If one was ready to even sweep the floor of a film set to be associated with cinema, the other was on the streets  for  months. And it was this drive and passion that fetched Shimit Amin and Anurag Kashyap, their well-deserved berths in the film industry.

It is not everyday that one gets to brush shoulders with directors of such repute and there was no way that aspiring film-makers and cinema enthusiasts would give Flickers 2008, in which these young talents took part, a miss.

Flickers organised by Commits, a media institute, discussed cinema and TV, and students from Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Coimbatore and parts of Kerala bombarded the duo with questions on Amin’s claim to fame Chak De India; critically acclaimed films Black Friday, No Smoking, that bombed at the box office; piracy, script writing, the Indian film industry, promotions.

Gaurav Momaya, an alumnus of the institute and assistant director, Dhamaal also threw an insight into the Hindi film industry, while recalling his journey from watching to making films.

Television had its fair share of loyalists in the audience too and Contiloe Film’s Rohit Vaid, with his cool attitude, lingo and `TV rocks’, `TV keeps cinema alive’,  earned more admirers for the medium.

For those of you who missed the interaction programme with Amin, Kashyap and Vaid  Metrolife brings you the excerpts from the Q and A sessions.

Anurag Kashyap

To make cinema …

Passion is a must. You should live for cinema. It is like loving a girl and going all out to woo her. And just remember that if you are looking for that ‘sense of security’ then this is not the place for you.

A newcomer’s prospect in the industry…

Largely depends on what he/she brings to the table. You need to be clear about the kind of cinema you want to do or make.

Formal education in cinema…

Cinema has changed as educated people are coming in. Such people have an edge over others.  You need to be crystal clear about what you want. Films are also about handling people.

Scripts…

When I like a script I do it and when I don’t, I charge a hell lot of money. However, I write only dialogues now. It is heartbreaking to see your script being interpreted in a different way.

No Smoking…

We fooled everyone, the ministry, the censor board with it. It was thought to be one with an anti-smoking message. No wonder it released and didn’t even get banned! The film was in fact about freedom of choice.

People believe what you want them to believe. Such movies make people think. It may have failed at the box-office but personally I liked it.   

Reviews…

I read the reviews to follow the trend in the industry. But I make my own choices.

Promotions…

It is like hawking a product in a sophisticated way. With so many choices today, it’s about shouting louder to get noticed. But true talent will get noticed.

The Indian industry…

It is the best time to be a film-maker. We are heading towards a golden era. Movies are changing mindsets. But there are more areas to be explored.

Shimit Amin

Chak De! India’...

A film, which evoked a response, the kind that  none of us expected. I am not a big sport fan. I understand sports through movies. The project was a challenge as I had to understand something that was beyond my comprehension. But I thought I knew so much about cinema and I could apply my knowledge here.

Characters and the script appealed to me.  The film required group  effort and that’s  what worked. Even when the movie came out everyone reacted in a unified way. Chak De! is a special kind of movie that changed my life. I owe it to Jaideep Sahani. It was his dream.

The cast...

The film had to be believable. So I wanted people with individuality in it. I needed actors who could get attention without being showy.

The cast had players too. Coming to Shahrukh, he is  a terrific actor, with incredible experience. He is a man of street (street theatre) playing the role of a superstar. His technique  is amazing.

A Chak De! without SRK and a Tare Zameen Par, without Aamir Khan...

One’s  choice depends on the ambitions attached to a film. With actors such as these the message reaches a maximum number of people. There  is a ‘Bheja Fry’ that has also done well. If you are happy with that so be it.

The movie industry is full of compromises, it is just about how you learn to live with it.

Aspiring script writers...

Script writing is an art, it is tricky.  But the script could go for a toss if the director thinks he/she knows better.

The quality of scripts need to improve in the Indian film industry.

On drawing from Hollywood...

Hollywood  scripts are developed. It is so much easier to take a DVD from a shelf rather than write a script.

Impact of films...

They are a reflection of life. Most movies are made by men; they are a man’s fantasy probably that’s why  women barely get to see their persona reflected .

On film audience...

There is  a certain segment that is snobbish about films. But give them something that they have not seen and they do respond to it.

The NRI audience is the worst. They have ruined the Hindi industry by watching every film.

They go and watch these films every weekend, it is more a family experience for them. But for content they watch Hollywood films. But now there is a thirst for good cinema in India. 

Aspiring movie makers...

It is easier to make films now; technology has made it cheaper. But you need to have the drive to say that I’ll make a film even if I don’t succeed. And if you are thinking of becoming actors, well there is a strong hierarchy in place that is difficult to break. But if you have a passion for movies, then no one can stop you.

But if you are thinking of becoming a superstar then it is impossible.

The industry is  looking for fresh talents, which is its base.

Censorship...

What is to be censored depends on a particular time, day and situation and on the governing body.

It is good to ask about the rights and wrongs but I don’t like the flow of a movie to be disturbed in the name of editing. Ratings are better.

Rohit Vaid

TV industry…

It’s all about reinventing yourself all the time. TV is the forerunner to everything. But since you pay to watch cinema it has more sanctity. TV is what keeps cinema alive. TV rocks. But to succeed in the industry you need to be dedicated and think of doing things differently. It is a lot of hard work and long hours. If you are coming for money, then there are truck loads of that too. But don’t let it sideline you. You are in a market place, just remember why you are there. Raise yourself and accept destiny.

Animation…

It is a different way of story telling. However, there is still a qualitative difference when compared to those made in Hollywood. We need to see how well equipped we are in terms of infrastructure. We are just jumping on the bandwagon. (Vaid is making an animation movie titled Maha Yodha Ram.)