A new press release is going out in the coming weeks – the text of it is below.
Also Here is a link to an article in Hollywood’s Variety…
Keep the dream alive… 🙂
* * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * *
LOS ANGELES, CA DECEMBER 12, 2015
INDUS MEDIA ON CLOUD 9
Indus Media Entertainment (IME) and The Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group (Cloud 9) have established an alliance to develop, produce and exploit a catalog of motion picture, television and animation titles targeting a global audience through any and all media platforms. IME is a Singapore based media holding company focused on investments in film, television and media opportunities in Hollywood and the emerging Indian market. Cloud 9 is one of the world’s most prolific independent media production companies and owns and controls a vast library of IP mostly developed and produced from its prime production base in Wellington, New Zealand.
Veteran writer/producer Raymond Thompson, MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit), former British Broadcasting Corporation executive and Founder and CEO of Cloud 9, has been appointed as (non-executive) Chairman of IME to coincide with the launch of its $100 million media fund Indus Media Capital (IMC). IMC offers investment opportunities through a partnership of Hollywood and Bollywood professionals, delivering exceptional properties of high value and ensuring capital growth.
IMC will be managed under the overall supervision of the Fund’s Board of Directors and IME. IME will source and refer investment opportunities to the Fund, as well as manage technical media industry aspects of those investments on a day-to-day basis.
In addition to Thompson and Naveen Chathappuram, Managing Director of IME, other members of the Board of Directors include veteran head of production Charles Leslie, ex CFO of Reliance Group and Balaji Telefilms, Devarajan Venkat, and ex CEO of Radaan Media and P.A. Art Productions, PAR. Subramaniam. Mr. Subramaniam also hails from the legendary Indian film family of Thiru A.L. Srinivasan, Kaviarasu Kannadasan, and is the son of iconic filmmaker Thiru Panchu Arunachalam.
Cloud 9 has created a substantial catalogue of programming that has been sold to 130 countries initially through its subsidiary, Cumulus, prior to Endemol handling distribution of the back catalogue. Cumulus has now been reactivated to handle the Cloud 9 library along with applicable future titles in the IME/Cloud 9 portfolio.
Chathappuram said “Cloud 9 has an enviable track record, not solely in production but in 360 degree exploitation through its distribution subsidiary Cumulus, and we welcome the opportunity of working with Raymond and his team who bring a wealth of valuable experience to this alliance.”
Chathappuram added “The balance in the global entertainment market creates an opportunity worldwide with an international, integrated entertainment fund. The management team has executed projects for numerous premier studios and production houses of the world. Through Cloud 9 we are able to expand our horizons to New Zealand and throughout Europe where Cloud 9 also has domiciled distribution vehicles. We are also considering operating a Cumulus subsidiary in India for IME/Cloud 9 titles.”
Thompson said “Cloud 9 is truly a unique organization. We own and control all our IP, including all subsidiary rights from music publishing to merchandising. Our production base in New Zealand offers attractive structures through all manner of treaties with a variety of countries and, as we enter our third decade of trading and plan succession, the industry has evolved in a very profound way with the advent of convergence and multi-platforms. We have been keen to build and consolidate in the U.S. along with targeting emerging markets such as India and China. With the footprint, expertise, and unique skill set of IME, strategically this alliance will assist us in achieving our objectives.”
The first title in Cloud 9’s development slate is the quirky romantic comedy “The Cowboy and The Dancer,” which is set against the country music industry. Thompson has also been developing a trilogy of motion picture adaptations of its mammoth long running franchise “The Tribe” and is now considering a television reboot and sequel to the original series. With almost 300 episodes produced, and a range of ancillaries from bestselling music albums to novel tie-ins, the series has become a phenomenon, achieving cult status with a fanatically loyal fan base around the world.
***ENDS***