Hollywood
Transforming the BO, ‘Transformers – Age of Extinction’ sets new records
MUMBAI: A larger than life feature presentation that has gone on to become a blockbuster, renowned director – Michael Bay’s fourth edition of Transformers has made a whooping Rs 30 crore as its weekend Box Office collection, ending the second quarter of the year on a high.
Opening as the second biggest Hollywood film of 2014, Transformers – Age of Extinction received a thunderous response from viewers while also being the third biggest opening weekend for a Hollywood film in India.
Having released in four languages in India (English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu), this film has been distributed by Viacom18 Motion Pictures in India. With a distribution strategy that included approximately 1400 screens from across 770 locations, this epic franchise has an ever-growing fan base and revenues that multiply year on year in the region.
The movie was released across 37 countries and with nearly $400 million collections worldwide.
Paramount films with its two upcoming movies Hercules and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hopes to gain considerable momentum in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
