Mast Curry - post shooting

Yellow Brick Road, The Ambassador, New Delhi, 11 p.m.

Celebrating! not the completion of Mast Curry (there's still some GOOD time for that) but the fact that I got my actress, Rushi - a million rupee (so what if its not $) deal. Yes, I became a casting director with this deal and Rushi is very happy and I am genuinely happy for her.

All my friends have time and again told me about doing certain things in the entertainment industry - in the sense - casting; I have real eye for spotting talent and of course acting and modeling, myself!

As I put these suggestions into practice (only this year) I am already seeing the results (with distinction!)

Today was a pretty tough day, post-production of Mast Curry; editing of I AM A LOVE ADDICT (Maldives is looking good); writing on Ugly aur Pagli for a website and getting Rushi this million rupee deal (of course, I am making money too, but Rushi is making more :-) and taking tab of today's party too)

So while she went to the loo, I thought to quickly key in the haps surrounding Mast Curry (including this chit-chat about Rushi; Rushi is integral part of Mast Curry). The best part is, she is already paying back; pushing me as the 'next big' Indian film-maker to a production-house based in Australia! Hmmm... lets c wot comes out of it!?

Ah... I can already hear her twinkling toes and before she stomps them (my lt & my luv 4 it, she hates it but doesn't know this generates work and money and of course...) let me sign off. Bye.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Mast Curry - post shooting
Home, 5.30 p.m., Aug 2 08

Just came back from editing and thought before I get back into my lazy mood and miss on today's blog-post, I should rather do it.

So before I zip-off to enjoy my Saturday night; here am I, keying in the blog-post over a cup of coffee and some pasta.

The post-production is going on fine, as also the editing of I AM A LOVE ADDICT; in fact just as an after-thought today; I added four lines to open IAALA:

Everyday of my life,
my heart dies a bit, a bit, a bit,
what fun did you get to pierce it,
you bitch, you bitch, you bitch.

A very sexist line.
Is it?
Nandana, one of my assistants (a purist feminist); told me, I was setting my film on a wrong note; but I feel, any person who is madly in love, will be bitter to this extent (may be much more) after a bitter break-up.

I was convinced about the line and was assured that it will work when my sound-editor wolf-whistled as I recorded the line. Let me hope that I have enough broken hearts in the audi.

Anyways, coming back to work (my two movies) today I had emergency meeting with almost entire crew of the films and set out a time-frame to complete the two movies; August 18th 08; as my next feature is getting pushed back owing to the delay in these two films.

Hopefully, the films are shaping up pretty decent and I am sure that we will be able to release the films by this year-end. May be take them to a couple of film-festivals too ;-)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Mast Curry - post shooting

Nirula's, 5.30 p.m., Aug 04, Monday

Eating my fave, chocolate ice-cream and while my date has gone to place an order (ah, how I hate these self-service joints!). I quickly decided to key in a blog-post, wot else!? I missed posting it yesterday; too busy, kicking off frenship day in style!

Gotta attend a pool party, follwed by a bowling brawl (yup, the bowling did end up in a small brawl), followed by a movie date (MUMMY - wasn't as good as part 1 or part 2), followed by some clubbing; followed by a privately organized belly-dance party.

No time for a blog-post!

So, I took the most out of the 5 (or 10) precious minutes I have on keyboard!

The editing is coming up fine and the opening of I AM A LOVE ADDICT is liked by a few closed friends... hope they feel the same for movie too!

The post-production of Mast Curry is coming along fine; though there is a bit of problem; four scenes have got an echo on pilot track of dialogues and since we are using sync sound; I don't know how are we gonna cope up with it.

A friend suggested subtitles on a good 10-15 minutes of the film (where the audio has echo)

Another suggested dubbing for that part

Yet Another suggested, to use the pilot track intact, without setting the audio levels or anything (the echo is hardly audible if we don't set the audio levels), his reasoning being, its a dogma format film, the audiences will understand.

