9 July 2009
Social media played an important, information-sharing role in Iran’s post-election turmoil, but satellite television remains crucial to giving people fair and balanced news, experts say.
Setareh Derakhshesh, a lead anchor at Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian News Network, said Tuesday the VOA has embraced social media like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, but takes care to ensure that with this Internet usage, “the traditional values of journalism are not sacrificed to speed.”
For instance, she said videos sent to VOA were vetted for accuracy and authenticity before they were aired, and journalists confirmed stories with sources. Derakhshesh spoke at “The Role of New Media in Iranian Elections,” a panel organized by the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA).
Although e-mail, phone and video traffic to VOA has leveled off since late June, Derakhshesh said Iranians remain “hungry for information” from the rest of the world, and “are waiting to see what the United States is going to do.”
She said reasons for the drop-off in communications from Iran include the Iranian government’s move to block Internet, jam satellites and intimidate people in the country.
Robert Faris, research director of the Berkman Center of Internet and Society at Harvard University, said social media is a “powerful tool” both in allowing people to send and receive information and in organizing political movements.
Despite Iranians’ use of social media, Sam Sadaei, a blogger for Huffington Post, said satellite television channels like the Voice of America (VOA) and the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), are the “only source where Iranian people can get fair and balanced news.”
Andrew Lewman of The Tor Project, a non-profit that allows users to access websites without being tracked, said product use spiked in Iran during June as people sought to get information without fear of retaliation. The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees the VOA, is among The Tor Project’s funders.
VOA’s PNN broadcasts eight hours a day of television programming on a 24-hour cycle. The broadcaster reaches about one-in-four adults in Iran on a weekly basis. For more information or to view and listen to the programs, go to www.VOANews.com/persian.
9 July 2009
On Thursday 25 June 2009, Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development hosted the signature ceremony of the production development agreement, with Indian Director Muzaffar Ali, and American screenwriter David Ward, for the international bio-epic feature film of Jalal al-Din Rumi.
The film illustrates the life and biography of Sufi poet and scientist Jalal al-Din Rumi, who was born in Afghanistan in 1207 and lived roaming between his homeland, Iran and Syria until he resided in Turkey where he died in 1273 in the city of Konya.
Some 34 years later, Jalal al-Din Rumi met the wandering dervish Shams al-Tabrizi, who then became his spiritual mentor and had a decisive effect on his mystical path.
Today, Rumi is considered one of the spiritual masters and greatest poets in the history of mankind; his controversial poems echo in universities and art schools around the world, especially in the United States.
FINE PEARL STUDIOS is assigned by Qatar Foundation to execute this project, together with the renowned Indian Director Muzaffar Ali, known to have dedicated a long time of his life studying the character and the heritage of Rumi, and the Oscar winner American screenwriter David Ward.
Rumi feature film is the first attempt by a Qatari production company with a mission to produce and spread high quality cinematography work, and compete internationally. FINE PEARL STUDIOS aims to partner with distribution companies and studios around the world, especially in Europe and the Unites States. The newly established company is also working on other creative and innovative ideas to be manifested in cinematic productions distributed worldwide.
Rumi has been my dream to build a bridge of love and understanding between the East and the West. I have tried to bring together artists of the world, who think with their heart, to be part of this journey to create a poem on celluloid much the way Rumi did with words, with the conviction that the language of moving images can truly bring about brotherhood of man and end all armed conflicts from the face of this earth as predicted by D.W. Griffiths the father of American cinema nearly hundred years ago. I am deeply inspired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missneds vision and humanity to feel this spirit and support the project; I am also honored by the confidence invested in me by my own government in the initial support to the project, says Muzaffar Ali.
Screen writer and American Director David Ward said: I am greatly honored that Fine Pearl Studios would entrust me with the story of one of the historys greatest poets and philosophers. Rumis universal vision speaks to all cultures and is as inspiring today as it was in his lifetime.
FINE PEARL STUDIOS Executive Director Mahmoud Bouneb said: “This new venture in the cinema movie production is the illustration of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missneds vision to support and promote creative work. Moreover the projects that serve to bridge the gap between cultures, project the true image of the Islamic heritage, and provide a platform for creative film-making talents.
Bouneb expressed his appreciation for Her Highness support to this project, and added: The success of this venture strongly depends on the sincere collaboration and joint efforts with the international cinema community, to ensure the best financing and distribution conditions for FINE PEARL STUDIOS works.
7 July 2009
As reported by WorldScreen:
ZDF Enterprises is collaborating with the British aerial photography specialists Skyworks to deliver never-before-seen, bird’s eye footage of the border that used to separate East and West Germany.
