Latest news with #BAFTA
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SRAM & Paradigm Pictures invest 3,000 cr in cutting-edge film city in Tamil Nadu
In a transformative move set to redefine cinematic infrastructure in South Asia, Chairman Dr Sailesh L Hiranandani of UK-based SRAM & MRAM Group and Chairman Arvind Dharmaraj of Paradigm Pictures have jointly announced a ₹3,000 crore investment to develop a 100-acre virtual production campus in Tamil Nadu. The landmark project was unveiled during SRAM & MRAM's 30th anniversary celebrations at London's exclusive Raven's Ait and introduces a seamless fusion of AI-generated environments with traditional cinematic sets. The complex will feature multiple LED volume stages supported by advanced artificial intelligence rendering engines and immersive 360-degree 4K display arrays. This frontier technology allows filmmakers to construct expansive digital worlds instantly and with unparalleled realism. As highlighted by a multinational professional services network, which is one of the Big 4s, such systems have the capacity to reduce production timelines by up to 25 per cent and cut costs by nearly 30 per cent, offering a compelling response to rising industry pressures. The Tamil Nadu hub will also incorporate traditional sets of hospitals, cities, villages, streets, colleges, and schools. These environments are designed to integrate flawlessly with the virtual stages through proprietary anti-glare display surfaces and dynamic lighting systems that ensure consistency between physical and digital layers without the post-production constraints of green screen techniques. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AVIK 4 BHK Floors - Golf Course Road Extn, Gurgaon Birla Navya AVIK Click Here Undo This infrastructure will be powered by an expansive solar installation complemented by modular construction principles that significantly lower the environmental impact. By reducing dependency on location and optimising digital production processes, the project is expected to minimise waste and emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional film facilities. A next-generation training academy will be established in collaboration with BAFTA and National Award-affiliated professionals to cultivate regional talent in visual effects, real-time cinematography, and production innovation. Former MP M G Sekhar and Vengateshwaran Sekhar, chairman of a Bengaluru-based group of colleges, are contributing to strategic alliances that unite education, governance, and industry. M G Sekhar notably holds distinction as India's youngest-ever MLA, appointed during the tenure of the iconic Dr M G Ramachandran. Asish Pandit, a cinematic strategist from Kolkata with over 40 years of global and domestic industry experience, is overseeing the implementation of this visionary initiative. His artistic lineage draws from Bengal's celebrated cinematic heritage led by the legendary Satyajit Ray. 'This is about building far more than a film studio,' he remarked. 'We are creating an ecosystem where intelligence meets imagination to power the future of global storytelling. ' The campus will include AI-curated residences, immersive visitor programmes powered by augmented reality, and a secure digital asset vault for international licensing and content management. Projections estimate more than 10,000 skilled job opportunities and ₹1,200 crore annual revenue through a combination of tourism, post-production, and technology exports. Construction is set to begin shortly with phased delivery beginning in 2026. This landmark development positions India at the forefront of cinematic evolution and virtual production excellence.
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
From Street Fighter to Final Fantasy: Yoko Shimomura, the composer who put the classical in gaming's classics
Alfred Hitchcock, David Attenborough, Harold Pinter, Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, Hideo Kojima – these are just a few of the recipients of the Bafta fellowship, the highest honour the academy can bestow. Japanese composer Yoko Shimomura is the latest to receive the accolade; one of only 17 women and four Japanese people to have done so. She is also the first video-game composer to be recognised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the first composer recognised at all since John Barry in 2005. It is with good reason that the academy has honoured her. Shimomura is an icon. You'll know her music from Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Super Mario, Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Mana, Streets of Rage and more than 70 other games she has contributed original compositions or arrangements to. Her 37-year-long career has seen her record at Abbey Road Studios, have her music played by symphonic orchestras around the world, and work in genres ranging from rock to electronica, ambient to industrial, pop to opera. And yet Shimomura seems unchanged by her success. 'Certainly, over the course of my career, there have been a number of times – a lot of times perhaps, compared to other people – where I have struggled. Enough to think maybe I want to give up.' She tells me that even as far back as her first job at Japanese developer Capcom, she thought she had maybe two or three years in her before she'd quit. She also says she applied for that job with 'barely any hope of getting accepted' – with a modesty that still seems a core part of her character. 'Even though I love this job, there have been plenty of times when it was really hard for me to continue. I couldn't sleep, and I would especially struggle as deadlines would approach.' Part of her fatalism came from the culture of video games in Japan in the late 80s. Despite the thriving arcade and development scene later leading to the mainstream success of the PlayStation in the mid-90s, pursuing a career in video games was seen as a dubious prospect by Shimomura's peers and family. 