hi all,
People coming together is always a nice thing, especially if the reason behind it is cinema. On the windy morning of 15th of December, in an unusually empty BMW, I met arun gupta. Even before the customary greetings he asked me, "tum aa rahe ho na?". I replied in affirmation and heard about the efforts of all the current students in setting up this whole affair.
So I must congratulate arun gupta and all the students involved for making this happen. Staying in Mumbai and working in the highly commercialized industry for the past two years I have realized how difficult it is to meet people with similar sensibilities. Hence this meet was highly refreshing and rejuvenating. Though I think it would have been better if the films package had gone beyond the graduating students, as somehow films make a different kind of sense when taken out of the context in which they were made. Also some work of the seniors and of the current students would have projected a better picture about the way things are moving ahead at NID Film and video department.
The chai and the bhajiya were really enjoyable as I feel most of the fruitful conversations (I should say bhajiyaful) happen over a cup of tea. It's great to see the NID film community increasing every year, which also suggests a pressing need for the community to stay in touch and I think that the kind of an informal setting frame twofive provides can go a long way to fill that void.
regards,
hitesh kewalya
P.S. : the t-shirt fits me!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Full Circle
A few days before the Convocation, Milann and I were cozily sitting inside the yellow telephone booth behind 'Amul', exercising our fingers and vocal chords. We shared a page full of many mobile phone numbers scribbled against thirteen names…
Both of us were almost clueless about the people we were about to have brief conversations with; most of them being celebrities - for varied reasons!
I was more interested in listening to the conversations than actually making one. Milann agreed to do the talking and eventually learnt the introduction by rote.
"Hello?"
"Hello…"
"Hi I'm Milann here, Milann John…I don't know if you know me…"
"Actually, we are compiling a DVD of spots or SEGs made by the graduating students…. for Frame TwoFive…?"
"Do you want us to screen any spot or SEG that you've made?"
* * *
It was around five o'clock in the evening and the winter sun had begun to drown. Each student we spoke to was doing interesting work in distant corners of the country. Adityan was busy with a shoot in Madhya Pradesh, Nayantara was researching in Pune, Aloke had started his production house, and Swati had just got married.
In retrospect, it was a strangely beautiful hour that we spent on the telephone.
A group of individuals would soon meet again to celebrate Cinema with a larger group… a means that had once got them together and also propelled them to disperse. I was apprehensive about the interaction, but also very eager to be apart of it.
The DVD compilation was not a tedious task. Saurinbhai was of great help. We chose the spots as per the students' requests.. Some of them were pleasantly surprising. I had not seen Geetika's work before, her 'anti-spot' forAdbusters.com was very well crafted. Adityan and Swati's PSAs for Udhyaan and Helmet Protection were witty.
Curiously, quite a few students had not been very keen on screening their spots or SEG when we had asked them for their choices. They were more eager to show their later projects…
The screening on 15th (Dec) morning was a pleasant one. The idea of watching the first project clicked. The films became pieces of recollections and hence more enjoyable to watch than the masterpieces themselves. After each spot, we had a funny Behind the Scenes piece as additional non-digital entertainment. This was queerly the most nostalgic part of this meet. Each film, which I had simply seen as just that, while compiling the DVD, had in many ways, travelled a full circle back to its author.
These authors/filmmakers were amidst us, and the rest of the Frame TwoFive gathering, subliminally, felt proud of being one of them.
Both of us were almost clueless about the people we were about to have brief conversations with; most of them being celebrities - for varied reasons!
I was more interested in listening to the conversations than actually making one. Milann agreed to do the talking and eventually learnt the introduction by rote.
"Hello?"
"Hello…"
"Hi I'm Milann here, Milann John…I don't know if you know me…"
"Actually, we are compiling a DVD of spots or SEGs made by the graduating students…. for Frame TwoFive…?"
"Do you want us to screen any spot or SEG that you've made?"
* * *
It was around five o'clock in the evening and the winter sun had begun to drown. Each student we spoke to was doing interesting work in distant corners of the country. Adityan was busy with a shoot in Madhya Pradesh, Nayantara was researching in Pune, Aloke had started his production house, and Swati had just got married.
In retrospect, it was a strangely beautiful hour that we spent on the telephone.
A group of individuals would soon meet again to celebrate Cinema with a larger group… a means that had once got them together and also propelled them to disperse. I was apprehensive about the interaction, but also very eager to be apart of it.
The DVD compilation was not a tedious task. Saurinbhai was of great help. We chose the spots as per the students' requests.. Some of them were pleasantly surprising. I had not seen Geetika's work before, her 'anti-spot' forAdbusters.com was very well crafted. Adityan and Swati's PSAs for Udhyaan and Helmet Protection were witty.
Curiously, quite a few students had not been very keen on screening their spots or SEG when we had asked them for their choices. They were more eager to show their later projects…
The screening on 15th (Dec) morning was a pleasant one. The idea of watching the first project clicked. The films became pieces of recollections and hence more enjoyable to watch than the masterpieces themselves. After each spot, we had a funny Behind the Scenes piece as additional non-digital entertainment. This was queerly the most nostalgic part of this meet. Each film, which I had simply seen as just that, while compiling the DVD, had in many ways, travelled a full circle back to its author.
These authors/filmmakers were amidst us, and the rest of the Frame TwoFive gathering, subliminally, felt proud of being one of them.
