Life! Camera Action...
Movie poster
Directed byRohit Gupta
Written byRohit Gupta
Amanda Sodhi
Produced byRohit Gupta
Starring
CinematographyRavi Kumar R
Edited byRohit Gupta
Music byManoj Singh
Production
company
Dot & Feather Entertainment
Distributed byViva Entertainment, USA
Flipkart (DVD), India
Distrify (online worldwide)
Release date
  • 20 July 2012 (2012-07-20)
United States
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesHindi
Punjabi
English

Life! Camera Action... is a family-drama film directed, written, edited, produced by Rohit Gupta, in his feature-length directorial debut.[1][2] Starring Dipti Mehta, Shaheed Woods,[3] Noor Naghmi,[4] Swati Kapila,[5] John Crann,[6] this ninety minutes quasi-autobiographical film follows a girl in pursuit of her dreams of becoming a filmmaker against all odds. The film received several awards and nominations.[7][8][9][10][11] Its theatrical release was limited to film festivals. The film received direct-to-DVD release and subsequently on other video on demand (VOD) platforms.[12][13]

Life! Camera Action... is of note for its extremely low filming budget ($4000), production value, philosophical inference, and its message widely praised.[14][15] Silicon India listed it as "One of the 10 Outstanding Movies by Indian American Filmmakers".[16] It made its way to the Limca Book of Records, India's equivalent of the Guinness World Records for being the first full-length motion picture "shot by just a two-member crew".[17][18]

Cast

  • Dipti Mehta as Reina
  • Shaheed Woods as Mike
  • John Crann as Professor Ed
  • Swati Kapila as Simi
  • Suneet Kochar as Actress[19]
  • Chelsi Stahr as producer Teri[20]
  • Subodh Batra as Reina's father
  • Noor Naghmi[21]
  • Prabha Batra as Reina's mother
  • Nina Mehta as Actress[22]
  • Bhavesh Patel as Patel DVD store owner

Production

Development

Life! Camera Action... started as Rohit Gupta's ten-minute short film assignment at the New York Film Academy. Shortly after he dropped out of the academy to make it into a full-length feature film.[23] Amanda Sodhi, the co-writer of the film, in response to an advertisement had originally submitted a fifteen-page short film script titled "The Last Shot" loosely based on her own life.>[24]

Filming

The film was shot in guerilla style on Panasonic AG-DVX100 in ten days and roughly edited on Gupta's Mac Book Pro.[25] It was filmed on an initial budget of around $4000 with money raised from his savings that was cleaned up with post-production work costing several thousand dollars before its marketing and release. In an interview Dipti Mehta has said that in an informal meeting before the audition, Gupta thought she was not right for the part, although she was invited at the audition where he failed to recognize her at the first sight. Mehta did get the part and it became her debut film as a lead.[26]

Filming locations

Various locations in New York City, New York Film Academy, Jersey City and Newport Waterfront.

Music

The background score and songs were composed by Manoj Singh.[27] The music was produced in Mumbai, India. The following songs are featured in the film and used as a part of the background score.

Soundtrack

The score for Life! Camera Action... features two original songs.

No.TitleWriter(s)Artist(s)Length
1."Hain Yeh Kaisa Safar (What kind of Journey is this)[28]" (Theme Song)Amanda SodhiMS3:03
2."Chalte Jaana Hain (Have to keep Walking)[29]"Rohit GuptaKK4:51

Release

Actress Dipti Mehta at the World Premiere in New York

Life! Camera Action... opened in numerous international film festivals beginning with its world premiere at the New York Indian Film Festival.[30] Thereafter the film went on to receive numerous accolades around the world before it received a limited DVD distribution deal on 29 October 2012 by New Jersey-based ViVa Entertainment for the Asian Indian market spanning the North American continent.[31] It was initially released via Facebook on 20 July 2012 by Boston-based idistribute Inc., a new media distribution company.[32] On 29 November 2012, the film received another retail DVD distribution platform via Florida-based Dynasty Records through Trans World Entertainment Corporation's national mall-based stores under the brand name FYE (For Your Entertainment), Suncoast and Wherehouse.com.[33] Flipkart, India's largest e-commerce consumer company released the film on 17 February 2013.[34] On International Women's Day, 8 March 2013 the film was released worldwide through Distrify, a UK-based VOD movie distribution company for online streaming and movie download in any global currency.[35][36] The film was released to other VOD service such as the Amazon Video, BoxTV.[37]

