Hollywood
2014 BAFTA: Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo among honourees
MUMBAI: Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Emma Watson, Judi Dench and director Mike Leigh were announced as this year’s honourees for the BAFTA Los Angeles Jaguar Britannia Awards.
Hosted by Rob Brydon, the award ceremony will take place on 30 October and air on BBC America on 2 November.
The recipients are chosen by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles board of directors.
The Iron Man star is this year’s recipient of the ‘Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film’. Prior winners include Warren Beatty and Tom Hanks. His latest movie The Judge with Robert Duvall is slated to release on 10 October.
The Emmy Nominee Mark Ruffalo, is being honored with the ‘Britannia Humanitarian Award’ for his work with Water Defense. Ruffalo co-founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping waterways and drinking water sources free from contamination and will be seen in November in Foxcatche. Prior winners include Idris Elba and Don Cheadle.
British director Mike Leigh, whose latest film Mr. Turner opens in December, will receive the ‘John Schlesinger Award for British Artist of the Year’. This honour pays tribute to a British artist “whose outstanding performances in a year have demonstrated the high quality of their craftsmanship. “
While the Harry Potter star Emma Watson is the recipient of the ‘Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year’. Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench will be honoured with the ‘Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution.’
The Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles’ highest accolade, a celebration of achievements honoring individuals and companies that have dedicated their careers to advancing the entertainment arts.
Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
