#give Dev Patel all of the creative power

[imperatorrrrr]

Monkey Man was SUCH a good film I'm here bc my dash had an influx of your posts 😌 10/10 you made me want to go watch it in theatres again LOL

I can't stop thinking about this movie.

(I can't stop thinking about Dev Patel in this movie.)

It's visually absolutely gorgeous.

I love how bloody, gory, and unapologetic it is.

It also does such justice to the "revenge" arc and the way it incorporates that realities of life in India at large.

Its unreal and the soundtrack is fucking beautiful too.

I was so concerned I'd miss its theater run, but thank fuck, dude, thank fuck.

And the ending is kind of perfect. You just have to sit in it.

[vivmaek]

Astrological Decans (Aries, Taurus, Gemini)

✰ my masterlist

✽ Aries

❀ 1st Decan ♂ (March 21 - March 30)

People who fall under this decan are going to have an easier time getting out of bed compared to most. Of course they get tired, and they’ve gone through hard times just like anyone else. Yet, they somehow muster up the courage to embrace every new day. They push this attitude upon other people, whether they like it or not. Their pioneering spirit launches them into leadership positions, and they’re confident about what they know. Enthusiastic and ready for anything, it is hard to get in their way. Impulsivity often leads them into trouble, but their mistakes don’t weigh upon them too heavily. Dwelling on the past isn’t something they get caught up in. The way in which they carry themselves with a sense of unshakeable confidence is magnetic and alluring. Their unpredictable nature keeps people on their toes, they bring excitement into the lives of other people.

⚘ Aretha Franklin - March 25

⚘ Lady Gaga - March 28

⚘ Vincent Van Gogh - March 30

❀ 2nd Decan ☉ (March 31 - April 9)

Original and unlike anyone else, this is usually the first thing noticed about people who fall under this decan. Their bold and expressive nature often garners an audience. Standing on their own isn’t something they fear. In fact, they prefer it. Independant and relaxed, they don’t appreciate it when someone interrupts their flow. Their anger is a bit explosive and others find this to be shocking.It’s best to give them space when upset. They’ll come back around, and they will be just as charming as ever. They’re not impulsive, but they are decisive. They make their minds up quickly, and stubbornly stick to the narratives they’ve created for themselves. Due to this mindset, making a strong first impression is a priority of theirs.

⚘ Marlon Brando - April 3

⚘ Heath Ledger - April 4

⚘ Maya Angelou - April 4

❀ 3rd Decan ♃ (April 10 - April 19)

These people live life in a big way. And at times, their approach can be a bit hedonistic. Their desires run strong, and their ambitions are large. People born under this decan are unafraid to speak their minds. They take conflict lightly, and might make other people angry through a poorly timed joke. Their jovial nature allows for them to be easily forgiven, and they can give out a sincere apology if need be. Being subtle is not a strength of theirs. Everyone knows what's on their mind. They see no reason to hold back and often share too much information. As lovers, they are incredibly passionate and very devoted. They give their all when it comes to relationships. Their affectionate feelings are obvious, they do not play coy. Nothing is left to the imagination when it comes to these types.

⚘ Saoirse Ronan - April 12

⚘ Charlie Chaplin - April 16

⚘ Conan O’Brien - April 18

✽ Taurus

❀ 1st Decan ♀ (April 20 - 29)

These individuals are well known for their will-power and tenacity. They are determined and steadfast, their patience is one of their greatest strengths. Their deep passion for life allows for them to remain focused on what matters most. Highly trustworthy and devoted, they bring stability into people's lives. These types are pleasure seekers. Their sensual nature desires exploration. They’re willing to try almost everything at least once. Adventures with them are thoughtful and slow moving. They have to stop and smell the roses along the way. Even when seemingly distracted, they never lose sight of their dreams. They know that they’re on the right path, but aren’t in any rush to reach the end. This same approach is also applied to their relationships. They aren’t likely to rush into commitment or marriage, but they are still dedicated.

⚘ Dev Patel - April 23

⚘ Shakespeare - April 23

⚘ Ella Fitzgerald - April 25

❀ 2nd Decan ☿ (April 30th - May 10th)

True artists, they have been gifted with creative talent. They also have the discipline to fully commit to their studies and projects. More than a bit of a perfectionist, they don’t stop until every detail is in order. Being critical is a negative trait of theirs that might be overtly present. They are highly intelligent and often see things that others miss. This can be frustrating, but also beneficial when setting themselves apart from the crowd. They have many goals and are far more ambitious in comparison to the other decans. Their adaptable nature allows for them to overcome obstacles and they rarely get sidetracked. Coming up with solutions on the fly is easy for them. Communication is another talent of theirs. They share their thoughts effectively and are direct in their speech. These types always finish what they started and never leave people guessing.

⚘ Donatella Versace - May 2

⚘ Catherine the Great - May 2

⚘ James Brown - May 3

❀ 3rd Decan ♄ (May 11 - May 20th)

Financial security is important to Taurus third decans. They are devoted to their careers and professions. Their materialistic nature is driven by a keen eye for aesthetics. They like to be surrounded by beautiful things, this includes people. Social prestige is important for those under the third decan, they take appearances into consideration when developing relationships. They can be particularly stubborn and prideful. It is not likely that they will take advice from other people. This isn’t because they don’t trust people, and this attitude isn’t coming from a place of arrogance. They just need to figure out everything on their own terms. They don’t like to be rushed, and they don’t like being told what to do. Maintaining a sense of independence will always be a priority of theirs.

⚘ Robert Pattinson - May 13

⚘ Megan Fox - May 16

⚘ Nicholas II of Russia - May 18

✽ Gemini

❀ 1st Decan ☿ (May 21 - 31)

The silver tongues of the zodiac, these people can talk their way into anything. Incredibly charming and inquisitive, they have a way of making everyone feel seen and heard. They pick up on details in conversation and speech that others don’t. Their high level of intelligence is noticed quickly. Being the smartest person in the room was never a goal of theirs, it just happens naturally. People who fall under this decan are especially fond of games and tricks. They love a good prank and are always looking to get into some sort of scheme. The people who surround them are constantly laughing. Their cutting remarks and witty insults keep people on their toes. Finding themselves within a debate is a common occurrence. Conversations with them are seemingly endless. Their minds run a mile a minute. Hardly anyone can keep up with their fast paced way of life.

⚘ Stevie Nicks - May 26

⚘ Lauryn Hill - May 26

⚘ John F. Kennedy - May 29

❀ 2nd Decan ♀ (June 1 - June 10)

People who fall under this decan are social butterflies. Delicate, beautiful, and charming. Others can’t help but fall in love with them, even their annoying qualities become endearing over time. Often subjected to rumors and speculation, they’re used to people gossiping about them. They may appear harmless, but these types are masters of chaos. Others trust them inherently, they especially trust the words of a Gemini third decan. At times, people who fall under this decan can be a bit flippant with the truth. This can lead to disastrous consequences. Their diplomatic nature often positions them within the middle of conflict. They feel a need to smooth over communication issues and often step forward to do so. Gemini third decans have many passionate opinions to share. They care about what other people have to say and expect to be granted the same treatment. They love encountering new and interesting people. Cultivating relationships is an important theme within their lives.

⚘ Marylin Monroe - June 1

⚘ Angelina Jolie - June 4

⚘ Emily Ratajkowski - June 7

❀ 3rd Decan ♅ (June 11 - 21)

Gemini third decans have an unquenchable curiosity towards life. Adventurous and independent to the extreme, their life path takes many interesting turns and sometimes diverts straight into the woods. They are highly intelligent and have an outlook on life that is unconventional and offbeat. Their ideas are controversial and ahead of their time, finding a solution to any given problem is easy for them. At times they can be a bit too blunt and unconcerned with the feelings of others. Some may appreciate their brutal honesty, but most will be put off by it. Gemini third decans do have an interest in the greater good and want the best for people, they show this through logical thoughts rather than impassioned speeches. It is likely that they have a deep interest in social justice and reform. They have a vision for what the future could look like and will do what they can to turn it into reality.

⚘ Anne Frank - June 12

⚘ Tupac June - 16

⚘ Paul Mccartney - June 18

[royalsunshinehotel]

So we already have what if reader dommed the dev Patel characters. What if it was the other way around? (Reader getting dommed by the dev Patel characters) ps love your blog

A/N: this one kinda stumped me, I can't lie. Consulting credit to my bae @hecuba-of-troy as always.

Anwar Kharral (Skins 2009) Oh Anwar, he's been waiting for this opportunity. I feel like he's using a little bit of edge though, kind of condescending in a way. I feel like you'd be restrained for catching an attitude with him, and he'd be such a jerk asking obvious questions, "aw do you feel empty?" (you do), "Does that feel good?" (It does, so of course he stops), and he gets off on the power shift. He knows that your a major catch, so he'll take whatever you'll allow him to do to you. Anwar, in his soul, is a goober, and he's lucky that you trust him like this.

Sonny Kapoor (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, 2011) Straight up, I do feel like you and Sonny see one NSFW video, and give it a go. It's a team effort, but you can't take him seriously when he tries to put on an American Accent like the guy in the video. Soft sex ensues. Sorry! Neal Sampat (Newsroom, 2011-2014) Neal fully knows he's broke, is underpaid at his job, and barely qualified for American citizenship. He also knows he's over six feet tall and has a big dick. You will be invited over to your boyfriends house, have a good meal, and some wine, and your boyfriend will proceed to mans-plain and condescend to you shit that he knows you already know, in his soft British accent. It doesn't matter because he's hitting it so good, in a way only he can. He's going to watch you go stupid on his cock, and have you agree with everything he's saying. Your a dumb little doll for him, aren't you?

Deon Wilson (Chappie, 2015) I honestly don't think Deon has it in him. He's too soft. Even when you tell him that he can go a bit harder, be a bit rougher, it's still only because you let him. Everything he does is for you, and because of you. It's a privilege to be on top of you and he's going to make the most of it. Sheru “Saroo” Bierley (LION, 2016) Whew. Girl. I feel like Saroo fully feels his Dom mode after the two of you get in an argument. You like being a brat, and you like being his brat. It's dumb, because in his own way, Saroo's a brat too, he just wants to fuck you so you quit mouthing off. Your so much better behaved after he's fucked you all mean like this. I do feel like Saroo would be well aware that he's being a brat, but he's bigger and stronger and more muscular than you. He also wants you on all fours, and your more than happy to. Saroo, being a 'brat', will probably tear your clothes so you "can't leave" the next morning (it's a lie you totally can, and you didn't like that shirt anyway), but please know when you DO leave you're limping, as well as smiling.

Jay Menha (The Wedding Guest, 2018) I feel like Jay and you know each other to the point where it's just a look on his face, and you let him push you down. If you use his full name 'Sanjay', you get a harsher pace, that you know you'll feel tomorrow. More than anything, i feel like Jay being a dom would be stress relief. He's a soft, creative man, but him driving into you, using your holes, is something that's both necessary and encouraged in your sexual relationship.

David Copperfield (2019) David had me so stumped, but I really do feel like this is more of a collaboration than straight-up dom behavior. It would probably be closer to role-play. David thinks you hung the moon, so it's not a surprise when he forgets his lines and starts nipping at the inside of your thighs. You're an actress, so your annoyed at his lack of professionalism. He makes up for it though, he always does.

Joshua Madika (Modern Love, 2019) Put on the most expensive clothes in your closet and let your man tie you up and eat you. Joshua responds mostly to hair pulling or whatever pet name you've given him. He loves to see you in the pretty clothes he's bought you, probably crying because you literally just want to come, that's it. But you can hold on a little longer right? Be good for daddy?