Will they?

As I ponder over and mull over, I can see the expression on my date's face as she approaches me; never date a film-maker (she is a banker); so before I spoil my date, I pull over.

Bye, take care!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Mast Curry - post shooting

My pad, Aug 5, 6.30 pm

I really envy people who have got boundless energy. Working day in and day out for about 6 months now (k was there in Malaysia & Singapore but it was more of a workation rather than vacation) I am suffering from neck-ache, head0-ache and God knows what all aches. My workout regimen is up for toss and the girth I have added on to my well toned body is actually not a good sight (atleast, thats what my last date told me!)

The only reason to :-) is my wonderfully-sweet as a doll li'l sis who very diligently presses my head and gives me reiki, thereby giving me relief and power to go on.

The day was not so good; I heard the music done by the music-director and it was the most terrible BG I have ever heard in my life. In fact, my AD commented while we were driving back that it would be much better to show the film to potential distributors without any BG!

The good part is that the edit of I Am A Love Addict is coming up fine and it has shaped up better than expected; I never knew that I could capture Maldives in such a beautifully aesthetic manner! I just can't wait to see the final cut!

As my coffee finishes of and I resume with my edit, here's a warm bye from me and I am sure all my well-wishers will watch Mast Curry & I Am A Love Addict.

Take care.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Mast Curry - post shooting

YBR, Aug 6 08, Wednesday, 5 p.m.

Khan Market, after a long time I shopped at the market (blame it on the malls), my weekend hang-out during my school days; all thanks to a meeting that was re-scheduled for the night. Since my editing and my post-production work are both located in the other part of the city and with the onset of the infamous rush-hours of New Delhi; I thought best to stay put and relax and enjoy rather than rush back and forth.

While everything seem to be perfect; the music (background music) is bothering me.

What if I don't get a proper BGM?
Should I show the film to the distributors without the BGM track?
How will they react?
Do I opt for a movie without any BG track?
It will be a first for any Hindi movie?
How will the audiences react?

These are some questions that are foremost in my mind and I am yet to find answers. to them.

The more I ask my well-wishers; the more confused I get; because their answers aren't, unanimous. Just goes on to show, why we have got very many genres and prove the presence of varied audience taste.

This bottle-neck arises out of just one and one basic premise: budget.

How I wish I had some crores at my disposal ;-) I guess that's the whole work now; to get people to invest crores on you! God willing, it should start happening this year onwards.

I guess, it is a pretty long blog-post now; God give you strength to read it :-)

God bless!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Mast Curry - Post Shooting

Coffee... cold coffee for a change... gives me company, as I key in this blog-post. It has been a stretched break of over an hour from the editingand most of the time went away discussing the big release on Friday - Singh is King.

A couple of friends who have seen the film are all excited about it.

"its a blockbuster" claimed one
"Akshay Kumar is the real superstar of Bollywood" gushed another
"Katrina Kaif is hot" added yet another, in a rather shy tone

Even after hearing around 15 comments; I just couldn't hear that 1 comment; Anees Bazmee has delivered yet another hit!

Why are directors not given their due; or even technical crew not given their due?

The question foxed me. I had a look at my blog-posts and I realised even my blog-posts talk about my cast; there is as yet no mention of crew.
Apologies to my crew.

Today I will talk about

Surendra - cameraman
Harish - editor
Neelima and Tehzeeb - assistant directors
Sunil - make-up man
Laila - Hair stylist
Shrikant and Mohit - head lightmen

Without all these people Mast Curry wouldn't be what it is today.

They toiled (work would be an understatement) diligently towards realizing my vision. Waking as early as 3 in the morning to make the actors ready; to prepare the set; to light up the floor!

Their hard-work is seen in each frame of Mast Curry; each time I see a shot I could feel the hard-work they put in. The best part was; when a prospective producer dropped in today and complemented me for a couple of shots. "They are just amazing" she gushed, all I could do was thank her.

Thursday, August 7, 2008