International
MGM deadline extension has Lions Gate smiling
MUMBAI: In its bid to take control of MGM, Spyglass Entertainment suffered a significant setback after the ailing studio extended the deadline for creditors to vote on whether to hand the reins to Spyglass principals Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum till 29 October.
The Spyglass plan would give the production company a 4.7 per ecnt stake in the studio and the balance of ownership to more than 100 lenders. The Spyglass plan would eliminate all MGM debt. Eventually, Barber and Birnbaum would seek new loans for MGM operating capital.
On the other hand, the delay gives rival suitor Lions Gate more time to convince creditors to consider its proposal. Backed by major shareholders including Carl Icahn and Gordon Crawford‘s Capital Research, Lions Gate proposes to merge with MGM to form a company in which it would hold a 45 per cent stake and the lenders 55 per cent.
MGM isn‘t letting lenders specifically vote on the Lions Gate plan, nor have Lions Gate executives been able to make a formal presentation. But with momentum on its side, the Lions Gate proposal could win by default if lenders vote against adopting the Spyglass plan.
One way or another, MGM needs to restructure its finances to reduce or eliminate almost $4 billion in debt. Any restructuring likely would culminate in the filing of a pre-packaged reorganisation plan in US Bankruptcy Court.
International
Utopai Studios unveils 4K three-minute video generation for PAI platform
New Story Agent and editing tools aim to streamline AI-led filmmaking workflows
MUMBAI: Utopai Studios has announced a major upgrade to its PAI storytelling AI platform, introducing what it claims is an industry-first capability to generate three-minute videos in 4K resolution, alongside enhancements to its Story Agent feature.
The update, rolling out from April 15, expands the platform’s capabilities across the filmmaking process, from early concept development to post-production. The company said the new features are designed to help filmmakers maintain continuity across characters, scenes and visual styles, a key challenge in AI-driven storytelling.
At the heart of the release is a next-generation model that enables more structured narrative development, allowing creators to move more seamlessly from idea to execution. With tools such as multi-shot sequencing and multi-turn editing, the platform aims to give both studios and independent creators greater control over complex storytelling workflows.
Commenting on the launch, Utopai Studios co-founder and CTO Jie Yang said, “The next phase of AI in media will not be defined by isolated tools, but by systems that can carry story, continuity and collaboration across the full creative process.” He added that the update is a step towards enabling more practical, end-to-end narrative development at a professional level.
Echoing this, Utopai Studios co-founder and chief scientific officer Zijian He said, “Generative video is opening the door to a new production model, where creative ambition is less constrained by traditional cost and complexity.” He noted that the platform combines multimodal models with iterative editing to give creators more speed, control and consistency.
The company said PAI is already being used in professional film and television productions, particularly in Hollywood, for tasks such as pre-visualisation, scene design and post-production refinements. The latest update adds features including improved voice options, character consistency, unlimited editing and more flexible asset management.
Utopai also emphasised that its models are not trained on copyrighted material, positioning the platform as a cleaner alternative for creators and rights holders navigating the evolving AI landscape.
As AI continues to reshape content creation, Utopai’s latest push signals a shift from standalone tools to integrated systems, aiming to make high-quality filmmaking faster, more flexible and increasingly accessible.
