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How Technology is Influencing Storytelling & Film
Transformers 3:Dark of the Moon Shoot-Location:Downtown Chicago
Ever wondered how they shoot those Explosions and war scenes.Watch this video and you will get a rough idea of how they do it.
The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the Moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and learn its secrets, which could turn the tide in the Transformers' final battle.
The script revolves around Autobots and Decepticons accidentally traveling back in time to the year 1982 after a battle in space. Starscream kills off present-day Megatron in order to set his master-plan in action. He retrieves the All Spark from the Hoover Dam (as seen in the first film), but doesn't get a chance to destroy the old Megatron, who is frozen at the Dam.
Sam(lead actor) proposes to Mikaela and gets help from his grandfather to locate the Key to Vector Sigma. Meanwhile, we come to learn that Starscream's plan is to change history.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon will hit theaters in 3D (yes 3D) and 2D on July 1, 2011.
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes-Exclusive first look & Behind-the-Scenes Interview with Andy Serkis
An exclusive first look & behind-the-scenes interview with Andy Serkis (Caesar), Joe Letterii (Senior Visual Effects Supervisor), and Dan Lemmon (Visual Effects Supervisor) at Weta Digital in New Zealand.
Prison Letter From Jafar Panahi at Berlin Fest's Opening Night Gala
Isabella Rossellini turned the Berlin Film Festival's opening night gala into a public condemnation of the Iranian regime when she read aloud from a letter by director Jafar Panahi, written from his prison cell in Tehran.
The Berlin crowd – including the stars of Berlin's opening night film True Grit– Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolinand filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen -- gave a standing ovation in Panahi's honor. On stage was an empty white chair bearing the director's name.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
German Culture Minister Bernd Neumann, who officially opened the festival, joined in the condemnation of the Iranian regime.
"An attack on a filmmaker's freedom is an attack on the very basis of freedom itself," Neumann said.
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| Source: www.berlinale.de |
The Letter
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The world of a filmmaker is marked by the interplay between reality and dreams. The filmmaker uses reality as his inspiration, paints it with the color of his imagination, and creates a film that is a projection of his hopes and dreams.
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Jafar Panahi |
The reality is I have been kept from making films for the past five years and am now officially sentenced to be deprived of this right for another twenty years. But I know I will keep on turning my dreams into films in my imagination. I admit as a socially conscious filmmaker that I won’t be able to portray the daily problems and concerns of my people, but I won’t deny myself dreaming that after twenty years all the problems will be gone and I’ll be making films about the peace and prosperity in my country when I get a chance to do so again.
The reality is they have deprived me of thinking and writing for twenty years, but they can not keep me from dreaming that in twenty years inquisition and intimidation will be replaced by freedom and free thinking.
They have deprived me of seeing the world for twenty years. I hope that when I am free, I will be able to travel in a world without any geographic, ethnic, and ideological barriers, where people live together freely and peacefully regardless of their beliefs and convictions.
They have condemned me to twenty years of silence. Yet in my dreams, I scream for a time when we can tolerate each other, respect each other’s opinions, and live for each other.
Image via Wikipedia
Ultimately, the reality of my verdict is that I must spend six years in jail. I’ll live for the next six years hoping that my dreams will become reality. I wish my fellow filmmakers in every corner of the world would create such great films that by the time I leave the prison I will be inspired to continue to live in the world they have dreamed of in their films.
So from now on, and for the next twenty years, I’m forced to be silent. I’m forced not to be able to see, I’m forced not to be able to think, I’m forced not to be able to make films.
I submit to the reality of the captivity and the captors. I will look for the manifestation of my dreams in your films, hoping to find in them what I have been deprived of.
The full text of Panahi's letter – in English and Farsi - can be downloaded from here.
"We realize reading this here could make things worse for Jafar but we spoke with him and he definitely wanted us to do this," said Berlin Festival director Dieter Kosslick. "These might be the last words we hear from him (for a long time)."
You can read my previous post here to know more about the 61st Berlin film fest.
From Ahmedabad To Berlin
A postman brings home a letter.His mother receives it.It's a letter from Berlin Film Festival,they want her son to attend the event.
Akash who lives in Housing Board colony in Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat got this unexpected letter which was actually an invitation from BFF asking him to attend the fest because the very first film of his career has been nominated.
After graduation from Gujarat College in Theatre arts in 2008 Akash got his first break as a lead actor in Prashant Bhargava and Jaideep Punjabi's "PATANG"(The Kite),which was shot entirely in Ahmedabad in 2008.The film captures the famous kites festival of Gujarat.
