Life! Camera Action... Explained
| Life! Camera Action... |
| Director: | Rohit Gupta |
| Producer: | Rohit Gupta |
| Music: | Manoj Singh |
| Cinematography: | Ravi Kumar R |
| Editing: | Rohit Gupta |
| Studio: | Dot & Feather Entertainment |
| Distributor: | Viva Entertainment, USA
Flipkart (DVD), India
Distrify (online worldwide) |
| Released: | United States |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | Hindi
Punjabi
English |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
Life! Camera Action... is a family-drama film directed, written, edited, produced by Rohit Gupta, in his feature-length directorial debut.[1] [2] Starring Dipti Mehta, Shaheed Woods,[3] Noor Naghmi,[4] Swati Kapila,[5] John Crann,[6] this ninety minutes quasi-autobiographical film follows a girl in pursuit of her dreams of becoming a filmmaker against all odds. The film received several awards and nominations.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Its theatrical release was limited to film festivals. The film received direct-to-DVD release and subsequently on other video on demand (VOD) platforms.[12] [13]
Life! Camera Action... is of note for its extremely low filming budget ($4000), production value, philosophical inference, and its message widely praised.[14] [15] It made its way to the Limca Book of Records, India's equivalent of the Guinness World Records for being the first full-length motion picture "shot by just a two-member crew".[16] [17]
Cast
- Dipti Mehta as Reina
- Shaheed Woods as Mike
- John Crann as Professor Ed
- Swati Kapila as Simi
- Suneet Kochar as Actress[18]
- Chelsi Stahr as producer Teri[19]
- Subodh Batra as Reina's father
- Noor Naghmi[20]
- Prabha Batra as Reina's mother
- Nina Mehta as Actress[21]
- Bhavesh Patel as Patel DVD store owner
Production
Development
Life! Camera Action... started as Rohit Gupta's ten-minute short film assignment at the New York Film Academy. Shortly after he dropped out of the academy to make it into a full-length feature film.[22] Amanda Sodhi, the co-writer of the film, in response to an advertisement had originally submitted a fifteen-page short film script titled "The Last Shot" loosely based on her own life.>[23]
Filming
The film was shot in guerilla style on Panasonic AG-DVX100 in ten days and roughly edited on Gupta's Mac Book Pro.[24] It was filmed on an initial budget of around $4000 with money raised from his savings that was cleaned up with post-production work costing several thousand dollars before its marketing and release. In an interview Dipti Mehta has said that in an informal meeting before the audition, Gupta thought she was not right for the part, although she was invited at the audition where he failed to recognize her at the first sight. Mehta did get the part and it became her debut film as a lead.[25]
Filming locations
Various locations in New York City, New York Film Academy, Jersey City and Newport Waterfront.
Music
The background score and songs were composed by Manoj Singh.[26] The music was produced in Mumbai, India. The following songs are featured in the film and used as a part of the background score.
Soundtrack
The score for Life! Camera Action... features two original songs.
Release
Life! Camera Action... opened in numerous international film festivals beginning with its world premiere at the New York Indian Film Festival.[27] Thereafter the film went on to receive numerous accolades around the world before it received a limited DVD distribution deal on 29 October 2012 by New Jersey-based ViVa Entertainment for the Asian Indian market spanning the North American continent.[28] It was initially released via Facebook on 20 July 2012 by Boston-based idistribute Inc., a new media distribution company.[29] On 29 November 2012, the film received another retail DVD distribution platform via Florida-based Dynasty Records through Trans World Entertainment Corporation's national mall-based stores under the brand name FYE (For Your Entertainment), Suncoast and Wherehouse.com.[30] Flipkart, India's largest e-commerce consumer company released the film on 17 February 2013.[31] On International Women's Day, 8 March 2013 the film was released worldwide through Distrify, a UK-based VOD movie distribution company for online streaming and movie download in any global currency.[32] [33] The film was released to other VOD service such as the Amazon Video, BoxTV.[34]
Reception
Life! Camera Action... received critical acclaim. It was invited at various international film festivals including the New York Indian Film Festival; Williamsburg International Film Festival (WILLiFest) in New York;[35] Mississippi International Film Festival, USA;[36] Cabo Verde International Film Festival (CVIFF), Africa;[37] International Film Festival Antigua & Barbuda;[38] Official World Peace Film Festival, Indonesia;[39] Golden Door Film Festival in USA;[40] Ionian International Film Festival in Greece;[41] Indian International Film Festival of Tampa Bay; Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival in United Kingdom;[42] Treasure Coast International Film Festival, USA;[43] The Social Uprising Resistance and Grass Root Encouragement International Film Festival, in the United States;[44] NFDC Film Bazaar in Goa; Beloit International Film Festival;[45] [46] Filums (LUMS International Film Festival), Pakistan;[47] Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) South Asian Film Series, USA;[48] Heart of England International Film Festival; Dhaka International Film Festival (Cinema of the World section), Bangladesh;[49] Legacy Media Institute International Film Festival, Virginia;[50] Delhi International Film Festival, India;[51] International Youth Film Festival in the UK; Silent River Film Festival, USA;[52] and others.
