• New Talents at NBDC
• Y2K music from 'Footwork'
• Purasanda Kaluwara going up and up
• Film makers in making
• Mandakini: story on aborigines
• Bergman and Liv combine again
• New wave rocking 'On Stage'

New Talents at NBDC

By Sunil Jayasiri

Asanka Atapattu and Harshani Senaratne stole the limelight as they became the Champions of the four dance category at the National Ballroom Dancing Championships '99 which was presented by the Ceylon Amateur Danceport Association at the hotel Hilton recently. Ruchira Perera and Nicola de Silva clinched the six dance category championships. The winner of the Amateur- Latin American Section was Anusha Perera Charnez Perera and 1st runner up was Maxim Tak & Coral Fung while Nelson Lee Po Wah & Angie Fung were 2nd runners up.

Graeme Parsons and Leeanne Bampton the Australian ten dance champions featured at this event. The music was by Footwork DJs.

Results are as follows:

Ballroom section

Freshers 1 & 2- The winner Gamini Silva & Opatha Chalani, 1st runners up David Booth & Linda Booth, 2 nd Runners up Indika Amaratunga & Dian Taylor.

Novices- The winner Dinal Fernando & Shivanthi Athukorala, 1st runners up Indika Kularatne & Dioni Perera, 2nd Runners up Mohammed Azwer & Kishani Karunaratne.

Pre Amateur- The winner Dinal Fernando & Shivanthi Athukorala, 1st runners up Kevin Nugara & Anoushka Peiris, 2nd Runners up Shihan Wickramasinghe & Shehara Perera.

Amateur- The winner Maxim Tak & Coral Fung, 1st runners up Richard Tan & Jenny Tong, 2nd runners up Goh Giam & Kelly Goh.

Senior Ballroom- Camillus Fernando & Tilaka Fernando

Senior Slow Waltz- Camillus Fernando & Tilaka Fernando

Open Slow Foxtrot- Maxim Tak & Coral Fung

Open Viennese Waltz- Johann Peries & Chamez Perera

Latin American Section

Juveniles- The winner Danuka Samarakoon & Naomi Dias, 1st runners up Rakitha Gamage & Nimesha Jayakody, 2nd runners up Isuru Jayaratne & Themari Mendis.

Juniors- The winner Thushan Hettiarachchi & Tashya Hettiarachchi 1st runners up Dumindunath Ekanayake & Bianca Wimalasuriya, 2nd runners up Alain Rozairo & Natali Dias.

Freshers 1- The winner Asanka Atapattu & Harshani Senaratne, 1st runners up Gavin Hannibal & Dharini de Silva, 2nd runners up Asanka Nanayakkara & Nanthidu Sama Samamin.

Freshers 2- The winner Oshan de Silva & Amrisha Parathalingam, 1st runners up Asanka Atapattu & Harsani Goonaratne, 2nd runners up Indika Kularatne & Dioni Perera,

Novices- The winner Shihan Wickramasinghe & Anoushka Peiris, 1st runners up Azian Bathusha & Natasha Goonaratne, 2nd runners up Yahann Jurie & Inoka Razeen.

Pre Amateur- The winner Shihan Wickramasinghe & Anoushka Peiris, 1st runners up Marc Roziro & Tamara Sahid, 2nd runners up Johann Peries & Chamithra Perera.

Amateur- The winner Anusha Perera Charnez Perera, 1st runners up Maxim Tak & Coral Fung, 2nd runners up Nelson Lee Po Wah & Angie Fung.

Y2K music from 'Footwork'

Since its inception in 1991, Footwork has worked hard to reach the pinnacle and now that we're on the brink of a brand new century, they are more than ready to make sure you dance your way into it.

Their pay off line "music for your generation" is self-explanatory - no matter whether you're a Neil Sekada fan or a Jennifer Lopez/Ricky Martin fanatic they're geared to cater to you with the kind of music to suit your palate.

They will handle Parties, Weddings, Company get-togethers and formal dinner dances and they are also into Event Production such as organizing Product Launches and the like.

In addition to DJ music, Footwork also provides Karaoke systems - something that's getting to be quite a fad at parties - along with the giant screen and Multi media projector setup. They boast a Karaoke song list of more than 800 songs, which range from the good old sing-alongs like "Beautiful Sunday" to the latest Britney Spears' hits.

The Dance Academy, an associate company of Footwork Productions, conducts dance classes and provides exhibition dancing in Ballroom and Latin American dancing. Those of you who were lucky enough to be there for the recently held Dancesport '99 - the Footwork Ballroom Dancing Championship — will agree that Ballroom dancing has currently gained a lot of popularity in Sri Lanka.

Managing Director of Footwork, Dharshan Wijesooriya says that they are equipped with state-of-the-art sound equipment and lighting effects and are fully prepared to face the end of the year millennium fever.