Using the best material currently available and a special HD camera suspended beneath a helicopter, the footage captures exclusive aerial images of the former Iron Curtain, which was 1,400 kilometres long, with minefields and more than 400 guard towers, watched over by 5,000 troops of the East German border guard division.
The footage will be used in various ZDF/ZDF Enterprises programs currently in production, including the five-part documentary series Crossing the Border, four episodes of ZDF Environment on the Move and a documentary made by the ZDF Department of Contemporary History. Moreover, ZDF.archive will market this footage in German-speaking countries on an exclusive basis.
7 July 2009
LIGHTIRON Digital, LLC, a new file-based post production company headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, has purchased a Quantel Pablo 4K non-linear color correction and DI system. LIGHTIRON will deploy the Pablo on a wide range of data-centric projects from studio features, commercials, music videos, stereoscopic 3D, independent films and episodic television.
The Pablo is equipped with the stunning Neo control panel and Quantels award-winning Stereo3D toolset.
LIGHTIRON seeks to equip progressive talent with a new post production framework, and Quantel is an integral component of this effort. The Pablo empowers us to develop new workflow sequences for clients that eliminate redundant tools and operators. Working closely with Quantel enables us to capitalize on the revenue opportunities that exist in the market today, said Michael Cioni, LIGHTIRONs Co-Founder.
LIGHTIRON Co-Founders Michael and Peter Cioni will further advance the level of inventiveness and quality offered by a high-end facility and will bring the production community a creative and inviting new facility with top-notch talent, said Eric Thorne, Quantel VP of Sales.
6 July 2009
Al Jazeera English, the world’s first global 24-hour English-language world news channel based in the Middle East, is today launching AJE Live, a software application which gives viewers access to the channel live on their Apple iPhones and iPods anywhere in the world.
AJE Live provides unlimited viewing of the Al Jazeera English channel on both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. The application, developed with online TV specialist Livestation, is available for an introductory one-off fee of $2.99 on all Apple App Stores, which are accessible via iPhone and iPod touch devices or via iTunes.
Phil Lawrie, Director of Global Distribution at Al Jazeera Network comments: “The Web 2.0 generation is online 24/7 and demands to be constantly updated on global news as it happens. AJE Live is now part of the iPhone apps phenomenon, and is giving users instant access to an exciting brand of journalism when they want it, where they want it. Al Jazeera English is already firmly established as one of the most viewed news channels on YouTube and now AJE Live is keeping the station at the fore of the digital revolution.
Matteo Berlucchi, CEO of Livestation adds: “The fresh perspective on international news and current affairs offered by Al Jazeera English is an ideal match for the generation of iPhone users who want alternative news online. This is demonstrated by the success of Al Jazeera on the Livestation online service and by the high levels of web traffic generated by the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. I am confident iPhone users will welcome the ability to watch Al Jazeera on the move or at home through this high quality application”.
6 July 2009
The GSMA Mobile Business Briefing reports:
A new GSMA-backed study has made the case for new Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum as a key driver of mobile broadband growth in the Americas. The study by US-based research firm Global View Partners said the spectrum – as a core 3G band in the Americas – will accelerate the launch of new services in the region and put it on a par with Asia and Europe in terms of 3G reach. “Regulators should move quickly and not delay in making this valuable and viable spectrum available to meet the rapidly growing broadband needs of consumers and businesses across the Americas,” said Ricardo Tavares, senior vice-president at the GSMA. The spectrum – 90MHz in the 1.7-2.1GHz range – has already been auctioned-off to operators in the US (in 2006) and Canada (in 2008), and the study notes that the prices paid for AWS spectrum in these countries “revealed high market demand,” as well as adding significant mobile broadband capacity and coverage. Many Latin America markets are planning to license the spectrum this year.
According to the study, additional licensing of the AWS spectrum across the region should bring total subscribers with AWS-enabled devices from an estimated 12.4 million at the end of 2009 to an estimated 177.8 million at the end of 2013, a growth rate of 94 percent each year. As the subscriber base increases, the research suggests that device sales will also grow from an estimated 10.9 million in 2009 to an estimated 114.5 million in 2013, representing a growth rate of 80 percent each year. The research also highlighted operator plans. For example, T-Mobile USA plans to continue to drive AWS device and subscriber penetration over the next several years. Global View Partners’ market forecast predicts approximately one half of the operator’s subscriber base are expected to be using HSPA-enabled devices capable of operating in the AWS band within two years, with more than 90 percent within five years.
