L’Aquila | Mahdi Ahmed

Posts tagged ‘L’Aquila’

71 BC

How come I was unaware of SPARTACUS, the boldest TV series I’m watching at present which was aired 2 years ago? It’s shameful not to know anything about it for someone who boasts on having considerable knowledge in films, and more shameful at a time when internet is readily available and for someone who everyday updates himself with Hollywood news instead of having a morning coffee. Twenty something years ago, when internet was inter-what, I kept myself updated by subscribing to US magazine, PREMIERE and Australian magazine, MOVIE. I had a huge stack of both these magazines which kept piling with each month. Many years later I was on crossroads. I was left with no choice but to throw them all when storage space was desperately required for storing, well, more important things. I was in tears that day. And getting over the depression that followed was unbearable.

Okay back to SPARTACUS. To think about it, now I know why I never really heard about it. Firstly, it happened to be a TV series and secondly, like I mentioned in one of my recent post that I’m not much of a TV series fan. All these added up to absence of my knowledge on it. The only two series I completed watching was TWIN PEAKS and FRIENDS. Hopefully soon, SPARTACUS will be listed as the third which is also my best. Sorry FRIENDS.

Umar, a popular local DJ who is also my brother-in-law was repeatedly asking my wife and I to watch SPARTACUS for quite some time. But I never really cared because it so happened to be, yes, a TV series. But he didn’t give up. He kept asking us to watch just one episode and then we can decide on watching the rest of the seasons. I know there was no harm in watching just one episode but I still never cared. When I’m not in the mood to watch anything, usually mood of my wife follows suit. Dozing off is a different matter as long as I’m beside her.

Anyway, a month back, Umar came with his external HDD and saved both seasons and the six-part prequel of SPARTACUS in to my laptop. But I still never gave a thought on watching. Then one night while I was deleting old files to make space for the HDD, I came across the folder that Umar saved the series. I right clicked on the folder and checked how much space it was using. I thought 14.7 GB was just too much for a series I wasn’t going to watch, ever. I deleted it immediately.

Later that night, for no reason I just happened to check SPARTACUS from IMDB. Went through the storyline and some of the reviews and yet remained unconvinced. Then I played the trailer of the second season and my pupils dilated frantically. Then my jaw dropped. By the time the trailer was over, I was about to drool. Suddenly I came to senses. Quickly, I double clicked the recycle bin, right clicked on the folder and restored what was going to entertain my wife and me completely.

We have completed first season of SPARTACUS and last night finished the six-part prequel which was supposedly made to give time for Andy Whitfield who plays the titular character in season one to recover when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But sadly Andy passed away on September 11, 2011.

Of course, Andy Whitfield will remain the heart and soul of the series. My wife would nod her head countless times though I can do with just one on the same fact. But John Hannah as Quintus Lentulus Batiatus almost steals the show as the main antagonist of season one but surprisingly plays the protagonist of the six-part prequel.

Then there’s Lucretia, wife of Quintus, played to perfection by Lucy Lawless. I must confess that she’s my most favorite character of the first season and the six-part prequel. And in the fifth part of the prequel when Titus, dying father of Quintus asks Lucretia if she’s not the serpent he had thought her to be, her reply would even give shivers to Jupiter. For me it’s the defining moment of her character. From there it was understandable who she really is. Then again who wouldn’t be like her to elevate someone she loves more than life itself. I’m going to sorely miss her in the second season.

From 71 BC to 21^st century, last night the three producers of INGILI (Finger), that’s Hussain Munavvaru, Ravee Farooq and I met at L’Aquila. Now that the music score and sound design are almost done, the only remaining post production work is color grading. We have decided to give that task including mastering to Abdulla Muaz who also happened to be one of the only two characters of the film. Yes, he is a brilliant editor who has won best editor at the last Maldives Film Awards held in July this year. And his post production work is remarkable too. He has already agreed verbally.

The releasing of DHILAKANI (Fire Sparks) teaser trailer was delayed to complete the musical installment of its director Hussain Munavvaru’s beloved franchise, KUDAFOOLHU. Ravee who was assigned to produce all the promotional videos of DHILAKANI had to take over the editing of KUDAFOOLHU which has been officially announced for a next week release.

Though Ravee is busy with several works, he’s started storyboarding of EMME MANZAREH (Just One Scene). Hopefully I can sit with him to discuss the storyboard at the end of December.

Well, that’s all for now. I decapitate this post with my rudis until another update. I-am-Spartacus!

Cheers!