'This is something I think most gamers who were around at the time will understand,' she laughs. 'Generally, my friends and people I hung out with were not big gamers, so they weren't too familiar with what games really were. At the time, a lot of them were confused about what a job in video-games music even was! Certainly, my parents were not of the generation who would have played the Famicom [the NES], so they would say things like: 'Oh, video-game music? Is that a job? Is that real?' There was a lack of knowledge and understanding about the profession, really.' Surprisingly, given the male-dominated western world of video games in the 80s and 90s, Shimomura tells me that a lot of her colleagues in the sound department at Capcom were women. The developer split its composers into corporate and consumer divisions, where the top staff were all female. 'I felt that since the head staff were women,' she says, 'it was easier for other women to join the department.' Her peers began to understand how serious Shimomura was about her musical career with the release of Street Fighter II in 1991, the ninth game she worked on. 'That's when the tide started to turn. It sold so much, and so many people knew it and became familiar with my music, that it was a really significant title for me. I certainly think it's why I ended up working with Square on titles like Live a Live and Front Mission – because the bosses there knew me from Street Fighter.' For Street Fighter, Shimomura would study the character designs and personalities of the fighters, then design themes for them. She would also pore over the detailed pixel art stages for each character, and draw out details from their 'home stage'. She would then compose music based on the character's ethnicity and culture, often to striking and unusual effect. The best example, to my ear, is the use of a major key rhythm track for the Brazilian fighter Blanka, while the main melody playing on top of the rhythm is in minor. It's odd but it works, and gives the green-and-orange fighter a musical identity as as much as a visual one. Shimomura's classical background gave her the tools to work techniques such as this into her music. She eventually departed Capcom for Square, the most famous RPG developer in the world, because she wanted to work on games where she could utilise classical composition techniques. 'Why is classical music such a good fit for RPGs? I think it's because so many of those titles are set in medieval, European-style worlds where that music naturally belongs,' she says. 'But even if an RPG is set in a more modern take on a world, they're very rarely close to reality; the game world is of another age. And classical music is of another age too, so it's a very good fit.' The first project Square set Shimomura to work on was Live a Live, a 1994 RPG that takes players on a fantastical journey as eight characters across nine scenarios. 'There are so many different worlds and different settings in there, and very few of them actually needed classical music, so it was completely different to what I was expecting,' she laughs. Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gaming after newsletter promotion Shimomura would not get to flex her classical music muscles the way she really wanted to until Square's 1999 release Legend of Mana, on which she felt she could truly express herself. 'Until that point, at Square, the projects I worked on did not allow me to do something 100% from scratch,' she explains. 'There were always other factors, other legacy things that went before it. Music in Live a Live had to align with the characters. For Parasite Eve, I had to work with what was established in the original game. Mario RPG, of course, is set in the world of Mario and had to be 'Mario music'. I was not free to create something from the ground up until Legend of Mana.' Legend of Mana would be foundational for the rest of Shimomura's career. Three years later she would work on Kingdom Hearts, the now-mainstream success that trades on the unlikely idea that the worlds of Final Fantasy and Disney could somehow become merged. 'When it first released, Kingdom Hearts wasn't a big hit,' Shimomura recalls. 'After it was released, it was one of those hard times I mentioned before: I left Square, and I wasn't sure if I was going to continue in this job or not. But then they came back to me and asked if I wanted to work on Kingdom Hearts II, and that was significant for two reasons. One, it proved I could continue doing this as a freelancer. And two, it was the first time I'd been asked to come back and work on another game in a series.' Even at that point, 17 years into her career, Shimomura was uncertain about her standing in the world of video-game music. 'I think, both professionally and in a sense of personal growth, that's why Kingdom Hearts means so much to me.' Now, 37 years since her first job at Capcom, Shimomura has been lauded with Bafta's highest honour, and she is still as polite, humble and respectful as the young woman poring over Street Fighter's stages. 'I was blessed to have mentors and seniors who really helped me grow as a composer and taught me a lot of what made me who I am,' she says. 'I feel very lucky, and it is down to all those people that I am here talking to you today.' And her advice to other young women hoping to break into making music for games today? Be tenacious, persevere and work through that self-doubt. 'I think the reason I haven't given up is because I always make myself think of the love I have for music and for games. I cherish that feeling. And so if people do ever think they want to give up, please, cherish that feeling of love yourself, and keep going. I hope I can be an example for people when times are tough. If I can get over that, I hope that they can too.'
