Ismail Merchant the most internationally acclaimed Indian filmmaker. Born and brought up in Mumbai he went to NewYork for higher studies. In 1961 He founded a production house Merchant Ivory Productions in association with director James Ivory. Together they made close to 40 films and their films won six Oscar award and several other prestigious award. They also had close friendship with Novelist Ruth Prawer Jhabvala who has written most of their films.

His films “A Room with a View” , “Howards End” “The Remains of the Day” and “The Creation of Woman” were nominated for Oscars. His subjects were thoroughly researched showing a detailed frame and his movie sets reflected the luxury.

“Mahatma and the Mad boy” as director, “Shakespeare Wallah” and “Bombay Talkie” as producer were his other famous work. He also wrote couple of books on food and cooking like “Ismail Merchant’s Indian Cuisine”, “Ismail Merchant’s Passionate Meals” and “Ismail Merchant’s Paris: Filming and Feasting in France.

He also wrote books on making of his film. His last book My Passage From India: A Filmmaker’s Journey from Bombay to Hollywood and Beyond gave us insight about how an Asian with strong determination and passion went onto become one of the successful filmmaker in Hollywood and World cinema.

In 2002, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. He died in 2005 at the age of 68 in London and was buried in Mumbai.

Technorati Tags: cinema, IndianCinema, Ismail merchant

He use to earn Rs. 80 /month working as a junior visualiser and then in 1992 he earned a Honorary award for Lifetime Achievement from Oscar Academy. His book “Our films their films” which came in 1976 was a classic literary work highlighting the difference between Indian and Hollywood cinema and other International filmmakers.He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema.

This time we’re talking about Satyajit Ray,born in Kolkata in 1921 was one of the greatest filmmakers who bought most international honours to our country for his contribution to parallel and realistic cinema.

He started his film career as a director with his  first film, Pather Panchali (1955) which won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Document at the Cannes film festival followed by making of  Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959), the three films form The Apu Trilogy.Though he faced many financial hurdles while making Apu Triology, he never compromised with the script and his way of filmmaking.

Ray directed thirty-seven films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts.

One film that influenced him deep inside was “Bicycle Thieves” which attracted him towards independent filmmaking. He was also greatly influenced by Rabindra Nath Tagore and made a documentary on him.

His work revolved mainly around poverty, children and apathy in a women’s life . In 1962, Ray directed Kanchenjungha, which was his first original screenplay and colour film.

He won 32 Indian National Film Awards.He was one of only three filmmakers to win Golden Silver Bear more than once .Ray is the second film personality after Chaplin to have been awarded honorary doctorates by Oxford University.He was awarded Bharat Ratna shortly before his death in 1992. He also got the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Direction at San Francisco International Film Festival after his death.

Year after year he was included in the list of greatest filmmakers of all time by several magazines.In 1992, the Sight & Sound Critics’ Top Ten Poll ranked Ray at no.7 in its list of “Top 10 Directors” of all time, making him the highest-ranking Asian filmmaker in the poll.In 2002, the Sight & Sound critics’ and directors’ poll ranked Ray at no.22 in its list of all-time greatest directors thus making him the 4th highest-ranking Asian filmmaker in the poll.In 1996, Entertainment Weekly magazine ranked Ray at no.25 in its “50 Greatest Directors” list.In 2007, Total Film magazine included Ray in its “100 Greatest Film Directors Ever” list.

Akira Kurosawa, once said, “Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.”

He has worked as a choreographer and Actor at one time.His first movie introduced a new technical concept in Indian cinema ,Close up shots with 100mm lens which later was referred on his name in filmmaking.British film magazine Sight & Sound poll ranked him at 73 in its list of all-time greatest directors, thus making him the Eighth highest-ranking Asian filmmaker in the poll.

Guru Dutt credited with several cult movies in Indian cinema was the legendary filmmaker behind movies like Sahab,Biwi aur Gulam and Chaudhvin Ka Chand.

Pyaasa and Kaagaz ke Phool are included in all time 100 best movies.Theatres in  Germany,France and Japan were full packed when they screened any of Guru Dutt’s movies.In the initial stage of his career he worked with Prabhat Film company,Pune for 3yrs till 1947. After coming to Mumbai he assisted two directors.In 1951 his first film as director, Baazi was released.This movies was produced under the banner of Dev Anand’s company Navketan. His second film Jaal was also a super hit flick.He also introduced Waheeda Rehman to Hindi cinema under his production in C.I.D starring Dev Anand. He and Dev anand were very close friends for many years.His film Sahab,Biwi aur Gulam won the filmfare award in Best film category directed by Abrar Alvi.

