Luke Kenny at DAM with its directorial debut The 13th Floor

Probably the most awaited session of the day, the workshop with Luke Kenny did not disappoint the crowd. Interactive from the moment he walked into the screening hall, Luke, as he asked us to call him, was visibly delighted to be at SIMC.

The session began with the screening of his debut and only movie ‘The 13th Floor’. Set in modern Mumbai, the movie dwells on the co-incidences and improbable meetings in elevators amidst a power cut across the state of Maharashtra. A tad on the longer side, this 80 minute ‘feature film’ is probably not one of the technically strongest movies and could have been edited in a better manner. Even so, it is good one-time watch with an intriguing storyline.

The interactive session, however, moved beyond the movie and Luke answered questions about his personal and professional life. He spoke about how he decided to turn to direction and DJ-ing because it allowed him to be in ‘creative control’. He also emphasized the need for every student of cinema to make a movie that they could show to the producer so that they would know what to expect on hiring them. While speaking about digital movies, he explained how it would be the Next Big Thing for Indian filmmakers willing to experiment with different stories and themes as it was cheaper and more convenient to use.

Perhaps the entire crux of the session was summed up when Luke quoted Quentin Tarantino, “If you have the money to go to a good movie school, then make a movie instead”.

- Akashi Kaul

DAM Fest Open: 2nd International DigitAll Movement begins at SIMC

The lush 300-acre campus at Symbiosis Knowledge Village in Lavale witnessed the inaugural ceremony of the 2nd international digital entertainment festival. Organized by the students of Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, DigitAll Movement (DAM 09) which began today will culminate with a red carpet ceremony three days hence.

Filmmaker Kunaal Roy Kapur (The President is Coming) declared the 3-day fest open with the clapperboard. Talking about the nascent stage of digital filmmaking in India, Kapur said that going digital is the way ahead for future generations. He highlighted the strengths offered by the digital medium in terms of creative liberty, usability and economic viability.

Advocating the use of new media for film promotion and distribution was Rajjat Barjatya, the young enterprising scion of Rajshri Media. “The online revolution has benefited content providers, producers, exhibitors and consumers in a huge way,” he said. Barjatya is credited with the release of Vivaah, both online and in cinemas, simultaneously.

Dibaker Banerjee – who was an obvious hit with the crowd with popular favourites like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye in his kitty – spoke passionately about the potential of the digital medium. He however insisted that that the cost effectiveness of the medium should not result in trivial content production. “Use digital technology to make a unique production,” he said.

The occasion lent itself to elicit some nostalgic moments when Monika Shergill, creative director of Star One and Yash Patnaik, CEO of Beyond Dreams Entertainment Ltd. – SIMC alumnus from the 1996 batch – were awarded with the Star Alumni Award.