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MTV & HP provide ‘Fame-istan’ to budding filmmakers
MUMBAI: Freedom of expression is considered to be a basic necessity for human beings to live a full life. It is a reflection of a healthy and democratic nation. More often than not cinema is considered as a classic means of expression of thoughts and freedom. MTV, the voice of the youth, along with HP Inc.has taken the onus to give a democratic makeover to the craft of filmmaking their latest venture, HP India MTV Fame-istan.
The mass outreach of cinema is one of the major reasons that makes ‘Fame-istan’ the best platform for filmmakers to express themselves. Fame-istan will be enabling four aspiring filmmakers to live their dream of making a film and being mentored by top- guns in the Indian film industry. Each month a film mentor will introduce the director of the month. The director will then call out to actors and people who want to be a part of their short film.
Staying true to its name, Fame-istan will not only help young filmmakers live their dream but also offer a chance to the cast and crew of the movie to make it big by providing them a platform to showcase their talent. After the selection of the cast and crew of the movie, the filmmakers will be mentored by ace directors from the film industry. Each short film will have to be completed within a duration of 1.5 months. Once the movie is shot, the mentor will give their verdict on the film. The first mentor who will be guiding young filmmakers and helping them hone their skill is ace director, Mohit Suri.
On giving more power to young filmmakers, Viacom18 head – youth, music and English entertainment Ferzad Palia says: “At MTV we believe in inspiring and empowering youngsters. Fame- istan is a platform that will enable young movie makers kick-start their filmmaking career that too with the help of ace directors from the industry. Cinema is a powerful and inspiring platform and is by far the only democratic tool in the country that has a mass outreach. Indian cinema has grown in different directions of late and offers more diversity than ever and Fame- istan is a perfect platform for budding artists to showcase their talent through cinema.”
HP Inc, India, head of country marketing Ayesha Durante said, “We are delighted to be creating this platform along with MTV. HP is furthering its proposition of ‘ReinventMyStory’ by providing the youth a launchpad to showcase their own capabilities, stand out early on in their lives and make their mark in this space, thereby reinventing the story of their lives.”
The short films will be brought to life using HP Pavilion x360 and HP Spectre x360 and will be stitched together in an episode which will later be telecasted on MTV. The films will individually go live on MTV’s social platforms as well.
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Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
