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vkartoos |
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Hi Folks,
Completed a short and quick tour of London, Zurich and Mumbai. The
tour was film based since had wrapped up my first feature script and
the first two cities were toured for locations (and a director and
cinematorgrpher) and Mumbai, because that is where I am looking to
realease and speak with the production houses/actors/ crew.
Earlier had made an observation in this same blog of my Mumbai
experience in Dec and this is a follow up to that.
The upbeat mood that was then just a mood, culminated in some firm
actions this time around leading to the view that the India media
scene, centered around the films and television, is really, using an
expression from HR (that man Himesh), HAPPENING!!
Professionalism is in, opportunity is in, but of course the script
has to be of the top order. Film companies are willing to meet you
even if you come unrecommended and with nothing other than a script,
at least they were with me.
Two schools of filmmaking financing is beginning to emerge. For the
small aspirants like me, post Bheja Fry, which was made for Rs 55
lacs ($135K) and continues to rake in at least 7 times that amount in
NET PROFITS, the time to make that small budget film is now. Then for
the folks who dream big and are willing to sell their scripts to the
corporates, the money is flush, the actors are flush. Almost
everybody is ready to meet you and discuss your script, again at
least they were with me and I don't claim to have played up or been
nice to anyone, but I was superlatively confident of my script.
Other Mumbai observations:
a) The SMS and script narration continues to be the way to go, much
to my chagrin, since a written script rarely matters despite popular
belief to the contrary. Voicemail and messages as a concept does not
exisit in Bollywood, SMS is king!!
b) A new breed of private financers is emerging, again, the script
has to be solid!! Corproates in the film world are beggnnin g to do
that one thing they were not doing in the past in India, straight
talk….coupled with professional meeting and I can confidently say,
they are second to none anywhere in the world
c) Almost your entire crew (actors, directors) can be located in ONE
LOCATION - YARI ROAD, ANDHERI. Directors are more spread out, but not
too far, include Lokhandwala and Goregaon and perhaps that south
mumbai area of Lower Parel and Mahalaxmi and you have a completed
film on hand
d) The concept of HD is still alien to Mumbai directors, they spend
needless and endless time discussing HD and HDV and 35mm, instead of
getting on with it….a good film is a good film is a good film, medium
nothwithstanding, so move on!!!
e) The first day I visited, went to see Oceans 13 in Infiniti, and
Saif was there with his kids and ponytail and nobody was bothering
him as he walked up the escalator. I can bet you if it was UK or US,
he would be mobbed, clearly Mumbai has more maturity when it comes to
handling Bollywood icons.
f) Despite calling itself as the happening economy, traffic still
sucks and is getting bad in the city and rains can still throw the
area which is south of south Mumbai, into a total mess
g) The best party to attend during this time is that of noted heart
surgeon Dr Tiwari in South Mumbai. I went and Jackie and Suneil were
there as was a wiered looking Shekhar Suman (did not know men also
resorted to "rakhi sawantish" methods) along with Krishna and Ram (I
mean Vishal Bhardwaj and Arun Gowil). The film and Tv fraternity
comes out in full force.
j) Coffee Cafe Day has become the most popular coffee joint in the
city and Barista a close second.
k) Television is becomming bigger and hotter with actors and
actresses becoming millionaires (more power to them!!)
l) The film cliques are becoming stronger and that includes
the "former have not's," who also gang up at the first opportunity
after they become "haves"
m) Himmesh 's Aap Ka Saroor - The Movie- The Real Love Story- The
Terrible Himesh Acting- But the 100% opening- The Public Opinion
Against Himesh Acting- But HR Showing The Index Finger To The World
And Doing It Anayway (love folks who do that, hence also love Yash
Raj films, the world hates their guts and I love them for that)-The
Question Is It A Hit Or A Flop - The Response We Have a Sequel On
The Cards
n) Apne - The Deols Cry and so does the Audience- Sharma declares it
a hit but the audience does not- Sunny Deol wins the boxing
championships but in relaity Indian boxing scene is in a
mess…..summary give me Dharam in Metro anyday!!
o) Jhoom Barabar becomes the second Yash Raj disaster after Tara Ram
Pam and all the folks whom Yash Raj has rubbed the worng way
(basically 99.9999% of the other film people ) celebrate….c' mon grow
up guys…Yash Raj will rebound and is a studio system we are all proud
of
p) RUMOURS HEARD IN MUMBAI -1) The script for Veer Zara may not have
been original?
