This says Jan 19, that's a Saturday and a bizarre start day..lol


http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArti...34441&Category=

After whirlwind Toronto, Nair heads to Mumbai for Shantaram
Wendy Mitchell in Toronto
09 Sep 2007 09:00



New York-based director Mira Nair left Toronto Saturday night after a short 24-hour visit to the festival – she’s now in Mumbai preparing for her largest film yet, Shantaram.

The $100m project, for Warner Bros with Graham King’s GK Films producing and Plan B on board, starts shooting Jan 19 for what she estimates will be at least 75-80 days.

The book is set in Australia, India and Afghanistan, and Nair says that India is the only confirmed location so far. “In America I have to orchestrate the chaos, in India I just film it. It’s so visceral and lively.”

Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan will star. Eric Roth adapted Gregory David Roberts's book about a former drug addict who works with children in Bombay.

Nair was in Toronto for the world premiere of the AIDS JaaGO project, comprised of four short films about AIDS and HIV by Indian directors Nair, Vishal Bhardwarj, Santosh Sivan and Farhan Akhtar. Each film features top Indian stars.

The project was pulled together by Nair’s Mirabai Films and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“Toronto is a great way to launch it, but I’m also really looking forward to launching it in earnest in India on World AIDS Day, December 1,” Nair said. The multi-strand release in India will include a trailer shown in most Indian cinemas, a TV broadcast and DVD releases.

She says the star power of the shorts should help draw awareness to the AIDS problem on the Indian subcontinent. “Movies are like temples and actors and actresses are like God, people eat and drink movies in India."

“They are entertainment, not a bore, and they have stars, so we’re investigating the commercial viability,” Nair told Screen. “I’d love to finance another four and then release those eight together as a feature.”

The project has been a personal passion for Nair. “I spent part of my year in New York, and part of my year in Uganda, so I have direct encounters with AIDS. With India’s population, we’re headed for a pandemic in 12 years if we don’t do something.”

Also, Nair’s first film as executive producer, Little Zizou, is in post-production now for delivery by December.

The project marks the directorial debut of Sooni Taraprevala, Nair’s longtime screenwriter. Nair says the team plans to submit for Sundance 2008. “It’s full of sparkle,” Nair says of the comedy set in Mumbai’s Parsi community.

Thanks, Karen. It sounds like so much is still not tied down on this shoot. I certainly hope Nair can pull it all together for a January start date. IF her timing holds together, the film should wrap by early-mid-April. That would leave Johnny with barely enough time before a potential 7/1 strike date for a quick shoot of another film - Rum Diary? Sin City? Time will tell.

I totally agree Fan. And that sounds like an incredibly unrealistic shooting length. This is a huge film...and she's says she's looking to bring it in in less than 3 months time?

I say bring on The Ginger Man.

Thanks for this report. Now I understand why Mira Nair was in Toronto ~ it didn't make sense she'd be there for The Namesake. I'm admiring this person more and more with every article I read about her! She has incredible strength and heart. That's a powerful combination. I've no doubt she'll bring Shantaram 'home' in style, if not exactly within the time frame she has in mind. Meanwhile, it sounds like Little Zizou will be one to watch - 'full of sparkle' - I love that phrase!
IF there's a project for Johnny before Shantaram, I vote for Happy Days!

Well, if we are having a vote...I go for Sin City. :lol:

Thanks for the link Karen. I agree, 3 months doesn't really sound feasible. I guess time will tell....again!! B)

Anne x

Why am I not surprised you say this, Karen?! :lol: I'd love to see this get made but haven't heard a peep about it in a long time. I fear Johnny's age will be a factor by the time he gets a chance to make it. He may still produce it but I think it's possible he won't star in it.

I second that!


And thank you Karen for the link :) :)

LOL Yes Fan, you know this project is near and dear to my heart! Last that I heard, he was still interested in the role.

Casting can make a difference sometimes to hedge around the age issue by ratcheting the ages a bit. It's a time period piece and I think that will allow a bit more leeway. :crossfingers BUT that's why I want to see it happen in 08.

WHAT ! I come on here to all this negativity! Tisk tisk~
This is GREAT NEWS! Just what I've been waiting for! woohoo

1) I'm not sure, but they might start things off with a bang, like a staff party on the weekend, or something over there. THey may also work weekends.

2) Johnny currently looks TEN years younger, AND

3) he shot Libertine in what? 45 days!

4) Mira is suggesting 80 days, and she doen't need to orchestrate any studio chaos because it's all already there!

I say JUST BELEIVE! :)
I am ON this band wagon!

Woo Hoo!
Enjoying the ride, :snoopy all the way to Mumbai !

