First trailer for silent comedy “The Artist” – AWARDS ALLEY
TrendPK.com: A source of mine with strong ties to the film industry who has no real interest in the annual awards race was humoring me with a discussion of potential Best Picture nominees as we looked over the Toronto International Film Festival schedule. In his expert opinion, the race boils down to Phyllida Lloyd’s “The Iron Lady” (with Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher) and Michel Hazanavicius’ silent comedy “The Artist.” Granted, he has yet to see either, but as we discussed in an earlier column, anyone can make predictions. They just don’t carry much weight.
Still, after seeing the first trailer for Hazanavicius’ film, which stars Jean Dujardin as a silent film star fearing the arrival of talking pictures, it’s easy to see how it could make it into the Best Picture race … and even leave TIFF with a frontrunner’s status.
“The Artist” charmed audiences in Cannes, where Dujardin won a Best Actor prize and the film was nominated for the Palme d’Or. Dujardin has been earning raves ever since, as are co-stars John Goodman and Berenice Bejo.
The Weinstein Company, who has a pretty good track record of pushing films through the awards season, brings “The Artist” to Toronto next month, where we’ll have a full report. In the meantime, the trailer’s up on iTunes, and posted below.
For complete awards coverage, visit our Awards Alley for in-depth interviews, reviews and commentary on all of the contenders in the 2011 awards race.
Big B and Cameron Diaz to come together at IIFA Toronto
Next year, Amitabh Bachchan’s much-delayed international collaboration will finally happen, though on an unusual platform. In June 2011, the Big B will be bonding with several big international names including Cameron Diaz who will be part of an American-Hollywood entourage to be invited to participate at the international Bollywood event.
Says a source, “Because this time the IIFA is being held in Toronto many big names from the American movie industry are being invited to attend and Cameron Diaz has already said yes. The IIFA organizers Wizcraft have already spoken to Cameron. Events are being planned to accommodate Mr. Bachchan and Cameron on the same platform for several discussions on the coming together of Bollywood and Hollywood.”
Though the next IIFA awards function is a long way away and the venue (Toronto) will only be officially announced in mid-January, Sabbas Joseph, Director Wizcraft International Entertainment confirms that Toronto is the venue for IIFA 2011.
As for Cameron Diaz’s participation, Sabbas says, “There are several conversations going on. No comments at this point.”
MAMI launches Indian International Women in Film & Television (WIFT) network
The first step towards setting up a Chapter of WIFT (Women in Film & Television) in India was announced on 24th October, 2010 at the 12th Mumbai Film Festival at an aptly titled panel discussion on ‘Emerging Women Filmmakers in India’.
The panellists at this forum included Nandita Das, Sooni Taraporewala, Anusha Rizvi, Leena Yadav, Sona Jain and Rajshree Ojha. Following the announcement, they signed up for the Chapter membership along with the other women present in the audience.
The WIFT Mumbai Chapter will be a membership-based organization. The main focus will be to give professional support, networking opportunities, and recognition to women in the film and media industry in India. Following in the footsteps of WIFT Chapters around the globe, the aim is to provide year-round professional development, leadership skills and production training for women in screen-based media. The programming will be based on research to meet the needs of the members and will constantly innovate and develop to cover a wide range of topics from scripting and production techniques to creating viable business plans and learning the strategies for pitching, funding and international co-productions.
Dedicated to advancing the professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, video and other screen based media, the not-for-profit WIFT International network comprises of around 40 chapters worldwide with over 12,000 members.
WIFT International provides networking and learning opportunities, scholarships, and a film-finishing fund as well as offering help and encouragement to women who aspire to work in the Film and Television industry.
Chapters must be in existence for over one year to officially join the WIFTI network, when a yearly fee of $2 per paid member is assessed as dues. In the first year, a probationary period allows emerging chapters to receive advice & counsel from the expertise of other chapters and the WIFTI Board of Directors. Chapters vary widely in size (over 2000 members to less than 100) but all chapters have an equal say within the WIFTI network. Membership is limited to Chapters, not individuals.
