hello all !!!!

Glad to inform you all that we are conducting a Digital Film Making (DFM) workshop in ahmedabad.

It is Weekend workshop so working professionals may join it.

Date:       16(sat), 17(sun),22(fri),23(sat) & 24(sun) of May 2009

Fees : Rs 4950

Seats Available : 30

Time : 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Venue :

Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics
5th Floor, Kalapurnam Complex, Near Municipal Market,
Opp. Jain Temple, C. G. Road, Ahmedabad

Content of the Workshop

Part 1

• Skills (camera movements, compositions, camera angles, lighting tech, editing ,   graphics and title, Chroma keying & compositing)
• Hands on  experience of all skills mentioned [individual]
• Idea and Concept Development for a short film/AD Film.
• Script writing
• How to direct a Short film/AD film?
• Digital Storyboarding.

Part 2

• Preproduction
• Camera Practice
• How to handle and care equipments in field?
• Continuity Drills & Demo of Fight Sequence.
  Continuity Exercises
• Editing softwares (understanding interface and practice cross platform compatibility of multimedia software).
• Digital Sound Recording & Sound Design.
• Dubbing in different languages [hands on experience].

Part 3

• Production Management.( includes legal issues of filmmaking)
• Production (Actual shooting of a Short film/AD film by participants).* it is teamwork.
• Post production

Log the footage and edit the film on PC using non linear editing software

Advanced Color Correction

Motion Graphics & Advanced Titles

Screening and Open discussions.
Film appreciation with professionals.

Part-4

Introduction to professional film making technology like Chroma set up,   trolley, professional camera [pd 170,dsr-450], sound mixer, boom microphone etc.

Participants will be given all professional equipments for their short film shoot under the supervision & care of faculties. Participants may access professional sound studio for dubbing and sound design purpose.

Faculty Profile

Mr. Nirav Malavi

Cinematographer, 12 year experience in mumbai industry.

he will take 5-7 hrs session on lighting basics ,continuity & composition.

Mr. Dhaivat Shukla

Sound Designer, Tabla player, music composer, poet,photographer.

Visiting Faculty at NID and other Design Institute for Sound Design.

he will take session on sound design for 4-5 hrs.

Mr Mehul Upadhyay

BE Electronics, Filmmaker.

He has conducted Digital Film Making workshops at IIM-A, IIT-B,IIT-D,BIT Pilani, IIT-ROORKEE, SVNIT ,MSU and other premier institute.He has made documentary for gujarat gov and other NGOs. Produced and Directed more than 30 short films. Recently he has directed a feature length film in delhi.He has trained more than 500 students.

Contact and register

Shweta Babbar +91-9725846144

Mehul Upadhyay +91-9998009613

Note : During the gap(18,19,20 & 21 may)participants will roam around ahmedabad to hunt location and will manage every thing including permission of location.

See the Following Videos  to get Audio-visual feel of DFM workshop

[1] Participant’s Feedbacks

[2] DFM workshop at Ahmedabad

- Winter workshop

- Summer workshop

[3] DFM workshop @ IIT Bombay

Note :  For out station participants >> you may explore different Hotels here on this link >> click here

A group of people from diverse backgrounds assembled at SETU MULTIMEDIA HALL for Screening cum Discussion of the movie THE CHILDREN OF HEAVEN on April 16, 2009.

THE CHILDREN OF HEAVEN (Bashehaye Aseman) is a 1997 Iranian film by Majid Majidi. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998.

CHILDREN OF HEAVEN

A little secret…their biggest adventure.

The frames of the film are so captivating that  everyone is  mesmerized by its simplicity and the beauty of the storytelling is that language is not a barrier in understanding the import of the frame.

It is a film everybody could relate to since it transports one to childhood memories and there is hardly any fictitious depiction so, all of us praised its sober content and treatment.

BHAKTI SHAH : ” Children of Heaven truly was not only wonderful visual treat but an excellent source of understanding life through different eyes and how beautifully it can be made.”

The film was a depiction of Iranian culture but it was so communicated that you understand the psyche of people there. the people have UNCOMPLAINING FORBEARENCE. The culture reflects the pains of childhood of two children from middle class family but how they choose to keep the secret and not burden the parents.

Thus the TITLE. the children shouldered the responsibilty of the house. the manage to keep the secret and never complain of anything..never accusing the family status but rather even in most difficult times, keep the self -esteem high and never let the parents down.

When young Ali’s late arrival at school generates unwanted attention, not once does he explain the real reason is because he is sharing his shoes. He would rather have his teachers think he is slovenly than think his family is too poor to buy shoes. Ali and Zahra were divine kids.

