Roll call for J'Quellins, B'Lakes, D-Nices, A-a-Rons, and anyone else who doesn't want to get sent to Oshack Hennessy's office by inner-city substitute teacher Mr. Garvey!
As the creator and star of one of the most popular and widely quoted comedy sketch shows of all time, Keegan-Michael Key is a brilliant actor, writer, and producer known for his outlandish characters.
However, his comedic chops run the gamut as he has had numerous supporting roles in genres from family to raunchy. Beyond television, he has graced his fair share of movies, and his presence, no matter how brief, always stands out as the scene-stealer that he is.
Having been in the entertainment industry for almost twenty-five years, Key has amassed twenty-three award nominations, including three wins with a Peabody, an American Comedy Award, and an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.
We combed through the comedian's career to compile a list...
As the creator and star of one of the most popular and widely quoted comedy sketch shows of all time, Keegan-Michael Key is a brilliant actor, writer, and producer known for his outlandish characters.
However, his comedic chops run the gamut as he has had numerous supporting roles in genres from family to raunchy. Beyond television, he has graced his fair share of movies, and his presence, no matter how brief, always stands out as the scene-stealer that he is.
Having been in the entertainment industry for almost twenty-five years, Key has amassed twenty-three award nominations, including three wins with a Peabody, an American Comedy Award, and an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.
We combed through the comedian's career to compile a list...
- 5/3/2024
- by Joshua Pleming
- TVfanatic
Twitch streamer Sketch has become one of 2024's biggest stars, with his gaming clips and hilarious quotes going viral across social media.
TheSketchReal (aka Sketch) has quickly risen through the ranks on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok. His distinct appearance and on-camera presence resonate with audiences from everyday Twitch viewers to some of the sporting world's best and brightest.
Sketch's Twitch channel has over 650,000 subscribers and over 1.7 million followers on TikTok.
Read full article on The Direct.
TheSketchReal (aka Sketch) has quickly risen through the ranks on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok. His distinct appearance and on-camera presence resonate with audiences from everyday Twitch viewers to some of the sporting world's best and brightest.
Sketch's Twitch channel has over 650,000 subscribers and over 1.7 million followers on TikTok.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 4/20/2024
- by Klein Felt
- The Direct
On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at 11:00 Pm on Discovery, fans of fast cars and thrilling races can catch the action in Season 1, Episode 4 of “Street Outlaws: Farmtruck & Azn Down Under.” This episode, titled “Vegemite vs. Cheese Whiz,” takes the action to Brisbane, Australia, where Farmtruck and Azn have a score to settle.
The dynamic duo heads Down Under to visit Sketch, a racer who called them out. Together, they embark on a mission to find an authentic Australian racing vehicle that they can bring back to the U.S. In the world of street racing, every car counts, and they’re on a quest to bolster their lineup.
To keep their spending in check, Farmtruck and Azn set up a high-stakes race, with the title on the line. It’s all about proving who has the fastest and most formidable machine on the streets of Brisbane.
Tune in on Tuesday, October...
The dynamic duo heads Down Under to visit Sketch, a racer who called them out. Together, they embark on a mission to find an authentic Australian racing vehicle that they can bring back to the U.S. In the world of street racing, every car counts, and they’re on a quest to bolster their lineup.
To keep their spending in check, Farmtruck and Azn set up a high-stakes race, with the title on the line. It’s all about proving who has the fastest and most formidable machine on the streets of Brisbane.
Tune in on Tuesday, October...
- 10/24/2023
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Last Year’s Winner: “Saturday Night Live”
Still Eligible: Yes.
Hot Streak: “SNL” has won four years in a row, aka every year of Donald Trump’s White House tenure. Will attitudes shift with a responsible adult in our highest office? Probably not, but Lorne Michaels’ juggernaut has been around long enough to be mindful of popularity’s ebbs and flows.
Fun Fact: In December 2020, the Television Academy announced a handful of rule changes, including that it would be combining the Outstanding Variety Talk and Outstanding Variety Sketch categories. In theory, the move made sense given the dwindling submissions for Variety Sketch, but the Academy soon reversed course after near-universal backlash: When both series were housed under the Outstanding Variety category through 2015, sketch shows didn’t fare too well. Meanwhile, talk show representatives have been angling for further delineation; pitting late-night shows that air five nights a week against once-a-week programs isn’t exactly fair,...
Still Eligible: Yes.
Hot Streak: “SNL” has won four years in a row, aka every year of Donald Trump’s White House tenure. Will attitudes shift with a responsible adult in our highest office? Probably not, but Lorne Michaels’ juggernaut has been around long enough to be mindful of popularity’s ebbs and flows.
