TRAVERSING THE CROSSROADS

Filmmaking 101

A Comprehensive Filmmaking Workshop and Digital Filmmaking
Dates: 30^th, 31^st Jan, 6^th and 7^th February 2010
Time: 12:00 pm to 6: 0 pm
Venue: Kalpataru, The Hobby Club, road no 7, Opp Meridien School, near GVK1 Mall,
Banajara Hill, Hyderabad -34
Fee: Rs 3500/-

(No prerequisites required. Camera and Camerman be provided by us)

Schedule and Course content:

Day 1: Saturday

a) Introduction to Filmmaking Process
b) Digital Filmmaking and Technology (Cameras and Formats)
c) Digital Cinema and Revolution

d) Screenwriting
1. Format and screenwriting softwares
2. How to approach a screenplay

3. Elements of screenwriting

4. Three Act structure and Character driven plot
5. Creating and developing a Character
6. Analysis of few scripts like American Beauty, Little Miss Sunshine, Thelma and Louise etc

Day 2: Sunday

1. Fundamentals of Cinematography
2. Lighting and light equipments

3. Stocks and Films
4. Three Point Lighting

5. Camera aesthetics and operation ( 3CCD mini DV camera)
6. Lenses
7. Colour Temperature, White Balance, Focus, Exposure, ND Filter

Day 3: Saturday

1. Direction

a) Frame Balance & Composition
b) Camera Angles
c) Orientation & Direction
d) Storyboard

e) 180 degree rule
f) Blocking and staging
g) Cinematic techniques

2. Basic Editing Techniques

Day 4: Sunday ( Whole Day)

Shooting Day:

Students will be divided into different groups who will work on a script and make a short film

Students will have to shoot a short film based on the script written by the group. and Cameraman will be provided by us.

The workshop will be conducted by:

Rabi Kisku has produced and directed a digital feature film called "Silicon Jungle" based on the life of IITians, which was released in a multiplex in Chennai and was screened in 8 cities across India. He is currently looking for producers for his next venture "Dreamer's Boulevard".

Siddharath graduated from IIT Madras with a Btech in Electrical engineering and then did his diploma in Cinematography from Mindscreen Film Institute run by Rajiv Menon. He assisted Rajiv Menon in few ads and also does cinematography for corporate and NGO films.

To register and for more details contact Rabi Kisku

Email: rabi@rabikiskuentertainment.com Mobile: 098865 39405, Suresh: 09866817117

Films made by previous batch students:

Filmmaking 101

Filmmaking 102:

Filmmaking 103:

Filmmaking 104:

Edwood D. Wood Jr

Edwood D. Wood Jr, sounds like his name first name repeats itself without the E, is considered the all time worst filmmaker ever, but I think he is an auteur. Call it the influence of Tim Burton & Johnny Depp for bringing alive the character of Edwood in the movie Edwood with their brilliant direction and acting that I have started to grow a fascination for him. If it were not from Burton & Depp I doubt the movie would have any influence on anybody.

I feel there is a "Edwood" in every filmmaker because of the fact that every filmmaker believes in his story whether it makes sense to others or not. Now there is a thin line between an eccentric genius and an inane filmmaker. If the movie works he is called a genius and if it doesn't go down well the audience he is considered a moron. Again the biggest cult film have been delivered by the great directors and the biggest dud are also been delivered by the great directors. For eg Saawariya by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Alexander by Oliver Stone or the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the crystal skull by Spielber & George Lucas.
Apart from lacking aesthetics & technicalities, Edwood's movies also lacked logic and sensibility but inside him there was a story teller with immense passion for films. He seem to have got involved in the story so much that he didn't or forgot to take care about the other aspects. He was a writer, director, producer, editor and music arranger and never got anything right. A sci-fi writer perhaps had no clue about science & technology.

Somehow after watching Tim Burton's "Edwood" I seem to be respecting every filmmaker and their work whether its good, bad or worse. In India, each state had its own industry and have their own style and perspective. I guess there is no good movie and bad movie concept, its all subjective. I saw a documentary about a filmmaker in Malegaon who remakes the old hindi classics with a handycam casting his local friends as actors, edits it on a home PC, screens it in a local video parlour and releases a CD. Almost every person in that place has his seen at least one of his movies. He may not be a great filmmaker but for few thousands of people in Malegaon he is the Ramesh Shippy or Mani Ratnam.

Okuribito: Departures
Orkuribito; Departures the Academy award winning film in the best foreign languange film category from Japan is a cinematic Metaphor for "Life & Death". Ironically it deals the subject of life & death in very subtle humourous way. Filled with Synocdoche & Semiotics its a film straight from the rule book of filmmaking. This movie will remind you of the old classical style of filmmaking. It's been a long time since I have not watched a contemprory film in the recent time which has a feel of Satyajit Ray & Kurusawa in it. Watchin this movie is like sitting in a filmmaking class and listening to a master enunciating the nuances of filmmaking. The movie takes on a visual narration sans the plot oriented structure letting the camera and silence talk. Complimented by beautiful cinematography & music the story blends with the philosophy, beauty & emotions.
The movie shows the most contrasting aspect of life through completely contrasting professions symbolizing highs and lows of life. A musicians life, where one is living the life of his dreams and a then the life of an encoffineer who is living a life for the dead giving both dream & death it's identity and importance.
One of the most beautiful scenes of the movie I liked is where the protagnist and an old man look below the bridge on to the river where Salmons are tying to swim upstream and a dead fish is flowing down stream. symbolizing that life and death co exist.

People said that the movie is too long takes its own time in establishing. I never felt it was long.
The other movie which has similar touch but dealt with the darker side of life is Asif Kapadia's "Far North". If this movie was shot in English language then it would have definitely taken away couple of more oscars.If you are a filmmaker then don't miss this movie.