CONTRAST BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

1. The palatial, gated communities, tall buildings, mansions uptown vs the cluttered home space of Ali where a single room served purpose of kitchen,resting room and study room together.

2. the lonely streets uptown where people hardly interact socially vs the streets bustling with energy, lively sounds of children playing on road and the store keepers and the junk collector for exchange of salt..

3. the  loneliness of the rich class kids we could sense when we heard the little boy talk to Ali through the intercom persuauding him to come and play vs carefree group of kids playing of streets or helping parents at work but still enjoying life..alongside work and how ALI AND ZAHRA share good times despite so many difficulties.

THE BUBBLE SCENE

It came a respite for the tension developed due to the lost shoes between the siblings. How they lovingly play with bubbles reflects the tendency of children to take worries easy, their pure state of mind. the floating lightness of the children when they blow worries  like bubbles and transparency and purity of the bondthe siblings shared.

These artistic elements lighten up the film issue and engage the audience.

spellbound audience!

from left to right in centre picture: Aman, Manan, Freeman,

The values cherished in the family

1. Ali’s father, poor as he is, refuses to take even a spoonful of the sugar entrusted to him by the mosque for his own tea.

2. His mother rages at the landlord who calls to intimidate her when her husband isn’t at home.

3. Ali and Zahra communicate in whispers and glances, keeping all their worries and fears to themselves.

4. Zahra had the ability of postponing judgement. when she encounters the girl wearing her pink shoees Roza,she decides not to react at her till she is sure and later when she sees that the girl’s condition was even more pitiable, she chose not to ask her. later  Roza approaches her for the fallen pe, she forgives her and the two become friends.

5. the mother was an angel of forbearance and charity. she despite being so ill sends soup bowl to an elderly neighbor.

The discussion

now rolling tongues to speak!!

From front : Ankit Vyas, Aman, Bhargav, Jai, Jignesh, Shweta,  Chetan Patel,Shyam bhai teacher, sb (a friend of  pradip), bhakti, Pradip sharma

After the screening, we started discussion. everyone shared their thoughts and clarified doubts regarding the justification of characters’ action.

the keys were :Children of Heaven excels in its intimate portrayal of the minutiae of life in Tehran,

the character action motivation, the non fictitious, close to reality film, no high end special effects or sound effects,

simplistic issue of lost shoes, beautiful shots etc..

Some points worth highlighting:

1. the narrow alley in which we see the children running most of the time, projects the economic state of the community and the director’s insight to enhance the proximity of the situation and also the realistic projection of how many hardships the faced to keep the secret: running in dirty uneven lanes, with gutters, children playing, crowd moving about..

2. how does a director decide what camera movement for what shot?

the decision is a combination of Director’s POV i.e. what he wants to communicate or what does he want the audience to focus on and the audience tendency of observing things i.e how best can he leave an impact on them.

Bhakti commented:” I felt the camera angles used in the alley where the main subjects dwell are done in a sense as if to convey the crunch for space each time and to enhance the proximity of the situation.

Contrast to that, the usage of the long shots during the scene of the uptown highways and bridges shown to convey the expanse and create the stark difference of the two parts of the city we are exposed to as an audience is quite magnimous.”

the director serves what he likes in a mnner the audience will love and enjoy it!!

3. Pankaj Chauhan dwelled upon asking Mehul the various shots used and how the selection plus the importance of Editing.

it was a technical but enjoyable discussed as Mehul explained to him using the example:

” if i want to shoot a scene where I want to show someone thirsty, i will take a shot where he is rubbing hands on neck for reveling his quench..may be the next shot he reaching hurriedly for a water bottle offered and then the close up of his lips where we see parched, dry lips relishing each single drop as if it was an elixir!”

the discussion took place in generalised way..so that people not with any background in film could understand the technicalities.

4.We talked about the emerging role of management in Film Production.. as AMAN Remarked ” Bollywood is most unorganised so it needs IIM people to manage it”.

we discussedthat the scope of managment in Cricket and Film industry in India is most!

Despite some shots being repetitive in the film, noone found them boring.

FUN TOPICS:

The pirated cd issue :

how piracy works?

..Ankit Vyas explained some ways including involvement of Islamabad  and how in theatres people shoot using handycam and make film available, then how films are available online even before they are released..

Mehul told his views about the increased use of DIGITAL MEDIUM in film production these days and how he thinks its use will reduce the original content distribution cost in CD form and inturn will lead to no need of people acquiring pirated CD’s or DVD’s.

learning with fun!

upper right corner pic: Freeman Murray and Pankaj Chauhan

Beauty of the last shot

The last shot, with the boy sitting in the calm waters soothing his tired feet and with fish near em..