Though his movies could not earn enough money at box office he earned the status of a legendary filmmaker making cult movies one after the other. He acted in 16 films and Picnic was his last film in 1964.He died the same year after consuming alcohol and sleeping pills at night.

Once Dev Anand quoted Guru Dutt as “My only true friend in the film industry. We got close to each other while working for Prabhat Film company.

On failure of Kaagaz Ke Phool and success of Chaudhvin Ka Chand he said “What is there in life, friend? There are only two things – success and failure. There is nothing in between.”

In recent time Bollywood has witnessed more of failure and less of success.With more than 300 movies producing every year alone in Hindi cinema,not even 50 films gets audience appreciation. Very few directors now make cult films irrespective of their fate at box office.

Technorati Tags: cinema, hindicinema, IndianCinema

Written-directed and produced by Gregg Helvey, it has been selected in “Short Film” (Live Action) category of 82nd Academy Awards.

It will compete with “The Door“(Juanita Wilson, James Flynn), “Instead of Abracadabra” (Patrik Eklund, Mathias Fjellstrom), “Miracle Fish” (Luke Doolan, Drew Bailey), and “The New Tenants” (Joachim Back, Tivi Magnusson).

Gregg Helvey made this film as his thesis project and completed in 8days with just Rs. 14lakhs .The 82nd Academy Awards presentation will take place on 7th Mar in Hollywood.

This is another effort by a foreign filmmaker to show the adversity and poverty surrounding poor class in India.Though “Harishchandra factory” was sent as an official entry to Oscars from India, it failed to get nominated in any category.

Technorati Tags: cinema, oscar

Finally heat is over and winners for 56th National film awards have been announced for the year 2008. Some speculations got right while few winners completely surprised us . A complete list of all the winners

Best Feature film   —Antaheen

Best Director –Sh. Bala for Tamil film Naan Kadauul.

Best Actor — Upendra Limaye for the Marathi movie Jogva

Best Actress-–Priyanka chopra for Fashion

Best Supporting actress– Kangana Ranaut for Fashion

Best Supporting Actor –Arjun Rampal for Rock ON

Best Cinematography—Antaheen

Best Editing –Firaaq

Best Art Direction –-Firaaq

Best Lyrics –Antaheen

Best Male Playback Singer– Hariharan

Best Female Playback Singer —Shreya Ghoshal for Antaheen

Best Child Artist –Master Shams Patel for Thanks Maa

Best Film on Family values —‘Little Zizou’ (English, Gujarati)

Best Children’s Film Award—Kannada film Gubbachigalu

Best Costume Designer –Neeta Lulla for Jodha Akbar

Best Choreography –Chinni Prakash and Rekha Prakash for the song ‘Azeem-o-shaan shehenshah’ in Jodha Akbar

Best First Film of a director–’A Wednesday’

Best Animation film–’Roadside Romeo’

Best Popular film—Oye Lucky lucky Oye

Best Special effects—Govardhan for Mumbai meri Jaan

8 Films were selected for the ‘Best Feature Film in each of the language

Best Assamese Film – Mon Jai

Best Bengali Film – Shob Charitro Kalponik

Best Hindi Film – Rock On

Best Kannada Film- Vimukthi

Best Malayalam Film Thirakkada

Best Marathi Film Harishcnadrachi Factory

Best Tamil Film Veranam Airam

Best Telugu Film – 1940 Lookagramam

Special Jury Award Malayalam film ‘Bioscope’

The award function will be held in the month of October,2010 in New Delhi.

She is shown in various stages of her life as a newly married bride, an eager mother, a middle aged woman, one nearing old age and the last, finally, on her death bed, all the while, sporting the moustache. With this commercial aired on television speculation in the market has already started about it’s nomination and winning prospects for the next advertising festivals.

Technorati Tags: Advertisement, commercial

He spend the first few years of his career in Advertising agencies in Bombay.Till 1974 he made hundreds of ad films and documentaries and then best thing that brought him in limelight among the industry and media, Ankur,his first feature film about economic and sexual exploitation from his home state Andhra Pradesh.A year after he made Nishant which won the National film award in best feature film category. Year after year he kept on making cult films. Manthan,Bhumika,Junoon,Arohan and the list goes on when we talk about the great movies in 70’s and 80’s era which were also nominated at several International film awards.

