Our star DOPs
Being the Director of Photography is one thing, but doing that job like this is another!! What a thrill ! Bravo !
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hampi Diaries Day 2
Hampi Diaries Day 2
The next day, the crew decided to visit the Virupaksha temple, the biggest temple in Hampi. It is huge, ancient and simply breath taking. It was 12 pm, and the stones underneath our feet were burning, but our curiosity and enthusiasm took over the external factors.
Few of the crew members were going to arrive on day 2. Hence, we were eagerly waiting for them, waiting to tell them that how shooting here would be an experience of a lifetime!
Also, it happened to be our Co-Producer / still photographer's birthday! She was dancing from one place to another mainly because it was her day, and also because she couldn't find phone service anywhere in the village. Infact at one point of time at Bazaar street (market) one could see the crew members desparately searching for network, raising their phones in the air, shaking the phone, cursing the service providers! Finally we found a tree, under which there were 2 bars of network!
After a huuuuge meal, huge because we probably ate for 2 hours that day. The orders never seem to end. Akash and Ruhie decided to get 'vodka pasta' because it sounded different, though the contents were nothing like the name. Deepa, Meghna, Vishal, Kumar started with the rounds of pan cakes, and nutella covered loafs! We were so full by the end of that meal that we thought dinner will be light, but alas, it wasn't like that at all!
The readers may seem to get an impression that the crew just ate, slept and drank water there, but we were preparing for the next day's shoot, because we knew on the following day everyone is going to be running around, eating and drinking when they get time, and resting if time permits!
In the evening, we decided to shoot the interview, endless discussions on locations, lights etc!! We moved all the equipment to a guesthouse's corridor, debated on the light going down and how it would affect the shoot, then moved all that equipment to a room in another guest house...and we did almost start shooting...untill everyone thought the setting was upto the mark, it was good, but we could do better with natural light. The decision was right, natural light will be better than indoor lighting...so we packed up and headed for dinner.
At night, after everyone was settled in, we had a meeting, where we discussed the final plan, who takes over when. Meghna, Deepa, Rahul, Vishal and Kumar were given the first shift, which began at 5 am. We also over viewed everything, equipments, batteries, schedule, our t-shirts and caps, permissions to shoot, release forms...and much more!!We wound up the dinner, as a good sleep was essential for a long and exciting day ahead.
Few of the crew members were going to arrive on day 2. Hence, we were eagerly waiting for them, waiting to tell them that how shooting here would be an experience of a lifetime!
Also, it happened to be our Co-Producer / still photographer's birthday! She was dancing from one place to another mainly because it was her day, and also because she couldn't find phone service anywhere in the village. Infact at one point of time at Bazaar street (market) one could see the crew members desparately searching for network, raising their phones in the air, shaking the phone, cursing the service providers! Finally we found a tree, under which there were 2 bars of network!
After a huuuuge meal, huge because we probably ate for 2 hours that day. The orders never seem to end. Akash and Ruhie decided to get 'vodka pasta' because it sounded different, though the contents were nothing like the name. Deepa, Meghna, Vishal, Kumar started with the rounds of pan cakes, and nutella covered loafs! We were so full by the end of that meal that we thought dinner will be light, but alas, it wasn't like that at all!
The readers may seem to get an impression that the crew just ate, slept and drank water there, but we were preparing for the next day's shoot, because we knew on the following day everyone is going to be running around, eating and drinking when they get time, and resting if time permits!
In the evening, we decided to shoot the interview, endless discussions on locations, lights etc!! We moved all the equipment to a guesthouse's corridor, debated on the light going down and how it would affect the shoot, then moved all that equipment to a room in another guest house...and we did almost start shooting...untill everyone thought the setting was upto the mark, it was good, but we could do better with natural light. The decision was right, natural light will be better than indoor lighting...so we packed up and headed for dinner.
At night, after everyone was settled in, we had a meeting, where we discussed the final plan, who takes over when. Meghna, Deepa, Rahul, Vishal and Kumar were given the first shift, which began at 5 am. We also over viewed everything, equipments, batteries, schedule, our t-shirts and caps, permissions to shoot, release forms...and much more!!We wound up the dinner, as a good sleep was essential for a long and exciting day ahead.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Hampi Journals Day 1
We DID it!
I am high on excitement, there is no other way of describing it!
We filmed Muthu Kumar for 24 hours! non stop! The GLP India team just got back today...here is a detailed account of everyday:
Day 1
Arrival at Hospet
The bus journey was unexpectedly comfortable, all of us slept for at least 8 hours. The enthusiasm was at its peak, we were planning all the time, what needs to be done when, who does it, whats the back up etc etc. Hospet is a small town, around 30 minutes away from Hampi. It was easy to find transport-Auto Rickshaws being the primary option. Though the auto driver did wonder if we were planning to settle in Hampi for good ( the amount of luggage) As we entered Hampi, it dawned on us that THIS is the place where we are actually going to shoot!
I was speechless for sometime. We couldn't get our eyes off the monuments which were scattered all over the village. This was just the beginning .
