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Finding Christov
The fact that he learnt on the job, didn’t have a strict qualification exclusively in animation should be enough inspiration to make all aspiring animators fling the formal courses! Ask why? If Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Ratatouille, Cars, Warner Bros. Universal, 20th Century Fox, comprise some of the nouns on your resume, there must be something in not being taught. Not to forget an Academy Award for one of the works.
“I did have a degree in Fine Arts but to speak of animation as such, I trained more on the job and learnt the ropes. And I think even that’s a pretty good way,” shares Anthony Christov, renowned animation and gaming expert, who was art director for the Academy Award-winning Wall-E. He was in Chandigarh to present a seminar on Animation in India: Future& Careers, organised by Arena Animation. “My focus would be in taking their queries, what they want to know, I would keep it very interactive and two-way and not just dump them with an information overload,” he corrects, in case you harbour the long-standing image of monotony generally associated with academic seminars. An experience of over two decades, “twentyfour years to be precise”, it’s been an era since he began his career in Pixar during late 1999 for the sets of Finding Nemo. “A lot has changed since when I started out, the animation scene’s getting better and bigger and is being accepted much more, we’ve seen it ourselves.” And, of course, the fact that, “Everybody loves animation movies and they are not just for children.” Though not quite there yet. “But yes, I agree, when it comes to animation movies, they are still an alternative, not the focal entertainment.” Time to talk the inevitable, Wall-E: the movie of the waste-collecting robot that had us in love with his antiques. Reveals Christov, “A lot of brainstorming went behind the scenes of Wall-E. There were deadlines, 24x7 work sessions, then a new set of deadlines.” As for the injecting life into the robot, “That was a lot of hit and trial involved in there.” He adds, “I think how well the movie does or the audience connects depends on how good it’s been done. For example, Finding Nemo had a wonderful character and it was one of the most profitable movies, more profitable than many other movies.” On his first ever visit to India, Anthony Christov feels, “India definitely has a great potential and the future of animation is bright, there’s also a lot of talent.” It’s time for his date with the animation students, at the Government Museum Hall-10, but not before he lets us know, “Given a chance, I would love to work for Bollywood. I loved Monsoon Wedding, it was a great film.” Ciao. manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Parties and platters
Lazy bites
On an ideal weekend, I like to cook up a nice brunch for myself. I am not a fussy eater; anything that tastes good and is of some nutritional benefit finds favour with me. Be it roasted chicken, dal, rajma rice, biryaani to 2-minute fix- ups like Maggie. But, I miss my mother’s hand-made food. She is an amazing cook, and I can’t forget the serene smile on her face while she makes food for me. However, I like to keep my kitchen clean. Everything should be in place. If I don’t find one of the things, believe me, I stop cooking. Let’s party
I am not a party popper, but once a while, I don’t mind going out with my friends. When I am in Chandigarh, I check out stores at Sector-17, eat at Pizza Hut or Oven Fresh. My friends keep updating me on the new eating joints that have come up in the city. We make it a point to check out as many as we can when I am in Chandigarh. In Mumbai, a much-awaited weekend calls for a get-together at my or my friends’ place. Otherwise, we just go for a long drive. Must watch
I didn’t realise that there is world of good cinema to be watched and appreciated. So, on a lazy weekend, I pick one good movie, and watch it thoroughly, itminaan sey. Yes, of course, latest Bollywood flicks are always on my list, in addition to the old romances. Spare a thought to shop
I think I am not cut out for shopping. But I don’t have a choice. On weekends, I force myself to get out of my place so that I can shop for myself. Mumbai, Delhi, Canada, England, Chandigarh, Ludhiana are good places to shop. I am a mix of western and traditional so I divide my shopping list accordingly. Room mates
Despite a number of chores lined up for the weekend, I like to spend some time with myself—-catch up on sleep, read something, reply to the mails and write on a blog. jasmine@tribuemail.com |
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Spontaneity in art
