From the script of ‘Dead Poets Society’, my favourite piece..
‘We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are all noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman: “O me, o life of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, o me, o life? Answer: that you are here. That life exists, and identity. That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.’
athiran says:
nice. thanks for sharing.
what makes you interested in particularly in film scripts? just curious.
there is this movie by lawrence kasdan called Grand Canyon. have u come across its script? i’ve been searching for that one, couldnt find it.
May 6, 2004 — 9:43 am
Lakshmi says:
Look here..http://www.script-o-rama.com
That’s where I have read most scripts. I think reading scripts forces you to imagine every scene, shot, different camera angles… Plus gives you the head-on whether a film is worth watching or not. My viewpoint, entirely…:-)
Haven’t read ‘Grand Canyon’ yet.
May 6, 2004 — 10:03 am
appughar says:
> I think reading scripts forces you to imagine every scene, shot, different camera angles…
It sure does. I had the luck and priveledge to see four movies being born\evovled in front of me. Each time, I read the draft of the screenplay I got a different perspective. And finally when I saw the final images on screen, each scene was more richer, deeper and vibrant than any of my mental snapsots.
May 6, 2004 — 10:12 am
Lakshmi says:
Sure envy you on that… Did you always read the scripts your Dad used?
May 6, 2004 — 10:20 am
appughar says:
Yes. I used to.
I also used to assumed a role of stenographer, till my father became comfortable with computer.
May 6, 2004 — 10:24 am
Lakshmi says:
Wow… Cliched Q, how does it feel to be the son of such a sensitive and intelligent film-maker? Do your ideas and concepts on films and movie-making match your Dad’s or do you feel differently?
May 6, 2004 — 10:32 am
appughar says:
Though he never explicity discussed movies with us, being his son I got a good exposure to world cinema. Was able to see a lot of meaningfull cinema from different parts of the globe, got to read lot of literature about film and different aspects of movie making.
The interesting thing is that sometimes when I read the drafts of his scripts, I used to give some suggestions. But everytime I found my suggestions to be rejected. And also every time I found out the triviality of my suggestion when I see the final images.
May 6, 2004 — 10:48 am
Lakshmi says:
Hmm, I can imagine.
May 6, 2004 — 10:55 am
appughar says:
Thank you… It is an amazing quote
I am growing more and more envious. You get to see all the good movies, get to read all the good books. Though avaliable, I just cant make time or space to read and enjoy my movies/books π .
May 6, 2004 — 10:04 am
Lakshmi says:
Aiyyo paavam… I am really sorry. I know what you mean. I have been in that phase myself where I’ve been unable to relax enough to savour a line, enjoy a quote, hear a new piece of music.
Frankly, it takes effort.
I’ll make sure I share all the goodies… π
Do you know, I read this script while I was on one of the busiest projects, in the midst of complete bedlam and late nights and bad schedules. Maybe all that work led me to read a film script!!!
May 6, 2004 — 10:11 am
Anonymous says:
By the way, are you the son of Shaji N Karun? I am closely known to him. I know him since 1976 when he was studying in Film Institute.
May 7, 2004 — 4:18 am
Lakshmi says:
Yes, he is the director Shaji’s son.
May 7, 2004 — 4:58 am
appughar says:
yes, I am
May 7, 2004 — 6:08 am
rileen says:
I loved that book – yet to see the movie.
But some of us
make the world worse
by contributing
such verse.
* runs away *
May 6, 2004 — 10:58 am
hariputtar says:
Carpe Diem
the movie was a mind-bender – when i first saw it in my school days. It remains one of the favorites.
May 6, 2004 — 12:03 pm
rileen says:
Lucky you – i think that’s the best age to see such a movie.
Or to read Catcher In The Rye, of which Vernon God Little is supposedly a worthy successor.
May 6, 2004 — 12:06 pm
Lakshmi says:
Or ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ which ALSO I have left incomplete…*red-faced* along with ‘Zen and the art..’ and ‘Lila’ and ‘Ulysses’ and ‘Rabbit Run’ and ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’ and ‘……’
May 6, 2004 — 2:04 pm
rileen says:
How could you ?!?
…. not finish To Kill a Mockingbird? I urge you to give it another try ……
May 7, 2004 — 2:41 am
Lakshmi says:
Re: How could you ?!?
Must must must… I know!
May 7, 2004 — 4:39 am
hariputtar says:
rileen the poet π
Or to read Catcher In The Rye,
of which Vernon God Little is supposedly
a successor worthy.
May 6, 2004 — 4:49 pm
Lakshmi says:
Re: rileen the poet π
Hmm.. a decent effort, I must say!
May 7, 2004 — 4:49 am
Lakshmi says:
Didn’t know about the existence of a book… Next on my list. Author?
Rileen… you DO have the makings of a poet… π
May 6, 2004 — 2:01 pm
rileen says:
Please become a publisher within the next two years – seeing how lazy i am, i might need you to provide me with a career π
May 7, 2004 — 2:42 am
Lakshmi says:
π
Sounds like an interesting career to me!
May 7, 2004 — 4:39 am
rileen says:
Publisher, or poet? Ok, let’s agree on both π !!
Yup, do get back to To Kill a Mockingbird, and as for the book Dead Poets Society, i think it’s one of those rare instances of a movie inspiring a book (but i may be wrong) – you can find the author etc here.
May 7, 2004 — 4:49 am
Lakshmi says:
Thanks!
Will look it up… I liked the script very much.. Didn’t expect it to end on that sad a note, though…
May 7, 2004 — 4:52 am
rileen says:
We’re all suckers for happy endings, aren’t we?
I was saddened by it, too – but then felt that perhaps this was a better way, a more realistic way of saying that while such a way of life could also have tragic consequences, it was worthwhile nevertheless.
May 7, 2004 — 4:59 am
Lakshmi says:
It was a shock, no less… Didn’t expect the script to take such a drastic turn.
May 7, 2004 — 5:11 am
lalunadiosa says:
drat!!!!
Now you’ve made me maha-curious about the movie…with all the talk about sad endings et al….can hardly wait till finals end so I can catch up on movies and books….
May 7, 2004 — 7:16 am