Mumbai Montage
Autumn saw the second stage in the Bradford College’s groundbreaking collaboration with Whistling Woods International, as ten of our final year BA(Hons) Photography students flew out to Mumbai with Lecturer Trevor Griffiths, to continue work on their animated film, The Music of Life.
Student Martin O’Nions explained “It was the chance of a life time. I think it has given all my photography more depth as being on the streets of Mumbai is a life changing experience. I probably took a thousand pictures. Although we were in the classroom during the day we had a chance to go out afterwards. We were bussed out to soak up the culture up at night and we were taken on walks around the market places which were the sort of locations places featured in the film we are making.”
Student Lora West added, “We walked down the street on a Sunday and it was just like walking on to the set. It was surreal. Whistling Woods Institute is a completely new, contemporary place set in a national park where Bollywood films are made.One day we saw Salman Khan, who is the Tom Cruise of Bollywood, as he was driving out of film city, where we stayed. We watched what we thought was a house being built but within days it was gone. It was mindblowing.”
Martin continued, “I expected to see jungle but it was more like a rural estate within a lush green environment. Sets were springing up and being pulled down just as quickly. I thought the Institute was amazing. You can see why Hollywood directors come to use their post-production facilities as their technology includes a 20m US$ editing suite incorporating a cinema."
Lora reckoned “My favourite time was when we went out on the beach taking photographs. Trevor shared some of his experiences and it was just so special to be out there with Trevor as well as the guys from Whistling Woods.”
Martin concluded, “Trevor has been there and done it all. He is at the top of his game.”
Few people will be lucky enough to experience location photography in Mumbai with award winning photographer Trevor Griffiths, but here’s the next best thing:
Mumbai highlights - photography by Trevor Griffiths
You can keep up with the latest developments with the Whistling Woods project via the blog
http://www.wwischoolofanimation.com/beta/wwiblog/