tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27610141306021800502024-02-20T16:51:25.463+05:30cinema addictCinema, Cinema and CinemaRamnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-61746873866977838632013-12-26T12:48:00.001+05:302013-12-26T12:52:02.321+05:30The Gap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Okay! There was a biiiiig gap. I am promising myself here on, that I will post my ideas at least weekly once.<br />
Problem is that I am not a writer, but I have to share my ideas and so I HAVE to write.<br />
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I am also planning to answer questions, whatever based on Film Making stuff, like what ever I know. If I don't know then I will definitely do a research work and come back.<br />
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And couple of film reviews, what ever I saw and inspired or thought utter crap.<br />
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Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-63176572397630379002010-05-14T19:03:00.007+05:302010-05-18T14:22:43.876+05:30Lo to no budgetAs the digital fever grows, all Indie film makers over here are considering to shoot in Digital. Because its economical. <div>But in fact, theoretically, Digital medium is suppose to cut cost only 30 percent compared to shooting in 35mm film. </div><div>Then what is the point? Why to shoot in Digital. You might as well spend the extra 30 percent and make your film look like any other mainstream film!</div><div>Actually Digital medium is just one of the factors to be taken into account to cut the costs for low or no budget films. Rest is your creativity and planning.</div><div>One of the biggest drawbacks with digital media is that you need not consider wastage. So you might want to retake again and again till you got it perfect, which is remote possibility. </div><div>You might want to shoot safety shots in different angles, though the script may not require that many, which on the whole consumes time and there by number of shooting days. Another drawback which everyone talking about is the quality, which I need not mention here as that is another topic all together and there are plenty of websites to refer and seminars to attend to.</div><div><br /></div><div>But major advantage of Digital medium, for me, is that you are bypassing the pain going through all the processing film stuff, Big Labs with big bills, and long hours of wait before you get to see it pretty decent. Not to mention, all the processing it goes through after edit. But in digital, you just shoot it and the footage is edit ready. If you are patient enough and got few extra bucks to spare, its better go with the film instead of Digital. At least you are sure of the output quality and need not worry about what camera, what codec, what out put format, resolution to shoot etc etc....</div><div><br /></div><div>Then what should I do if I want to make a low budget film......? </div><div>Apart from deciding to shoot in 35mm or digital, you need to consider the following :</div><div><br /></div><div>Concept :</div><div>Trash all your previous concepts. Because they might have been developed without budget in mind and may be some known artist oriented. Look for a new concept which you think very interesting and next you think would be as interesting to audience as you thought it would be to you and can pull if off with or without too much money and, screen-able at your local theaters. </div><div><br /></div><div>Script : </div><div>You might want to write a script keeping constantly in mind, what is available with you, and where to get whatever is required in the script, cheapest without compromising on your concept. Try to visualize your script at the writing stage itself and use minimum locations which you know you could get permission easily within your budget. </div><div><br /></div><div>Characters and Casting : </div><div>Build up the characters with who soever is known and available with you or you may be able to reach with no or minimum amount of money. So Cast them before hand and check out what they can and can not do, and write your script accordingly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Technicians :</div><div>In this section, first person you must give utmost importance is Camera person.</div><div>He should be - </div><div>1. the one who trust you and believe in what you do.</div><div>2. the one who is highly creative.</div><div>3. the one who understands technical details of the camera you are going to shoot.</div><div>4. the one who can give you decent output at any light conditions. </div><div>5. the one who is fast enough to get along with your schedule.</div><div>6. the one who fits into your budget.</div><div>7. the GOD....! </div><div><br /></div><div>If you could manage to get a DOP meeting atleast two to three conditions. Then you are lucky and you can be confident that you are going to rock.</div><div>Delete the seventh point, as God is too expensive to hire and he does not have any timing sense or maintain schedule.