Hollywood
PPC to produce Hollywood’s ‘Tree of Life’
MUMBAI: After several months of active discussions with producer Donald Rosenfeld and director Terrence Malick, Percept Picture Company (PPC) has been able to close a participation in the Hollywood production titled Tree of Life.
As part of the deal, PPC and Sahara One Motion Pictures will finance the film partly and be associated with it. This would be an extension of Sahara One Motion Pictures into mainstream Hollywood movies. PPC would be the executive producer of the film.
The film features Collin Farrel and two major Hollywood stars in lead roles. Terrence Malick will also script the film and Emmanual Lubezki is the proposed director of photography.
The portion of the film to be shot in India will be done by PPC. The pre-production is slated to commence in January 2006 and expected to release some time in 2008.
Making the announcement, Rosenfeld said, “We are thrilled to be in business with Sahara One Motion Pictures and Percept Picture Company and we look forward to many more great collaborations in the future, both in India and USA.”
The New World, a new interpretation of the Ponchantas/John Smith story, which is scheduled for release in November 2005 is directed by Terrence Mallik, starring Colin Farrel.
PPC’s forthcoming projects includes Hanuman (October 2005 release), Sacred Evil (November 2005 release), Mother Teresa (November 2005 release), Pyaar Mein Twist (September 2005 release), The Truck of Dreams (September 2005 release), Malamaal Weekly (under production), Home Delivery (under production).
Hollywood
Disney sells out ad slots for 98th Oscars broadcast
Strong demand for live events turns the Academy Awards into a global, multi-platform marketing moment
NEW YORK: Hollywood’s biggest night has also become one of advertising’s hottest tickets. Disney has sold out all advertising inventory for the 98th Oscars, underscoring the growing demand from brands eager to ride the cultural wave of major live events.
The sell-out marks the sixth consecutive live tentpole success for Disney Advertising. The streak includes last year’s 97th Oscars, the 59th Annual CMA Awards, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, signalling strong appetite among marketers for moments that bring audiences together in real time.
For advertisers, the Oscars are no longer just a single night of glitz and gold statues. Disney’s “Content Everywhere” strategy has expanded the awards show into a sprawling, multi-platform brand playground spanning linear television, streaming, social media and digital content.
“Live continues to be one of the most powerful ways for brands to connect with engaged audiences at scale, and the Oscars represent the very best of culture, creativity and community,” said Disney Advertising SVP, entertainment and streaming solutions John Campbell. He added that the company has reshaped the show’s commercial potential into a connected experience that stretches well beyond the broadcast.
Brands such as Mazda, Pfizer and Volkswagen of America are tapping into Disney’s wider ecosystem, appearing across original content segments including Know Your Movies on Hulu and Critically Acclaimed on Disney+. Partnerships also extend to social media through TikTok Pulse Premiere and to custom brand storytelling created by Disney CreativeWorks.
The result is what Disney calls the “Oscars Everywhere” approach. Rather than a few high-profile ad breaks, advertisers now find themselves woven through a series of moments before, during and after the ceremony.
These include On The Red Carpet at The Oscars, a live pre-show syndicated across major local markets and streamed nationwide, and the After the Oscars Show, which keeps the conversation going once the final award has been handed out.
This year’s sponsors include Rolex, returning for its ninth year, and Burger King, which joins the Oscars advertiser roster for the first time. Other brands in the mix include Disney Cruise Line, Dunkin’, Eli Lilly and Company, Eucerin, Intuit TurboTax, L’Oréal, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Miebo, Paris Baguette, Peacock, Starbucks, State Farm, Toyota and Verizon.
The 98th Oscars will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
