Ben Rekhi is an up and coming Indian American director who isn`t prone to stereotypes. Neither is he a director who is following a trend of "Indian family drama" type films in the United States. Clearly, Ben Rekhi has a vision and a motivation in exploration of film cinema. His first major feature film, WATERBORNE explores a much more topical theme. What would happen if there was a water shortage in Los Angeles. In this exclusive interview I sat down with Ben Rekhi and discussed the movie, his influences and future...
(HR) – Harish Rao
(BR) – Ben Rekhi
(HR) - Ben congratulations on your film my first question for you is
what was the motivation for this story? Where did you come up with the
idea to have intertwined stories surrounding the Water Shortage issue?
(BR) -I have always been fascinated with water rights/water conflicts as
these are issues that will one day affect us all. When you take
something like water, a basic human need, away from people, the driving
motivation is a need for survival. Some people will think only of themselves, some will take care of others, and some will totally snap. I wanted to throw many different people into this scenario and see how they would react. Also, by pulling one thread, we can watch how everything unravels and how other underlying issues are raised.
(HR) - How did you go about casting this movie, there are some very good performances here did you have an idea in mind going into the
casting process or was it purely done from casting alone?
(BR) - Casting a film is a very delicate and precise art in itself. One
line of dialogue can be read differently by ten different actors. I had
many ideas going into the process of who I would want to be in the film, but ultimately it is the people who responded to the material or
character the most who ended up getting the part. We found our actors through agents, open submissions, friends, and references. Ultimately I wanted this film to be an actor`s piece, something where the humanity and performances would carry the narrative. I am honored to have been able to accumulate the amazing cast that we did.
(HR) - I see some references or influences of AMORES PERROS and TRAFFIC
in this film, especially in terms of ?color? and scene transitions, are
you strongly influenced by these films? What are your influences?
(BR) - Actually these are two of my favorite films. Right now my
fascination and focus lies with films that really test the limits of the human condition. When a film transcends the medium itself and becomes a painting of raw emotions, something very basic and archetypal emerges. I have been very influenced by the reality and character drama works of Cassavettes, Ken Loach, Soderbergh, and Innaritu. As far as the shooting style goes, I prefer harsher images and lighting to the typical Hollywood flare. Something as subtle (or extreme) as the color manipulation can really effect the viewer tremendously on a subconscious level. Plus shooting on digital, I wanted to find a new look with the medium as opposed to trying to make it look like film. Gritty, raw, edgy. The kind of look that sticks with you after you see it.
(HR) - You mentioned in the Q&A at methodfest film festival that the "music" played like a "fourth" character in the film. Can you explain a
little about how you came about using this band "DREDG"
(BR) -Dredg is on of the most innovative bands out there. I have known
these guys for years, we went to school together and worked on various
shorts together. I had done a music video for them for "Of The Room" with Interscope Records and so in being able to work with them on the score, we were able to continue this working relationship. We really wanted to approach this score as a traditional movie soundtrack - with character themes, motifs, and the same set of instruments used throughout to create a cohesive aural landscape. Certain scenes are driven entirely by the music, that to me resonates long after the film finishes.
(for more information on Dredg visit their website:
Dredg)
(HR) - How much research went into this film?
(BR) - I did a lot of research for my own understanding of how water
systems actually work. When I am inspired with a topic like this, I devour books, hungry to learn as much as I can, even if that information doesn`t end up in the final product. Also, to me filmmaking is a process of exploration as much as it is expression. I grew as a person in making this film. I knew I didn`t know everything about the military of the Sikh religion, so I worked closely with consultants in writing and on set to maintain realism and accuracy at all times. I hate when something is portrayed incorrectly or feels fake. I wasn`t afraid to say "I don`t know, but I want to learn."
(HR) - Have you secured distribution for the film yet?
(BR) - Not yet.
(HR) - How did you assemble your team for the production of this film?
(BR) - It starts with a core unit of a handful of people. My producer
Smriti Mundhra believed in the script from the beginning and brought a
tremendous amount of experience and know how to the table. From there, it becomes like a magnet, attracting people to the the project. When you surround yourself with extremely talented people, everyone pushes each other to excel. What I`ve learned the most as a filmmaker, director or producer, is that the greatest asset you can have is to provide an environment where you allow the people around you the thrive and do what they do best. It is all about trust and enthusiasm. And no sleep for months on end.
(HR) - How many days of shooting were required for this film and where
did you film this movie at?
(BR) - We shot for 24 days in and around Los Angeles.
(HR) - What are plans for your next project?
(BR) - Currently I am producing a project called "CarBabes" a comedy about the quirky lives of car salesmen. It is something very different that anything I have been involved with. We are shooting in San Francisco this summer.
(HR) - If you could meet one director who would it be?
(BR) - Michael Winterbottom. Every film he does is in a different genre
and completely unique. That`s the kind of career I would want to have.
For further information about this and Ben Rekhi`s other projects please visit the following websites for further information.
thenextattackcarbabesbombthesystem
Harish Rao
www.hollywoodmasala.com