I-F mem Varun M. Brings Honour AGAIN - THRICE - Page 2

Animation Filmmaker Varun Mehta, has recently won an award for his film 'The Wonder Stone' at Summer International 2012 Contest at Santa Barbera, US organized by the film community Film Skillet Online.

Film Skillet is an online community from LA, USA that marks the excellence of short film and independent filmmakers from all over the world. The site organized an online competition this july 2012 to get the best from the categories of drama, fiction, horror and Science Fiction.

The Wonder Stone is a film about six friends and their interaction with an alien stone that comes to earth for mysterious reasons. After inhabiting super powers from the alien stone, The kids develop their powers and misuses it for their own greed. Finally evolves a message to save earth and nature…the kids have to fight their own fears to achieve an impossible triumph.

Speaking to Animationxpress.com, Varun Mehta, Said,"Our Earth is dying everyday. Pollution, Over Population, natural calamities, Deforestation has caused cracks in the map of our earth. And What's Worse? We are so busy in our lives that we don't look up on to see how much our planet is suffering. Well it's a fact that no matter how the adults try, but it's a fact that they have been more or less a failure in bringing a difference. But Children can learn a lot in their tender age and they can really take up the issues to work for the planet. This was the main concept but I wanted to make it more appealing by bringing 'supernatural' elements. My basic idea was to give it a 'Universal Appeal' with some action and special effects so that people can both enjoy and learn about saving the earth. That's how the idea of 'an alien stone' was born."

The Film had its premiere at VMP(Varun Mehta Productions) Studio last year besides that The Film was also screened at Chennai's International Children Film Festival.

Talking about the challenges faced Varun said," The film was itself a Challenge. First to create an alien stone, than the superpowers for each child, fight sequences, every scene was a challenge in itself. For each character I had to design a special design for powers I just had to think and bring it on board. It's a science fiction based film with a message."

Recently, Varun re-launched his studio and office with a new name called 'Wiz' which stands for Wizard. apart from that he is Working on an animated short film called Survivor. It is a story about a kid who watches his village in horror every year being washed by floods.

http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/the-wonder-stone-short-film-by-varun-mehta-wins-the-user-choice-award-at-summer-international-2012-contest-us-online

Today, we are in a conversation with a Rising Star, Who not just found International recognition in a short span of time. But he also had been honoured in the country for his achievements. This is none other than the Star Short film maker and Animator Varun Mehta.

Excerpts from the Interview:

() Congratulations once again. You stroke a Hat-Trick! How does it feel?

() Wonderful to say the least. I feel blessed to share these set of honours. I feel on a different planet now.

() So which is the Newest?

() The Wonder Stone' has won the Summer International Film Challenge at LA, US organized by Film Skillet Community.

() Do you think your luck plays a bigger importance here?

() I can't rule out the option of Luck. Yes it does play a huge role. But Luck only plays its game when you work hard. Luck can't give you wings to fly practically.

() How do you choose such contests?

() I get a lot of invitations through e-mail to be invited in various interesting festivals happen around the world. So I choose what really excites me.

() How's your Studio Wiz going?

() It's doing well by the grace of god. We have got couple of projects to work on. But that are totally irrelevant to the movies I have made and Won in these festivals. The Professional work is far engaging and tiresome and yeah less enjoyable than what I love to do personally lol.

() What is the reason behind your recognition ?

() Practically the one and only – INTERNET. It has given me the recognition that I dreamt of. I never thought that with one computer, I can actually travel through the whole world and not just feeling it. But entering contests and Festivals and also winning them. The feeling can't be described in mere words. Where would I have been today if Internet hadn't existed? It's so underrated in our country that we take it for granted and hesitate to give the credit. Well not with me, Internet is actually like a BOON for me and many other people who wants to create something share with the world and make a difference. The only thing is to use it properly.

() Which has been the most pleasant festival according to you where you participated or where did you enjoyed the most?

