Binging with Babish: Room Service from Mad Men


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Mad Men continued AMC’s hot streak of well-acted, well-written, morally irreverent dramas with its sordid look at the lives of Madison Avenue’s top advertisers. In an early episode, Roger Sterling attempts to woo America’s favorite mistress with a light room service lunch: Oysters Rockefeller, Beef Wellington, and Napoleons. This week, blatantly disregard your cholesterol levels and fire up a Lucky Strike as we indulge in some hotel-room-hedonism with our silver fox boss.

Music: “unna” by Broke for Free

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STRICTLYVC – Vivek Ramaswamy, CEO & Founder of Roivant Sciences


Roivant Sciences founder Vivek Ramaswamy talks to StrictlyVC’s Connie Loizos about building a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company out of thin air.

The super-small miniatures of ‘Blade Runner’

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I asked Mark Stetson, chief model-maker on the original Blade Runner, about the super tiniest miniatures made for the film. Here’s what he said, at SYFY WIRE.

*That* cable car scene in ‘The Golden Circle’

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I think even I got motion sickness watching this, but the physical and digital effects teams on Kingsman: The Golden Circle did a killer job. I wrote about it for Den of Geek!

Top five latest video games with the best graphics and animation

Video game graphics have come a long way over the decades. If you check www.platinumplaycasino.com, you will realise that the crisp clean graphics of the games makes them an enjoyable experience.

Who remembers the days of Atari gaming and the simple graphics used in games like Space Invaders? Or how Link from The Legend of Zelda started out as this pixel coloured blob. Animation itself could often be a bit choppy too back then.

Now fast forward to the video games around today for PC, Xbox and PlayStation. The graphics and animation are so realistic in so many of these games that it’s like being immersed in the game itself. You have World of Warcraft, The Witcher and Skyrim who have come a long way in their animation. Even online casino gaming, such as what you will find at Platinum Play Casino, have come a long way.

If it is great graphics and animation that you want, here are some of the best that came out, or are due to hit the shelves for 2017. Bear in mind, to experience these awesome animation your computer and graphic cards need to be up to spec for the full animation effect!

Here are the video games that boast excellent graphics:

Destiny 2

Set to be released for PC/online gaming at the end of October, Destiny 2 came out for Xbox and PS4 at the start of September. The intro videos alone had players scrambling to pre-order the PC version of the game.

Set in a mythic sci-fi world, Destiny 2 was created by the very same Bungie team that created Halo. Now, there were some issues with the original Destiny gaming platform and the engine it was running on. But it seems that this has been fixed for Destiny 2 and the animation looks smooth with clear, sharp graphics. The cinematics for their cut scenes are incredible as well.

The PvP (Player versus Player) platform and environment runs well with no lag and the graphics up close hold on to their sharp design and look.

Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire

Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire is the second expansion to be created for GW2. This MMORP was developed and published by Arenanet and is due to come out any day now. Looking at examples and beta testing, the animation looks as good as the main game itself. Some new features have been added, such as new mounts and specialisations for your characters.

Some trailers were recently released and the game takes player to the Crystal Desert. Now, you might think, “A desert, how boring,” but that is not the case. The art and graphics bring to you every kind of desert you can imagine, with a level of fidelity and detail that was worked on diligently.

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Created by Guerilla Games or PS4, Horizon: Zero Dawn takes place is this lush post-apocalyptic world with vibrant graphics and in game animations. Released this February, the game has a strong female character and is played on the Decima game engine, which was previously engineered for their Killzone game and tweaked for Horizon. It’s also their very first attempt at creating a role playing game.

And they did a great job! To make things even better, an expansion, The Frozen Wilds, will be adding additional content for the game, including characters, story lines and a new area for players to explore.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This is video game where you can see just how far animation has come. This is a fresher approach to the older Zelda games, and one which they have been striving towards since its first inception. Developed and published by Nintendo for both Wii U and Switch, the game hit the stores back in March. It was meant to be released in 2015 exclusively for Wii U but was delayed twice.

Were these delays worth the wait? Definitely! This new addition to the Zelda gaming world offers an open world environment that is different from past games. Using a physics engine that is highly detailed and high definition visuals, the depth of its graphics and animation has breathed new life into this gaming classic. Critics have praised Breath of the Wild as one of the greatest games of all time in the video game industry.

Little Nightmares

Tarsier Studios brings us a creepy little game called Little Nightmares, which has a Tim Burton type feel to its graphics and animation. It has been compared to games like Inside and Limbo. The details are sharp and very realistic, which gives it that extra creepy factor. The game uses atmosphere, fear of the unknown and cultural themes that create a haunting scenario. And the nightmares are both terrifying and a bit grotesque.

The game is a puzzle platformed horror adventure that follows the story of a young child called Six who is trying to escape from a vast mysterious vessel called the Maw. It’s a suspense filled game that will give you chills and goose bumps.

These are but a few of the great video games that offer the best animation and graphic game play. Video games aren’t the only area where we can find the best graphics though. If you look around at online casino gaming, for example the slots games found on Platinum Play Casino, you can experience just how realistic animations can be for this area of the gaming industry too.

