Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
RELEASED
'In Pursuit of Paradise' is released!!!!!
Catch the movie at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C30SRRHfWnY
Catch the movie at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C30SRRHfWnY
Friday, August 31, 2007
I shot the sheriff
It all started with an idea. After we made 2 videos for our team at office, we wanted to make a movie. A REAL movie. Broken Mirror, a production started by my college classmates was a huge inspiration as well. We brainstormed different topics at our house - Saurabh, Manoo, Manish, and I discussed various topics like 'Life of a Software Engineer', 'The man who couldnt smile', 'Kill and die', comedy, drama, romance, etc etc until the Theatre Workshop happened.
Yes. The theatre workshop at Microsoft, Hyderabad is the definitive breaking point in the history of 'In Pursuit of Paradise'. Saurabh and I were script writers, and we had a little more than an hour to write a script. And as always, we wanted it to be original - 100%. Thus, 'I shot the sheriff' was born. The concept is original and conceived by Saurabh. We framed Red Sun and the characters Mannu, Satya, Khopdi, and Baba for a play. We put up a fine play, but were not fully able to convey the theme of the script through the play. No worries. We decided we'll make a short film. (Note: The name 'I shot the sheriff' was changed to 'In Pursuit of Paradise' because we didnt want to copy the title of Bob Marley's number - Remember, 100% original)
So, this is how it started. How it went on from being a concept to a project, and more, in the next post.
Yes. The theatre workshop at Microsoft, Hyderabad is the definitive breaking point in the history of 'In Pursuit of Paradise'. Saurabh and I were script writers, and we had a little more than an hour to write a script. And as always, we wanted it to be original - 100%. Thus, 'I shot the sheriff' was born. The concept is original and conceived by Saurabh. We framed Red Sun and the characters Mannu, Satya, Khopdi, and Baba for a play. We put up a fine play, but were not fully able to convey the theme of the script through the play. No worries. We decided we'll make a short film. (Note: The name 'I shot the sheriff' was changed to 'In Pursuit of Paradise' because we didnt want to copy the title of Bob Marley's number - Remember, 100% original)
So, this is how it started. How it went on from being a concept to a project, and more, in the next post.
The Red Sun Oath
फिरदौस – Red Sun Oath
कसम लेतें हैं, दुनिया बदलने की
हर मौत के पीछे, खुशियाँ भिखरने की
हम यूं ही क्यों जायें, कुछ कर दिखायें
डर डर के जीने से अच्छा, हम मर ही जायें
-राहुल गोयल
(rlgoel@yahoo.com)
कसम लेतें हैं, दुनिया बदलने की
हर मौत के पीछे, खुशियाँ भिखरने की
हम यूं ही क्यों जायें, कुछ कर दिखायें
डर डर के जीने से अच्छा, हम मर ही जायें
-राहुल गोयल
(rlgoel@yahoo.com)
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Cameraman's Angle
What do you expect to hear from a kid when asked “What do you want to do when you grow up”?
“Become a Pilot”, “Doctor”, “Policeman”. Some ultra aesthetic one might say “Become a software engineer and file/fix bugs”.
Or maybe “Make a movie”.
It was few months back when Darshan came up with this idea: “We should make a movie”. I started counting. One, Two,... yes two. He has come up with two business ideas in recent times and wasn’t able to go ahead and implement it due to his bad luck.
And this was the third. Third!!! It just had to fail.
Few weeks later our college friend Bhatta came to Hyderabad to discuss another new business idea with Darshan. Unfortunately, they later found someone had again already implemented it and their plan was scratched.
And so I thought. Well let’s see if the ‘Rule of three’, that he often tortures us with, holds for the man himself. It seems it did.
(Well if all this is confusing you please don’t blame me. Either read the novel “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho or send an S+ to Darshan or just ask Manoo “Finally total kitna aaya”? :-))
Awesome work by all the people who participated in it. I guess Prashanth has already described everyone’s contribution in his posts so I won't repeat it. Personally from my side, I wasn’t able to contribute to it as much as I would have liked due to other reasons. But hey, I held on to that moribund camera on the terrace for some two hours (if Saurabh knew me better, I am sure he wouldn’t have risked that) while Darshan kept on telling me to see whether the expressions on everyone’s face while acting were correct. Thank you very much.
Next time though I would surely like to be more active (Ek aur ho raha hai na bhai log?) .
And yeah. The night before the shooting when I couldn’t get sleep, I went through the script some 2-3 times, trying to understand the theme of the movie and the old shayar (my school friends liked to add ‘sadakchaap’ or ‘foisted’ to it but I know those words don’t go with my creations) within me came up with a few lines for the motive being conveyed in the script:
आँसुओं को गिनते है जो बस, दर्द के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए,
किनारे पे लहरों को गिनते है जो बस, समंदर में डूबने के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए,
कहते है पागलपन है यह, इस क़ुरबानी के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए,
धड़्कनो को गिनते है जो बस, ज़िन्दगी के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए।
As our GPM usually says: "Lets go on and ship this baby".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prashanth sent this suggestion: “It is absolutely compulsory for all the crew and cast to put in comments on the posts”. I might like to change it to “It is absolutely compulsory for all the crew and cast to post their side of the story to it”. Waiting to see how many actually do…
“Become a Pilot”, “Doctor”, “Policeman”. Some ultra aesthetic one might say “Become a software engineer and file/fix bugs”.