1.Bhakti : it was calm below the surface yet a slight turbulent on the surface conveying in a way Ali’s state of mind. It was empty and drained owing to not achieving sneakers in the race.. yet  filled with a turbulence of emotions due to his racing thoughts.

2. Mehul: the fishes are used for healing wounds..its a scientific fact. so Ali was sitting calm trying to relieve him from pain of wounds plus lost in thoughts to get over the thought of not winning sneakers in the race.

3. Shweta: Amy be it has an artistic touch to it that the fishes are paying homage to Ali for the humble act of trying his best to get his sister the shoes in exchange for the sneakers he wished to get in return for winning race. he is guilty but the are kinda pampering him that you have done your best!

4. Aman: the fishes are expressing gratitude for the love of a brother for his siter and his act of apologising and giving best returns to his beloved sister to counteract the lost pair of shoes.

metaphorical last shot

so the session ended with the note of upcoming DFM workshop in May and some suggestions for marketing it better.

thanks to all who came..Hope to see more people joining in this time..Keep watching films and observing the beauty of life cos all fiction is inspired by reality.

and the reel life you wanna depict in a film will be good only if you perceive Real life as good!

C U SOON..

Shweta Babbar

The second session was hosted by Mr Nirav Malavi, on March 29,2009 with the total of 7 people in discussion. The movie we discussed:

Seven Pounds (2008)

Seven Names. Seven Strangers. One Secret.

• Director: Gabriele Muccino
• Writer: Grant Nieporte
• Actors: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Elpidia Carrillo, Fiona Hale
• Running time: 123 minutes

Everyone appreciated the movie. The prominent tit-bits of the discussion are:

first and the most obvious question :

Justify the title : SEVEN POUNDS?

The possible answers ranged from :

• As the weight of the heart is about 10-12 ounces, this movie title would not have come from the weight of one organ, but most likely refers to the seven organs, therefore “Seven Pounds” of flesh.
• May be to signify the weight of the gifts Ben ( Will Smith ) gives in the movie to seven people..(.. fits of laughter )

but the title refers to Shakespeare’s The Merchant Of Venice, in which a debtor must pay a pound of flesh. In this case it amounts to parts of his body donated to seven persons deemed worthy by Smith’s character.

Alternate titles

the gift                                          the departing hope                                                 -Shweta Babbar

the faker                                       the reciprocal                                                        – Nirav Malavi

paying the tax                                ( tax being metaphor for debt here)                       – Mehul Upadhyay

dawn of tomorrow                  there will be sunshine                  a new life                  – Paresh Pandya

the confession                                                                                                        – Hiren Upadhyay ( discussed online)

The most apt came out to be:  The Confession,   based on the fact that title must not kill the suspense underneath the climax.

The metaphors

1. the sea for Abundance, Vitality and relaxation

2. When Ben makes love with Emily Posa after the candle light dinner , the shot shifts focus to the candle seated between two empty wine glasses and the flame being extinguished by the rain water.

It symbolises the way the burning desire of two souls who desire to become one is being pacified after the intercourse, the way the rain cools down the atmosphere and the burning candle.

The best dialogues

best1

best2

best3

We had a real good time discussing the things.. The group’s most honored members involved in discussion were

Mr Paresh Pandya : Management psychologist and Film Critic

Mr Vanraj Malavi: an eminent gujarati literature writer

Mr Nirav Malavi:cinematographer

freedom of expression

PersonalRemarks:

Mehul: “i relate it to the great sacrifice made my ancient epic saint Maharishi Dadhichi, who sacrificed himself for the noble cause of the weapon to be made using his bones by the devtas ( deities ) for destroying the demons. ( according to Shrimad Bhagvatam)” “i also relate it to the great sacrifice made by Jatayu in the epic Ramayana to save Sita when Ravan was taking her to lanka. He dies while fighting with Ravan.”

captivated by secret of pounds

Vanaraj Malavi: ” to be a good storyteller, you must practise completing a story you have read half or yet to finish reading.”

Nirav  Malavi : ” my main focus while viewing is camera study and lighting study. Reading books is a great practise for anyone interested in any aspect of film making. it gives one lots of ideas and exposure to different POVs.”

Paresh Pandya: ” the movie reflects the heights of the extent to which the guilt can drive a person..Ben in the movie subdues to indirect form of expression, keeping the secret to himself and restricting from being social until he finally opens his heart to a beautiful woman who needs his help, he risks everything he’s planned for one last chance at love.

at a point when he screams alone in the car, he tries to release the tension and the emotions within. this method is a substitute to sharing with others and helps one to get relieved of the conscious nags also.”

age no bar- everyone is a star

Feel Free to post comments.

You can join at the next appreciation session.

on: April 5,2009

Films to be screened: Internationally recognised short films.