Sir Gawain (The Green Knight, 2021) Definitely responds only to 'my king', or 'your majesty', and plays a lot with temperatures. You will be getting bred because Gawain can never have too many heirs, and you will most likely be getting spanked/ swatted with a paddle. He likes calling you 'his whore', and there is a high possibility that he will spit in your mouth at some point during the evening.

[terrorhqs]

hello to each and every one of you absolute wonders !! first of all, we would like to apologize for the wait - when we saw 8 apps hitting the inbox in the last few hours, we knew we would have some Serious Work on our hands. it took us longer than we expected to go through all of them, mainly because every single one was absolutely incredible, and this entailed several very, very tough decisions. we also wanted to be as accommodating as possible for certain applicants who inspired us to make a few changes along the way - with their backstories, their line of thinking, their amazing character, which we will note below. this truly was a round of acceptances where we thought we might create a whole new batch of skeletons just to showcase each app. thank you to everyone who applied. and for everyone who got accepted, please make sure to send in your accounts in 24h !!

HENRY for THE COMMANDER (james norton)

henry, your writing was an absolute treat, but it was truly your future plot ideas we were feasting on! we absolutely loved how tightly tied to fitzwilliam’s psyche they were, how terribly heart wrenching they were - particularly the first one - we have to admit it made us weepy and excited in equal measure.

GEN for THE DEVOTED, captain’s steward (richard deiss)

gen, your writing flourishes and entrances and beguiles, just as rowan does, and the two of you do it so effortlessly. your in-character response was a brilliant show of creativity and development in showing how rowan reacts to the same question asked by different people, and we knew he would be a phenomenon onboard the promethean. your app was showstopping, and we couldn't wait to welcome you aboard.

CAIT for THE SOCIALITE (tuppence middleton)

the whole personality of stella was a whirlwind in motion !! we were so eager to read more about them from the very first seconds. and the prose ! how beautiful ! (Worship the altar of this consuming, rebellious  heart and wear it in red, bathe in this baptismal font of sordid gossip, glory, erupting nights of heated duels between wit and ego) - this is the epitome of what we wanted for them, and even more than we could’ve hoped !

KAT for THE DOCTOR (dev patel)

kat, please let us dwell with jonathan in his sunshine and pure spirit forever?? we are all rosa diaz on this blessed day and he is a golden retriever puppy we would all kill for. we love his love for nature’s wonders and for people alike, but we also adore the depth and understanding you brought to his future plots. we welcome you and jonathan to the crew with such, such open arms !

ALICE for THE DOE-HEARTED (su yihan)

alice, your writing was a siren song that lulled us into the depth of sybil's story - in a heartbeat, we would drown in it all over again. you kept the essence of the doe-hearted but took it so much further in making her a girl haunted, the buildup of sybil and her story a grimm fairytale to be told again and again. "You were born by the water, sweet thing. Your story is the sea with but an island in the middle of it." you have truly woven a complexity to the doe-hearted that we never expected - we'll all be holding our breaths to see how our dear fairytale fares on open waters !!

BEAU for THE INTREPID (tobias menzies)

oh, beau. the entire process of your application was as beautiful and chaotic as a natural phenomenon - it felt like we need albert in this rp, and that weight had the certainty of force? we knew we have to give him the leeway for development he deserved. i cannot properly convey how much we loved the schematics of his past, and how it contrasted with his ideals for the future. he is a map of contrasts and we are so eager to see him on the dash !

NAYAB for THE ENIGMA (katrina kaif)

nayab, the way you illustrated jaya's rich history was absolutely delectable - we were positively screaming over the intricate detail you put into the creation of such a nuanced, interesting, and fiery character. the research and thought you put into jaya absolutely wowed us, and it was impossible not to love (and admittedly, cower a little before) her. "what if this expedition makes you encounter what even you - with your cautious gait, and sharp, dark-eyed gaze - never saw coming?" what a cannonball she is, and what an impact she had on us !

JINHEE for THE HARUSPEX (avan jogia)

jinhee, ashwin is an absolute delight and so was reading your application! as rhi screamed, ‘FUCK I BELIEVE IN HOPE AGAIN??’ we loved the icarus imagery and were not prepared to be completely undone by this line: (and weren’t you told never to touch your idols? warned that the gilding will stick to your fingers?). the way you took his father’s ancestry and tied into his present feelings for britain was absolutely chef’s kiss. we were enamored from start to finish - well done.

KYLIE for THE IDOL (garret hedlund)

oh, what a STUNNING app !! it is so difficult to balance guilt and righteousness, and we feel like you did that thoroughly for jack. your level of close-reading through our skeleton was genuinely flattering, but the way you took it to new depths (and heights) was humbling. we are so, so eager to see how the tide will turn for jack, and all the possible ways you can give him a redemption arc - or the lack of one.

N for THE LOVER (zoe kravitz)

N, let me prostrate myself at eleonore’s feet. your application was so rich and beautifully written, truly embodying the lover’s feline lethality that you want to pet anyway despite knowing she might very well be your downfall. “feed me was all she had ever asked in exchange for burning day and night for him.” hello yes, we volunteer.

TILDA for THE NOBLE (madeline madden)

it was very hard choice for the noble, but tilda, i adore helene’s family’s backstory, how it seemed to rot from the core until collapse. you truly grasped the character and her yearning for abandon, her desperation, and her voice/dialogue in your in-character response was utterly delightful! we can’t wait to see her voyage from sea-legged noble lady to tide commanding shanty.

ADRIAN for THE PURSER (matthew goode)

if only you could see how we reacted when we received this app ! and trust me, the hype only increased when we got to reading it. did we channel that excitement through God-honest tears? uh, yes. we did. ( dead can’t receive letters but Edward still writes them anyway. ) we clutched edward to our chest time and time again through that - and the SPLENDID letter added at the end, what a treat to us ! we are so thankful just at the privilege of reading this. we’re even more thankful that we’ll see him on the dash.

EMI for THE ROMANTIC, wardroom steward (yang yang)

emi, we've concluded with all of your beautiful plot points that you and june do indeed, have the range - you gave us such a variety of wonderful exploration of june's personality, psyche, hopes, and dreams all wrapped up in the beautiful poetry that fit june's character like a second skin.  "the light upon the ice. a brilliant, sightless mirror. it comes not from the sun but from our prometheus, barrelling out from dark waters with an inexplicable gift: fire." you've captured him so beautifully and we cannot wait to see how he will be the promethean's sun to the open seas !

CLAUDIA for THE SCION (rome flynn)

you really manged to send a :59 app and still steal the show ! how very Scion-y of you. in all seriousness, i adored augustus background so MUCH - his maternal connection, the wishy-washy tides of his family’s structure, the conflict inherent in his very development !! so so good. you took a carefree skeleton and you gave it a million possible depths. we, as both admins and players, are so grateful for it.

AERIN for THE SHADOW (sebastian stan)

aerin, it is not an exaggeration that your app had us literally with our jaws open the entire time ? you truly took us turn after turn into elijah's story and hours later, we're still breathless and trying to recover from it. you captured the shadow's overcast history the way a shadow slowly looms over you - we were absolutely consumed by the end of it, and we're all here absolutely begging for more. we can't wait to have enoch onboard this expedition !

CASS for THE GODKILLER (kofi siriboe)

this is the sort of role dreams are made of. i think i speak for everyone when i say we never could have envisioned a skeleton as terrific, terrifying, tectonic as abel. stop me with the alliterations - lapsing into poetry is genuinely the only thing left to do when the support of prose fails you? you brought us to the end of prose. their role just jumped out for us and we knew it called for an entire skeleton. what an app !

ANNIE for THE STOWAWAY (riana hardesty)

i have to confess, we had such high expectations for the stowaway, because we knew their motivation would be one of the toughest to crack - and annie, you exceeded literally even the most optimistic of them ! (You’re no musician, but playing the melody of someone else, someone who can weasel their way in and out of a bad spot - that’s one song you know how to sing well enough.) that is such a fantastic rendition of their personality, and written so, so beautifully !

LEO for THE VETERAN (toby stephens)

i think this app was the one which sent me in a banshee-screech session that was genuinely disturbing to everyone on a 100 miles radius. the way you phrased the headcanons at the end had me in stitches - which was a welcome change for how DEEPLY i was feeling wells’ backstory. from sobbing to laughter just like that, huh. you have an unprecedented power, leo, and we love to see it !

[classyfoxdestiny]

Nik Dodani, Sujata Day, Kiran Deol on the evolving space for Indian-origin creatives in western cinema

Nik Dodani, Sujata Day, Kiran Deol on the evolving space for Indian-origin creatives in western cinema

Where once, being brown brought with it stereotypes and typecasting, now a new generation of creatives of Indian origin, including Sujata Day, Kiran Deol, Nik Dodani and Avantika Vandanapu, is effecting change in western cinema — with diaspora narratives and creating their own support structures

“The producers actually asked if I’m ‘100% Indian’,” recalls Sujata Day about an unfortunate audition experience for a major sitcom in 2018. The actor-filmmaker, along with four other Indian-American actors, was vying for the role of the fiancée of one of the show’s lead characters. “In response to the producers’ query as to whether or not I was ‘100% Indian’, I said, ‘My parents are from Kolkata and I speak fluent Bengali, so yes.’ But the fact that I had to defend my Indianness was very strange. I know I didn’t book the role because I clearly didn’t look ‘Indian enough’ to them.”

Also Read | Get ‘First Day First Show’, our weekly newsletter from the world of cinema, in your inbox. You can subscribe for free here

Day, during a video call with The Hindu Weekend, shakes her head as she talks about the then-and-now of South Asian representation in western film spaces. But the 37-year-old is not alone in her views of a culturally-stagnant cinema industry in the West. The industry boxed its South Asian actors and filmmakers into what they deemed acceptable. But in the past five years, creatives have continually expressed their dissent, announcing on social media, as well as during roundtables, protests and even stand-up routines that they are tired of the ‘identikit Indian’ roles.

More South Asian-origin actors, such as Dev Patel, Janina Gavankar, Rahul Kohli, Geraldine Viswanathan, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Kuhoo Verma, and Anya Chalotra, are shunning reductive roles in favour of fully-rounded characters that had long been reserved for only a few actors of colour.

For example, in Hulu’s Plan B, Kuhoo Verma’s portrayal as a sexually-curious teen who has to come to terms with the reproductive rights in her conservative state of South Dakota as she tries to purchase Plan B (morning-after pill) resonated with many women of colour. Prior to this, Indian girls were the one-dimensional personification of purity culture across western cinema. More recently, Dev Patel’s casting as the historically assumed-white Sir Gawain in The Green Knight turned the tables on the scope of open ethnicities.

Still of Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) and Lupe (Natalie Moroles) in Hulu comedy-drama ‘Plan B’ (2021)   | Photo Credit: Hulu

The identity struggle is never easily reconciled. Take that episode of The Mindy Project where Mindy (Mindy Kaling) goes on a date with the ‘ideal Indian man’ but he, unimpressed by her lack of knowledge about India, says he “could never date a coconut — brown on the outside, white on the inside”. This lights a flare to the tough dichotomy the diaspora tackles every day while forging their identity; embracing their surrounding culture and holding onto tradition.

Some address this by not taking on the ‘Indian-origin’ tag. Verma identifies as a woman of colour, as her family moved to the United States from South India but, without dismissing her heritage entirely, prefers to be known as ‘just an actor’ in the industry.

