Edgy Films’ Post

In 2019, I made an ultra low budget indie film called FAQIR. I had neither made anything that professional, nor did I have experience with film festivals. Rushing to submit the film, I sent it to a couple of film festivals without verifying if they were legit. Plus, the film was barely complete, with awful sound due to background noise. Looking back, I should have made a silent film, or a short sound film instead with the same amount of money. After that whole ordeal, I lost confidence in traditional methods of filming and going into festivals as it seemed too difficult for someone who doesn't have the resources. I made experimental films and music videos until I realized the itch has to be scratched. I can't just go on like this, neither can I give up. At the end of 2023, I decided to embark on an effort to make a new film that would fix the issues I had in my previous films (sound, confusing storyline, lacklustre acting, overly dark and noisy cinematography etc.). I wanted my new film to actually be good and presentable. I also wanted to not hold back with dialogues and story ideas, and just show and say things that I wanted to say. After writing the script, I spent a month gathering different actors and crew members to take part in the film. It makes a world of difference between when you start off and when you have already put out different pieces of work, and have networked with industry enthusiasts over the years. Afterwards, I spent 4 months rehearsing with the actors, letting them get into their roles, even if it was their first time in front of the camera. We began rolling on April 2024, shooting on weekends, and public holidays. I edited the footage almost everyday after filming so that we can get a rough cut as soon as possible. Although the filming started off smoothly, on the last few main shooting days, it definitely got stressful and mistakes were made. People forgetting lines, forgetting clothes, hitting the time limit for the day due to unexpected delays. The one-man crew which I knew from the start I would have to take part in took a toll, but thankfully we finished the filming relatively smoothly. Originally, I didn't intend to submit to any festivals due to the bad experience from before. But after watching the rough cut, I decided to give it a try, but only for festivals that don't bankrupt me. So, without expectations, I submitted to Rameshwaram International Film Festival, after verification. I'm so glad I did, and I'm so glad I submitted right before the deadline. Whether our film wins or not, I wouldn't be too bothered. Just the fact that we were able to complete something is already something I'm proud of and I can't thank my team enough! Just gives me more hope to make more projects, keep submitting, and potentially get to Cannes Film Festival to be nominated for a Palme d'Or.

🎵mero gam katha pare ja dhudh ki nadiya wahe ja🎵 At IRMA, our induction is unlike any other. It begins with a screening of the iconic film, Manthan. This old tradition unites generations of IRMAns even till batch 44 (and beyond), fostering a shared understanding of our mission in rural India. Manthan, inspired by the real-life milk cooperative movement led by Verghese Kurien, is a powerful portrayal of collective action and its transformative potential. The post-screening debrief is where the magic happens. We delve deeper, dissecting the movie's enduring relevance. One scene that sparked debate: Dr. Rao's (representing Dr. Kurien) decision to leave the village after facing challenges. It left us confused. Dr. Shylendra's explanation, however, provided a profound lesson: sometimes, change is a seed you sow, not a fruit you reap. Bhola, the villager inspired by Dr. Rao, carries the torch forward, with Bindu by his side. Their success becomes a testament to Dr. Rao's groundwork. It's a powerful reminder that lasting impact often lies in empowering communities, not imposing solutions. Manthan is more than a movie; it's a cornerstone of the IRMA spirit. It teaches us humility, the importance of understanding rural realities, and the power of collective action. It's a lesson I'll carry with me throughout my IRMA journey and beyond. #IRMA #Manthan #RuralDevelopment #CollectiveAction #Legacy #RuralManagement

A lifetime opportunity to have worked in this endeavour!

The latest ZenLyke Productions short film, "When I Go," is now posted on our YouTube channel. See the trailer and link before. Watch for our next short film coming soon!

This low-key, small gem of a film, #Ullozhukku starring #Urvashi and #ParvathyThiruvothu, has survived in theatres for a third week braving the juggernaut called #Kalki. Ullozhukku is gripping, and visually stunning. ICYMI: here is the link to the complete review: https://lnkd.in/g_2Uvj2f

Are #film and #cinema markets back to pre-pandemic level? Find out in FOCUS 2024, our world film market trends report from the European Audiovisual Observatory | Observatoire européen de l'audiovisuel

More to come

Eurasian Film Market is building cultural and business bridges between CIS film industry and the World. 🌍 We were glad to welcome German Films at the Eurasian Film Market 2023 with the presentation of the German Film Industry, funds overview including the Distribution Support fund and new German films available for sales in the region. 🇩🇪 #eurasianfilmmarket #efm_almaty #eurasianfilmmarket2024 #filmmarket #centralasia #germanfilms

My little one minute film "Callie and Bee: Hoop Dreams" has now been accepted into three film festivals. Can''t say much at the moment, but I'll have a few announcements about that in the next month or so. One of them had me make a trailer for the film (which is almost as long as the film itself.) Take a look:

This past weekend, Michael and I premiered our 9th film and I performed live for the first time in five years. It required: 1 - Hiring a babysitter for more hours than we could comfortably afford. 2 - Pumping after the kids went to bed and brainstorming ways to get my child to drink milk not directly from me. 3 - Commuting between rehearsals, screenings, performances, and home to nurse, hand off the kids, and spend quality time with them. 4 - Handling a sick child who couldn’t attend school and soothing a baby awake for two hours at night due to my accidental throat-clearing. On Sunday, we did not rest. It’s not an option with two small kids. The weekend was hectic but rewarding, and I am grateful for the experience, but Monday brought some much-needed relief. I don't share this to gain sympathy or compete in the exhaustion Olympics–  "Oh yeah, you only got 4 hours of sleep? Well, I only got -0.37!" And yes, having children and pursuing my career are my choices. But when I hear stereotypes like "Millennials are lazy and just don’t want to work," I question what the standard definition of "work" really is. Is it measured by a LinkedIn profile, frequent title changes, or hours logged in an office? Or by the income and possessions, it allows one to accumulate? If that's the case, then maybe I am lazy. Maybe I don’t want to “work”. Why would I? Curious: How do you define or redefine work 👇🏽?