If you are a BA (Mass Comm) student at SMS Varanasi or want to take admission in the course with the goal of entering the world of film production one day, you should always learn from the best.

We bring you behind-the-scenes stories of 5 Oscar winning movies or nominated movies this year that offer you great insights into the world of the filmmaking industry:

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once was a smashing hit at Oscars 2023. The movie won seven Oscar awards at the 95th Academy Awards, including:

• Best Picture
• Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh)
• Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan)
• Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis)
• Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert)
• Best Original Screenplay (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert)
• Best Film Editing (Paul Rogers)

It was also nominated for other Oscar awards, including:

• Best Adapted Screenplay,
• Best Cinematography,
• Best Costume Design, and
• Best Original Score.

The cast of the movie was predominantly Asian American and hence, it was a historic moment for Hollywood. It will be remembered for years to come for emphasizing the importance of diversity in the film industry as well as powerful storytelling.

Synopsis:

Everything Everywhere All at Once dabbles in many genres. It is an American science fiction film with both action and comedy genres. The protagonist is Evelyn Wang, a

Chinese-American laundromat owner who is struggling to keep her business afloat as well as manage a good life with her husband Waymond and daughter Joy.

Her life goes for a toss when on the day of her IRS audit, Waymond reveals that he is from another universe and that she is the only one who can save the multiverse from a powerful villainous being called Jobu Tupaki. Evelyn starts exploring different universities, learning new skills and abilities, facing many challenges, and learning to accept herself and her family.

Behind the Scenes Stories

Some of the interesting behind-the-scenes stories of the movie aspiring filmmakers should pay special attention to are:

• Michelle Yeoh was originally cast as a supporting character. But she acted so well that the directors decided to make her the lead character – Evelyn Wang.
• Due to the tight budget and complex special effects, the film was shot merely in 38 days. Daniels (the directors of the movie) used practical effects to create special effects to give it a more grounded and authentic feel. It means that physical objects and techniques were used to create illusions on screen.
• The directors used their experiences as immigrants in the US while filming Evelyn’s exploration of multiverses. Hence, the way the movie shows how being part of multiple cultures feels like.
• The scene where Deirdre (IRS officer) was auditing Evelyn’s business was intended to be a very short one. However, the actors improvised and made it much longer and funnier.
• Mortal Kombat, the popular video game, inspired the fight of Evelyn with the antagonist Jobu Tupaki. That made the fight scene visually stunning as well as emotionally resonant.

In the end, the love, care, effort and dedication show in how this movie has turned out to be unique and groundbreaking.

2. All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front also had a good run at Oscars 2023. It won four Oscar awards for:

• Best International Feature Film
• Best Production Design
• Best Cinematography
• Best Score

Also, it received Oscar nominations for:

• Best Picture,
• Best Visual Effects,
• Best Adapted Screenplay,
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and
• Best Sound

in the 95th Academy Awards.

Synopsis:

Based on the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque, this movie is about the horrors of World War I and how it impacted the lives of the young people of those times.

The story follows Paul and his classmates who were so inspired by the patriotic speeches of their teachers that they enlist in the German Army. But they soon realized that the reality of war is quite different from its romanticized version. Fighting in the front lines, they witnessed enemy fire, death and destruction on a daily basis – witnessing the brutality of war firsthand.

Many of them got killed and the young boys increasingly became disillusioned with the war as well as adults who threw them to the fire. The ending was changed from the book and Paul was made to survive at the end of the war in the movie.

Being hailed as one of the classics of war cinema, the movie reminds us of the human cost of war and why peace is so important – topics that are relevant even today.

Behind the Scenes Stories:

If you want to make a career in film production, learning a few lessons from behind-the-scenes stories of All Quiet on the Western Front will always be a good idea:

• The filmmakers shot the film in Germany and the Czech Republic to maintain the authenticity of the scenes.
• The movie’s cast included young actors from across Europe to convincingly portray the young soldiers who fought in World War I.
• In this case, the filmmakers took their sweet time – 12 weeks in total – to make sure each shot of the movie was perfect.
• The battle scenes were very realistic and often quite dangerous to shoot. Real explosives and practical effects were used to film these battle scenes.
• The most difficult scene to shoot was when Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) and his fellow soldiers were trapped in a trench during a gas attack. The actors had to wear gas masks and shoot in real tear gas for the realistic effect.
• The scene where Paul kills a French soldier was shot several times. Felix found it very emotionally draining.