The team comprises of 06 DJs. The most senior DJ of the group needs no introduction - he's none other than Akram Abbas who has been with Footwork for the past 5 years. This hyperactive young man not only DJ's, he also comperes, models and plays rugger whilst juggling all these activities with his daytime job as a Marketing Executive at a leading organization in Colombo. Then comes Feroz, whose fun way of miking and appropriate choice of music makes him a favourite behind the console. Next is Stephen who has been with the team since early '98. He specializes in perfect beat mixing and has a very good sense of music. Back with Footwork after a short break is Dalinster, or Dal as he is better known. Nalin, the youngest, is the energy bolt of Footwork. This guy loves having fun and has a special knack of interacting with the crowd when he's at the console. Madhuka is the only girl in the group and she's part of a rare breed in Sri Lanka - a mobile female DJ.

Together Akram, Feroz, Stephen, Dal, Nalin and Madhuka are sure to keep your toes tapping throughout the coming season.

Purasanda Kaluwara going up and up

Prasanna Vithanage's award winning 'Purasanda Kaluwara' (Death On A Full Moon Night ) will be screened at two International film festivals shortly. The first is at the 43 rd. edition of the London International film festival. The film has been scheduled for two screenings at the National Film Theatre, the main festival venue on November 13 and 14, Co ordinator Asian Film Centre sources said.

The second will be the Amiens International film festival. Mr Vithanage will attead these two festivals.

This film which is a Prasanna Vithanage- NHK Japan co production was made in 1997. Main actor Joe Abeywickrema won the best actor award at the Singapore International Film festival for his portrayal as a blind old villager.

Vasantha Obeysekere's current film 'Tirtha' Yathra' which was released recently has been selected by National Film Corporation (NFC) for screening at the Cairo International Film festival scheduled to commence on November 24. The film will be screened at the Information section. As Mr Obeysekere is not participating at the festival due to personal reasons NFC General Manager Mervyn Perera will represent NFC.

Meanwhile the 24th. Toronto Film Festival which is the platform to new and talented filmmakers creations concluded recently amidst mixed feelings among participants and delegates.

Reportedly a total of 319 films from 52 countries were screened at the festival. The event was opened with the screening of 'Felicia's Journey.' and was concluded with Martha Fiennes' 'Onegin'

Sam Mendes' ' American Beauty' with Kevin Spacy playing as a disillusioned husband and father fetched the audiences' votes and won the People's Choice Award, the most important award in the festival, after Cannes. Kevin Spacy was present at the festival to receive the award.

New York filmmaker Kevin Jordan won the 'Discovery Award' for his 'Goat On Fire And Smiling Fish', which brought him a prize of $40,000. The International Critics Federation Award (FIPRESCI) was given to the Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yang for his creation 'Shower'. The film dramatises social changes of a traditionally Chinese family

Film makers in making

Students who were successful at the screenplay training course had their first interaction with film directors recently, National Film Corporation (NFC) sources said. Film director writer Dharmasena Pathiraja was present for the discussion.

In this exercise students enjoy the privilege of meeting prominent filmmakers and discussing various aspects in the craft. The interaction with prominent filmmakers will be held over several more weekends but with different film directors. Among them will be Prasanna Vithanage, Vasantha Obeysekera, and NFC Chairman Tissa Abeysekera. Clippings of films depicting delicate situations will be projected as illustrations to the students.

NFC started this scheme as there was a dearth of young creative script writers. This has been identified as one of the reasons making many films box office failures.

"It is difficult to create scripts without knowing the basics of film making. In these interaction sessions the students can clear their doubts by questioning the director." he said. Visiting NFC studios at Dalugama to see film editing, how the sound department works and other major activities behind the camera segments involved in film production are also a part of this exercise.

The final interaction sessions will be with renowned foreign film makers, most probably with a few renowned Indian filmmakers.

"A creative script writer holds the possibility of becoming a film director also. Some of the world's best directors have entered filmdom as script writers. This is so even in Sri Lanka" he added. "Like hitting two birds with one stone some of these students may even turn out to be excellent writer directors " he added. Sixty students are participating in this interaction with film makers sessions.

Mandakini: story on aborigines

By Kumaradasa Wagista

The first Sri Lanka-Australia co -production ' Mandakini' ( The Milky Way) is scheduled to be released in fifth circuit cinema halls from December 3.

The International release of the film was held under the distinguished patronage of Australian VIP's and aborigines at Greater Union Theatre Sydney on March 07. It was recently screened at Oman also.

." The film unfolds a story of aborigines, Veddhas in Sri Lanka as well as aborigines in Australia play in this film. "Among the invitees for the premiere show at Colombo Regal Cinema will be an Australian aborigine and a Veddha" co- producer -director H. D. Premaratna said. Joe Horacek and Chris Johnson two professional actors are the two aborigine actors starring in the film.