() The Present one – The Film Skillet Summer International 2012 Film challenge. I feel proud to be associated with this Contest. The Reason is because they directly invited my film 'The Wonder Stone' after watching the trailer on a website and they emailed me that they loved it and would like to see it in the competition in Science Fiction Category. This is the moment which filled me with pride. Because it was same film which Initially people laughed at on some bad visuals, special effects etc. Today an International Website wanted to show it to the world. A friend of mine told me once 'there is always an audience for a movie and its upto us to recognize it'. After my uploads to the website failed and I told them that I couldn't post such a long movie. The Website organizers posted the whole movie from a different link and whoa! What a pleasant surprise it was! And today the film has won the honours of the Best Film through User's Choice. This can't be better than this.

() Who is your biggest inspiration?

() My Late Uncle Mr Baldev Mirza. A Wonderful Scholar, teacher, poet, musician, and a writer – A LEGEND in himself has taught me to stand and stand out in different pathways of life. He was more than a friend. In Fact his presence around me never made me felt that there is a fatherly figure around. Today I am all here because of him. His Presence is deeply felt and very much missed.

On the other hand, my whole family [my parents and brother] is an Inspiration. Special Mention goes to my mother whose hard working levels are an inspiration in themselves. She excels in every duty she performs.

() What about Geet – The Animated Clip winning the Monthly contest?

() Oh that was out an out a coincidence. A got a mail from someone who says that she liked this particular clip and suggested me to upload on VoteMyVid.com. I saw the website and since it was an International one. I thought why not? I made it two years back so I wasn't much caring about it. Still I uploaded and didn't check after that because of my tight and busy schedule. Straight after one month I got a message from a fan of The Geet Show that my clip has won. And when I saw it myself my mouth was stuck wide open. So the victory belongs to all Geet Fans who voted for that clip. I don't think I can take credit even though I made it. The victory belongs to the show lovers. I am working on something which I am sure shall please its fans in future.

() So what are your future plans?

()There are dreams but there are no plans. When you plan something, the feeling to enjoy and live the moment of something which comes out unexpected doesn't stay with you. So I don't plan anything. I just want to tell more stories. Want to fill up the canvas with more creativity just keep on and on.

() Any Message to your well-wishers, supporters and fans?

() Thanks to each and every one who ever saw and appreciated my work. I may not thank everyone is person but my appreciation within shall always keep alive.

http://www.mynews.in/News/internet_has_given_me_recognition___varun_mehta_N474903.html

Gurumantra 3, the third in the series of Interactive Sessions by SAID (Society for Animation in Delhi) organized at Civil Defence Officers Institute at New Delhi saw creativity being unleashed with some honourable mentions. The event was organized for the experts, professionals and novices from the Animation Industry. The Event saw a good gathering having animation enthusiasts all around the hall. The event is supported by Frameboxx, CG Mantra, IVS School of Design, Arena Animation and CG Leaks.com.

Its two sessions of one-and-a-half hour each were mentored by, first on "Creativity", legendry creative Guru, Prof. Subodh Lal, Chairman AKS Media, former Executive President ZEE TV, and second on "Techniques and Technicalities", by Sharad Mittal, Founder CEO of Kathputlee Arts and Films. Prof. Subodh Lal spoke of the uniqueness and freedom of thought required for a story to develop and translate from mind to "canvas". On the techniques and technicalities, Sharad Mittal deciphered the role of hardware, software and their creative uses in building animation blocks.

And The Third Session was about honouring the people excelling in the animation field on International Standards called 'Moments of Mementoes'. Elaborating on the concept, Mr Madan Pania, President of the Society said that moments would be formalized, systematized and regularly awarded to individual animators and organizations whose impact on Indian animation could be adjudged as "outstanding" by an independent jury.

While First Moment was received by Ms Divya Gupta, Member of Visual Effects from Oscar Winning Film 'Hugo'. She received the honours from Mr Lal. And the Second Moment went to Mr Varun Mehta for winning the International Short film award for his animated film 'The Unknown World' at the International Film Contest at US.

After the success of Gurumantra 3, The Society for Animation in Delhi is looking forward to set up Gurumantra 4 to open a new chapter of creativity and excitement.

http://www.mynews.in/News/gurumantra_3__creativity_unleashed_!_N467068.html