| MUMBAI:
Frames, the convention for the business of Indian entertainment organised by Ficci,
will take place from 26 - 28 March in Mumbai. Business delegation from over
20 countries is expected for the event which is in its eight year. This year Italy
is a partner country. The television track kicks
off with a plenary session - Regulatory Framework for Entertainment Industry on
the opening day. There has been a regular debate among various stakeholders
on regulation. How much of regulation should be there? Should the content regulation
be consistent across all delivery mediums such as TV, radio, films and print?
Should there be a price regulation? Or the industry should be left to market forces
to evolve on its own? With the boom of news channels, there will be a session
on Changing face of News. In order to survive, news channels along with
newsworthiness should have something different. Along with managing editorial
content, the gatekeepers are also acting as brand managers. Viewers wanting
a global perspective of television can attend Fresh TV around the World.
This special session, now a regular item at the television trade events in Cannes,
France Mip TV and Mipcom, presents the world's freshest and most popular TV shows
of the season, specially edited for Frames participants. This includes
clips from the world's most successful, innovative and most talked about TV shows.
Based on the monthly The Wit Fresh TV Report which spots new shows launched
in more than 30 markets worldwide, the presentation also covers the most creative
trends in different programming genres. With Cas and DTH already introduced,
Frames will have a Plenary Session on The Last Mile: Battle of reaching consumers.
The challenge of retaining existing consumers is going to be tough. Are existing
distributors well equipped to take up this challenge? Another plenary session
examines the importance of content. Innovative marketing and promotional campaigns
can be of little hope unless it is fuelled with winning content. Irrespective
of platform, the key to success is high quality content. Can anybody afford to
disagree? There will also be a focus
on the Asian TV Market in a session. Asia has common cultural values thereby having
huge potential of sharing content with countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal,
and Singapore. How the trade of content can be further strengthened among these
countries? The Film Track kicks off with the crucial topic of marketing
and distribution. This has always been an integral part of the business plan for
film producers. The success of a film no longer depends on just the content, storyline
and the starcast, but also on how well the film is marketed. The successes of
Krissh, Don and Dhoom 2 in India scenario are prime example.
The session will discuss the new methods employed to get to the target
audience especially in international markets. Another session looks at digital
cinema. From Celluloid to digital …Indian multiplexes and stand alone theatres
are adopting the digital technology. Earlier business models were driving the
technological applications. The scenario is just the opposite now, it's the technology
driving the business of Indian Cinema. The digital technology is changing the
way the movies are being watched…. What lies in the future? Another
session examines whether remakes and sequels revisits the past or is it the result
of intellectual bankruptcy. Indian films now have a lot of sequels and remixes.
Sequels of Munnabhai, Krissh, Hera Pheri, Dhoom and remakes
like Don and Umrao Jaan and their success has added a new dimension
to the Indian film industry. Some see it as a case of intellectual bankruptcy.
In the era of commercialisation does storytelling hold a chance? What makes
popular cinema tick? Is there a magic formula for success at box office? Increasingly
the taste and sensibilities of the Indian audiences are changing. This is reflected
in the different genres of movies making box office history this year. Films like
Dhoom 2, Krishh, Rang De Basanti and Munnabhai have
generated mass hysteria. There is a radical change in the scripts, treatment and
presentation. The changing trends of Hindi films will be looked at in a session. | 
