MUMBAI: Elite Football League of India, the professional American sports football league in India, got a further boost as top American sports director Sandy Grossman agreed to lend his vast experience in the television production of the ambitious league.

An eight-time Emmy Award-winning director will head to India for pre-production and training of the Indian and American film crew and production teams in early March.

Grossman, who is one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the sports media industry, had spent a major part of his career working with NFL before moving to Fox Sports where he spent 17 years working as a television director.

?I?ve spent my life producing and perfecting the art of capturing the power and passion of the game of football. I would like to think that I?ve helped shaped the way the game of football is projected to fans across the US and the World. Hearing about the growth and excitement surrounding sports in India, this is a great opportunity for me to teach future football directors in India how to cover this game and hopefully, leave a legacy for generations of young Indian directors. I look forward to my trip to India in March and many more thereafter,? said Grossman.

Earlier, last month former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner and American actor and producer Mark Wahlberg had picked up stake in the venture. Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski are also investors in the league.

An elated EFLI founder and co-CEO Sunday Zeller said, ?The most exciting aspect, for me, was learning that one of the reasons the Fox Network became so successful after outbidding CBS for the NFL?s broadcast rights, was their decision to hire Sandy and allow him the freedom to direct a more advanced and progressive broadcast production. Sandy?s artistic freedom clearly paid off for Fox as they rose to one of the most watched stations in America."

According to Zeller, the EFLI will aim to raise the bar in the television production of sporting events in India and Sandy with his vast experience in American sports television production will lead from the front.
?Sandy stated that given freedom and support, he can direct an improved and advanced version of a football game for television broadcast applying the latest technologies and employing the newest artistic enhancements acquired over the years. The EFLI intends to raise the bar in final production standards both for the game of football as well as for the country of India in terms of television sports production. The EFLI looks to take advantage of this fresh start, so to speak, as a clean slate upon which to eventually telecast the top production in the world,? he added.

The league will have 12 teams ? 10 from India and one each from India and Sri Lanka - in the first year which includes Bangalore Warhawks, Bangladesh Tigers, Chennai Swarm, Colombo Lions, Delhi Defenders, Hyderabad Skykings, Kolkata Vipers, Mumbai Gladiators, Pune Marathas, and Punjab Warriors with two more teams yet to be named.

Taj Television-owned sports channel Ten Sports has signed an MoU with EFLI to broadcast the league in India. The first season will begin on 12 November this year and last till 18 February 2013 involving 56 matches in group stage and two play-offs.

NEW DELHI: The Second Comic Con India over the weekend in the capital saw a footfall of around 35,000 people, and the sales touched a figure of around Rs 5 million.

Comic Con India Founder Jatin Varma of Twenty Onwards Media told indiantelevision.com that the three-day event from 17 February saw around 20 book releases and several launches of merchandise.

For the first time, awards were given away in the world of cartoons and comics, and the eminent R K Laxman received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Costume competition with participants dressed as their favourite comic book heroes were seen on all three days and prizes were given those who took part in the best Cosplay. The event showcased a huge range of heroes, both new and old, from Chacha Chaudhary to Suppandi.

There were around 50 stalls exhibiting, promoting and selling comics, graphic novels, merchandise etc., and workshops and interactive sessions were held every half hour at the dedicated stage area with exclusive launches of Comics titles, book signings, competitions and Cosplay (Costume contest). The stalls included some by foreign teaching institutions in animation technology.

?We try to bring Retailers, Publishers, Merchandisers, Writers, Artists, Illustrators etc. from within the Comic, Animation, Gaming, Movies/studios and related communities together and give them a common platform. The three-day event showcased 80 participants and several interactive sessions and talks by world renowned artists like Robert Crumb. We were extremely fortunate to have speakers - from the legends of the Indian Comics Industry, to veterans of the industry from outside the country this year,? added Jatin.

The pioneer of India‘s comic book revolution - Amar Chitra Katha - released one of their most-awaited titles ?Anant Pai ? Master StoryTeller? as a tribute to the ACK founder.
Fans of Walt Disney Pictures highly anticipated release of epic, action adventure film ?John Carter? had their first taste of the 3D film at the John Carter Fan Zone.

"This is for the first time that Marvel?s superhero Iron Man visited India to meet and greet Indian fans and we are overwhelmed by the response we have got from our fans in India,? said a Disney spokesperson.