International
Paramount on top; rakes in $5.17 bn globally in 2011
MUMBAI: Taking the crown away from Warner Bros, that was on a winning streak for the last five years, Paramount ranked No. 1 in market share at the domestic box office in 2011 with a global total to $5.17 billion.
Among Paramount‘s 2011 titles, Dark of the Moon grossed $1.123 billion worldwide followed by DreamWorks Animation‘s Kung Fu Panda 2 with $665.7 million. The Paranormal Activity threequel grossed $203 million — after only costing $5 million to make. Ghost Protocol, on the other hand that released around Christmas, has grossed $366.5 million worldwide in less than three weeks.
Overseas too, Paramount became the first studio in history to jump the $3 billion mark with its titles earning $3.21 billion. Paramount is credited for its fine-tuned marketing and distribution units, as well as for a focused development slate.
Compared to Paramount, Warner Bros.‘ films took in $2.86 billion overseas for a global total of $4.67 billion, the second-best showing after Paramount among the Hollywood studios.
“Over the last six years, we‘ve achieved everything we hoped we would,” Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey has been reported as saying.
“We had three major franchise titles in 2011, Michael Bay‘s Dark of the Moon, Paranormal Activity 3 and the recalibration of Mission: Impossible–Ghost Protocol, with Tom Cruise doing a great job.”
Paramount has also revealed its 2012 slate that will include films like Paranormal Activity 4, Brad Pitt’s World War Z, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and The Dictator.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