A Mentorship agreement is in place with the WIFT – Toronto Chapter to help set up the first Indian WIFT Chapter in Mumbai. “We have presence at all major worldwide film festivals, and MAMI’s Mumbai Film Festival is an exceptional opportunity for us to reach out to all the women working in the Indian film industry,” said Sadia Zaman, Executive Director, Women in Film and Television – Toronto.
“In these times there is a real need for women to connect across the world and form strong bonds. As someone who has a deep personal commitment to the accurate portrayal of women in film and television, it’s my hope that this new WIFT chapter will increase the support for women in the regional industry and ensure greater control over their own stories.”
Akshay Kumar signs Ludacris for Breakaway music video
By the looks of it, one certainly thinks that Akshay Kumar is going all out to ensure the success of his first Indo-Canadian venture Breakaway. In the past, Akki has worked with international music sensations like Kylie Minogue and Snoop Dogg, and carrying his ritual forward, the star has now roped in well known hip hop artist Ludacris for his home production.
Breakaway, which is directed by Robert Lieberman and stars Vinay Virmani, Russell Peters, Rob Lowe, Camilla Belle and Anupam Kher, is a cross-cultural drama set in the Indo-Canadian community of suburban Toronto, Canada.
Akki for sure is over the moon with Ludacris signing on for the music video of Breakaway.
Twinkle’s ‘Blast Before The Fast’ for Akshay
Akshay Kumar who was in Toronto shooting for a music video flew back on Sunday in time for a very special get-together being organized by his two most favourite women on earth.
Wife Twinkle and sister Alka got together to organize a grand pre-Karva Chauth get-together on Monday. Karva Chauth a day-long holy fast observed by wives for the well-being of their husbands, falls on Tuesday.
Says a source close to Akshay, “Twinkle and her sister-in-law Alka who get along like a house on fire, hit on this ingenious plan of an all star-wives meet a day before Karva Chauth. Their logic was, why shouldn’t wives have the time of their lives on the day before they undergo food-less penance for their husbands? They named their event ‘The Blast Before The Fast.’
And all Bollywood wives from Gauri Khan and Mrs Sajid Nadiadwala to Akshay’s mother and mother-in-law Dimple Kapadia are invited. Men, excluding Akshay Kumar are strictly barred.
Akshay has been getting pleading calls from his buddies asking if they could “drop in” at the party.
“But Alka and Twinkle have strictly forbidden male participation. They say it’s an evening devoted to the girls. The guys can take care of themselves,” says a source.
Akshay, who flew back to Mumbai on Sunday, immediately got busy with his wife and sister issuing all the invitations and arranging for the best food games and entertainment.
The Blast Before The Fast party is to be held at Akshay’s sister Alka’s spa Aroma Garden in Juhu.
Akshay Kumar to play himself in Breakaway
In Breakaway, the Indo-Canadian film that Akshay Kumar is co-producing with his best-friend Canada-based entrepreneur Ajay Virmani to launch Virmani’s son Vinay, the star will for the first time appear as himself.
Akshay will play Akshay in Breakaway and that too because the debutant Vinay Virmani, who has co-scripted Breakaway, hero-worships Akshay and wrote the role especially for the star.
Says a source close to the project, “Akshay and AJ (that’s how Ajay Virmani likes to be known) go back a long way. In fact, AJ has a permanent room in his home for Akshay for whenever the star visits Toronto. Earlier, AJ ghost-produced some of Akshay’s films. Now they’re openly into joint ventures. Akshay has virtually seen Vinay grow up in front of him. The boy completely idolizes Akshay to the extent of imitating his mannerisms and watching all his films repeatedly.”
When Vinay wrote the father-son story in Breakaway, he not only borrowed scenes from his own life with his father-figure Akshay, the boy insisted on creating a cameo for his idol. For the first time, Akshay Kumar will appear as himself on screen.
Confirming this, Anupam Kher who plays Vinay Virmani’s father in Breakaway says from Toronto, “Akshay will appear as himself in the film. Breakaway is an emotional father-son story. I accepted the film because I’ve a very powerful role as a father.”
