"I think that technology in cinema is changing very fast but the techniques to craft images (the language) are the same" - Mauro John Capece

Mauro John Capece is a film director, expert in digital productions, pioneer in innovative film making, and film funding. He directs and produces features and documentaries, music videos, live music and commercials. His works have won awards at major national and international film festivals. He spoke to Abhijit Ganguly on the sidelines of The NEZ International Film Festival an initiative by Dr Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar, founder of NEZ Foundation.

One industry that has been expansively affected by technological changes is film. Both mechanical and digital innovations have influenced everything from equipment to distribution, changing how films are made and the manner in which we consume them. What are your thoughts?

I think that technology in cinema is changing very fast but the techniques to craft images (the language) are the same. As a director, it is extremely important to be updated at all times but without a correct use of the “film grammar” and the right story you cannot do anything. We have a grammar, the moving pictures language and we have an art, cinema, that is (and it will remains) the fusion of other arts. Technology is changing but the film’s language is the same as what Sergej Ejzenštejn created in 1925.

As an example, if I see a shot from the above done twenty years ago using a long jib or a contemporary shot using a drone, the grammar, the reason of that shot- it’s the same. It doesn’t matter if you are using a contemporary Ginbal, a dolly or an old Steady Cam, if you need a steady shot you will do using contemporary and cheap technology.

I don’t think that contemporary techniques are giving the possibility to spend less money to do films because the big companies are every time searching for expensive changes in technology. As an example, think to the following standards and their approximate dates of release in the industry: Vhs (1976); Betacam (1982); Video8 (1985); Digital Betacam (1993); Dv or Mini DV (1995); HD 720 or Interlaced (1998); Full Hd (2004); 3D (2006); 4k (2012); 8K (2014). Where is freedom? I shot my last feature using 4K and we spent lot of money in storage (hard drives). We probably would have spent the same amount if we had decided to shoot on film. That’s not independence.

In what ways is cinema reinventing itself to take advantage of the affordances of digital media?

In many ways. Visual Fx, Chroma Key, but not only. I really like the colour fidelity that is obtained from a digital shot Raw and I find that digital has far exceeded the emulsion film at both the definition and in terms of the possibility of intervention in post production. On the other hand I do not know whether in a hundred years magnetic media will still exist. My only fear is that one day we can live in a world without memory or art.

How Social Media has changed the game for documentary and the movie industry?

Social media is radically changing the way we live and communicate but also are facilitating large companies investing in advertising to bring OUR attention to THEIR products. On the other hand I never signed an agreement due to crowd funding or with someone you met on a social media... I NEVER made artworks or money or found a production thanks to the web. A few people in the cinema or in the documentary they live and work through social. On the other hand I really believe in the power that social media gives artists that can interact directly with their audience.

How will cinema be different a decade from now than it was ten years ago?

Now we have more video on demand, more cool tv series, more technology than ten years ago but I see deep crisis of content and interesting stories. The last twenty years are absolutely not comparable to the sixties or seventies as regard to the quality of the stories. The decay, evident in television is even more evident when we speak of the seventh art. Obviously we have interesting films... but, talking about quality and contents, we are very far from titles like Fellini’s 8 1/2 or Reitz’s Heimat, etc.

0

"Acrobatic pizza–maker" - Chef Pasqualino Barbasso

Chef Pasqualino Barbasso is a man with a mission-to make high quality Italian pizza and do it in the most entertaining way. This 36 year-old pizzaiolo is among the most skilful, famous masters of acrobatic pizza-making. In the last ten years, Pasqualino has travelled around the world offering his stunning performances to enhance the quality and taste of Italian pizzas made according to true Italian tradition.When did he first engage in this unique venture of giving pizza dough an acrobatic dimension? Pasqualino says,”At the age of 17, I became a pizzaiolo. I started training for acrobatic pizza two years later to enhance my skills. I have my own school and business in Italy. It is a good opportunity to show pizzas around the world. This is because people not only like to eat but also like to watch.” Recently, La Cucina in Hyatt Regency, Kolkata, organized special cooking classes conducted by Chef Pasqualino Barbasso.