Nik Dodani attends The World Premiere of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ presented by Universal Pictures at the Opening Night of The Toronto International Film Festival on September 09, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.   | Photo Credit: RYAN EMBERLEY/AFP

Meanwhile, actors and filmmakers including Nik Dodani, Day and Kiran Deol are also taking matters into their own hands — by either creating their own support structures for South Asian actors or producing their own films and taking them to international stages such as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Festivals matter

Festivals have become a cornerstone for Indian filmmakers and actors. It is not just a networking opportunity but a platform for visibility. In mid-September, actor-filmmaker Deol’s short I Would Never premiered at TIFF as well as Dodani’s Dear Evan Hansen.

“Massive festivals like TIFF really help to legitimise a filmmaker and their support really helps to bring up international talent,” says Deol, who has received support from Sundance and TIFF in the past to get her short film made. “I hope that these festivals continue to be as inclusive. Big film festivals like Cannes and TIFF have been some of the places where I’ve discovered some of my favourite filmmakers, so it’s no small thing.”

Read More | Kiran Deol on ‘I Would Never’, a film for the #MeToo ages

A still from the 2020 short film ‘I Would Never’ starring and directed by Kiran Deol   | Photo Credit: Kiran Deol

Meanwhile, Dodani, a deep admirer of Day’s “hustle” through the contentious industry, shares the festival circuit this year certainly feels different as well. “We are seeing more incredible filmmakers of colour; it’s a reflection of the power of our communities to get our stuff made and insert them into the conversation. The indie world has always been exciting because that’s where the films that push the boundaries exist, so we’re finally starting to see the financing start to follow the Black and Brown creators.”

Creating a community

The changes, however, are slow and not simultaneous; some generations of creatives will reap the rewards of those who have toiled for years in the murky industry. Things now could be looking up for casting as well as attention to details in South Asian roles and script. Avantika Vandanapu plays a young Gujarati high school student who is an ace coder and who, through a happenstance crush on a boy at school, discovers and nurtures talent for DJing.

Avantika Vandanapu as Rhea, in Disney Channel movie ‘Spin’   | Photo Credit: Kharen Hill / Disney

Vandanapu’s Telugu roots have seen her appear in 2015’s Brahmotsavam alongside Mahesh Babu and 2016’s Premam with Naga Chaitanya and Shruti Haasan.

The 16-year-old says her auditioning process for Spin was a far cry from the horror stories minority actors have experienced, and she owes it all to their resistance and perseverance over the years. “From the moment I saw the script, I was so glad Disney had not generalised the Indian ethnicity, but had narrowed on the specificities of the Gujarati culture,” she says. “Seeing an Indian girl written as someone who is comfortable in her identity rather than having an identity crisis was exciting.”

Of course, Vandanapu understands identity conflicts are a prevalent matter, but she hopes it is not the only narrative for people of the Indian diaspora.

Speaking on what catalysed change across the industry changing, he says, “This industry is white-dominated, and the Black and Latinx communities in Hollywood have organised and supported each other in ways that are so inspiring; we hope to replicate that. The conversation around inclusion and equity has been changing for a few years now, but has accelerated immensely after last summer. The Black Lives Movement is directly responsible for that; every community of colour in the US is benefiting from the work the activists have done over the years. The real test, if the industry starts walking the walk, is in the next five to ten years.”

Still of Evan (Ben Platt) and Jared (Nik Dodani) in Universal Pictures’ ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ (2021)   | Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

On their own terms

One of the happy results of this movement is The Salon, co-founded in 2019 by Atypical and Escape Room actor Dodani, along with Bash Naran and Vinny Chhibber. “It started out as an informal way for us to connect,” says the 27-year-old. “Vinny, Bash and I were chatting and we found we all knew different folks in the South Asian film industry but not everyone knew everyone. For the first year, our goal was to just get people in the same room, to have the most basic form of community. Our vision is to help the next generation of South Asian talent.”

Read More | Nik Dodani on his cultural identity, and working on ‘Escape Room’ and ‘Atypical’

Day is not blind to the industry’s flaws either, one of the most prominent being its unwillingness to change. “Green-lighters in the film community were, and still are, slow, but now we are giving ourselves the green light,” she says.

So, the filmmaker pooled her money and directed, wrote and starred in comedy-drama Definition Please, which has been a favourite on the festival circuit in the US, having won ‘Outstanding Directorial Debut for a Feature Film’ at the South Asian Film Festival in America, and Best Narrative Feature at CAAMFest.

Told through the Indian female gaze, the indie film follows an Indian-origin woman who is living in the past glory of her spelling bee champion days while trying to move forward and dealing with her grief-stricken family. The film, which also stars Ritesh Rajan, succinctly explores themes of female friendships, familial pressures, mental health, and toxic masculinity in the Indian community.

Read More | Sujata Day on pushing through Hollywood bureaucracy and making ‘Definition Please’

Day was inspired by her long-time Awkward Black Girl and Insecure collaborator Issa Rae, explaining, “Very few people know of her first two web series; everyone thinks Awkward Black Girl was her first. But she never gave up and never let the system stop her from creating. And neither should we!”

The OTT problem

Day is currently in chats with streamers and distributors worldwide for Definition Please, and she confides with a laugh, “They feel that if they have Bollywood movies on their platform, they don’t need diaspora films. They think we are being represented already, which is wild to me because as much as I love the stars, that’s not our lives in the diaspora. We have very specific and interesting stories to tell.

During Asian-American Heritage Month (May) in the US, she noticed that streaming companies were putting out lists of Asian content on special servers and many were subtitled and foreign, but not a lot were content out of the US (or the UK). “They are handling Asian inclusion in a global sense that doesn’t make sense to folks in the diaspora. We should be able to hold them accountable and we bring these grievances up in meetings and they’re hearing us. Hopefully, they make some changes to shift their thinking.”

Money talks

Having travelled to many film festivals when it came out in 2017, Day’s eight-minute short, Cowboy and Indian (a drama-thriller about a Bengali bride who collapses in the street and is rescued by a cowboy) is now being made into a television series — made possible by a South Asian film executive reaching out to her. “It absolutely matters who’s also buying stories for production. We need representation there too!” she says.

Agreeing with her, actor-filmmaker Deol elaborates, “I feel like funding for filmmakers is always the 21-million-dollar question. This is true for folks of any colour trying to get their projects made.”

A growing space that is increasingly getting more funding is book-to-screen adaptations. Diksha Basu’s Destination Wedding, which was shortlisted for the Wodehouse Prize, is currently being adapted to a series. Meanwhile, Rakesh Satyal and Dodani have long been working on an adaptation of Satyal’s 2009 bestseller Blue Boy, which tells the story of a young gay Indian-American boy who is bullied through his school years. Dodani, who found the book to be a “full body experience” when he first read it, turns screenwriter for the film. “We’re trying to find the right home and financing for it. We want to make sure it’s done right and gets the right budget and talent,” he says.

So, while many creatives are more than happy to bid goodbye to ‘brownface’, casting appropriation and tokenism — as Deol sees it, this farewell is rather fresh — there is still a lot to look forward to and to demand in terms of inclusion.

“The changes showcase for me both how far we have come, and how far we have to go,” Deol sums up, adding, “I’d love to get to a place in representation where we have the room to tell extremely specific stories that don’t have to speak for the entire diaspora because there is enough variety in the shows and movies that get airtime, that there is a multiplicity of voices and points of view to choose from.”

It will be a frustrating wait for this level of change and some unfortunate barriers are inevitable. But as more creatives of colour vocalise their needs and rights, and also hold studios and casting agencies accountable, things are bound to change.

. Source link

[cinematicbydigrazia-en]

Welcome to the Oscars 2017: who will win, who should win. My analysis and guide into the most important night of Hollywood.

We are back for another year of surprises, snubs and, at times, predictable awards. Tonight will be full of fancy dresses, brand new memes and political undertones in every speech of the night. But, in between a beautiful dress and an A-lister falling gracefully in the red carpet, a film will be crowned as the best of 2016 or, at least, Hollywood’s favourite.

I usually make several posts analysing the most important categories with a couple weeks to go before the big awards. But as this year I’ve been busy with some creative work of my own, I am going to try to summarise my usual rant in a single post. So prepare for a long, and hopefully interesting, look into tonight’s show. And if you need tips to fill your ballot, you can always count on me!

 Actor in a Supporting Role

After the surprising turn it took last year when Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) took the coveted award over clear favourite Sylvester Stallone (Creed), it seems this year this may be one of the most predictable categories in this year’s Oscars.

This year, we have three first timers in this category, one of them as young as 20. Alongside them are veterans Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, one previous nomination) and Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water, 1 Oscar, 5 previous nominations). The awards season has been pretty divided (the Golden Globe went to an actor who wasn’t even nominated to the Oscars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals), but there seems to be a clear winner.

Who will win: Marhershala Ali (Moonlight) is the obvious frontrunner. He has won the Critics’ Choice Award and the Actors Guild. And although Dev Patel (Lion) snitched the BAFTA just two weeks ago, it seems Ali is a locked deal for every ballot around the net.

Who should win: Marheshala Ali isn’t only the favourite but, in my opinion, the best out of a bunch of really talented actors. His performance in Moonlight, although brief, was intense, powerful and moving. His character also drove the main character’s growth into the different stages of life.

Among the other nominees, it is worth to mention Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea). Although only 20 years old, newcomer Hedges’ performance was incredible and touching, a great portrait of growing up and dealing with grief.

 Actress in a Supporting Role

A year after the Academy was called out for not nominating any people of colour in the acting categories for two years in a row, it seems it has finally reacted to the heavy criticism. And this is the category with the most diversity this year.

Everyone except Naomie Harris (Moonlight) has already been nominated at least once before. This includes two actresses who have already been winners: Nicole Kidman (nominated this year for Lion) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures). Viola Davis (Fences) is a third time nominee and Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea), a four timer. 

Who will win: Viola Davis has this award in the bag. She has won big during the whole season: Golden Globe, BAFTA, Actors’ Guild, Critics’ Choice. It’d be a real upset if anyone else won. No one is even considering another possibility.

Who should win: Viola Davis has been playing incredible roles for years, both on TV and on film. After not winning for The Help in 2012 (film for which her category buddy Octavia Spencer did win), it is only right she wins for her amazing performance in Fences. Her portrayal is emotional and raw, difficult to find in cinema nowadays.

My personal favourite, though, had to be the incredible Naomie Harris in Moonlight. Her performance was, as Viola’s, raw and deep. However, Michelle Williams’ intensity was probably, and regrettably, the thing I liked the least about an otherwise beautiful film.

 Actor in a Leading Role

This may be the closest race of the night. Once a clear win for Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea), Denzel Washington (Fences) has sneaked into the predictions in the last few weeks and seems to be ready to win.

Although the race is clearly a 50/50 in between those two actors, months ago it seemed like nominee Ryan Gosling (La La Land) also had a chance. Unfortunately, his Golden Globe winning in January deflated and it seems it will be the film that takes the awards, not him. First time nominee Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge) is a long shot, but it is easy to see this has been his best year yet (also starring in Scorsese’s Silence) and we will probably see him back in the Oscars in many years to come. Finally, Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) comes to his second nomination in a little known but highly praised role that both critics and audience have acclaimed since the film premiered in Sundance last year.

Who will win: It is such a 50/50 that I have been struggling for weeks and still struggle to call a final choice. Although the maths clearly point to Casey Affleck (a 49.5% according to Ben Zauzmer’s Maths Predictions on The Hollywood Reporter), Denzel Washington is said to be the favourite by most experts (at least since he won the Actors’ Guild a few weeks ago). Affleck did win the Golden Globe, the BAFTA and the Critics’ Choice (an almost complete sweep), but scandal has been following him the whole race for a sexual harassment suit filed against him in 2010.