Anupam tried to grow a beard for the part. But finally gave up. “The facial growth was just not sufficient. So Vinay will have to make do with a beardless father.”
Federer to face Murray in Shanghai final
Roger Federer would face Andy Murray in the final of the Shanghai Masters on Sunday (today).
With the win, Federer would regain the No. 2 ranking he lost when he was beaten by the Serb in the US Open semifinals in September. Murray dispatched Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-4, 6-1 in the other semifinal to reach his fourth final of the year.
Federer could capture the 64th title of his career Sunday, moving into a tie with Pete Sampras for fourth place on the all-time list. Murray has won seven of their 12 career matches, including the last time they played in the Toronto Masters final in Augustthe Scots only title of the year. Federer was under pressure at the start, fighting off four break points in a tight third game before holding when Djokovic hit a forehand long. The Swiss player then began attacking the net more, setting up a break point of his own at 5-5 with a backhand-approach shot that Djokovic hit into the net. He converted when the Serb put another shot in the net. Federer broke twice more in the second set to take a 4-1 lead and sealed the match, his 11th victory over Djokovic in 17 meetings. Djokovic, who had been attempting to capture back-to-back titles in China after winning last week in Beijing, said losing the first break was the key to the match.Murray broke Monacos serve early in the first set before taking a 5-2 lead. But he committed four straight errors when trying to close out the set and dropped serve for only the second time all week.
Check Out: List of films having their world premiere at MAMI
The 12th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival by MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image) is scheduled to take place from Oct 21 to Oct 28 in Mumbai.
Following is the complete list of all the films that are going to be premiered for the first time ever at the festival:
1. The Way Home – Biju Kumar
World Premiere
Synopsis – The plot revolves around a doctor with a haunting past. Now working at a Prison Hospital, the Doctor is assigned the case of a woman a surviving member from a notorious terrorist group. .Before dying she entrusts him to find her five-year-old son and unite him with his father who is the head of terrorist group. Finding the boy from a village the Doctor and child set out on a journey to find his father. The journey is happening through the contemporary and mysterious path of the terrorist network in the vast country with many incidents.
PRINCIPAL CAST: PHRITHVIRAJ, MASTER GOVARDHAN, INDRAJITH, UDAY CHANDRA
IRSHAD, VINAY, S SAJI, MELWYN, KIRAN RAJ, AZIM
Director – Dr. Biju Kumar
Dr. Biju is the most internationally reputed young filmmaker from Kerala. His earlier films Saira (2005), Raman (2008) are well received in many internationally film festivals inclusind Cannes and Cairo.
2. Hold Me Tight – Kasper Munk
International Premiere
Synopsis – What should be just another school day for teenagers Sara, Mikkel, Louise and Hassan
turns out forever scarred. One-by-one seemingly minor events snowball things completely
out of control, and leaves everyone involved marked for life.
An intense youth drama that shows the hideous face of bullying. A reflection in a mirror
that reveals the outlines of a doubtful and paralyzed generation of parents.
Director – Kasper Munk
Kasper Munk was born in 1971 in Denmark. He studied method acting and techniques from the New York and at the National Film School of Denmark. He then graduated with a BA in film studies at Copenhagen University in 1999. He also trained in the alternative film school Super 16 in 2006. Munk has nine short films, including fiction shorts, to his credit including Forsvunden (2006) which received the Odense award for Best Film for Children and Youth and Kyss, which was chosen by Buster Film Festival as their Opening Film. Hold Me Tight is Munk’s feature film directorial debut.
Screenplay – Jannik Tai Mosholt
Producer – Anders Toft Andersen
director of photography – David Katznelson
Editors – Ida Bregninge, Nanna Frank Møller
Cast – Julie Brochorst Andersen, Frederik Christian Johansen, Sofia Cukic
3. Camping – Jacob Bitsch
International Premiere
Synopsis – A tragicomic tale about the gloomy Connie Nielsen who has been emotionally detached since her father two years earlier committed suicide – on his birthday! Connie’s mother, Bodil, has taken to the bottle and lives through her 1982 participation in The Eurovison Song Contest; and Connie’s kid brother, CAMPING-Christian, has become an overweight bully beating up those smaller than him. To put it mildly, time seems to have ceased and the family ties are hanging by a thread. The otherwise annual caravan trip to the Danish island Langeland was buried along with the father and hasn’t been repeated since – until now!
