Catch Up Time !!!

Hi, firstly my apologises for not posting anything for sometime. A lot has being going on lately in all facets of my life and so far everything seems to be in positive color. By gods grace it will remain this way for a long time to come.

To begin with me and my family have moved to a new city, Mumbai. And trust me moving to a new place is so so much of work, what with first packing, then unpacking, settling down, getting the basic things like in place like a phone connection, broadband connection, new bank accounts and so on. Its been 10 days since i moved in to my house, but its only today that my broadband connection has been setup, so you can imagine my restlessness in the last few days.

Though the settling down is far from over, atleast with my broadband connection now active i can get back in the groove. Since i moved in i realised how we take for granted basic things like these and only when we are inaccessible to these very things we feel how handicap we are. Technology has definitely made our lives easier but provided we dont have to wait for the technology wherever we are located. I guess all these is a part of moving and settling down to a new place. Its an experience nevertheeless.

While i was away, loads of stuff been happening. Animation Mentor wrapped up yet another graduation of their ninja students and with what i heard it was a blast, the best ever graduation ceremony so far. Siggraph - the biggest every CG festival also happened. There is so much to catch up as every year Siggraph is one of those events which no artist would want to miss. Though ofcourse nothing can beat being there physically, but atleast something is better than nothing and hence the online world can be a very effective substitute in the form of forums, blogs, where people share their Siggraph experience and are kind enough to keep the dope flowing for all those who couldnt be there in person. I will try to post something about it as and when i come across something which is super exciting and need to be told. I am also busy working with my Class 2 Assignments at Animation Mentor and getting it ready for public consumption. :-D

So keep watching this space as there is a lot of exciting stuff which i will be sharing with you all!

Cheers!

Weekly Movie Recommendations : 9th August 2008 - 15th August 2008

May be off the net for some days. More on that as a separate post soon. So this time getting in the Weekly Movie Recommendations early.

12 Angry Men(1957)

Genre - Drama

Cast - Henry Fonda, Lee J.Cobb

Director - Sidney Lumet

Whats It About - A dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.

Why To Watch It - his film is superb, in fact as Shakespeare once said "Its the bees' knees". The film captivates the audience from the beginning. Each of the twelve jurors are introduced to us as they are introduced to themselves. The characters are well draw out and individual, each with his own personality.

The tension of the characters draws the audience in from the start. We imagine that the case is open and shut, 11 me saying guilty and 1 not. We feel the discomfort of Henry Fonda as the other characters belittle and mock how he can see any reasonable doubt in the case. But we also share his victories and the enthusiasm as he proceeds to refute or add doubt to the arguments for guilty and are captivated and draw in as other jurors begin to see doubt in the proceedings.

The audience can also see the arguments for guilty and wonder if Fonda's character is correct in saying that he doubts. Yet they also feel the shame of the characters as he disproves that a previously sound theory is iron tight, joining his side as members of the jury do.

On top of this they are wonderfully woven in human elements such as the misconceptions that influence people and the growing tension between different characters. This is brought to life even more by the amazing performances, Fonda, Lee J Cobb and Joseph Sweeney are of particular note.

Have a look right here -

Dreamworks New Animation Feature - Monsters Vs Aliens Trailer

Funny, hillarious, should be hell loads fun to watch.

Spline Doctor's Spline Cast with Doug Sweetland Part 2

Here is Part two of the Doug Sweetland Interview. In this part Andrew and Doug talk about how music relates to animation as well as Doug's directorial debut on Presto.

Get the Spline Cast here.

Weekly Movie Recommendations : 2nd August 2008 - 8th August 2008

Match Point(2005)

Genre - Crime/Drama/Romance

Cast - Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Brian Cox, Emily Mortimer

Directed By - Woody Allen

Whats It About - At a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro falls for a femme-fatal type who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

Why To Watch It - Match Point is a cool, classically elegant and concise film that addresses all of the big questions--love, morality, death, fate, chance--without ever seeming heavy or self-conscious.

the opening shot, the film draws you in and doesn't let up, moving from shot to shot with a fine sense of rhythm and a narrative drive that builds the viewer's curiosity through a series of unexpected switchbacks. Allen has put together a superb cast of young actors who bring his near flawless script to life so convincingly that one almost immediately suspends disbelief and becomes absorbed in the story. The shots of London are luxuriant and spacious, never self-indulgent. Few films, novels, or plays manage to form such rich dramatic material out of characters' inner obstacles. A classic piece of drama that reaches toward the likes of Shakespeare and Dostoevksy, every facet--from structure to dialog to editing to sound--is brought off with panache. This is not only Allen at his best but an example of what the cinematic medium is capable of when properly exploited.