The story revolves around these five people who love kites and take flight to elude the obstacles of everyday life.The film captures their hopes and struggles during the jubilant atmosphere of Ahmedabad's two-day kite festival while exploring the intimate dynamics of family, love and friendship.
In an interview with The Times Of India Akash remembered his first kissing scene in the film."I was made to chew a lot of gum that day.The director wanted it to be a surprise for me as a kiss scene would have scandalised me.My co-actress Suganda Garg was told to cover my eyes before she planted one peck.I stood stunned and was thinking what my parents would say if they saw this.I had to be counseled,"he said.
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| Suganda Garg |
He loved Uttrayan and bunked off classes at Delhi's National School of Drama to fly kites back home at the Gujarat housing board flat in Bapunagar. "It is this love for kites that clinched me the lead role according to my seniors in the film," says Akash.
Bring Your Own Film Festival
Bring Your Own Film Festival (BYOFF) is an annual event held during February 21st to 25th every year on Puri beach.
Puri is a famous heritage and temple town in Orissa, Eastern India.
BYOFF is not just a film festival it's a community where not only filmmakers but also artists from other disciplines like music, theatre, painting, sculpture, dance, literature and photography are encouraged to participate and show their work.
It's an informal gathering of artists with films in backdrop.For filmmakers, it has been an alternative platform ever since its first edition in the year 2004.
The idea is to have a festival away from the oppressive atmosphere of bureaucratic control of big cities and where just about anybody - with or without films - could participate.
The participants of BYOFF themselves are the volunteers and the organizers of its future editions.
And the mood of the festival is that of a no holds barred carnival where the sea and its sand provide the right ambience to lift the spirits of every one present.
Film screenings go on early into the morning hours- first, inside make-shift tents and then in the open air after sun down.
This years BYOFF is starting from Sunday, Feb 21, 2011 and ends Thursday, Feb 25, 2011.
The Pink House premises on the beach of the Bay of Bengal will be the venue of the festival, One of the hotel closest to the beach with sand drifting to your front door, the Pink House and its outdoor restaurant looks the part. Nice restaurant with beach sand floors, a fireplace outside, lively atmosphere and very fresh seafood. Live music on special occasions. A very good vibe and a favorite with tourists who come to relax away from crowds.
All I can say is this is the best platform for young and talented filmmakers and artists to show their work and get the best feedback possible.Its uniqueness lies in the fact that there is no formal screening or qualifying process, but rather it is a forum for independent filmmakers. Anyone can just walk-in, register, and exhibit his work.
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2011
The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) offers a quality selection of independent, innovative and experimental cinema, video and media art. During twelve festival days, hundreds of filmmakers and other artists present their work to a large audience (2010: 353,000 admissions) and 3,000 film professionals in 25 screening rooms on 8 festival venues. The 40th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam starts today i.e Wednesday January 26 and will run till Sunday February 6, 2011.
Festival program
The festival program consists of three main sections that may all comprise feature films, short films and art films.
Bright Future
This section presents idiosyncratic and adventurous new work by novice makers. The section mainly consists of first or second films.The Tiger Awards Competitions for first and second features and for short films are part of Bright Future.
Spectrum
This section presents new and recent work by experienced film makers and artists who provide, in the opinion of the IFFR, an essential contribution to international film culture. Within Spectrum, the Shorts section comprises some 400 titles screened during the first festival weekend.
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| Image by DerrickT via Flickr |
Signals
This section presents a series of thematic programs and retrospectives offering insight in topical as well as timeless ideas within cinema. This 40th IFFR, Signals comprises oeuvre screenings by filmmakers F.J. Ossang (France), Agusti Villaronga (Spain) and Nathaniel Dorsky (USA) as well as the theme programs Red Westerns (a choice of westerns produced between 1924 and 1980 in the USSR and former countries of the communist Bloc), Out of Fashion (a program about the flourishing interaction between fashion designers and independent filmmakers) and Raiding Africa (a program about Chinese-African relations including new works filmed in China by African filmmakers). More Signals-programs will be announced later.
IFFR 2011 presents a special Jubilee program titled XL, referring to the festival’s fortieth edition as well as ‘extra locations’. During the festival period, the IFFR embraces its home base, the city of Rotterdam, with film screenings, exhibitions and events on around forty locations in downtown Rotterdam, including the recently opened new building of longtime IFFR venue LantarenVenster. As part of the jubilee program the IFFR welcomes its future audience for Not Kidding, a playful location and program suitable for kids from 4 years and up. Additional information about XL and Not Kidding will be available close to the festival period.