Fun Fact: In December 2020, the Television Academy announced a handful of rule changes, including that it would be combining the Outstanding Variety Talk and Outstanding Variety Sketch categories. In theory, the move made sense given the dwindling submissions for Variety Sketch, but the Academy soon reversed course after near-universal backlash: When both series were housed under the Outstanding Variety category through 2015, sketch shows didn’t fare too well. Meanwhile, talk show representatives have been angling for further delineation; pitting late-night shows that air five nights a week against once-a-week programs isn’t exactly fair,...
- 7/28/2021
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show has entered the Emmy race but the sketch category has been decimated to only three nominees.
Robin Thede’s comedy has been nominated in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series category alongside Saturday Night Live and Drunk History.
It comes as the Emmy rule change means that categories with less than 20 submissions have a sliding scale between zero and four nominations.
While it might increase A Black Lady Sketch Show’s chances against regular winner SNL, it is a blow for shows such as Sherman’s Showcase, At Home With Amy Sedaris, Alternatino with Arturo Castro, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, Crank Yankers and Astronomy Club.
Two of last year’s nominees, Hulu’s I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman and Showtime’s Who Is America? were no longer eligible. The streamer cancelled Silverman’s show in January 2019, while it...
Robin Thede’s comedy has been nominated in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series category alongside Saturday Night Live and Drunk History.
It comes as the Emmy rule change means that categories with less than 20 submissions have a sliding scale between zero and four nominations.
While it might increase A Black Lady Sketch Show’s chances against regular winner SNL, it is a blow for shows such as Sherman’s Showcase, At Home With Amy Sedaris, Alternatino with Arturo Castro, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, Crank Yankers and Astronomy Club.
Two of last year’s nominees, Hulu’s I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman and Showtime’s Who Is America? were no longer eligible. The streamer cancelled Silverman’s show in January 2019, while it...
- 7/28/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedy and theatre troupe The Second City, which kicked off the careers of the likes of Bill Murray, Steve Carell and Tina Fey, has teamed with streaming service Topic on a weekly variety series.
The first episode of half-hour series The Second City Presents: The Last Show Left on Earth will be hosted by 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer and feature guests including Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Tiger King’s Kelci “Saff” Saffery.
More from Deadline'Lambs Of God': Streamer Topic Takes North American Rights To Australian Drama Starring Jessica Barden, Essie Davis & Ann DowdTopic Adds Maria Bamford-Fronted Mental Health Talk Show, Horror Anthology Series To Originals SlateFirst Look Media's Streaming Service Topic Strikes Deals With BBC Studios & Keshet Ahead Of Launch
The show will initially launch as a 24-hour global stream on The Second City’s and Topic’s social channels on April 16 and then air on Topic’s...
The first episode of half-hour series The Second City Presents: The Last Show Left on Earth will be hosted by 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer and feature guests including Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Tiger King’s Kelci “Saff” Saffery.
More from Deadline'Lambs Of God': Streamer Topic Takes North American Rights To Australian Drama Starring Jessica Barden, Essie Davis & Ann DowdTopic Adds Maria Bamford-Fronted Mental Health Talk Show, Horror Anthology Series To Originals SlateFirst Look Media's Streaming Service Topic Strikes Deals With BBC Studios & Keshet Ahead Of Launch
The show will initially launch as a 24-hour global stream on The Second City’s and Topic’s social channels on April 16 and then air on Topic’s...
- 4/10/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Showtime has picked up to pilot Big Deal, a half-hour single-camera comedy co-created by and starring Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live alumna Vanessa Bayer. The Big Sick helmer Michael Showalter will direct the pilot for the project, from Annapurna TV, which had been in development at Showtime for a year.
Emmy-winning former Inside Amy Schumer head writer Jessi Klein serves as showrunner on Big Deal, which Bayer co-created with former SNL writer Jeremy Beiler.
Big Deal is a grounded comedy in which a woman (Bayer) overcomes childhood leukemia to achieve her lifelong dream of landing a job as a QVC host.
Bayer’s character is inspired by the comedy actress’ own personal story as a survivor of childhood leukemia, which she was diagnosed with in her freshman year of high school.
Bayer, Beiler and Klein executive produce Big Deal with Showalter and Jordana Mollick via Showalter Semi-Formal Prods., which has had...
Emmy-winning former Inside Amy Schumer head writer Jessi Klein serves as showrunner on Big Deal, which Bayer co-created with former SNL writer Jeremy Beiler.