Sky News AU
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Not affordable': Harry Potter's Miriam Margolyes battles to find tenants for unrenovated $1300-a-week Bondi semi she bought for less than $100,000
Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes is struggling to find renters for her $1300-a-week Bondi semi, with the dated property failing to attract tenants more than three weeks after being listed. The 84-year-old British-Australian actress, known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise, purchased the 167-square-metre property in 1984 for $93,000. On Thursday, a Facebook account linked to the star, though not believed to be official, shared a post advertising the home: "Rush to rent this gorgeous Bondi property in Cox Avenue … $1300 per week / 2 Bedrooms." The link directs to a listing on from Raine & Horne, which includes images of the two-bedroom, semi-detached property at 34 Cox Avenue, just minutes from the iconic Bondi Beach. It was listed 23 days ago and remains available, even as agents spruik its location "nestled in a premier Bondi cul-de-sac" with proximity to the beach and local cafes. The rental includes timber floorboards, a gas kitchen, a separate laundry, a bathroom, and a private courtyard. There is no parking, and the interiors appear untouched since Margolyes first acquired the home. According to Raine & Horne, the $1300 weekly price aligns with the area's median rent of around $1100. But online commenters were quick to scoff at the listing. "1300 a WEEK. Nope," one wrote on the Facebook post. "Wow rent is so expensive now. Glad I'm in the bush," said another. A third added: "Oh Miriam! $1300 for a two bedder with no car space is unfortunately not affordable for most of the population. #CosiLivi." Margolyes, who became an Australian citizen in 2013, also owns a luxurious rural retreat in Robertson, in the NSW Southern Highlands, called Yarrawa Hill. The property, which she rents out for $500 per night for two people, has long served as her Aussie sanctuary. "It is Australian enough and it is also a bit like England. There are elements of it that remind me of England," the BAFTA winning actress previously said of the home. "I wanted something that was away, solitude is important." When not in Australia, the BAFTA-winning actress lives in Clapham, South London, sharing her home with two young lodgers. "My family and friends think it's hilarious and ridiculous that I live with Miriam. I do too," one of the renters told iNews in 2023. "But this unusual domestic set-up has become my new norm and I wouldn't have it any other way." Margolyes has called Clapham home since 1973 and has been in a long-term relationship with retired Australian professor of Indonesian studies Heather Sutherland since the late 1960s. Although the pair also own a property together in Italy, they have maintained a long-distance relationship for decades, with Sutherland based in Amsterdam. "We want to live together now because we haven't got long left," Margolyes told SAGA magazine in September. In recent years, Margolyes has spoken candidly about her declining health. She lives with spinal stenosis and underwent heart surgery in 2023 to replace her aortic valve. In 2024, the actress stated that she is registered as disabled and uses mobility aids, including walking sticks, a walker, and a scooter.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Ruth Jones' marriage breakup from affair that started relationship to ex-husband's look-a-like lover in Canada
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEIR relationship began in scandal – and now, 26 years later, it seems it's ended the same way. After Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones, 58, confirmed her shock split from husband David Peet, 71, rumours are swirling that he left her for another woman - one who, awkwardly, could pass for Ruth's double. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 9 Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones confirmed her shock split from husband David Pee Credit: Getty 9 Rumours are swirling that David left her for another woman, Jayne Charity Cook, pictured, who is Ruth's double Credit: 9 Ruth and David in 2011 Credit: Rex The TV producer is now living thousands of miles away in a quiet Canadian town with new partner Jayne Charity Cook, while Ruth has relocated from Cardiff to London to focus on her ever-flourishing career. Fans are convinced Ruth hinted at her heartbreak in her recent Sunday Times bestseller, By Your Side, which follows Linda - a curvy, teetotal woman in her 50s - whose husband runs off with another woman to open a café in Spain. While promoting the novel at the Bath Literary Festival in May, where she was notably without her wedding ring, Ruth admitted Linda was based on her. Tellingly, she described how the fictional husband's fling with a colleague finally ended a long but lacklustre marriage. 'It was never a really great big romantic marriage,' she told the audience. 'They got on fine. They had a good sex life but that was kind of it. 