- Prachi Mokashi
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I Blog, Therefore I Am
The title is 'lifted' from the latest post (Blogito Ergo Sum?) in Mandakini Menon's blog THINKALOUD (http://www.mandakini-m.blogspot.com/)
Other Frame TwoFive bloggers that I know of -
1. Frame TwoFive (easy to read version of this e-group)
http://frametwentyfive.blogspot.com/
2. Nothing in particular (Parul Gahlot's blog, named after one of her NID films)
http://parulgahlot.blogspot.com/
3. FLOTSAMNWEEDS (Kavita Arvind's blog)
http://flotsamnweeds.blogspot.com/
4. TWO INSOMNIAS (Junuka Deshpande's blog. The last entry says -This Blog is under conflict, kindly visit later)
http://twoinsomnias.blogspot.com/
5. STILL WATER (Akhila Krishnan's blog)
http://www.akhila-krishnan.blogspot.com/
6. P.S (Roopal Kewalya's blog)
http://roopalkewalya.blogspot.com/
7. SiD's Cafe (Siddharth Gautam Singh's blog)
http://www.cafesid.blogspot.com/
8. Shadows and Stone (my, i.e., Arun Gupta's reveal-all blog)
http://shadowsandstone.blogspot.com/
Do you know of any other Frame TwoFive bloggers ? Do write in with details.
- Arun Gupta
Other Frame TwoFive bloggers that I know of -
1. Frame TwoFive (easy to read version of this e-group)
http://frametwentyfive.blogspot.com/
2. Nothing in particular (Parul Gahlot's blog, named after one of her NID films)
http://parulgahlot.blogspot.com/
3. FLOTSAMNWEEDS (Kavita Arvind's blog)
http://flotsamnweeds.blogspot.com/
4. TWO INSOMNIAS (Junuka Deshpande's blog. The last entry says -This Blog is under conflict, kindly visit later)
http://twoinsomnias.blogspot.com/
5. STILL WATER (Akhila Krishnan's blog)
http://www.akhila-krishnan.blogspot.com/
6. P.S (Roopal Kewalya's blog)
http://roopalkewalya.blogspot.com/
7. SiD's Cafe (Siddharth Gautam Singh's blog)
http://www.cafesid.blogspot.com/
8. Shadows and Stone (my, i.e., Arun Gupta's reveal-all blog)
http://shadowsandstone.blogspot.com/
Do you know of any other Frame TwoFive bloggers ? Do write in with details.
- Arun Gupta
A gathering in 7 parts
*Chapter 1*: Before it began
INT. PREVIEW ROOM- MORNING
Two women, about twenty years of age sit at the far end of the room. One levels the projector while the other one plays back some video files on her laptop. A third girl sits even further towards the corner of the room reading a newspaper, in English, not aloud though.
A:
(Closing her newspaper)
Should I shift the tables out?
MO:
No! I am sure they will be space or even better it will seem like there is no space.
MI:
Ya man! They will turn up no? I mean, I was thinking about it last night MO and seriously...
MO:
They will they will...They will??? Lets see.
'MI' is done fiddling with the projector, 'MO' has gone to drink some water. 'A' proceeds to make a playlist on 'MO's' laptop. The playlist is called Frame25.
*Chapter 2*: How it Began
On 15th December 2007, the Frame TwoFive group gathered at NID, Ahmedabad. Amongst those present were Arun Gupta, SB Saxena, the convocating and the current students of Film and Video at NID.
It began over a span of half an hour as missed calls were made, SMSes (I mean the plural of a SMS) were exchanged and people ran to catch breakfast at BMW while others floated in. In this process, the projection's wallpaper was changed about five times. The songs in the playlist were going on, at a lower volume though. The celebrities, or rather the celebrated, the convocating students had all soon arrived.
The meeting never began, it was a gathering which did. There were no formal introductions, briefing on Frame TwoFive or a statement of an agenda. We came together and as a group seemingly dictated by the space, time and company started of on something.
*Chapter 3*: The screening
Sometimes you laugh at a film. You laugh because of the memory you have of the film- the memory of you having made it, of having shared the experience of making it and having watched it. You may also laugh as a third person, not the film maker itself, experiencing all this. Sometimes it doesn't matter whether you know the film maker or not, but it does seem to matter whether he/she is present while watching the film. Despite all this, sometimes, you also laugh because of the film itself. At NID, even though we recollect the making of the film while watching the film rather than actually watching the film, we do after a point, watch the film itself, as a film. Somehow, these notions go haywire while watching films in a group, when in this group are present all those afore mentioned. I guess film viewing, in a group, is quite an interesting thing.
*Chapter 4*: Chai and Bhajiya
'A' likes pouring out chai though she does miss having chai itself. Drinking chai is a ritual, not an action. Chai creates conversations. The act of drinking Chai is more significant than the chai itself. 'A' enjoys missing this experience. She knows she will enjoy recollecting this feeling of loss as others will the feeling of not having lost it.
*Chapter 5*: Waiting for the End
The Frame TwoFive T-shirts shall be released today. We hope everybody likes them. Aastha, Ujjwal, Sushmeit and Uday did manage to pull it off. Quick! They are done with their chai and are coming back. Let us sort it out into piles. We should give one to Arun too.
*Chapter 6*: The End
Refer to 'Say Cheese!' post below
*Chapter 7*: Epilogue
The non convocating bunch, having not got their T- shirts as yet run to the preview room to pounce on them. 'AA' of the higher order calms down the frenzy. She stands alight, list in one hand and T- Shirt in the other. We were forced backwards into civilisation worth a ten thousand years in ten minutes. We 'collect' our T- Shirts and drift off. We land up on either of the two isles- Chai gate or BMW. We bump into others, the same ones we had been with all through this reading and sit with them. We spend some time together, share a few conversations over chai and we leave.
*Note*:
The tables were not neccessary to fill up the room and we introduced ourselves to each other only right at the End.
INT. PREVIEW ROOM- MORNING
Two women, about twenty years of age sit at the far end of the room. One levels the projector while the other one plays back some video files on her laptop. A third girl sits even further towards the corner of the room reading a newspaper, in English, not aloud though.
A:
(Closing her newspaper)
Should I shift the tables out?