</div><div><br /></div><div>Planning :</div><div>After completing the script, revisions after revisions and when you are satisfied, next is Planning. </div><div>You have to jot down what ever short comings ahead of time and how to get away with it first. Break down the script and schedule it properly per locations, and include alternative plans if the schedule got mixed up.</div><div>Call the cast and read the script to them and make them understand how it goes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rehearsals :</div><div>When your Characters are thorough with the script, do rehearsals, on each and every scene till they get it right to your satisfaction. NEVER ever get to think 'we will see in the shoot'. Will never work out. As most of the characters are going to be new and their performance in front of the camera is going to be only half of what they perform at rehearsals.</div><div><br /></div><div>Locations :</div><div>You must have by now known the location thoroughly, but discuss with your DOP and tell him how you want your shots and what angles you are gonna shoot. You need not make a pucca story board as sketch artists are pretty expensive, but make a decent drawing your self and tell him how you want the shots to be. </div><div><br /></div><div>Shoot :</div><div>If everything is ready, then fix a date and start the shoot. </div><div>Never ever deviate from what ever is planned and scheduled. </div><div>Never ever conceive any improvisational shots on the shoot unless you think you might get your head chopped off. </div><div>Never ever wait till editor says get this shot. You can NOT afford for Patch works. If he says then you might as well consider your film is a thrash.</div><div>Keep a pocket book and note down all the shots to be taken and strike off one by one. This may seem basic, but it has to be done. Get up early in the morning ahead of others and read the script and check for any short comings and note down in your pocket book. Strike out one by one on pending shots after taken. </div><div>At the night, before going to sleep, check all the footages you have taken and try to connect them in your mind and check for any extra shots you might need and note it down. Consult with your DOP next day, and keep a note of it and take the shot when time permits without breaking the original schedule. </div><div><br /></div><div>Post :</div><div>Chances are that you might not have any professional editor to edit your movie. Does not matter. Since you have already visualized your movie thoroughly by now. Get hold of a machine with avid, fcp or adobe and try get an apprentice work for you, as you just have to sequence your shots. This is for a rough cut only. Then watch the movie, get suggestions from your friends, (danger, you gotta be careful, as each one will have a script writer inside them and might change the entire concept), if possible call up your friends dad's friend's friend editor, listen to what they have to say and if useful change it here and there and get the sound part done.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am always worried about on shoot process than the post shoot as the major expenses are for on shoot only. After the shoot, post work can be done more leisurely as does not affect your pocket as much as on shoot.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of my friends argues, what is the use of a lo budget film and what is the purpose of such a strain, when you can not market or release it. And there are hundreds of films in the box like that waiting for the release.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I would argue back that its a passion and belief (more of an addiction) that makes you do the film. Not just for money.</div><div><br /></div><div>Money is important because if you can not return what ever you have borrowed or spent from your pocket, then you are stuck.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can not make your next film...! </div><div><br /></div><div>So money is important factor for which your film has to release in the theaters or in the film festivals or at least on some tv channels, but not as important as your urge to make the film work, the belief, passion for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you believe in it, and enough passion to drive you, then you would make the film either digital or 35mm or super 16, and then worry about other factors later. </div><div><br /></div><div>No big directors, came true with a first project which was sold before shoot and made on table profit. or did they consider making a film with profit in mind. They just wanted their concept come alive on screen and managed it, with or without money. </div><div><br /></div><div>So what counts is the passion. </div><div><br /></div>Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-8279005797795713182010-04-24T23:20:00.002+05:302010-04-25T00:04:03.336+05:30theatreToday i went to a theater show. It was a show (drama) directed by Balakrishnan. I learnt something which I already know. <div>Film making is not just calling shorts edit put some sounds and boom - ready.