'They were good friends. When he (the husband) went off with Denise at his place of work, and ran off to run a cafe in Spain called Doolallies, she was quite happy to see him go.' It's hard not to draw parallels with Ruth's real-life split. In a recent statement, she confirmed she and David went their separate ways 18 months ago, 'amicably,' and insisted they remain 'good friends.' Since then, Ruth's star has only risen. She's just scooped a BAFTA for her much-loved role as Nessa, topped the book charts, and is filming a gripping Netflix thriller Run Away, alongside Cold Feet actor James Nesbitt. Meanwhile, David has swapped showbiz for small-town life – and a new romance out of the spotlight. Ruth Jones brings back Gavin and Stacey's Nessa one last time as she picks up comedy TV BAFTA Jayne went public with David in April, updating her profile picture to a loved-up snap of the pair. She also shared photos on Threads, writing: 'Spent the weekend with my love and had an amazing time.' Describing herself as a 'MommaBear, great Friend, Lover, Partner, Daughter, Sister,' she has two adult children – Alexander and Isabella – and is a proud grandmother to their three kids. She has worked as an Education Assistant at the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw School on the Tsulquate Reserve since 2016. While it's unclear exactly when - or how - Jayne met David, he's believed to have moved to Canada several months ago. 'It's a bold move across the Atlantic,' a source said. 'But David saw it as a new chapter in his life and an exciting opportunity he couldn't ignore.' Their split came as a shock to industry insiders, who remember Ruth first meeting David in the early '90s while working on a BBC Wales pilot. Affairs cause a lot of pain – they're not something one aspires to do Ruth According to Ruth, it was 'love at first voice' after hearing him on the phone before meeting in person. 'He has a very sharp mind combined with a dry Yorkshire wit, making him a naturally funny man,' she later commented. Their relationship began while David's previous marriage was coming to an end – something Ruth has since spoken about openly. 'Affairs cause a lot of pain – they're not something one aspires to do,' she previously said. 'You don't aspire to cause pain to people in their life.' Their romance triggered the divorce from the mother of his three children, Louise, Alex and Fiona, all now in their 30s, who Ruth remains close to. 9 Ruth on Stella in 2015, which she made with David Credit: handout 9 Ruth starred in Fat Friends in the early 2000s Credit: Carlton 9 With James Corden and the Fat Friends gang Credit: Rex The pair tied the knot in 1999 and went onto work with each other again, co-creating her Sky comedy Stella, in which she plays the title character - a struggling single mother - which ran for 58 episodes from 2012. The former couple used to split their time between their two properties in Cardiff and the Scottish Highlands, where they own a holiday home. Despite their strong union, they never had any biological kids together - with Ruth admitting she never had a strong desire to be a mother. 'It just didn't happen,' she once said. 'It wasn't a decision. I don't have a burning desire to have babies. "I think it's heartbreaking if you do and you find out you can't have them. I love being a stepmum - all the joys of motherhood without the pain of childbirth." 'Teenage angst' Despite not being particularly maternal, Ruth was a natural stepmother. 'You take things as they come,' she admitted. 'There wasn't a moment when I thought, 'I've become a stepmum now'.' She has always spoken fondly of her stepkids and expressed excitement about the possibility of becoming a step-grandmother one day. "We never had any difficulty with teenage angst,' she recalled. 'And now I'm looking forward to becoming a step-grandmother at some point." Their split follows the much-anticipated 2024 Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special, where Ruth's beloved character Nessa finally tied the knot with her longtime love Smithy, played by co-writer James Corden. The episode – fittingly titled The Finale – marked the end of the hit series, pulling in a massive 12.3 million viewers. Ruth and David had previously collaborated on the 2009 Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special. Ruth's portrayal of the straight-talking Welsh legend Nessa earned her a BAFTA for Best Female Performance in a Comedy this May - and while she collected the award barefoot, she was still wearing her wedding ring at the ceremony. But she failed to mention husband David in her acceptance speech. Instead, she paid a heartfelt tribute to the Gavin & Stacey cast and crew, singling out her co-writer James Corden, saying: 'I love you, James. I love writing with you - and long may it continue.' Ruth and James have co-written a memoir due out in October titled Gavin and Stacey and Everything in Between. 'It's really the story of our friendship,' Ruth told Lorraine. 'We've been close for 25 years now. He's one of my best friends. I adore that man and love being in a room with him – so hopefully we'll write more together.' 