So what are the key ingredients in an Italian pizza and what is the special technique to make the dough so elastic? Pasqualino says, “You need to have the best ingredients. You never compromise on quality, and never go for cheap ingredients. You have to let the dough rise for 24 hours before using it. You need good olive oil, good mozzarella ,fresh tomatoes.” Coming to his Indian sojourn, what local dish has he enjoyed so far? Pasqualino smiles, “It’s difficult to remember the names, but I liked paneer, kebabs and various kinds of Indian breads. During my workshops, I have found the staff to be good, innovative and open to new things.” His advice for aspiring chefs? He feels, “Follow your passion. A chef’s profession is like any other profession. Don't think only about the money. Money may come quickly, but if you don’t work in the right way, success won’t last for long.”

0

“We prefer to stay underground rather than compromise on taste”- Yuvraj Chhetri

Rusty Nails (originally from Darjeeling )is a blues, rock and jazz fusion band from Nepal. The outfit that have played at Moksh, House of Music, Jazz Festivals, Safari camps and National events in Nepal and India. In their thirty years of touring, they have played more than 5000 gigs, including shows at the Palmers Street Jazz. Festival (Australia), Razzberry Rhinocerous (Mumbai), IIT Mardi Gras (Chennai), the Kingdom of Bhutan.They have been winners of the IIT Spring Fest (Kharagpur) and, every year, they play at the Darjeeling Tea and Tourism festival, organized by the Government of West Bengal. Recently, Yuvraj Chhetri (Guitarist/ Vocalist,founder member), Hemraj Chhetri (Drums/ Vocalist ,founder member) and Shawn B Pyngrope( bassist) of Rusty Nails  performed with Laura Ann and Danny Khawas at the  SOAR Live Music Concert in Kolkata.  Abhijit Ganguly spoke to Yuvraj about the bands journey.

How did the name of the band-Rusty Nails come about?

The name came about when we're growing up in the 80's in India when the country had not developed as much as now. India was considered one of the less developed countries. As a result we felt like we were like rusty nails in a hinge of a door which was breaking apart. Moreover we grew up in Darjeeling a district of West Bengal which was neglected and in a time of the uprising.

How do you describe Rusty Nails sound? What characterize your music philosophy?

Rusty-nails sound is influenced by the blues, rock, jazz and funk. It's basically a fusion of different genres especially the aforementioned ones. The music philosophy has always been anything that is good is considered good in music and anything that is bad is bad and according to our ears we pick the good and play and get inspired. Philosophy of the band is that We prefer to stay underground rather than compromise on taste.

Where does Rusty Nails draw its inspiration?

Our Inspiration is drawn from good true musicians. The likes of BB King,Sting, Steely Dan, Miles Davis, Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd and so many out there.

Do you think that platforms like YouTube and MySpace are necessary for putting new bands’ music out there?

Myspace and YouTube is a great platform I guess. In our times, when we were younger we had no-space and no-tube !. I think we had been famous and a household name by now but no regrets absolutely whatsoever.

How do you see the music scene both in India and Nepal? Do you think musicians have a better chance at a professional career now than before?

The music scene in India is growing slowly but steadily apart from Bollywood which is on fire I guess commercially. But in Bollywood also we have seen the rise of quality over the years.  Nepal has a long way to go, it is laid back. Although it's a good place to train yourself . Let's keep that place for climbing and trekking. That's what it is best for and the recent devastation calls us to play music and raise funds for our fellow humans who are suffering there

Your word of advice for aspiring bands?

My suggestion for aspiring musicians is not to give up .We didn't have internet. Not only that we had no proper gears when we were starting out. Its not a piece of cake but Never give up!!

0

"Most young people are naive about the amount hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in a creative field" - Bill Shotton

Bill Shotton holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Music Theory. He has won several awards for music composition and song-writing. Bill has many years of experience teaching music and directing musical productions for young students, most recently at The Todd Academy, a private school in Indianapolis, Indiana. Recently, Bill was here in Kolkata for a workshop titled “Songs of the Sea” organized by The Park Street Ladies  Circle, where students got to learn  songs with nautical themes including Sloop John B, and The Rule of the Ocean. 

How did your tryst with music happen?

