Tim Williams
Information Management Officer
US Embassy � Kuwait
T-BUSH won Best Film Award at the International Short Film Festival in London this year.
"The Letter" Film Shot in Middle East gives US feel.
Shot entirely in Kuwait last fall, �The Letter� is the directorial debut of a talented young film-maker named T-Bush. "The Letter" is the moving story of a father who desires to recreate a lost relationship with his estranged daughter was awarded �Best Film� at the International Short Film Festival on February 1st this year in London. �The Letter� was a dream realized for T-Bush and also a breakout project for this gifted Indian-Goan producer-director who is now being recognized as an up and coming fixture of the film industry. The short film has all the appearances of being shot in the
United States, perhaps California, because of the coastline and palm trees that are visible in a number of scenes. In this unprecedented endeavor, T-Bush cast amateur American actors from the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait and used his abundant creative skills to make the movie appear as if it was shot in the United States. T-Bush�s promising first effort will be screened at most of the international short film festivals in the coming months and is sure to garner further acclaim.
Obstacles Overcome
With its intense heat, blowing sand and rather isolated situation, Kuwait is hardly the usual scene of exceptional movie making. This middle-eastern country is known best for its vast oil wealth and for being invaded by Iraq in 1990. It has never enjoyed a reputation as a film-maker�s paradise and to be sure, that reputation may never be forthcoming. T-Bush defied the odds when he produced his award-winning short movie. His desire to capture an American look and feel was doubly difficult in Kuwait but he
accepted the challenge and according to remarks from viewers he has achieved that goal. It�s astonishing that despite numerous exterior scenes, even Kuwaiti viewers may have trouble believing the film was shot in Kuwait. T-Bush used a troupe of eager volunteers from the American Embassy in Kuwait to ensure his film had an authentic cast of characters and he included numerous dashes of Americana in the sets to complete the impression. The editing process was complicated by the requirement to alter scenes that didn�t have an American feel.
Entire Cast Comes From U.S. Embassy
T-Bush comments that, "My first short English film �The Letter�, 15 minutes in duration is shot entirely in Kuwait but you won�t be able to tell and that�s the way I planned it.�
T-Bush assembled his American cast with the help of a friend Gabriel Fernandez who works at the American Embassy and provided casting suggestions. Most of the Americans Fernandez approached with the movie concept were game volunteers even without acting experience beyond their high school plays. In appreciation for helping him complete his production dream, T-Bush launched �The Letter� with a premier showing at the American Embassy in Kuwait on December 8th, 2004. The �small hall� audience of about 100 Embassy employees was enthusiastic in their praise for the film.
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On February 4th, 2005 the film was screened in cooperation with KGTS at the Gulf English School-Kuwait for an audience of more than 1000 viewers. After the screening, T-Bush accepted hearty congratulations from event organizers and the Utorda Club of Kuwait. He expressed great thanks to his new American friends at the U.S. Embassy for their enormous support. T-Bush is passionate about film making and says his next project, already in production,
will be a feature-length comedy film� �All the Best� � "I am working hard to make this project extraordinary". In fact, his major project promises to be a smash on the Konkani silver screen, a feature film with the working title "Adeus My Love". T-Bush syas it was an idea he toyed with for quite some time. The ground-breaking plot involves merging aspects of Goa and Portugal within their individually powerful, traditional context. Describing it as a beautiful and rare love story with romance, comedy and drama, T-Bush says "Adeus My Love" is already in pre-production stage. The film is set for shooting at evocative locations in Portugal, London, and Goa.
Synopsis
"The Letter" is the moving story of a father who desires to recreate a lost relationship with his estranged daughter.
CAST : TIMOTHY WILLIAMS (IMO), JOY GREENLY (POLMIL), DENISE MULLIGAN (CONS), EMILIE WILLIAMS (EFM), ROBERT WILKINSON (FM), JANET MILLER (APO), HANNAH WILLIAMS (EFM), MANDY GREENLY (EFM), DOMINIQUE WILLIAMS (EFM), ALI LEJLIC (PD), LISA LANDIS (EFM), JENNIFER DANOVER (ECON), CASSANDRA HAMBLIN (HRO), SUZANNE PICKENS (POLMIL), JEAN-CLAUDE LAURENT III (FM).
Comments from Cast & Crew.
Tim Williams (Information Management Officer): Since making this, my first and only film, I see movies and movie making with a totally different perspective. It was a terrific experience...
Denise Mulligan (Consular): Having no prior experience in acting, other than playing Florida in the Twelve Dancing Princesses in 5th grade, I really did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had and how interesting it was to see the process. I look forward to seeing the finished product...
Bob Wilkinson (Facility Manager): This was also my first, and probably last movie making experience, the whole process was rather enlightening and lots of fun. It's easy to see why people all over the world aspire to do something like this...
Janet Miller (Air Post Office): I would just like to say Thanks!!! I am finally a grandma! Had a great time making the movie...
Lisa Landis (Family Member): I just want to say what a wonderful experience I had being a part of the movie. I have never been in a movie before and I enjoyed every minute I spent playing the part. It was fun and I would like the opportunity to be in another one...
Gabriel Fernandez (Local Guard Force): It was wonderful working with T-Bush. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience in film making...
Samuel Joppan (Local Guard Force): Having worked with many Malayalam filmmakers, being a part of making "The Letter" was one of the best experiences I ever had...
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T-Bush (Producer/Director): I have lived with these ideas for far too long they show me the path in life. Yet no ideas can hold me in my own prison. I want to create strength out of thin air, it is not an easy task to accomplish but I seek that power.
Write to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.T-Bush.com
- Forwarded by http://www.goa-world.com
WHAT'S ON AROUND WITH THE GOANS IN THE GULF:
MAY BALL 2005
Date: 12-05-05 Organized by Goan Welfare Society (GWS)-Kuwait
Venue: Safir Palace Hotel, Riggea Band: Stepping Stones
Highlights: Crowning of the MAY QUEEN 2005.
Sponsors: Damas - the art of beauty,
Mughal Mahal - the fine art of dining,
and Siemens Mobile.
YGC BAHRAIN MAY QUEEN BALL
Date: 05-05-05 Organized by: Young Goans Club, Bahrain
Venue: Palace Inn Hotel Highlights: The YGC May Queen Contest
ANNUAL MAY QUEEN BALL
Date: 05-05-05 Organized by Goan Welfare Associate(GWA), Qatar
Venue: The Diplomatic Club. Highlights: Crowning of the May Queen.
UPCOMING EVENT IN GOA:
FRUIT FEST 2005 http://www.goa-world.com/goa/fruitfest/
Thought for
Today:
Everything you are against weakens you.
Everything you are for empowers you.
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