Directed and filmed by Shamdat, ‘EasyGO’ has been shot at his home with a minimal crew
Shamdat Sainudeen’s brief movie, EasyGO, shot with a skeleton crew throughout the lockdown, tells the story of a pair. “It’s shot on Sony A7S2 and iPhone 11 professional max. There have been no focus pullers (assistants to maintain lens centered throughout filming), assistant administrators, artwork, costume, lighting or make-up departments,” says the cinematographer-director.
The brief was filmed at his house at Kakkanad in Kochi. Moreover the 2 actors, the one folks on the set had been Shamdat’s spouse, Sajna Shamdat, their youngsters, Tashi and Talya, and Sajna’s sister, Jubina Ok Basheer. The credit learn Sajna as govt producer, Tashi and Talya as assistant cameramen and Jubina as artwork assistant!
Shamdat Sainudeen with the solid and crew of ‘EasyGO’
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Special arrangement
“When the lockdown introduced the movie business to a halt, I knew that it will take a while for issues to get again to regular. That was once I come across this concept of creating a characteristic movie with a minimal crew. Since taking pictures open air had a number of dangers, I considered doing it indoors. However earlier than trying one thing huge, I wished to see the way it works,” says Shamdat, who has cranked the digital camera for movies in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
The 30-minute-short is a couple of couple, Anna (Divya Pillai) and Vinay (Jins Baskar), who’re on the point of divorce after 5 years of marriage. They can not wait to separate. However the lockdown forces them to remain beneath the identical roof for a number of extra weeks and that ultimately modifications the equation between them.
Story and screenplay is by Shemin Saidu, newsreader with a Malayalam channel. “I had bought in contact with author Anees Salim for a narrative and it was he who instructed Shemin’s title. We mentioned a number of tales that might be executed with a small crew. In the course of the lockdown, I used to listen to noises from our adjoining house and I informed Shemin about this. She developed this story from that,” Shamdat says.
As for bringing Divya and Vinay on board, he says that they’ve good display presence. “I’ve labored with them in Ayal Njanalla. They had been sport for it once I informed them my concept. So, each morning they’d come residence, have breakfast and we’d begin the shoot. It was completed in 5 days,” he provides.
The 46-year-old admits that it was “bodily and mentally exhausting” to do every part single-handedly. “I’m not used to taking pictures with such a digital camera. With no focus puller round, some scenes went for 35 to 40 takes. Additionally, since I didn’t use a tripod I needed to maintain the digital camera in my hand all through the shoot. By the top of the day I used to be extraordinarily drained. Nonetheless, I didn’t need to hand over as a result of I knew that the movie was popping out nicely,” he says. He has included time-lapse pictures that had been captured on his cellular from his house and has gone for “cinemascopic frames to offer a larger-than-life” really feel.
Manoj, additionally the co-producer of the movie, is the editor. Music is by Telugu composer Ajay Arasada and state-award winner Renganaath Ravee has executed the sound design. “With this work I simply wished to point out that it isn’t essential to all the time have a giant crew and plenty of gear to make a movie,” provides Shamdat.
His directorial début was Mammootty-starrer Avenue Lights (2018), a Malayalam-Tamil bilingual. Nonetheless, EasyGo is the primary brief movie he has directed. Shamdat debuted as a cinematographer in Malayalam with Krithyam. Amongst his different movies are Ritu, Kerala Cafe, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu, Ayal Njanalla, Oozham, Function Fashions, Uthama Villain, and Viswaroopam 2. He has labored with Ravi Ok Chandran in movies equivalent to Dil Chahta Hai, Koi Mil Gaya and Yuva.
He’s over the moon having acquired appreciation from among the huge names within the business. “Mammookka [Mammootty], [director] Shyamaprasad sir, Ravi Ok Chandran had been amongst those that’ve complimented the try. Kamal Haasan sir referred to as as much as congratulate me. Having labored in two of his movies, we ended up speaking for an hour or so about new experiments in movie making,” says Shamdat.
Presently working in a Telugu movie, Shamdat says that he completed a few scripts throughout the lockdown.
