MY WATCH-LIST OF FILMS IN 2013-2014

Hi Friends,

Howdy? Hope you had a lovely start to the New Year! Incidentally, have you been following the on-going awards season? Golden Globes? Screen Actors Guild? And of course, the results of the BAFTAs and the Academy Awards are awaited! 

I look at this whole awards season as the best time of the year from the film fraternities point of view as their years of hard-work towards their art is just about to pay off! And yes, I have the greatest of respect even for those who don't win, because in my eyes they are winners right from the moment they put forward their film for judgment before the jury with complete faith and conviction about their product.

And for viewers like me and the rest of us, it is time to feast on some of the best films that Hollywood produces all through the year, raise a toast to some fine performances and of course get my watch-list of films updated once again! :)

CASTING - AN INTEGRAL ELEMENT OF FILM MAKING

Hi Friends,

How've you been? Trust all's well at your end.

I've always fancied at the excellent choice of casting that English films and television series (particularly by BBC) have lived up to over the years that so much so it's often crossed my mind that if given an opportunity, I would not hesitate for a moment to take up an assignment as a casting assistant in Hollywood...I know it's not easy...but pray which job in the world was ever a cakewalk! So, today I thought I'd write about my observations and understanding on yet another most vital aspect of film making, which is the casting. 

Now, you must be wondering on how and why this idea has stemmed up all of a sudden. Well, some years ago when I was studying for my Masters degree and had completed the film appreciation module, my outlook and approach towards films grew manifold.I no longer looked at films merely for entertainment to be munched over a bucket of pop corns; it began to mean more to me. I then started to watch and understand the different aspects of film making- like direction, art direction, photography, production designing etc and made notes of it which I later began to write about in my blog. And this time was no different either.

In the last fortnight itself I must have watched nearly a dozen of films (mainly dramas) where I keenly observed each of them intently vis-a-vis the casting and the choice of actors for the respective characters.I was in awe at the perfection they achieved in not just getting the look of the actors right (of course, courtesy the make-up artistes) but the ability to imagine and visualize the right artistes to play the role - be it portraying real-life personalities or even a fictional character.