Jump to content

Tanuj Chopra: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
AnomieBOT (talk | contribs)
Bots
6,569,909 edits
m Dating maintenance tags: {{Clarify}} {{Citation style}} {{Deadlink}}
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
{{Multiple issues|
{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|Biography|date=April 2022}}
{{Notability|Biography|date=April 2022}}
{{Advert|date=April 2022}}
{{Like resume|date=April 2022}}
{{Like resume|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP self-published|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP self-published|date=April 2022}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2022}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2022}}
{{citation style|date=June 2024}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
Line 21: Line 21:
}}
}}


'''Tanuj Chopra''' is an American film-maker. His debut feature film ''[[Punching at the Sun]]'' (2006) was screened at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] and was also nominated for the [[Humanitas Prize]]. He has directed [[Netflix]] web series [[Delhi Crime|Delhi Crime 2]] whose first part was nominated for International [[Emmy Awards|Emmy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Delhi Crime 2 director Tanuj Chopra defends show's graphic depiction of violence: 'We had to show the severity' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/delhi-crime-2-director-tanuj-chopra-defends-show-s-graphic-depiction-of-violence-101661650602936.html |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
'''Tanuj Chopra''' is an American film-maker. His debut feature film ''[[Punching at the Sun]]'' (2006) was screened at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] and was also nominated for the [[Humanitas Prize]]. He directed the [[Netflix]] web series ''[[Delhi Crime|Delhi Crime 2]]'', whose first part was nominated for an International [[Emmy Awards|Emmy]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Delhi Crime 2 director Tanuj Chopra defends show's graphic depiction of violence: 'We had to show the severity' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/delhi-crime-2-director-tanuj-chopra-defends-show-s-graphic-depiction-of-violence-101661650602936.html |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Background==
Chopra was raised in Silicon Valley<ref>Tribeca Film Institute, Tanuj Chopra, https://tribecafilminstitute.org/filmmakers/detail/tanuj_chopra</ref> and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in [[Semiotics]] from [[Brown University]] in 1999.<ref>Filmmaker of the Month: Tanuj Chopra, http://njisacf.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/filmmaker-of-the-month-tanuj-chopra/</ref> Chopra completed his [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] (Masters of Fine Arts) degree in film at the [[Columbia University School of the Arts]] in 2007, where he received the School of Art's Deans Fellowship and the FOCUS Film Fellowship.<ref>''Id.''</ref>
Chopra was raised in Silicon Valley,<ref>{{cite web|website=Tribeca Film Institute |title=Tanuj Chopra |url=https://tribecafilminstitute.org/filmmakers/detail/tanuj_chopra}}{{deadlink|date=June 2024}}</ref> and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in [[Semiotics]] from [[Brown University]] in 1999.<ref name="njisacf.wordpress.com">Filmmaker of the Month: Tanuj Chopra, http://njisacf.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/filmmaker-of-the-month-tanuj-chopra/</ref> He completed a [[Master of Fine Arts]] degree in film at the [[Columbia University School of the Arts]] in 2007, where he received the School of Art's Deans Fellowship and the FOCUS Film Fellowship.<ref>''Id.''</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
⚫
Chopra made his first student film, ''Hate Crime'', in the summer of 1998.<ref>Tribeca Film Institute, Punching at the Sun, https://tribecafilminstitute.org/films/detail/punching_at_the_sun</ref> As an undergraduate at [[Brown University]], he wrote, directed and produced ''Uljhan'', a 10-minute short film that played in festivals in New York and Los Angeles. In 2003, he directed, edited, and produced a short romance film entitled ''Butterfly'', starring [[Tillotama Shome]], which was shot in [[New Delhi]] and screened at over 20 festivals across North America, Europe, India and Pakistan.<ref>''Id.''</ref> ''Butterfly'' won "Best Film" at the [[Festival del Sole|Napa Valley Wine Country Festival]] and the Ivy League Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award at the 2003 Asian Film Expo in [[Lyon]], France, and a Director's Citation at the 2004 [[Black Maria Film and Video Festival]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tanuj Chopra - Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397556/awards/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
Chopra makes his films under his banner "Chops Films".[http://www.chopsfilms.com]