Or maybe “Make a movie”.
It was few months back when Darshan came up with this idea: “We should make a movie”. I started counting. One, Two,... yes two. He has come up with two business ideas in recent times and wasn’t able to go ahead and implement it due to his bad luck.
And this was the third. Third!!! It just had to fail.
Few weeks later our college friend Bhatta came to Hyderabad to discuss another new business idea with Darshan. Unfortunately, they later found someone had again already implemented it and their plan was scratched.
And so I thought. Well let’s see if the ‘Rule of three’, that he often tortures us with, holds for the man himself. It seems it did.
(Well if all this is confusing you please don’t blame me. Either read the novel “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho or send an S+ to Darshan or just ask Manoo “Finally total kitna aaya”? :-))
Awesome work by all the people who participated in it. I guess Prashanth has already described everyone’s contribution in his posts so I won't repeat it. Personally from my side, I wasn’t able to contribute to it as much as I would have liked due to other reasons. But hey, I held on to that moribund camera on the terrace for some two hours (if Saurabh knew me better, I am sure he wouldn’t have risked that) while Darshan kept on telling me to see whether the expressions on everyone’s face while acting were correct. Thank you very much.
Next time though I would surely like to be more active (Ek aur ho raha hai na bhai log?) .
And yeah. The night before the shooting when I couldn’t get sleep, I went through the script some 2-3 times, trying to understand the theme of the movie and the old shayar (my school friends liked to add ‘sadakchaap’ or ‘foisted’ to it but I know those words don’t go with my creations) within me came up with a few lines for the motive being conveyed in the script:
आँसुओं को गिनते है जो बस, दर्द के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए,
किनारे पे लहरों को गिनते है जो बस, समंदर में डूबने के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए,
कहते है पागलपन है यह, इस क़ुरबानी के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए,
धड़्कनो को गिनते है जो बस, ज़िन्दगी के माईने उन्हें कैसे समझाए।
As our GPM usually says: "Lets go on and ship this baby".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prashanth sent this suggestion: “It is absolutely compulsory for all the crew and cast to put in comments on the posts”. I might like to change it to “It is absolutely compulsory for all the crew and cast to post their side of the story to it”. Waiting to see how many actually do…
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Lights...Camera...........Action
We started filming at 5:45 AM at night on Saturday. Holy shit, was I actually awake so early. As my memory serves me and these photographs remind me, I and a few others really were..... filming for "firdaus - in search of paradise".
Can you believe they could do this to this to a smart hunk like me!! Boy, am I looking in a mess. Rahul Goel was the guy responsible for this. He created the scar and screwed up my hair. So if anyone wants the messy look ever, do contact email2rgoel@gmail.com for this great messed up look!! Great job Rahul!!
Khopdi miya... Is baar to khoob kood rahe the manu ko marne kae liye, part 2 mae tumhe maarne ka plan banaye kya?? Bolo bolo!!! phone mae kya dekh rahe ho?
Director and makeshift Satya --- Saurabh Mehta. This shot took 9 retakes, the record for fantasy tribe till now. Director sahib, you lead by example, and we follow!!
"The background is too bright. Can someone please switch off the sun!!!" That was just an earnest request from cameraman Darshan as he prepared for a shot.
Terror in the sweetest form conceivable. Jiya Mehta threatens the guys.Do watch this video to see the joy of successfully memorizing a long dialogue for the next shot. You probably will not understand the ecstasy that was felt. Go act in a movie and you will know. The joy was even more in my case as I was the most likely person to break Saurabh's record for 9 retakes and I knew my full dialogue before the first take!!
Probably the most important decisions in the lives of men is taken here... What are we having for lunch :)
This seemingly lovely lady was primarily responsible for the blood and gore in the photographs below.
I sure make a beautiful corpse don't I. No we haven't let out the end of the story. We've actually shot 2 and this one is merely the backup act!!
We should be giving lessons to Bollywood directors it seems, atleast when it comes to showing dead people. Way to go guys, this one is really super!! btw. no points for guessing who is responsible for the artwork here. I've already let out her secret...We found out that day why India does not successfully create tons of world class gymnasts!! There dad's just don't let them practice enough!!! Really sweeeet one. Not directly related to the movie but an absolute must watch.
This is Manish bhai striving for perfection at the long shot camera. This act of making minute adjustments went on forever and ever.
4-5 Saal ho gaye shaadi ko, phir bhi chupke sae chota sa mauka nikal kae thoda sa romance karne mae piche nahi rehte Saurabh ji.
Watch out for this gabbar ka adda type setting during the scenes of the movie. Pretty awesome isn't it?Rahul seems to be Amir Khan of the group, boy he really seems to have gotten into the character of Khopdi. I sure hope he didn't murder anyone on his way back home. Just check out the aggression in the guys interview.