To study Art, one must learn rules, Art should be expressed through feelings that are without external constraints and are free from the intrusive overlay of learned behavior. Van Gogh's "Asylum Garden" oil on canvas (1890) is full of spontaneous strokes that are strong, bold, free and rich and truly portray the soul of the artist. This painting talks story about what turmoil Van Gogh was going through during that phase of his life. The colors and movements in Turners' painting are a true reflection of his undetermined action and movements. The vivacious strokes take you to the scene in a surprised manner, leaving you with feeling of its so-called beautiful title, "Rain, Steam and Speed". Spontaneity is the feeling of the present. It is all about being yourself and being there. "La Danse", one of my favourites by Henry Matisse, is one such suitable painting to express what I want to say in a visual form. We can almost feel the rhythm and sound. The beautiful postures, bends and behavior of the dancers' bodies are par excellence. S. H. Raza, the much talked about painter of the landscapes of the mind, is known for his spontaneous and bold paintings. His works blossom with vibrant colours, wavy brush strokes and have tremendous emotive value, just to name one, his earlier work titled "Riyaz". Sohan Qadri is another name that comes to mind for the volume of mysticism, freedom, liberty and vibrant dimensions in his works. I am particularly impressed with the "Yellow Green Duet". Energy and emotions are clearly visible in Jatin Das's paintings as well. It is lovely to experience the fluency and rhythm in his lines. "Dancer F-2" symbolizes how this artist has mastered the spontaneity through his speedy lines, beautiful curves and bold colours. There are many contemporary names and its just one thing common that "One must break free from the bonds of laid down rules in art and shall undauntedly follow the natural instincts, emotions. Then, the spontaneity shall flow out of our artworks and the stream of ecstasy will reach out to everyone".
anjalisaggarwal@gmail.com |
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SIDE LANES
The following actions display this supposed superiority: a group of urchins kicking a puppy to death; a frustrated husband pummeling the wife and children into pulp; a boss making sexual overtures to a woman employee; a mother controlling the life and wife of her son; a father-in-law dictating terms and menus to the obsequious daughter-in-law; a father forcing a son to follow in his footsteps; a wife giving 'or else' ultimatums to her exhausted, back-from-work spouse; a maalik insisting on those four extra hours of work, never letting the employee forget that she alone is his karta-dharta; gang-rape (note the word 'gang') and a posse of self-appointed superiors who bully juniors for not obeying orders-- all of which actions are used to control, mark an area and gain power. Are we then better than the dog, monkey, tiger, jackal, hyena, cat, crow, snake, rutting deer or lizard, who have prolonged battles to prove themselves? I do feel that the above mentioned fauna have strict codes of conduct that they adhere to. We do not. Whatever happened to Aman Kuchroo and the students at Sanawar, to name a few, are ceremonies reminiscent of penal and clitoral circumcision, and painful gouging of the skin to make permanent tattoos. Many enlightened, progressive countries have banned this inhuman practice, but most Indian private boarding schools, initiated in the British times, still encourage this rite, hoping that it will turn children into men and women over a short period. It also allows mediocre minds to control superior ones through sheer brute force and mob affiliations, all under the avuncular but unseeing eyes of the school staff. On the tea estates, it was imperative that children went to a boarding school as the gardens were in forested, school-less areas. I heard a lot about ragging and sodomy in some of the well-known private schools and colleges and expressed my doubts to the father of a seven-year-old. His answer stunned me: "I went through it--no big deal! He will get over it as I did too." Does anyone get through it, or do we then have an elite army of perpetually fractured souls? None of my sons went to boarding but had to face the brutality of ragging in college. The medical college of one was hard mentally but not too brutal physically, perhaps because medicos are more aware of the grim results. The unspeakable horrors of a first year at the IMA, were not discussed by my second son, ever. On the other hand, both boys did not inflict the same on their juniors and are very compassionate young men. My youngest went to the USA where physical damage in college is unheard of. Why can we not have stronger laws to prevent the mutilation of our children's bodies and psyche? When will we parents refuse to accept ragging and call it by its true name-- sadism