⚫
In 2009, Chopra directed a short film entitled ''Chop Chop'' (2009) starring [[Sung Kang]], [[Tillotama Shome]] and [[Manu Narayan]].<ref>ChopFilms, Clap Clap, http://chopsfilms.com/clap-clap/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006075315/http://chopsfilms.com/clap-clap/ |date=2014-10-06 }}</ref><ref>Anderson Le, The Short List: CLAP CLAP, You Offend Me You Offend My Family (YOMYOMF.com), http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/the-short-list-clap-clap/</ref> He wrote and directed a sci-fi short film in 2010 entitled ''Pia'', starring [[Tillotama Shome]] and Pia Shah as an android/cyborg, for [[PBS]]'s FutureStates project.<ref>PIA, FutureStates, New Jersey Public Television, http://www.njtvonline.org/programs/futurestates/pia/</ref>
===Short films===
⚫
Chopra's first student film project was entitled ''Hate Crime'' (1998), which he made in the summer of 1998.<ref>Tribeca Film Institute, Punching at the Sun, https://tribecafilminstitute.org/films/detail/punching_at_the_sun</ref> As an undergraduate at [[Brown University]], Chopra also wrote, directed and produced ''Uljhan'', a ten-minute short film that played in festivals in New York and Los Angeles. In 2003, he directed, edited, and produced a short film love story entitled ''Butterfly'' (2003) starring [[Tillotama Shome]] (''[[Monsoon Wedding]]''), which was shot in [[New Delhi, India]] and screened at over 20 festivals across North America, Europe, India and Pakistan.<ref>''Id.''</ref> ''Butterfly'' went on to win several awards, including "Best Film" at the Napa Valley Wine Country Festival and the Ivy League Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award at the 2003 Asian Film Expo in Lyon, France, and a Director's Citation at the 2004 Black Maria Film and Video Festival.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Tanuj Chopra - Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397556/awards/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>


⚫
In 2011, Chopra directed ''The King's Speech Parody LOL'', in partnership with the [[Center for Asian American Media]] (CAAM), to highlight the 29th Annual [[San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival]]'s focus on South Asian film and filmmakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/the-kings-speech-lol/ |title=The King's Speech LOL |website=chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093946/http://chopsfilms.com/the-kings-speech-lol/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref> He also directed and wrote a dystopian short film entitled ''Carbon Dated'' in 2011.<ref>CAAM, Filmmaker Advice, http://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/</ref>
⚫
In 2009, Chopra directed a short film entitled ''Chop Chop'' (2009) starring [[Sung Kang]], [[Tillotama Shome]] and [[Manu Narayan]].<ref>ChopFilms, Clap Clap, http://chopsfilms.com/clap-clap/</ref><ref>Anderson Le, The Short List: CLAP CLAP, You Offend Me You Offend My Family (YOMYOMF.com), http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/the-short-list-clap-clap/</ref>


⚫
In 2012, Chopra directed a web series, again in partnership with CAAM, entitled ''Nice Girls Crew''.<ref>Nice Girls Crew, http://nicegirlscrew.com/</ref> Season 1 screened in 2012, and Season 2 of the series screened in 20d.{{clarify|date=June 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://caamedia.org/blog/2012/11/05/nice-girls-crew-season-1-on-youtube/ | title=Nice Girls Crew Season 1 on YouTube, Ready for Season 2?| date=5 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://blog.angryasianman.com/2014/04/nice-girls-crew-season-2-trailer.html | title=Nice Girls Crew Season 2 Trailer}}</ref> He also directed the season 2 of web series [[Delhi Crime]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Delhi Crime 2 director Tanuj Chopra defends show's graphic depiction of violence: 'We had to show the severity' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/delhi-crime-2-director-tanuj-chopra-defends-show-s-graphic-depiction-of-violence-101661650602936.html |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
Chopra wrote and directed a sci-fi short film in 2010 entitled ''Pia'', starring [[Tillotama Shome]] and Pia Shah as an android/cyborg, for [[PBS]]'s FutureStates project.<ref>PIA, FutureStates, New Jersey Public Television, http://www.njtvonline.org/programs/futurestates/pia/</ref>