MO:
No! I am sure they will be space or even better it will seem like there is no space.
MI:
Ya man! They will turn up no? I mean, I was thinking about it last night MO and seriously...
MO:
They will they will...They will??? Lets see.
'MI' is done fiddling with the projector, 'MO' has gone to drink some water. 'A' proceeds to make a playlist on 'MO's' laptop. The playlist is called Frame25.
*Chapter 2*: How it Began
On 15th December 2007, the Frame TwoFive group gathered at NID, Ahmedabad. Amongst those present were Arun Gupta, SB Saxena, the convocating and the current students of Film and Video at NID.
It began over a span of half an hour as missed calls were made, SMSes (I mean the plural of a SMS) were exchanged and people ran to catch breakfast at BMW while others floated in. In this process, the projection's wallpaper was changed about five times. The songs in the playlist were going on, at a lower volume though. The celebrities, or rather the celebrated, the convocating students had all soon arrived.
The meeting never began, it was a gathering which did. There were no formal introductions, briefing on Frame TwoFive or a statement of an agenda. We came together and as a group seemingly dictated by the space, time and company started of on something.
*Chapter 3*: The screening
Sometimes you laugh at a film. You laugh because of the memory you have of the film- the memory of you having made it, of having shared the experience of making it and having watched it. You may also laugh as a third person, not the film maker itself, experiencing all this. Sometimes it doesn't matter whether you know the film maker or not, but it does seem to matter whether he/she is present while watching the film. Despite all this, sometimes, you also laugh because of the film itself. At NID, even though we recollect the making of the film while watching the film rather than actually watching the film, we do after a point, watch the film itself, as a film. Somehow, these notions go haywire while watching films in a group, when in this group are present all those afore mentioned. I guess film viewing, in a group, is quite an interesting thing.
*Chapter 4*: Chai and Bhajiya
'A' likes pouring out chai though she does miss having chai itself. Drinking chai is a ritual, not an action. Chai creates conversations. The act of drinking Chai is more significant than the chai itself. 'A' enjoys missing this experience. She knows she will enjoy recollecting this feeling of loss as others will the feeling of not having lost it.
*Chapter 5*: Waiting for the End
The Frame TwoFive T-shirts shall be released today. We hope everybody likes them. Aastha, Ujjwal, Sushmeit and Uday did manage to pull it off. Quick! They are done with their chai and are coming back. Let us sort it out into piles. We should give one to Arun too.
*Chapter 6*: The End
Refer to 'Say Cheese!' post below
*Chapter 7*: Epilogue
The non convocating bunch, having not got their T- shirts as yet run to the preview room to pounce on them. 'AA' of the higher order calms down the frenzy. She stands alight, list in one hand and T- Shirt in the other. We were forced backwards into civilisation worth a ten thousand years in ten minutes. We 'collect' our T- Shirts and drift off. We land up on either of the two isles- Chai gate or BMW. We bump into others, the same ones we had been with all through this reading and sit with them. We spend some time together, share a few conversations over chai and we leave.
*Note*:
The tables were not neccessary to fill up the room and we introduced ourselves to each other only right at the End.
- Aishwarya Arumbakkam
Graduation Bhajiya Chai
Roopal
Akash, SB and Aloke
Priyanka, Amit and Siddharth
Ujjwal, Prahlad, Ahsam, Uday and Malhar
Geetika and Roopal
Prahlad, Amitesh and Yaatra
Arun
Adityan and Ruchi
DigiCam: Siddharth Gautam Singh
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Those Were The Days: Proj-1 Films of the Convocating Twelve
PSA on Parks
Adityan M (Guide: Milindo Taid)
PSA on Claustrophobia
Aloke Shetty (Guide: Milindo Taid)
PSA on Women in Army
Amitesh Singhal (Guide: Arun Gupta)
Advt for Alcohol Brand
Gayatri Thacker (Guide: Arun Gupta)
An Anti Spot
Geetika Juyal (Guide: Vinayan Kodoth)
PSA on Breast Cancer
Karthika Raj (Guide: Kavita Arvind)
Advt for Post-it
Mrudangi Jasani (Guide: Milindo Taid)
PSA on advertising using Paper
Nayantara Kotian (Guide: Vinayan Kodoth)
PSA on Consumerism
Roopal Kewalya (Guide: Vinayan Kodoth)
Advt for online Matrimonials
Ruchi Pugalia (Guide: Akhil Succena)
PSA on Helmet use
Swati Desai (Guide: Arun Gupta)
Advt for Kids TV channel
Vaani Arora (Guide: Kavita Arvind)
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Designs on Cinema
Frame TwoFive... Designs on Cinema
We at frame twofive are film makers... and designers (?). It has been given that we are a different, an exclusive bunch in fact! The question is 'how' are we different? Design has always been an unsaid yet understood part of Cinema. Now that we conciously term it as design, what do we do about it?
The Frame TwoFive Ahmedabad group had their second meeting on 4th December 2007, in NID. The preview room on the second floor hosted us a second time quite gracefully. Prachi's mac sat gleaming on the table while the Steenbeck stood silently in a corner. This clearly tells all of us where we are - right in the middle! We work on video but constantly try to reach out to the big brother, celluloid. Cinema on video is not Cinema on celluloid. But Cinema is Cinema and both of them are Cinema.
Now to get back to our designs on cinema. Frame TwoFive now has a face, two palms actually. Udayraj PJ has come up with a simple and thankfully non-ostentatious logo for the group - two palms forming a frame. One palm gestures a two, the other a five. Sushmeit Nambiar, who had worked upon quite a few interesting options himself, will help Uday take this logo forward to create a more sophisticated form.
Now that we have a logo, we need to put it somewhere. Aastha Gohil and Ujjwal Uthkarsh will be exploring merchandising options for the group.