Director – Jacob Bitsch
Screenplay – Anders Frithiof August
Appearances – Mia Lyhne, Kirsten Lehfeldt
Producer – Anders Toft Andersen
Executive Producer – Birgitte Hald, Bo Ehrhardt
Production – Nimbus Film
4. The Experiment – Louise N. D. Friedberg
International Premiere
Synopsis – THE EXPERIMENT is the story of the nurse Gert (Ellen Hillingsø), who is appointed as headmistress of a special children’s home, owned by the Danish state in Greenland, 1951. The children’s home is intended to accommodate 16 carefully selected Greenlandic children, who have just come home after a year of civilization in Denmark, and now they are to be introduced into the Greenlandic community as role models. Gert, who lives alone and has no family, accepts the assignment with pride. She is idealistic and ambitious and feels passionate about saving Greenland from destitution. The means to this end is to educate and civilize the 16 children in the Danish language and culture, so they can spearhead Greenland’s transformation from being a poor hunter society to being an equal part of Denmark. Due to her blind faith in the experiment, Gert underestimates the obvious personal costs to the children. And when the children as well as the Danish state fail her, she finds it harder and harder to maintain her idealism…
Dir: – Louise N. D. Friedberg
Director’s Bio – Louise N. D. Friedberg was born in 1953 in Denmark. She graduated in direction from the National Film School of Denmark in 2005 with her graduation film The Departure, which won the Nordic Presentation competition. She has worked as a continuity supervisor, assistant director and screenwriter since 1995, on films such as Mifunes Sidste Lang (1999) and Sma Ulykker (2002). Blood Sisters, Friedberg’s debut as a director, was selected for Berlin’s Generation programme, won the Grand Prix at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and awards at Rome, Sydney, Sao Paulo and Odense festivals. The Experiment is Friedberg’s feature film debut.
Producer : Signe Leick Jensen, Birgitte Skov
Story & Script / Screenplay : Maj Rørbæk Damgaard, Louise Friedberg, Rikke De Fine Licht
Director of Photography : Magnus Nordenhof Jønck
Editor : Martin Schade
Music : Ola Kvernberg
Cast: Ellen Hillingsø, Nukaaka Coster-Waldau
5. Good Night Good Morning – Sudhish Kamath
World Premiere
Synopsis – Turiya, driving from New York to Philadelphia with buddies, and a mysterious girl staying alone in her hotel room – complete strangers – engage in an all-night phone conversation on New Year’s night. Anonymity could be comforting and such a situation could lead to an almost romance. Or something like it.
Cast: Manu Narayan, Seema Rahmani, Vasanth Vaz Santosham, Raja Sen
Director – Sudhish Kamath
Dir.Profile – Sudhish Kamath is a Chennai-based independent filmmaker, a journalist and film critic with The Hindu. ‘Good Night | Good Morning’ is his second feature.
He also hosts a talk show called ‘Hands Up’ where he grills celebrities at gun-point. Recently, he signed up to do a movie review show on radio.
6. Next Year in Mumbai (France) РDirected and scripted by Jonas Parient̩ and Mathias Mangin
World Premiere
Synopsis – The documentary Next Year In Bombay is based on the lives of the Bene Israeli community of Indian Jews who sought asylum from religious persecution in India over 2000 years ago. The community lived without experiencing anti-semitism in India for centuries and yet, chose to move to Israel in the 1950s. Today the population of Bene Israelis in the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and its nearby regions and districts number about 4000. The film focuses on the last two educators of the Bene Israeli community – Sharon and Sharona Galsulkar, who have been training in a yeshiva in Jerusalem and who have dedicated their lives towards bettering life for the Jewish community in India. As their daughters are getting older they are faced with the debate- should they remain in the country that has been their religious and social home for centuries and devote their work efforts here or should they relocate to their spiritual home in Israel and reunite their daughters with the promised homeland? All they want is to provide their children a good Jewish life. How much will uprooting a family that can trace its harmonious roots in a culture back to generations damage that very culture?
