Social media has made such a huge impact on our lives that sometimes one feels it has taken over our lives. In fact, social media platforms like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, seem to have become constant companions of the present generation. One could not have imagined this kind of an impact a few years ago. Twitter, with its 140 characters, is also taking the world by storm with everyone -- from celebrities to politicians -- putting out their opinion on it with large number of followers.
Now, Twitter has also caught the fancy of filmmaker Praveen Nayak, who has made a short film called Twitter Loka .
At a time when short films are making more news than full length feature films in terms of content, presentation and craft, Praveen’s film offers a glimpse of the sharp contrast between the real and virtual world.
This 35-minute short film was screened twice at K.H. Kalasouidha in Hanumanthanagar recently, and gave the audience a chance to experience Twitter life. The response was overwhelming and was well appreciated. Ask Praveen on what prompted him to make this short film. He replies, “Having a little fun with social media is not dangerous. But too much is likely to affect both physical and mental health of a person. Having watched the trend for long and worried about the indulgence of people in social media, I decided to take up the issue in my own way.”
Praveen, who has directed three feature films including Z , Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya and Meese Chiguridaaga, took time off from his films Shankra (starring Sringar Kitti) and Love Jehad to direct this short film Twitter Loka .
Initially, he was planning to turn the concept in to play, but considering the problem in getting the artists for rehearsals, he decided to make it into a short film. When funding became an issue, the director opted for crowdfunding, which has been popularised by some directors, including Pawan Kumar.
“My dialogue writer Sanjay Nagaraj shared the idea on the WhatsApp, the response was good,” explains Praveen on sprouting the idea of this short film. It is in a way an experimental tele-film which offers viewers an experience of the typical Twitter time line. “We came across a lot of reported incidents on the tragedies caused by the social media, but avoided them in the narration,” adds the director, who has presented the real and virtual life worlds in contrasting colours where black and white represents real life, sepia represents flash backs and colour represents the colourful virtual life.
While Sanjay Nagraj (@putani_Papa) has penned the dialogues, Prashant(@jaathre) did the art direction. Renowned music director Krupakar has scored the music for Twitter Loka . Editing was by Suresh and Madhu and Umesh Kamlapur held the camera.
The star cast includes Arun L., Ambika Rani, Shrikant, Vidya D.S., K. Praveen Nayak, Arunkumar Ghargi, Pushpa Nayak, Kirankumar, Madhav Pastey, Leena Pastey, Sandesh Karanth, Raghu Kandkur, Kishore Kumar, Sanjay Nagaraj, Prashanth B., Sanjay Shyamsundar, Raghavendra, Bhaktavar Baba, Vidya Rao, Sushmita P. Nayak, Murali, Pankaj, Ramesh, Devraj, Shashikala, Basavaraju and Rangaswamy. Interestingly for most of these artists, it is their debut venture.