Convocation 2007 is fast approaching. On this day, Frame TwoFive plans to celebrate the work of its graduating film students other than celebrating their graduation itself. Prachi Mokashi and Milann John will be organising something special. We are also hoping to look at the departures few of our graduates have taken in terms of their explorations of other mediums with Cinema as their backing.
For all those who are going to be here for convocation we invite you to this special session. The others, we hope to catch you at MIFF.
From Ahmedabad
Aishwarya Arumbakkam
We at frame twofive are film makers... and designers (?). It has been given that we are a different, an exclusive bunch in fact! The question is 'how' are we different? Design has always been an unsaid yet understood part of Cinema. Now that we conciously term it as design, what do we do about it?
The Frame TwoFive Ahmedabad group had their second meeting on 4th December 2007, in NID. The preview room on the second floor hosted us a second time quite gracefully. Prachi's mac sat gleaming on the table while the Steenbeck stood silently in a corner. This clearly tells all of us where we are - right in the middle! We work on video but constantly try to reach out to the big brother, celluloid. Cinema on video is not Cinema on celluloid. But Cinema is Cinema and both of them are Cinema.
Now to get back to our designs on cinema. Frame TwoFive now has a face, two palms actually. Udayraj PJ has come up with a simple and thankfully non-ostentatious logo for the group - two palms forming a frame. One palm gestures a two, the other a five. Sushmeit Nambiar, who had worked upon quite a few interesting options himself, will help Uday take this logo forward to create a more sophisticated form.
Now that we have a logo, we need to put it somewhere. Aastha Gohil and Ujjwal Uthkarsh will be exploring merchandising options for the group.
Convocation 2007 is fast approaching. On this day, Frame TwoFive plans to celebrate the work of its graduating film students other than celebrating their graduation itself. Prachi Mokashi and Milann John will be organising something special. We are also hoping to look at the departures few of our graduates have taken in terms of their explorations of other mediums with Cinema as their backing.
For all those who are going to be here for convocation we invite you to this special session. The others, we hope to catch you at MIFF.
From Ahmedabad
Aishwarya Arumbakkam
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
NID Student Films selected in forthcoming MIFF (3-9 Feb '08, Mumbai)
Several NID student films have been selected to be screened in the prestigious 10th Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF), to be held between 3-9 February, 2008 at Mumbai, India.
The selected NID student films are -
INDIAN COMPETITION
1. Prakash Travelling Cinema (Dir: Megha Lakhani) (Film & Video)
2. One Show Less (Dir: Nayantara Kotian) (Film & Video)
3. A Twinkle Behind A Closed Eye (Dir: Geetika Juyal) (Film & Video)
4. Abhi Kahaan (Dir: Vaani Arora) (Film & Video)
5. Solo (Dir: Anjali Nayar) (Animation)
6. Three Little Pigs (Dir: Bhavana Vyas & Akanio Assumi) (Animation)
7. Myths About You (Dir: Nandita Jain) (Animation)
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
1. Without... (Dir: Siddharth Gautam Singh) (Film & Video)
NON - COMPETITIVE SECTION (INDIAN)
1. Lost And Found (Dir: Akhila Krishnan) (Film & Video)
2. Voices Of Kutch (Dir: Chaitanya Modak) (Film & Video)
NID film alumni have also done very well at this year's MIFF selections -
1. Girl Stars: Bhanwari the Policewoman (Dir: Pallavi Arora) (Indian Competition) (Film & Video)
2. Happy Planet (Dir: Dhimant Vyas) (Indian Competition) (Animation)
3. Ant (Dir: Vivekananda Roy Ghatak) (International Competition) (Animation)
4. Nokpokliba (Dir: Meren Imchen) (Non - Competitive Section Indian) (Animation)
Last, but not the least, NID Film & Video faculty member Shri Amit Dutta's film KRAMASHA (which he made at FTII, Pune) has also been selected for the INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION section at MIFF 2008.
Congratulations to all of them!
- Arun Gupta
------------------------------------------------
The Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF, in short) is a biennial competitive event in film and video format and is organised by the Films Division, a department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, in close co- operation with the State Govt. of Maharashtra. In this festival outstanding films in various categories vie for "Golden and Silver Conches", with hefty cash prizes aggregating to 2.7 million Indian rupees (approx. US$ 60,000). The festival aims to serve as a platform where the film makers of the world can meet, exchange ideas, explore the possibility of co-production and market their films.
10th edition of MIFF is going to be held between 3-9 February, 2008 in Mumbai, India.
http://www.miffindia.in/
The selected NID student films are -
INDIAN COMPETITION
1. Prakash Travelling Cinema (Dir: Megha Lakhani) (Film & Video)
2. One Show Less (Dir: Nayantara Kotian) (Film & Video)
3. A Twinkle Behind A Closed Eye (Dir: Geetika Juyal) (Film & Video)
4. Abhi Kahaan (Dir: Vaani Arora) (Film & Video)
5. Solo (Dir: Anjali Nayar) (Animation)
6. Three Little Pigs (Dir: Bhavana Vyas & Akanio Assumi) (Animation)
7. Myths About You (Dir: Nandita Jain) (Animation)
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
1. Without... (Dir: Siddharth Gautam Singh) (Film & Video)
NON - COMPETITIVE SECTION (INDIAN)
1. Lost And Found (Dir: Akhila Krishnan) (Film & Video)
2. Voices Of Kutch (Dir: Chaitanya Modak) (Film & Video)
NID film alumni have also done very well at this year's MIFF selections -
1. Girl Stars: Bhanwari the Policewoman (Dir: Pallavi Arora) (Indian Competition) (Film & Video)
2. Happy Planet (Dir: Dhimant Vyas) (Indian Competition) (Animation)
3. Ant (Dir: Vivekananda Roy Ghatak) (International Competition) (Animation)
4. Nokpokliba (Dir: Meren Imchen) (Non - Competitive Section Indian) (Animation)
Last, but not the least, NID Film & Video faculty member Shri Amit Dutta's film KRAMASHA (which he made at FTII, Pune) has also been selected for the INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION section at MIFF 2008.