Awards and nominations
The film received various accolades including some of the highest honors at its festival run, with the nominations categories mainly ranging from recognition of the film itself (Best Film) to its direction, Film editing, music, screenwriting to the cast's acting performance, mainly Dipti Mehta (Best Actress), Swati Kapila (Best Supporting Actress),[53] Noor Naghmi (Best Supporting Actor)[54] and Shaheed Woods (Best Actor).
Selected Official selections and screenings
| Festival/Event | Location | Country |
|---|
| | |
| Williamsburg International Film Festival | | |
| Toronto International Film Awards | | |
| | |
| | |
| Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival | | |
| Ioninan International Film Festival | | |
| Treasure Coast International Film Festival | | |
| World Peace International Film Festival | | |
| Social Uprising Resistance and Grass Root Encouragement IFF | | |
| | |
| | |
| Heart of England International Film Festival | | |
| | |
| Legacy Media Institute International Film Festival | | |
| Delhi International Film Festival | | |
| International Youth Film Festival | | |
| Silent River Film Festival | | |
| Action on Film International Film Festival | | |
| International Film Festival Antigua & Barbuda | | |
| Nevada International Film Festival | | |
| Love Unlimited Film Festival and Art Exhibition | | |
| Filums (LUMS International Film Festival) | | |
| Love Unlimited Film Festival and Art Exhibition | | |
| Sunset International Film Festival | | |
| The World Independent Film Festival | | |
| Cabo Verde International Film Festival | | |
| World Music & Independent Film Festival | | |
| International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema | | |
| Barossa International Film Festival | | |
| Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival | | |
| International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration and Equality | | |
| Yosemite International Film Festival | | |
| Indie Fest | | | |
See also
External links
Notes and References
- News: IMDB.
- News: Life! Camera Action... in FYE, Amazon, HMV. 24 November 2012. Celeb Mirror. 24 November 2012.
- Web site: Shaheed Woods on Internet Movie Database. Imdb.com. 25 June 2014.
- Web site: Noor Naghmi on IMDB. Imdb.com. Internet Movie Database. 25 June 2014.
- News: Swati Kapila NRI Actress Making India Proud by editorial . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928103133/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-18/cinema/29899990_1_film-industry-rohit-life-camera-action. dead. 28 September 2013. 18 August 2011. . 18 August 2011.
- Web site: John Crann in Life! Camera Action.... Internet Movie DB.
- News: Movie Making is Magic: Rohit Gupta by Jyothsna Hegde, Atlanta, USA.. 28 May 2013. NRI Plus. 28 May 2013.
- News: Urban Asian – Rohit Gupta's Life! Camera Action... at the International Film Festival Manhattan, 2011 . 15 November 2011. Urban Asian. 15 November 2011.
- News: Rohit Gupta's films sweep top ten prestigious awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20120517184306/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-30/cinema/31505976_1_films-popular-awards-amanda-sodhi. dead. 17 May 2012. 30 April 2012. . 30 April 2012.
- News: New York Film Academy Graduate Rohit Gupta Nominated for Several Awards at World Music and Independent Film Festival . 25 April 2011. New York Film Academy. 25 April 2011.
- News: Rohit Gupta's Life! Camera Action... selected to screen at IIDFF in Greece. 14 September 2012. Bollywood Trade.com. 14 September 2012. 16 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120916111505/http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/film-festivals-and-markets/rohit-guptas-life-camera-action-to-screen-at-iidff-in-greece/F9AD7AC7-E960-4425-8FED-7E264844A2D5/index.htm. dead.
- News: LIFE! CAMERA ACTION... most-awarded film releases on DVD by Bollywood Trade Editorial.. 21 April 2014. Bollywood Trade. 10 November 2012.
- News: LIFE! CAMERA ACTION... Independent feature film releases on the world's largest social media platform . 21 April 2014. WBRI. 24 July 2012.
- News: Follow your own path. 27 December 2015. TOI. 11 June 2014.
- News: Life! Camera Action...in DIFF. 14 June 2014. Bindaas Khabar. 26 December 2011.
- News: Filmmaker Rohit Gupta honored by the Limca Book of Records by Roopa Modha – Urban Asian. 2 January 2014. Urban Asian. 2 January 2014.
- News: Filmmaker Rohit Gupta honored by the Limca Book of Records – TOI NRI Achievers. 17 January 2014. The Times of India. 14 January 2014.
- News: Suneet Kochar on Life! Camera Action.... 30 June 2012. WBRI USA. 30 June 2012.