Big Deal is a grounded comedy in which a woman (Bayer) overcomes childhood leukemia to achieve her lifelong dream of landing a job as a QVC host.
Bayer’s character is inspired by the comedy actress’ own personal story as a survivor of childhood leukemia, which she was diagnosed with in her freshman year of high school.
Bayer, Beiler and Klein executive produce Big Deal with Showalter and Jordana Mollick via Showalter Semi-Formal Prods., which has had...
- 11/18/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
This is Not what Sara Lee needs right before Thanksgiving.
On Saturday’s “SNL,” host Harry Styles played the food brand’s fictional Instagram manager in a sketch where he’s confronted by Sara Lee employees, played by members Cecily Strong and Bowen Yang, who are concerned about the activity they’ve seen on Sara Lee’s Ig.
Apparently, Style’s character Dylan has been “mixing up” the Sara Lee Instagram account and his personal Instagram account resulting in Sara Lee writing comments like “Wreck me daddy” and “Destroy me king” on a photo of Nick Jonas.
He’s also been captioning pictures of Sara Lee products with statements like, “Feeling really depressed after threesome. What was supposed to be a fantasy ended up more rejection. Must get rid of toxic in community,” and, “A little moody after being used. Why do guys freak out when I ask them to spit in mouth?...
On Saturday’s “SNL,” host Harry Styles played the food brand’s fictional Instagram manager in a sketch where he’s confronted by Sara Lee employees, played by members Cecily Strong and Bowen Yang, who are concerned about the activity they’ve seen on Sara Lee’s Ig.
Apparently, Style’s character Dylan has been “mixing up” the Sara Lee Instagram account and his personal Instagram account resulting in Sara Lee writing comments like “Wreck me daddy” and “Destroy me king” on a photo of Nick Jonas.
He’s also been captioning pictures of Sara Lee products with statements like, “Feeling really depressed after threesome. What was supposed to be a fantasy ended up more rejection. Must get rid of toxic in community,” and, “A little moody after being used. Why do guys freak out when I ask them to spit in mouth?...
- 11/18/2019
- by Tony Maglio and Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
KollywoodAccording to reports, Vijaya Productions still owes money to distributors from the time of their last release 'Veeram'.Tnm StaffYet another Vijay Sethupathi film is stuck on the release day. Sangathamizhan, directed by Vijay Chandar, and produced by Vijaya Productions was supposed to hit the screens on November 15 along with Vishal's Action. However, as of now, there's no clarity on whether the film will release as per schedule. Starring Vijay Sethupathi, Raashi Khanna and Nivetha Pethuraj in lead roles, bookings for the film had opened but the shows were later removed because of a financial dispute that's standing in the way of the film's release. According to reports, the producer Vijaya Productions still owes money to distributors from the time of their last release Veeram. The Ajith film directed by Siva had released in 2014. Sangathamizhan was earlier supposed to be a Deepavali release. However, it was postponed and Vijay's...
- 11/15/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
FilmsThe film, starring Vikram and Akshara Haasan, is bankrolled by Raaj Kamal Films International. Tnm StaffKamal Haasan launched the first look and title of his upcoming production with Vikram in the lead on Tuesday. Titled Kadaram Kondan, the film also has Akshara Haasan as part of the cast. Vikram's 56th film comes after Sketch, which was a flop, and Saamy Square, which proved to be a disappointing sequel to a blockbuster film. Directed by Rajesh M Selva, Kadaram Kondan has music by Ghibran. The poster for Kadaram Kondan shows a heavily tattooed Vikram sporting a funky hairstyle and sunglasses. He's also handcuffed, with wisps of smoke around him. The buildings featured in the poster suggest that the action may take place in Malaysia. Kadaram Kondan could also be an allusion to Chola king Rajendra Chola who was bestowed the name which means the one who conquered Kadaram, for having sacked...
- 11/6/2018
- by Manasa
- The News Minute
KollywoodThis yet-untitled film is expected to be wrapped up by October or November.Digital NativeDigital NativeIf the industry grapevine is anything to go by, Vikram’s next yet-untitled project in Kamal Haasan’s production could be a remake of Hollywood thriller Don’t Breathe. While the makers haven’t yet officially made an announcement with respect to this report doing the rounds, rumours are rife that the film could be a remake. Don’t Breathe is a thriller which revolves around three youngsters who get trapped inside a blind man’s house while breaking into it. According to reports, Vikram plays the blind character and Akshara Haasan plays one of the characters that break into his house. In August, the film was launched in Chennai and the team began filming. Having recently wrapped up his portion for Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram, Vikram is expected to start shooting for his next very soon.
