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1A VAN MAXIMILIAN CARLSON FILM
WORLD PREMIERE2011 SLAMDANCE
FILM FESTIVAL
PRESS KIT
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84 minutes / Documentary / 2010
Director / Producer’s Statement Pg 3Short / Long Synopsis Pg 4Production Notes Pg 5Filmmaker Biographies Pg 6,7Cast Biographies Pg 8, 9Credits Pg 10Festivals Pg 11
Director Contact: VAN MAXIMILIAN CARLSONPHONE 323-804-2598
EMAIL: [email protected]
Contact: MARCUS FISHMAN - ADVANCE TALENT MANAGEMENTPHONE: office 323-665-6600 cell 310-701-3080
EMAIL: [email protected]
OFFICIAL WEBSITEhttp://www.BhopaliTheMovie.com
IMDB PAGEhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1710260
FACEBOOK PAGEhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Bhopali-the-Movie/
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Director’s Statement
I was first introduced to the Bhopal disaster through a friend of mine who visited Bhopal in 2008. She had volunteered at the Sambhavna Clinic, a free clinic which treats survivors of the disaster in Bhopal, India, three blocks from the abandoned Union Carbide factory. I was immediately intrigued by the story of the Bhopal disaster as well as surprised that I had never heard about it before, especially since it’s considered the world’s worst industrial disaster in history. I was shocked to learn that the disaster was ongoing and that the corporation responsible for the tragedy, Union Carbide, was still not brought to justice. In a relatively short amount of time, I decided that I wanted to make a documentary on the subject.
My producer, Kirk Palayan, and myself arrived in Bhopal in January 2009. We filmed in Bhopal for approximately two months, then I returned to Bhopal again in November-December of 2009. I tried my best to find an aesthetic balance between very personal human stories juxtaposed against a backdrop of the very dense history of the tragedy. I wanted to stray away from narration and let the stories unfold before the audience. I was director / cinematographer / editor of Bhopali, so my involvement became very personal and the experiences as well as the people I met in Bhopal will never be forgotten. I hope that my film does justice to the inspirational people of Bhopal, who continue to fight for their lives.
- Van Maximilian Carlson
Producer’s Statement
The experience of filming in Bhopal has been a profound event in my life. The Bhopal people have been resilient and continue to be an inspiration to our planet, and I have come away with a genuine love and respect for everyone I met there. They have taught me that no matter what kind of adversity you confront, you can find the power within yourself to overcome tremendous obstacles. My hope is that this film leads to a campaign for 'no more Bhopals' anywhere.
-Kirk Palayan
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Short Synopsis:
In 1984, the world's worst industrial disaster devastated and contaminated Bhopal, India. Today the suffering continues, prompting victims to fight for justice and corporate responsibility, which has long been ignored.
Long Synopsis:
BHOPALI documents the experience of second generation children affected by the Union Carbide gas disaster of 1984, the worst industrial disaster in history, and subsequent contamination of groundwater by Union Carbide Corporation (an American company now owned by Dow Chemical, the second largest chemical company in the world). It follows several children as they and their families cope with the ongoing medical and social disaster, as well as their memories of that traumatizing night that shocked the world and changed Bhopal forever. Set against the backdrop of vehement protests for the 25th anniversary of the disaster, the Bhopalis continue to fight for justice, proving to be anything but victims.
Torch Rally March on the 25th Anniversary of the Bhopal Disaster
FEATURING: Professor Noam Chomsky, Satinath Sarangi, Sanjay Verma, Rajan Sharma
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PRODUCTION NOTES
PRODUCTIONVan Maximilian Carlson (Director) & Kirk Palayan (Producer) arrived in Bhopal, India, in January of 2009. Filming BHOPALI took place over the course of 4 months, January-February and November-December 2009. BHOPALI was filmed by Van Maximilian Carlson on a combination of cameras. The Canon 5d Mark II and the Sony HVR-Z7U HD camera. Both recording at 1080p 24fps with an aspect ratio of 16x9. All lighting was natural.
Filming also took place in, where Professor Noam Chomsky was interviewed, as well as in New York, where Rajan Sharma, the attorney representing a class action suit against Union Carbide, was interviewed.
Sanjay Verma, who is a featured subject in BHOPALI, was also the guide and translator for the film. Carlson and Palayan stayed for free at the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, in the volunteer guest quarters, while working on the film. More than 100+ hours of footage was captured for BHOPALI.
POST-PRODUCTIONBHOPALI was edited by Van Maximilian Carlson on Apple’s Final Cut Pro HD. Editing began in March 2009, after the first trip to India. It continued on and off throughout the year, and then after the 2nd trip to India, editing continued throughout 2010.Music production began in 2010 with composers Takeshi Furukawa and Henning Lohner.
