Summer Seminar 2008 University Place and PSU

Hindi cinema: after the conference, South Asian remakes of _The Fountainhead_?

nevin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:31:35 GMT

After the conference, John Enright posted the text of much of the toast he had offered at the final night's Banquet. He posted it on his informative and very amusing website, "Rhyme of the Day" (http://john-j-enright.livejournal.com/), on July 7 under the heading "Mountaintop Vision". You can still read it if you click on "go earlier" at the bottom of the main page.

This led to a dialog on the subject of Indian and Pakistani remakes of _The Fountainhead_. This discussion began on July 15 under the heading "Bollywood Fountainhead?". You can scroll down to find it, too.

Sorry to get these posts out so late, but I had a business trip to Canada the week after the conference, then my home computer was down for maintenance this week.

-B.

Hindi cinema: after the conference, _Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na_

nevin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:13:47 GMT

This is an email I sent out last weekend to folks from the Portland conference that I thought would have an interest in a new film. In case I missed anyone, I will post it here:

**********

I hope you all had a great time at the Seminar, like I did, and returned home safely. I am writing because you all have expressed an interest in Hindi cinema. Please excuse the form letter, but there is something I wanted to bring to your attention on short notice.

After a short vacation in British Columbia and a business trip to Calgary, I returned to Houston and began to catch up on watching films that had debuted since leaving for the Seminar. One unexpected find was a fresh, hip romantic comedy called _Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na_ (_You Know It... or Not_, ) which represents screenwriter Abbas Tyrewala's directorial debut. It was made on a modest budget, but managed to achieve a refreshingly unique and modern style, while paying understated homage to the conventions of the Bollywood _masala_ genre.

The film is set in present-day Bombay, among a group of friends graduating from college. As the director writes: "_Jaane Tu..._ is the story of youth as I remember it. The age where we first get to know the secrets of the heart."

The supporting cast includes some of the best-loved veterans of the Hindi screen, such as Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal, but the main cast consists entirely of relative newcomers, including the delightful and talented British-born leading lady, Genelia D'Souza. Opposite her, Imraan Khan (nephew of superstar Aamir Khan, the hero of _Lagaan_ and _Earth_,) performs well in his acting debut.

The music was composed by A. R. Rahman, perhaps the most celebrated living Indian film composer. Songs range from the jazzy "Tu Bole... Main Boloon" ("You Say, I Say") to the charming light rock "Nazrein Milaana, Nazrein Churaana" ("Exchanging Glances, Stealing Glances.") But I can't fail to mention the major hit of the film, party track "Pappu Can't Dance!"

On the official _Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na_ site "http://www.jaanetu.com/" you can play samples of all the songs, or click on the "So what's it like?" tab on the left to see the promo videos. There is a general teaser, as well as trailers based on each of the songs "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi" ("Sometimes, Aditi"), "Nazrein Milaana, Nazrein Churaana", and "Pappu Can't Dance!"

Some of you may have found that all showings of the new Batman movie, _The Dark Knight_, are sold out. Some may be looking for something to watch on an evening that they don't see _The Dark Knight_. Some may wish to make a double feature of it. And there might even be a few who don't care to watch Batman fight the Joker this weekend.

If you find yourself in any of these categories, then, whether you know it or not... whether you admit it or not... _Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na_ is a film that you should see.

If you do get a chance to see it, I hope you enjoy it.

Best regards,

Bill Nevin

P.S. Having debuted on July 4th, it has surprisingly heated up the box office both in India and internationally, and is still playing in major markets in the United States. I found theaters showing it this week in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Southern California (Artesia,) the Bay Area, the Washington suburbs (Laurel, MD,) Atlanta, Washington state (Kirkland,) the Toronto area, and Dallas, as well as Houston. That was searching several metro areas on Hollywood.com. Either Hollywood.com or Fandango might give others.

And, of course, if any of you no longer wish to receive my Hindi cinema updates, please write back and say so. I will be happy to take you off the list.

-B.

Hindi cinema: Portland 2008

nevin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:37:53 GMT

I am working on hosting the fourth annual Hindi film showing during this year's Seminar. There appears to be some difficulty in scheduling a room with a TV or overhead projector during an appropriate time, unless I rent the equipment, which might be prohibitively expensive.