Reception

Wins Best Feature Film at the Official World Peace Film Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia

it's not just good filmmaking, it's real intelligent filmmaking.

—The Times of India[38]

Life! Camera Action... received critical acclaim. It was invited at various international film festivals including the New York Indian Film Festival; Williamsburg International Film Festival (WILLiFest) in New York;[39] Mississippi International Film Festival, USA;[40] Cabo Verde International Film Festival (CVIFF), Africa;[41] International Film Festival Antigua & Barbuda;[42] Official World Peace Film Festival, Indonesia;[43] Golden Door Film Festival in USA;[44] Ionian International Film Festival in Greece;[45] Indian International Film Festival of Tampa Bay; Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival in United Kingdom;[46] Treasure Coast International Film Festival, USA;[47] The Social Uprising Resistance and Grass Root Encouragement International Film Festival, in the United States;[48]NFDC Film Bazaar in Goa; Beloit International Film Festival;[49][50] Filums (LUMS International Film Festival), Pakistan;[51] Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) South Asian Film Series, USA;[52] Heart of England International Film Festival; Dhaka International Film Festival (Cinema of the World section), Bangladesh;[53] Legacy Media Institute International Film Festival, Virginia;[54] Delhi International Film Festival, India;[55] International Youth Film Festival in the UK; Silent River Film Festival, USA;[56] and others.

Awards and nominations

The film received various accolades including some of the highest honors at its festival run, with the nominations categories mainly ranging from recognition of the film itself (Best Film) to its direction, Film editing, music, screenwriting to the cast's acting performance, mainly Dipti Mehta (Best Actress), Swati Kapila (Best Supporting Actress),[57] Noor Naghmi (Best Supporting Actor)[58] and Shaheed Woods (Best Actor).