- Web site: Actress Chelsi Stahr. Internet Movie Database.
- News: Noor Naghmi wins Best Supporting Actor. https://web.archive.org/web/20130930201509/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-25/cinema/29926541_1_feature-film-first-international-award-chalo. dead. 30 September 2013. The Times of India. 25 August 2011.
- News: Actress Nina Mehta talks about Life! Camera Action.... 18 June 2012. WBRI, USA. 18 June 2012.
- News: Los Angeles-based Amanda Sodhi wins Best Screenplay award. 18 July 2014. NRI Today. May 2012.
- News: Indian born Amanda Sodhi wins Best Screenplay award. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921151210/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-14/cinema/31700718_1_short-film-first-film-amanda-sodhi. dead. 21 September 2013. 14 May 2012. The Times of India. 14 May 2012.
- News: Rohit Gupta's Life! Camera Action... to screen at IIF, Florida by BT editorial. BT. 8 February 2011.
- News: Interview: Up Close with DIPTI MEHTA – "Best Actress" Award Winner for "LIFE! CAMERA ACTION...". WBRI, USA. 5 May 2012. 5 May 2014. 6 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140506004604/http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/54354212-interview-close-dipti-mehta-best-actress-award-winner-life-camera-action. dead.
- Web site: Manoj Singh. Internet Movie Database.
- News: World premiere of 'Life! Camera Action...'. 14 June 2014. Entertainment. Zee News. 10 October 2010.
- News: Viva Entertainment to distribute Life! Camera Action.... 24 October 2012. Celebmirror. 24 October 2012.
- News: Life! Camera Action... releases via facebook. 27 July 2012 . Indian Post. 27 July 2012.
- News: Life! Camera Action... DVD release. 18 July 2014. India TV today. 11 February 2013.
- Web site: Life! Camera Action... available on Flipkart. Flipkart. 29 March 2014.
- News: A film every filmmaker must watch. 8 March 2013. WBRI. 8 March 2013.
- Web site: Online Film Distribution Company. Distrify.
- News: Life! Camera Action... in F.Y.E, Amazon, HMV Canada.. 24 June 2014. India TV Today. 25 November 2012.
- Web site: Williamsburg International Film Festival 2011 Screening Schedule, New York. WiLLiFest.
- Web site: Officially Selected Film Screening Schedule Mississippi International Film Festival, USA . Mississippi International Film Festival.
- Web site: Guia Oficial do Festival Cabo Verde International Film Festival (CVIFF) in Western Africa. Cabo Verde Int Film Festival.
- Web site: Official Screenings and nominations Antigua & Barbuda International Film Festival. Antigua Barbuda.
- News: Life! Camera Action.. wins Best Feature Film in Indonesia International Film Festival Peace, Inspiration & Equality aka Official World Peace Film Festival in Indonesia. https://web.archive.org/web/20130929170525/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-12/cinema/33788726_1_damien-dematra-feature-film-rohit-gupta. dead. 29 September 2013. The Times of India. 12 September 2012.
- Web site: Winners 2011 Golden Door Film Festival in USA . Golden Door Film Festival of Jersey City . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130408054859/http://goldendoorfilmfestival.org/archives/4372 . 8 April 2013 .
- Web site: Official Screening Schedule Ionian International Digital Film Festival in Greece. Ionian International Digital Film Festival.
- Web site: Winners and nominees 2012 Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival in United Kingdom. Carmarthen Bay. 22 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630033621/http://www.carmarthenbayfilmfestival.co.uk/page7.html. 30 June 2015. dead.
- Web site: Screening Schedule Treasure Coast International Film Festival, USA. TCIFF. 22 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20100416091950/http://www.tcifilmfest.com/Films---Screenings.html. 16 April 2010. dead.
- News: Life! Camera Action... Tag line The Social Uprising Resistance and Grass Root Encouragement International Film Festival in the United States. 24 January 2012. Celebmirror. 24 January 2012.
- Web site: Life! Camera Action...Showtimes 2012 Beloit International Film Festival. 18 January 2012. Beloit Int Film Festival.
- News: BIFF to screen Life! Camera Action twice. 25 June 2014. Indian Television news. 18 February 2012.
- News: Life! Camera Action... to showcase in Pakistan Filums (LUMS International Film Festival). https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055449/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-09/cinema/31041624_1_film-festivals-annual-film-project-film-credits. dead. 21 September 2013. 9 February 2012. The Times of India. 9 February 2012.
- Web site: Life! Camera Action... to open South Asian Film Series Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) South Asian Film Series, USA. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
- Web site: 2012 Lineup Dhaka International Film Festival (Cinema of the World section). Dhaka Int. Film Festival.
- News: Rohit Gupta's "Life! Camera Action..." to screen at the Legacy Media Institute in Virginia by Roopa Modha. Urban Asian. 8 November 2013.