If you are interested in seeing a Bollywood film at the seminar, please reply so that I can estimate demand.

To post here, you must not only be logged on to the participants-only section, you must also have an account on TAS community forums and log into it. If you have trouble posting, contact TAS for an account. Or just email me at bolly4objectivists@mac.com Tell me that you can't post your message and I will post it for you.

More later,

Bill

Hindi Cinema: Portland 2008 - the short list

nevin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:40:19 GMT

This year's Hindi presentation will take place in the University Place hotel, the first half on Monday night after the last evening arts presentation, the second half on Tuesday night after that nights last evening arts presentation. The room and other details will be announced at the Seminar

I have considered many possible films, and these are the two that made the short list:

_1942: A Love Story_
(1993, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra)

1942 was one of the grimmest years in recent world history. Among many other crises, the Japanese began a series of offensive in Indochina that culminated in the conquest of Burma the following year. This in turn led to the end of rice shipments from Burma to India, which was the proximate cause of the Great Bengal Famine in which 3 million Indians died.

Indian revolutionaries saw the Second World War as an opportunity to finally cast off the yoke of British colonial rule. The British, for their part, were terrified of the prospect of losing the remainder of their Empire at the very moment that its support was needed for the West's opposition to the Axis powers. In India, the British therefore cracked down brutally on dissent, instituting complete censorship and executing many rebel leaders.

Set at this epic moment in history, _1942: A Love Story_ has a double theme. It is the story of a man's love for a woman, and of a man's love for his country.

This is possibly Vidhu Vinod Chopra's greatest work. Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala, in the lead roles, gave two of their best performances ever, and were accompanied by an all-star supporting cast. Rahul Dev Burman's music for this film is considered classic. It features the lyrics of Javed Akhtar, who was later the lyricist for _Veer-Zaara_, which I screened in Schenectady in 2005.

_Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge_
(1994, directed by Aditya Chopra)

Still playing in Bombay's famed Maratha Mandir theater, where it debuted in October of 1994, this is the longest-running film in India's history and one of the most popular Hindi films of all time. Couples there who saw it while dating still return every year to celebrate their wedding anniversaries or first meetings.

"DDLJ", as it is called, is the story of a young woman who dreamed of the perfect man, and then met him in real life. It is also the story of a man who fell in love with a woman, only to discover that it has been arranged for her to marry another man.

I will make my final decision on which one to show soon. Looking forward to seeing you all at the Seminar!

Bill

Arrival in Portland

cjgrieb — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:28:06 GMT

I and at least one other person are getting in between 2-3 on Sat. We could all share a shuttle. Chris Grieb

Things to see and do

Mat Thexton — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:17:11 GMT

Things to see and do in Portland.

I started out looking for a nice venue to have the Sponsors Dinner and discovered the EvergreenAviationMuseum, which has the Spruce Goose. The other places were mostly linked from that website.

Evergreen Aviation Museum . http://www.sprucegoose.org/. Imax theater, wine tasting, collection of aircraft including Spruce Goose, Titan II missile, museum, artifacts, spacecraft, bombers, more. 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, Oregon97128. 9 am to 5 pm, 2 museums + IMAX $30. 503-434-4180.

Visitor’s website (non-government site). http://www.travelportland.com/.

Email monthly guide: http://www.travelportland.com/visitors/email_newsletter.html.

Flying Heritage Collection of vintage WW II airplanes owned by Paul Allen (Microsoft), first access was June 6, 2008. Open 10-5, $12. 2.4 hours each way, 200 miles to Everett, WA. See http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplateHomeNoFlash.aspx?planeId=0. Paine Field, 3407 109th Street SW, Everett, WA98204, (877) FHC-3404.

Portland Art Museum http://www.pam.org/. 10 am to 5 pm, $10. about 10 blocks from University Place. 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR97205, 503·226·2811

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. http://www.omsi.edu/. 9:30 am to 5:30 am. $11. 1945 SE Water AvenuePortland, OR97214-3354.