Producers: Jonas Pariente, Mathias Mangin, Sophie Goupil
Script: Jonas Parienté , Mathias Mangin
Editor: Luc Forveille
Director of Photography: Mathias Mangin and Jonas Pariente
Music: Raphael Elig
Cast: Sharon Galsulkar, Sharona Galsulkar, Joseph Dandekar, Aadiyel Wakrulkar
Director’s Biography: Jonas Pariente gained a Masters degree in Sociology in Paris and an MFA in Integrated Media Arts from New York, where he directed his first two documentaries. His film Bodies & Soul was about a former heroin addict who became a body builder. His A Rickshaw In The City is about the urbanization of Mumbai. Mathias Mangin was born in Sao Paulo but grew up in Paris, graduating in finance from Edhec Business School. He studied photography in Sao Paulo and filmmaking in New York. His short The Chance was selected in Paris and Toronto festivals. Mathias is currently writing fiction in the Atelier Scenario, Femis.
7. Florida Road (South Africa) by Brad Glass
Asia Premiere
This directorial debut by California-based Brad Glass is the culmination of a ten-year dream. The film revolves around the good-hearted Shaan Sahay who moves with his wealthy Indian family to the city of Durban (the film’s title derives from the city’s main highway where it was shot). Shaan yearns for his father’s love and approval as he pursues his passion for writing. He struggles trying to discover his identity and the importance of his culture and the love of family, when a tragedy hits his home and secrets are revealed. The director says, “Florida Road’ has a Bollywood flavour with the Hollywood traditions that people all over the world can enjoy.” The film stars popular Mumbai-based actors Ashmit Patel, Vipin Sharma, Smita Jayakar and Priyanshu Chatterjee. They are teamed with South African actors Cokey Falkow, Corine Du Toit and Vicky Davis. ‘ Florida Road ‘ has traveled extensively to festivals within the United States as well as to Wales (UK) and Stutgart ( Germany ), collecting awards along the way. The screenplay was written by Hollywood veteran Fred Fontana who also co-produced the film. Fred Fontana has worked on many Hollywood Big Budget films including, ‘The Specialist’ (Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone).
Producers: Fred Fontana, Brad Glass
Production Company: Sunworld Productions
Story & Script /Screenplay: Fred Fontana
Director of Photography: Dave Aenmey
Editor: Graham Austin
Music: Andrew T Mackay, Neill Solomom
Cast: Ashmit Patel, Vipin Sharma, Smita Jayakar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Cokey Falkow, Corine Du Toit and Vicky Davis
Director’s Biography: Brad Glass started his acting career in his late 20′s, with bit parts in TV soaps. He later acted in several TV commercials overseas in Europe, Australia and Asia . His interest in direction began while working in the Philippines as a lead actor, as he observed takes from behind the camera. Brad eventually travelled to South Africa , a place he fell in love with, where he continued to work in TV commercials while he began pre production on ‘ Florida Road’.
8. Punyam Aham by Raj Nair
International Premiere
Synopsis: Punyam Aham is a Malayalam-language feature about a man’s search for his own true identity, set in the heart of a small village in the North of Kerala. The film follows the story of Narayanan Unni, who has lived in the agony of the story of his origin for many years, and now wants to find the answers that will put an end to all the doubts, questions and unfulfilled desires. His father was a high-caste, fair complexioned Brahmin from a highly respected family. During the communist revolution, he married a low-caste, dark-skinned Parayee or a woman from the untouchable caste, from a southern farming community. Having done this deed that he considered to be noble, his father then left his family behind, and set out for the capital city, never to return. All these years later, Narayan Unni sets out for the capital in his father’s footsteps to discover why his father left in the first place. He is motivated by the sheer disgust he feels at what he considers his father’s grave misdeeds. He finds his answers upon this journey of discovery and they lead him to understand that people are ultimately enslaved by their heritage and genes.
