[Music] hi so I would like to talk to you a
hi so I would like to talk to you a
hi so I would like to talk to you a little bit today about hero’s and I’m
little bit today about hero’s and I’m
little bit today about hero’s and I’m sorry if I’m disappointing anybody
sorry if I’m disappointing anybody
sorry if I’m disappointing anybody before we even start I’m not going to be
before we even start I’m not going to be
before we even start I’m not going to be going into too much detail about the
going into too much detail about the
going into too much detail about the heroes that fly around that mutant kind
heroes that fly around that mutant kind
heroes that fly around that mutant kind I want to talk about the much more
I want to talk about the much more
I want to talk about the much more exciting type of hero now these can be
exciting type of hero now these can be
exciting type of hero now these can be fictional heroes they can be real-life
fictional heroes they can be real-life
fictional heroes they can be real-life heroes some of them we love and others
heroes some of them we love and others
heroes some of them we love and others we love to hate I’m talking about the
we love to hate I’m talking about the
we love to hate I’m talking about the type that exists in documentaries and
type that exists in documentaries and
type that exists in documentaries and feature films so eight years ago I got
feature films so eight years ago I got
feature films so eight years ago I got my big break I had spent years working
my big break I had spent years working
my big break I had spent years working hard dreaming big and I finally got my
hard dreaming big and I finally got my
hard dreaming big and I finally got my foot in the door by getting a job making
foot in the door by getting a job making
foot in the door by getting a job making tea and coffee for a film production
tea and coffee for a film production
tea and coffee for a film production company it was pretty big now when I was
company it was pretty big now when I was
company it was pretty big now when I was there you know I wanted to learn as much
there you know I wanted to learn as much
there you know I wanted to learn as much as I could from my boss and the other
as I could from my boss and the other
as I could from my boss and the other people working there and I kept hearing
people working there and I kept hearing
people working there and I kept hearing this phrase used over and over again
this phrase used over and over again
this phrase used over and over again that one great film can change the world
that one great film can change the world
that one great film can change the world so I was learning listening trying to
so I was learning listening trying to
so I was learning listening trying to take as much in as I could and I found
take as much in as I could and I found
take as much in as I could and I found myself watching and re watching certain
myself watching and re watching certain
myself watching and re watching certain films that had connected and that he
films that had connected and that he
films that had connected and that he created a tangible impact on the world
created a tangible impact on the world
created a tangible impact on the world so as I was piecing together how these
so as I was piecing together how these
so as I was piecing together how these films worked how they what methods they
films worked how they what methods they
films worked how they what methods they used to connect to an audience I was
used to connect to an audience I was
used to connect to an audience I was looking at ways in which we could
looking at ways in which we could
looking at ways in which we could potentially involve ourselves in
potentially involve ourselves in
potentially involve ourselves in projects with a similar kind of an
projects with a similar kind of an
projects with a similar kind of an impact so anyway one morning I ended up
impact so anyway one morning I ended up
impact so anyway one morning I ended up being asked to attend a meeting with a
being asked to attend a meeting with a
being asked to attend a meeting with a guy called John batt SEC and I was
guy called John batt SEC and I was
guy called John batt SEC and I was really nervous it was very early early
really nervous it was very early early
really nervous it was very early early on in my career so I went along to this
on in my career so I went along to this
on in my career so I went along to this meeting knowing full well that John has
meeting knowing full well that John has
meeting knowing full well that John has an accomplished producer he had
an accomplished producer he had
an accomplished producer he had forgotten more than I knew so I went in
forgotten more than I knew so I went in
forgotten more than I knew so I went in and he sat me down he said look I just
and he sat me down he said look I just
and he sat me down he said look I just want to show you something I want to get
want to show you something I want to get
want to show you something I want to get your feedback we’re looking for support
your feedback we’re looking for support
your feedback we’re looking for support for this on the production distribution
for this on the production distribution
for this on the production distribution side
side
side tell me what you think and he showed me
tell me what you think and he showed me
tell me what you think and he showed me five minutes of some footage that
five minutes of some footage that
five minutes of some footage that eventually ends up as this film the
eventually ends up as this film the
eventually ends up as this film the people are like a giant and the
people are like a giant and the
people are like a giant and the government’s they’re like this little