I wouldn’t say for sure, but the development in the last few weeks seem to give Denzel Washington a small lead. But don’t be surprised if Casey Affleck manages to win tonight.

Who should win: When all is said and done and if we leave out anything that isn’t just performances, I would have to say Casey Affleck should win. His performance was really good and he he carried the enormous emotional weight of this film almost sorely on his shoulders. Although Denzel Washington was great, Fences was a bit too theatrical to me, seeming to forget cinema doesn’t have the same rules, even for its actors.

 Actress in a Leading Role

This is a category that has had me thinking a lot this season. Not because the winner is a tough call (it hasn’t been for the past few weeks), but because of how it is decided who is leading and who is supporting. Because, honestly, wouldn’t you say Viola Davis was a main character in Fences? I’m also conflicted by the wonderful Amy Adams not being nominated for any of her performances this year (Arrival, Nocturnal Animals).

But going back to the race, it is a pretty easy call. Natalie Portman (Jackie) may have had a possibility back in January, but the road to the Oscar has been pretty clear for Emma Stone (La La Land) ever since.E

In this category, we also see legend Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) achieving her 20th acting nomination. French actress Isabelle Huppert (Elle) gets a consolation nomination after the film was forgotten in the Foreign Film category. Finally, Ruth Negga (Loving) gets her first nomination in a year in which she starred in both an incredible film (Loving, 89% on RottenTomatoes) and in a poorly received blockbuster (Warcraft, 28%).

Who will win: Emma Stone seems to have no competitors this year. After being nominated two years ago for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), she has won almost everything this year. The only exception is the Critics’ Choice, which went to Natalie Portman. But Stone has her award pretty secured, a 67.8% according to maths.

Who should win: Hard call. There were many amazing performances this year, all of them earning high praise. Personally, I loved Portman’s Jackie, but I have to say Emma Stone was my favourite. Although it isn’t a difficult role, she shined in La La Land. Particularly, her performance during the audition scene was one for the books. I already rooted for her two years ago (when, for me, she unfairly lost against an only decent Patricia Arquette), so she is my pick this year.

 Best Picture

Nine films will fight tonight for the biggest award of the night. All of them have been praised by the critics and, honestly, I think we have had one of the strongest years in the past few years. Also, it has been one of the most low-key. Many of the films weren’t very popular before awards season, and only raised to be well known once award season chatter started.

From sci-fi Arrival to the masterpiece that is Moonlight, these are all stories about humanity, finding oneself and, well, surviving in life when everything seems against you.

Who will win: It would be a surprise if La La Land didn’t win the night. It has tied Titanic and All About Eve at 14 nominations. It has won awards all over the globe. It has been highly praised by both critics and audience. It has even suffered the Frozen effect, meaning it had so much praise and hype around it, that people (even those who haven’t even seen it) are so tired of hearing about it, they seem to hate the film now. And although films like Moonlight may have a slight chance, it’d be a real showstopper if La La Land didn’t win.

Who should win: Although I really liked La La Land (artistically it was a masterpiece, script-wise it was good enough. As an homage to musicals it was wonderful), in a year so full of talent, it wasn’t my favourite. I think Moonlight and Manchester by the Sea were the greatest achievements this year. They are both masterpieces: amazing screenplays, outstanding performances, great cinematography and editing, perfect pacing… a long list of praise for both of them. They are very emotional and human pieces that really touch their audience in a way that films often aren’t able to reach.

Others nominees not mentioned before include Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Hidden Figures and Lion. Although I didn’t quite love Fences (too dialogue heavy for my taste), they are all incredible films worthy of being in this category. Also, praise to the Academy for nomination a sci-fi (Arrival) that surprises being so human when it is dealing with aliens.

 Animated Feature Film

For the past few years, the Academy has decided to mix more popular all-American-industry films (Zootopia and Moana this year) with less known, usually foreign, underdogs (The Red Turtle, My Life as a Zucchini). This year is no exception, although it is remarkable to point out Disney earned two nominations, whereas Pixar (a usual contender, only three of its films before this hasn’t been nominated), even though it did release a film in 2016, got zero.

The five nominees are rounded up by the highly praised Kubo and the Two Strings, which took home the BAFTA only weeks ago. Kubo has been a surprise in the race, from being a not very well known film to being the second favourite tonight.

Who will win: From early on, Disney’s Zootopia has been the frontrunner. In the last few weeks, though, Kubo and the Two Strings has been coming closer and closer. Ben Zauzmer’s maths call a close 50.9% - 41.8% race in favour of Zootopia. And it is true no BAFTA animated winner nominated to the Oscars has ever lost the Oscar. But Zootopia long string of wins (including the Annie), plus the message of the film, will probably make it the winner. Be open to a surprise, anyway.

Who should win: Although all of the nominees are incredibly creative and Disney’s Moana has wonderful animation and sountrack (script a bit lacking), my vote would go for Zootopia. It is a beautiful and creative story that reflects today’s society while also telling the tale of an extraordinary friendship between unusual companions.

 Writing: Adapted Screenplay + Original Screenplay

The writing categories haven’t been without controversy this year. The Academy has a different point of view of what qualifies as original and what qualifies as an adaptation. Surprisingly, Moonlight has been considered an adaptation when it was determined it was an original script in the Writers Guild Awards. It is true is was based on a play, but as they play was never producer, it is tricky to determine who is right. The Academy is very strict in this sense, though, Whiplash was considered an adaptation of Damien Chazelle’s own short film (which he made to get the opportunity to do the feature). Any sequel is considered an adaptation because it uses characters of a previous film.

Anyway, back to the race.

Who will win in Adapted Screenplay: It would have had tougher competition in Original, so Moonlight could actually be lucky to be in this category. It also won for original screenplay in the Writers Guild. Other nominees (Lion, Arrival) have gotten some awards, but highly praised Moonlight seems the frontrunner.

Who should win in Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight is one of a kind. The storytelling is sweet and moving, poignant and simply incredible. It is a simple tale told beautifully. Every person I talk to has been blown away by it. I have to say I also find Arrival was a great adaptation, and Hidden Figures has been incredibly praised. My only pet peeve here is Fences, as I wouldn’t count it as an adaptation because, according to all sources, director Denzel Washington didn’t want to change a single word of the play, so they didn’t. Is that adapting? Is just taking a script and performing it in another media worthy of this nomination?

Who will win in Original Screenplay: Tougher race, one may say one of the toughest alongside Actor in a Leading Role. Because of the previously mentioned confusion with which film goes in which category, looking at other awards isn’t really useful. Moonlight won the Writers Guild, La La Land got the Golden Globe, Manchester by the Sea, the BAFTA. It should be a close call between Manchester and La La Land, but I feel like this is usually an award that is given to great films which wouldn’t get any recognition otherwise, so my bet is on Manchester by the Sea.

Who should win in Original Screenplay: Although I really enjoyed La La Land, I don’t think its screenplay is its best quality. It is good, but it isn’t outstanding. The Lobster was a very original film that really surprised me, so it is a close second, but my favourite was Manchester by the Sea, because it felt true and raw in the best of senses. I also went in with the feeling it’d just depress me, and it was actually the perfect measure of melancholic and sweet.

 Directing

This is a category usually tied to Best Picture, and this year seems no exception.

Who will win: Damien Chazelle is clearly the favourite with La La Land. He won the Directors Guild, the BAFTA, the Golden Globe, the Critics’ Choice… So he is here on a landslide. Also, he is Hollywood’s golden boy, so it would be difficult for him not to win.

Who should win: I think many of these films are a big achievement, but I consider directing a musical is always a challenge, so my choice would be Damien Chazelle. I also have to confess I have a soft spot for him after Whiplash, which I honestly preferred to La La Land and thought was underrated.

 Cinematography

For me, one of the most interesting categories of the night. Usually overlooked, cinematography is what gives a film its tone, its personality. This year, there are some great contenders. 

Who will win: La La Land seems to be going to sweep all the technical awards it can. In true Mad Max: Fury Road fashion, La La Land is a frontrunner because honestly, like it or not, it is technically great. As Ben Zauzmer points out, in the past seven years only Birdman has won without a production design nomination. That would only leave La La Land and Arrival on the run. And there has been a lot of buzz around the prettiness of La La Land and, of course, that wonderful last sequence.

Who should win: I was honestly surprised by how beautiful Moonlight was. Although the shots were kind of too harsh at the beginning for me, the beach scene completely made me fall head over heels. Although I think La La Land is a true beauty, Moonlight is my favourite.

 Production Design

It also blows my mind how they create such wonderful worlds in film. Production Design is an underrated art that is able to create from spaceships (Passengers) to magical worlds (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and make us believe for two hours they are actually possible.

Who will win: As I said, it seems like La La Land is going to win everything technical. It won on the Art Directors Guild (although Passengers did too, in the Fantasy genre) and it has been praised, particularly on that already mentioned last sequence. Fantastic Beasts did win the BAFTA, but I tend to think that might have been British voting for the British (although its production design was truly wonderful). All things considered, there could be a surprise in this category.

Who should win: It is a tough choice. All of these films have created such wonderful worlds. I particularly loved Passengers design of the spaceship and Fantastic Beasts take on the American magical world. Hail, Caesar! had a great look, but didn’t quite impress me. And Arrival was great, too, but once again it didn’t stay with me in the same way. But if I had to think of a film in which the production design really took my breath away, I’d have to go with La La Land because, above it, that film is pretty.

 Costume Design

Another close call, and there aren’t even only two frontrunners.

Who will win: Difficult to say. La La Land did get a Costume Designers Guild Award in its Contemporary category (unlike Jackie which lost to Hidden Figures, not even nominated in the Oscars; and Fantastic Beasts, that lost to Doctor Strange, also not nominated). But it is certainly difficult for a contemporary film to win this award. If we look into the BAFTAs, we see Jackie won. It also won the Critics’ Choice. So, relying on numbers and Oscars tendencies, I’d say Jackie is my (uncertain) bet.

Who should win: Jackie may have wonderful clothes (it is Jackie O after all), and La La Land is pretty but not extraordinary. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was for me the most outstanding in this category.

 Makeup and Hairstyling

I am always surprised there are only three nominees in this category. Also, they have nothing to do with the rest of categories, so it is hard to predict in relation to the others.

Who will win: There is not much to consider, not that many awards consider Make Up and Hairstyling. I’d opt out A Man Called Ove, because The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared didn’t do that good last year and I consider they were nominated for similar reasons. Between Star Trek Beyond and Suicide Squad, they have both won some awards for their makeup. I’d say it also depends on the effort the voters see in the creations, so this would be a matter of Killer Croc (Suicide Squad) against Star Trek’s aliens. As I think Star Trek Beyond was an all-around better film and it did better with critics and audience, that is my bet.

Who should win: I honestly have no preference.

 Film Editing

Who will win: Musicals always seem to be favourites in this category. Also, La La Land did win both an Eddie (Arrival also got one) and the Critics’ Choice. The race is also joined by BAFTA winner Hacksaw Ridge. As I think voters usually start voting on technical awards in group (they give them all to someone, look at Mad Max last year), I think La La Land will be it.

Who should win: I don’t really have a clear favourite here, but I did think Moonlight did a great job in pace, rhythm and structure. Its editing was really good, so that is my pick.

 Sound Editing & Sound Mixing

Two categories not even the voters know how to differentiate, so it is tough to know what would win which. It is true musicals usually win Sound Mixing, whereas war/action films usually win Sound Editing. Also, I don’t know enough about sound to have a favourite, so I won’t make a personal judgement on who should win.