The post Top five latest video games with the best graphics and animation appeared first on AnimationXpress.

TNT Series Original ‘4 Blocks’ Coming Soon On Amazon Prime Video Worldwide

From Berlin-Neukölln out into the world! More than 1.5 million viewers watched the Hamady clan’s battle for control of their 4 Blocks in the award-winning TNT series original. Now the Berlin gangster drama will be available worldwide. From 4 October, Amazon Prime Video will offer the TNT Serie Original in more than 150 countries, including Asia Pacific.

Hannes Heyelmann, Turner’s senior vice president and managing director, Central and amp; Eastern Europe and International original programming strategy: “With 4 Blocks, we took the risk of financing a series almost entirely on our own, and also handling distribution sales for the first time.”

He added, “We believe that we have found ideal partners with Amazon Prime Video and ZDFneo to make the series available globally via on-demand as well as on German free-to-air TV. These sales prove that our strategy of telling stories that are clearly locally rooted also work in international sales, and they enable us to invest even more in our productions going forward.”

Both deals were brokered by Lisette Schlippe, director content licensing for Turner in Central & Eastern Europe and Canada. 4 Blocks was produced by TNT Serie and Wiedemann & Berg. The six-part series premiered at Berlinale in February and has since been screened at numerous festivals worldwide. Kida Khodr Ramadan won the best actor award at the Séries Mania Festival in Paris for his performance in the series. A second season is already in the pipeline, with shooting planned for this winter, and broadcast later in 2018.

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Fast & Furious Live announces European Dates for first ever Global Arena Tour

Universal Brand Development, Fast Live Productions and tour producers Live Nation Entertainment today announced that Fast & Furious Live will premiere in London at the world famous O2 on 19 January 2018 before heading across Europe for the first six months of 2018 as the first leg of the global arena tour. The action and excitement from one of the most popular and enduring film series of all-time will come to life in this ground-breaking, live show.

Creative director and executive producer, Fast & Furious Live, Rowland French said: “It’s been years in the making, and we are excited to finally show fellow fans what we have been creating in order to bring Fast & Furious Live to the global stage. With this mix of extraordinary stunts, special effects, cutting-edge 3D-projection mapping – as well as drivers pushing their own limits — every performance will create an unforgettable experience for the live audience. Twenty-three cities across 14 countries is just the beginning for Fast & Furious Live.”

The adrenaline-fuelled, two-hour show is set to be the most spectacular live arena production ever produced, featuring precision performance driving and newly created physics-defying stunts. Using favourite cars and locations that criss-cross the globe along with key scenes from the film series – created via state-of-the-art 3D projection mapping – fans will be transported straight into this immersive extension of the Fast & Furious movies.

Fast & Furious Live will allow audiences worldwide to experience the extreme action sequences from the franchise through an authentic live experience,” said Vince Klaseus, President, Universal Brand Development. “With this live show, we are redefining fan access and bringing audiences closer than ever to their favourite movie moments.”

Audiences will feel the heat from flaming exhausts and marvel at vehicular acrobatics as scene after scene unfolds enhanced by the most advanced digital projection technology imaginable. Featuring several original cars from the films, as well as exact replicas of fan favourites —from Dom’s legendary Dodge Charger to the flip car from Fast & Furious 6Fast & Furious Live will evoke some of the boldest moments from the franchise.

Thousands of the world’s best stunt performers and drivers applied for the opportunity to join the production and, following extensive auditions, have been whittled down to an elite team who have started a rigorous training camp in preparation for the world tour. They will be joined by some of the world’s leading parkour athletes resulting in a truly global cast who will be performing incredible automotive and live action stunts.

Executive President Touring International Music, Live Nation, Phil Bowdery said: “As the world’s largest live-entertainment company, we have been part of many incredible shows, but we are especially thrilled to be working on Fast & Furious Live, which will offer fans a spectacle on an unprecedented scale.”

 The European tour will debut with a super-charged world premiere at London’s O2 on 19 January 2018before heading across the continent to the biggest and best arenas in Belgium, Italy, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark.

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Big Data takes Centre Stage at the ATF Leaders’ Summit 2017

Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) today announced a major focus on Big Data at its ATF Leaders’ Summit (28 November 2017), a gathering of decision makers that will mark thestart of the four-day event taking place from 28 November to 1 December 2017.

Through television and online viewing, today’s consumers generate large amounts of data. Using analytics, content businesses can then leverage this information to gain complete understanding of audience behaviours and preferences. With Asia being one of the media world’s fastest growing regions,ATF Leaders’ Summit’s focus on big data aims to uncover Asian consumer inclinations, to enable regional and global content players to tap on opportunities.

Yeow Hui Leng, Senior Project Director of ATF and ScreenSingapore said, “In the face of rising Asia, the ATF continues to build on our position as the region’s leading platform for the content industry. To this end, our conference constantly evolves and adapts to provide fresh insight pertinent for thriving in today’s content business.