More on the fantasy tribe to follow. Stay tuned.
Prashant Maskara
Publicity Manager - Fantasy Tribe
Monday, August 27, 2007
We really are doing it!!!
Over the last month or so, Darshan and Saurabh could often be heard in the corridors of the Microsoft office....talking of plans to make a movie! Yes you read it right, I wrote Movie. :)
Honestly.. while the thought of making one was quite interesting from the absolute first moment I heard it, I never gave it a serious thought. We couldn't possibly be doing this, we're all suppose to be busy people with work to do and loads of other stuff to attend to. Also AFAIK not one of us had even played a major part in a play, let alone make movies. All this changed with this email from Saurabh
Hi,
We are excited to announce that we are having auditions for our 1st movie this weekend.
It is a socio-political drama about youth in the country.
Script is being worked on and will be revealed as we go on.
We are turning to u for help as u r the people nearest and dearest to us.
The shooting would take about 3 weekends starting 8/24.
So, we need your time commitment until then.
Here are the characters in the movie for which we want to cast-
1. Mannu (Manav): A college student, who joined the gang of revolutionaries 6 months back. Did a killing. Now he is running away. Looks innocent and very likeable.
2. Satya: leader of Red Sun. A strong character, who is a true leader at heart, honest, passion, by words and by action. Lookwise – preferably tall and imposing. Serious looking.
2. Baba: Mannu’s father. Old chap, who is a school teacher. Has an idea about what Mannu has been doing but certainly does not know the details, how deep he is into it or what the group does.
5. Khopdi (Dipak Khosla): Hot headed member of Red Sun. Impatient. Firmly believes that you don’t talk when you hold a gun in your hand. Typical Mumbai Hindi Accent.
6. Khan – a group member. Dies !!
7. Group member – preferably female
8. Home Minister – get’s shot at !!
9. News reader – preferably female
Please come prepared with your choices.
Please respond by using the voting button. We can work out the time details.
If there is someone else missing (or u know of), please let me know and we would love to include him/her.
Time: (Preferred) Sat (8/18) + Sun (8/19)
Venue: (Preferred) Darshan’s place OR mine
There are other details as well, which I won’t bore u with in a mail.
This is important for us and we hope u have as much fun.
Peace !!
Saurabh Mehta
IDS Reporting + DTR PM
Ok.. so we're serious and not only that, we have about 5-6 hours of videos shot already for this, we have designated directors, camera crew, script writer, publicity incharge, locations manager, production manager, sound recordist, music editor, still photographer and a couple of others which I do not remember of the top of my head. Also as of now, we're completely on schedule and on course for our first release in early october.
Watch this space for more on the fantasy tribe.
Cheers!!
Prashant
Publicity manager - Fantasy tribe
Honestly.. while the thought of making one was quite interesting from the absolute first moment I heard it, I never gave it a serious thought. We couldn't possibly be doing this, we're all suppose to be busy people with work to do and loads of other stuff to attend to. Also AFAIK not one of us had even played a major part in a play, let alone make movies. All this changed with this email from Saurabh
Hi,
We are excited to announce that we are having auditions for our 1st movie this weekend.
It is a socio-political drama about youth in the country.
Script is being worked on and will be revealed as we go on.
We are turning to u for help as u r the people nearest and dearest to us.
The shooting would take about 3 weekends starting 8/24.
So, we need your time commitment until then.
Here are the characters in the movie for which we want to cast-
1. Mannu (Manav): A college student, who joined the gang of revolutionaries 6 months back. Did a killing. Now he is running away. Looks innocent and very likeable.
2. Satya: leader of Red Sun. A strong character, who is a true leader at heart, honest, passion, by words and by action. Lookwise – preferably tall and imposing. Serious looking.
2. Baba: Mannu’s father. Old chap, who is a school teacher. Has an idea about what Mannu has been doing but certainly does not know the details, how deep he is into it or what the group does.
5. Khopdi (Dipak Khosla): Hot headed member of Red Sun. Impatient. Firmly believes that you don’t talk when you hold a gun in your hand. Typical Mumbai Hindi Accent.
6. Khan – a group member. Dies !!
7. Group member – preferably female
8. Home Minister – get’s shot at !!
9. News reader – preferably female
Please come prepared with your choices.
Please respond by using the voting button. We can work out the time details.
If there is someone else missing (or u know of), please let me know and we would love to include him/her.
Time: (Preferred) Sat (8/18) + Sun (8/19)
Venue: (Preferred) Darshan’s place OR mine
There are other details as well, which I won’t bore u with in a mail.
This is important for us and we hope u have as much fun.
Peace !!
Saurabh Mehta
IDS Reporting + DTR PM
Ok.. so we're serious and not only that, we have about 5-6 hours of videos shot already for this, we have designated directors, camera crew, script writer, publicity incharge, locations manager, production manager, sound recordist, music editor, still photographer and a couple of others which I do not remember of the top of my head. Also as of now, we're completely on schedule and on course for our first release in early october.
Watch this space for more on the fantasy tribe.
Cheers!!
Prashant
Publicity manager - Fantasy tribe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
