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

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.

Hello All,

This is to post an update regarding the recent seminar in filmmaking conducted by FTFM in Bangalore. The topic covered was Claymation.

Please read more about it here.. www.globalftfm.org

Yes…We started at sharp 1:30 pm…. Bhargav was the host for Session #1….at 1:35 pm vikram and his friend joined us. and before 2 o clock Japan also joined us. He could have joined session on time but he was lost in finding Bhargav’s home….

We strongly discussed characterization of Guru (abhishek bachchan),aishwarya rai (i forgot her name in movie while writing….)and Guru’s father.Ritesh drawed our attention towards the symbolism used in first part. Jaimin (studying in std 9th) was quite viewer and inquisitive during the session. Japan throwed few query regarding single cam shoot or multi cam shoot…he was satisfied by knowing the continuity rules.
I reveled few mistakes ,lighting facts and special effects issues. Bhargav too was on the same track…he also explained his point of view regarding symbolism used in previous part. We couldnt finished whole movie.
we fell short of time…Ritesh and Vikram has quite different image of FTFM before they came… But after meeting FTFMites very first time he totally painted again the previous image of FTFM in his mind….Yes Just reading mail and blogs wont give you the feel of FTFM… B A Part of US….B A part of our activity….
B the Feathers of the spreaded wings of FTFM….keep track on yahoo group for next session next sunday…..
Next sunday A cinematographer (12 year exp in mumbai film industry) is joining us……

keep rolling

Mehul