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Going places
Five countries, six destinations, 48 weeks of incessant clicking and 55 photographs. Still, there's much more to Perception, ongoing photographic exhibition at the Chandigarh College of Architecture, than by the shutterbugs' own admittance, "perceiving nature, culture and architecture." Barcelona, Berlin, Egypt, Jaiselmer, Ladakh and Paris, he's seen and captured it all. From the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Paris, White Desert, Egypt to Pangong Lake, Ladakh, every picture belies the credential of the eye behind the shutter, that of final year architecture student instead of the usual Arts College celebrity. But Gangandeep Singh, went with a pre-conceived intention to flash and capture. He says, "I started in the first year and participated in some competition and it's been a hobby since then." No wonder, a well lit building in Berlin couldn't have looked as amazing in real as clicked through the bare branches of a tree. Then there are divine flags in Ladakh, photographed against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks and a tourist taxi whizzing by or the beauty of a desert with local womenfolk walking by or something as common as haystack made to look mystifying. Then there are mountains, lake, sky, birds, beauty of it all of a lake in Ladakh. He says, "We have a very minor portion of the syllabus in dealing in architectural photography." Certainly minor in the place of passion. — Manpriya Khurana
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To catch the spirit of 20-20 season, Titan has also launched its latest Octane collection, which embodies speed, power and energy. These watches are loaded with features like chronographs, multifunction, retrograde and dual time. The collection consists of 20 models. The Titan of the Day contest, which started on April 18 and is on till May 25 gives a chance to customers to participate and win every day exciting watches, gift vouchers and a select few, would get a life time opportunity to meet Titan's brand ambassador Aamir Khan. Speaking on the occasion Madan Lal said, "Cricket is the second religion of India and Titan is the most admired watch brand in India and such a confluence will certainly catch the imagination of India's youth and such consumer interest contests certainly generate motivation and interest amongst the youth of the country." — TNS
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Top trick
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Shared success
Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpai says he gave the nod to filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar for Jail because he wanted to share the director’s success. “I know Madhur Bhandarkar since 14 years now. We struggled together and I now feel very happy for his success on a personal level. When Madhur offered me this role, I said yes without much thinking as I wanted to be part of his success,” Manoj posted on his www.manojbajpayee-en.itzmyblog.com. Now the actor, who has featured in films like Satya, Shool and Zubeida, says he has left everything regarding the shooting of Jail on Bhandarkar. “I know that he will honestly justify my role. It has been a fairly good experience as of now and I pray to god for the same ahead too. Though I won’t be able to talk much about the film but my character is an introvert sort and it gives a totally different sensitivity being able to express such difficult emotions of this character,” he added. Starring Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lead, Jail traces the life of a middle-class family boy working in the corporate sector and how after one sudden incident he goes to jail. — ANI
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Striking case of duplicity
Bollywood production house BR Films has been sued by a Hollywood film studio for allegedly copying their comedy My Cousin Vinny. The suit has been filed in the Bombay High Court by 20th Century Fox, and they are seeking 940,000 pounds in damages. The studio claims that the script and storyline of BR Films Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai is strikingly similar to the original 1992 US film. BR Films, on the other hand, has denied the allegations. Fox revealed that while permission to use their film’s idea for the basis of a new production had been granted to the Bollywood
studio, its Hindi remake did not have their consent.
The case is not the first of its kind, as the Indian movie industry has had a long-standing history of remaking Hollywood films. Most recent example has been of a
probable Bollywood remake of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which has been warned with legal action by US moviemakers.