Actor Noor Naghmi wins Best Supporting Actor in Washington D.C.
Actor Shaheed Woods and Actress Dipti Mehta at the New Jersey Premiere
Awards and nominations for Life! Camera Action...
Festival/Award Location Category Recipients and nominees Outcome
Accolade Film Awards[59]  USA Award of Excellence – Best Feature Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Award of Merit for Direction Rohit Gupta Won
Award of Merit for Cinematography Ravi Kumar R. Won
Award of Merit for Dramatic Impact Life! Camera Action... Won
Action On Film International Film Festival[60]  USA Best Composition Manoj Singh Nominated
Best Art Direction Ravi Kumar R. Nominated
California Film Awards[61]  USA Orson Welles Award for Best Narrative Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Canada International Film Festival[62]  Canada Royal Reel Award for Best Feature Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Carmarthen Bay Film Festival[63] UK Best Feature Film Life! Camera Action... Nominated
Golden Door Film Festival[64]  USA Best Feature Film Life! Camera Action... Nominated
Best Director Rohit Gupta Nominated
Best Male Lead Shaheed Woods Nominated
Best Female Lead Dipti Mehta Nominated
28th Goldie Film Awards[65]  USA Best feature film Life! Camera Action... Won
Best Director Rohit Gupta Won
Best Actress Dipti Mehta Won
Best Supporting Actor Shaheed Woods Won
Best Cinematography Ravi Kumar R. Won
Best Song Chalte Jaana Hain KK (Singer), Manoj Singh Won
Best Screenplay Rohit Gupta, Amanda Sodhi Won
Best Editing Rohit Gupta Won
Indie Fest[66]  USA Award of Merit – Feature film Life! Camera Action... Won
International World Peace Film Festival[67]  Indonesia Best Newcomer film Life! Camera Action... Won
International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema[68]  UK Best Film of the Festival Life! Camera Action... Nominated
Best Director Rohit Gupta Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Swati Kapila Nominated
Los Angeles Movie Awards[69]  USA Award of Excellence for Best Experimental Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Nevada International Film Festival[70]  USA Platinum Reel Award for Best Narrative Feature Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Oregon Film Awards[71]  USA Grand Jury Choice Award for Best Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Prestige Film Awards[72]  USA Gold Award – Originality & Creativity Life! Camera Action... Won
Gold Award – Leading Actress Dipti Mehta Won
Silver Award – Dramatic Impact Life! Camera Action... Won
Silent River Film Festival[73]  USA River Pursuit Award for Best Film Life! Camera Action... Won
Best Actress Dipti Mehta Nominated
River Amulet Award for Best Director Rohit Gupta Won
Sunset International Film Festival[74][75]  USA Best Female Actor Dipti Mehta Won
The World Independent Film Festival (TWIFF)[76]  USA Best Inspirational Family Drama Life! Camera Action... Won
Toronto Independent Film & Video Awards[77]  Canada Best Experimental Film Life! Camera Action... Nominated
World Music & Independent Film Festival[78]  USA Best Drama Life! Camera Action... Nominated
Best Director Rohit Gupta Nominated
Best Actress Dipti Mehta Nominated
Best Original Music Manoj Singh Won
Best Screenplay Rohit Gupta, Amanda Sodhi Nominated
Best Actor in Supporting Role Noor Naghmi Won
Best Actress in Supporting Role Swati Kapila Nominated
Yosemite International Film Awards[79]  USA Grand Jury Choice Award for Best Film Life! Camera Action... Won

Selected Official selections and screenings

Festival/EventLocationCountry
New York Indian Film FestivalNew York, New York USA
Williamsburg International Film FestivalBrooklyn, New York USA
Toronto International Film AwardsToronto Canada
Golden Door International Film FestivalJersey City USA
India International Film Festival of Tampa BayFlorida USA
Carmarthen Bay International Film FestivalWales UK
Ioninan International Film FestivalLefkas Greece
Treasure Coast International Film FestivalFlorida USA
World Peace International Film FestivalJakarta Indonesia
Social Uprising Resistance and Grass Root Encouragement IFFAustin, Texas USA
NFDC Film BazaarGoa India
Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)Boston USA
Heart of England International Film FestivalCoventry UK
Dhaka International Film FestivalDhaka Bangladesh
Legacy Media Institute International Film FestivalVirginia USA
Delhi International Film FestivalDelhi India
International Youth Film FestivalLondon UK
Silent River Film FestivalCalifornia USA
Action on Film International Film FestivalCalifornia USA
International Film Festival Antigua & BarbudaAntigua & Barbuda West Indies
Nevada International Film FestivalLas Vegas USA
Love Unlimited Film Festival and Art ExhibitionTexas USA
Filums (LUMS International Film Festival)Lahore Pakistan
Love Unlimited Film Festival and Art ExhibitionCalifornia USA
Sunset International Film FestivalLos Angeles USA
The World Independent Film FestivalSan Jose USA
Cabo Verde International Film FestivalSal Island Cape Verde
World Music & Independent Film FestivalD.C. USA
International Filmmaker Festival of World CinemaLondon UK
Barossa International Film FestivalTanunda Australia
Bayou City Inspirational Film FestivalTexas USA
International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration and EqualityJakarta Indonesia
Yosemite International Film FestivalYosemite USA
Indie FestSan Diego USA

Limca Book of records

Record Honoring body
Film Life! Camera Action... was shot by just a two-member crew consisting of director/producer Rohit Gupta & Ravi Kumar R.[80] Limca Book of Records

