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From Stage to Screen
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Karma’s leading lady Michelle Herft is flying high. After her debut
into cinema with Prasanna Jayakody’s much talked about second cinematic
venture, the old girl of St Bridget’s Convent, Colombo, will be seen in
Parakrama Jayasinghe’s Que Sera Sarah next. The movie will be releasing
in 2013.
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Michelle Herft |
“Que Sera Sarah is more of a family film. It is entirely different
from Karma which deals with a serious issue. I took part in a few
advertisements and commercials with Sky Entertainments. I ended up
working with Prasanna in a commercial. He spoke to me about his new
film. I read through the script and enjoyed the character. I felt that I
really needed to do it,” she explained enthusiastically on how the
opportunity to take part in Karma came her way.
Though she had proven her acting skills in many a production,
Michelle is an English Literature teacher by profession. She is married
to a lawyer and has a five-year-old son.
Q: You are a popular
face in English theatre.
A: My parents
used to take me for speech and drama classes ever since I was four years
old. I believe that helped me to venture into theatre and acting. All my
siblings are into drama. We have a natural talent for it.
I moved onto stage plays towards the end of my school days. We used
to take part in productions and concerts. Those experiences helped me to
overcome barriers such as being camera shy or stepping into the shoes of
another character. I cherish the moments that I took part in school
plays. I played Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. I believe that brought
me out of my shell as an actress. I took part in Jehan Aloysius’ Stormy
Weather. I was also casted in a lot of comedies but my favourite is It’s
Chaos at the Vicarage which went on boards in 2011. I portrayed Mrs
Penelope Toop’s role in that comedy. The whole process is a learning
experience for me. That is how I grade my evolving process as an
actress. God has given me opportunities but unfortunately acting is not
my profession.
Karma was difficult for me because I had to recite my dialogues in
Sinhala. I am lucky because it comprised fewer dialogues. My friends are
my biggest critics.
Quite a number of people that I admire have gone to watch Karma and
have told me that they enjoyed it. This way I get an idea of what the
public think. Many of those who have watched the film approach me and
express their ideas about the film. There are some who look at the
production with a broad mind. There are also those who have failed to
capture its essence.
Q: How close are you
to Amanda’s character?
A: Amanda is
very unconventional. She does not seem to care about what the society
thinks. I am not an extremist in that sense but I do consider myself to
be strong and unconventional to a certain degree. Amanda is very liberal
and broadminded. I believe all those facts are highlighted in the film.
Q: Didn’t you hesitate
at any stage to take on this character?
A: Yes. I was
reluctant to take on the role since it was a move away from my comfort
zone, the theatre. However watching Sankara helped me overcome this
intimidation.
I appreciated Prasanna’s genius.
Q: Which scene was
most difficult for you?
A: It was the
scene in which I suffer from a miscarriage. I really did get into
Amanda’s character and underwent what she must have felt when that
episode took place. Amanda chooses to express her feelings aloud through
a blog. I think that is what keeps her going as it is therapeutic to
her. At the beginning of Karma she is with a man who seems to love her
for her physical beauty.
I was concerned about the last scene of the movie since it shows
Amanda without a top. That was one reason why I did not want to be a
part of the project but Prasanna went the extra mile and assured me that
everything will be handled digitally. He has been very understood
towards my needs even though he is the director of the film and can call
the shots the way he pleases.
Q: Which scene did you
enjoy acting the most?
A: I liked portraying
the scenes which shows Amanda slipping out of life. Those are not all
that difficult to perform. I had to sit back and let Jagath shoulder the
action from there.
Q: Do you model as
well?
A: I used to
take part in advertisements but I have never ventured into modeling. I
am not interested in teledramas too because it is time consuming. It
requires a sacrifice which I am not capable of handling.
Q: Would you continue
to act?
A: I am hoping
to take part in one of Jehan Bastians’ plays next year. The script is
different from those which I have taken up in the past. Since free time
is scarce for me, whatever I wish to get involved in has to be
worthwhile. The play is titled The Secret Life of Shylock Holmes.
Journey to success
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Addressing the gathering |
Nipuni WIMALAPALA
A religion-based movie has been made to mark the 150th anniversary of
the Holy Family Congregation of Sri Lanka. The project is spearheaded by
the sisters of the Holy Family with the support of many other
individuals.