- News: Life! Camera Action... to screen at DIFF2012. BT.
- News: Life! Camera Action... Movie screening and meet the Director Silent River Film Festival, USA. The Press Enterprise.
- News: Award Nominated American Actress Swati Kapila. 30 June 2012. WBRI, USA. 30 June 2012.
- Web site: Noor Naghmi wins Best Supporting Actor at the World Music and Independent Film Festival, Washington, D.C..
- Web site: Accolade Winners 2010. Accolade Film Awards. 22 January 2013. https://archive.today/20130224084021/http://www.accoladecompetition.org/Jud.aspx?art=_90. 24 February 2013. dead.
- Web site: 2011 Official Award nominees. Action on Film. 22 January 2013. 9 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120409151332/https://www.aoffest.com/pdf/AOF-2011-Film-Video-Award-Winners.pdf. dead.
- Web site: Winners 2011 . California Film Awards . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120206234335/http://www.calfilmawards.com/Awards/2011_winners/2011_grand_winners.aspx . 6 February 2012 .
- Web site: Canada International Film Festival Winners & Nominees 2012 . Canada Int. Film Festival . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121221051618/http://www.canadafilmfestival.com/Festival/PastWinners/2012/tabid/472/Default.aspx . 21 December 2012 .
- Web site: Carmarthen Bay Film Festival in the United Kingdom Nominees and Winners 2012. CBFF, United Kingdom. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630033621/http://www.carmarthenbayfilmfestival.co.uk/page7.html. 30 June 2015. dead.
- Web site: Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City Winners & Nominees 2011 . 10 October 2011 . GDIFFoJC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130408054859/http://goldendoorfilmfestival.org/archives/4372 . 8 April 2013 .
- Web site: Life! Camera Action wins Top Nine Most Popular and Director's Special Grand Goldie Awards....Goldie Film Awards 2012. 26 April 2012. Internet Movie Database.
- Web site: New York Film Festival in Alum makes first feature at the Indie Festival . 10 June 2011 . NYFA . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131216140144/http://nyfa.tumblr.com/post/2062374791/alum-makes-first-feature . 16 December 2013 .
- Web site: Life! Camera Action... Victorious at the IFFPIE 2012. Star Blockbuster. 10 October 2012.
- Web site: International Film Festival of World Cinema Life! Camera Action... wins 2 awards. BT. 21 January 2013. 4 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140104210825/http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/film-festivals-and-markets/life-camera-action-wins-the-river-pursuit-and-river-amulet-award-at-the-silent-river-film-festival(srff-2011/index.htm. dead.
- News: Life! Camera Action... Wins Award at the Los Angeles Movie Award, USA. 1 June 2011. Glamsham. 1 June 2011.
- Web site: Life! Camera Action... wins at the Nevada International Film Festival Winners 2011. Nevada Film Festival. 21 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103010225/http://www.nevadafilmfestival.com/past_winners/2011_platinum_awards.aspx. 3 November 2012. dead.
- Web site: Life! Camera Action... wins top award at the Oregon Film Awards, Award Winners 2011. Oregon Film Awards.
- News: Prestige Film Awards Life! Camera Action... Wins another top three awards. 4 August 2012. Exclusive News. 4 August 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120806091542/http://exclusivenews.co.in/life-camera-action-wins-another-top-three-awards/. 6 August 2012. dmy-all.
- News: Life! Camera Action... Wins at the Silent River Film Festival in Irvine California. 17 September 2011. Bollywood Trade. 17 September 2011. 4 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140104210825/http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/film-festivals-and-markets/life-camera-action-wins-the-river-pursuit-and-river-amulet-award-at-the-silent-river-film-festival(srff-2011/index.htm. dead.
- Web site: 2012 Awards. Sunset Int. Film Festival.
- News: Dipti Mehta wins Award for Life! Camera Action...at the Sunset Int. Film Festival in California. 1 June 2012. India West. 1 June 2012.
- News: Editorial. BT. LIFE! CAMERA ACTION... wins Best Inspirational Family Drama Award in San Francisco, USA. 20 June 2015. BT. 18 September 2012.
- Web site: Toronto Independent Film & Video Awards 2011 Nominations. Toronto Independent Film & Video Awards.
- News: World Music & Independent Film Festival Washington D.C. Awards and nominees. Life! Camera Action...Wins 2 Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928033912/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-25/cinema/29926744_1_film-festival-south-africa-international-film-festival-thailand-noor-naghmi. dead. The Times of India. 2013-09-28.
- Web site: 2011 Winners Yosemite International Film Awards. Yosemite International Film Awards. 21 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120725000434/http://www.yosemitefilmfestival.com/Default.aspx?TabId=451&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1. 25 July 2012. dead.
- News: Filmmaker Rohit Gupta honored by the Limca Book of Records. Times of India. 14 January 2014.
