I have been tasked with creating a short film within a clear timeframe / deadlines and reporting progress of work to creatives at Nuvu Media. This blog will document the work that has gone in on a daily basis to create this short film.

STEP 1: CONTEXT

Make a short film - the brief mentioned flexibility on the duration, poor lighting and camera quality - the main focus is on how I tell a story visually and how well I stick to deadlines and timeframes under a tight budget. 

Who am I going to reach out to? - Friends from dance and other social activities to volunteer and help out with my short film and double down as actors and crew members. Evidence is provided below from those who replied almost immediately:

STEP 2: RESEARCH

For quite some time, I wanted to work on creating a narrative peice that is inspired by Puranaanuru - especially the verses on Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir as it translates to Every town is mine and everyone is my family which is the core of every immigrant's life who finds home outside of home. Since I am working with creatives who might not be Tamil but are definitely of immigrant background - this Tamil literature would resonate with them and so I will need to build characters based on the verses and what they teach. This is now where I decide that I will name this project: 'Every Town's Ours Every One's Kin'

Here is how Puranaanuru inspired my characters:

TASBEE - Her character is inspired by the verse: நோதலும் தணிதலும் அவற்றோ ரன்ன / Pain and relief are akin to them - what I drew from this verse is that sometimes what we consider as relief may also cause us pain and so I envisioned this character to be someone who experienced pain through longing for their loved ones and being provided relief through reunion and realising that the reunion causes her more harm/pain than relief and so I built on this idea and came up with this backstory.

Tasbee is a character who finally managed to sponsor her parents to stay with her in London but is not able to handle them and their outdated views as they are unable to assimilate to Western lifestyle. (She relieved herself from being afar and longing for her parents and is now dealing with the pain of handling their emotional and sentimental baggages)

SHALENI - Her character is inspired by the verse: சாதலும் புதுவது அன்றே / Death is not something new - drawing inspiration from this was pretty straightforward.

Shaleni recently lost a loved one and is packing to visit her home country but her way of dealing with loss is not expressive and rather desensitised as its not the first time she's heard about the news of a loved one's passing - (Death is not new)

SIVAKKRISHAN - My character is inspired by the verse: வாழ்தல் இனிதென மகிழ்ந்தன்றும் இலமே / Nor is life joyful - drawing inspiration from this too was straightforward as I wanted to show a direct opposite to death which is birth but also show that in a way that is not celebrative / joyful.

Sivakkrishan recently became a dad but has not physically seen his child since birth as he has been working away in the UK despite having all his family back home in his home country. (He cannot celebrate the life of his child but rather feels regret for not being able to be there for him)