Archive for November 1, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan starrer new film Paa is ready for release on Dec 4th. Its directed by R Balki and also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan & Paresh Rawal. Music is by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Swanand Kirkire. The first trailer of the film will be out on 6th November 2009. Till then its all covered up! Here is the first official poster of Paa!

Paa

Btw, click here for the official website address of the film. So far not much there but just a bit of Ilaiyaraaja’s music.

And if you are too curious to remove the carton from the pic and see how Bachchan looks as a 13 year old in 39 years body, click here.

In the film Paa, Amitabh Bachchan (Auro) suffers from a disease called Progeria, a rare genetic disorder in which a person ages three times faster than a normal person. Its a family drama in which Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan are parents to Amitabh Bachchan, their 13 year old son who looks 39, and its all about how they try to deal with it. The look has been designed after much research and the make up used to take almost 4-5 hours everyday.

Strangely, the basic premise of Paa sounds similar to Francis Ford Coppola’s film Jack starring Robin Williams. To quote from IMDB….

JackThe movie is about a boy with a unique aging disorder: one that makes him age 4 times faster than normal. Movie picks up when Jack (Robin Williams) is 10 years old, but looks 40. He tries to go to public school for the first time, and tries to become friends with kids his own age. His physical appearance causes him lots of problems, however.

So, is Paa really Jack ? Inspiration, plagiarism or just coincidence ? Few more days and we will have the answer.

filmwriting

All you writers, here is an announcement for a new Script Development Lab. And after attending two script labs, we can surely bet for one thing. If nothing else, the experience matters. Writing is a damn lonely & painful job but at a script lab its good fun to share, listen, speak and then write! Try out!

Who : The Lab is jointly designed and organised by Eleeanora Images (India) and Performing Arts Labs (PAL London) and is supported by the Media Mundus programme of the European Union, the British Council, Children’s film society of India, EON Productions and the Goethe Institute.

What : The aim of the programme is to initiate the production of a slate of high quality Indian Films for children. It will focus on stories with a potential for co-production and distribution in national and international markets, at the same time developing the creative and practical skills and knowledge needed to make productions for the child and family audience specifically.

LAB : The programme consists of a 10 day residential Lab for 6 selected writers. Confirmation of venue and session dates and information on Lab mentors and resource team will be posted shortly on the websites of Eleeanora Images (www.eimagesindia.com) and PAL (www.pallabs.org). Participants will receive a fixed amount for travel costs and accommodation and subsistence is provided.

Who Can Apply : Applicants for the Indian Children’s Film Lab may be screenwriters and also people accomplished in an allied field, including theatre or fiction, wishing to write for the screen for the first time.

How To Apply :   Applications should be sent to indiascriptworkshop@gmail.com and include:

 1. A one-page synopsis of the project they wish to develop   2. A project treatment (Max 3-5 pages)

3. A full CV  4. A sample screenplay of 2-3 scenes

Hard copy of completed application form, 1-page synopsis, 3-5 pages project treatment, a full CV and sample screenplay of 2-3 scenes should be sent to the following address:

Eleeanora Images. 216-B/3, First Floor. Gautam Nagar. New Delhi- 110049.  Phone +91 11 41645938/ 41645940

Important Dates : Deadline for receipt of applications – November 10th, 2009. The list of selected applicants announced –  November 20th 2009.

If shortlisted, you may be asked to send a sample of past work: this may be a film on DVD or sample of writing as a script, play or published book.

Application Form : You can download the application form from here and here.

Address :  Eleeanora Images. 216-B/3, First Floor. Gautam Nagar. New Delhi- 110049.  Phone +91 11 41645938/ 41645940

Contact  : For further information contact: indiascriptworkshop@gmail.com

Happy writing & more rewriting!