Yes, in a very short time, she got her points across, didn't she? Most of the few Indian women I've had the opportunity to talk with are like this. They certainly have that special type of PASSION, that we lack in general.

I'm not sure what she meant by financing more, and putting something else together. Maybe an AIDS commerical with the Shantaram cast?

I DO agree that actors are like GODS...If I were a single millionaire, I would probably end up living, breathing JOHNNY DEPP ! Just the thought makes me :thud

Worshipping at the altar of Johnny Depp! :bow I'd be right there with you, Mate!
I think Mira was referring to making more AIDS awareness films when she was talking about financing. It sounds to me like the financial backing is already in place for Shantaram. And a script too!? Yippee!! Now, bring me that Mumbai!!

I'm not trying to be negative. I am trying to be realistic.

So often everyone gets really excited about something that's in the press. And then they get really depressed and angry when dates get pushed back and projects get delayed.

This film has been delayed a couple of times already. I hope it happens soon but I also want to look at things as realistically as I can. It's a business and a lot of things that are variable have to happen to make a January 19 start date a fact.

This film will shoot on location in several countries as well as on set. But it's not a set bound film where some things are controllable. lol The production crew will have to move from city to city, set up and break down for every move. This is one big movie.


Til then? :crossfingers

I'm in the :crossfingers January start for Shantaram. However, this is such a special huge film, I wouldn't want it to be rushed.

-Donna

AFAIK the big Bollywood films are usually shot in around 3 months nowadays and they last 3h, so I don't see why they can't shoot it in 80 days :)

That said - an $100mln budget :blink: Why would they be needing a budget as large as that if they were going to do a fast shoot?
I was expecting this film to have a budget of about half of that. I just didn't think it was a commercial enough prospect for them to be investing this kind of money in the production. I guess they must be counting on Johnny's involvement to bring in the crowds... Or I'm underestimating the subject matter's appeal - I just wouldn't have thought a film like this is a potential blockbuster.

Even though the film is set in India, this really isn't a Bollywood film, lol it's a full blown high dollar Hollywood film. Warners and the other partners have already invested and are still investing a very large amount of money in this project as they do expect it to be an epic sort of film. They have big plans for this film. woohoo All that needs to happen now is that it get made.

I agree ~ Shantaram has all the makings of an epic Hollywood blockbuster. It could work as a smaller, more intimate film, focussing just on Mumbai and Lin's struggles and relationships there. But the story could be painted with a much broader brush, which is what I think will happen. All the speculation about locations outside of Mumbai makes me think so. That would definintely impact the budget. I assume salaries in general are lower in India for crew members and for actors, but if this production is involving new things - like building a big slum set from the ground up as reported - it all adds up. Ca-ching!
I'm hoping they will not run out of time or money! My biggest concern all along has been the script, and it sounds like that's a done deal now, yaar?

Yeah, I know :) But they'll probably be using Indian studios, facilities and specialists for this. And Mira Nair is used to making cinema on a much lower budget which requires much faster shooting.
So I'm just saying that if the budget was $60mln rather than $100mln then I wouldn't be surprised if this was true ;) But on such a large budget I am definitely wondering what they intend to do with the money if they're going to shoot that fast :P

I'm surprised they're thinking about it *that* commercially :) And I'm not sure I'm happy about it... I mean on the one hand yes :D But on the other I just hope they don't commercialize or soften it too much. I don't fancy a "Gladiator" (similar budget according to imdb) out of this book *shivers* Not that I have anything against Gladiator, but Shantaram is such a different story... I just really hope they don't go into any Hollywoodish conventions.

I never thought of it as a very intimate film, but er.... well lets say I was thinking more along the lines of an "intimate epic" whatever that is :lol: I mean something a bit like the big European co-productions - stuff like the Pianist or Perfume... Big, but not *that* big.
I just can't imagine this story with all the Hollywood cliches that usually go with that sort of a budget...

I guess time will tell, but Johnny doesn't "do" cliche movies.

This is a big budget film. Shantaram is a story that needs to be told with epic proportions. It's a Hollywood funded and driven project. This looks to be a lovely and mulit-faceted film. A film of this proportion will cost every penny of the budget. ;)

Johnny sought out this project and he will want to see it done well. It looks to be the first film under his Infinitum Nihil shingle and I don't see him or any of his people cutting corners. It will take what it takes.

I trust him to do what has to be done and spend what's necessary to do it right. :snoopy

Good one, roz! The 'intimate epic' ~ that'll about do it!! :D

Based on GDR's report about going to meet Johnny in London and how he was treated there - with impressive class and care and cool - I'm betting this whole project will be done the same way.