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The Fisherman - A Short Film

A stubborn, old fisherman followed by a young girl sets out to make arrangements for his funeral.

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The Fisherman - A Short Film

The Fisherman - A Short Film

The Fisherman - A Short Film

The Fisherman - A Short Film

The Fisherman - A Short Film

A stubborn, old fisherman followed by a young girl sets out to make arrangements for his funeral.

A stubborn, old fisherman followed by a young girl sets out to make arrangements for his funeral.

A stubborn, old fisherman followed by a young girl sets out to make arrangements for his funeral.

A stubborn, old fisherman followed by a young girl sets out to make arrangements for his funeral.

Parichehra Zahib
Parichehra Zahib
Parichehra Zahib
Parichehra Zahib
1 Campaign |
Mumbai, India
$70 USD 2 backers
6% of $1,140 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

About The Director

I left my life in Holland to make movies in Mumbai. After completing my BA degree in Theater, Film and Television Studies at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands I learned that at this stage in my life I want to be making the movies much more than I want to analyze their beauty. The cinema of India has always fascinated me, therefore joining a film school in Mumbai was the first step towards achieving my dreams.

The Fisherman

The movie is about an old stubborn, egocentric fisherman, who has lived his life on his own terms, at the cost of even his family, from whom he drifted away decades ago. Now, having lost everything and sensing his impending death, he sets out to visit his long abandoned brother to ask him for a favour. He is followed by an eight year old orphan girl, who finds an unlikely friend in the old man, and also becomes an obstacle to the man's one last wish.

What We Need & What You Get

We are shooting at the coast of Saphale, a remote location 100 kms away from Mumbai. We could have shot in Mumbai itself but permissions and costs of renting boats are very high. Saphale is a small town on the outskirts of Mumbai. We have access to a farmhouse, the beach, and the streets to shoot the film. We also have the necessary permissions, and support from the local authorities and fisherman folk to film in Saphale.

Our costs are roughly as follows:

1. Boats and fisherman: 

A crucial scene in the film is set on a fisherman's boat. It is a mid-sized boat powered by a diesel engine. This is what it looks like.

We will be shooting from two smaller boats (called naav) sailing parallel to the main boat. 

Fuel and rent for all the boats: Approximately INR 18000/-

Includes charges for  4 men to maneuver the boats and keep us from falling off and to save us in case any one of us does fall off a boat.

2. Equipment: 

Most of the camera equipment is provided to us by the film school, but the light and sound equipment and other rigs will be rented.

Rentals: INR 9300/-

3. Travel and Accommodation: 

Thanks to our friend Omkar Jadhav, our stay in Saphale is going to be free. It is his farmhouse that we will be staying at. However, traveling by cars to and back from Saphale is going to set us back by a little.

Fuel costs: INR 8850/-

4. Food:

We have struck a deal with a local woman who is going to cook for our crew. We will need supplies for breakfast, lunch and drinking water.

Supplies: INR 21570

5. Props and Costumes:  INR 7000/-

6. Permissions:

Official permissions and paperwork will cost us an approximate of INR 1000/-

7. Post-production:  

We have musicians who are scoring music for the film for free, but we have to pay for time at the studio.

Studio recording charges: INR 5000/-

TOTAL: INR 70720 (Approx) or 915 Euros or $1140

Risks & Challenges

As students, we had always been filming in apartments of our friends, in parks, cars, and other such places where we could shoot for free and without any opposition from authorities and the public. It was difficult even then to shoot guerrilla. Mumbai is home to a robust film industry but its laws and social policies make it difficult for filmmakers to shoot in the city. For once I have decided to follow my imagination instead of my pocket while writing the script. This will take me out of my comfort zone of no-budget film-making, but it will give me a chance to bring my characters alive using the amazing landscape of India.

There are three major challenges to this:

1. Filming atop a rocking boat: Initially I had doubts about filming on a boat, where it is going to be difficult to get stable, usable shots with the equipment we have. But we are more than ready to face this challenge. I am also aided by Harshit, the director of photography, who has a fine eye for nuances. 

2. Preventing mishaps: The biggest concern with a shoot like this is to prevent any water related accidents. While most of my crew knows how to swim, we went ahead with assuming no one does, and have arranged for fishermen to be stationed on every boat with the crew and cast in case of an emergency, like falling into the water. We are especially not filming while the motorboat engine is running, and only when all the boats are stationary. 

3. Directing an eight year old child is a challenge. Keeping her interested, occupied and entertained for 4 days, might be even a bigger challenge. We have appointed a close relative of hers as a guardian and are taking time out in our day plan for enough rest time. The film can be shot in 3 days, but we are taking an extra day so that the work does not put too much physical pressure on the young girl.

Other Ways You Can Help

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Your Name In The End Credits

$50 USD
For a donation above above USD 50 we will mention your name as associate producer in the credits.
Estimated Shipping
February 2015
0 out of 20 of claimed

Making of Video

$100 USD
We will make a video on the making of "The Fisherman". It will give you a chance to see what goes into the making of a 20 minute movie in the beautiful land of India. We will make sure to not leave out the bloopers.
Estimated Shipping
February 2015
0 out of 10 of claimed
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