Congratulations to all of them!
- Arun Gupta
------------------------------------------------
The Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF, in short) is a biennial competitive event in film and video format and is organised by the Films Division, a department of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, in close co- operation with the State Govt. of Maharashtra. In this festival outstanding films in various categories vie for "Golden and Silver Conches", with hefty cash prizes aggregating to 2.7 million Indian rupees (approx. US$ 60,000). The festival aims to serve as a platform where the film makers of the world can meet, exchange ideas, explore the possibility of co-production and market their films.
10th edition of MIFF is going to be held between 3-9 February, 2008 in Mumbai, India.
http://www.miffindia.in/
Saturday, December 1, 2007
First Frame TwoFive meeting at NID
On a lazy Friday afternoon few (accessible) souls along with Arun Gupta, moderator of Frame TwoFive, collected in a room at the National Institute ofDesign. The gathering was to bring about synergy and dialogue about the formation and schema of the group.
Arun started by saying that all we need for such meetings is a place, enthusiasm and a laptop. Not wasting even a single second, Sarah's Mac was premiered, therefore facilitating the rest of the meeting.
It was disappointing to know that many of us had not yet taken efforts to become members (of the e-group) and were therefore requested to do so A.S.A.P., taking some time out of our busy busy schedule.
Agenda of the group is not just of the 'social networking' kind, but rather to celebrate the spirit of cinema. Its a place where cinema lovers and practitioners would meet.
Some possible `numbers' to be held in Delhi and Mumbai were then discussed, including plans to informally showcase some of NID Film & Video student/alumni work alongside MIFF (in Mumbai in Feb'08).
Prachi, Shibha, Yaatra and Uday volunteered to design their versions of the logo for Frame TwoFive, one of which would then be selected to brand/merchandise Frame TwoFive souvenirs.
Looking forward to all of you joining the next Frame TwoFive meeting at the forthcoming Convocation celebrations, on 15th Dec '07 at NID, Ahmd.
CHEERS.
Aastha (Gohil)
PS: Film & Video Alumni Convocating this year -
1. Vaani Arora
2. Swati Desai
3. Mrudangi Jasani
4. Geetika Juyal
5. Roopal Kewalya
6. Nayantara Kotian
7. Adityan M
8. Ruchi Pugalia
9. Karthika Raj
10.Tarun Revoo
11.Aloke Shetty
12.Amitesh Singhal
13.Gayatri Thacker
Arun started by saying that all we need for such meetings is a place, enthusiasm and a laptop. Not wasting even a single second, Sarah's Mac was premiered, therefore facilitating the rest of the meeting.
It was disappointing to know that many of us had not yet taken efforts to become members (of the e-group) and were therefore requested to do so A.S.A.P., taking some time out of our busy busy schedule.
Agenda of the group is not just of the 'social networking' kind, but rather to celebrate the spirit of cinema. Its a place where cinema lovers and practitioners would meet.
Some possible `numbers' to be held in Delhi and Mumbai were then discussed, including plans to informally showcase some of NID Film & Video student/alumni work alongside MIFF (in Mumbai in Feb'08).
Prachi, Shibha, Yaatra and Uday volunteered to design their versions of the logo for Frame TwoFive, one of which would then be selected to brand/merchandise Frame TwoFive souvenirs.
Looking forward to all of you joining the next Frame TwoFive meeting at the forthcoming Convocation celebrations, on 15th Dec '07 at NID, Ahmd.
CHEERS.
Aastha (Gohil)
PS: Film & Video Alumni Convocating this year -
1. Vaani Arora
2. Swati Desai
3. Mrudangi Jasani
4. Geetika Juyal
5. Roopal Kewalya
6. Nayantara Kotian
7. Adityan M
8. Ruchi Pugalia
9. Karthika Raj
10.Tarun Revoo
11.Aloke Shetty
12.Amitesh Singhal
13.Gayatri Thacker
Friday, November 30, 2007
MIFF Mumbai Intl Film Fest (3-9 February, 2008) Delegate/Registration Form
http://www.miffindia.in/Home.aspx
10th Mumbai International Film Festival For Documentary, Short and Animation Films (Organised by Films Division, Ministry of I & B, Govt.of India in collaboration with Government of Maharashtra).
(3-9 February, 2008)
Venue : National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nariman Point, Mumbai-21
DELEGATE/REGISTRATION FORM AVAILABLE ON
http://www.miffindia.in/Home.aspx
Also available in the Files section of Frame TwoFive E-Group homepage - http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/frame25/
The filled Registration/Delegate Form, along with 2 recent stamp sized colour photographs, should be returned to “The Member Secretary, Registration Unit, M.I.F.F. 2008”, Films Division, 24-Dr. Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai-26 so as to reach by or before 15th January , 2008.
10th Mumbai International Film Festival For Documentary, Short and Animation Films (Organised by Films Division, Ministry of I & B, Govt.of India in collaboration with Government of Maharashtra).
(3-9 February, 2008)
Venue : National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nariman Point, Mumbai-21
DELEGATE/REGISTRATION FORM AVAILABLE ON
http://www.miffindia.in/Home.aspx
Also available in the Files section of Frame TwoFive E-Group homepage - http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/frame25/
The filled Registration/Delegate Form, along with 2 recent stamp sized colour photographs, should be returned to “The Member Secretary, Registration Unit, M.I.F.F. 2008”, Films Division, 24-Dr. Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai-26 so as to reach by or before 15th January , 2008.