Who will win Sound Mixing: La La Land seems the favourite. It is a musical, which means there is a lot of work into the sound. It also has won a handful of sound awards already. Its fellow nominees are Arrival, Hacksaw Ridge, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. I can only think of Hacksaw Ridge as a competitor.

Who will win Sound Editing: As I said, bet for the war film, which in this case is Hacksaw Ridge. It doesn’t hurt it won a bunch of Golden Reel Awards. Its fellow nominees are Arrival, Deepwater Horizon, La La Land and Sully.

 Visual Effects

Who will win: The Jungle Book is the big favourite for this category. Its creation of all the animals is truly remarkable, so it isn’t that difficult of a choice. It also won on the BAFTAs and the Visual Effects Society.

Who should win: Although I enjoyed The Jungle Book and always love a Star Wars film, I found outstanding the visual effects behind Doctor Strange. It is probably one of the most creative things I have seen in a while.

 Original Score

Who will win: It seems La La Land is also the favourite here. Although it isn’t that common for a musical to win original score (surprising, huh?), its wins on the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice give it advantage over the BAFTA winner (Lion) and fellow nominees Moonlight, Jackie and Passengers.

Who should win: I loved La La Land’s music and couldn’t stop humming its soundtrack for weeks, so it is my pick, too.

 Original Song

Choosing a song is always a difficult thing. Do you have to consider the song by itself? In relation to what it does to the film, how it contributes to its storytelling? It is lucky when it’s a musical, but otherwise, it is tough to vote.

Who will win: La La Land’s City of Stars is the frontrunner. Everyone hums it everywhere. It is a memorable and lovely song. And although there could always be a surprise if the La La Land lovers divide in between its two nominated songs, I think it is mostly a safe bet.

Who should win: I love some of these songs, so it if tough. Although Trolls’ Can’t Stop the Feeling is cute, I don’t find it worthy of an Oscar (also happened with Happy). I really love Moana’s How Far I’ll Go, an instant Disney classic written by the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda. The La La Land soundtrack made me fall in love and, although City of Stars is wonderful, I find the originality and sincerity of Audition (The Fools Who Dream) to be my favourite.

 Foreign Language Film

Here come the few categories which nominees I haven’t had the chance of seeing. So no personal opinions, just facts and predictions.

Who will win: It seemed Germany’s Toni Erdmann was the frontrunner, and Sweden’s A Man Called Ove was also well considered. But after Trump’s travel ban and controversy, I’d say Iran’s The Salesman seems like the probable winner. But don’t count the highly acclaimed Toni Erdmann out.

 Documentary Feature

Who will win: O.J.: Made in America has been so praised it seems difficult it won’t win. It won the Critics’ Choice, the Directors Guild, the National Board of Review, the PGA… only thing it didn’t win was the BAFTA (13th won), but it wasn’t nominated. Consider Ava DuVernay’s 13th a true contender (after all, is has been highly acclaimed and it talks about a very relevant topic right now), but O.J. seems to have the lead.

 Documentary (Short Subject)

Who will win: Not even the experts predict the shorts accurately. It is very difficult to know and these all talk about sensitive current topics. My pick, though, is The White Helmets.

 Animated Short Film

Who will win: Again, difficult choice, but a bit easier. Pear Cider and Cigarettes has been highly praised, but it also has a more adult theme, and voters usually associate animation with a topic suitable for their kids. Also, as Pixar was absent from the big animated category this year, I’m inclined to think they will give them the award here as a consolation price, so Piper it is.

 Live Action Short Film

Who will win: Silent Night’s director has already won on this category twice. Timecode won in Cannes, but that doesn’t really mean that much. Sing seems to be one of the favourites, alongside Ennemis Intérieurs, a thriller that deals with immigration and terrorism in the 90s. The latter seems to be slightly on the lead, but only barely.

 Final thoughts

So these are my predictions. Who do you think will win? Who should win? Tune in to watch the biggest night in Hollywood and have fun!

PS: Am I going to be struggling in between Casey Affleck and Denzel Washington until the awards start? Probably.

[tayjcullinane]

Top 25 Films of 2016

25. Blue Jay

Directed by Alex Lehmann; Written by Mark Duplass

Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson play old high school sweethearts who meet by a chance encounter two decades later in this darling of an indie film. The two actors give charming and heart-wrenching performances in a film that depicts the old kindlings of a past relationship. With a beautiful story that delves into the melancholy, Blue Jay genuinely conveys the regrets and regressed love between ex lovers.

24. Swiss Army Man

Written and Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Sheinert (known as The Daniels)

Arguably the most original and authentic film to come out in 2016, Swiss Army Man gained momentum and noteriety through its peculiar, yet comedic, storyline. A man (Paul Dano) who had been stranded on an island for a presumably long time was about to end his own life until he comes across a flatulent dead corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) washed up on the beach. Starting out as a survival drama, it quickly evolved into a quirky buddy comedy as the man discovers the dead corpse’s many powers. Disturbing at times, it completely embraces its lunacy and whimsical humor, and it emphasizes the importance of imagination, which it boldly excels at.

23. 13th 

Directed by Ava Duvernay; Written by Spencer Averick and Ava Duvernay

With its controversial subject matter, this documentary couldn’t have been released at a more convenient and ironic time. In the span of The Black Lives Matter movement; to the hearing of Trayvon Martin’s shooter, George Zimmerman; and the 2016 presidential election, 13TH shook up viewers with its analysis on the thirteenth amendment and its correlation with America’s issue of mass incarceration of African-Americans. The film goes full depth into the history and business of the privately-owned prison industry and its ties in government. As alarming and concerning as these issues are, 13TH not only effictively tells the history of this dilemma, it commands one’s attention in efforts to act upon it.

22. Jackie

Directed by Pablo Larrain; Written by Noah Oppenheim

Playing the role of Jacqueline Kennedy after the assissination of her husband, Natalie Portman adds a revelatory performance to her illustrious career. Marvellously shot by cinematagrapher, Stephane Fontaine, with the eerie score from Mica Levi, the film commits its attention on the widowed first lady allowing Portman to guide the audience through the absurd and turbulent events during a time in history where paranoia and confusion were set in the hearts and minds of many Americans.

21. Silence

Directed by Martin Scorcese; Adapted Screenplay by Jay Cocks and Martin Scorcese

After twenty years of anticipation, auteur Martin Scorcese crafts a film that portrays theology in an alternative light in which it seperates itself from other films that center around religion. Based on the story from Japanese novelist, Shusaki Endo, Andrew Garfield plays Sebastiao Rodrigues, a Jesuit preist who decides whether to apostatize while searching for his mentor (Liam Neeson) who was captured in a Japanese village in the 17th century. Its long run time and slow pace can pose as a challenge, but its striking cinematography from Rodrigo Prieto is mesmerizing, and its unique perspective on religion emphasizes important moral questions in relation to conflicting ideologies from different cultures. 

20. Paterson

Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch

Jim Jarmusch returns with a bang with this meditative, heart-warming drama starring lead man, Adam Driver, who plays a busdriver named Paterson who lives in Paterson, New Jersey and has a profound love for writing poetry. The film delves into the heart and mind of Paterson as he encounters the many people and places while on the job and at home. It takes one on a journey through an artist’s creative process in this case Paterson’s poetry as he gathers inspiration and tranforms the subtle beauty around him into words on a page. It’s quiet, easy-going, and thoughtful, and Paterson leaves you with an appreciation for the simple things in life.  

19. Kubo and the Two Strings

Directed by Travis Wright; Story by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes; Screenplay by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler

With a hearfelt story and its eye-dropping visuals from stop animation studio, Laika, Kubo and the Two Strings impresses on many levels. Beyond the incredible images is the story of a rebellious young Japanese boy who must make a decision that will effect his family’s legacy forever. Armed with his masterful abilities to play a two string sitar-like instrument called a shamisen and to tell stories through oragami, Kubo embarks on a journey of self-discovery that is both enchanting and enlightening -- a joy from start to finish.

18. The Salesman

Written and Directed by Asghar Farhadi

This acclaimed dramatic thriller from the director of “A Seperation” is a little gem that sublimely blends mystery and comedy in a story where a couple experiences a traumatic event that could unravel their relationship. Being an unmarried and childless couple in Tehren, Rana and Emad are both actors and members of a theater company that is in the middle of production of Arthur Miller’s, “Death of a Salesman.” After abandoning their apartment that was about to collapse from poor infrastructure, they move into a new flat only to encounter the horrors from the previous tenant who was a prostitute. Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti are magnificent as the two protaganists, and the film is well-deserving of its Oscar win for Best Foreign Film. 

17. Split

Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

It’s a slippery slope when depicting a character who has dissociative identity disorder, or more commonly known as multiple personality syndrome. The argument in which the disorder is accurately portrayed remains, but as a whole, Split is a return to form for the largely polarized director, M. Night Shyamalan. Undoubtedly, the film owes its success to the audaciousness and dexterity of James McAvoy, who plays a troubled, ominous figure who struggles with DID and kidnaps three girls. The protagonist is one of the estranged girls played by Anya Taylor Joy, who is equally superb with a compelling background story. As per typical Shyamalan films, there is a reveal within the film that may pleasantly surprise his fans, but all in all, the film is entertaining with an ingenious plot and regains positive momentum for the director leading up to his future projects. 

16. American Honey

Written and Directed by Andrea Arnold

Messy, beautiful, bewildering, and vibrant. British director, Andrea Arnold’s docudrama follows an abused, poor, and inquisitive female teenager who runs away from her despairing household with a crew of young and reckless kids who travel around the U.S. selling magazine subscriptions for “supposed” fundraisers. Sasha Lane and Shia Leboeuf command the helm with their graceless charm and palpable chemistry, seamlessly weaving their ways through their uncarved path to adulthood. Because it embraces a non-structural narrative format, the film strays away from common stereotypes, inviting complexities and contradictions within the characters and story. It’s a fresh take on an adventure/coming-of-age story that excludes any moral stance or agenda, refraining judgement away from the characters. It simply breathes and lives from one moment to the next.

15. Lion

Directed by Garth Davis; Screenplay by Luke Davies

Lion is an incredibly emotional film that especially tugs on the heart strings of parents. Based on the non-fiction book, “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley, the film is about a young boy named Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who accidently gets lost in India and struggles to survive on his own. After going through the foster care system and growing up with foster parents in Australia, the film flashes forward couple decades where Saroo, now played by Dev Patel, discovers how to track down his biological family using Google Earth. Nominated for a three Oscars, Lion effectively hits all the right notes even if the film is a giant Google product placement.

14. Hidden Figures

Directed by Theodore Melfi; Screenplay by Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi; Based on the Book by Margot Lee Shetterly

Hidden Figures tells the story of three influential women who were monumental in the development of NASA in the early sixties. Very much a David versus Goliath story, three of these women had to fight their way against gender and racial discrimination in order to excel in NASA and pave the way for America’s goal to win the space race. Although it focuses on the three characters, the film’s main protagonist centers around Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) who calculated the launch coordinates and trajectory for the Atlas rocket. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae star in an ensemble cast in this powerful biopic that exudes positivity and inspiration.

13. Captain Fantastic

Written and Directed by Matt Ross

Probably portraying the most eccentric and ultra-progressive family in the history of film, Captain Fantastic is a stunningly ethereal adventure/fantasy drama about a radically idealistic father (Viggo Mortensen) and his six children who live an isolated life in the woods and must travel into civilization after a family tragedy had occurred. The father is an extremely well-disciplined man who rigorously teaches his kids through physical training and intense education. Because of his socialist ideals and political beliefs, he has successfully made his family into survivalists, which has lead them to a comfortable and blossoming life in the woods. His ideals are challenged when he faces the real world during their adventure into society. With a charming young cast and a phenomenal performace from Mortensen, Captain Fantastic is a remarkable, feel-good story with a philosophical outlook.