And then, we met our subject. Yes! Muthu Kumar, there he was standing at Hemakutta hill. Smiling ear to ear! I introduced myself to him, and came a humble reply. 'how are you m'am?'. After greeting him we carried the luggage from the auto stand to the guest house, and suddenly out of now where the Virupaksha Temple is standing in fron of us! This is the mosr famous monument in Hampi, located in the heart of the village, the Hampi market is spread out in front of the temple. It was simply beautifu;, standing right opposite structure which were erected in 1400-1600 AD.
The rest of the day went in checking out the place. We took a bike trip around the village, were mesmerized by the history that surrounded us! We were enjoying every moment of it...all our conversations invariably zeroed on the shoot, things we should do, things we should avoid etc.
It was draining to be out in the sun for a few hours, and we got sneak peek into what it will be like on the shooting day. Our water consumption was all time high, a 2 litre bottle wouldn't last for 2 minutes! And coconut water was our favourite drink, at a given point of time we consumed 6 coconuts between 2 of us!
Dinner was amazing, with all sorts of cuisined offered on the platter. Name it and you have it- Italian, Lebanese, Spanish, Mexican, Tibetian and many more! We dined with Muthu and Nagraj. Nagraj was one of our primary helpers in Hampi, some one who knew everything about Hampi. His contribution was massive, we are extremely grateful to him for his efforts.
For the next three hours, we simply scheduled, planned, altered them, again and again, had endless discussions on them, and chalked out everything which needs to be done on the day of the shoot.
We were tired, but a walk at 1 am in the morning, through the Hampi market made us our fatigue, and made us realise that we are actually there, and we are going to do something which has never been done :)
I am high on excitement, there is no other way of describing it!
We filmed Muthu Kumar for 24 hours! non stop! The GLP India team just got back today...here is a detailed account of everyday:
Day 1
Arrival at Hospet
The bus journey was unexpectedly comfortable, all of us slept for at least 8 hours. The enthusiasm was at its peak, we were planning all the time, what needs to be done when, who does it, whats the back up etc etc. Hospet is a small town, around 30 minutes away from Hampi. It was easy to find transport-Auto Rickshaws being the primary option. Though the auto driver did wonder if we were planning to settle in Hampi for good ( the amount of luggage) As we entered Hampi, it dawned on us that THIS is the place where we are actually going to shoot!
I was speechless for sometime. We couldn't get our eyes off the monuments which were scattered all over the village. This was just the beginning .
And then, we met our subject. Yes! Muthu Kumar, there he was standing at Hemakutta hill. Smiling ear to ear! I introduced myself to him, and came a humble reply. 'how are you m'am?'. After greeting him we carried the luggage from the auto stand to the guest house, and suddenly out of now where the Virupaksha Temple is standing in fron of us! This is the mosr famous monument in Hampi, located in the heart of the village, the Hampi market is spread out in front of the temple. It was simply beautifu;, standing right opposite structure which were erected in 1400-1600 AD.
The rest of the day went in checking out the place. We took a bike trip around the village, were mesmerized by the history that surrounded us! We were enjoying every moment of it...all our conversations invariably zeroed on the shoot, things we should do, things we should avoid etc.
It was draining to be out in the sun for a few hours, and we got sneak peek into what it will be like on the shooting day. Our water consumption was all time high, a 2 litre bottle wouldn't last for 2 minutes! And coconut water was our favourite drink, at a given point of time we consumed 6 coconuts between 2 of us!
Dinner was amazing, with all sorts of cuisined offered on the platter. Name it and you have it- Italian, Lebanese, Spanish, Mexican, Tibetian and many more! We dined with Muthu and Nagraj. Nagraj was one of our primary helpers in Hampi, some one who knew everything about Hampi. His contribution was massive, we are extremely grateful to him for his efforts.
For the next three hours, we simply scheduled, planned, altered them, again and again, had endless discussions on them, and chalked out everything which needs to be done on the day of the shoot.
We were tired, but a walk at 1 am in the morning, through the Hampi market made us our fatigue, and made us realise that we are actually there, and we are going to do something which has never been done :)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Hampi Diaries Part One
The day (night) before
The Global lives project India is about to commence. This excitement is contagious, like wild fire, every one I am speaking to (crew) is oozing with enthusiasm. Days of planning, thinking, preparation is finally going to be executed!
We are off to Hampi, Karnataka, where we will find our subject Muthu Kumar and shoot him. The journey is going to be long, but we are ready, we want to experience every moment of it, capture every frame! Muthu works as a tourist guide at the ancient ruins of Vijaynagri dynasty. He also sells postcards to tourists. His life revolves around history of a dynasty which existed in 1400 AD. His job is to give life to the structures erected in front of him. The stones would lose all significance if not supported by their story. Travellers come from across the globe to Hampi, and Muthu enriches their experience. Not many of us rememeber our tourist guides, but if we take a minute to recollect them, they are the people who make a lot of difference to our perception of history, Muthu is one of them. His daily bread is dependent on history but now the global lives project will capture the uniqueness of his life, his family, his work, his relationhip with the silent idols and temples at Hampi.
The crew is ready...bursting with energy...
End of Part One
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