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When social meets spiritual:A News Article on Bengal Post

robinfilmmaker — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 13:35:12 +0000

When social meets spiritual:A News Article on Bengal Post

When social meets spiritual:Bengal Post
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By Monami Ghosh,On 1-01-2013

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Filmmaking is a way of life for engineer-turned-director Robin Das. Having made documentary films for a number of years and having won the Bengali Film Journalists’ Award(BFJA) for his documentary, Lovers’ Paradise in 2004, he debuts as a feature filmmaker with his film, Ek Paaye Royecho Dariye. The film has been invited to the Cairo Film festival. On being asked how he feels about it, he says, “ I am overwhelmed to have received the invitation. For me, filmmaking is an art that I practise with sincerity. For somebody like me, a festival invitation or appreciation from connoisseurs of cinema, is fulfilment enough.” Talking about his film, he reveals, “I have attempted to map the ethical journey of humanity in my film. It is a juxtaposition of the social and the spiritual.”
Das was greatly moved when he watched a footage of the 26/11 carnage in Mumbai. On being asked whether this footage had influenced him to make a film, he says, “Terrorism is a malady that has plagued society for years. This is very disturbing. And the subcontinent is looked upon as a
corrupt place by other nations and the spiritual essence of India as a nation is fast degenerating. Although this has been a disturbing issue for years, it was the 26/11 issue that triggered off the urge in me to make a film that addresses terrorism.” However, the director maintains that his film is not just about terrorism as a social malady but it also has a multi-layered structure and explores the trials and tribulations of individuals. The director has tried to show how the plight of any individual is identical to the plight of a victim of terrorism. The existing political structure is such that everyone is a victim of terrorism in some way or the other. He also tries to show how the independence of an individual is actually a farce even in modern societies and in democratic nations as the government tries to manipulate the independent opinions of its citizens.
The film revolves around a poet, Kobi Sengupta, his wife and daughter. The poet’s wife is a 26/11 victim. The daughter is raped by her father’s former political associates and how the girl gains a foothold in this patriarchal society by overcoming her trauma forms the crux of the story. The film explores the
complexity of relationships as well as deconstructs the ideas of the soul. The spiritual side of the film portrays the detachment of the poet’s soul from his body and its interaction with his wife’s soul after she dies.
On being asked why his film is called Ek Paaye Royecho Dariye, the director explains, “Metaphorically speaking, an individual can balance himself on both his feet only if the body and soul are in harmony. In my film, the protagonist compromises with the wrongdoings of those in power and thus he is deserted by his soul. Therefore, the title Ek Paaye Royecho Daariye, which suggests that he stands only on one foot.” An admirer of Ritwik Ghatak and Satyajit Ray’s style of filmmaking, Das wants to continue making films that uphold his spiritual insights and are also redolent of a strong, social message. “Mrinal Sen’s Ekdin Pratidin is a great source of
inspiration for me. I want to make films that map everyday worries of simple people in society and show how social and political issues can change the nature of their lives completely,”
signs off Das.

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Think Shoot Distribute

JessicaJane — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:53:02 +0000

Think Shoot Distribute

The Times BFI London Film Festival is looking for 25 talented and experienced filmmakers, seeking to develop their feature film career, to take part in Think-Shoot-Distribute.

Successful applicants – producers, screenwriters and directors - will take part in a 5-day programme during the Festival in October in which they will meet with leading film professionals in a series of workshops and master-classes exploring the international film industry - from financing to exhibition. Participants then join the T-S-D network of over 100 alumni.

Previous guest speakers have included Atom Egoyan, Stephen Frears, Tessa Ross, Paul Webster, plus executives from BBC Films, Film4, Lionsgate, Working Title, UK Film Council and DNA Films. Previous participants have gone on to BAFTA success and several participants have been selected as Screen International 'Stars of Tomorrow'.

Deadline for applications is 5.00pm, September 25.

Cost for successful delegates: £300/£200 concessions

"Intensely insightful, at times painfully disheartening but, more than anything, incredibly inspiring"

"A snapshot of life at the coalface of the film business"
Previous participants

For more information and to apply click here.

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Fright Fest 2009

JessicaJane — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:19:47 +0000

Fright Fest 2009

FrightFest first hit the scene in August 2000 and right from the start the festival set out its stall with the World Premiere of Ed Gein and UK premieres of Scary Movie, Pitch Black and Audition. Then based at the world famous London grindhouse cinema The Prince Charles, the annual 4-day festival has grown to become, in the words of Time Out, “the premiere event of the year for horror fans”, in the process helping to launch the careers of directors Christopher Smith (Creep, Severance) and Simon Hunter (Mutant Chronicles) plus hosting many first UK screenings including Shaun of the Dead and Eli Roth’s Hostel.