9 Ruth on the set of Harlan Coben's new Netflix show Run Away Credit: MCPIX 9 Ruth is best known for her role as Nessa on Gavin and Stacey, pictured with James Corden Credit: BBC James and Ruth's friendship goes way back - the pair first met while working on Teachers and Fat Friends back in 2001. James has spoken just as fondly of Ruth, once describing her as someone he 'loves more than you could ever imagine.' While Ruth insists her and David remain 'good friends', insiders wonder if they'll continue to work together. Although Ruth says she and David are still 'good friends,' it's unclear whether they'll continue to work together professionally. David, a TV producer and Ruth's former business partner at Tidy Productions, has played a key role in many of her projects over the years. He's worked on Gavin & Stacey, Stella, The Great Outdoors, and the festive film A Child's Christmases in Wales. He also served as an executive producer and writer on Gavin & Stacey, and was behind Ruth's one-off specials, including Ruth Jones' Christmas Cracker (2010), Easter Treat, and Summer Holiday (2011). In 2019, Ruth told Radio 4's Desert Island Disc how she prefers staying at home than attending glitzy showbiz events. She also recalled her meeting with Barack Obama at a dinner at Downing Street in 2013 and how he's a fan of the Welsh accent. She told how he was particularly charmed by Jones's tendency at the time to say 'Brill-iant' and stick her thumbs in the air. 'I went very Welsh. I went 'Hiya!' and shook hands with him,' she told presenter Lauren Laverne. 'I said 'Can I just say? Congratulations! Brill-iant!' 'And he shook hands with me and then leaned down and said: 'I really need to learn how to say that – brill-iant!'.' While David settles into his new life in a quiet town in Canada, Ruth is busy filming her new Netflix thriller, Run Away - the latest Harlan Coben novel to be adapted for the screen. She stars alongside Cold Feet actor James Nesbitt in the gripping new series, and it could mark a fresh chapter for Ruth – both on and off screen - as we're about to see a very different side to her. 'I've been playing a private investigator and I've really enjoyed it – it's so different,' she says. New role, new career direction… perhaps even a new man too, Ruth?
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ruth Jones' ex-husband's new life in tiny village and age-gap love after split
Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones split from her husband David Peet 18 months ago but the news was only shared yesterday as he has already moved on as well as moving country Ruth Jones' ex-husband is said to be living a new life in a remote village after their sudden split. David Peet has now moved to Canada where he is living in a small village after the relationship breakdown. It has been reported David, 71, made the choice to move overseas to be with his new girlfriend. The new couple have made things social media official as she shared a photo of the two of them kissing on Facebook. David is reported to be in a relationship with Jayne Charity Cook who is a 46-year-old digital creator. He chose to make the move despite having three children and businesses back home. The MailOnline reported that David has moved to Port Hardy which is located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Jayne's Facebook post attracted several supportive comments after she revealed her new romance. One person wrote: "You both look so happy. I love this for you." While another added: "I'm so glad you found someone that makes you absolutely happy, you are glowing so bright." David and Ruth reportedly split 18 months ago after being married for 26 years and it's thought David has been in Canada for several months now. The former pair announced that they had gone their separate ways on Wednesday after it was revealed that he had a new girlfriend. They released a joint statement, writing: "We amicably went our separate ways 18 months ago and are now legally separated. We remain good friends. Since our separation, Ruth is living in London and David is living in Canada, where he is in a new relationship." Ruth is stepmother to David's three children who he had from a previous relationship - Fiona, 35, Louise, 33 and Alex, 31. It's also said that she has taken on the role of grandmother to their children. The former married couple used to split their time their two homes in Cardiff and the Scottish Highlands. Ruth has made several appearances over recent months without her wedding ring, which started split rumours. David and Ruth's split comes after Ruth's Gavin & Stacey character Nessa finally married on-off lover Smithy, played by co-writer James Corden. This took place in the 2024 Christmas Special of Gavin & Stacey which was watched by 12.3million viewers. The episode was the last ever of the comedy series which first graced our screens back in 2007. Ruth managed to bag a BAFTA for her hard work on the show for best female performance in a comedy. As she accepted the award, Ruth was seen wearing her wedding ring but didn't thank her husband in her speech. She thanked the cast and crew and gave her co-writer and co-star James Corden a special mention. The Mirror have contacted Ruth's reps for comment.