2) A certain Khan in the TV industry (not the filmi one's) is paid Rs
40,000 per day for enacting soaps (to me that is bigger salary than
most Wall Street types)!!!
SURPRISING FACT IN MUMBAI - 1) Ran into Jaggu Dada aka Jackie Shroff
at the JW Mariott and he continues to be the same easy going guy I
had grown up watching in Breach Candy (Farhangs) and Napean Sea Road
(Pastry Palace) year's ago……go Jackie!!! we need more nice guys like
you !!!
NAME EATERY OBSERVATION: While most starry restaurants suck (eg
Tendulkar's) , Dino's Crepe Factory, is outstanding and continues to
flourish……….go Dino!!!
Finally me, accused of being only about business, might, with a few
things falling in place, make my scriptwriting debut in Bollywood
very shortly…………in the tradition of HR and Yash Raj….who cares what
the world things….just go do it….
Oh yes….also before ANY film starts the national anthem comes on
screen and everyone stands…..I think that's really cool!!
Sincerely,
Vivek "now could they do something about "I'll give you a missed
call,"SMS and message me" and the word "happening" in Mumbai" Kumar
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Wow Vivek, it's awesome to get an inside glimpse of not only the industry, but also the mind of a soon to be successful member of that industry. Rock on buddy!
Yes, I frankly get very irritated at the whole SMS obsession in the industry. Just leave me a damn voicemail - the inevitable response... What? Voicemail? I'll just SMS you. *SIGH*
So I take it that you are focusing on private financing for your script eh? Yes, post-Bheja Fry, it must be paradise for small-budget scriptwriters. Good for you though, take advantage of it.
Perhaps you could divulge the theme of the script? Yes, I am definately looking forward to your forward posts. Can't wait to see the progress.
But you know one thing has really been in the back of my mind. Everytime I speak to directors/filmmakers or I read interviews or whatever they're always saying how the script is the backbone of all projects - without the script the film would be hollow (obviously). But then why when all the promotional content (posters, promos, press release, launch parties, etc etc etc) is released, seldom is the Writer of the film ever listed (unless the writer hapens to be the director, in which case it'll say something like "Written and Directed by..." This is a reality I tend to struggle with.
More power to you Vivek! Definately keep us posted.
Aakash
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Thanks folks, actually the studio sent an email yesterday asking on the progress and how a couple of "big actors" actually "actresses" are looking to read the script. Myabe there is something wrong with me, but I have pretty much decided to go with my set of small actors. The tentative cast that I have finalized is my good friend Barkha (the Bhoot of Ram Gopal's Bhoot, 4th place in 1994 Miss India, when Sush and Ash came top two, Serials such as Saat Phere, etc), Priyanshu (Tum Bin), Rajat (Bheja Fry), Jackie, Raj Vasudeva ...none been set to contract as yet, but all verbal and tentative at this stage. In real life I have changed jobs (I work in Sarbanes Oxley, which is hot right now), so am taking on the challenge of self funding this, cause at this stage I have lost my marbles and like a true punjabi my heart as opposed to my head is guiding me....the problem is whenever that has happended in my life, the net result has been beneficial....what will happen in this case...who knows...the next 3-4 months will tell....what I know is....I am a relatively risk averse person....but something in me is pulling me on and imploring me to do this my way....will keep you guys posted and thanks for the best wishes....now back to my SOX job...gotta get that movie made!!!
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Yeah, I don't know which "big actresses" were considering reading your script but looks like you have an extremely solid cast on your plate as it is!
