News Broadcasting
BBC launches ‘Home Movie’ initiative in the UK
MUMBAI: The BBC director of television Jana Bennett has announced the launch of Home Movie. The BBC claims that this is its biggest and most inclusive public participation event ever staged. It will give people in the UK the chance to make and star in their own television film.
This is the first new project to come out of Jana Bennett’s 10m Think Big initiative. The aim is to encourage ambitious thinking and multi-faceted programme events that reach under served audiences. Home Movie is a pan-BBC collaboration across arts, drama , BBC Talent and BBCi.
The beeb will search the UK for a cast and crew of 100. None of them will have worked in film or TV before. The aim is to offer people the chance to re-train in a totally different field of expertise.
Meanwhile BBCi will host an online questionnaire to shortlist crew applicants, with interviews and auditions for cast and crew taking place in seven locations around the UK. All the 100 people chosen will benefit from a comprehensive training scheme, whilst a substantial outreach programme of master-classes and workshops will offer thousands of people advice and information aboutembarking on their own retraining programme.
Once selected, the amateur cast and crew will make their own movie, led by a professional producer and director, under the guidance of a team of industry expert mentors. BBC Three will follow the trials and tribulations of the casting and interview process while BBC Two will go behind-the-scenes in a ten part documentary series following every step of the process with these first-time film-makers. The world premiere of the film will take place on the BBC and will include live link-ups around the country to special cinema screenings.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