The story is of a Sri Lankan Professor (Ravindra Randeniya) doing research work on aborigines who is invited to speak at a conference on 'Aborigines and Their Future' which is held in Sydney. The Professor accepts the invitation and visits Sydney His wife (Sabita Perera) also accompanies him..

As the Professor is busy devoting more time to his profession, his wife misses his company. During a shopping spree with her Sri Lankan friend migrated there (Sherani Wijesena) meets a playboy type Sri Lankan, playing the role of an expatriate ( new comer Pradeep Senanayake ) who attempts to get involved with her.

The climax of the film starts when the Professor visits the airport to return to Sri Lanka with his wife. The story and screenplay is written by Premaratna and Kitsiri Karunaratna have written the script. Asoka Peiris, W.Jayasiri, Janaka Kumbukage, Damita Abeyratna and many other artistes co-star.

' Mandakini' is filmed at beautiful locations, landscapes, seascapes in Sydney and surrounding areas creating appeal to children as well as adults" director Premaratna said. The Blue Mountain in Katumba, Javis Bay and Redfern two prominent aborigines villages, the Opera House and the Harbour are some of the locations where the film has been filmed. "For authenticity purposes the film was lensed in the two aborigine villages" Premaratna added.

Cinematographer Suminda Weerasinghe has cranked the camera. Rohana Weerasinghe is its music director. Elmo Haliday is the editor.Professor Sunil Ariyaratna and Vasantha Kumara Kobawaka have penned lyrics for songs sung by Samitha Mudunkotuwa, Athula Adhikari and Athma Liyanage. Wimal Samaranayake is the production manager while Lal Harindranath has worked as the art director.

A team of Sri Lankan expatriates in Sydney have taken the initiative to produce 'Mandakini' with the purpose of releasing it in countries where Sri Lankan expatriates live. " Sri Lanka Associations in many countries have contacted us and we will take necessary steps to release the film in foreign countries through them" Premaratna said. A Sri Lankan employed at Opera House, Sydney, Kithsiri Karunaratna is the producer of 'Mandakini'. made under Yasiru Multimedia (Pvt) Ltd. in association with Kwik Enterprise (Sri Lanka) banner who presents this film.

Bergman and Liv combine again

1982 Oscar award winner for 'Fanny and Alexander ' Ingemar Bergman once wrote a script which is being directed by actress Liv Ullmann. Earlier Bergman has cast her in many films directed by her and had been his lover also. The film directed by her 'Trolosa' is slated for a release in the year 2000.

The film which will be filmed in Stockholm, Paris, and in the island of Faro in the Eastern coast of Sweden where Bergman lives at present, was described to media personnel by the director actress as a 'tremendously exciting thriller'. It is also said that the story contains true to life incidents of Ingmar Bergman's life, has a character in the film script of a film director called Bergman.

The film starts with the actress meeting the elderly film director in the process of writing the manuscript, they finally get together and coin a story.

The film has flash shots showing the film directors room and the story is of a triangular love story of the director, the actress and her husband. Finally a child becomes the victim as a result of the behavior of the three adults.

"Ingman Bergman has been brave enough to turn over his artistic reality to someone else. It's my visual language which portrays Ingmar's reality' Liv Ullmann said.

Film's line producer Kaj Larsen said ' You can't say it's a typical Bergman film as it is set in our times. People are struggling with relationships. One can see oneself in it "

The film director's role will be played by Erland Josephson who has appeared in many earlier Bergman films. The female lead of Marianne is played by Lena Endre.

Bergman making over 40 films retired from film direction after he won the Oscar award for 'Fanny...'

On his retirement from films he reverted back to the stage where his first love was, writing and the stage.

New wave rocking 'On Stage'

It's the final countdown - to the grand final of TNL Radio's On Stage. This happens on the 19th of this month. Voyage got the league round off to a great start. And Dejhavu proved that the judges are going to have an extremely tough time in picking a winner at the finals. infact they had to do about six encores. Both Vibes and Anjello Sampath kept up the momentum. As did Brown Boogie Nation. Initially we planned to feature only one band/artiste per night. But we had to change our plans. That was because the response was so great. We finally decided on six bands/artistes to perform at the Rock Cafe on Fridays. Wrapping up the league phase are a five piece band who call themselves Independent Square. Three of them have been writing songs for the past six years. They are Shehan Karunatilake - rhythm guitar, Anil Balasuriya - lead vocals and Priyanka Guneratne (OP) - bass guitar. Two years ago Dinesh Manual - drums and Ajith Chittampalam -lead guitar, joined this group. They perform something between Seattle grunge and mainstream rock.

TNL Radio's "On Stage" is sponsored by Swedish Trading Audio visual (pvt) Ltd., TV Times, MidWeek Mirror, Dynavision, the Rock Cafe and Pepsi.

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