I guess it started with my family. One of the things we would do as a family, when I was young, was listening to records together. We used to know the same songs and same songs and that’s how I had gained a lot of interest in listening to music. There was a hard time in my 20's and basically I had lost my job. I decided to earn a living that time by playing the piano and it wasn’t been easy at all. But I decided to do so.

Considering the fact that some of your songs revolve around social issues, what do you hope people will be inspired to do, or what you hope people will be motivated to do, when they listen to your music?

 

I acknowledge that the world is fraught with many complicated issues, and simple solutions are often not possible. However, I believe that there is too much fear and not enough sympathy in the world. My opinions regarding social issues will fall into this philosophy, and I suppose this is what I want others to get from such songs.

 

Is there a certain artist that inspired you as you were growing up? Or is there a certain philosophy that has always guided you during your music making?

 

The first three musicians I knew as a child: John Prine, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. These three were pioneers of country and folk music. Then around age 11 I fell madly in love with classical music. I had a cassette Walkman that I would listen to at night while in bed. I found Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart to be especially profound. As a teenager I discovered the Beatles in my Dad's record collection and they opened up the history of rock. So from there: The Doors, The Stones, Pink Floyd, etc.

 

A lot of young musicians would love to study music at Berkley or any other institution; however not many have the means to. That being said, do you think a formal education in music is important?

 

It all depends on what you want to do. A formal education is important for success the academic world, and the world of art music. True geniuses can bypass all of this, but they are very rare. If however, your goal is to become a great musician you can do it on your own if you find the right teachers and work really, really hard. Most young people are naive about the amount hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in a creative field. I used to think that my talent was enough; it's not.

 

For you, what is the significance of the process of collaboration – bringing your perspective together with other artists and their world views/creative visions? Are you looking at collaborations with Indian musicians?

 

The creative process is a habit that is isolated in the artists brain. When we collaborate, the process becomes shared externally.  Collaboration not only changes the outcome of the joint project, it can also have a permanent effect on your creative habits. I am very much interested in collaborating with Indian musicians,  but so far I haven't had any luck making connections.

 

In today's world, once one starts making music professionally, just making good music does not suffice.  What are your views?

Well it begs the question, suffice for what? For fame and wealth? No. If you are dreaming of becoming a rock star,  you have to sell more than music, you also have to sell culture, attitude, style, and sex. Even then, you have to be in the right place at the right time and know the right people. But does it suffice to earn a modest living and a parcel of happiness? I think so, but that is a question each musician must settle individually.

 

The theme of your workshop here in Kolkata was “songs of the sea”. Why the Nautical theme?

 

Well, I worked with the Park Street Ladies Circle for this workshop, and two ladies from the circle arranged everything for me- it was great they were very professional and knew what needed to be done. They suggested having a theme. I chose the Nautical theme because there are a lot of good songs about the sea: Yellow Submarine, and Sloop John B, for example.

 

What is your word of advice for aspiring singer songwriter?

You need to learn other people songs. Learn to play other people’s music. Learn the classics; people who have done it well. Then try to write your own songs. The aim of the songwriter is to evolve some kind of emotional response. So, if you don’t feel anything yourself, you are not going to get any response from other people.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about Kolkata?

The architecture and the crows. The colonial style blended with the aged look along with the abundance of crows gives it a gothic feeling. Kolkata is one of my favourite city!

0

"Many people are using mindfulness in the workplace and benefiting from it" - Martine Batchelor

                                                                                          pic courtesy - budismosecular.org

Martine Batchelor spent ten years in a Korean monastery studying Zen Buddhism. She works as a lecturer and spiritual advisor, and her books include Principles of Zen, Walking on Lotus Flowers, and Buddhism and Ecology. She lives in the South of France. She speaks to Abhijit Ganguly.

Why has mindfulness become such a popular theme in our modern culture?

It has become a popular theme in our modern culture because it is pragmatic, portable, and secular. Although it is a practice which comes from the Buddhist tradition, one does not have to be a Buddhist or believe in the Buddha to cultivate it and benefit from it. Jon Kabat Zinn, the founder of this modern and applicable mindfulness had very good results with his patients -- whether they were people with heart problems or were suffering from painful conditions. A friend of mine who suffered severe burns was given the choice between a course of mindfulness or more medication. She decided to try out mindfulness and it radically changed her ways of dealing with painful sensations. She found it a great relief and a revelation.