government’s they’re like this little
government’s they’re like this little man why is it that this little small man
man why is it that this little small man
man why is it that this little small man can control this giant come back and
can control this giant come back and
can control this giant come back and that was the first time me and my
that was the first time me and my
that was the first time me and my sisters so in that morning when I saw
sisters so in that morning when I saw
sisters so in that morning when I saw that film for the first time everything
that film for the first time everything
that film for the first time everything changed for me the activists that were
changed for me the activists that were
changed for me the activists that were the real-life heroes in this film the
the real-life heroes in this film the
the real-life heroes in this film the strength their courageousness the fact
strength their courageousness the fact
strength their courageousness the fact that they were fighting oppression and
that they were fighting oppression and
that they were fighting oppression and trying to champion basic human rights
trying to champion basic human rights
trying to champion basic human rights not just for them but for everyone in
not just for them but for everyone in
not just for them but for everyone in their countries it forged this
their countries it forged this
their countries it forged this incredibly emotional response in me not
incredibly emotional response in me not
incredibly emotional response in me not only did it change the sort of course of
only did it change the sort of course of
only did it change the sort of course of my career and the type of films I wanted
my career and the type of films I wanted
my career and the type of films I wanted to be a part of but it had me consider
to be a part of but it had me consider
to be a part of but it had me consider more and more about the methods and why
more and more about the methods and why
more and more about the methods and why was that film so impactful on me so when
was that film so impactful on me so when
was that film so impactful on me so when it comes to a subject matter an activist
it comes to a subject matter an activist
it comes to a subject matter an activist filmmaker already has a very very tight
filmmaker already has a very very tight
filmmaker already has a very very tight relationship with that subject or that
relationship with that subject or that
relationship with that subject or that cause and the thing that I find the most
cause and the thing that I find the most
cause and the thing that I find the most problematic for a lot of these activist
problematic for a lot of these activist
problematic for a lot of these activist filmmakers when I meet with them is the
filmmakers when I meet with them is the
filmmakers when I meet with them is the fact that they are they struggle with
fact that they are they struggle with
fact that they are they struggle with being too close to their subjects now
being too close to their subjects now
being too close to their subjects now what I mean by that is they already have
what I mean by that is they already have
what I mean by that is they already have this connection with the subject they
this connection with the subject they
this connection with the subject they understand the reasons why they’re
understand the reasons why they’re
understand the reasons why they’re wanting to make
wanting to make
wanting to make film but what I have to say to them and
film but what I have to say to them and
film but what I have to say to them and what we discuss in in-depth is how do
what we discuss in in-depth is how do
what we discuss in in-depth is how do you create that response in an audience
you create that response in an audience
you create that response in an audience who’s perhaps never had any kind of
who’s perhaps never had any kind of
who’s perhaps never had any kind of relationship with that subject or cause
relationship with that subject or cause
relationship with that subject or cause all that time and so this is when I
all that time and so this is when I
all that time and so this is when I start looking towards these guys so I
start looking towards these guys so I
start looking towards these guys so I point them into the direction of how
point them into the direction of how
point them into the direction of how superhero movies are made and what is it
superhero movies are made and what is it
superhero movies are made and what is it about them that means they’re so popular
about them that means they’re so popular
about them that means they’re so popular well essentially and by the way this is
well essentially and by the way this is
well essentially and by the way this is not an exact science so I’m not saying
not an exact science so I’m not saying
not an exact science so I’m not saying that everyone should go away and tell
that everyone should go away and tell
that everyone should go away and tell their activist filmmaker friends that
their activist filmmaker friends that
their activist filmmaker friends that they need to be making superior
they need to be making superior
they need to be making superior franchises no it’s looking at the ways
franchises no it’s looking at the ways
franchises no it’s looking at the ways in which these films are put together
in which these films are put together
in which these films are put together okay so to be honest each and every one
okay so to be honest each and every one
okay so to be honest each and every one of these superhero movies are very
of these superhero movies are very
of these superhero movies are very similar in part to how an activist would
similar in part to how an activist would
