Rinku grew up in India and moved to the United States for his PhD studies. He is currently a professor of computer science in the Denver, Colorado area. He is constantly drawn by the intersecting worlds of art and technology, and continues to explore old and new paradigms in both worlds. He made his directorial debut as an independent filmmaker through "Antarctica: From Anticipation To Reality", putting into practice what he self-taught about film making over the course of the project. He finds a deep sense of satisfaction when creative ideas take visual and audible forms, and will continue his exploration of the world of cinema into the future.

With no budget to spare, we had to take it upon us to address all production aspects of the film. Nonetheless, we had a lot of invisible help from third-party content creators, specifically for the background score, without whom, much of our learning and production goals would not have been met.

Saonti's passion dwells in Indian classical vocals, but she is also an avid follower of Bollywood and Tollywood cinema. She views cinema as a mode of entertainment, and also as a medium of social communication, an artistic rendition of issues that are sometimes difficult to talk about. For her, a story comes first, then its presentation. She has a PhD in Physics and is currently a professor and academic administrator in a local college in Aurora, Colorado.

What do you expect viewers to learn from the film?

Besides being able to connect with Antarctica as any other habited place on the planet, I would be happy if viewers perceive the film as a celebration of the human spirit, which in my opinion, inherently likes to be nomadic. Even when fed with just the possibility of travel and wander, it gives us back in joy and satisfaction. But many of us do not engage much with the process of anticipation. It does not have to be some place like Antarctica; as long as it is something you are looking forward to, I think it can be transformed to a healthy dose of happiness. There are also facts, figures and tips on how to prepare for an Antarctica trip, but all of that, and the making of this film itself, was actually just us staying connected to a wonderful moment to come in the future.

What was the biggest challenge making the film?

With no background in film-making, my biggest challenge was learning the process itself. Every step meant reading up on the basics, understanding the technicalities, and then thinking about how I would approach it in this project. It was quite difficult to do while maintaining a day job, but fortunately I had almost a year to make it through.

What is your day job?

I am a professor of computer science at a university. The job entails teaching, conducting research and mentoring students. I must say that my background in computer science was quite helpful in navigating the technical aspects of film making, especially the software tools available to aid the process.

What does "end-to-end" mean that you refer to in your statement?

End-to-end means starting at a story draft and ending at a final deliverable. This for me began with a tentative arrangement of how I want to present the film, moving on to shot planning, scheduling, budget, lighting, cinematography, music selection, editing and sound mixing, motion graphics, and color grading. Following this were the deliverables - online streaming, DCP and Bluray authoring, cover art and posters, and this website itself. It was overwhelming, but fun at the same time.

How was it like filming in Antarctica?

Awesome! It is unlike any other place I had seen, possibly a film maker's paradise. You would want to keep the camera rolling at all times. It does however come with its own challenges. We were part of a commercially run expedition, and had to abide by all rules and regulations set forth by the IAATO. There was an ongoing Avian flu threat at the time, so we were not allowed to place any equipment on the ground, or sit on the ground. Shooting from a zodiac is difficult too since it is always wobbling. I had to meticulously stabilize every such shot to make it viewable. But it was an amazing experience and a very rewarding visit.

How did you decide what to film?

Much like any other commercial movie, I also started with a tentative shot deck by looking at images of Antarctica posted online. I had no idea what specific locations I would be visiting, but some idea of how I wanted to capture visuals if I came across them. Of course, there were some opportunistic shots that made their way into the final edit, and some planned ones I had to leave out because I could not take them or they just did not fall in place in the final narrative.

What gear did you carry?

It was basic, two cameras, a few lenses and accessories, most of which had to fit in a backpack. Traveling with a lot of gear is impractical, since we had to board and deboard from a Zodiac on every excursion, and there was not enough time and space to do elaborate camera setups on spot. In fact, the first day we stuffed the gear into two backpacks and a large dry sack, but realized that we were missing important time just taking things in and out of the bags. So, the next day onwards, it was just one backpack.

Did you see Antarctica through a lens?

Maybe half-and-half. I was indeed constantly thinking about my shots, but also consciously withheld the urge to keep shooting at all times, and appreciate what's in front with bare eyes.

What did you learn as a filmmaker from the experience?

As a first time filmmaker, I am glad that I took the time to slowly work through the project. There are a lot of creative and technical decisions at play, and I now have a deeper sense of what they are and their value in a production. I also learned that it is important to compartmentalize the different aspects of filmmaking, but also remember that everything will come together at the end to create something bigger, especially if you are going to wear multiple hats for a production.

Where can I watch it?

The film is currently under consideration in film festivals, and is not yet available for public viewing. The trailer is available though.