Producers: Raj Nair, Shyam Chengalath, Janardhan Menon
Production Company: Mirabilia Films, 15d, 18 Hospital Road, Hong Kong. Tel: +852.2239.4789 Email: films@mirabiliafilms.com Web: www.miribiliafilms.com
Screenplay: Raj Nair
Director of Photography: M J Radhakrishnan
Editor: Bina Paul Venugopal
Music: Isaac Thomas Kottukappally
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Samvritha Sunil , Nedumudi Venu , M R Gopakumar
Director’s Biography: Raj Nair was born in Kerala. He studied in London and Harvard universities and is now settled in Australia. He is the author of fiction, poems and short stories. He published his first novel Nishabdathayilae Theerthadakan (A Pilgrim of Silence) in 2001. In 2004, his made his debut as in films with his feature length docu-drama, The Exhibits, on his grandmother, widow of famous Indian author, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. Although he has spent a major part of his life in the west, his lineage inspires him to write in his mother tongue Malayalam on social issues of his birthplace, Kerala.
9. Alif (India)- K.M Kamal
World premier
Synopsis – Seven different stories in a single narrative- connecting different lives associated with a single character name called Mustafa. Mustafa is a school boy who gets punished, after being mistaken for another Mustafa who bunked class that day. The story then proceeds to Mustafa, a young man who tries to learn English as to appear for a job interview. Next one is Udit, who is obsessed with a video game character named Mustafa. The fourth Mustafa, is unseen, as he tries to annoy a married woman with his anonymous presence on her journey to buy her first burkah. Mustafa Ahmed, who lives in a ghetto comes next as he goes for the first day of his work at an international call centre. Mustafa, a goat, takes over the narration at this juncture. He is taken to a butcher shop by a man who visits a psychiatry clinic and a police station on the way. Mustafa is then butchered and packed off to a sex worker’s house where a small time goon disguises himself with a fake name ‘Mustafa’.
The film is produced by The Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, as part of the curriculum for the students specialising in Acting. The film is conceived and directed by K.M Kamal an alumnus of the same School as his debut feature film.
10. When Harry Tries to Marry (USA – India) – Nayan Padrai
International Premiere
Synopsis: Harish is a ruggedly good-looking American of desi origins who is on the verge of graduating with that coveted New York college degree. Harish as he was named, or ‘Harry’ as he is now known, has developed an aversion to the concept of a ‘love marriage’ because he is convinced that it will only leave him as bitterly divorced as his parents are. Everyone who hangs out with easy-going Harry is therefore in for a shock when he opts for an arranged marriage with Nita, a young woman from India who seems pretty perfect, but whom he hardly knows. Once he embarks on the journey towards marrying his perfect bride, the unfolding events begin to make him wonder if there really is any such thing as the perfect match. What is the formula, if there is one, to prevent mistakes in marriage – whether arranged or love? The more adamant Harish gets about his goal, the more Indian and American cultures clash through the two contrasting families – both pushy in their own right and both determined to uphold their own cultural traditions and customs. His growing friendship with an American girl, Theresa, adds to his confusion. Will Harish or Harry prevail?
Producers: Sheetal Vyas, Nayan Padrai, Ritu Ahuja
Script: Ralph Stein and Nayan Padrai
Director of Photography: Nick Taylor
Editor: Jennifer Lilly
Music: Siddharth Kashyap
Cast: Rahul Rai , Stefanie Estes , Freishia Bomanbehram , Tony Mirrchandani , Zenobia Shroff , Osvaldo Hernandez Chavez , Caitlin Gold , Grant Kretchik , Kanti Pandya , Micky Makhija , Lauren LoGuidice
Director’s Biography: Nayan Padrai was born in 1975. He studied screenwriting and filmmaking at The School of Visual Arts, NYC. He is Co-Founder and President of CineMaya Media, one of the largest South Asian media, entertainment and marketing conglomerates in the US. Padrai has written, produced and directed over 300 hours of Indian television programming across genres. Padrai and his writing partner Ralph Stein have written over a dozen screenplays together. He adapted Beneath a Marble Sky based on the acclaimed eponymous novel. When Harry Tries To Marry which was one of the top ten finalists of the 2009 Creative Screenwriting magazine competition.