</div><div>The show was called couples only and there were two stories staged. One about 45 minutes in length and another about 1 hour. </div><div>And you never noticed any lag (in cinema terms), just got over and you get so involved that you had no idea how much time passed. </div><div>Mind you, there were only two characters in each story, and there were no visual beauties or jump cuts and ramp shots to stun you. In fact, it is a single wide shot (in filmi terms again), as wide as your eyes could see. No fancy back grounds either.</div><div>While coming back home, i was just thinking, why did i get hooked up in this show so much as to not even noticing time. </div><div>Apart from the script, which is 100 percent dialog oriented, what I found was the performance of actors. they must have taken so much pain to get the lines into their head, then rehearse rehearse and rehearse and get the body language right, and make sure correct dialog delivery timings. Because there is no retake. </div><div>In tamil cinema, though there is always options for retake, rewrite, alternate angles, close ups, no one seems to concentrate on acting. </div><div>Directors just need the artist to deliver the dialog. Directors dont give artists scripts, artists dont want the scripts.</div><div>They could give, the time given to read the script to some one else and make more money. More over even directors does not know what is the story about - lets see on shoot, if something goes wrong then lets adjust in edit, if edit goes wrong, lets do it in dubbing, and if dubbing goes wrong lets correct it in RR and if RR goes wrong, lets see after release. Audience will not mind such things. </div><div>But then, if you wanna make money, there are hell lot of businesses. why come to cinema.</div><div>Cinema is a passion. You want to do cinema because you just want to do it badly. </div><div>If only rehearsed properly and actors were explained of their characters thoroughly and let them come up with their own style and performance and body language, you have over fifty percent advantage of making a bad script look decent and good script extra ordinary.</div><div>After all, if your script is the soul, then actors are the body and face.</div><div><br /></div>Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-20417606291036336082010-04-01T21:18:00.003+05:302010-04-01T21:44:44.652+05:30editI am feeling bad because i did not write anything for such a long time. <div>I was busy.! yes i was making a small budget 1 and half hour digital film. </div><div>As I said it was such a small digital film that budget did not permit me to hire outside editor or anyother post production personnels. </div><div>I had to do everything by my self. I shot it with panasonic p2 502 en camera. Edited the whole thing all by myself. So now I learnt editing. It was a tiring and frustrating job, (those pros are actually next to god), but the thing is the interest pulls you in only when your are about half way through and checking your cuts. </div><div>then only I started to realize one thing. May be it so stupid to have come to know now, I shoud have known this long before.</div><div>But the fact is - that films are made on the editing table only. We need shots to edit and thats why we go out and shoot. In which case directors dont make films, but the editors are. If you are a good editor, then you exactly know how to call shots, and how to correct mistakes instantaneously on the shoot and correct yourself. If you dont know or have edit sense, then what you will do is take extra safety shots and retakes which is waste of time and energy and money. so those who wants to be budget conscious and make good films MUST have done editing by themselves. </div><div>this digital film was shot in 7 days and shot in kodaikanal estates out of which good half hour is chase sequence. This was possible just because all my previous shorts were edited by myself and so when I visualize itself I could do it in edit angle.</div><div>Atleast when you do big films your editor will not hate you. </div>Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-21423431271740638742009-07-26T12:31:00.004+05:302009-07-26T16:55:52.050+05:30PauseTwo days back I watched a film, which was widely talked about, made by well experienced team. The director has been making good and critically well received films for past decade. As I am one of his admirers and also one of my good friends have starred in the film, I was anxious to watch it.<br /><br />Though the film was well made and presented, I was not able to remember anything about the film, at all, after I came out of the theatre. And I was wondering why.<br /><br />After giving it a thought for sometime, what I could conclude was that, apart from bad script. poorly written dialogues, and hell of a lot of flicked scenes from foreign language films,<br /><br />there is no pause.<br /><br />A pause can be in between the scenes (transitions), can be in between dialogues, can be between first half and second half of the film (thats what we call interval, we relax and start to munch on what happened in the first half, and try to predict what would be 2nd half.)