similar in part to how an activist would put together their film their origin
put together their film their origin
put together their film their origin stories these are characters who are
stories these are characters who are
stories these are characters who are choosing altruism over the pursuit of
choosing altruism over the pursuit of
choosing altruism over the pursuit of power and wealth these are people that
power and wealth these are people that
power and wealth these are people that are usually getting superpowers at the
are usually getting superpowers at the
are usually getting superpowers at the time when at the time of trauma or drama
time when at the time of trauma or drama
time when at the time of trauma or drama they may be getting those through times
they may be getting those through times
they may be getting those through times of Destiny or charts much in the same
of Destiny or charts much in the same
of Destiny or charts much in the same way as you will find activists when
way as you will find activists when
way as you will find activists when they’re putting together their project
they’re putting together their project
they’re putting together their project will consider their projects to be so I
will consider their projects to be so I
will consider their projects to be so I point them towards the way in which
point them towards the way in which
point them towards the way in which these superheroes narrative structure
these superheroes narrative structure
these superheroes narrative structure afraind so in terms of in terms of how
afraind so in terms of in terms of how
afraind so in terms of in terms of how you can approach your story you can look
you can approach your story you can look
you can approach your story you can look towards these films and you can present
towards these films and you can present
towards these films and you can present them in a way to help audiences engage
them in a way to help audiences engage
them in a way to help audiences engage and that’s the critical thing now a
and that’s the critical thing now a
and that’s the critical thing now a friend of mine said to me a couple of
friend of mine said to me a couple of
friend of mine said to me a couple of days ago that making a documentary is
days ago that making a documentary is
days ago that making a documentary is like trying to capture lightning in a
like trying to capture lightning in a
like trying to capture lightning in a jar but when you’re but making a feature
jar but when you’re but making a feature
jar but when you’re but making a feature film is like creating lightning and
film is like creating lightning and
film is like creating lightning and there’s going to be certain times where
there’s going to be certain times where
there’s going to be certain times where your activist filmmaker may find a
your activist filmmaker may find a
your activist filmmaker may find a subject doesn’t lend itself perfectly to
subject doesn’t lend itself perfectly to
subject doesn’t lend itself perfectly to a documentary format so in that instance
a documentary format so in that instance
a documentary format so in that instance one of the things that you were able to
one of the things that you were able to
one of the things that you were able to do is to create fictional heroes heroes
do is to create fictional heroes heroes
do is to create fictional heroes heroes that are perhaps bringing together
that are perhaps bringing together
that are perhaps bringing together hundreds of different stories that are
hundreds of different stories that are
hundreds of different stories that are influenced by real
you picked aside after 9/11 I didn’t
you picked aside after 9/11 I didn’t have to it was picked for step over here
have to it was picked for step over here
have to it was picked for step over here sir
sir
sir so he’s that problem he’s an employee
so he’s that problem he’s an employee
so he’s that problem he’s an employee follow me please
follow me please
follow me please have you ever been a member of a
have you ever been a member of a
have you ever been a member of a terrorist organization how do you feel
terrorist organization how do you feel
terrorist organization how do you feel about the United States of America
about the United States of America
about the United States of America agent Ford I love the United States of
agent Ford I love the United States of
agent Ford I love the United States of America
[Music]
[Music] so in Meera’s film the approach was to
so in Meera’s film the approach was to
so in Meera’s film the approach was to create characters that audiences around
create characters that audiences around
create characters that audiences around the world would be able to connect with
the world would be able to connect with
the world would be able to connect with catch casting your net wider if you will
catch casting your net wider if you will
catch casting your net wider if you will creating characters that are influenced
creating characters that are influenced
creating characters that are influenced by true stories from you know all the
by true stories from you know all the
by true stories from you know all the hundreds of different accounts from
hundreds of different accounts from
hundreds of different accounts from around pre and post 9/11 the reason for
around pre and post 9/11 the reason for
around pre and post 9/11 the reason for doing that and one of the ways in which
doing that and one of the ways in which
doing that and one of the ways in which you can create bigger impact by doing a
you can create bigger impact by doing a
you can create bigger impact by doing a film with fictional heroes is you’re
film with fictional heroes is you’re
film with fictional heroes is you’re able to create familiarity for the
