Applause Entertainment has made a number of web shows over the last several years. A lot of their series have also received ‘applause’. Some of these include Scam 1992, Scam 2003, four seasons of Criminal Justice, Black Warrant, etc. Their latest show Search: The Naina Murder Case started streaming on JioHotstar recently from October 10.
EXCLUSIVE: Deepak Segal of Applause Entertainment on ‘expensive’ theatre visits, “My driver can’t blow up 10% of his salary every week by visiting the theatre”; also reveals that they are looking at making 20-episode shows
In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Deepak Segal, the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Applause Entertainment, got talking about the positives of the OTT medium. “The expansion of OTT has actually given the audiences another form of storytelling to watch,” he said. “Compared to films, the format of series is slightly different. We don’t rely much on high action sequences or item numbers. It is more about actors, scenes, characters. And you need to tell a story of eight hours’ runtime. OTT has thrown up new breed of actors like Pankaj Tripathi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Kay Kay Menon, Manoj Bajpayee, etc.”
Segal also believes that the medium is apt for those for whom visiting cinema halls is an expensive exercise. “My driver rarely goes to a theatre because it is so expensive for him and his family. If he goes to a theatre, he will end up spending Rs. 2000-3000. He can’t show films to his kids without popcorn. His salary is Rs. 30000. So, he can’t blow up 10% of it every week by going to the theatre,” he said.
When asked whether OTT has affected box office numbers, Segal was quick to add, “No. OTT has just expanded the audience and made it convenient to watch at home. But the jackpot comes from theatres only. OTT is steady returns. Saiyaara becoming such a big hit is a jackpot. The audience paid money and went to see it. Not all films are becoming hits but the volume is huge. See how the south has taken all over India with such high grossing films.”
Segal shared the future plans for Applause after Search. “We will continue our commitment to series,” he said. “We are looking with a sharp eye on long form series of about 20-episodes types. We are good at series. We have been doing it from 2018. We have got the pulse now on what works and what doesn’t. We have found the formula on how long should a scene and an episode be. Feature films is also a big focus of Applause now. We are doing it with Imtiaz (Ali) and there are more in the pipeline,” he said.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Applause Entertainment CCO Deepak Segal on Search, “Adapting international crime shows is easier as murders happen here as well as there”; also reveals why the Konkona Sen Sharma starrer is based in Navi Mumbai
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