Film Fests Info (Hamburg & Doha)
24th Hamburg International Short Film Festival (4-9 June 2008)
Last Date for Submission: 15 February 2008
c/o KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg e.V., Friedensallee 7 22765 Hamburg
Tel:+49 40 3910 6323 # Fax:+49 40 3910 6320
Email: festival@shortfilm.com
http://www.shortfilm.com/
4th Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival, Doha, Qatar (April 21 – 24, 2008)
DEADLINE: January 15th, 2008
Participation would include documentaries using video or cinematic technology and categorized according to duration as given below:
Short (less than 30 min)
Medium (30 – 60 min)
Long (longer than 60 min)
New Horizon: A special competition recognizing the films of students and beginners.
REGULATIONS: Productions taking part in the Festival competitions and side screenings are limited to documentary films. Only films completed after January 1st, 2006 will be accepted. A participant may only have one entry in each category (short, medium and long.) Participating films should either be in Arabic or English. If in another language, works should be translated, dubbed, or subtitled into either of the two languages.
AWARDS: The Aljazeera Golden Award – for each of the winning films in the three categories (long, medium, short), in addition to a cash prize to be shared equally by the film's director and producer as follows:
Long (film): QR50,000 (fifty thousand Qatari riyals)
Medium: QR40,000 (forty thousand Qatari riyals)
Short: QR30,000 (thirty thousand Qatari riyals)
The Jury's Award - for each of the winning films in the three categories (long, medium, short), in addition to a cash prize to be shared equally by the film's director and producer as follows:
Long: QR25,000 (Twenty-five thousand Qatari riyals)
Medium: QR20,000 (Twenty-thousand Qatari riyals)
Short: QR15,000 (Fifteen thousand Qatari riyals)
In the New Horizon category, there will be awards for the two best films in this "student and beginner" group. The first place award will be a golden trophy and a cash prize of QR15,000 (Fifteen thousand Qatari riyals). The second place award will be a trophy and a cash prize of QR10,000 (Ten thousand Qatari riyals).
CONTACT:
Mr Abbas Arnaout, Director
4th Aljazeera InternationalDocumentary Film Festival
PO Box 24123, JSC - Aljazeera Festival, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 - 4670049 # Tel-Fax: +974 - 4651454
Email: festival4@aljazeera.net
http://www1.aljazeera.net/
http://www1.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AA3DAAFB-DFCC-47D5-8822-12C252FE372F.htm
Last Date for Submission: 15 February 2008
c/o KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg e.V., Friedensallee 7 22765 Hamburg
Tel:+49 40 3910 6323 # Fax:+49 40 3910 6320
Email: festival@shortfilm.com
http://www.shortfilm.com/
4th Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival, Doha, Qatar (April 21 – 24, 2008)
DEADLINE: January 15th, 2008
Participation would include documentaries using video or cinematic technology and categorized according to duration as given below:
Short (less than 30 min)
Medium (30 – 60 min)
Long (longer than 60 min)
New Horizon: A special competition recognizing the films of students and beginners.
REGULATIONS: Productions taking part in the Festival competitions and side screenings are limited to documentary films. Only films completed after January 1st, 2006 will be accepted. A participant may only have one entry in each category (short, medium and long.) Participating films should either be in Arabic or English. If in another language, works should be translated, dubbed, or subtitled into either of the two languages.
AWARDS: The Aljazeera Golden Award – for each of the winning films in the three categories (long, medium, short), in addition to a cash prize to be shared equally by the film's director and producer as follows:
Long (film): QR50,000 (fifty thousand Qatari riyals)
Medium: QR40,000 (forty thousand Qatari riyals)
Short: QR30,000 (thirty thousand Qatari riyals)
The Jury's Award - for each of the winning films in the three categories (long, medium, short), in addition to a cash prize to be shared equally by the film's director and producer as follows:
Long: QR25,000 (Twenty-five thousand Qatari riyals)
Medium: QR20,000 (Twenty-thousand Qatari riyals)
Short: QR15,000 (Fifteen thousand Qatari riyals)
In the New Horizon category, there will be awards for the two best films in this "student and beginner" group. The first place award will be a golden trophy and a cash prize of QR15,000 (Fifteen thousand Qatari riyals). The second place award will be a trophy and a cash prize of QR10,000 (Ten thousand Qatari riyals).
CONTACT:
Mr Abbas Arnaout, Director
4th Aljazeera InternationalDocumentary Film Festival
PO Box 24123, JSC - Aljazeera Festival, Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 - 4670049 # Tel-Fax: +974 - 4651454
Email: festival4@aljazeera.net
http://www1.aljazeera.net/
http://www1.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AA3DAAFB-DFCC-47D5-8822-12C252FE372F.htm
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Kick off meet of Frame TwoFive
Hello!
Thank you Karthika for making my life simpler by chronicling the event meticulously. My accounts of the experience is very similar to what Kathika has written. We are products of chennai conditioning I guess. So I will stick to personal experiences in the place.
Unlike the subject of the mail, the meeting was a very informal one. (Thats how Arun intended it to be too I guess). When they gave me their feedback, it was indeed like a second jury. It was heartwarming to listen to what they liked about my work and why. Thats the only way to completely understand our work I guess. To listen from each other. The best part was when we started watching films by NIDians in an apple mac book pro in a garden restaurant at chennai sipping kaapi. Over the next one hour of the viewing session of nid films, (times ad, udyaan ad, Yeh dil, Mohiner Ghuraguli music vid, Bald and beautiful, Manish's energy ad and a VC promo) we were tripping on the ideas, the actors, talking about the filmmakers, film language and cinema at large. I liked the contrast of a sober empty green space against a bunch of people having animated discussions at a corner table. I am happy at the ease in which Karthika's mother plugged in to our discussions as an outsider. She according to me was the most important person of our meeting. (Also because she saved me from sitting in the front seat :D)
Words fail as they always do to express the 'connect' that we felt while watching films by our pals and to see our pals acting in them. Though I have not met many of the students who made those films, I relate to them through their work. Kudos to Arun for the idea. I am looking forward to many more such informal get togethers.