I think Priyanshu is the only one who hasn't fully proven himself as of yet. He's definately got the talent, but hasn't had the right script as of yet. The rest are already up there. I"m sorry, I probably didn't understand something...but why are you going ahead and financing it yourself?
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Hi Aakash, to the extent this does not go to too many people (i know, I know, I am posting on the internet, but just wanted to share with like minded people), the studio company wanted to get Priyanka involved with this. The lead woman in my script is a mid 30's woman who is former Army background. Priyanka is (dad in army), but a) she is too young and b) she is too expensive.
Unfortunatley most investors would be happier if it went the Priyanka way (actually then I would just sell the script to the studio), the fact that I have Barkha as the lead, means a lot/most investors would shy away from the film. Actually to be fair to Barkha (since she is a genuine well wisher), she herself said to me that I should go to the bigger actors (although I could sense her inherent dissapointment as someone who has been on the receiving end of Bollywood for sometime now), but I told her off indicating that if this script gets to become a film, it will be with her in the lead (and I was not doing this out of self pity, she is doing financially quite well thanks to TV, it is more because I think she fits that role and has the intelligence to pull it off). Ditto with Priyanshu, Rajat, etc. Most investors want to see Hrithik, SRK, Abhishek, even a Shiny (all fine actors and very expensive too), beacuse I am adamant to do it with my set of actors, most, if not all investors would shy away.
Secondly I can "cast" some people who would bring the cash too, but don't want to do that since that will mean I am compromising on my cast of actors.
With the above two factors (small actors and reluctance to cast "cash cows") I know I am going to face an uphill battle for investors, so just want to prepare myself for the worst and look to lock up the self funding amount in escrow (since I DO want to pay all my actors and crew, perhaps not too much, but enough that I can look them in their face for the rest of my life and most importantly, look at myself everyday in the mirror and feel good about who I am, hence getting FREE work is not an option).
Combine all of the above and self funding becomes the WORST case scenario. Am meeting private investors in Delhi and Mumbai (although back in SF now, but know that I have a battle ahead of me, given my above conditions)
Sorry for the long response, but just wanted to put it out there. Of course I can always throw in the towel and SELL the script to the studio and cash out, but this time I want to battle as hard as I can against the elements.
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Yep Cdrake aware of that and Rajat is still to give a firm "yay" to the script. Is evaluating every page of this, when I met him in person two weeks ago, he liked the concept and had already started discussing financing options (as in not how much he will get paid, as in "these are the new financing options in Mumbai today," "make sure you don't take a first time director, this is a big thriller script and someone who has pulled off this stuff before sould be considered" etc, so take that as a positive sign. He is a good friend and a genuine well wisher. Has asked for some more time (again a good sign) , cause is going through every page and also his role. Also a straight talker as far as I am concerned, so do know that if he is on board, he will do whatever it takes to take this forward. I was also a really small investor in his Raghu Romeo, so all in all, Rajat is one of my "buddies" in Mumbai is all I can say at this point.Ditribution is the easy part, have already secured that. Actually also have a "pre sale" but the problem is that it is with a US based company which is 90 days away from securing the money from an I bank in NYC, so until that is firm, I am not depending on it (again taking my worst case scenario, actually there are a lot of "what can go right's from other investors, in this till now, in my ltd time of talking about it, but am taking each hour and each day as it comes.
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To be thoroughly honest, from what you're telling me about the script, I don't think reaching out to Hollywood is your solution. However, I thoroughly support the notion to call out to Indo-American filmmakers who have some experience in your script's genre. Needless to say, direction is much more important that people popularly bleieve now a days.
With Shibani Kashyap you rarely go wrong my friend. Her work in Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, Zinda, and 1971 are all fabulous (both Background and Song). Plus she has some experience with the war genre (1971, which was a phenomenal film - I highly recommend all go watch this).
V, if you do end up deciding to SELL the script (of course last resort), I have a contact with a big new production house who are looking out for new and fresh script ideas. But hopefully you won't need to use that life-line!
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