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| UFO, Scrabble add wings to Indian film-makers' 3D dreams |
| BS Reporter / Mumbai Jun 03, 2010, 01:26 IST |
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After Oscar winning director James Cameron’s Avatar crossed $2 billion in earnings since its release last year, Indian film-makers have started looking at 3D in a new light. The economies of scale could not work for them in the past as with just 70 3D screens in the country, producers could not brave to create 3D content. However, with the prospect of more number of 3D screens, film makers now seem keen to put their money in such projects. Digital distributor UFO Moviez said on Wednesday, it plans to make 500 screens 3D compatible by this year end. It has nearly 2000 digital screens across the country. The company will be investing around Rs 7 lakh per screen for conversion. It will recoup its investment by pocketing a portion of the ticket price from exhibitors. The company will fund the Rs 70 crore, needed for scaling up through internal accruals.
“This is a win-win for exhibitors and studios that will generate immediate additional revenues from greater attendance and 3D ticket premiums on the one hand, while the Indian audiences can enjoy locally created 3D content on the other. This will provide a bridge for the digital transition to 3D within the Indian film fraternity,” said Kapil Agarwal, joint MD, UFO Moviez.
Presently only Scrabble Entertainment has the wherewithal to show digital 3D films in the country. It has 170 screens in the country of which 70 are 3D compatible. Scrabble has the exclusive rights to show 3D Hollywood films in India. It is also planning to ramp up its 3D capabilities. “We intend to add another 45 3D screens by the end of this year,” said Ranjit Thakur, CEO. He said that one major challenge for the proliferation of 3D screens is supply constraint of projectors.
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt who is planning to make country’s first 3D horror film Yam Dwaar said that the increase in the number of screens will allow the films to be shown at greater number of theatres and lead to higher collections. “UFO has empowered filmmakers to be more creative and play with ideas to give authentic and entertaining content to the audiences. We are bound to see greater content because of this new development”, said film maker Rakesh Roshan.
There are a number of 3D films to be released in 2011 starting with Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Robot. Director Anurag Kashyap is also planning a 3D horror film. Alok Tandon, CEO INOX Leisure said, “In the recent past, 3D movies have had a successful run with Indian movie-goers. Given the technological advancement 3D will have a deeper penetration in Indian theatrical geographies in times to come.”
“Introduction of more 3D screens will help bridge the demand supply gap of 3D. It will help us in serving our audiences across India which is very important,” said Devang Sampat, senior vice-president , Cinemax.
The increase in the number of 3D screens also augurs well for UFO Moviez as it will be able to show the Indian Premier League matches in 3D in more number of screens. UFO Moviez had digitally distributed the last 4 matches of IPL 2010 in 3D. “In this year’s IPL, the last 4 matches were produced in 3D but we could show them only in 63 screens, with more number of screens the distribution will grow,” said Agarwal.
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