<br /><br />As human beings, our brain does not respond instantly to grab what just happened before your eyes. It takes couple of fractions of seconds, then it takes another couple of fractions of seconds to respond to it, and another fractions to conclude on the logic of whatever happened.<br /><br />Eyes see, Ears hear, then taken in to the brain, and the brain responds. And then only we say 'wow' or 'shit'.<br /><br />So when you are making film, this factor has to be seriously taken into account. There has to be pauses here and there where ever required between the dialogues, between the scenes. Good scripts with no pauses, may do well, but audience will never remember anything when they come out. Because, before their brain could memorise something, the next thing happens and keeps on going, so audience will remember only bits and pieces of the film, that too vaguely.<br /><br />thats what happened in this film which i watched 2 days ago. The director or editor stopped leaving pauses, all the artists stopped pausing between the dialogues. They might as well read it as fast as they can.<br />Especially when the Artists deliver the dialogues.<br />When there is no pause between the lines, then Artists seem to respond with each other in a pre-planned way.<br />In real life, when we talk with each other, we do not plan, so when somebody asks a question, we think for a moment, we manage that with 'ya' mmm' 'no' 'I mean' etc and then we phrase inside and reply. The speed at which respond comes out varies from person to person. But still, there is a pause. Thats natural way of communicating to one another.<br />But in our films (Tamil), we seem to neglect this fact.<br />Artists just want to deliver what ever the line is and they do not bother about the pauses. Even if actors make pauses, the editor feels LAG and he deliberately removes it saying it will bore the audience.<br />There is a very bad word being circulated among the Tamil film industry - LAG. Nobody wants to see anything silent, there has to be some music going on in the back, or some sound fx. Otherwise there should be contiuous dialogues. Rest are all LAG.<br />They dont realize one thing is that the whole damn film is a LAG, because of this.<br />They also think that holywood does the same thing. But in reality no other film industry does it<br />Holywood films have a graph. Even in block buster action films. Whenever high speed action takes place, the very next scene is established in a deliberate way, silently, thereby relieving the audience and preparing them again for the next action sequence. None of the artists spoke their dialogues continuously. they paused, turned their head, looked through the window, etc.<br />Any directors who knows how to handle pauses and actors who knows where to pause between the dialogues really shine.<br />Ofcourse its apart from the scripts, directors are handling and expressions actors are making.Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-73291900464451603042009-07-12T17:54:00.003+05:302009-07-12T19:17:26.447+05:30FlickersSometime back, I met a friend who wants to write scripts for film. Most probably that’s the ‘very rare’ and most in demand commodity in the industry.<br /><br />But you never know, who has got what in him. So I asked him if he has any concepts, and he says still thinking. I encouraged him to go ahead, and gave him some basic ideas like how to create and develop a concept and how to write treatment etc, he listened seriously and then one fine day he comes to me with a story line.<br /><br />I read it and at once I knew he flicked from two or three foreign language films. I don’t blame him, as it is a generational practice, going on in this Indian Film Industry (Especially Tamil, those directors who talk too much about Promoting Tamil cinema and compare their films with classic films and who does not like to hear if their films are flicked ones, regularly flicks from foreign language films only).<br />Anyway lets not blame them also, as they are too busy thinking about money and lost their creative goal somewhere into their wealth.)<br /><br />I am not really sure why one should get into the industry, especially as director, or music director, when he is not able to make his own original concepts and original presentation. Is it for money? Then You have another half side of the industry where they treat the film reels as mere ‘cans of luck’ and gamble<br />Or if one don’t want to gamble then he should not be looking at all at this film industry. They can have grocery store, fancy shops steel business whatever.<br />Current trend is that those who has no job, no education, no money, and no thinking, but who wants to become filthy rich quickly, are the ones dominating Tamil Industry. For them, what you got to do is some how, repeat somehow join with a somewhat known director, learn the language he talks (very important), and try to impress the hero (somehow at any cost) and tell your story. The stupid hero will one hundred percent okay the subject just because you are with ‘so and so’. Make a movie in a time span of Maximum 2 years) not even a time taken for one to be graduated. The film flops, does not matter, film hits box office, you reached your goal.