BHOPALIRunning Time 84 minutesLanguage: English, HindiSubtitles: EnglishGenre: DocumentaryFormat: 1080p HD, 24fps, ColorAspect: 16x9Camera: Canon 5D Mark II, Sony HVR-Z7U
Van Maximilian CarlsonDirector / Cinematographer / Editor
Van Maximilian Carlson is a Los Angeles-based director, editor, and cinematographer who has worked on numerous projects including documentary feature films, commercials, theatrical trailers, and several original dramatic films. His directorial works strive to reaffirm the remarkable resilience of mankind and attest to the courage of human beings. They have won him numerous accolades, such as the “Most Promising Director Award” at the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival and the “Best Director Award” at the Toronto International Teen Movie Festival for a short film he completed while in high school. He was director and cinematographer for the short film DISSOCIATIVE (2008), which went on to win a “Best Thriller Award.” His film, NINTH NOVEMBER NIGHT (2004), was considered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Documentary Screening Committee to be “one of the outstanding documentaries of 2004.” His editorial work has also been recognized and awarded three Promax/BDA awards and one Key Art nomination.
Kirk Palayan, Producer
Kirk Palayan has written and produced several dramatic films. He wrote and produced a short film LABYRINTH (2000), which was lauded for being “a powerful parable on drug abuse” at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. BARSTOW (2003) was chosen to play at the Toronto International Teen Movie Festival. The “Best Thriller” and “Most Promising Director” awards were given to his short film DISSOCIATIVE (2008), which he wrote and produced. He is part of the Los Angeles King Middle School Highly Gifted Technology and Arts Magnet Program and established the Animation program where students design, storyboard, and create cartoons with 2D and 3D animation software. He has also established an Animation & Film Festival, which is in its’ 8th year, and highlights the best work from over 1,500 student filmmakers and animators.
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FILMMAKER BIOGRAPHIES
TAKESHI FURUKAWA, Co-Composer
Film composer Takeshi Furukawa discovered his affinity for musical composition at an early age. At just three years old he learned how to play the piano. At age 9, the gifted Furukawa took composition lessons, and his impressive skills earned him several awards in youth composition competitions, including two nationwide first prize awards. When the young Furukawa purchased his first CD, John Williams’ Jurassic Park motion picture soundtrack, he knew instantly where his life would be headed. “Williams’ music just felt so enchanting as a boy,” says Furukawa. “It was the thrill of ‘movie magic’ that made me want to do this as a profession.”
Those thrills lead Furukawa to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a degree in Composition and Music Synthesis, graduating summa cum laude. A month after graduating, he landed a much-coveted job at Paramount Studios as an orchestrator for the television series Star Trek: Enterprise. The gig would eventually get the 24-year-old Furukawa hired on Star Wars: The Clone Wars feature film in 2008, working with composer Kevin Kiner. While working on Clone Wars, Catherine Winder, producer and right-hand to George Lucas, was so impressed by Furukawa’s music and conducting that she brought him on board the Clone Wars TV series as contributing composer to the show. Furukawa is currently in the 72nd episode and third season of Clone Wars. He also finds time in his year-round television schedule to compose music for indie films such as NoNames, an award-winning drama starring James Badge Dale & Gillian Jacobs, documentaries, and most recently video games.
HENNING LOHNER, Co-Composer
Henning Lohner is a German born film composer and a member of Remote Control Productions, founded by Academy Award Winner Hans Zimmer. After earning a Master’s in musicology at Frankfurt University in 1987, Lohner went on to collaborate with Karlheinz Stockhausen on the opera LICHT. Lohner was musical advisor for Louis Malle on the film MAY FOOLS and has produced film and music projects with Frank Zappa such as PEEFEEYATKO and THE YELLOW SHARK, as well as ONE 11 AND 103 with John Cage. In 1996, Lohner began an apprenticeship with Hans Zimmer, working on titles such as BROKEN ARROW, GLADIATOR, and THE THIN RED LINE. He composed additional music for the Jim Brooks directed SPANGLISH, and co-composed music for THE RING. He scored THE RING TWO as well as the Werner Herzog produced INCIDENT AT LOCHNESS. He has scored over 40 films nationally and internationally, including dramas, comedies, horror, and action films. Lohner is Guest Professor at the renowned Zurich Academy for Music and Theatre.
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CAST BIOGRAPHIES
UNION CARBIDE has denied liability for the environmental disaster 25 years in the making. In 2009, a spokesman for Union Carbide stated that, “the government of India is the appropriate entity to express any ongoing needs of the people of Bhopal. We are saddened that the site remains unremediated. The site today is in the hands of the Madhya Pradesh government. The state government owns the site...” To further complicate the case, DOW Chemical, the biggest chemical company in the world, purchased Union Carbide in 2001. All of Union Carbides assets were acquired by DOW, yet all of their Indian liabilities were rejected.