11. Sound of Mumbai: A Musical – Sarah McCarthy
Asia Premiere
Synopsis: Sound of Mumbai: A Musical captures the moving story of a choir of children from the slums of Mumbai who stage a concert of songs from the film, The Sound of Music with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra. The venue is the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, a grand theatre normally inaccessible to the poor. The choir comes from Muktangan school, an initiative of the Paragon Charitable Trust, which provides high quality education to low income families. The story is told through one of Muktangan’s best students; eleven-year-old Ashish, whose cheerful optimism and enthusiasm for songs from a film he has never seen would make you forget he lives in a slum. Ashish is performing a solo and the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious concert cannot help but set him daydreaming of opportunities that could open up for him. How far will singing songs about climbing mountains help him find his dreams? Ashish hopes to move a patron enough to sponsor his education and to win the affections of an upper class girl. The stakes are high and under the eye of the camera, Ashish’s story encapsulates the ambition and competitiveness that characterize growing up in Mumbai.
Producer: Joe Walters
Director of Photography: Liam Iandoli
Editor John Mister
Music: Jody Jenkins
Cast: Children from the Mukutangan School, Mumbai as selected by the Paragon Charitable Trust to perform with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra.
Director’s biography: Sarah McCarthy is a British documentary filmmaker who was born in Sydney and studied film in her native Australia, graduating with honours. She moved to London, England and worked in development for the BBC and RDF Media before working as a director. Her documentary heroes include Errol Morris and Werner Herzog. Her TV documentaries include Murderers on the Dancefloor and Black Widow Granny. The Sound of Mumbai:: A Musical is her third documentary and was screened as an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, 2010. McCarthy is currently working on her next film The Dark Matter of Love.
Bobby Deol’s bereavement makes Thank You’s Canada schedule go haywire
Personal setbacks and crises often mean losses worth crores for film producers especially if the film is shot abroad. But in the case of Anees Bazmee’s Thank You, where a long schedule in Toronto had to end suddenly because of Bobby Deol’s father-in-law illness and death, the loss runs into not just the production on-hand (Thank You) but also Boney Kapoor’s sequel to No Entry entitled Be Positive.
While Boney has declared his next production would be the sequel to No Entry, Anees shocks by declaring that the script is not even close to being ready.
Says Anees, “While I’ve an idea for the Hera Pheri sequel which I am working on for producer Feroz Nadiadwala I’ve absolutely no idea which way the sequel to No Entry would go. The comedy is the hardest genre to write. And I can’t plunge into a funny film until I’ve the script ready. I’ve just had no time to think about an idea for No Entry Part 2.”
With the Thank You schedule going haywire after Bobby’s abrupt departure from Toronto, Anees is now organizing a schedule in Mumbai to synchronize with the unfinished schedule in Toronto.
Says Anees, “When Bobby had to leave from Toronto we still had one big song and some scenes to be shot. We’ve started the shoot in Mumbai from September 13. The song will come later .”
It was meant to be a big chorus song featuring Irrfan Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Rimi Sen, Sunil Shetty and Bobby. Organizing the dates of all these actors was problematic.
Sighs Anees, “This is the first time I’m doing two films together. Setbacks are bound to happen. We’ve to take it in our stride.”
One hopes Boney Kapoor too will Be Positive about Bobby Deol’s disrupted schedule.
Bomb hoax: PIA plane made emergency landing in Stockholm
A PIA flight PK-782 with 273 passengers on board destined for Karachi from Toronto, Canada has made an emergency landing in Stockholm due to bomb hoax. A suspected person has been arrested from the plane.
An Arlanda airport spokesman said the plane was on its way from Toronto to Karachi when the pilot requested permission to land in Stockholm.
He decided to land the plane after Canadian police had received a tipoff that a passenger carrying explosives was on board.
The Boeing 777 remains on the runway as police officials search it for evidence of explosives. A police spokeswoman clarified that the plane was not being evacuated, but that the suspicious passenger would be apprehended.