- 9/14/2018
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
KollywoodMeera Mithun is also part of the cast in this yet-untitled film.Digital NativeIn June, it was reported that Vikram will soon join hands with director Rajesh M Selva in Kamal Haasan’s production for a yet-untitled project. In January earlier this year, a Times of India report said that the film will be a remake of a French flick and this still remains unconfirmed. On Thursday, the film was launched in Chennai and the team began filming. Having recently wrapped up his portion for Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram, Vikram is expected to start shooting full-fledged from next week. This yet-untitled film is expected to be wrapped up by October or November, enabling Vikram to start working on his upcoming magnum opus Mahaveer Karna. In a statement, it was announced that the project happens to be the 45th production of RaajKamal Films International. Apparently, Vikram won’t have a...
- 8/31/2018
- by Cris
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe Malayalam mystery thriller will be remade in both Tamil and Telugu.Digital NativeDigital NativeMammootty starrer The Great Father turned out to be a big hit and the film is to be remade in Tamil and Telugu soon. Directed by Haneef Adeni, the film was bankrolled by Prithviraj Sukumaran, Santosh Sivan, Arya and Shaji Nadesan under the banner August Cinema. And now, it is all set to be remade in Tamil and Telugu. The reports are that Tollywood star Venkatesh has been roped in to reprise Mammootty’s role in the Telugu version while Vikram will be doing it in the Tamil remake. The details regarding the Tamil project is yet to be made clear. The Great Father is a mystery thriller that had Mammootty play the lead role with the star cast also including Arya, Sneha, Anikha, Shaam, Malavika Mohanan, Miya George, and Kalabhavan Shajon in pivotal roles. Made on a budget of Rs 6 crores, The Great Father collected Rs. 50 crores at the box office which speaks about its commercial success. The film’s Hindi dubbed version was also released earlier under the title Dashing Jiggarwala. It may be mentioned here that Venkatesh has starred in quite a number of remakes including Drishyam and Irudhi Suttru. He reprised Mohanlal’s role in the remake of Drishyam titled as Dhrushyam in Telugu and Madhavan’s role Guru, from Irudhu Suttru. He currently has another remake in his kitty which will be Vikram Vedha that had Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles. Vikram’s last film release was Sketch which was released earlier this year and he has two more films lined up for release this year – Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram and Hari’s Saamy Square. It may be noted here that Saamy Square is the sequel to his smash hit film Saamy which was a cult hit way back in 2003. (Content provided by Digital Native)...
- 3/12/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
CinemaWhile no new films will hit the screens in the coming weeks, theatres are now playing old blockbusters and even films that didn't have a good run in theatres.Tnm StaffFolks in Chennai can now watch last year’s blockbuster films like Vikram Vedha and Mersal again in theatres. Even films like Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and Sketch that came way before them are being screened again. Following differences between south Indian film industries and Digital Service Providers (DSPs), Tamil and Telugu film industries have announced an indefinite strike. While no new films will hit the screens in the coming weeks, theatres are now playing old blockbusters and even films that didn't have a good run in theatres. From old Mgr classics like Enga Veetu Pillai and Adimaipenn to Suriya’s recent Thaana Serndha Kootam, several films are sets to play in multiplexes to keep the crowds engaged. Some of the films that will be shown again are Aval, Meesaya Murukku, Oru Nalla Naal Pathu Solren, Ajith’s Vedaalam, 1981 classic Meendum Kokila, Gulaebaghavali, Mannar Vagaiyara, 2014 thriller Yaazh, Yenda Thalaiyila Yenna Vekkala, amongst others. The strike may affect several big releases in Tamil. There about 50 movies in the pipeline for the next three months, including Rajinikanth's Kaala, Vishal’s Irumbu Thirai, and Sai Pallavi's Karu. What is the strike about? According to the four film industries, the DSPs who deliver content straight to theatres via satellite for digital projection, charge rates that are too high. DSPs such as Qube and UFO are believed to charge around Rs 22,500 per screen for digital projection. This includes the cost of hiring and delivery of content via digital distribution in theatres. While Tamil and Telugu film industries have gone on indefinite strike, Malayalam and Kannada will see a one day shut down. The last round of talks between the south Indian film industries and the DSPs was held on February 23 in Bengaluru. This was the third time that the two parties were meeting to find a resolution. However, the talks ended without them reaching an agreement.