<br />Its not a collective abuse, but dominant part is true.<br /><br />However, lets go back to the friend of mine who wants to write scripts.<br />He readily agreed that it is from so and so films and tried to make sense out of it. I appreciated him for his efforts (took him a month) and then I told him, how to go about it. And as we discussed the theme, along the line, slowly the theme diverted from the original version and then at a point we had a original story concept. He happy, and me happy<br />The point is, there is no harm in being inspired by a particular film, as any good film is made to be inspired by the audience. You may even get a concept from a badly made film, or may be even a character in a film, but no one ever thinks about it anymore. All they want is to remake the whole damn film, (Tamilization) inserting couple of songs, dances and there you go, you have wasted some thousands of feet of film roll and producers money.<br />I am not saying that you are not suppose to remake a film, you can, but keeping in mind,<br />In what sense that particular film was made and how you can improvise to fit into this audience without the original essence being lost. And willing to give some credit to the original story you really need guts for that. Not because those guys are going to sue you, overcoming your ego is the toughest part.<br /><br />Of course, above is valid only when you are so much inspired by the concept and making, that you think you will never be able to make another film or story of same kind. (Which is a disgrace of course. After all, those films are also conceived by human brains only. And not outwardly God like creatures).<br />And not because you need a script urgently as the Producer is ready with Hero's dates.<br /><br />Cinema is a beautiful and most creative invention human ever made. And a Director is the one who dictates it. If he wants he could make or break a star, or a financier. <br />It is going to be most pitiful situation if it’s in wrong hands.Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-52854407577011447402009-04-09T15:53:00.010+05:302009-05-17T10:58:43.744+05:30Digital thingNow a days in India, everyone is talking about digital digital and digital. I am talking about Cameras (HD cameras). Especially in over here in chennai, that too, after 'Slumdog millionaire'.<br />This HD thing existed long back, only we became aware recently. Till then we knew about these HD cameras were available (Like Viper, Cinealta, even Varicam) some wanted to try and some will not take a chance. But no one dared. Abroad, hollywood had tried successfully on Viper, Sony cinealta etc (Miami vice, collateral etc) purely on HD. But over here, people were scared because these cameras respond to light in different way, than film cameras.<br />Whatever it is, result is no one tried. No one took risk.<br />But these technological advancements are meant to make things easier only though may not yet be up to the standards of film in quality wise.<br />But Its just the beginning.<br />There was a confusion when these ADAT 8 track recorders were launched. So many discussions and chaos went on. Almost everybody said no digital sound can beat Anologue spool tapes. But now, no recording studios has any spool recorders. Everything is digitized and no one even remembers about spools, though the spool tapes have their own sounding and warmth, which is now ofcourse digitally simulated.<br />What I am trying to say is that any medium for that matter, if you know how to use it, and work around the drawbacks, then you get what you want.<br />Its like asking why AR's sounding is superior compared to others, or Maniratnam's films have superior visuals than other directors and why certain DoP's are more expensive than other DoPs though everybody uses same gear.<br />It all depends on the taste and what you want.<br />Whatever it is, most important thing is your creativity and how you want to execute and how serious you are about your project.<br />As, these high end stuff with what ever unlimited capability, can not talk, write or think, only the person behind it can, that is ... you.Ramnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761014130602180050.post-40196746424568775532009-03-22T12:55:00.000+05:302009-03-22T13:01:57.722+05:30Hi to allI am new to this blog thing and trying to get hang of it.<br />I plan to write about what I know on film making, Directing, Music composing, Lates technology developments and what ever comes in my mind about movies and its making.<br />Dont get me wrong. These are just my own ideas and my own collection of informations and this is my own blog. So I can blabber what ever I want, though I will try to make it as close to accuracy as possible.<br />So those who could make some sense out of it could go through this blog and others need not waste their time.<br /><br />thanks and all d bestRamnathan K. Bhagavathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13410561778272918115noreply@blogger.com0