If there was something that would have made the evening better, it is more people. I guess if people are brought together, the purpose takes care of itself. Lets make miracles possible.
Love,
Uday
Thank you Karthika for making my life simpler by chronicling the event meticulously. My accounts of the experience is very similar to what Kathika has written. We are products of chennai conditioning I guess. So I will stick to personal experiences in the place.
Unlike the subject of the mail, the meeting was a very informal one. (Thats how Arun intended it to be too I guess). When they gave me their feedback, it was indeed like a second jury. It was heartwarming to listen to what they liked about my work and why. Thats the only way to completely understand our work I guess. To listen from each other. The best part was when we started watching films by NIDians in an apple mac book pro in a garden restaurant at chennai sipping kaapi. Over the next one hour of the viewing session of nid films, (times ad, udyaan ad, Yeh dil, Mohiner Ghuraguli music vid, Bald and beautiful, Manish's energy ad and a VC promo) we were tripping on the ideas, the actors, talking about the filmmakers, film language and cinema at large. I liked the contrast of a sober empty green space against a bunch of people having animated discussions at a corner table. I am happy at the ease in which Karthika's mother plugged in to our discussions as an outsider. She according to me was the most important person of our meeting. (Also because she saved me from sitting in the front seat :D)
Words fail as they always do to express the 'connect' that we felt while watching films by our pals and to see our pals acting in them. Though I have not met many of the students who made those films, I relate to them through their work. Kudos to Arun for the idea. I am looking forward to many more such informal get togethers.
If there was something that would have made the evening better, it is more people. I guess if people are brought together, the purpose takes care of itself. Lets make miracles possible.
Love,
Uday
Re: SCENE 1: SHOT 1: TAKE 1
That was nice. I just saw one blurred and one clear snap of the small get-together. But Karthika, your description with every little detail brought the events live on our minds. Yup....Uday did mention about your erratic driving...haha!
Kudos to the first meet of Frames25!
and kudos to all those who dared to begin.
and Kudos to the moderator, who marked the beginning, with his trademark dialogue - "You better join the group"!
Ahsam PG-FVC 2006 Batch
Kudos to the first meet of Frames25!
and kudos to all those who dared to begin.
and Kudos to the moderator, who marked the beginning, with his trademark dialogue - "You better join the group"!
Ahsam PG-FVC 2006 Batch
SCENE 1: SHOT 1: TAKE 1
DATE : 14TH NOV 2007
LOCATION : KAILASH RESORTS, AT EAST COAST ROAD, CHENNAI
TIME : 8:40 PM
About myself - Karthika, PG - FVC, 2004 batch, Convocating Dec 15, 2007.
Well, to start off, I didn't think it was a meeting about which I had to write. The attraction here was to meet some NIDians and talk cinema or anything that mattered. Finally, for me...it was being with people, I thought, understood me the best.
The characters involved here were 5 people - Mr. Arun Gupta; Ms. Lekha Washington - actress in Tamil films, VJ, SS Music, Chennai; Ms. Megha Lakhani - much celebrated director of Prakash Travellin Cinema fame...; Mr. Udayraj - a student of film at NID; and I, Karthika.
Both the above mentioned ladies could not make it, since they had prior commitments, which we also agree to completely respect. Work is worship.
So finally, there was Arun Gupta, Udayraj and I. Arun Gupta was not accustomed to the city geography so it was easy to decide a place to meet. His place - Kailash Chettinadu Resorts. Uday at one end of the city, Arun at the other end and I somewhere at the center. So, Uday came down to my place and we drove to Arun's place. It was only my third day behind the steering, so I had a surprise guest sitting next to me to guide me - - - meri MAAAAaaa...
With a few million jerks and abuses we managed to reach the venue safely with all limbs intact, though we were behind schedule by half an hour.
BANG....we were greeted by Mr. Arun at the entrance but grrrrrrrrrh!!! what doI hear.
Arun - "Am afraid this has become a flop show"
Well, that the last thing I would have wished to hear. But I tried hard what could have gone wrong, something had gone terribly wrong. What's in your mind ? If you were in my position and had a mind like a live-wire you could think many things but none with clear visibility.
Now...to break the suspense, Lekha was not able to come and that disappointed Arun a lot. He almost called it a flop show because she got stuck with her shoot and could not make it so far in time.
Ah ! indeed a pity, I thought. If she had been able to come, we could have had some humour and spice.
So there we started off with an attitude not encouraging.
We four, including my Mother took our seats around a table at the open restaurant in the hotel's lawn. It had a nice ambience and gave good vibes too, being open-air, out of city pollution and not noisy. They played old music and did not have any other customers except us. So, we had our little nice space. This place also had a stage, so I guess they perhaps hosted parties. The exciting part was, the stage had a white backdrop screen. It now almost looked like the perfect venue for a film screening.
But anyways, for the time being, we were just gonna see our films on my laptop and have a chat over it. Since both Arun and Uday had seen my diploma film, we opted to see Uday's ad spots that he made for project-1 at NID.
We saw his 3 spots and had liked and disliked somethings about it and gave him a feedback - the NID ishtyle mein. I hope he didnt feel like sitting for yet another JURY.
After that small session on filmy baatein, we still had to roll...the ads were 30-40 seconds, and the speeches were not over 15 mins.
Luckily, Uday had some more films on his external hardisk that he had carried along, it had some of NID's old students' fiction projects, music videos and spots from Lekha's batch too. We saw Ye Dil! by Adityan, a Bengali music video by Sukriti and a few ad spots by Adityan / Lekha's batch. We also saw some of the recent animation films made at NID and most importantly, the VC promos of this year.