See also

References

  1. ↑ "IMDB".
  2. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... in FYE, Amazon, HMV". Celeb Mirror. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "Shaheed Woods on Internet Movie Database". Imdb.com. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Noor Naghmi on IMDB". Imdb.com. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Swati Kapila NRI Actress Making India Proud by editorial". The Times of India. 18 August 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "John Crann in Life! Camera Action..." Internet Movie DB.
  7. ↑ "Movie Making is Magic: Rohit Gupta by Jyothsna Hegde, Atlanta, USA". NRI Plus. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Urban Asian – Rohit Gupta's Life! Camera Action... at the International Film Festival Manhattan, 2011". Urban Asian. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "Rohit Gupta's films sweep top ten prestigious awards". The Times of India. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "New York Film Academy Graduate Rohit Gupta Nominated for Several Awards at World Music and Independent Film Festival". New York Film Academy. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "Rohit Gupta's Life! Camera Action... selected to screen at IIDFF in Greece". Bollywood Trade.com. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "LIFE! CAMERA ACTION... most-awarded film releases on DVD by Bollywood Trade Editorial". Bollywood Trade. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "LIFE! CAMERA ACTION... Independent feature film releases on the world's largest social media platform". WBRI. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Follow your own path". TOI. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  15. ↑ "Life! Camera Action...in DIFF". Bindaas Khabar. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Silicon, India (12 June 2012). "10 Outstanding Movies by Indian American Film Makers".
  17. ↑ "Filmmaker Rohit Gupta honored by the Limca Book of Records by Roopa Modha – Urban Asian". Urban Asian. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Filmmaker Rohit Gupta honored by the Limca Book of Records – TOI NRI Achievers". The Times of India. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Suneet Kochar on Life! Camera Action..." WBRI USA. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  20. ↑ "Actress Chelsi Stahr". Internet Movie Database.
  21. ↑ "Noor Naghmi wins Best Supporting Actor". The Times of India. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013.
  22. ↑ "Actress Nina Mehta talks about Life! Camera Action..." WBRI, USA. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  23. ↑ "Los Angeles-based Amanda Sodhi wins Best Screenplay award". NRI Today. May 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  24. ↑ "Indian born Amanda Sodhi wins Best Screenplay award". The Times of India. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "Rohit Gupta's Life! Camera Action... to screen at IIF, Florida by BT editorial". BT. 8 February 2011.
  26. ↑ "Interview: Up Close with DIPTI MEHTA – "Best Actress" Award Winner for "LIFE! CAMERA ACTION..."". WBRI, USA. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  27. ↑ "Manoj Singh". Internet Movie Database.
  28. ↑ "Tracks". IMDB.
  29. ↑ "Singer KK, Writer Rohit Gupta, Music Manoj Singh". IMDB.
  30. ↑ "World premiere of 'Life! Camera Action...'". No. Entertainment. Zee News. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "Viva Entertainment to distribute Life! Camera Action..." Celebmirror. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  32. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... releases via facebook". Indian Post. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  33. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... DVD release". India TV today. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... available on Flipkart". Flipkart. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  35. ↑ "A film every filmmaker must watch". WBRI. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  36. ↑ "Online Film Distribution Company". Distrify.
  37. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... in F.Y.E, Amazon, HMV Canada". India TV Today. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  38. ↑ "Rohit Gupta's film sweep top 10 prestigious awards". The Times of India. 30 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
  39. ↑ "Williamsburg International Film Festival 2011 Screening Schedule, New York". WiLLiFest.
  40. ↑ "Officially Selected Film Screening Schedule Mississippi International Film Festival, USA" (PDF). Mississippi International Film Festival.
  41. ↑ "Guia Oficial do Festival Cabo Verde International Film Festival (CVIFF) in Western Africa". Cabo Verde Int Film Festival.
  42. ↑ "Official Screenings and nominations Antigua & Barbuda International Film Festival". Antigua Barbuda.
  43. ↑ "Life! Camera Action.. wins Best Feature Film in Indonesia International Film Festival Peace, Inspiration & Equality aka Official World Peace Film Festival in Indonesia". The Times of India. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013.
