Hollywood
PPC to produce Hollywood’s ‘Tree of Life’
MUMBAI: After several months of active discussions with producer Donald Rosenfeld and director Terrence Malick, Percept Picture Company (PPC) has been able to close a participation in the Hollywood production titled Tree of Life.
As part of the deal, PPC and Sahara One Motion Pictures will finance the film partly and be associated with it. This would be an extension of Sahara One Motion Pictures into mainstream Hollywood movies. PPC would be the executive producer of the film.
The film features Collin Farrel and two major Hollywood stars in lead roles. Terrence Malick will also script the film and Emmanual Lubezki is the proposed director of photography.
The portion of the film to be shot in India will be done by PPC. The pre-production is slated to commence in January 2006 and expected to release some time in 2008.
Making the announcement, Rosenfeld said, “We are thrilled to be in business with Sahara One Motion Pictures and Percept Picture Company and we look forward to many more great collaborations in the future, both in India and USA.”
The New World, a new interpretation of the Ponchantas/John Smith story, which is scheduled for release in November 2005 is directed by Terrence Mallik, starring Colin Farrel.
PPC’s forthcoming projects includes Hanuman (October 2005 release), Sacred Evil (November 2005 release), Mother Teresa (November 2005 release), Pyaar Mein Twist (September 2005 release), The Truck of Dreams (September 2005 release), Malamaal Weekly (under production), Home Delivery (under production).
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