able to create familiarity for the
able to create familiarity for the audience now I’m not just talking about
audience now I’m not just talking about
audience now I’m not just talking about the fact that you can cast this with
the fact that you can cast this with
the fact that you can cast this with big-name stars I’m talking about how the
big-name stars I’m talking about how the
big-name stars I’m talking about how the approach of the characters towards a
approach of the characters towards a
approach of the characters towards a subject and how that can be reflected
subject and how that can be reflected
subject and how that can be reflected upon their lives day to day now if you
upon their lives day to day now if you
upon their lives day to day now if you can create that if you can create that
can create that if you can create that
can create that if you can create that connection for an audience it’s that
connection for an audience it’s that
connection for an audience it’s that that helps them feel comfortable to
that helps them feel comfortable to
that helps them feel comfortable to discuss these very complex and sensitive
discuss these very complex and sensitive
discuss these very complex and sensitive topics with their family with other with
topics with their family with other with
topics with their family with other with their friends and that is actually the
their friends and that is actually the
their friends and that is actually the where real change gets made the film is
where real change gets made the film is
where real change gets made the film is just the spark and that’s why focusing
just the spark and that’s why focusing
just the spark and that’s why focusing on narrative structure is so important
now while also talking about fictional
now while also talking about fictional heroes there might be a topic that is
heroes there might be a topic that is
heroes there might be a topic that is even more range you’re sensitive that
even more range you’re sensitive that
even more range you’re sensitive that you require another method and this is a
you require another method and this is a
you require another method and this is a method that I call the the Trojan horse
method that I call the the Trojan horse
method that I call the the Trojan horse method or the antihero
back to Latian in fact okay I’m gonna
back to Latian in fact okay I’m gonna say this now this is a bit of a unique
say this now this is a bit of a unique
say this now this is a bit of a unique example okay
example okay
example okay this is not your typical subject matter
this is not your typical subject matter
this is not your typical subject matter for an activist film this Brahman our
for an activist film this Brahman our
for an activist film this Brahman our main project was brought to us presented
main project was brought to us presented
main project was brought to us presented by the Indian new wave director q and
by the Indian new wave director q and
by the Indian new wave director q and one of the things that he wanted to do
one of the things that he wanted to do
one of the things that he wanted to do was use comedy and farce to highlight
was use comedy and farce to highlight
was use comedy and farce to highlight the issues surrounding sexism and the
the issues surrounding sexism and the
the issues surrounding sexism and the caste system very antiquated caste
caste system very antiquated caste
caste system very antiquated caste system in in India so by creating these
system in in India so by creating these
system in in India so by creating these characters that you can laugh at you’re
characters that you can laugh at you’re
characters that you can laugh at you’re essentially able to hold a mirror up to
essentially able to hold a mirror up to
essentially able to hold a mirror up to society and give them a way show them
society and give them a way show them
society and give them a way show them how not to be essentially so this is the
how not to be essentially so this is the
how not to be essentially so this is the thing about heroes they look after us
thing about heroes they look after us
thing about heroes they look after us they provide us with hope they validate
they provide us with hope they validate
they provide us with hope they validate morals solve problems and they provide
morals solve problems and they provide
morals solve problems and they provide us with entertaining stories of which we
us with entertaining stories of which we
us with entertaining stories of which we can learn from and the fact that we are
can learn from and the fact that we are
can learn from and the fact that we are all now living online in these self-made
all now living online in these self-made
all now living online in these self-made echo chambers the fact that these heroes
echo chambers the fact that these heroes
echo chambers the fact that these heroes that we watch in cinemas on films and
that we watch in cinemas on films and
that we watch in cinemas on films and documentaries at home they have the
documentaries at home they have the
documentaries at home they have the ability to reach across borders across
ability to reach across borders across
ability to reach across borders across political party lines and they can
political party lines and they can
political party lines and they can connect with an audience on a very basic
connect with an audience on a very basic
connect with an audience on a very basic human level and that’s something very
human level and that’s something very
human level and that’s something very very powerful indeed thank you
very powerful indeed thank you
very powerful indeed thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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