He also directed a television serial “Bharat Ek Khoj” based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book, Discovery of India for Indian Railways .In 1982 he made a movie based on the life of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray which won the National award for Best biographical film.

Though he is considered as one of the best directors of parallel cinema he also tried his hands in mainstream cinema with making of Zubeidaa which again bagged the National film Award for best feature film in the year 2001.

In 2008 when “Welcome to Sajjanpur” was released an Indiatimes review said, “Shyam Benegal has always been accredited as a mesmerizing storyteller known for making ‘meaningful’ cinema. This time he also caters to commercial consumers, coming up with his most ‘entertaining’ attempt, by far”. Though it couldn’t perform well at box office it was much critically acclaimed by media houses .Now the maverick filmmaker is ready with his new project “Well Done Abba” which is currently being screened at some of the prestigious film festival across the world will  be released very soon.

At the age of 75 and with more than 70 films to his credit he is still the same man who believes in his own style of filmmaking , no matter it earns money or not but at the end it earns applause from all savvy segments.

Technorati Tags: cinema, Shyam benegal

G8 or UN summit or Presidents and environmentalist at a round table conference. Newspapers reporting about the blame game between States and Asian countries and others making statements. Everyone is busy talking about it and very few in actually doing something in the direction of reducing it. Cinema being one of the most influential way tried and delivered some of best films from time to time which not only worried Big Bosses but common man too. Have a look at some of the best cinematic work on the issue of global warming.

Water world,1995 is a movie showcasing most of Earth is underwater as polar ice caps have melted and very little land is remaining, causing some humans to mutate into growing fins and gills, to adapt to their new environment.

The day after tomorrow,2004 which indicated how the world would look like if the greenhouse effect and global warming continued winning BAFTA film award for special visual effects and MTV movie award.

An inconvenient truth,2006 ,a documentary on Al Gore’s campaign to make the issue of global warming a recognized problem worldwide,which won 2 Oscars.

11^th hour 2007 a documentary written by Leonardo DiCaprio talking about the global environment problems and the visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet’s ecosystems.

2012 ,2009 which recently came out is an epic adventure by Roland Emmerich

is about a global disaster that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors.

A must watch for all those who care about our planet and wants to make it a better place for the next coming generations.

Technorati Tags: cinema, green earth, movies

Honda Car: It  happens when you don’t use original parts

Sip-Chill-Relax: Coca Cola

Urgent Attention:Don’t kill a God’s Gift

Get to the point
Scholz & Friends, Berlin for N24

McCann Erickson for Maggi.
If only women spent less time cooking.

Threebond super glue: Cup
Quick dry.

Barb’s Harley Davidson Motor Cycles: License
Available in “Fast,” Balls out” and “License and registration please.”

Colgate Dental Floss: Pig
Colgate Dental Floss. Absolutely flawless.

Slice Woman’s TV: Dishes
Rated: DTBN
This network may cause you to neglect that deserve to be neglected anyway.
Slice. My vice is slice.

Toyota Land Cruiser: Crocodile
Land Cruiser
Be top of the food chain.

Thailand Post: William
Dearest Margaret, resembling my love, the red roses. Right at your front door is where my heart lies.

There, I have been yearning for your love. Please don’t make me wait till I wither like those red roses.

With much love, William.Good memories you won’t get from e-mail.

Oscarito video rental: Skeleton
The movie starts, the only place left is in the front row, and right behind you is that annoying kid. That is scary.
Rent a movie. Fear is only on the screen.

Sanyo Xacti: Octopus
100% water proof digital movie camera

WWF: Tarzan
15 square kilometer of rain forest disappears every minute.

Greenpeace: Frogange
Once you eat, it’s already too late.
Demand transgenic labelling now.

Alac: Rugby
Was last night really worth it?
It’s not the drinking – It’s how we’re drinking
Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand

The History Channel: Original Hitler
Unfortunately, we do show repeats.
The History Channel

Vitalab IVF Clinic: Pregnant
When our staff get together, somebody usually gets pregnant.
Not surprising considering that Vitalab is one of South Africa’s leading fertility clinics.

Petit Bateau: Game
During their last picnic, Tom, Léo and Lily made 198 changes to this picture.
Can you spot the differences?

CNN Turk: Lightning

Citta di Torino: Young sex dolls, boy
Who tells the grownups when to stop playing?

Almarai Fresh Juice: Mango India – Because we aspire for the best we have sent our experts to India to choose the best ingredients. They came back with a big story… (Arabic proverb) And the story is on this pack.