This movie gives you a realistic and unflinching look at the horrors of the war and the tightknit filmmaking skills successfully turned into a moving anti-war movie classic.

3. Avatar: The Way of Water

Avatar: The Way of Water claimed its place in the Oscar winning movies this year for Best Visual Effects. It also received the nominations for:

• Best Picture,
• Best Production Design, and
• Best Sound.

The film’s special effects team experimented with a variety of new and innovative to create the realistic underwater world of Pandora. It was not only a commercial success but also widely acclaimed by critics for being the most visually stunning film.

Synopsis:

Produced by 20th Century Studios and directed by James Cameron, Avatar: The Way of Water is an epic science fiction movie – the second one in the Avatar franchise. Set more than a decade after the events of the first movie of the series, this one follows Jake, Neytiri, and their children (the Sully family).

In the beginning, we see them living a beautiful, peaceful life in Pandora. But then, the RDA Corporation returns to the planet to wipe out the Na’vi and colonize Pandora to get access to its valuable resources. And they are willing to play evil.

Jake and Neytiri lead their people to fight for their home and their way of life while teaching their children to survive during these times. Besides the family’s challenges, environmentalism is the key focus of this movie.

Behind the Scenes Stories:

We encourage Mass Communication students interested in filmmaking to pay close attention to the behind-the-scenes stories of this greatest science fiction movie of all time:

• The film was shot in a giant water tank to depict the underwater world of Pandora.
• The movie was shot over a period of three years and the cast underwent extensive training in scuba diving as well as free diving to perform the underwater scenes.
• The scene where Jake and Neytiri are teaching their children how to swim was one of the most difficult scenes to shoot as all children were very young. They learned to swim in the giant water tank.
• The film’s special effects are some of the most advanced ever seen in a film and to make them come alive, the filmmakers used a variety of techniques, such as:
  • motion capture technology (to capture movements of actors and make the movie more realistic, life-like and believable), and
  • computer-generated imagery (for creating underwater environments).
• Scenes, where the Na’vi rode tulkun (whale-like creatures), were also very difficult to shoot. Actors had to be suspended from wires and still had to perform in a way that looked realistic on screen.

The film’s director, James Cameron, is known for his perfectionism. Reportedly, he spent hours each day in the editing room to make the movie perfect and a visual feast for the viewers.

4. The Banshees of Inisherin

SMS Varanasi students and aspiring filmmakers, we highly recommend you to watch The Banshees of Inisherin. The movie received nine nominations at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023 even though it did not win an Oscar. The film was nominated for:

• Best Picture
• Best Director (Martin McDonagh)
• Best Actor (Colin Farrell)
• Best Supporting Actor (Brendan Gleeson)
• Best Supporting Actress (Kerry Condon)
• Best Original Screenplay (Martin McDonagh)
• Best Cinematography (Ben Davis)
• Best Film Editing (Mikkel E.G. Nielsen)
• Best Production Design (Mark Tildesley)
• Best Sound (Colin Nicholson, Mark Weingarten, and Dave Whitehead)

It is one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2022 for a reason. It has a powerful storyline, a talented star cast, and deeply impacted its audiences.

Synopsis:

Martin McDonagh wrote and directed this block comedy-drama film. It is set in 1923 in a fictional island of Ireland – Insherin. Two lifelong friends Pádraic Súilleabháin and Colm Doherty came to an impasse when Colm abruptly ended their friendship. Pádraic was devastated and confused and wanted to know why Colm did that.

Pádraic’s sister, Siobhán, tried to mediate between the two but was unsuccessful. The tension between the friends kept escalating as the movie progressed. This abrupt end of friendship had alarming consequences for both of them.

