International
Oaks Theatre closes, new operator on the look out
MUMBAI: After the closure of the historic Oaks Theater on Solano Boulevard, its owner is in search of a new operator. The theatre, built in 1925, was being run by Merriment Media Works for nine months but ceased operations shortly before Christmas.
Property owner John Gordon said the group had plans to add food and drinks with foreign films on the screen, emphasizing Bollywood fare. “They owned a Bollywood theatre in the Fremont area and they said that they were going to convert the theatre to digital. They were also film importers and could download their films. They were going to show other foreign films on one screen and the second run on the other,” Gordon said.
Gordon said that the group tried to bring in Bollywood stars for events but still couldn‘t draw. The previous operator, Metropolitan Theaters of Southern California, decided not to renew the lease early last year. Merriment Media Works then stepped in to take over the theatre.
Gordon said once some legal issues are taken care of, he will try to find a new operator. “Once we get control we‘re in a better position to start marketing it,” he said.
Gordon would like the building to continue to be a theatre, either showing films live performances.
In 1973, the Oaks was split into two theaters. It was renovated in 1994 when Renaissance Rialto took it over. Allen Michaan, who runs the Grand Lake, operated the theatre until 2005, after which Metropolitan took over.
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.