SAIBA BABU, an 18-month-old infant, was born in 2008 with debilitating birth defects due to the contaminated water near the factory. We witness her father’s attempt to restore Saiba’s health within a hospital system ill equipped and incapable of helping.
“Here at the hospital, money talks. You give money, and you’ll be looked after. We are poor people, and we don’t have money, and that’s why no one looks after us, even if your child is dying.” - Salam Babu (Saiba’s Father)
SANJAY VERMA was 6-months-old when the disaster killed his mother, father, and five brothers and sisters in one night, leaving only his older siblings Sunil and Mumpta alive. Sanjay searches for answers to lingering questions that have haunted him throughout his life. “Where was God when my family died? Where was God when my brother took his life? Where was God?” His many questions over those who died that night, his family, and God, have led him to activism. Sanjay’s heroic struggle, transcending from a victim to a survivor to an activist, has given him hope.
THE CHINGARI TRUST is a rehabilitation center in Bhopal that treats and educates children born with debilitating physical and mental conditions caused by the contaminants from Union Carbide. The trust is a safe-haven for the children of Bhopal and their mothers, who depend on and attend Chingari regularly. BHOPALI documents the heartbreaking conditions of the children at Chingari, while contrasting the hopes of mothers who witness their child’s progress, with the anguish of those whose children will never improve. Rashida Bee and Champa-Devi Shukla co-founded the trust using Goldman Prize money which they were awarded for their dedication to helping the cause of Bhopal gas disaster victims.
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SATINATH SARANGI, activist and managing trustee of the Sambhavna Clinic, which treats survivors of the disaster, tells us that, “For the Bhopal people the disaster has been unending. There are more than 100,000 people still chronically ill. In the next generation there are children born to gas effected people that are being born with birth defects, growth disorders, and additionally there are 30,000 people who have been forced to drink contaminated water for the last 15 years... and the fact is that the suffering hasn’t ended, and that injustice continues, and the individuals and agencies responsible for this mass disaster remain unpunished.”
RAJAN SHARMA, a lawyer representing a class action lawsuit against Union Carbide, states that under the, “polluter pays principle... the liability for pollution should always be traced back to the polluter. The polluter should not be able to externalize the cost of pollution onto society at large, or onto third parties. It shouldn’t be the government’s responsibility to clean up the site, at the public’s expense, after private polluters.”
PROFESSOR NOAM CHOMSKY, is an American professor of linguistics, human rights activist, and political analyst.
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Director.............................................Van Maximilian CarlsonProducer...........................................Kirk PalayanCo-Producer.....................................Van Maximilian CarlsonDirector of Photography...................Van Maximilian CarlsonEditor.................................................Van Maximilian CarlsonOriginal Score...................................Takeshi Furukawa & Henning LohnerAssistant / Guide / Translator............Sanjay VermaGraphic Design by.............................Daniel Gonzalez & Van Maximilian CarlsonIllustrator...........................................Tyler EndicottAnimator............................................Van Maximilian CarlsonAdditional Cinematography...............Kirk Palayan, Carina Garcia, Ruby CarlsonHindi Translations..............................Anita Choudhary & Mahaveer ShaktawatProduction Sound Mixer....................Van Maximilian CarlsonCamera Equipment............................VTCTV Inc.Sound Equipment..............................Scott HarborColorist...............................................Brandon SalazarSound Editor / Mixer..........................Dante FazioCopy Editor.........................................Carina GarciaOrchestra conducted by....................Takeshi FurukawaPerformed by.....................................The Hollywood Studio SymphonyOrchestra contractor.........................Judy YooScore recorded & mixed by..............Shinnosuke MiyazawaDigital recordist.................................Jorge VelascoScore recorded at..............................East West Studio, Los AngelesScore mixed at...................................Lambda Studio, Los Angeles
CAST
CREW
Sajid AliSaiba BabuSalam BabuRashida BiHazra BiNafeesa BiBarry CastlemanAnnapurna ChandT.R. ChohanProfessor Noam ChomskyRachna DinghraShifon Khan
Dominique LapierreMita ManishSidesh ManishAril MennaSatinath SarangiD.K. SatpathyRajan SharmaChampadevi ShukraTarun ThomasUsha TilwaniMamta VermaSanjay Verma
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WORLD PREMIERE2011 SLAMDANCE
FILM FESTIVAL
FESTIVALS
Official Selection / World PremiereSlamdance Film Festival 2011Park City, UtahJanuary 21 - 27, 2011www.slamdance.com
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