16th Nov 2014 – 22nd Nov 2014 [Cock in making – Shooting Spree]

 

Sun: Akshay is turning into a good cook. Of all the hobbies which are running in our family this is very different. Most of our ladies are excellent cooks, so we male members never entered kitchen except to steal some ‘Tooks’. But Akshay enters only when he has to do some experiment in cooking.  There was few months phase after Hira has left us to get married and we were without maid for some time. During that period, Akshay had become expert in creating different type of Dosa’s or rolling out good ‘chapaties’.

On this Sunday night, he created an excellent Egg Bhurgee. The trick is to strike proper balance of various ingredients, like Masalas, Eggs, Simla Mirchi, Hing, Lasan, Butter etc. No one from his maternal side or paternal side has worked as cook or even shown some interest in cocking. Expect for my Mama, Chunilal, no male relative comes to my mind, interested in cocking. Akshay in this way is unique. We had tried to accept cocking challenge, in Mahableshwar in year 2012 trip. Lali – Myself – Avi and Akshay all got engrossed and tried some experiments, after that first try, we have given up, except for Akshay.

First Shot of the Day, Location Start of Expressway

Fri: On Thursday, fast track project was finalized by Kashyap. This requires, Shooting, Scripting, Animation, Editing and Narration Recording all to be done before Monday. So on Friday we made two teams. Kashyap – Myself and H1 [Harsheel / Harshad – Dop’s] and Xylo. Other team was made up of Akshay – Tejas – H2 [Harsheel / Harshad – Dop’s] – Joy Cab vehicle with drive. Kashyap & Myself at wheel in Xylo reached Mac-Donald at start of expressway from Mumbai side before sunrise. H1 was sleeping in his car, we woke him up and had breakfast at Mac-D.

Then started a trip of 300 km, crisscrossing expressway, shooting the route, starting at Expressway – Madap [Express City] – back to expressway – Khalapur Toll – Jhambur Project – Back to Expressway – Shomtane Phatta – Back to Expressway – Hinjewadi Road – Back to Expressway – Shomtane Phatta – again back to Expressway – then wrong turn – then U turn – Again at Toll Naka – Shomtane Phatta – NH4 to Dehu Road – Diversion to Chakan – Ending at Wanwadi at 8.30 pm. A nice round trip from 4.15 am to 8.30 pm.

For the first time ever, we used this slip of paper for Six times to crisscross the toll naka exit at Somantane Phatta.
So much so that in the end, toll employee just waved us off.   

We were taking copter shots on all locations. As soon as we assembled the copter, everywhere crowd will gather and wonder what is happening. Once copter took flight, heads will tilt toward sky, pointing fingers. A child like joy will appear on every face. Such is effect of new innovation!

Then we had attached Go Pro camera on Xylo windscreen, for Lapse Shot of the route, as back up plan. This in itself will draw attention. Luckily no authority stopped us and demanded some bribe. During Lunch, we kept car under our view, sitting in restaurant because all the equipment itself was valued more than value of the car. Mark 5D, Go Pro, Copter Cam, Sliders, Tripods, Canon 550, iMac and few additional lens.

Team B was covering the Sample Flats erected at Hingewadi Road, Jhambul & Chakan. Their work was technical, dry and serious job. Like setting lights, deciding angles, setting camera etc. Hard, laborious and tedious. One should be part of such activity to understand how much labor goes in making movies.

  Now my criticism will be less sever, as now I have first hand tiny bit experience of film making. Like 'Gagar Mei Sagar' experience.

by P G Dodeja