Brands
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.
Brands
Lululemon picks former Nike executive to be its next chief
Heidi O’Neill, who helped grow Nike into a $45 billion giant, will take the top job in September
CANADA: Lululemon has found its next chief executive, and she comes with serious credentials. The athleisure giant named Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO on Wednesday, ending a search that has left the company running on interim leadership since earlier this year. O’Neill will take charge on September 8, 2026, based out of Vancouver, and will join the board on the same day.
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear and sport. The bulk of that time was spent at Nike, where she was a central figure in one of corporate sport’s great growth stories, helping take the company from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global powerhouse. She oversaw product pipelines, brand strategy and consumer connections, and played a significant role in shaping how Nike spoke to athletes around the world. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss. She also brings boardroom experience from Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and Lithia and Driveway.
The board was unequivocal in its enthusiasm. “We selected Heidi because of the breadth of her experience, her demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent,” said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon’s board.
O’Neill, for her part, was bullish. “Lululemon is an iconic brand with something rare: genuine guest love, a product ethos rooted in innovation, and a global platform still in the early stages of its potential,” she said. “My job will be to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.”
Until she arrives, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs, before returning to their previous senior leadership roles once O’Neill steps in.
Lululemon is betting that a Nike veteran who helped build one of the world’s most powerful sports brands can do something similar for an athleisure label that has genuine love from its customers but is still chasing its full global potential. O’Neill has done it before at scale. The question now is whether she can do it again.