- 3/2/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
Kollywood'Mahaveer Karnan' will be shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi and be released in over 30 other national and international languages worldwide.Digital NativeDigital NativeOne of the versatile actors in India, Vikram has been bagging some of the prestigious projects over the years. The latest venture that is in his kitty happens to be Mahaveer Karnan, a film based on the epic Mahabharata. In this film, Vikram will be playing the title role. To be directed by Rs Vimal, it will start rolling from October 2018 with the release date set in December 2019. A period flick set in a different era, Mahaveer Karnan will be bankrolled by United Film Kingdom on a whopping budget of Rs. 300 crores. Incidentally, Baahubali, which was released in two parts – Baahubali: the Beginning and Baahubali: the Conclusion, was made on a budget of Rs. 450 crores jointly. Sources say that Mahaveer Karnan would pose a stiff competition to Baahubali and will shatter at least some of the box office results held by it. The pre-production work for this film has begun already and the team is busy scouting for the shooting spot locations. According to sources, a major portion of the film would be shot at the Niagara Falls and necessary permissions have been obtained. Mahaveer Karnan will be shot simultaneously in Tamil and Hindi and be released in over 30 other national and international languages throughout the globe. Playing the mighty Karnan requires Vikram to undergo a strict fitness regime so that he develops the physique required. Sources say that the actor is dedicated to this project and has begun working on it. The team is expected to reveal the rest of the star cast soon. Vikram’s last release was Sketch which hit the silver screens on January 12 as a Pongal release and he has a couple of movies in various stages of production. The Gautham Menon directorial Dhruva Natchathiram and Hari’s Saamy Square will hit the silver screens this year.
- 2/9/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodRevathi pulls off a big surprise, playing a con artist with elan.Sowmya RajendranGulaebaghavali, the Mgr film, was the title that used to leave us flummoxed while playing dumb charades in school. The word would be split into several parts – some that had meaning and some that didn't – and you'd have to make sense of it all somehow. Kalyaan's screwball comedy is similar to that childhood exercise. The film opens in 1945, with a story about an Indian who steals valuable gems from a British man. Then, cut to the present and we see Revathi sitting in the park, lost in thought. She's thinking about her dead son – you think she's playing a sober elderly woman but no. She is Masha (remember the spirited young woman from the '90s screwball comedy Arangetra Velai?), a seasoned con artist. Revathi's contemporaries like Rajini and Kamal are still playing the hero, getting "mass" introduction scenes and macho fights. Gulaebaghavali surprises us by giving this veteran woman actor similar sequences. It's entertaining and oddly touching even, to see the petite Revathi flick her hair back and do a stylish walk, indulge in a high speed car chase, and sock the villains. There's one scene where Masha starts talking about an orphanage she cares about, her eyes brimming and I was going *yawn* but it's not what you think it is – the subversion is surprising and funny. She even gets the fourth wall breaking moments that are usually reserved for our big heroes – references to Mouna Ragam and Mann Vasanai that you're supposed to know. Prabhu Deva and Hansika (who features in a meatier than usual role) get some romance going in the middle of the hunt for...for what? There's gems, statues, a sister held hostage – a bunch of plot lines that come together. It's difficult not to love Prabhu Deva's dance if you've grown up in the '90s and it's good to see him do the "boneless" moves as effortlessly as ever. Why isn't Prabhu Deva wearing Prabhu Deva pants any more though? The film was sold to the audience as an "adventure fantasy" but the fantasy part is restricted to one song which, for some reason, also features a polar bear. Gulaebaghavali is not a particularly original film. The comedy is mildly amusing, especially if you catch all the references – the red car joke from Karagatakkaran, for instance. The climax is bizarre and had potential to become truly hilarious – but somehow, the film misses the bus by staying too close to the slapstick territory. However, Gulaebaghavali still took me by surprise because I went thinking this was a Prabhu Deva film and ended up watching a Revathi film – and here it is, competing with Vikram's Sketch and Suriya's Tsk at a crowded weekend at the box-office. Will Kjr Studios, which gave us Nayanthara's Aramm last year, manage to stay afloat with this one? One hopes so, for Masha 2.O's sake! Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither Tnm nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
- 1/12/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodHave you ever wondered what life's like for the people who dance behind the hero or appear in scores of films as part of a crowd scene? Sowmya RajendranImage for representation onlyHe has acted in Sketch, Kaala and a number of blockbusters over the last several years. But chances are, if you meet him, you'll never recognise him. 29-year-old Ashok is a junior artiste like scores of others in the Tamil film industry. These are the people who appear in the background or may do small roles that go unnoticed in films. "I've mostly acted in crowd scenes or as part of the background," says Ashok. "I've acted as the house-help in Siddharth's upcoming film Shaitan Ka Bachcha." Ashok, who has been in Kollywood for the past five years, continues to work as a junior artiste but has also become a "kind of" agent for them. It is the agents who work as the bridge between the artistes and the filmmakers. "If someone needs junior artistes for a film, they contact the agent and the agent gets them the people they need," he says. "I'm not exactly an agent. I have friends who've studied but don't have a job. I coordinate among them and organise them for shoots. I have agents above me in the hierarchy." The agent takes home a sizable chunk as commission from the meagre pay - a few hundreds - that junior artistes get. Of dreams and abuse Ashok sounds disillusioned with the film industry. He came from Madurai to Chennai in search of a job and ended up in Kollywood. "You can never hope to become a star by doing these roles," he says. "People treat us so badly. There are some directors like Shankar who are reasonably good to work with but others shout at us and abuse us." Naming a prominent young director who has made blockbuster films, Ashok says that he is very short-tempered and uses abusive language with junior artistes like him. He also recounts an instance when a junior artiste was slapped on the sets, but the director of a big banner film didn't react when he heard about it. "I don't know if he'll remember the incident now. It became an issue then but when we went to complain to him, he didn't even have the time to listen to us," says Ashok. "They discriminate even in the food. The light manager will get one kind of food, we'll get another. It's sometimes insufficient. When we have to travel for shoots, we are put up in wedding halls and have to sleep there," he adds. 20-year-old Kishore, another junior artiste who has worked in a handful of films, agrees with Ashok. He's a second year B.Com college student who came into the field only to see stars in real life. "They don't even give us the respect that they give to people who've come for auditions," he says. "It's worse for the women." Kishore has tried his hand at auditions for small roles in Endhiran and 2.O. But he has bigger dreams of playing the hero's friend, or doing a comedy role in future. 'Adjustment' culture Cp Ranisri has been working in the Tamil film industry for the past two years. She has done small roles in many films, including Magalir Mattum and Aramm. "I'm not a junior artiste. I've done small roles and have even had dialogues," she said. "In Magalir Mattum, I'd acted as a 'terror' warden – they made me look dark for that role – and I even had dialogues for which I did dubbing, but they cut all that from the film. It's okay, they can only keep what they needed, right?" Ranisri is 37 and came into Kollywood with the idea that she could raise money for social work through the contacts she makes. She works with a charitable trust for women but says she does not make any money through it. "I get paid Rs 2,500 for indoor (shoots) per call sheet. For outdoor, I get as much as Rs 4,000," she says. A call sheet is a schedule which has the details of where and when artistes should report for a day of filming. Asked about how the smaller artistes are treated on sets, Ranisri says, "I've never got a scolding. If we do our job properly, why will they shout at us? If we're on the phone all the time or if we don't do what they ask us to do, it can happen. They want to get the job done and if we do it, there's no problem." Ranisri acknowledges that there is an "adjustment" culture in the Tamil film industry, where women artistes are asked to provide sexual favours in exchange for work. "People on the outside think poorly of the film industry. I've acted in ten films but only two have released so far. All these are big banner films with big artistes. In all these films, nobody has misbehaved with me. I've been to outdoor shoots for Magalir Mattum and Aramm but faced no problems," she says. However, Rani goes on to add: "There are many who think they can earn money quickly and do character roles if they 'adjust'. This is a wrong idea, but it has unfortunately become common. In the smaller companies I've been to, people have asked me also, but I'd rather stay at home and do nothing." Ranisri looks forward to playing bigger roles in future; "Who doesn't dream?" she asks. Dancing their way to the hero 27-year-old Humai, who currently works as an assistant choreographer, has worked as a dancer for the past 10 years. He has worked in films like Mersal and a number of other big budget flicks over the years. "You have to become a member of the Tamil Nadu Film, Television Dancers and Dance Directors Union. The price of the card is Rs 3 lakh. They select around 20 members a year based on your dance audition. We then work with different dance masters and are called to work in films through them," he says. Humai says that the competition among dancers is to keep moving ahead in the lines for the group dance and finally make it to the coveted positions – to the right or left of the hero in the song. He points out that since the dancers go as a team, they don't face too many problems. "For smaller films, yes, there have been times when the food is not good and we've made it into an issue, but for the bigger banners, it's usually smooth," he says. The biggest problem confronting dancers in the Tamil film industry is that unlike earlier times when they could also work in other industries, they're now restricted to Kollywood. "It is difficult to make back the 3 lakhs you spend on the card. It was possible earlier but it's difficult now. We used to work in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and even Hindi but now we're doing only Tamil. Because dance choreographers have come up in all these industries and they're barring people from outside," he says. A background dancer – man or woman – makes around Rs 2,400-2,600 per call sheet. Other than the restrictions on working in other industries, the kind of films the Tamil industry makes has changed. "They don't make films with dance songs that much now. This has affected our work. The crew working in other departments remain unaffected but in our homes, if there has to be food on the table, there should be dance in the film. Earlier, there will be at least three dance songs in a film but now it's only one song," he says.
- 1/11/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe big clash will be between Suriya and Vikram releases but there are other players, too.Tnm StaffThe Pongal weekend is a much coveted release date for Tamil films. The long holiday and the accompanying festivities usually ensure good footfalls in cinema theatres in the state. Being the first festival of the year, the box-office tends to be rather crowded. 2018 is no different - in fact, this year, as many as five films are all set to hit the screens. A few weeks ago, the number was as high as eight but three filmmakers have backed out of the race sensibly. Vishal and Arjun's Irumbuthirai is among the films which have postponed the release date. The biggest clash will be between Suriya's Thaana Serndha Koottam and Vikram's Sketch. The others in the race include Prabhu Deva's Gulebagavali, Aravind Swamy's Bhaskar Oru Rascal and Vijaykanth's son, Shanmugapandian's Madura Veeran. Writing for Firstpost, film critic and trade analyst Sreedhar Pillai says Tamil Nadu has 1,100 screens, of which only 800-900 are equipped to screen new films. Most of the screens, he says, will go to Suriya and Vikram films. Tsk Suriya's Thaana Serndha Koottam is the Tamil remake of Akshay Kumar's Special 26 which released in 2013. The film starred Kajal Aggarwal, Manoj Bajpayee, and Anupam Kher. Tsk has a good buzz around it and was even the golden tweet of the year till the Virushka wedding took away the honour. Directed by Vignesh Shivn, the film also stars Keerthy Suresh, Karthik and Ramya Krishna. Special 26 had enough comedy and intrigue built into the story. If Tsk is a faithful remake, chances are that it will hook the family audience. The original was a big hit and is a tried and tested storyline. The Tamil audience has increasingly opened up to thrillers with strong storytelling and the film is likely to score big if it has been done well. Sketch Directed by Vijay Chander, this Vikram-Tamannaah starrer is among the most anticipated releases of this year. From the teaser, it appears that Vikram is playing a rowdy in the film, a character he played to huge reception in Gemini. The film is also releasing big in Kerala, the distribution rights having been acquired by Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, which is co-owned by veteran producer Antony Perumbavoor. Vikram hasn't had a release in 2017. His last film was Irumugan and the break from the big screen has made his fans all the more eager to watch Sketch. The film is likely to give Tsk tough competition at the box-office if it receives good reviews. Gulebaghavali This Prabhudeva-Hansika film, directed by Kalyaan may prove to be a winner at the box office, considering it's a comedy which is likely to attract family audiences during the Pongal festival. The film has been produced by Kjr Studios which created a sensation with Gopi Nainar's Aramm towards the end of 2017. The film also stars Revathi, Ramdoss, and Yogi Babu. Prabhudeva is known for comedy films like Kaathala Kaathala and the actor still has a wide fanbase. If Gulebaghavali is the laugh riot its makers have been promising, it may end up getting more screens - provided, it holds up against the two big releases in its opening weekend. Bhaskar Oru Rascal The Tamil remake of the Malayalam film Bhaskar the Rascal, this film directed by Siddique stars Aravind Swamy and Amala Paul. The original starred Mammootty and Nayanthara in lead roles. Aravind Swamy is known for his intelligent script selection. The original film was a blockbuster which ran for 100 days in Kerala. The film is about a greedy businessman. Nayanthara played a single parent in the Malayalam film and Amala Paul is likely to reprise the role. Bhaskar Oru Rascal has a good buzz around it and the filmmakers have taken a risk, releasing it with Tsk and Sketch. Whether the gamble will pay off is another question. However, both Aravind Swamy and Amala Paul are strong performers and the film may stay ahead in the race, if it gets enough good word of mouth. Madura Veeran The directorial debut of cinematographer PG Muthiah, this film has Shanmugapandian in the lead role. Samuthirakani is also part of the cast. It remains to be seen how many screens this film, which does not have big stars in the cast, will manage to get. The film's trailer was launched by actor Sivakarthikeyan on January 1 and it managed to get eyeballs on social media. However, there isn't much buzz around it otherwise.
