Making a Biopic – Is
it a challenge?
Cinema is a
very strong medium, as it has the liberty to show you different talents, and
also can portray the unique real stories of distinct people, as an
entertainment form as well. Recently, I had studied about this particular
topic. I have written a lot about creative ideas which a film maker tries to imagine,
and make fictional character, plot, etc. as well. But making a biopic does not
mean that the story is already ready in front of you. Well, in my point of
view, making a biopic is also a very challenging task. Let me explain how.
Firstly we cannot forget that we are going to show the depth of a particular
person’s life. Usually legends are the main topic in the biopic genre. As a
film maker we have to be very careful in portraying the story in an appropriate
manner, as cinema is actually somewhere a big influence on people, and they
believe what they see. So if you are showing a story of a person in reality
struggled, and for example, became famous, you cannot have the right to spoil
the image as well. Secondly there are a lot of formalities as well to be
completed. As making a biopic of a person it’s very vital firstly for the
permission to be taken place. If that person doesn’t exist then the permission
should be taken from the family or friends, etc. Even we have to explain each,
and every part to the people related to the person you particularly want to
share on screen, as it would be more ethical as well. Making a biopic
sometimes, also limits the creativity, as we cannot fool the audience about the
reality of that person. For example, if we take a legend from the history it’s
very important for maintaining that particular respect of the legend we will be
portraying. In this world there are so
many people, and between them there are also many of them who does something
either good, or bad in their life which gives us morals, and also aware. If as
a film maker you want to take the topic of a man for example who has done
crimes which scandalized many people then showing him on screen is a big task,
he is the protagonist of the film, and somewhere we have to make him heroic
also. We know people who are famous usually by their ‘fame’, and professional life,
but if we want to make their biopic researching about their personal life is
actually a very tricky task. It’s not important in this particular part to
stick exactly with the facts, but it’s vital to stick ‘mostly’ with it. Another
challenge is choosing the cast for the film. As a film maker if you are making
a biopic hunting for the perfect cast, and especially the protagonist is very
important to suit the real person as the actor/actress should be able to
connect with the movie as well. Recently I had watched an amazing movie ‘Sarbjit’
and personally I feel that the protagonist chosen has done a wonderful job, and
made many people fall in love with the story as well. If you also want to portray
epics, the art direction part works a lot over here. It’s a challenge to make
the set look real, and we cannot forget the atmosphere being created the same
way it was in the history. Even the costumes will be considered over here.
Making epics is also challenging as we have to take the people to that
particular era, and making history alive in the present.
Choosing
locations to shoot, and make that person alive on screen in the ‘reel’ life is
tough, and stressful also. But in the positive side as a film maker you get to
explore, and learn so much as well. Making a biopic, of a particular person,
and portraying the struggles, with carrying it as an entertainment form will make
even him/her famous, and as well as you a famous film maker with the success of
the film.
