Productivity ala carte

Finally started to work. Without dampness in the head. After working for the business desk of a news channel, now I am working for the Entertainment desk for another news channel, that is yet to be launched but its in the pipeline and will soon come out with a bang - or a whimper. Or maybe something in the middle. But what does it concern me? I am a mere cog and expected to deliver. Whatever the requirement. And while flip-flopping between jobs, I have formulated (yet another) theory. In media, it doesn't matter how much sweat you have to wipe off your head, or how much strained your nerves and muscles are. The job is to be done. The main objective is to fill air-time. Generally, it doesn't matter if the work is mediocre, good or briliant, as long as it isn't abject and appalling and deserving of unequivocal thrashing. That's what I have decided I shall do. Put in my two-paisas, conserving effort and energy, and becoming part of the assembly line of Henry Ford fame.

As for Mr Ford, may his soul always maintain its spiritual functionality, and the organization that he spawned, his successors have decided that the competition in the automobile industry has restricted growth (and profits, ofcourse) and the brainwave for re-capturing market share is to produce the 'Model T' yet again. What remains to be seen whether it will be available in any colour as long as it's black.

Returning to productivity, and the consequences it entail, I finally made a package. Thank god it wasn't upon flustered aunties because of recurring bans on Indian channels. The womenfolk, deprived of Tulsi, feel a sense of isolation that only Camus can elaborate upon. I have somehow managed to stay away from the package, but the sense of impending doom prevails, and I might end up hearing my drab monotone accompanying clips of Jassi and Kukum and the nefarious lot.

Otherwise, the package that I made today was on the anti-war movies premiering in the numerous international Film Festivals taking place. The Toronto Film Festival and the San Sebastian Film Festival (Spain) , although varying in length and the number of movies to be shown, have a list of movies that focus on the Iraq war.

'Battle for Haditha' plays out the carnage that took place after a six-man US Marine sniper unit was attacked and ruthlessly murdered by Islamist insurgents on the outskirts of the town of Haditha on August 1, 2005. Not surprising, considering the country is a raging battle zone. However, the US forces, not used to acts of such wanton ruthlessness, unleashed a fury of their own. The most notable victims were 14 non-combatant Iraqis, including women and children.

The docu-drama has two former US Marines playing the roles of Marines, while the rest of the cast is dominated by people of Iraqi origin. There are also interviews of those who have suffered due to the Iraq war.

Another anti-Iraq diatribe is 'Body of War'. Directorial debut of former-Oprah-like-host Phil Donahue, the movie gives a humanist spin to the whole sorry episode of Iraq's occupation.

The movie is focuses around the real-life 'tragedy' of a US soldier who had to return home just after a week in the battle zone, as he paralyzed by the gun-shot wound. The point that the director is trying to make is that war ruins lives and the 'tragedy' is an illustration of the same, as the soldier is restricted to his wheel-chair for the rest of his time, and has to cope with a divorce as well. The miseries continue to pile and the man finally realizes that it's no fun going to strange lands to kill people.

I have to continue this.