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Posted on 08/04/20 1:11:47 PM

DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 5522

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A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT!

This is the story of a most unusual piece of film making. One quite literally without precedent. It has gone completely viral in India.

It was made by Prasoon Pandy, one my favourite directors, who I have worked with for almost twenty years. He is one of India's top directors for advertising films and a remarkable talent. Indeed one of the most talented director's I have worked with anywhere.

Prasoon wrote to me and told me a little of how this piece was created. The creation of this little public service film is, in my view, an astonishing story of original lateral thinking on his part.

The film was made completely from lockdown. Not one of the people involved left home. One of the things that made this film possible is the fact that any modern digital camera or smart phone can shoot video. Prasoon story boarded the film from his home and sent the storyboard, together with a video briefing, to each of the actors showing what was needed and how to shoot their own segment. Each of the actors shot their own segment themselves or with the help of family and others locked down in the house with them. The idea is to tell a story that takes place within a single Indian extended household. In point of fact, when you see an actor reach out of frame and in the next shot his hand comes into frame with someone else, what you are seeing was shot in two quite distinct places with different people. The segments were sent to the editor to assemble and the cut was sent to the music director for the music. It truly was a co-operative effort on everyone's part.

Personally I think the idea of creating a short film like this is little short of genius. It also placed a lot of faith in the actors and stars involved who, in my opinion have really risen to the occasion. Participation was, of course entirely voluntary on their part and no credits are given.

Because you are unlikely to be familiar with Hindi cinema I should explain that cinema in India is HUGE. Just the one city of Mumbai (Bollywood) alone produces more output per year than the entire United states and Canada combined. India as a whole makes approximately 1000 feature films a year. Most of the actors who contributed to this communal effort are icons - total mega stars. Think Robert Downey Jr or Johnny Depp. The middle aged bearded actor at the beginning and end is Amitabh Bachchan, a star for over forty years so huge and idolised that I quite simply cannot think of a western equivalent. I don't think there is one. He's practically a deity.

The participation of these stars and actors will ensure that this is seen by millions of Indians.

It is full of social and cultural references and 'in' jokes that I am afraid will be obscure to you but that shouldn't spoil your enjoyment.

Hats off to Prasoon for a truly remarkable achievement!!!

It's here on You Tube

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Posted on 08/04/20 2:02:15 PM

GKB
Magical Montagist
Posts: 3958

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