(((Where, among other things, Bollywood's greatest superstar speculates about digital technology in film.)))
http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/2008/05/26/day-37i/#more-11
Link: Amitabh Bachchan.
Mehboob Studios May 26, 2008 5:52 pm
On the sets of ‘Aladin’ again and a song !!
Petrified ! Songs have always been a nightmare for me. But more of that later.
The above stills are from ‘Aladin’. The climax song. The first, at the start of song and the second with all the dirt on the coat, the start of the action.
The story is contemporary but set in a fantasy world of make belief. The dresses are modern or well, seemingly modern but the surroundings and the settings, larger than life and imagined.
My role is that of the genie and yes I will appear at the rub of the lamp to fulfill the three wishes of the one that carries the object of desire. (((It's typecasting for a guy of his godlike international fame, but what the heck.)))
I had mentioned in one of my earlier blogs that I wanted to talk about the making of ‘Aladin’ and more particularly its technical aspect.
The one feature that you do notice in both the stills is the green backdrop with little red marks on them. These are where digitally images will be filled in later. Green backdrops are used when greater depth or volume is required and when they cannot be physically built. So a minimal construction is set up, actors act around it and imagine that there is a lot more to it. There are photographs on DAY 37(ii) too of another sequence - the genie atop a snow mountain. There is a lot of blue that surrounds the image. This is all cloth where digitally snowy peaks and a large mountain will be filled in. And you would never know the difference. I mean now you would, because you have been told of it, but in general it is seldom noticed.
For actors these days it is getting to be a common phenomenon. Most of us in such extenuating circumstances are made to imagine an invisible presence - a character, a large beast, flowing rivers, anything. A bit impersonal and not quite the required environment when emoting a scene, but that is the future. (((Amitabh Bachchan – futurist. Hey look: if anybody knows, *he* would.)))
We often joke on the set and request the digital supervisor to replace us with our image and carry on the work so we could remain home. But recently the joke turned on us. There is a process in the making where the artist will be required to merely come in for a few minutes and do some basic movements of his body and leave. Science would then be able to construct an image of the actor and the actor need never come on set again.
Frightening !
They would be able to reproduce your form and make it act in your absence too. Even after you are dead and gone movies could be made with you. Er.. your image !
Wonder what the reaction would be of fans. How would they contend with an actors most recent work when the actor has been dead and gone much before the fan was born !
How would film critics review his talent after a release. Would they send a digital or virtual image to a function. A book launch, the opening of a mall. Would the actor write his own blog.
Complicated. (((Yep!)))
The world moves into a difficult and interesting era. Ever since man stepped on to the moon there has been very little written about its romance in our songs and in our scripts. The moon was an integral part of the films of the 40’s and the 50’s. Science removed it. Would that happen to humans too. With DNA and cloning being vociferously discussed in international forums, would we see several of our samples moving around us. (((Plot of this flick practically writes itself! Send email if you need a technical consultant, Amitabh-ji!)))
Better to get back to my song on the set and face that nightmare than this perceived one !
My non digital love for you as ever