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| Image by Sytske_R via Flickr |
The IFFR actively supports independent filmmaking from around the globe. The festival is a recognized international platform in Europe for launching new films and talent from Asia, Africa, Middle and Eastern Europe and Latin America. CineMart, IFFR’s co-production market for small and medium scale film projects, takes place within the festival from January 30 to February 2, 2011. The festival’s Hubert Bals Fund contributes financially to film projects from developing countries. Each year, the festival program contains a rich harvest of Hubert Bals Fund supported films. IFFR promotes training and talent development within its Rotterdam Lab for young film producers and the IFFR Trainee Project for Young Film Critics.
IFFR’s YouTube Channel contains a growing catalogue of freely accessible films screened during the festival. December 2009, the festival launched Cinema Reloaded, an online crowd funding platform for independent film projects.
For more info Please visit : International Film Festival Rotterdam
For more info Please visit : International Film Festival Rotterdam
Mr. Perfectionist A Part Of 61st Berlin Film Festival
Latest buzz in B-town is that Mr.Perfectionist Aamir Khan will be joining the jury for the 61st berlin film festival.After showing his exceptional directing skills and magical acting skills in bollywood movies the actor/director/producer will now be seen delivering some perfect judgements.Aamir will be among the seven member board of judges which will be headed by Italian-American actress Isabella Rossellini.The actor who is busy gathering praise for his latest project "Dhobi Ghat",is going to choose the winners who will be honored with the important Golden and Silver Bear awards at the festival.
Apart from Aamir,the other judges for the festival include Australian film producer Jan chapman,German actress Nina hoss,Canadian film-maker Guy maddin,British costume designer Sandy powell and Iranian director Jafar panahi.
Jafar Panahi will not attend
The Iranian director Jafar Panahi was detained in jail for six years and was banned from making films for about 20 years will not be taking part in the event and his place will be left vacant.There has been a worldwide protest against this judgement that violates the right to freedom of opinion.The organizers of the festival are showing their support for Mr.Jafar and his struggle for freedom by keeping his place vacant in the jury.
The festival will be charecterizing total of 22 films out of which 16 films will be in the final run for the awards.
The film festival is to be held Feb 10-20, 2011.
6th International Documentary Challenge
Image by Danilo Prates via Flickr6th International Documentary Challenge will take place from March 3-7,2011.Registrations for the competition is now open.The speciality of this filmmaking competition is that filmmakers will have to make a short film about 4-7 minutes in 5 days i.e. Write, shoot and edit a short documentary in 5 days.All of the registered participants make their films during the same time period and send off their film by the deadline.This years set time period to make and submit films is March 3-7, 2011.
Genres
The genres are assigned to give participating filmmakers a direction in which to take their film. Filmmakers are given 2 genres that they can choose from. Some genres are content related and some are form related.The documentary genres that will be randomly assigned are:
1st Person
Told from the point of view of the Director - either through off camera narration or an on-camera presence.
Art
Focuses in some way on art and/or artists.
Biography/Character Study
A full account of the facts of the life of a particular person, or closely related group of people (Biography) or an exploration of a single character's personality and current life situation (Character Study).
Experimental
The application of innovative techniques to non-fiction material - experimenting with new ideas, forms, techniques and expressions. An exploration of how the camera can emulate and/or enhance visual and audio perception.
Image by Jim Blob Blann via FlickrHistorical
Focuses on stories of past events and/or people.
Music
Focuses in some way on music and/or musicians.
Nature/Environmental
Focuses on an aspect of the natural physical world, including animals, plants, landscapes, etc.
Social Issue/Political
Focuses on a social and/or political issue.
Sports
Focuses on events and/or people involved in sporting activities (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition.)
All filmmakers will be assigned a broad theme that must be addressed at some point in their film. The whole film can be centered around this theme or the theme can just appear in one scene, or even in one interview question. In the end, a judge must be able to notice that at some point in the film the assigned theme was brought up.
Image via WikipediaJudging & Prizes
More than 20 Awards will be given - including the Grand Prize Winner - Best Film of the 2011 International Documentary Challenge.
All eligible films will be reviewed by the International Documentary Challenge judges - an independent panel of international documentary professionals. Films will be judged on both story and production values, as well as adherence to genre and effective use of the assigned theme.