Oregon Zoo. http://www.oregonzoo.org/. 8 am to 6 pm, $11.75. The Oregon Zoo is only five minutes from downtown Portland on Highway 26 West—also called Sunset Highway. MAX Light Rail MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) runs through downtown from the suburbs to the west and east, from the airport, and from the ExpoCenter. Washington Park has its own MAX stop, which lets you off right at the zoo entrance. Allow some time to explore the station. It's an attraction in itself.

The PortlandJapaneseGarden. http://www.japanesegarden.com/. (503) 223-1321, 611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland, Oregon97205. 10 am to 7 pm, (3 guided tours daily). $8. The Garden is served hourly by TriMet bus #63 which stops in downtown Portland and at the Zoo/Washington Park MAX Light Rail station. From May through September, a TriMet shuttle service connects the Garden and the Zoo/Washington Park MAX station.

The Portland Classical Chinese Garden. http://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/. The Garden is located between NW 2nd and 3rd and NW Everett and Flanders in Old Town/Chinatown. The Garden can be reached from I-405 by taking the Everett Street Exit and turning East. The garden is also available by MAX, which is Portland’s light rail system, or by buses 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 33, 40, and 77: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, $8.50 Daily tours at noon and 1 pm.

Chinook Winds Casino. http://www.chinookwindscasino.com/. 86 miles, 2 hours 10 minutes; each way.

Spirit mountain Casino. 27100 S.W. Salmon River Highway, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347. http://www.spirit-mountain.com/SMChome.aspx. 61 miles, 1 hour 35 minutes each way.

Tillamook Air Museum. http://www.tillamookair.com/. 11 am to 5 pm. $11.50. Building is 1942 wooden hanger constructed to house Navy blimps for coast guard service. 503.842.1130. 6030 Hangar Road, Tillamook, Oregon 97141. 75 miles, 1 hour 48 minutes; each way.

Pearson Air Museum . http://www.pearsonairmuseum.org/. 10 am to 5 pm, $8, (closed July 5). 1115 E 5th, Vancouver, WA98661. 12 miles, 20 minutes each way. (360) 694-7026. At PearsonAirMuseum you'll experience the "Golden Age of Aviation," when flying was new to the world and those who flew in open cockpit aircraft, with the wind in their faces, were the ultimate daredevils! Enter the museum and you enter a world of wild barnstormers, experimental aircraft, and aces of World War I and II. Check out the world’s first bomber! Visit the flight simulator room and experience flying without ever leaving the ground! Enjoy America’s second oldest wooden hangar built in 1918! View priceless Russian Transpolar Flight memorabilia! Watch an aviation movie of your choice in our theatre! Shop the PearsonAirMuseum gift shop for one of a kind souvenirs and mementoes of your visit to this historic field!

Vista Balloon Adventures. http://www.vistaballoon.com/. Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm PST (800) 622-2309 (503) 625-7385, 23324 SW Sherk Place, Sherwood, Oregon97140.

Oregon Gardens . http://www.oregongarden.org/index.html . 43 miles, 60 minutes each way. (503) 874-6005. 7 am to 6 pm (Wed and Sat). $10.

Oregon Wineries. http://www.oregonwine.org/Home/.

Waterfront Blues Fest. http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com/ Join blues fans from throughout the world at the 2008 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, presented by First Tech Credit Union, July 3 to 6, 2008, on the banks of the WillametteRiver at TomMcCallWaterfrontPark. The 2008 festival will feature more than 120 performances on five stages. Featuring: Isaac Hayes, Charlie Musselwhite, Phoebe Snow, Canned Heat, The Mannish Boys, Joe Bonamassa, James Hunter, Elvin Bishop ... and more.

Please add your discoveries. Mat Thexton

Welcome to the Summer Seminar 2008 Forum

TOCadmin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:43:58 GMT

This forum is for participants in the Atlas Society's 19th Annual Summer Seminar, which will be held June 28-July 5, 2008 in Portland, Oregon.

Please use the forum to:

--Coordinate travel plans and arrange to share rides from the airport (though, the light rail is a good option in Portland, too.).
--Discuss ideas for what to do on the free day, Wednesday, July 2.

If you have questions about the Summer Seminar, or want to propose a Participant Sponsored Session, contact Will Thomas, the conference director, at conferencedirector -at- atlassociety dot org.

A full schedule and registration information is online at www.atlasevents.org.