12. Nocturnal Animals

Directed by Tom Ford; Screenplay by Tom Ford; Based on the Novel, “Tony and Susan,” by Austin Wright

Drawing inspiration from Austin Wright’s 1993 novel, “Tony and Susan,” Nocturnal Animals mends elegance and style into its bloody, brutal story which revolves around the themes of betrayal, heartbreak, and revenge. Although Amy Adams is arguably underused in this role, it’s the supporting cast -- Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Michael Shannon, and Karl Glusman -- who carry the film exceptionally well. From the Gucci maestro and director of A Single Man, Tom Ford combines his unique and authetic storytelling with expertly-crafted cinematography engaging the viewer into a world of sheer beauty and peril. It’s vivid and vicious, and even in its peculiar moments, the film shines exponentially.

11. Hell or High Water

Directed by David Mackenzie; Written by Taylor Sheridan

The middle of the year was hit with a bang when this wild and rambunctious thriller was released, making Hell or High Water the highest grossing indie film of the year. From the writer of “Sicario,” Taylor Sheridan composes a skillfully crafted heist story that rather than it completely embracing the Western genre, it portrays more of a humbling family drama. Chris Pine and Ben Foster play Toby and Tanner, two brothers who rob banks in West Texas in order to pay off the local banks before Toby’s farmland is seized. Jeff Bridges is remarkable as the Texas Ranger who takes on the challenge to put them into custody. This neo-Western is masterfully shot with envigorating action scenes and does not disappoint with an exceptional cast.

10.  Manchester by the Sea

Written and Directed by Kenneth Lonergan

It takes a special film that can effectively mix humor with densly serious subject matter without being offensive or mean-spirited. Manchester By the Sea is a film that does not shy away from the irony and sarcasm that occurs when the protagonist, Lee (Casey Affleck) is chosen to become the guardian of his late brother’s teenage son (Lucas Hedges). Through a series of flashbacks interspersed throughout the film, the reason becomes clear why Lee has become a damaged man, and since he is no stranger to tragedy, he helps serve as a guide to his nephew as he comes to terms with his father’s death. A powerful yet interesting account on grief, Manchester By the Sea definitely brings the tears but also with a subtle quirkiness that softens the pain.

9. The Lobster

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos; Written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filipou

Brilliantly dystopic and hilariously cynical, Colin Farrel stars as David, a lonely introvert living in the futuristic world called The City where he is enrolled into The Hotel and must find a romantic partner in forty-five days or he will be turned into an animal. The film is essentially a critique of the social norms of love in modern society. It highlights the absurdities and ridiculous behaviors within The Hotel with its dark humor and hyperbolic metaphors. With subtle acting; wonderfully crafted and complex characters along with an ingeniuous story, The Lobster impresses on many levels and provokes further thought after the first viewing. 

8. La La Land

Written and Directed by Damian Chazelle

It’s an ode to old Holloywood musicals, but it’s fresh in its approach, and it simply bounces off the big screen with its sharp contrasts and hues. It is no surprise that La La Land has recieved critical acclaim and overwhelming attention since its release. It is officially tied with “All About Eve” and “Titanic” with the most Oscar nominations -- fourteen. At the heart of it is an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and a traditionalist jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) who fall in love in Los Angeles all the while attempting to reach new heights in their artistic endeavors. It’s a classic tale about love and ambition with incredible fervor and choreographic prowess, and it adds another superb film to the list of the young phenom-director, Damian Chazelle.

7. The Handmaiden 

Directed by Chan-wook Park; Screenplay by Seo-Kyeong Jeong and Chan-wook Park; Based on the Novel, “Fingersmith,” by Sarah Waters

Being one of the longest films on this list, The Handmaiden masterfully grasps your attention in every scene, and it does not do so in predictable and obvious ways. From the director of “Stoker” and “Oldboy,” Chan-wook Park returns with a story filled with mystery, betrayal, and deception. Originally written as a novel titled, “Fingersmith,” by Sarah Waters, a handmaiden is hired to care after a Japenese hieress, but inconspicuously, the handmaiden has been hired to beguile her. Because of the story’s many twists and turns, it is one of the most entertaining films to watch and includes one of the most rewarding endings in a film this year. 

6. Fences

Directed by Denzel Washington; Screenplay by August Wilson; Based on the Play, “Fences,” by August Wilson

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis give a riveting performance in August Wilson’s film adaptation, Fences. Washington plays Troy Maxson, a rough-around-the-edges, loquatious working class man who must come to terms with the events in his life while raising his family in the fifties. From poverty to the Jim Crow laws and time in prison, Troy’s troubled past shapes his worldview, so much so that it escalates tension between him and his son, Cory (Jovan Adepo), who wants to play on a college football team. Although Troy commands the story, his wife (Viola Davis) is his crux and the chassis that holds the family together. This is arguably Davis’ and Washington’s best performances of their career, and because of its intense and personal moments, Fences is a humbling masterpiece. 

5. Loving

Written and Directed by Jeff Nichols

Loving tells the powerful, true story of Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple who were arrested in Virginia in 1958 due to anti-micegenation laws. Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga provide a powerful performance, and their on-screen chemistry is palpable, but much of the credit goes to director, Jeff Nichols. Loving could have easily been an over-reaching Oscar bait film, badgering the viewer with maudlin, overtly sentimental material, but it is the complete contrary. Its quietness and steadfast calmness emphasize the love and passion between these two characters, which makes it an absolute treasure.

4. 20th Century Women

Written and Directed by Mike Mills

1970′s. Second-wave feminism. The Talking Heads. There were some important cultural changes occuring when a young teen named Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) was being raised by his mother (Annette Bening) and two other women (Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig) in Santa Barbara, California. 20th Century Women is indeed a dysfunctional family drama, but its layered political and societal themes bring a rugged texture and complexity that emphatically ring true through its characters. The film highlights Jamie’s struggle for identity as he searches for the many forms of masculinity portrayed in pop culture all the while his mother wishes to understand his desires and protect him from self-destruction. With a mesmerizing cast and a distinct tone, 20th Century Women beautifully depicts a group of people who are striken by the uncertainty of their futures and yet manage to navigate their lives while remaining together.

3. A Monster Calls

Directed by J.A. Bayona; Screenplay by Patrick Ness; Based on the Novel by Patrick Ness

Easily one of the most beautifully shot and animated films of the year, A Monster Calls will most certainly elicit a good cry. Interestingly enough, this film appeared to be catered for young audiences, but its dark and mature subject matter seem anything but suitable for its target audience. Suprisingly, the film holds its own for its unique direction and grounded tone when dealing with a story centering around grief and isolation. While his mother (Felicity Jones) is striken by a terminal illness, a boy (Lewis MacDougall) discovers a tree monster that could help him cope with the traumatic events that have occured in his life. The film is daring in regards to showcasing the dark and somber moments from the tragedies of this young boy’s life, and it successfully entices due to its strong visual and emotional magnetism. A brilliant and poignant achievement.

2. Arrival

Directed by Denis Villeneuve; Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story, “Story of Your Life,” by Ted Chiang

Denis Villenueve is one of the great filmmakers of this generation, and he surely does not disappoint with his latest sci-fi drama, Arrival. Like most of Villeneuve’s work, he brings gravitas to each scene by incorporating underlying tension between characters and evoking a subtle dread and unease, which has been a signature within his filmography. Arrival embodies that gravitas except with a remarkable story and new genre in which Villeneuve has yet to explore until now -- science fiction. Amy Adams is spectacular as linguistics professor, Louise Banks, who is delt an overwhelming assignment from the federal government to deconstruct the language of alien inhabitants who have landed on Earth via twelve elliptical spacecrafts. Gorgeously shot by upcoming cinematographer, Bradford Young, it is dauntingly visceral with its high contrast and greyish midtones, but it’s the story that shines and creates a breath-taking reveal that will be relished for quite some time. Villeneuve is a master of character study, and Arrival is yet another marvelous addition to his arsenal of acclaimed work.

1. Moonlight

Directed by Barry Jenkins; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins; Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney

It’s difficult for a film to justify the hype it has recieved, and in a lot of ways, too much hype could do so much to even discredit it. There are many reasons why some art is deemed “great art,” but how “great art” moves past all the expectations is by embodying an element in which it trancends beyond its labels. A great film is a great piece of art. It acts as a vessel that propels beyond the screen and into our lives. Moonlight is that film, and it is a cinematic triumph. In its entirity, it’s seamlessly executed aesthetically, technically, and emotionally. It tells the story of Chiron who grows up gay, poor, and black in an impoverished neighborhood in Miami. The story is told in three parts: Chiron as a young child, a high-school teenager, and a man in his mid-twenties. Tragedy has followed Chiron his whole life due to his sexuality, which is harshly rejected in an area pervaded by violence and poverty. His survival is dependent upon his ability to conform all the while his mother struggles with drug abuse. Moonlight is a timeless story about love that is universal and was released in a year where the marginalized needed a voice. Well, Moonlight is that voice, and it speaks volumes over the hype. 

[aurelliocheek]

Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning

Posted by Jacob Lehrbaum, Director of Developer Relations, Android

Developers like you have always played an important role in Android innovation. Over 10 years ago, when we first launched the Android SDK, we also announced the Android Developer Challenge to reward model apps and highlight new ways of solving user problems. As Android pushes the boundaries of machine learning, 5G, foldables, and more, developers continue to help shape these new frontiers. To celebrate this work, we revived the challenge in 2019, with a focus on “Helpful Innovation,” powered by on-device machine learning.

We received hundreds of creative projects, and at the end of last year, picked 10 winners who each combined a strong idea and a thirst to bring it to life. Since then, we’ve been working with those winners to help turn their ideas into reality. And today, we’re announcing the 10 winners. Some are still at the beginning of their journey but but their apps are now ready for you to download and try out! !

AgroDoc helps farmers diagnose plant disease and make treatment plans. [Navneet Krishna; Kochi, India]

AgriFarm helps farmers detect plant diseases and prevent major damage in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, corn and potatoes. [Balochisan, Pakistan]

Eskke streamlines mobile money management for people in the Congo, letting them transfer money, pay bills, buy subscriptions and essential airtime through SMS. [David Mumbere Kathoh; Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo]

Leepi helps students learn hand gestures and symbols for American Sign Language. [Prince Patel; Bengaluru, India]

MixPose is a live streaming platform that gives yoga teachers and fitness professionals the opportunity to teach, track alignment, and give feedback in real-time. [Peter Ma; San Francisco, California, USA]

Pathfinder could help people with visual impairments navigate complex situations by identifying and calculating the trajectories of objects moving in their path. [Colin Shelton; Addison, Texas, USA]

Snore & Cough helps you identify and analyze snoring and coughing, to help provide info to users seeking assistance from a medical professional. [Ethan Fan; Mountain View, California, USA]

Stila pairs with a wearable device, like the Fitbit wristband or a device running on Wear OS by Google to monitor and track the body’s stress levels. By monitoring stress levels over time, you have the chance to better understand and manage stress in your life. [Yingdin Wing; Munich, Germany]

Trashly makes recycling easier. Just point the on-device camera at an item, and through object detection, the app identifies and classifies plastic and paper cups, bags, bottles, etc. [Elvin Rakhmankulov; Chicago, Illinois, USA]

UnoDogs helps owners better support their pet’s wellness, providing customized information and fitness programs. [Chinmany Mishra; New Delhi, India]

Making on-device machine learning more accessible, with ML Kit and TensorFlow Lite

Increasingly, machine learning is becoming a more accessible tool to developers with limited to no background in the technology. In fact, for most of the winners of the Android Developer Challenge, this was their first foray into machine learning. That’s thanks in part to two key offerings from Google, which bring on-device machine learning into reach for millions of developers around the world.