What are your views about bringing mindfulness into the workplace?

Many people are using mindfulness in the workplace and benefiting from it. First, it can help people to be more efficient and focused on the task at hand. Being fully present in a caring and careful manner, but also in a stable and open way helps one to take to the task with creativity and fullness, and leave it behind totally without regret, and then move on to the next thing.

Mindfulness also enables us to deal with difficult people and situations better.

Can it enhance leadership qualities?

It could if a leader is someone who cares as much for himself/herself as for others, who acknowledges that he/she can make mistakes as well as other people; but who can also have great ideas. It could enhance one’s potential for patience, endurance, wisdom and creativity.

Perhaps the most interesting intersection in the business world is between mindfulness and technology, as they appear to pull in opposite directions. What are your views?

Mindfulness and technology can go hand in hand, again, it depends how you use mindfulness and technology. I have various meditation friends who have developed meditative apps, which people find to be very useful to cultivate mindfulness on the go. Another friend developed a programme for a teenager called .b which works very well in school. You have Buddhist Geeks conferences. Mindfulness can also help to use technology more skillfully and wisely. Again, it depends what kind of technology one is talking about. There are different sorts of application of technology.

It seems like there is a general trend towards increased social responsibility for companies and their employees. What role do you think mindfulness plays in this?

In a Buddhist sutra, the Buddha mentions the six duties or responsibilities of the employer towards his employees and vice versa. In a later Chinese sutra (5th century CE), dedicated to the ethical precepts of the person aspiring to awakening one is enjoined to treat well one’s employees and to use resources wisely and compassionately. In more recent times, the Quaker industrialists in England wanted to provide jobs and do commerce with an ethical attitude.

Nowadays, there is also talk about social responsibilities for companies and their employees. The practice of mindfulness could be having some influence. If one cultivates mindfulness, one is cultivating a more caring and careful attitude which will encompass all activities and relationships including appropriate livelihood. In the USA there is a series of conferences called Wisdom 2.0 which is involved in these kind of discussions with Google and Microsoft and other companies for example.

0

A single engine Cessna, the globe, and a 21-year old daredevil

At 2l, Captain Tan has become the youngest person to fly solo around the world, completing a journey of more than 22,000 nautical miles in 50 days. Capt Tan’s historical flight – in a single-engine Cessna 2l0 Eagle – took him to 20 countries. He shares his experience with Abhijit Ganguly.

What inspired you to become a pilot?

I was amazed to see the Boeing 747 for the first time at the age of 5. When I was flying to the UK on a holiday, I saw a red fighter flying 90 degrees up in the air and I said to myself, “You know what, I'm going to become a pilot.” That was it.

What prompted you to make this journey around the world?

My journey around the world is an attempt to inspire persons with special needs and make them believe that they can also achieve their dreams. I wanted to do something to inspire and motivate people and convey the message to youngsters from all over the world that nothing is impossible. I would like people to see disability as a gift and dream because that is what inspires people to get direction in life. If I can do it, anyone can. I just wanted to promote the idea that you can do it if you believe in yourself.

Could you share with us some hair raising moments you had experienced during the journey?

I had faults with the plane's hydraulic system as I flew from Alaska to Vancouver in Canada. In one of the stopovers in Russia the temperature was as low as -20 degree Celsius. And while flying over the ocean, I saw it was frozen! The engine had frozen and wouldn’t work. I had to pick the ice with a screwdriver, before warming it up. And I had had to take off my gloves for all that, and I could feel the chill. I also encountered ash cloud from an active volcano in Russia and sandstorm while flying over Qatar.

How was your experience in India?

It was absolutely amazing!! I love India the culture and the history of your great country. Especially my visit of Calcutta where I had a rare pleasure of having a boat ride on the River Ganges. In that moment I found a moment of peace.

What advice would like to give the special need children who want to make it big in life?

Watch Taare Zameen Par, It’s a lovely movie and it spoke to me in a special way. I found this quote very helpful in my journey “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

Find your dream and never give up and some day you will make it happen!

