By Siddhi Jain
New Delhi, Jun 12 (IANSlife): Indian film and theatre actor and director Makarand Deshpande believes that mainstream films releasing on OTT platforms directly, skipping the traditional cinema-hall release amid the Covid-19 outbreak, is not the solution; not every film can afford to go the OTT way.
"(The pandemic) has taken a toll on the film industry, because it is unprecedented, it is not 15 days lost. The fear is going to remain in the minds till the vaccine is out. If audiences don't go (to watch), film releases are going to go to the OTT platforms. I don't think every film can go to OTT platforms because they won't be able to afford it. Films releasing on OTT platforms is not the solution. It can be in the short-term if they are ready and money is stuck, and if they see they can't release in the next six to nine months. But you need to release it in the cinema halls. Some traditions have to remain," feels Deshpande, who also works in Southern regional cinema.
He adds, "The industry is badly impacted and I am looking forward to the government to help it, because if you say only 30 per cent or 50 per cent of the audience can go, I don't know if the theatre-owner can afford it. If they increase the rate, I don't know if the viewer can afford it. All in all, things have changed for at least a year till the vaccine is out."
The writer added that what is good about the change now is that people are more mindful of their health and they value their lives more.
The 'Guzaarish' actor, who recently launched online sessions for seasoned and budding actors - called 'Actor's Gym' - is all set to get young actors to sweat it while honing in their skills. The rationale behind the unique concept? Along with building biceps and triceps, what an actor needs is to build is an emotional spine. He needs to understand his inner world first before he can portray a character on screen. The tools that are available to him - his voice, his body, and his mind need a workout on a daily basis. There are many factors that play an important role in transforming an individual into an actor and an actor into a character.
"'Actors Gym', I feel, is a need for every actor - unemployed or employed. You go to the gym to exercise, build your body, but what about building your face, building your emotional spine. You need to build your focus, your emotional stamina. It is not only memorising lines, but making the memory path clear," he told IANSlife.
"This is targets those who are absolutely new to this vocation as well as those who are already acting. What they can expect to learn is about themselves, what it takes to be an actor, what an actor's life is, what approach to reach or advance towards the character and how to become the character; finally, how they should perform the character," Deshpande explained.
The classes have a three-phase module, with five sessions in each phase which would be 90 minutes each.
Sharing his lockdown routine, he says that he spends time reading his wish list that was a long time coming. He also re-read William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', wrote a new farce in Marathi and finished writing his musical in Hindi, along with learning to cook.
Speaking on Unlock 1.0, he said: "Things are gradually opening, but I wouldn't be be in a hurry to get back. I definitely want to perform and rehearse. I'm missing my actors, rehearsal room and going on the sets."
(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)