The first is ML Kit. ML Kit brings Google’s on-device machine learning technologies to mobile app developers, so they can build customized and interactive experiences into their apps. This includes tools such as language translation, text recognition, object detection and more. Eskke, for instance, uses offline text recognition and barcode scanning from ML Kit so users can scan the QR code at a mobile money kiosk and quickly withdraw money. And MixPose uses ML Kit’s forthcoming Pose detection API to detect each user’s yoga positions and movements, so teachers can provide feedback.

The other Google resource that many of the Android Dev Challenge winners used was TensorFlow Lite. This powerful machine learning framework can help run machine learning models on Android, iOS and IoT devices that would never normally be able to support them. Its set of tools can be used for all kinds of powerful neural network-related applications, from image detection to speech recognition, bringing the latest cutting-edge technology to the devices we carry around with us wherever we go. Trashly, for instance, uses a custom TensorFlow Lite model to report if an object is recyclable and how to recycle it.

Helpful innovation, such as the 10 winning apps in the Android Developer Challenge, has the potential to change the way we access, use, and interpret information, making it available when we need it, where we need it most. By working with these developers focused on helpful innovation, we hope to inspire the next wave of developers to unlock what’s possible with this new technology.

What’s next in Android Machine Learning week?

As we kick off the second week of #11WeeksOfAndroid, focused on Machine Learning, we will highlight new tools and resources available to Android developers. Here’s a taste of the rest of this week:

Tuesday - ML Kit, the turnkey ML SDK went through a major overhaul with its new on-device offering this month. Check out the substantial improvement in developer usability, CameraX support and where the platform is going next.

Wednesday - Custom Models. When prepackaged SDK doesn’t quite satisfy your need, tools from Android Studio, TensorFlow Lite and ML Kit might just be the answer. Aside from individual offerings, we will also highlight how they can be used together.

Thursday - ML design. Learn some best practices for making ML product decisions from the People + AI Guidebook. We will go behind the scenes of the Read Along app, an on-device ML app that helps grow universal literacy. Bring your whole team because everyone, including UXers, engineers, and product managers are invited!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will also have a “codelab of the day” so get your Android Studio 4.1 beta today, block off an hour in your schedule and take this ML journey with us!

*The apps presented here are the projects of the developers individually, and not Google.

Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning published first on https://phonetracking.tumblr.com/ Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning published first on https://leolarsonblog.tumblr.com/

[leolarsonblog]

Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning

Posted by Jacob Lehrbaum, Director of Developer Relations, Android

Developers like you have always played an important role in Android innovation. Over 10 years ago, when we first launched the Android SDK, we also announced the Android Developer Challenge to reward model apps and highlight new ways of solving user problems. As Android pushes the boundaries of machine learning, 5G, foldables, and more, developers continue to help shape these new frontiers. To celebrate this work, we revived the challenge in 2019, with a focus on “Helpful Innovation,” powered by on-device machine learning.

We received hundreds of creative projects, and at the end of last year, picked 10 winners who each combined a strong idea and a thirst to bring it to life. Since then, we’ve been working with those winners to help turn their ideas into reality. And today, we’re announcing the 10 winners. Some are still at the beginning of their journey but but their apps are now ready for you to download and try out! !

AgroDoc helps farmers diagnose plant disease and make treatment plans. [Navneet Krishna; Kochi, India]

AgriFarm helps farmers detect plant diseases and prevent major damage in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, corn and potatoes. [Balochisan, Pakistan]

Eskke streamlines mobile money management for people in the Congo, letting them transfer money, pay bills, buy subscriptions and essential airtime through SMS. [David Mumbere Kathoh; Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo]

Leepi helps students learn hand gestures and symbols for American Sign Language. [Prince Patel; Bengaluru, India]

MixPose is a live streaming platform that gives yoga teachers and fitness professionals the opportunity to teach, track alignment, and give feedback in real-time. [Peter Ma; San Francisco, California, USA]

Pathfinder could help people with visual impairments navigate complex situations by identifying and calculating the trajectories of objects moving in their path. [Colin Shelton; Addison, Texas, USA]

Snore & Cough helps you identify and analyze snoring and coughing, to help provide info to users seeking assistance from a medical professional. [Ethan Fan; Mountain View, California, USA]

Stila pairs with a wearable device, like the Fitbit wristband or a device running on Wear OS by Google to monitor and track the body’s stress levels. By monitoring stress levels over time, you have the chance to better understand and manage stress in your life. [Yingdin Wing; Munich, Germany]

Trashly makes recycling easier. Just point the on-device camera at an item, and through object detection, the app identifies and classifies plastic and paper cups, bags, bottles, etc. [Elvin Rakhmankulov; Chicago, Illinois, USA]

UnoDogs helps owners better support their pet’s wellness, providing customized information and fitness programs. [Chinmany Mishra; New Delhi, India]

Making on-device machine learning more accessible, with ML Kit and TensorFlow Lite

Increasingly, machine learning is becoming a more accessible tool to developers with limited to no background in the technology. In fact, for most of the winners of the Android Developer Challenge, this was their first foray into machine learning. That’s thanks in part to two key offerings from Google, which bring on-device machine learning into reach for millions of developers around the world.

The first is ML Kit. ML Kit brings Google’s on-device machine learning technologies to mobile app developers, so they can build customized and interactive experiences into their apps. This includes tools such as language translation, text recognition, object detection and more. Eskke, for instance, uses offline text recognition and barcode scanning from ML Kit so users can scan the QR code at a mobile money kiosk and quickly withdraw money. And MixPose uses ML Kit's forthcoming Pose detection API to detect each user’s yoga positions and movements, so teachers can provide feedback.

The other Google resource that many of the Android Dev Challenge winners used was TensorFlow Lite. This powerful machine learning framework can help run machine learning models on Android, iOS and IoT devices that would never normally be able to support them. Its set of tools can be used for all kinds of powerful neural network-related applications, from image detection to speech recognition, bringing the latest cutting-edge technology to the devices we carry around with us wherever we go. Trashly, for instance, uses a custom TensorFlow Lite model to report if an object is recyclable and how to recycle it.

Helpful innovation, such as the 10 winning apps in the Android Developer Challenge, has the potential to change the way we access, use, and interpret information, making it available when we need it, where we need it most. By working with these developers focused on helpful innovation, we hope to inspire the next wave of developers to unlock what’s possible with this new technology.

What’s next in Android Machine Learning week?

As we kick off the second week of #11WeeksOfAndroid, focused on Machine Learning, we will highlight new tools and resources available to Android developers. Here’s a taste of the rest of this week:

Tuesday - ML Kit, the turnkey ML SDK went through a major overhaul with its new on-device offering this month. Check out the substantial improvement in developer usability, CameraX support and where the platform is going next.

Wednesday - Custom Models. When prepackaged SDK doesn’t quite satisfy your need, tools from Android Studio, TensorFlow Lite and ML Kit might just be the answer. Aside from individual offerings, we will also highlight how they can be used together.

Thursday - ML design. Learn some best practices for making ML product decisions from the People + AI Guidebook. We will go behind the scenes of the Read Along app, an on-device ML app that helps grow universal literacy. Bring your whole team because everyone, including UXers, engineers, and product managers are invited!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will also have a “codelab of the day” so get your Android Studio 4.1 beta today, block off an hour in your schedule and take this ML journey with us!

*The apps presented here are the projects of the developers individually, and not Google.

Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning published first on https://phonetracking.tumblr.com/

[donaldlockhart]

Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning

Posted by Jacob Lehrbaum, Director of Developer Relations, Android

Developers like you have always played an important role in Android innovation. Over 10 years ago, when we first launched the Android SDK, we also announced the Android Developer Challenge to reward model apps and highlight new ways of solving user problems. As Android pushes the boundaries of machine learning, 5G, foldables, and more, developers continue to help shape these new frontiers. To celebrate this work, we revived the challenge in 2019, with a focus on “Helpful Innovation,” powered by on-device machine learning.

We received hundreds of creative projects, and at the end of last year, picked 10 winners who each combined a strong idea and a thirst to bring it to life. Since then, we’ve been working with those winners to help turn their ideas into reality. And today, we’re announcing the 10 winners. Some are still at the beginning of their journey but but their apps are now ready for you to download and try out! !

AgroDoc helps farmers diagnose plant disease and make treatment plans. [Navneet Krishna; Kochi, India]

AgriFarm helps farmers detect plant diseases and prevent major damage in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, corn and potatoes. [Balochisan, Pakistan]

Eskke streamlines mobile money management for people in the Congo, letting them transfer money, pay bills, buy subscriptions and essential airtime through SMS. [David Mumbere Kathoh; Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo]

Leepi helps students learn hand gestures and symbols for American Sign Language. [Prince Patel; Bengaluru, India]

MixPose is a live streaming platform that gives yoga teachers and fitness professionals the opportunity to teach, track alignment, and give feedback in real-time. [Peter Ma; San Francisco, California, USA]

Pathfinder could help people with visual impairments navigate complex situations by identifying and calculating the trajectories of objects moving in their path. [Colin Shelton; Addison, Texas, USA]

Snore & Cough helps you identify and analyze snoring and coughing, to help provide info to users seeking assistance from a medical professional. [Ethan Fan; Mountain View, California, USA]

Stila pairs with a wearable device, like the Fitbit wristband or a device running on Wear OS by Google to monitor and track the body’s stress levels. By monitoring stress levels over time, you have the chance to better understand and manage stress in your life. [Yingdin Wing; Munich, Germany]

Trashly makes recycling easier. Just point the on-device camera at an item, and through object detection, the app identifies and classifies plastic and paper cups, bags, bottles, etc. [Elvin Rakhmankulov; Chicago, Illinois, USA]

UnoDogs helps owners better support their pet’s wellness, providing customized information and fitness programs. [Chinmany Mishra; New Delhi, India]

Making on-device machine learning more accessible, with ML Kit and TensorFlow Lite

Increasingly, machine learning is becoming a more accessible tool to developers with limited to no background in the technology. In fact, for most of the winners of the Android Developer Challenge, this was their first foray into machine learning. That’s thanks in part to two key offerings from Google, which bring on-device machine learning into reach for millions of developers around the world.

The first is ML Kit. ML Kit brings Google’s on-device machine learning technologies to mobile app developers, so they can build customized and interactive experiences into their apps. This includes tools such as language translation, text recognition, object detection and more. Eskke, for instance, uses offline text recognition and barcode scanning from ML Kit so users can scan the QR code at a mobile money kiosk and quickly withdraw money. And MixPose uses ML Kit's forthcoming Pose detection API to detect each user’s yoga positions and movements, so teachers can provide feedback.

The other Google resource that many of the Android Dev Challenge winners used was TensorFlow Lite. This powerful machine learning framework can help run machine learning models on Android, iOS and IoT devices that would never normally be able to support them. Its set of tools can be used for all kinds of powerful neural network-related applications, from image detection to speech recognition, bringing the latest cutting-edge technology to the devices we carry around with us wherever we go. Trashly, for instance, uses a custom TensorFlow Lite model to report if an object is recyclable and how to recycle it.

Helpful innovation, such as the 10 winning apps in the Android Developer Challenge, has the potential to change the way we access, use, and interpret information, making it available when we need it, where we need it most. By working with these developers focused on helpful innovation, we hope to inspire the next wave of developers to unlock what’s possible with this new technology.