⚫
In 2014, Chopra wrote and directed a futuristic short film entitled ''Teacher In A Box'' (2014), again in partnership with the PBS FutureStates project, set in a future where teachers are replaced with digital avatars of themselves.
⚫
In 2011, Chopra directed ''The King's Speech Parody LOL'' in partnership with [[Center for Asian American Media]] (CAAM) to highlight the 29th Annual [[San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival]]'s focus on South Asian film and filmmakers; the film also starred Pia Shah, Rasika Mathur and Sunil Malothra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/the-kings-speech-lol/ |title=The King's Speech LOL &#124; chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093946/http://chopsfilms.com/the-kings-speech-lol/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref> He also directed and wrote a short set in a dystopian future entitled ''Carbon Dated'' in 2011, which was both written by and starred Chee Malabar.<ref>CAAM, Filmmaker Advice, http://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/</ref>

⚫
In 2014, Chopra wrote and directed a futuristic short film entitled ''Teacher In A Box'' (2014) starring [[Lynn Chen]], [[Emayatzy Corinealdi]], Rebecca Hazlewood and [[Reza Sixo Safai]]. The film is set in a future where teachers are replaced with digital avatars of themselves, and was also made in partnership with the PBS FutureStates project.

===Web series===
⚫
Chopra directed a web series, again in partnership with CAAM, entitled ''Nice Girls Crew'' in 2012, which starred [[Lynn Chen]], [[Michelle Krusiec]] and [[Sheetal Sheth]], and was written and created by Christine Kwon.<ref>Nice Girls Crew, http://nicegirlscrew.com/</ref> Season 1 of the series screened in 2012, and Season 2 of the series screened in 20d and starred [[Leonardo Nam]], [[Tsai Chin (actress)|Tsai Chin]], [[Parvesh Cheena]], and Anthony Ma.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://caamedia.org/blog/2012/11/05/nice-girls-crew-season-1-on-youtube/ | title=Nice Girls Crew Season 1 on YouTube, Ready for Season 2?| date=5 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://blog.angryasianman.com/2014/04/nice-girls-crew-season-2-trailer.html | title=Nice Girls Crew Season 2 Trailer}}</ref> He also directed the season 2 of web series [[Delhi Crime]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Delhi Crime 2 director Tanuj Chopra defends show's graphic depiction of violence: 'We had to show the severity' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/delhi-crime-2-director-tanuj-chopra-defends-show-s-graphic-depiction-of-violence-101661650602936.html |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>


===Music videos===
===Music videos===
Along with Prashant Bhargava, Chopra co-directed the music video for the Swetshop Boys' "Benny Lava". Chopra also directed the music videos for the rap tracks "Harsh Truth," "Unbearable Sweetness," "Now Is Too Soon," and "Hamas 2.5," which were all performed and written by Chee Malabar. He has also directed various music videos and music pieces for jazz pianist [[Vijay Iyer]].
Along with [[Prashant Bhargava]], Chopra co-directed the music video for the [[Swet Shop Boys|Swetshop Boys]]' "Benny Lava". Chopra also directed the music videos for [[Chee Malabar]]'s tracks "Harsh Truth", "Unbearable Sweetness", "Now Is Too Soon", and "Hamas 2.5". He has also directed various music videos and music pieces for jazz pianist [[Vijay Iyer]].