I Am BACK..

I don't know how many people have been visiting my blog or following my stuff but it's been a constant invisible force from the people around to be part of this new revolutionary wave of reaching people or voice one's opinion. It has almost become an imperative thing to be part of this THE thing. As if the community sites like orkut, facebook, twitter are not enough that we have to succumb to the pressure of the fear of being left behind. I still find blogging much more difficult than writing a screenplay. In a screenplay who know what you are writing, whom are you writing and who all are gonna watch that movie when it is finally made. But blogging I guess is the ability to write random things to communicate with random people and for celebrities its a new marketing strategy in to be in lime light. 3 years back I used to think that I would start blogging only after I become popular with my films but that thing has still eluded me. I wonder how people get time to write so much. I feel that people who have secured jobs and have so much to do in life have time to write blogs. Artists have thier art form to tell their stories. Over that artists are the people who have ample amount of spare time. They spent most of the time just thinking, thinking what to do, how to do & why to do. It's give them more kick in thinking than actually diong it. I don't say I'm completely jobless or have better things to do in life. When you are completely jobless you are totally preoccupied with the thought of find ways to keep yourself busy. I feel I'm more busy when I don't have any project. I go to the gym, make breakfast , wash dishes, make lunch, eat lunch, watch a movie, read, clean the car, wash clothes, mop the floor, then make dinner, eat dinner, wash the dishes & watch a movie. Now if you really have a job in hand you wouldn't think of doing so many things.

Looking for Producers and Investors for the Film:

Dreamer's Boulevard is an inspirational underdog story which has a universal theme about dreams and ambitions which every individual could associate with.

It is a low budget entertaining commercial feature length film to be shot in 35 mm film format with a budget of around Rs 1 Crore.

It will be a coming of age Bollywood film under college drama genre, featuring actors from Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.

The movie will be shot in English language in Bangalore. It will have a urban multiplex release targeted at youth, corporate and family audience. It will later be dubbed in Hindi and Telugu for the north and South audience for additional revenues from regional satellite rights.

The movie will be closely on the lines of “Iqbal”, “Bend It Like Beckham” and have the “Rock On” and “School of Rock” flavor.

The movie can be produced either by a single investor or 2-3 co-investors who can invest from 30 lakhs or more and share the income accordingly.

Slide 3

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Slide 3

Dreamer's Boulevard:

People dream, but half way through some give it up and some let it go and there are few who stand by it, hold on to it every moment of their life to achieve it. They are so passionate and in love with their dream that they never give up until they fulfil it facing every obstacle and crossing every hurdle that comes across them.

Dreamer's Boulevard is about people who dare to dream and chose to traverse a road less travelled. It's about those writers, singers, composers, actors, musicians, painters, sculptors and their struggle to make a indentity in life.

It's story of a 17 year old girl Visakha and her four years journey chasing an unconventional dream against her parents will and against stereotypical dogmatic society in a male dominated realm.

It describes how Visakha not only fights all odds and overcome all hurdles to conquer her dream but also inspires others to follow their heart.

The movies is set in a college where all the events happen during her college life.

Filmmaking 104

A Comprehensive Filmmaking Workshop and Digital Filmmaking
Dates: 6^th, 7^th, 13^th and 14^th December 08
Time: 10:00 am to 4: 30 pm
Venue: St. Joseph Boys School, Musuem rd, Near Residency Rd, Bangalore.
Fee: Rs 5000/-

(No prerequisites required. Camera, Camerman and Editing studio will be provided by us)

Schedule and Course content:

Day 1: Saturday 6th December:

a) Introduction to Filmmaking Process
b) Digital Filmmaking and Technology (Cameras and Formats)
c) Digital Cinema and Revolution

d) Screenwriting
1. Format and screenwriting softwares
2. How to approach a screenplay

3. Elements of screenwriting

4. Three Act structure and Character driven plot
5. Creating and developing a Character
6. Analysis of few scripts like American Beauty, Little Miss Sunshine, Thelma and Louise etc

Day 2: Sunday 7th December.

1. Fundamentals of Cinematography
2. Lighting and light equipments

3. Stocks and Films
4. Three Point Lighting

5. Camera aesthetics and operation ( 3CCD mini DV camera)

Day 3: Saturday 13th December:

1. Direction

a) Frame Balance & Composition b) Camera Angles c) Orientation & Direction d) Storyboard

e) 180 degree rule
f) Blocking and staging
g) Cinematic techniques

2. Basic Editing Techniques

3. Trip to Post production studio

Day 4: Sunday 14th December ( Whole Day)

Shooting Day:

Students will be divided into different groups who will work on a script and make a short film

Students will have to shoot a short film based on the script written by the group. Professional Camera and Cameraman will be provided by us. Later they have to edit the film at a studio provided by us.

Day 5: Sunday 21st December ( 5:00 - 8:00 pm)

Screening and analysis of the short films made by the students.

The workshop will be conducted by:

Rabi Kisku has produced and directed a digital feature film called "Silicon Jungle" based on the life of IITians, which was released in a multiplex in Chennai and was screened in 8 cities across India. He is currently looking for producers for his next venture "Dreamer's Boulevard".

Siddharath graduated from IIT Madras with a Btech in Electrical engineering and then did his diploma in Cinematography from Mindscreen Film Institute run by Rajiv Menon. He assisted Rajiv Menon in few ads and also does cinematography for corporate and NGO films.

To register and for more details contact Rabi Kisku

Email: rabi.kisku@gmail.com Mobile: 98865 39405

Films made by previous batch students:

Filmmaking 101

Filmmaking 102: