First Date - Interview with Director Bivas Biswas

Interview with Director, Bivas Biswas conducted by David Tell, editor and publisher of The Midtown Messenger. This interview was conducted for an article in The Midtown Messenger, and portions of it appear(ed) in the March 2005 issue. It is published on this website with permission from David Tell. Mr. Tell is also one of 27 members of the Phoenix Film Critics Society which founded in 2000 has gone on to become an internationally recognized and one of the largest local film associations in the country. Tell : What's your background and current emphasis in film directing and production? Biswas : My background professionally is in software engineering. As a hobby during my undergraduate college days, I composed music, wrote songs and played the rhythm guitar and keyboard for local and college bands. I graduated from ASU with a masters degree in computer science and currently hold a day job as a software engineer consulting for the aerospace industry. My current emphasis is on directing and producing films that are driven by story and characters and are visually rich with good sound and memorable music. Along with story and good performances from my actors, film music and scoring is very important to me. I always want my films to have the kind of music that if played back on radio years from now can instantly bring back to mind images from the film and the circumstances the characters were going through in the movie. Among numerous such films, some of my favorites that have this kind of scoring and music are Cinema Paradiso, Love Story, etc. Digital filmmaking has been a blessing to independent filmmakers like us and if applied correctly, the technology can produce extremely pleasing visuals and professional results. I started a production company called D.I.B. Pictures Entertainment to handle all production and digital post-production needs that my films demand. You can visit it on the web at www.dibpictures.com Tell : Have you done mostly commercial work, or have you done features/shorts of this nature before? What are your personal/professional aspirations vis-a-vis filmmaking? Biswas : I have done a couple of commercial projects in the past but my focus mainly has been on independent film projects. Before directing my own film, my goal was to take on as many different roles in the production pyramid as I could to try to understand the dynamics and challenges associated with film production while at the same time learning the craft. Over the last few years, I have worked on short film projects as an actor, director of photography, editor, key grip, camera operator, sound mixer / boom operator, production manager, production assistant and so on. It has been an invaluable experience that helps me immensely in understanding my cast and crew when I am directing. My professional aspiration is to be a successful film director for films produced by major film studios. My personal aspiration with films is to invite my audiences and transport them through my films into a realm of magic, a certain depth, factions of their own imaginations that is otherwise not easily accessible. In the process, I hope they can always take away from my films something more than I expect to give to them. Tell : How did you hear of A3F? What did you think of Jae Staats' handling of it as a project? (Did you already know him and/or Kai?) What benefits do you think might accrue to you and your cast and crew from winning this film festival challenge? Biswas : Serena signed our team up for A3F and emailed us, that’s when I came to know about the festival. This is the first time I came to know Jae and Kai. I thought they did a wonderful job. The festival was very well organized and professionally run. Things like the posters and the audience awards, I think, added a personal touch and care for filmmakers that I am sure is very much appreciated by everyone. Most importantly, being filmmakers themselves, they also understand the concerns of other filmmakers. During the projection on the big screen, First Date looked very close to the raw master that I provided to Jae. I am very pleased with the results and appreciate Jae’s efforts in mastering the screener DVDs and screening the films with care. It’s a privilege to have film festivals run by people like Jae and Kai. Winning this festival, we are hoping would generate a good amount of exposure for us and possibly give us the leverage to go into feature filmmaking. Tell : In the short film "First Date," the production values, acting, humor and storytelling--in brief form--are quite exceptional. What is your approach/philosophy of filmmaking, in the sense that you are an "auteur" in that vein of film criticism? Biswas : Tom and Dona are excellent actors. Their performances have raised this film to a completely different level. I think the defining moment of the film is when Tom breaks down at the end. And I couldn’t have asked for a more intense performance. It was an emotional experience for me as a director watching him deliver the scene the way he did. As far as my approach to filmmaking, I do put in a lot of work in all of my films. I respect my audiences and I figure if they are going to give me their time and come in the theater trusting me to be the keeper of their emotions while opening up to be guided through an unknown journey, it’s an honor, I strive to do the best I can. While looking for stories or ideas for films, I tend to focus towards psychology, drama and human conditions. Through the times, human condition has jumped gaps in civilizations to bind us together in an invisible thread and irrespective of technical advances, I think, little emotions can go a long way in forming the bond between the character and the audience. Tell : How did you become a part of the team Friendly People Productions? Biswas : Friendly People Productions was formed by Cindy Brown, myself and Serena, as a vehicle to produce our work as a team. Tell : Have you/the Production company used those actors before? The writer? Biswas : I am not sure if Cindy worked with Tom and Dona before. But this is the first time I am working with Tom and Dona. They are both excellent actors. It was a pleasure to work with them. Dona is an extremely talented actor, very professional in her work and easy to work with. She kept her spontaneity alive throughout a long production day and through as many takes as I have asked from her. Tom delivers his performances with absolute clarity. So far, I have never seen an actor getting so completely into their character as Tom did for a 3 minute short. I have worked with Serena. I have directed one of her screenplays before. She is a very thoughtful and talented writer. She comes up with great characters and has an uncanny ability to come up with the most appropriate dialogues. Tell : What words of advice or encouragement do you have for the other entrants in the A3F Challenge, or others who aspire to a role in filmmaking in general? Biswas : To all my fellow filmmakers, I’d say, just keep at it. And whatever you do, do it with love. This is one career where 20 years down the line, some of us may or may not have gotten our breaks, but if we have done it with love, we’ll always have this time to look back at and smile…well, hopefully J. ##--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Tell, Editor & Publisher, Midtown Messenger.