QUICKLY AND BRIEFLY

Here’s a quick and a brief update since my last post.

First off, Ali Shifau Chippe has completed the editing of all the wrapped up scenes of DHILAKANI (Fire Sparks). But director Hussain Munavvaru still has 8 major scenes to shoot including some footage for the song. He first scheduled to shoot them this November but postponed it to mid-December due to few schedule clashes with some of the cast.

In the meantime, Munavvaru will sit with Chippe to bring changes to the already completed rough edit. After that I only get to see a preview. But all this has to be done by tomorrow. Chippe leaves to India on Tuesday for no less than 2 weeks.

The unofficial pre-production of EMME MANZAREH (Just One Scene) resumed yesterday at L’Aquila. Ravee and I mostly discussed on the visual style that will be used. And we also discussed on how to shoot the murder scene since it requires shooting from three angles. Ravee will begin storyboarding as soon as he finalizes the score of INGILI (Finger) with Ikram. He was supposed to meet him on Friday night. But Ikram was bedridden with high fever that night. He still is. I wish him a speedy recovery.

On the feedback of EMME MANZAREH, I’m yet to hear from Nadeem and my niece. But on his Facebook status, my writing partner, Ahmed Zareer updated yesterday that he has read the screenplay. And he simply loved the twist. Though he didn’t mention anything about the narrative, all I know is that no one can love a twist if not for a good buildup and meticulous foreshadowing in the narrative. Zareer also said that he doesn’t have anything to say except few suggestions. I love suggestions. That’s why I’m hooking with him over a coffee sometimes this afternoon.

Also on EMME MANZAREH, during the completion of its first write, I spoke with Hussain Munavvaru on producing it. But I later felt that his entire focus needs to be on DHILAKANI and he still has 8 important scenes to complete, I changed my mind when Dark Rain Entertainment (DRE) hinted on producing it. While also in the negotiation stage with DRE, I mentioned about the screenplay to Ibrahim Nifar Thitthi, co-owner of Antharees Production, incase DRE declined. Thitthi was also interested on producing. But I’m glad that DRE honcho Mohamed Ali Moger sealed the deal almost immediately.

Well, that’s all for the time being.

Cheers!

REWRITTEN

A day before the scheduled deadline, I have completed the rewrite of EMME MANZAREH (Just One Scene Manzareh) this evening. But that doesn’t mean it’s been wrapped up for good. Sometimes a rewrite gets rewritten several times. Screenplays are all about rewriting over and over again. The more it’s rewritten, the better and solid it gets. However, I will be clattering my keyboard, only if I get additional comments from Ahmed Nadeem, on whose short story the screenplay was based upon. I feel it’s my duty to remain faithful to his vision.

Soon after the completion, I emailed a copy to Nadeem, Dark Rain Entertainment (DRE) honcho, Mohamed Ali Moger and director Ravee Farooq. And there’s one more. I also emailed a copy to a niece of mine. She’s been a regular at commenting all of my indie screenplays. And she has this mysteriously remarkable way of looking in to minor details within my screenplays.

The changes I brought to the rewrite were many. First there was the inclusion of psychedelic visuals and extended some scenes to give a psychedelic mood. The major addition was the music like montage for the progression and eventual deterioration of the relationship between the three central characters which I first outlined yesterday. But today when I started writing that sequence, I felt something was missing. It didn’t bridge. Then I rewrote the compiled montage as full scenes and bingo, they looked more solid, supported the development of the characters and I was able to empathize more with them.

I even incorporated the three songs of Gianscore that Nadeem mailed me yesterday. Using them in the actual film will be up to the producer but the film will have psychedelic songs even if those songs were replaced in case a deal didn’t work out with the band.

That’s all about EMME MANZAREH. Shifting to other news, I met with DHILAKANI (Fire Sparks) editor, Ali Shifau Chippe last night at L’Aquila. He said he’d be completing the editing of the already shot scenes by today since he has to leave to India tomorrow to be with his father who has been hospitalized. My prayers are with his father.

I haven’t been able to watch any of the editing done since my last visit to the studio. Director Hussain Munavvaru is out of town, in Maafushi to shoot another installment to his beloved franchise, KUDAFOOLHU. He will return tomorrow morning including Ravee who I think directed the whole episode.

I’m also eagerly waiting for Ravee to return. He will then sit with composer Mohamed Ikram to finalize the score for INGILI (Finger). I had lunch with the Ikram this afternoon. He confirmed that he will only need just two days with Ravee. Guess that’s all I have for this post.

Cheers!