AwokenWord - Episodes Tagged with “Film”

#018: Jeff Teravainen - "Acting Human"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Anuj sits down with Jeff Teravainen. Jeff is a well-loved actor, voiceover artist, and musician. He's played the role of Lieutenant Anders on SYFY's hit "Dark Matter", as well as roles in SYFY's "12 Monkeys" in Season 2 along with movies such as the 2019 Netflix hit, "Christmas Chronicles". Jeff has also given his likeness and voice to characters in popular animation and video games such as "Far Cry", "Splinter Cell" and "Resident Evil". Most recently, you can find Jeff as the recurring character Gerald on the new HULU / CBC series "Utopia Falls" which debuted in 2020.

Jeff shares a lot about what inspires him, what influences his work and what the actual life of an actor and creative is like today. Anuj and Jeff also explore fatherhood and family, as well as what it means to be a man today, the value of boredom, and our hopes for the future. This is an honest, intimate and inspiring glimpse into Jeff''s world, and a conversation that will resonate with his fans and all aspiring actors and creatives around the world.

Source: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1617292/bio

Special Guest: Jeff Teravainen.

#016: Barkha Madan - "Lights, Camera, Introspection!"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 21:30:00 -0500

Anuj Rastogi is joined by Barkha Madan at the AwokenWord studio. Barkha Madan is a former Indian model, film actress and film producer who has also appeared in television serials and hosted TV shows in India. Barkha had risen to prominence through major film and fashion projects, while undergoing her own inner exploration and journey. In November 2012, Barkha finally made the leap into her self-described "calling" and underwent ordination to become a Buddhist nun and changed her name to Ven. Gyalten Samten. Barkha shares her incredible journey from the runway and silverscreen, and the experience of immersing herself in new characters, before eventually following through on her true spiritual calling. Anuj and Barkha discuss the challenges of a modern life in a modern, materialistic and social media driven world, as well as the joys of travel, meeting people, looking back across her experiences, and the ways in which her path has impacted countless others.

Special Guest: Barkha Madan.

#015: Shantanu Pujari - "Hip Hop India"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 20:00:00 -0500

Anuj Rastogi reconnects with Shantanu Pujari, a multi-talented artist and fighter. Shantanu is a professional competitive mixed martial arts fighter, yoga instructor, action director for film, activist, b-boy, beatboxer and hip hop label artist manager. Shantanu is also the host of the "Shakahari Show" on Rukus Avenue Radio. Shantanu shares his incredible personal journey, and a deep respect and knowledge of the history of Hip Hop as well as India. This conversation is an inspiring and exciting journey through the eyes of India's youth which is on course to transform the country and the world in positive ways.

Here, quite literally is how Shantanu and Anuj met...

And here's Shantanu in action...

Special Guest: Shantanu Pujari.

#009: Nicki Wells - "The World is Sound"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Anuj connects with London-based singer, songwriter, composer, producer and multi-genre musical prodigy, Nicki Wells (aka TURYA). Nicki is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, and capable of astonishing fluency across Western classical, pop, and Indian Classical styles of music. A long-time collaborator with leading global artists, Nicki has worked with acclaimed film, theatre and studio music composer Nitin Sawhney, vocalists Tina Grace, and Joss Stone among many others. Nicki has performed across many of the globe's most esteemed venues from Australia, the Middle East, East and South Asia, through Europe, Canada and the US. Nicki has also performed for, and composed original music for acclaimed film, theatre and dance productions, and her voice is found on soundtracks including the 2018 feature film "Mowgli" directed by Andy Serkis, and streaming on Netflix.

Anuj and Nicki share their unique and common experiences in the worlds of music and art, and explore Nicki's incredibly unique journey both as an artist, and as a human being whose life journey has spanned living in India, the UK and Australia, and touring much of the world as a working composer and vocalist. Nicki also shares her unique perspectives on Indian music, and its relationship to her own life and music in general. Nicki and Anuj also discuss the experience of an artist in today's challenging world, how music and art bridges human divides, and what makes the human experience so dynamic.

Nicki's debut album "OCEAN" is available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other platforms, and she's regularly performing and touring around the world.

Special Guest: Nicki Wells (aka TURYA).

#008: Pardeep Nagra - "The Tiger"

Anuj Rastogi — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi sits down in studio with Pardeep Singh Nagra, championship boxer, athlete, historian, educator, public speaker and human rights advocate. Pardeep is the Executive Director of the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada, and a champion of equity within the public school system. In the 1990s Mr. Nagra was barred from competing in a Canadian boxing championship because of his beard, which is a mandatory article of his Sikh faith. These real-life events would go on to become the basis for the Hollywood movie about Pardeep's life entitled "TIGER", starring Mickey Rourke, Prem Singh and Janel Parrish

Anuj and Pardeep discuss in depth some critical points in 20th century Sikh history, recurrently overlooked contributions made globally by Sikhs, racism, driving actual change in human systems, being an example for our children and making the world a more aware place.

Special Guest: Pardeep Singh Nagra.

#004: Roger Christian - "Star Wars & The Alchemy of Cinema"

Anuj Rastogi — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 15:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, AwokenWord host Anuj Rastogi speaks with legendary, Academy award-winning Art Director and Filmmaker, Roger Christian. Roger walks through his incredible life's journey from childhood in the UK, to learning the craft of set direction to the day he was hired personally by George Lucas to lead set design on "Star Wars: A New Hope". Roger explains the process he went through in inventing and designing the light-saber, R2D2, and the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, among many elements in the enduring look of the Star Wars universe.

Anuj and Roger discuss the evolution of cinema, Roger's inspirations and experiences with some of the greats of Hollywood, today's changing political and social landscape, what it means to be a man today, and the future of his newly resurrected feature film project, "Black Angel".

Buy Roger's book, "Cinema Alchemist" > [http://a.co/d/0dKlwAV]

Special Guest: Roger Christian.