Out of all of the entries, twelve "Best Films" will be named. These films will screen at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto in April/May 2011 where the winners will be announced. Each of the 12 finalists receives two industry passes to Hot Docs (an ₨36,508.31 (₨36,508.31 ($800) ) value) and an invitation to the official Doc Challenge reception at Hot Docs.
For more details, log on to http://www.docchallenge.org/
Photogrammetry In Filmmaking
What is Photogrammetry?
Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements from photographs.
The output of photogrammetry is typically a map, drawing or a 3d model of some real-world object or scene. Many of the maps we use today are created with photogrammetry and photographs taken from aircraft.
Digital photogrammetry is an art which is used to obtain the measurements of objects in a photograph by using computers.It typically involves analyzing one or more photographs with photogrammetry software to determine spatial relationship.
It is useful for a photogrammetrist to know information about the camera, such as what type of camera took the photograph, the focal length of the lens, or the distance of the camera to the object of interest. A special type of camera, called a metric camera, is used to take these photographs because it is calibrated to take precision photographs with little lens distortion.
A second variable to consider in digital photogrammetry is the desired dimensions of the measurements. Some projects require only two dimensional (2D) measurements, such as the height of a building or the width of a river. These measurements can be made from a single photograph but if the measurements need to be three dimensional (3D), the process will then involve creating a 3D model from two or more photographs.This process of creating a 3D model is usually called digital stereophotogrammetry.
Digital Stereophotogrammetry
Stereophotogrammetrists usually analyze two or more photographs of the same object, taken from different angles. They typically use the space where the photographs overlap or common points of reference shared by the photographs to create a digital 3D model. The images may then be mapped, pixels by pixel within the model to create measurable space in three dimensions.
Digital Stereophotogrammetry
Stereophotogrammetrists usually analyze two or more photographs of the same object, taken from different angles. They typically use the space where the photographs overlap or common points of reference shared by the photographs to create a digital 3D model. The images may then be mapped, pixels by pixel within the model to create measurable space in three dimensions.
Types of Photogrammetry
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| A Google map 3d building created using Photogrammetry |
Aerial digital photogrammetry
Aerial digital photogrammetry, often used in topographical mapping, begins with digital photographs or video taken from a camera mounted on the bottom of an airplane. The plane often flies over the area in a meandering flight path so it can take overlapping photographs or video of the entire area to get complete coverage.
Close-range digital photogrammetry
Close-range, or terrestrial, digital photogrammetry often uses photographs taken from close proximity by hand held cameras or those mounted to a tripod. Close-range photographs can be used to create 3D models, but they are not usually used in topographical mapping.This type of photogrammetry is useful for the 3D modeling of many objects or areas such as buildings,automobile,movie sets or even characters.Photogrammetry is a great tool for filmmakers to recreate real world sets and characters exactly the way they are in real.
The use of this technique can be seen in the film "The Matrix",the movie which gave new heights to vissual effects in films.
Here's a video where Leah D'Emilio learns about a whole new approach to visual effects in film from Dr. Paul Debevec, innovator of HDR photography and creator of Photogrammetry takes us through USC's Institute for Creative Technologies.Enjoy ☺
Seeing Beyond The Writer & Director
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| Image By steve |
In my previous post on editing you read a little bit about Editing, now let's see a little more on that
Although editing is not the only factor for a film to meet huge success but without proper editing any well shot film becomes meaningless.Editing is the medium which creates sense in a story.It is said that the secret to great filmmaking is great editing.Editing is what makes a good film great.A well directed film can come out as a boring thing if it is not creatively edited whereas a moderately directed film can become a big hit just because of the creative touch of an editor.Editing is the heart beat of a film.It gives the film a suitable pace and rhythm.It is a perfect combination of art and technique.An editor is an artist without whom a film could hardly seem alive.An artist with the power to mold,improve or recreate a motion picture is editor.An editor is someone with the knowledge of drama,keen sense of timing,someone who can seek out a scene's hidden values.The editor sees beyond what the writer and director saw and it is something very necessary for this particular profession.
2010's Best Screenplay Nominees Announced
What's a Screenplay?
Screenplay or in other terms a script is the written work done for a film or television programs.The art of writing screenplays is called screenwriting,
The screenplays can be 100% original or adapted from some previously written materials or stories.Script is the starting point of any movie or tv
Image by JohnONolan via Flickrprogram or games.They are the base which needs to be strong enough to start the project.To do this sometimes writers are hired to develop thescript from some basic story previously written or some incident that previously happened.Sometimes the writers approach the producers with their 100% original scripts.
Original means something that's never written before,completely new concept of their own.Screenplays are usually structured
in such a way that every page is equal to one minute of the screen time.More on screenwriting.