For this reason, the ATF Leaders’ Summit will place a spotlight on big data, which has no doubt become the foundation for guiding investment and strategies. Through these sessions, executives will gain a clearer picture of a region and its audiences that thrive on disruption, to create competitive advantages for themselves.”

ATF’s new Knowledge Partner to kickstart conference with exclusive insights
As the first order of the day, ATF’s Knowledge Partner, Kantar, will reveal hard-hitting insights at “The Future of Content”. Led by Stephane Alpern, Managing Director (APAC) of Kantar Futures, the by-invite- only breakfast networking session will bring foresights, trends and futures to the fore. Amid an industry climate where new channels and formats are creating new playing fields, these findings will be key for success.

This will lead into the opening session of the ATF Leaders’ Summit conference, where Kantar will stage a two-part “Big Picture Panel”: “Marrying the Right Data with the Right Content”, where Pablo Gomez, Regional Head (APAC) of Kantar Milward Brown will reveal insight on the right data-and-content combination for successful
brand strategies.

“Is Advertising Dying?”, a panel discussion on whether content is the way for brands to connect with consumers. Here, Kantar will be joined by prominent industry names, along with significant players in the ecosystem.

Socialbakers’ founder to deliver exclusive address on big data

 Completing the big data picture, this year’s ATF Leaders’ Summit will host global Forbes “30 Under 30” lister and Founder of Socialbakers, Jan Rezab. A well-reputed social media analytics expert, Jan Rezab will delve into some of the most debatable aspects of modern business justification for strategies and decisions, and share some of the biggest lessons many have yet to learn from.

 With fresh statistics about APAC consumers and relevant case studies to learn from, the ATF Leaders’ Summit will enable decision-makers to implement the right roadmap for the year ahead, as disruptive technologies, changing customer expectations and regulatory scrutiny continue to transform the content business.

 To further strengthen industry knowledge, the ATF Leaders’ Summit will also address other core industry issues and uncover strategic opportunities.ATF is co-located with ScreenSingapore, and is part of the Singapore Media Festival (SMF).

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Xilam secures new agents for ‘Oggy & the Cockroaches’

Xilam, the award-winning French animation production company, has appointed two new licensing agents to represent its flagship global children’s brand Oggy & the Cockroaches across multiple key territories. Brand Focus will lead the licensing programme in the UK, while 20tooLicensing will manage all licensing in the Middle East.

The two agents will represent Oggy & the Cockroaches across all consumer products categories and brand promotion.

Brand Focus and 20tooLicensing join Xilam’s global roster of licensing agents for Oggy & the Cockroaches including: Discovery Kids (Italy), IMC Licensing (Latin America), Active Merchandising (Germany); brand4rent (Russia), Empire Licensing (South-East Asia) and Dream Theatre (India).

Marie-Laure Marchand, Senior Vice President of Global Licensing at Xilam said: “We are thrilled to be working with Brand Focus and 20tooLicensing, enabling us to expand Oggy & the Cockroaches in these key markets. The international growth of the brand is a major strategic priority as we launch the show’s new 78 x seven-minute episodes this month.”

The sixth and seventh seasons of Oggy & the Cockroaches are slated to premiere in 2017/2018.

In the UK, Oggy & the Cockroaches has been sold to Nickelodeon and Netflix, and in the Middle East broadcasters include: Cartoon Network Middle East, ejunior, Gulli Bil Arabi, Netflix, Amazon and Iciflix.

In addition, season 5 (78 x 7’) is airing internationally on a number of leading broadcasters in key territories including Gulli in France which launched the brand new season this month. Additional broadcasters include Cartoon Network in Latin America, Asia and Africa, Disney Channel in Germany and K2 and Frisbee in Italy, among many others.

Since first airing in 1998, the series and its star Oggy the fat, blue cat has reached 160 countries and an estimated 600 million households.

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Becca’s Bunch flies to France and Canada

Multiple award-winning creative production, distribution and licensing company JAM Media has secured major terrestrial deals with France Télévisions and CBC in Canada for its brand new pre-school series Becca’s Bunch (52 x 11’). The show, currently in production, will be presented at MIP Jr for the first time in its completed form.  

Nickelodeon has already picked up exclusive broadcast rights to the series in the US and Pay TV rights for the rest of the world, while the series has also been presold to ABC Australia.  

Becca’s Bunch will debut mid 2018 with a global roll out planned for later in the year.

Currently in production, Becca’s Bunch centres around Becca, a bird that chirps to her own tune. Her can-do attitude allows her big ideas to take flight on the most fantastical adventures around Wagtail Woods. Becca and her Bunch – Pedro, Russell and Sylvia – boldly go where no bird, worm, squirrel and fox have gone before. The series merges live action, puppetry, 2D and CG animation to create a textured world that the audience will want to reach out and touch.  

John Reynolds, Chief Commercial Officer at JAM Media said: “These deals with France Télévisions and CBC Canada offer a fantastic opportunity for Becca to spread her wings in these key territories and underscore the growing appetite for our bold, inventive and adventurous show which is visually and tonally unique.”

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