Always held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, FrightFest has become a hip alternative to the usual Bank Holiday offerings. The festival attracts predominantly young audiences, many of whom travel from all over the UK and beyond to attend. Over 85% of the films shown at FrightFest over the years have been World, European or UK premieres. These have included Scary Movie (1 & 2), Donnie Dark, Dark Water. Insomnia, One Hour Photo, My Little Eye, Battle Royal, Jeerers Creepers, Brotherhood of the Wolf, The Devil’s Backbone, Texas Chains Massacre 2, Cabin Fever, House of a 1000 Corpses, Bellboy, Switchblade Romance, Old Boy, Land of the Dead, 2001 Maniacs, Night Watch, Seed, Eden Lake, Feakdog, Wolf Creek, Autopsy and Martyrs.

Now in its 10th year FrightFest has grown to become one of the genre's most vibrant, credible and recognisable brands, with plans for more nation-wide events, a DVD label and online content services. FILM4 have retuned to head sponsor for a third year.

Fright Fest is being held at the Empire Cinema, 5-6 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7NA.

For more information and to book tickets visit http://www.frightfest.co.uk

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Fantastic Mr. Fox / Stop-motion movie trailer

robrobot1984 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:50:33 +0000

Fantastic Mr. Fox / Stop-motion movie trailer

Trailer for Wes Anderson’s first animated feature Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox.

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Transitional Moments - David Shrigley Writes and Directs Animations for Google

yunus — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:45:30 +0000

Transitional Moments - David Shrigley Writes and Directs Animations for Google

David Shrigley has written and directed six animations for Google called Transitional moments. You can see them on Slinky's website. http://www.slinkypics.com/

The agency is Wieden + Kennedy Not quite sure yet as to how these animations will be used! So any tips are appreciated!

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Mirwais and Sednaoui do what they do, again

Morgan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:04:20 +0000

Mirwais and Sednaoui do what they do, again

Y.A.S is the latest incarnation of producer extraordinaire Mirwais. Perhaps best known for his work with Madonna on "Music", Mirwais has been a leading light in avant-garde pop music since the 1990s.

Just as the music aims to place arabic language at the centre of pop music playing on a world stage for the first time, so the video brings us a slice of life in an arabic country far removed from the images and stories we are used to in the west from papers and tv.

It's been 6 years since Sednaoui last directed a music video, and 8 since he worked with Mirwais. Their last collaborations were the dreamlike promos for "Disco Science" and "I Can't Wait." And while this latest is far removed from those, more realist, filmic; it's still every bit a Sednaoui video, taking the viewer somewhere new, somewhere not quite real.

Interesting that both Glazer and Sednoui are back helming music videos after a fair bit of time concentrating on other mediums. The result of the recession squeezing money and creativity from films and commercials?

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DJ Skratch Bastid remixes James Brown

charles Jannasch — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:48:51 +0000

DJ Skratch Bastid remixes James Brown

My company shot Skratch Bastids live show
in Halifax Nova Scotia. We used a combination
of HVX w Prime Lenses, static stage cams and
wandering MiniDV 24p. Then cut it together
into this promo. Great performance to shoot
live!

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Nullsleep - Dirty ROM Dance Mix / Music Video

robrobot1984 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:31:30 +0000

Nullsleep - Dirty ROM Dance Mix / Music Video

This looks and sounds like a squat party on a Sega Megadrive!

Music video for the track "Dirty ROM Dance Mix" by "Nullsleep" Jeremiah Johnson. Containing glitch textures by "noteNdo" Jeff Donaldson. Animation by "plasticflesh" Stieg Retlin. 2009.

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Spider, Nash Edgerton

yunus — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:55 +0000

Spider, Nash Edgerton

As their Vimeo page describes Spider is a "9-minute action-thriller that gives an all-new meaning to old Peugeots, stunning blondes and love-jokes." Do make sure you're not eating when you watch this film! http://vimeo.com/3988731

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Heavenly Appeals / David Lisbe

yunus — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:55:27 +0000

Heavenly Appeals / David Lisbe

"Heavenly Appeals" is a short film by David Lisbe produced at the Ringling College of Art and Design.

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