Olivia Women’s Magazine: Heaven is full

Don’t let smells mix.
Biolyse system refrigerator

Night vision. Now available. -BMW Night Vision: Owl

Be prepared to see things differently after visiting the Picasso exhibition at the NGV

Apple’s spoof Ad against Microsoft’s slogan “Where do you want to go tomorrow?”

“The Wrong Working Environment” Campaign (Germany)
Entrant: Scholz & Friends / Berlin Convergence Marketing/Birmingham, MI

Creative Dettol Hand Sanitizer advertisement. Everybody needs it. Great print advertisement.

Great advertisement that is really catchy. It’s kinda hard to see in this photo, but the advertisement

is for dog food and the dogs are “chasing the bus” for it.

Crash testing save human lives!

A watch company decided to utilize the handholders in buses to advertise their product.

The message on the handholders is “Try it here, the Big Pilots Watch.”

S2O Swissvernice. Keeps Hair Strong.

Agency: TBWA-ISC, Malaysia

Above advertisement have been made with a lesser intention to sell their products and rather build a brand or sustain to the level which they have already achieved in market.Some big companies around the world give more preference to Brand image graph over sales graph, and that’s the sole reason for their continuous growth.How effective an Advertisement can be for a brand is intelligibly expressed in the above Ads.

Technorati Tags: Advertisement, brand, print-ad

The feelings expressed on a person’s face are the best way to communicate and if you can capture those expressions then in true sense your picture speaks a thousands words. A portrait photographer always tries to display the likeness, personality, and particularly the mood of the subject. Lighting plays a vital role while capturing a portrait photograph and composing in studio. In order to adjust the lights intensity and direction there are many ways which are easy enough to describe but experimenting more and more with the light direction, angle and intensity will definitely give out some unexpected and unique results.

Three-Point Lighting

Three point Lighting is considered as the most basic plan as it uses three lights to bring out details and the three-dimensionality of the subject’s features completely.The three main lights used in this light plan are as follows:

The Key or Main  light

It is usually placed to one side of the subject’s face, between 30 and 60 degrees off centre and a bit higher than eye level. The key light is the brightest light in the lighting plan.

Image Source: Shortcourses

The Fill light

It is placed opposite to the key light, in order to soften the shadows on the opposite side of the face. The brightness of the fill light is usually between 1/3 and 1/4 that of the key light. This is expressed as a ratio as in 3:1 or 4:1. When the ratio is 3:1 this is sometimes called Kodak lighting as Kodak was the first company which suggested this ratio for the first time.

The purpose of these two lights is to mimic the natural light created by placing a subject in a room near a window. The daylight falling on the subject through the window is the Key light and the Fill light is reflected light coming from the walls of the room.

The Rim light

It is also called backlight or hair light, is placed behind the subject, out of the picture frame, and often rather higher than the Key or Fill light. It is used to provide separation from the background by highlighting the subject’s shoulders and hair. The rim light should be just bright enough to provide separation from the background, but not as bright as the key light.

ButterflyLighting is another way of lighting a subject. Here we deploy only two lights, Key light which is placed directly in front of the subject, often above the camera or slightly to one side and a bit higher than the usual 3point lighting plan whereas the second light is placed

Image Source: Picturecorrect

below the subject’s face to provide fill light and soften shadows.This lighting can be recognised by the strong light falling on the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the upper cheeks, and by the distinct shadow below the nose which often looks rather like a butterfly. It was used by Hollywood portraitist George Hurrell extensively in his project.

A kicker is a small light, often made directional through the use of a umbrella, or softbox (A soft box is a fabric box, encasing a photo strobe head, one side of which is made of translucent fabric. This provides a softer lighting for portrait work). The kicker is designed to add highlights to the off side of the subject’s face, usually just enough to establish the jaw line or edge of an ear. The kicker should thus be a bit brighter than the fill light, but not so bright it over fills the off side of the face. More you’ll play with the intensity of light more you’ll learn in this regard.

Sometimes light for the subject is typically diffused by bouncing it from the inside of an umbrella, or by using a soft box. Background lights are sometimes used with color gels placed in front of the light to create coloured backgrounds.

That’s how we see that there are many ways to light your picture and more you play with light the better and unique result you’ll achieve.So If you have experimented with light and have better and other different ways to light a portrait please feel free to share those techniques and tips here.

Technorati Tags: Photography, photography lighting, portrait, portrait photography lighting, portraits photography, professional photography, professional portraits