===Documentaries===
===Documentaries===
Chopra has also worked on several documentaries. His ''Project Heart: Uganda'' series focused on the World Children Initiative's process and mission in treating children's heart disease in [[Uganda]].<ref>Chops Films, Project Heart: Uganda, {{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/world-childrens-initiative/ |title=Project Heart: Uganda &#124; chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163721/http://chopsfilms.com/world-childrens-initiative/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref> His documentary ''SAYA! Turns Ten'' is a commissioned piece about the Queens, New York based non profit organization [[South Asian Youth Action]].<ref>Chops Films, Saya Turns 10, {{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/saya-turns-10/ |title=Saya Turns 10 &#124; chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123908/http://chopsfilms.com/saya-turns-10/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref>
Chopra has worked on several documentaries. His ''Project Heart: Uganda'' series focused on the work of the [[World Children Initiative]] treating children's heart disease in [[Uganda]].<ref>Chops Films, Project Heart: Uganda, {{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/world-childrens-initiative/ |title=Project Heart: Uganda &#124; chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163721/http://chopsfilms.com/world-childrens-initiative/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref> His documentary ''SAYA! Turns Ten'' is a commissioned piece about the [[Queens, New York]] based non-profit organization [[South Asian Youth Action]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/saya-turns-10/ |title=Saya Turns 10 |website=chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006123908/http://chopsfilms.com/saya-turns-10/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref>


===Feature films===
===Feature films===
At 28, Chopra wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, ''Punching at the Sun'' (2006), about a South Asian teen named Mameet (Misu Khan) living in Queens, New York who struggles to keep his anger in check in the aftermath of 9/11 and the murder of his basketball legend brother, Sanjay.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=John |date=2006-02-06 |title=Punching at the Sun |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/punching-at-the-sun-1200518728/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> It premiered at the 2006 [[Sundance Film Festival]] as the first South Asian American film to be selected to the festival.<ref>Filmmaker of the Month: Tanuj Chopra, http://njisacf.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/filmmaker-of-the-month-tanuj-chopra/</ref> At Sundance, it was also nominated for a [[Humanitas Prize]].<ref name=":0" /> The film screened at the 2006 [[Tribeca Film Festival]] and the 2006 [[San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival]], where it won the Jury Award for Best Narrative film.<ref>''Id.''</ref> It has screened at over 30 film festivals and was released online in 2008 via Jaman.com.<ref>Jaman Delivers Award-Winning Film 'Punching at the Sun' to Movie Lovers Around the Globe, http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jaman+Delivers+Award-Winning+Film+'Punching+at+the+Sun'+to+Movie...-a0173674203</ref> It currently is available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.
In 2006, Chopra wrote, produced, and directed his first feature film, ''Punching at the Sun'', depicting the life of a troubled South Asian teen ([[Misu Khan]]) living in [[Queens, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=John |date=2006-02-06 |title=Punching at the Sun |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/punching-at-the-sun-1200518728/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> It premiered at the 2006 [[Sundance Film Festival]] as the first South Asian American film to be selected to the festival.<ref name="njisacf.wordpress.com"/> At Sundance, it was nominated for a [[Humanitas Prize]].<ref name=":0" /> The film also screened at the 2006 [[Tribeca Film Festival]] and the 2006 [[San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival]], where it won the Jury Award for Best Narrative film.<ref>''Id.''</ref> It has been screened at over 30 film festivals, and was released online in 2008 via [[Jaman|Jaman.com]].<ref>Jaman Delivers Award-Winning Film 'Punching at the Sun' to Movie Lovers Around the Globe, http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jaman+Delivers+Award-Winning+Film+'Punching+at+the+Sun'+to+Movie...-a0173674203</ref>


Chopra started work on the Kickstarter crowd-funded indie feature film ''Nature Boy'' in 2011, which tells the story of an ex-tennis champion named Nate Fox who finds himself washed up and disconnected in his home town at age 33.<ref>Chop Films, Biography, {{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/biography/ |title=Biography &#124; chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163235/http://chopsfilms.com/biography/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref>
Chopra started work on the Kickstarter crowd-funded indie feature film ''Nature Boy'' in 2011, which tells the story of an ex-tennis champion who finds himself washed up and disconnected in his hometown at age 33.<ref>Chop Films, Biography, {{cite web |url=http://chopsfilms.com/biography/ |title=Biography |website=chopsfilms.com |accessdate=2014-10-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163235/http://chopsfilms.com/biography/ |archivedate=2014-10-06 }}</ref>


⚫
Chopra makes his films under the label "Chops Films".
Currently, Chopra is raising funds for an independent feature film entitled ''[[Chee and T]]''.<ref>indieGoGo, Chee & T, https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chee-and-t</ref> An early tagline reads: "A comedy about the only two Indian American dudes in Palo Alto who have nothing to do with technology."


