonstrating the academy's growing preference for auteurs who can masterfully bring their own vision to life. For the Oscar, he beat out Brady Corbet of 'The Brutalist,' James Mangold of 'A Complete Unknown,' Jacques Audiard of 'Emilia Pérez' and Coralie Fargeat of 'The Substance.' Going into the night, Baker had the potential to win a record four Oscars for 'Anora,' which was nominated for six in total. He won for best original screenplay and best editing — a rarity as directors don't typically cut their own films. He is also up for best picture. 'Anora' brings Baker's signature style of provocative comedy from indie theaters into the mainstream, blending slapstick humor with social commentary in a way that makes lessons about marginalized groups palatable to a wider audience. He made the film on a modest budget of $6 million — an amount one producer joked is smaller than the catering budget of some of its competitors. Last year's best picture winner, 'Oppenheimer,' had a $100 million budget. Baker has been vocal about the difficulty of making independent films and surviving as an indie filmmaker in an industry that increasingly supports big-budget spectacles. In a rousing speech at the Independent Spirit Awards, he said indies are in danger of becoming 'calling card films' — movies made only as a means to get hired for projects at major studios. Without backing for independent films, he said, some of the most creative and innovative projects might never be made. Baker has long been passionate about using his craft to help destigmatize sex work. His 2012 film 'Starlet' follows a budding friendship between an adult film star and a crotchety widow who sells her a thermos full of cash at a yard sale. Baker said the connections he formed with sex workers involved in the project inspired him to feature them in several other films. He received widespread praise for 'Tangerine' (2015), in which he used three iPhone 5S smartphones to tell a story about transgender sex workers in Los Angeles. In 'The Florida Project' (2017), a single mother living in an Orlando motel turns to sex work to provide for her daughter. And 'Red Rocket' (2021) follows a retired porn actor's journey back to his small Texas hometown.
Express Tribune
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Oscars 2025: Anora, Conclave Lead as Brody, Chalamet, and Moore Shine
The 97th Academy Awards are set to take place on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre, celebrating the past year's most acclaimed films and performances. Among the strongest contenders for Best Picture is Anora, a drama about a Brooklyn stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. The film has gained significant momentum after securing wins at the Directors Guild and Producers Guild awards. Director Sean Baker is also a frontrunner for Best Director. Another major contender is Conclave, a gripping thriller about power struggles in a Vatican papal election. The film recently won at the BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Its storyline has taken on added significance as Pope Francis remains in critical condition in hospital. Brody, Chalamet Lead Best Actor Race In the Best Actor category, Adrien Brody has emerged as a strong candidate for his portrayal of Hungarian-Jewish architect Laszlo Toth in The Brutalist. However, he faces tough competition from Timothée Chalamet, who recently won a SAG Award for his performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Moore, Madison, Torres in Contention for Best Actress Demi Moore is a leading contender for Best Actress for her role in The Substance, where she plays an ageing actress and television fitness instructor struggling with career decline. She is up against Mikey Madison (Anora) and Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here), both of whom have gained traction in the awards circuit.
