And he is talking a lot!

This is a news update on Ramesh Balsekar's health.

I have been wanting to put up this post since a week.

Ramesh has had a laser surgery a few days ago, some problem with his gall bladder. Though he is still in the ICU, he is much better.

It seems he told Heiner, an old timer, 'I am not going just yet. I am going to be around.'
The report is, that he is up and about, and, he is talking a lot!

Here is a recently updated video of his, from his daily talks in Mumbai.

Short Film making Workshop

Manjushree, who’s taught at NID and FTII

is conducting a

SHORT FILM-MAKING WORKSHOP

Learn to make a short, fiction film. A 5-day concise package, which includes screenplay writing, shooting with a digital camera, editing and uploading the film on your blog / website. Basic theory coupled with hands on practical experience.

Film-making is a marketable skill as well as an affordable hobby in today’s world. Short films are widely used by corporates and NGOs. They find an audience at film-festivals, You-Tube, video-blogging, and are a great beginning for a career in the booming media.

8^th April to 12^th April,

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fees : Rs. 3500/

For registration, contact Manjushree at

Ph: 98988 72862

Email: manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com


Course Structure

• 8th April : Class on Basics of script writing, by Manjushree. Students will write a script of five minute duration.
• 9th April : Class on Camera operations, by Mehul Upadhayay. Students will shoot their script, using each other as actors.
• 10th April : Class on Editing theory and software, by Manjushree and Mehul. Students will capture the rushes.
• 11th April : Students will edit the five minute video, and then upload it on the net.
  
• 12 th April : Class on Music, by Dahivat Shukla. Students will also watch some good short films.
  

Happy feet returns

I saw this cute video while doing some research for a documentary script about saving the planet, by not using plastic. This is a nudist beach type, copy of happy feet type, a comedy which sports a message: Hug to keep warm.

As a film maker, I cant help but wonder, where on earth did they find all those penguin looking artists? I cant even begin to imagine how and where I would have to go to make a similar film in India.

Talking of Happy feet, here is a trailer. A delightful movie. Maybe too blue and white, but thats what firangs think kids like.

Ah, I found a sleeping pill.

At one thirty am, I give up the effort. It is so tiring to be 'trying' to sleep. I get out of the bed. I open the fridge and pick a packet of dates to munch. They say warm milk is good when you can't sleep, but who would warm it? Besides, I am not too fond of milk. It leaves a taste, and I would probably have to eat more dates to get rid of it.

The house feels empty, but I am in no mood to appreciate the silence. Prayas is in Bangalore and I have no one on this earth to bug. So I do what anyone who has been married to a nerd for six years would do. I switch on the comp. While I am waiting for the mail to open, I pick up a book to browse. It's The Power of Now, written by Eckhart Tolle.

I have read this book cover to cover and back and forth. But it's a god-forsaken hour and I am insomniatic and I lack the concentration to read a single line. I open the book and shut it.

Since he has had a long relationship with me, somewhere God feels an itch. And I get a thought. And I watch this video on U-tube. Ten minutes later, I am back in bed. I am already enamoured by Ekcharts words. But to see him smile, and half laugh like he cant stop himself, is gobbling a choclate ice cream. My mind out of the picture, the body realizes that its so tired! I sleep.

So, Eckhart, if you so badly wannna talk to me, we might as well meet at ten, ten thirty, just before I am off to bed. Date?