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 75: Line 69:
|-
|-
| 2015
| 2015
| ''[[Nature Boy(2015 Film)]]''
| ''Nature Boy''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{n}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{n}}
Line 82: Line 76:
|-
|-
| 2015
| 2015
| ''[[Grass(2015 Film)]]''
| ''Grass''
| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
Line 97: Line 91:


==Miscellaneous==
==Miscellaneous==
Chopra serves on the board of the [[Palo Alto International Film Festival]], and assists with the New Voices for Youth Filmmaking Initiative [http://www.newvoicesforyouth.org/].<ref>CAAM, Filmmaker Advice, http://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/</ref>
Chopra serves on the board of the [[Palo Alto International Film Festival]], and assists with the New Voices for Youth Film-making Initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-09-08 |title=Filmmaker Advice: Tanuj Chopra |url=https://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=CAAM Home |language=en-US}}</ref>

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 105: Line 102:
*[http://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/ CAAMedia - Filmmaker Advice from Tanuj Chopra]
*[http://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/ CAAMedia - Filmmaker Advice from Tanuj Chopra]
*[http://nymag.com/movies/filmfestivals/tribeca/16860/ New York Magazine - Head-to-Head: Ajay Naidu and Tanuj Chopra]
*[http://nymag.com/movies/filmfestivals/tribeca/16860/ New York Magazine - Head-to-Head: Ajay Naidu and Tanuj Chopra]
*[https://tribecafilminstitute.org/filmmakers/detail/tanuj_chopra Tribeca Film Institute, Tanuj Chopra]

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Tanuj}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Tanuj}}
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from California]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni]]

Latest revision as of 21:59, 19 June 2024

Tanuj Chopra
Occupation(s)Director, Writer & producer
Years active2003–present

Tanuj Chopra is an American film-maker. His debut feature film Punching at the Sun (2006) was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for the Humanitas Prize. He directed the Netflix web series Delhi Crime 2, whose first part was nominated for an International Emmy[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Chopra was raised in Silicon Valley,[2] and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Semiotics from Brown University in 1999.[3] He completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in film at the Columbia University School of the Arts in 2007, where he received the School of Art's Deans Fellowship and the FOCUS Film Fellowship.[4]

Career

[edit]

Chopra made his first student film, Hate Crime, in the summer of 1998.[5] As an undergraduate at Brown University, he wrote, directed and produced Uljhan, a 10-minute short film that played in festivals in New York and Los Angeles. In 2003, he directed, edited, and produced a short romance film entitled Butterfly, starring Tillotama Shome, which was shot in New Delhi and screened at over 20 festivals across North America, Europe, India and Pakistan.[6] Butterfly won "Best Film" at the Napa Valley Wine Country Festival and the Ivy League Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award at the 2003 Asian Film Expo in Lyon, France, and a Director's Citation at the 2004 Black Maria Film and Video Festival.[7]

In 2009, Chopra directed a short film entitled Chop Chop (2009) starring Sung Kang, Tillotama Shome and Manu Narayan.[8][9] He wrote and directed a sci-fi short film in 2010 entitled Pia, starring Tillotama Shome and Pia Shah as an android/cyborg, for PBS's FutureStates project.[10]

In 2011, Chopra directed The King's Speech Parody LOL, in partnership with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), to highlight the 29th Annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival's focus on South Asian film and filmmakers.[11] He also directed and wrote a dystopian short film entitled Carbon Dated in 2011.[12]

In 2012, Chopra directed a web series, again in partnership with CAAM, entitled Nice Girls Crew.[13] Season 1 screened in 2012, and Season 2 of the series screened in 20d.[clarification needed][14][15] He also directed the season 2 of web series Delhi Crime.[16]

In 2014, Chopra wrote and directed a futuristic short film entitled Teacher In A Box (2014), again in partnership with the PBS FutureStates project, set in a future where teachers are replaced with digital avatars of themselves.