A dance performance |
Guests at the event. Pictures by Sulochana Gamage |
musical item |
The Journey is the English version of the film and it is called Sad
Prayanaya in Sinhalese. The concept of the film is by Rev Sister
Nilanthi who teaches at Holy Family Convent, Wennapuwa. She is the
script writer of the film as well. The director of the film is Sanjaya
Nirmal. The film has been done with the support of Reverent Sister
Fransisca Perera, the Colombo Provincial and the Counselors of the Holy
Family.
The main character of the story is acted by Achala Nuwanthi. Many new
actresses too made their appearance in the film. They are young teachers
of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.
Speaking to the Daily News, Rev Sister Nilanthi said that the film is
a portrait of the history of the Holy Family, its rise to the current
situation, contemporary issues of sisters and the way to win life
through religious values.
“The film is basically three dimensional. The first part portrays the
emerge of the Holy Family, the second part projects the story of six
sisters who had reached to Sri Lanka and the third one is an entire
picture of the life of a contemporary sister and the issues her faces.
Throughout the film the audience would be advised and entertained. We
highlight the message that if you follow religious values you will
achieve success in life”, She said.
The Holy Family Congregation is the first congregation which has come
to Sri Lanka in 1962. A group of six sisters comprised the first group.
They reached to the Galle Port and later ventured into most parts of the
country. Holy Family Congregation is entirely a religion based social
service institute which focuses on education, nursing, counselling,
preschools, child care services and elderly care services. They work in
rural areas and look towards uplifting lives of the needy.
Guardians is a beautiful kids movie
Kids’ movies that take the time and trouble to be enjoyable by and
accessible to grownups have a special place in movie buffs’, especially
when they're fairly smart and creatively designed.
Rise of the Guardians falls into this camp.
Our protagonist is Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pine), who has no
memories before he awoke in the dark and cold and was given his name by
the Moon. He can control winter weather, and loves starting snowball
fights and taking kids on wild sledding adventures but humans can't see
him, and he has no idea what his real purpose is. When he's recruited by
The Guardians to join their ranks and fight the Boogey Man, Pitch
(voiced by Jude Law), he's skeptical. But they clearly know things he
doesn't about the whole supernatural-entity thing, so he tags along for
the adventure.
The other Guardians are a delight of character design. There's Bunny
(voiced by Hugh Jackman), who is essentially an Australian warrior
rabbit, tall and armed with twin boomerangs. He's skeptical of pretty
much everything, especially Jack's usefulness. Tooth (voiced by Isla
Fisher) and her army of tiny hummingbird-like sprites collect children's
teeth and by doing so, protect their childhood memories. Sandy (who
speaks entirely through gesture and by making symbols appear over his
head) brings good dreams to children, and is both very strong and very
vulnerable to
Pitch's powers. Then there's North (voiced by Alec Baldwin), who is a
broad, jolly, Russian warrior with “Naughty” and “Nice” tattooed on his
forearms.
Each Guardian has a lair reflecting their personalities, and part of
the wonder running through “Rise of the Guardians” is the incredibly
detailed design and creativity that's gone into them. This is a film
that will reward repeat viewings, giving folks a chance to spot
background details they missed the first time around.
Catch the movie in its 3D glory at Savoy Cinema, Wellawatte. The
movie is also screening at Liberty Lite cinema.
Cinema Directors’ Society
A general meeting of the Cinema Directors’ Society will take place at
the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo, on December 4 at 5 pm. The
society's aim is to address the key issues in the Sri Lankan cinema
industry and take steps to develop the screen scene.
The meeting will be headed by its president Prasanna Vithanage.
Bennett Ratnayake is its secretary while the treasurer is Udayakantha
Warnasuriya.
The vice president of the society is Jackson Antony. The vice
secretary is Jayantha Chandrasiri. Boodee Keerthisena is the organizer
while the editor is Prasanna Jayakody.
Executive committee members include Dr D B Nihalsinghe, Dr Dharmasena
Pathiraja, Sumitra Peries, Tissa Liyanasuriya, Dharmasiri Bandaranayake,
Vimukthi Jayasundara, Asoka Handagama, Chandran Rutnam, Dr Malani
Fonseka, Chandrarathna Mapitigama, Senesh Dissanaike Bandara, V
Sivadasan and Sarath Dharmasiri. |