- 1/6/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe film is believed to be the remake of a French film.Digital NativeVikram, last seen on screen in action-thriller Irumugan, didn’t have a single release in 2017 even though he was shooting for three projects – Sketch, Dhruva Natchathiram and Saamy Square, the highly anticipated sequel to his 2003 blockbuster Saamy.The year also saw his daughter get married and that kept him out action for a brief while. He was also busy putting together the perfect launch pad for his son Dhruv, who is making his acting debut with Varma, the Tamil remake of Arjun Reddy. Awaiting the release of Sketch on January 12, it is believed that Vikram has signed a new project in Kamal Haasan’s production Raaj Kamal Films and the film will be helmed by Rajesh M Selva. According to a Times of India report, the film will be a remake of a French flick. “The team had originally planned to announce this project on January 1, but since Vikram's father passed away on December 31, they have put off the announcement as a mark of respect to the actor.” The regular shooting will commence soon. Currently busy wrapping up Saamy Square, in which he returns as the foul-mouthed cop, Vikram will also finish the leftover portion of Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram, in which he plays a secret agent out for revenge. Vikram is expected to commence shooting for Selva’s project from the summer of this year and will hopefully wrap this up by year-end. If everything goes as planned, Vikram might have three releases this year. There are also rumours that Dhruva Natchathiram is being planned as a trilogy. The film’s talkie portion should be completed by next month. The next four months will be spent on post-production and the film will release as planned later this year. The film was shot in key locations outside India, especially in Europe and the Us. Originally planned with Suriya, who opted out after a fall out with Gautham Menon, Vikram was roped in as his replacement.
- 1/6/2018
- by Editor
- The News Minute
Vikram's built look for Sketch, an upcoming Tamil thriller written and directed by Vijay Chander, has sent Twitter into a frenzy.
The film is expected to release in January this year, with the possibility of a clash with Suriya's film Thaana Serndha Kootam. Sketch also has Tamannaah and Sri Priyanka in lead roles. ...
The film is expected to release in January this year, with the possibility of a clash with Suriya's film Thaana Serndha Kootam. Sketch also has Tamannaah and Sri Priyanka in lead roles. ...
- 11/20/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
Actor Vikram has been working non-stop this year barring the brief break he took for his daughter’s wedding last week. He began this year with Gautham Menon’s spy thriller Dhruva Natchathiram and soon commenced work on Sketch as well. He went on to complete Sketch as he had committed to complete the project within a stipulated period of time. Post Sketch, he went back to finish his portion in Dhruva Natchathiram, which marks his first time collaboration with Gautham Menon.
- 11/10/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
The first look teaser of Chiyaan Vikram’s commercial actioner Sketch is released on the occasion of Diwali.
Directed by Vijay Chander of Vaalu fame, Tamannaah Bhatia plays Vikram’s romantic interest in the film. The film is touted to be set in North Chennai and Vikram apparently plays a gangster in the film and Tamannaah plays a college girl.
Directed by Vijay Chander of Vaalu fame, Tamannaah Bhatia plays Vikram’s romantic interest in the film. The film is touted to be set in North Chennai and Vikram apparently plays a gangster in the film and Tamannaah plays a college girl.
- 10/17/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
A few weeks earlier, the media was abuzz with the news that Vijay’s Mersal and Vikram’s Sketch are slated to hit the silver screens for Diwali this year. While this news had the adrenaline pumping in excitement among the fans of both stars, trade analysts were of the opinion that the box office clash should be averted, as it is not good for the trade.
- 9/15/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
It’s been a very busy year for Vikram, who has been literally jumping from one film set to another and working tirelessly. He began work early this year on Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram, and after shooting a couple of schedules, he commenced work on Vijay Chander’s Sketch. Having recently wrapped up Sketch, which also stars Tamannaah, Vikram has recommenced work on Gautham’s film from Thursday in Chennai. According to reliable sources, the shoot of the film is currently underway in Triplicane.
- 8/18/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
Film releases on festivals always make fans happy. And this Diwali, both Vijay as well as Vikram fans are in for a treat. Going by what the sources in the tinsel town are saying, we gather that Vijay’s Mersal might not be the sole release for Diwali. It is said that Vikram’s Sketch, directed by the Vaalu fame Vijay Chander may also join the race. Vikram is working on Gautham Menon’s Dhruva Natchathiram and simultaneously he is concentrating on the Vijay Chander directorial Sketch.
- 7/12/2017
- by TNM NEWS
- The News Minute
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