What’s next in Android Machine Learning week?

As we kick off the second week of #11WeeksOfAndroid, focused on Machine Learning, we will highlight new tools and resources available to Android developers. Here’s a taste of the rest of this week:

Tuesday - ML Kit, the turnkey ML SDK went through a major overhaul with its new on-device offering this month. Check out the substantial improvement in developer usability, CameraX support and where the platform is going next.

Wednesday - Custom Models. When prepackaged SDK doesn’t quite satisfy your need, tools from Android Studio, TensorFlow Lite and ML Kit might just be the answer. Aside from individual offerings, we will also highlight how they can be used together.

Thursday - ML design. Learn some best practices for making ML product decisions from the People + AI Guidebook. We will go behind the scenes of the Read Along app, an on-device ML app that helps grow universal literacy. Bring your whole team because everyone, including UXers, engineers, and product managers are invited!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will also have a “codelab of the day” so get your Android Studio 4.1 beta today, block off an hour in your schedule and take this ML journey with us!

*The apps presented here are the projects of the developers individually, and not Google.

Announcing the winners of the #AndroidDevChallenge, powered by on-device machine learning published first on https://phonetracking.tumblr.com/

[hellosaltysaladcollectionstuff]

It's a big day for the Warcraft franchise, as Blizzard has officially released Warcraft III: Reforged, which is billed as a "full-scale modernization" of the RTS classic.

The PC title features the base game, Reign of Chaos, as well as The Frozen Throne expansion. The graphics and sound have been given an modern update, while there are new and improved social and matchmaking elements through Battle.net and user-generated content tool through the improved world editor.

In addition to the base game, you can pick up the Spoils of War version that includes new skins for Arthas, Cenarius, Jaina, and Thrall, as well as in-game bonuses for titles like World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo III.

To learn more about the origins and specific details of Warcraft III: Reforged, we spoke with lead producer Pete Stilwell. In a wide-ranging interview, Stilwell talks about topics like why Blizzard chose Warcaft III for a remaster over some of its other titles, how the team at Blizzard is honoring the original design while revamping the story and other elements, and what the studio has done to make Warcraft III: Reforged stand out as more than a nostalgia-grab.

Stilwell also speaks about how it is a "blessing and a curse" to have such a dedicated and passionate fanbase, and how Reforged aims to appeal to World of Warcraft fans who want to know more about the origins of the Warcraft universe. "Most of them probably don't know the origin story," Stilwell said of the millions of World of Warcraft players.

Check out GameSpot's full interview with Stilwell below.

Going back to the start, why did you choose Warcraft III instead of some of your other properties for a remaster?

There were a few factors here. We had just come off of StarCraft: Remastered, so we'd put together a very RTS-focused team – so this was a natural transition. It almost followed Blizzard's own transition of making one into the other. We already had the right team for the job.

Then there's also the fact that we wanted to, first and foremost, do service to the largest communities that still existed with our older games. There's plenty of games in the deeper catalogue that we probably could have gone to that would be easier. If you were doing it from a timeline perspective, it might be more logical to start with the first Warcraft or something like that.

But Warcraft III still has a massive community in both the competitive and the creative scene, especially with custom games. One of the other fortunate things I've gotten to do in the leadership of this team is travel the globe and talk to our players. And while we were in Korea, talking about StarCraft, it made us more aware of how strong the custom scene still was, especially with Warcraft III there.

And then it's just a hop, skip and a jump and suddenly you're in Shanghai talking to people there and they're saying, "Yeah, StarCraft's great, but what we're really all about is this Warcraft III." And I think it was just a natural progression on many fronts.

What are you doing to honour the original design while also revamping the story and art and other elements?

From a gameplay perspective, it's largely the same.

From a visual perspective, Warcraft has continued to evolve since the original, and since the Third War was released. So, we drew on elements of Sylvanas and Jaina and all these other strong characters who have continued to evolve for their models in Warcraft III: Reforged. For a lot of them, it was their debut moment in Warcraft III and because they had all of 200 triangles to work with, there wasn't much definition of what people looked like or how they behaved.

We looked around at all the amazing stuff other folks have done – be it the books or the comics or the games, all of the cool stuff that's out there, and tried to draw inspiration from that to pull the strands together.

As far as other elements, again the custom game community is so strong and does so much cool stuff. We did a lot of research into what they wanted, and we looked at the creative ways they've found over the years to solve problems.

We've done a lot of things under the hood that the average player may not directly benefit from, but hopefully when a map maker gets hold of it, they'll be able to make a cooler map with more performance, or can support more people. A ton of effort has gone into the fact that this community is really what has given this game legs and we want to re-energise them for the next marathon, if you will.

What kind of technical work was required for this? It looks extensive!

This was Blizzard's first 3D game. That's one of the things that we undervalued going into this. StarCraft was Blizzard's last major 2D game and they'd been doing it for years. They knew the technology and they were super good at it.

Warcraft III was the result of a lot of experimentation. We have engineers like Jay Patel and Colin Murray, who helped build the original game, come in and help us with Warcraft III: Reforged, and they look at their code and go: "Oh, what was my young self thinking? We know better now."

In terms of the gameplay, are you making any changes compared to the original?

The fact of the matter is there's a good abstraction between game logic and game rendering. Most of our efforts went into game rendering and trying to get modern 3D standards in there, versus the game logic, which largely remains untouched. “Gameplay First,” one of Blizzard's best core values, is still really about, "How does this feel? Does it read as Warcraft III?"

If you've played Warcraft III before, you're going to loosely remember the way units moved and things like that. And if you're a hardcore player, you're going to have it ingrained in your DNA at this point.

Authenticity is really in that gameplay logic, which we tried not to touch. Whenever there's risk there we do a lot of testing and get it in the hands of pros or get it in the hands of folks on our team who are advanced players to make sure gameplay is intact.

Part of what makes Warcraft III so enduringly popular is its passionate and communicative fanbase--what can you say about your fans and what their support means to you?

The short answer is that our fans are why we do it. The fans and the fact that they're still playing this game and are voracious about what it represents is what gave life to this team. It's also our compass. It's a blessing and a curse sometimes, but it's mostly a blessing to have people who know the game so well and have such an expectation. It does make it more difficult to change and to evolve.

"Our fans are why we do it." -- Stilwell

But that's also part of the conversation of what our agenda is as a dev team and as a group. And first and foremost, it's to preserve these games. The cool thing with Warcraft III is because we can extend the editor and keep the original game the way it was for all intents and purposes, we get to put the tools back into the hands of the community where they can help navigate that next chapter.

The game is now updated with Battle.net functionality and support--what kind of work did this require and what does it allow for that you couldn't have all those years ago?

The original games on Battle.net were very different – there wasn’t much functionality beyond the social aspect of Battle.net. Modern Battle.net now has even better social interaction because we can now be in a group chat together. You can be in one game and I can be in another and we never lose contact. That's awesome.

Additionally, it means that your multiplayer experience tends to be more in league with other games that Blizzard makes, for example, matchmaking.

Do you envision Reforged to appeal mainly to fans of the original game? Or to new players who might have played WoW and now want to learn more about some of the lore origins?

We hope it's both. You can go boot this game up, choose to play in what we're calling “Classic” inside of the client, and you'll see all the original models, and play the original campaign. You can have that experience, and we even have guys on the team like that who believe the only thing we needed to do is get this inside of Battle.net so you can install it more easily. And then there's the rest of us that are like, 'Wait, look at the size of World of Warcraft's player base”. Most of them probably don't know the origin story.

That's what this is, the kick-off to World of Warcraft. For example, seeing Eastern Plaguelands come out of Andorhal is just one of the core moments that are part of the story of Warcraft III. With WoW Classic last year showing the passion around this IP, the hope is those same folks will want to experience the “prequel” that is Warcraft III.

Because if you missed it, there's over 60 missions, there's hours and hours of cutscenes. There's so much story and getting to see some of those characters who are giving you quests in their origins is really powerful if you're a fan of Warcraft.

As I understand it, the voice acting remains the same in Reforged. Can you explain the decision to keep the voice acting the same?

Part of this has been galvanising our identity of what our team was going to be.

When we went to BlizzCon 2018 with the Warcraft III: Reforged demo and showed off what we could do, we were actually taken aback by a lot of the community's response to it. Some asked, “what are you doing messing with this thing?”

If we're saying that we’re using the community as a lodestar, as a guiding light, then we need to actually own that. We decided as a group that it isn't our job to take it that far.

We as Blizzard should own our experience and we decided as a team, that means it should be more in concert with that classic experience.

Remasters and re-releases seem to play on the appeal of nostalgia. Longing for a time gone by. So how have you gone about creating Warcraft III: Reforged to be more than a simple push at people's feelings of nostalgia and instead something that stands on its own in 2020?

To me, the real modernisations have gone in that direction of handing the tools to the community. A lot of that is in the editor, with new art, new triggers and new Lua support, for example.

Obviously, the visual facelift and the integration of the game back inside of modern Battle.net is important, but there is no doubt there is a nostalgia play here and that is why we kept the original VO and things like that. We hope it's a bit of both ultimately.

Reforged has been available for some time now in a testing phase--what kinds of feedback have you received and how are you going about changing the final game?

With the multiplayer beta, a big part of what we've done is changed this game to a new server infrastructure and again, get it onto modern Battle.net. There's a lot of risk there. Somebody playing in a different part of the world can't necessarily be emulated without a beta because the backbone they connect to that reaches our servers might have some weird switching station that we don't understand and can't test for adequately here. We have to get this out into the hands of the players to really know the state of an online experience.

That was the focus of the beta – to find those weak spots and shore them up. Especially with the custom games, we've got somewhere in the neighbourhood of one billion custom games that have been published in the past 15 years. We are well aware not all of them will work day one and that some old bugs and exploits have been fixed. Because the custom online experience is such a hub of this game, creators could have time to see their maps breaking and start to make fixes and things like that.

One of the big pieces of feedback from the reveal was that the art style look sort of mishmashed from the new HD character models and how other parts of the game stayed old. What's your reaction to that, and have you updated the game now for its final release?

When we went to BlizzCon with the demo, we wanted to get feedback and first impressions. It was very work in progress. I think every single thing we showed at BlizzCon has undergone some iteration and that's natural. One of the things that we were having difficulties with at that point was the lighting. We had overblown it and that's why there's these really stark shadows.

If you saw the entirety of the game, you'd realise that really bright light works well on Lordaeron Summer, but as soon as you start getting into the caves or all these other tilesets that are important parts of this game, you find out quickly that it doesn’t work. Once we figured out those values and level set, the most important thing at this point is if you put the original colours of the original tilesets next to the new ones, they match. They're very in concert in the right way, in that it's got higher fidelity and it looks great and it's benefitting from these new systems we brought in with physics-based rendering. It is not exactly what we showed that very first time, but most of us in the community and on the team agree that it's where it should be to be Warcraft III.

What can fans expect as it relates to custom games and the map editor?

The things that will help beyond what I've already talked about inside of the editor itself, is that we made unique assets for everything. One thing we understood with the campaign was that when you're looking at the same Dreadlords or the same Paladins, all standing there side by side, they are identical except the little glow around their feet is a different colour. We thought “we could do better than that," especially when the custom community is sitting over here thirsty for assets.

They can't necessarily hire a group of artists to make assets at this fidelity and giving them more was going to be beneficial for everyone who plays custom games. So, we dogfooded ourselves by adding a lot more to the campaign in order to feed back into the custom game community. Then for the online experience, we revamped the lobby system, so getting in and out and finding the right game is a much better experience.

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