— ANI |
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Crazy kiya re
Beauty queen-turned-actor Neha Dhupia says she is a die-hard cricket fan and doesn’t miss even one match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) these days.“I have always been a big sports fan and have been to several cricket matches but IPL is so glamorous. This is the only occasion where we see our Indian players teaming up with various international cricket stars. There are film stars and cheerleaders and there is no stone left unturned to promote the game,” said Neha. “When the matches are on, I am simply glued to the TV screen and in between if I get any call, I avoid them saying that I am busy in a meeting,” she added. — IANS
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KOFFEE BREAK
How do you rate yourself as an actor? It is very difficult to rate oneself. But I put in my heart in whatever I take up. You are making a comeback with Ghar Ek Sapna. Tell us about the serial It is directed by Ajai Sinha, director of Astitva, Hasratein and award-winning tele-serial Justujoo. This soap is all about celebrating the age-old truth that marriages are made in heaven. Will you continue to act in serials? Of course, but I would love to work with directors like Ajai Sinha. What are your comments on Saas bahu serials? All I can say is they are a different school of thought
altogether. Do you feel you have a long way to go? I always feel that the road left behind is quite short a distance, and I have a long way to go.
— Dharam Pal |
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If he had any control over destiny, Manav Vij would have been writing prescriptions for the patients, checking their pulse and blood pressure. A certified doctor, Manav had nothing to do with Mumbai, leave aside tinsel town. However, he was meant to do something else- to act, to sing, cry, laugh, make funny faces, scheme, plot and romance, fight on camera. And this is what he is still doing. After having played short but notable roles in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kesar, Manav is now basking in the success of his latest Punjabi movie, Mini Punjab. We chat with the doe-eyed boy on the things that he likes to do on a weekend. He prefers to start with the spice of life: food.
I am sure all the artists and art lovers will generously agree to this because spontaneity is the most beautiful thing that can happen to any creation. A viewer can see an artist's 'true reflection' only if his art work is spontaneous, otherwise one can easily experience the traces of manipulation and as a viewer or lover find it difficult to relate to it in its fullness. Being spontaneous means an artist is able to do something that he feels like at the moment and thus, trusts his instincts. Excitement, adventure, playfulness and freedom, all these become an integral part of an artist's creation in this process. The best example one can observe of this is Jackson Pollock's "Lavender Mist" oil on canvas and his contemporary William De Kooning's "Woman" oil on canvas created during 1952.
The rites of passage from childhood into the adult state are the accepted norm in the animal kingdom. Are we animals too? According to the Darwinian concept of "survival of the fittest," these rites separate the weak from the strong. Somewhere down the line, we started considering ourselves superior to 'animals' as we understand them. Somewhere down the line some of us cashed in on our superiority and allowed ourselves to become worse than animals for the sake of pleasure; irresponsible parental indulgence; money; our uncontrolled hormones; a false sense of strength brought on by our gangs; our inner insecurities and often our exceptional beauty, all of which indicate that we are better than other living creatures.
Titan today celebrated its super success of Titan of the Day contest by gifting its winners a Titan Octane watch. One of India's finest wicket keeper and batsmen Madan Lal handed over the watches to the winners.
Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan recently took his co-star, debutante Madhurri Bhattacharya, for a ride - literally. To shoot a fast-paced song for their forthcoming film Prem Ke Gaane, the two actors had to be on a bike. Much to the dismay and nervousness of Madhurri, Arbaaz said that he doesn’t know how to ride a two-wheeler. “As the cameras began to roll she (Madhurri) hesitatingly got behind Arbaaz, who kept telling her that she should pray that they survive this lengthy shot where he was expected to speed down a steep slope on the bike. The poor girl was literally having a nervous breakdown as she clutched on to Arbaaz,” said a source. “But finally as the camera rolled and Arbaaz took off the bike on the back wheel and Madhurri nearly passed out only to regain her consciousness when she realised that they were cruising at top speed with Arbaaz in total control of the bike,” added the source.
— ANI
Nikki Aneja better known as Madhuri Dixit of television needs no introduction. Astitva-Ek Prem Kahani, directed by Ajay Sinha speaks volumes of her. A rage after Astitva, Nikki tied the knot with Sunny Walia in London. After a brief hiatus, she is back to acting with Sahara One’s popular daily soap Ghar Ek Sapna. In this serial she portrays the role of a lawyer Simi Ahuja. She speaks to Lifestyle about her comeback on television.