Music videos

[edit]

Along with Prashant Bhargava, Chopra co-directed the music video for the Swetshop Boys' "Benny Lava". Chopra also directed the music videos for Chee Malabar's tracks "Harsh Truth", "Unbearable Sweetness", "Now Is Too Soon", and "Hamas 2.5". He has also directed various music videos and music pieces for jazz pianist Vijay Iyer.

Documentaries

[edit]

Chopra has worked on several documentaries. His Project Heart: Uganda series focused on the work of the World Children Initiative treating children's heart disease in Uganda.[17] His documentary SAYA! Turns Ten is a commissioned piece about the Queens, New York based non-profit organization South Asian Youth Action.[18]

Feature films

[edit]

In 2006, Chopra wrote, produced, and directed his first feature film, Punching at the Sun, depicting the life of a troubled South Asian teen (Misu Khan) living in Queens, New York.[19] It premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival as the first South Asian American film to be selected to the festival.[3] At Sundance, it was nominated for a Humanitas Prize.[7] The film also screened at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2006 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, where it won the Jury Award for Best Narrative film.[20] It has been screened at over 30 film festivals, and was released online in 2008 via Jaman.com.[21]

Chopra started work on the Kickstarter crowd-funded indie feature film Nature Boy in 2011, which tells the story of an ex-tennis champion who finds himself washed up and disconnected in his hometown at age 33.[22]

Chopra makes his films under the label "Chops Films".

Filmography

[edit]
Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes
2006 Punching at the Sun Green tickY Green tickY Red XN
2015 Nature Boy Green tickY Red XN Green tickY
2015 Grass Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Story
2016 Chee and T Green tickY Green tickY Red XN

Miscellaneous

[edit]

Chopra serves on the board of the Palo Alto International Film Festival, and assists with the New Voices for Youth Film-making Initiative.[23]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Delhi Crime 2 director Tanuj Chopra defends show's graphic depiction of violence: 'We had to show the severity'". Hindustan Times. 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  2. ^ "Tanuj Chopra". Tribeca Film Institute.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b Filmmaker of the Month: Tanuj Chopra, http://njisacf.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/filmmaker-of-the-month-tanuj-chopra/
  4. ^ Id.
  5. ^ Tribeca Film Institute, Punching at the Sun, https://tribecafilminstitute.org/films/detail/punching_at_the_sun
  6. ^ Id.
  7. ^ a b "Tanuj Chopra - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  8. ^ ChopFilms, Clap Clap, http://chopsfilms.com/clap-clap/ Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Anderson Le, The Short List: CLAP CLAP, You Offend Me You Offend My Family (YOMYOMF.com), http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/the-short-list-clap-clap/
  10. ^ PIA, FutureStates, New Jersey Public Television, http://www.njtvonline.org/programs/futurestates/pia/
  11. ^ "The King's Speech LOL". chopsfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  12. ^ CAAM, Filmmaker Advice, http://caamedia.org/blog/2014/09/08/filmmaker-advice-tanuj-chopra/
  13. ^ Nice Girls Crew, http://nicegirlscrew.com/
  14. ^ "Nice Girls Crew Season 1 on YouTube, Ready for Season 2?". 5 November 2012.
  15. ^ "Nice Girls Crew Season 2 Trailer".
  16. ^ "Delhi Crime 2 director Tanuj Chopra defends show's graphic depiction of violence: 'We had to show the severity'". Hindustan Times. 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  17. ^ Chops Films, Project Heart: Uganda, "Project Heart: Uganda | chopsfilms.com". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  18. ^ "Saya Turns 10". chopsfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  19. ^ Anderson, John (2006-02-06). "Punching at the Sun". Variety. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
  20. ^ Id.
  21. ^ Jaman Delivers Award-Winning Film 'Punching at the Sun' to Movie Lovers Around the Globe, http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jaman+Delivers+Award-Winning+Film+'Punching+at+the+Sun'+to+Movie...-a0173674203
  22. ^ Chop Films, Biography, "Biography". chopsfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
  23. ^ "Filmmaker Advice: Tanuj Chopra". CAAM Home. 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Tanuj_Chopra&oldid=1229988126"