And we spoke about our days at NID, the process , the fun , the production hiccups etc... In short, it was fun. We clicked some pictures which Uday will soon upload for u guys...time rolled...n now It was getting late, since Uday had to reach the other end of MADRAS...now chennai, so we decided to order some quick light food and wrap up this meet graciously with some laddoos my mom made for diwali.
It was around half past ten and we really had to get going now.
I got back into the driver's seat and my mom and Uday too waved hands to Arun who sweetly sponsored our dinner, though we all suggest and agreed that we pool (the bill) from next time, since we wish to do this more often.
I reached my place after dropping Uday at a convenient place from where he hired an auto. We both sms'ed Arun of havin reached home safely. Uday reached his place at 1 a.m .
So, that's the story so far.
With two students, one teacher and one parent, it was a pessimistic start. But, it was a start, might be at the beginning a pessimistic, inhibited or rather slow start and by the end it was a successful one. I wish and hope that we meet more often.
To those who could not make it to the meet, I am sure I would also join that list someday when work takes priority. But for now, this is dedicated to you, so that you don't feel having missed the meet. Next time, we would love to see u around... more the merrier.
And... remember, ALL THE GLORY COMES FROM DARING TO BEGIN.
Good luck to all.
With love and regards,
Karthika.
LOCATION : KAILASH RESORTS, AT EAST COAST ROAD, CHENNAI
TIME : 8:40 PM
About myself - Karthika, PG - FVC, 2004 batch, Convocating Dec 15, 2007.
Well, to start off, I didn't think it was a meeting about which I had to write. The attraction here was to meet some NIDians and talk cinema or anything that mattered. Finally, for me...it was being with people, I thought, understood me the best.
The characters involved here were 5 people - Mr. Arun Gupta; Ms. Lekha Washington - actress in Tamil films, VJ, SS Music, Chennai; Ms. Megha Lakhani - much celebrated director of Prakash Travellin Cinema fame...; Mr. Udayraj - a student of film at NID; and I, Karthika.
Both the above mentioned ladies could not make it, since they had prior commitments, which we also agree to completely respect. Work is worship.
So finally, there was Arun Gupta, Udayraj and I. Arun Gupta was not accustomed to the city geography so it was easy to decide a place to meet. His place - Kailash Chettinadu Resorts. Uday at one end of the city, Arun at the other end and I somewhere at the center. So, Uday came down to my place and we drove to Arun's place. It was only my third day behind the steering, so I had a surprise guest sitting next to me to guide me - - - meri MAAAAaaa...
With a few million jerks and abuses we managed to reach the venue safely with all limbs intact, though we were behind schedule by half an hour.
BANG....we were greeted by Mr. Arun at the entrance but grrrrrrrrrh!!! what doI hear.
Arun - "Am afraid this has become a flop show"
Well, that the last thing I would have wished to hear. But I tried hard what could have gone wrong, something had gone terribly wrong. What's in your mind ? If you were in my position and had a mind like a live-wire you could think many things but none with clear visibility.
Now...to break the suspense, Lekha was not able to come and that disappointed Arun a lot. He almost called it a flop show because she got stuck with her shoot and could not make it so far in time.
Ah ! indeed a pity, I thought. If she had been able to come, we could have had some humour and spice.
So there we started off with an attitude not encouraging.
We four, including my Mother took our seats around a table at the open restaurant in the hotel's lawn. It had a nice ambience and gave good vibes too, being open-air, out of city pollution and not noisy. They played old music and did not have any other customers except us. So, we had our little nice space. This place also had a stage, so I guess they perhaps hosted parties. The exciting part was, the stage had a white backdrop screen. It now almost looked like the perfect venue for a film screening.
But anyways, for the time being, we were just gonna see our films on my laptop and have a chat over it. Since both Arun and Uday had seen my diploma film, we opted to see Uday's ad spots that he made for project-1 at NID.
We saw his 3 spots and had liked and disliked somethings about it and gave him a feedback - the NID ishtyle mein. I hope he didnt feel like sitting for yet another JURY.
After that small session on filmy baatein, we still had to roll...the ads were 30-40 seconds, and the speeches were not over 15 mins.
Luckily, Uday had some more films on his external hardisk that he had carried along, it had some of NID's old students' fiction projects, music videos and spots from Lekha's batch too. We saw Ye Dil! by Adityan, a Bengali music video by Sukriti and a few ad spots by Adityan / Lekha's batch. We also saw some of the recent animation films made at NID and most importantly, the VC promos of this year.
And we spoke about our days at NID, the process , the fun , the production hiccups etc... In short, it was fun. We clicked some pictures which Uday will soon upload for u guys...time rolled...n now It was getting late, since Uday had to reach the other end of MADRAS...now chennai, so we decided to order some quick light food and wrap up this meet graciously with some laddoos my mom made for diwali.
It was around half past ten and we really had to get going now.
I got back into the driver's seat and my mom and Uday too waved hands to Arun who sweetly sponsored our dinner, though we all suggest and agreed that we pool (the bill) from next time, since we wish to do this more often.
I reached my place after dropping Uday at a convenient place from where he hired an auto. We both sms'ed Arun of havin reached home safely. Uday reached his place at 1 a.m .
So, that's the story so far.
With two students, one teacher and one parent, it was a pessimistic start. But, it was a start, might be at the beginning a pessimistic, inhibited or rather slow start and by the end it was a successful one. I wish and hope that we meet more often.
To those who could not make it to the meet, I am sure I would also join that list someday when work takes priority. But for now, this is dedicated to you, so that you don't feel having missed the meet. Next time, we would love to see u around... more the merrier.
And... remember, ALL THE GLORY COMES FROM DARING TO BEGIN.
Good luck to all.
With love and regards,
Karthika.
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