The movie talks about the dark side of Irish culture, the fragility of friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Behind the Scenes Stories:

While all Mass Communication students will love this movie, aspiring filmmakers should pay special attention to what makes it so special:

• Aran Islands, off the coast of Ireland, was chosen as the shooting location for the movie. It is remote, beautiful, and has a unique atmosphere – perfect for the film.
• Irish actors were chosen to play the characters – so that the movie feels authentic and natural.
• The filmmaking was not rushed at all. It took 10 weeks to complete the movie.
• Martin McDonagh specializes in dark and black comedy. In this movie, he explores complex themes of friendship, betrayal, and revenge in his unique style.
• In one scene, Pádraic and Colm fight on the beach. This scene was a difficult one to shoot as the water was very cold and the actors had to be very careful not to injure each other.
• Similarly, the scene where Pádraic and his sister Siobhán had a conversation on the cliff was also very difficult to shoot due to very high wind velocity. The two actors had to be very careful not to be blown off the cliff.

The Banshees of Inisherin is a beautifully made film with a highly nuanced storyline, superb acting, stunning cinematography and evocative score.

5. Elvis

Like The Banshees of Insherin, Elvis will always be remembered for as many as eight Oscar nominations this year. It was nominated for:

• Best Picture
• Best Actor (Austin Butler)
• Best Director (Baz Luhrmann)
• Best Cinematography (Mandy Walker)
• Best Costume Design (Catherine Martin)
• Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Mark Coulier, Jason Baird, and Aldo Signoretti)
• Best Production Design (Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy, and Bev Dunn)
• Best Film Editing (Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond)

The movie was one of the most anticipated films of 2022 and has a talented cast and visually stunning cinematography. Some people even believe that Elvis lost out in Oscars 2023 because it was already a critical and commercial success and had won scores of Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards.

Synopsis:

Elvis is a biographical drama film written by Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce, and Jeremy Doner and directed by Baz Luhrmann. It chronicles the life of one of the iconic musicians of all time – Elvis Presley – the King of Rock and Roll.

The story is told from the perspective of Elvis’s manager – Colonel Tom Parker. Parker first saw young Elvis performing in Memphis, Tennessee and saw his potential. He went on to help him to achieve success in his career and never-ending fame.

The movie also shows the complex relationship Elvis shared with Parker, the rise of Elvis, his addictions and deteriorating mental health, and eventually, his downfall.

This biopic is a must-see for Elvis fans. It is visually stunning and has a powerful soundtrack.

Behind the Scenes Stories:

BA (Mass Comm) students at SMS Varanasi who want to specialize in video and film production should check the behind-the-scenes stories of this wonderful movie carefully:

• Austin Butler, who played Elvis Presley in this movie, spent two years preparing for this role, including training in singing, dancing, and movement.
• Tom Hanks lost 40 pounds to play Parker’s role and wore a prosthetic nose and a fat suit as required.
• The movie was shot in both Australia and the US – in authentic locations (including the Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee where Elvis recorded his first songs).
• The soundtrack of the movie features a mix of Elvis’s classic songs and new music inspired by him.
• The film’s editor, Craig Wood, spent more than a year editing the film to achieve this kind of perfection.
• The most difficult scene to shoot was that of Elvis’s performance at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. The filmmakers had to build a replica of the stage and use hundreds of extras to show a large audience.
• The scene where Elvis met Priscilla for the first time was also difficult for the actors as they had to build a rapport very quickly to make the scene so believable.

Elvis has turned out to be a dazzling and kinetic biopic of the King of Rock and Roll. The signature visual flair and musical panache of Director Baz Luhrmann makes this movie unforgettable.

Conclusion

The journey behind the creation of every film is filled with passion, effort, creativity, challenges, and innovations. Discussing the Oscar winning movies recommended above offers a plethora of insights and experiences for aspirants in the world of film production and mass communication.

These stories offer BA (Mass Comm) students and aspiring filmmakers glimpses into the depth of meticulous planning, the importance of location authenticity, the evolution of characters and storylines, the intricate balance of visual effects and emotional resonance, and the relentless pursuit of visionary storytelling. May you all evolve to master the enduring impact and the transformative power of cinema!