The Writers Guild of America
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Writers guild west building |
television, cable, digital media, and broadcast news. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protects the creative and economic rights
of their members; conduct programs, seminars, and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers’ views to various bodies of government.
For more information on the Writers Guild of America, visit WGA.
For more information on the Writers Guild of America, visit WGA.
2011 WGA Awards Screen Nominees Announced
Writers Guild have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during 2010. Winners will be honored at the 2011 Writers Guild Awards held on Saturday, February 5, 2011, at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
The Nominees Are
For Original Screenplay
Black Swan, Screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin; Story by Andres Heinz; Fox Searchlight
The Fighter, Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Paramount Pictures
Inception, Written by Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros.
The Kids Are All Right, Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg; Focus Features
Please Give, Written by Nicole Holofcener; Sony Pictures Classics
For Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours, Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy; Based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston; Fox Searchlight
I Love You Phillip Morris, Written by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra; Based on the book by Steven
McVicker; Roadside Attractions
The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich; Sony Pictures
The Town, Screenplay by Peter Craig and Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard; Based on the novel Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan; Warner Bros.
True Grit, Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Based on the novel by Charles Portis; Paramount Pictures
For Documentary Screenplay
Enemies of the People, Written, Directed, Filmed and Produced by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath; International Film Circuit
Freedom Riders, Written, Produced and Directed by Stanley Nelson; International Film Circuit
Gasland, Written and Directed by Josh Fox; HBO Documentary Films and International WOW Company
Inside Job, Produced, Written and Directed by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Sony Pictures Classics
The Two Escobars, Written by Michael Zimbalist, Jeff Zimbalist; ESPN Films
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?, Written and Directed by John
Scheinfeld; Lorber Films
Note : Last year's Writers Guild original screenplay winner, Mark Boal and The Hurt Locker, went on to take home the Oscar.
For Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours, Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy; Based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston; Fox Searchlight
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Coen Brothers |
McVicker; Roadside Attractions
The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich; Sony Pictures
The Town, Screenplay by Peter Craig and Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard; Based on the novel Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan; Warner Bros.
True Grit, Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Based on the novel by Charles Portis; Paramount Pictures
For Documentary Screenplay
Enemies of the People, Written, Directed, Filmed and Produced by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath; International Film Circuit
Freedom Riders, Written, Produced and Directed by Stanley Nelson; International Film Circuit
Gasland, Written and Directed by Josh Fox; HBO Documentary Films and International WOW Company
Inside Job, Produced, Written and Directed by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Sony Pictures Classics
The Two Escobars, Written by Michael Zimbalist, Jeff Zimbalist; ESPN Films
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?, Written and Directed by John
Scheinfeld; Lorber Films
Note : Last year's Writers Guild original screenplay winner, Mark Boal and The Hurt Locker, went on to take home the Oscar.
The Role of Film Editing in Film Making~The Three W's
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| Image Via Wikipedia |
Do you still remember the stories you have heard when you were a child?If yes then remember how you used to get involved in the stories told by your grandma or mom.The very reason of telling a story is to communicate a specific message or moral.Remember how the person telling a story expresses the different characters and emotions by acting differently or changing the facial expressions or tones.We definitely used to enjoy that and get involved in the story and start picturising ourselves in place of some character in the story.We start picturising more and more in our mind as we get involved more into the story.That leads us to believe more and more in the fiction.The same concept applies to the films or movies.The people making the film are trying to express or let's say communicate a specific message to the audience.Ofcourse the medium is rich and it becomes a bit easier then the grandma's process but the essence remains the same,to tell a story in the best possible way.
The Invisible Art Who And What
Image via WikipediaHi and welcome to The Invisible art.
Who am I?
What's there in a name?Still I will say it to you.Hi my name is Abhisek Panda and I am a film and television editor,compositor,3d generalist.I also do 2d classical animation and sometimes painting.Digital art is what I love the most.I was born to a family of artists and technical people.So I have both aesthetic and technical sense.Well thats what I believe.Sometimes I do great things and sometimes I end up doing crap.Beware I am that guy your mom warned you about.
What will I post?
As the name points it's something related to art.This blog is all about film making and film editing and anything related.The future posts will be based on these topics.
What can you expect from this blog?
As I said above this blog is about film making and film editing I will be posting contents on those topics in addition to some other stuffs like news on films,reviews,personal thoughts,some selected making of films,Latest trailers,some posts on vissual effects and anything film as long as it's interesting.Stay tuned folks.