  44. ↑ "Winners 2011 Golden Door Film Festival in USA". Golden Door Film Festival of Jersey City. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013.
  45. ↑ "Official Screening Schedule Ionian International Digital Film Festival in Greece". Ionian International Digital Film Festival.
  46. ↑ "Winners and nominees 2012 Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival in United Kingdom". Carmarthen Bay. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  47. ↑ "Screening Schedule Treasure Coast International Film Festival, USA". TCIFF. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  48. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... Tag line The Social Uprising Resistance and Grass Root Encouragement International Film Festival in the United States". Celebmirror. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  49. ↑ "Life! Camera Action...Showtimes 2012 Beloit International Film Festival". Beloit Int Film Festival. 18 January 2012.
  50. ↑ "BIFF to screen Life! Camera Action twice". Indian Television news. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... to showcase in Pakistan Filums (LUMS International Film Festival)". The Times of India. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  52. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... to open South Asian Film Series Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) South Asian Film Series, USA". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
  53. ↑ "2012 Lineup Dhaka International Film Festival (Cinema of the World section)". Dhaka Int. Film Festival.
  54. ↑ "Rohit Gupta's "Life! Camera Action..." to screen at the Legacy Media Institute in Virginia by Roopa Modha". Urban Asian. 8 November 2013.
  55. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... to screen at DIFF2012". BT.
  56. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... Movie screening and meet the Director Silent River Film Festival, USA". The Press Enterprise.
  57. ↑ "Award Nominated American Actress Swati Kapila". WBRI, USA. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  58. ↑ "Noor Naghmi wins Best Supporting Actor at the World Music and Independent Film Festival, Washington, D.C.". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  59. ↑ "Accolade Winners 2010". Accolade Film Awards. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  60. ↑ "2011 Official Award nominees" (PDF). Action on Film. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  61. ↑ "Winners 2011". California Film Awards. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012.
  62. ↑ "Canada International Film Festival Winners & Nominees 2012". Canada Int. Film Festival. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012.
  63. ↑ "Carmarthen Bay Film Festival in the United Kingdom Nominees and Winners 2012". CBFF, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  64. ↑ "Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City Winners & Nominees 2011". GDIFFoJC. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  65. ↑ "Life! Camera Action wins Top Nine Most Popular and Director's Special Grand Goldie Awards....Goldie Film Awards 2012". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  66. ↑ "New York Film Festival in Alum makes first feature at the Indie Festival". NYFA. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  67. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... Victorious at the IFFPIE 2012". Star Blockbuster. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  68. ↑ "International Film Festival of World Cinema Life! Camera Action... wins 2 awards". BT. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  69. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... Wins Award at the Los Angeles Movie Award, USA". Glamsham. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
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  72. ↑ "Prestige Film Awards Life! Camera Action... Wins another top three awards". Exclusive News. 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  73. ↑ "Life! Camera Action... Wins at the Silent River Film Festival in Irvine California". Bollywood Trade. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  74. ↑ "2012 Awards". Sunset Int. Film Festival.
  75. ↑ "Dipti Mehta wins Award for Life! Camera Action...at the Sunset Int. Film Festival in California". India West. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  76. ↑ Editorial, BT (18 September 2012). "LIFE! CAMERA ACTION... wins Best Inspirational Family Drama Award in San Francisco, USA". BT. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  77. ↑ "Toronto Independent Film & Video Awards 2011 Nominations". Toronto Independent Film & Video Awards.
  78. ↑ "World Music & Independent Film Festival Washington D.C. Awards and nominees. Life! Camera Action...Wins 2 Awards". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
  79. ↑ "2011 Winners Yosemite International Film Awards". Yosemite International Film Awards. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  80. ↑ "Filmmaker Rohit Gupta honored by the Limca Book of Records". Times of India. 14 January 2014.
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