0

AFL bounces into India

The game was officially born 156 years ago when in 1859 its rules were codified four years before soccer even had a codified set of rules, but it had been played for several years before that across the southern states of Australia . Originally a sport played by cricketers in their leisure time to stay fit, over the decades the game created a unique identity of its own. It may look something like rugby but the rules are completely different.  As basketball and baseball are popular in the US, so Footy is popular in Australia. During a visit to Australia in 2015, Christiano Ronaldo even had a chance to learn the game and Indians such as Harsha Bhogle and Bengal’s own Sourav ‘Dada’ Ganguly have also been introduced to the game by their Australian counterparts. The name of the game is Australian Rules Football. In short, “Aussie Rules” or simply “Footy”.

                                        Gavin Crosisca

Recently the  Australian Rules Football Association of India National Championship 2015,  was held at Gitanjali Stadium, Kolkata. Australian Football League legend Gavin Crosisca who was in attendance  said, “ I was here in 2013 with a tournament in Goa. The skills of the teams that were down there has improved considerably. The training that these guys have been putting in is starting to show the rewards. I think that the tournament is improving considerably so it’s a credit to everyone who is involved. These two days of playing Footy is a fantastic thing for not just AFL but also for the Indian community because Footy brings communities together with a lot of camaraderie.”

The game is immensely popular in Australia where it originated and can draw crowds of up to 1 lakh spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It is now played in 51 countries around the world. It looks like a combination primarily of football and rugby but has elements of other sports as well. Unlike rugby, players can't throw the ball and can be tackled from all directions. For short passes, they have to hit the ball with their fist (called a ‘handpass’) similar to volleyball. For long passes, they have to kick the ball like a football goalie. They are also supposed to bounce the ball every 15 meters like basketball. With an oval shaped ball the ability to bounce the ball is a skill in itself.

                  Sudip Chakraborty

Sudip Chakraborty, Founder & Secretary General at Australian Rules Football Association of India (AFL India) & Captain of the national team of India- Indian Tigers, told “ Ricky Ponting in 2008 first played the sport here when he was playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. In the same year, a coach from Australia came to Kolkata and the sport was launched in Kolkata  and players from all sporting backgrounds were invited to try the sport. Similarly, a friend of mine who was a basketball player asked me to give this sport a try because there seems to be an advantage for tall people. I am from both soccer and cricket backgrounds but I still gave it a try. Since this sport involves skills from various different sports, everybody has a part to play. First a team representing India was formed, which was supposed to travel to Australia. I got selected and we went to Australia and witnessed the madness of the game there. I started liking it and thought we can't just let it be a one-shot deal and that we needed to go back and develop it. Unfortunately, people who were in charge back then lost interest and nothing happened for one and half years. We wrote to the AFL and were given the charge.”

There are seven states playing the sport right now (Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala ) and in the last three years, the participation has gone up from around 1000 to 7000. The Indian Army has shown an interest in playing the sport. The Indian team named Indian Tigers goes to Australia every three years to participate in the AFL International Cup. Eighteen countries participate and Indian Tigers got its first victory against East Timor in 2011. Both the senior and junior division finals were between West Bengal and Jharkhand. Jharkhand won the junior division (61-0) while the Bengal boys won the senior division (18-14), making it three times in-a-row. 

Talking about the USP of the sport, Sudip said, “It is the fastest outdoor team sport on earth. Wherever you are on the ground, the ball could be within three seconds over your head. The ball travels so fast and high, it looks really attractive especially for someone watching from the gallery. It involves skills of various different sports for example, rugby, volleyball, basketball, soccer, sprinting etc.” Sudip is trying to have a state tournament every year and then, select the national players. For West Bengal, he is looking to start a league as players tend to lose motivation as they play one or two tournaments a year.

Shane Sayner, a spectator in Kolkata, an avid AFL lover and regular traveler to India, told  “It's great to see how the game has developed over the last few years in India since I first saw it in Goa in 2013. Much credit must go to the local coaches in each state, the players families, the supporters and former players who have stuck with the game and Sudip’s team at ARFAI who keep things going and growing on a day-to-day basis. Most importantly credit goes to these players who have come to love the game and stuck at it, improving themselves and this new sport in India”.

4