I saw an email message today reminding me that our BollyBrook project is three years old. WOW! Here is a short interview with some of the cast and crew.
I asked everyone to type up some words about our little video project. Here is the full text from Anne. Read other’s on our About page.
When I heard the words “I’m thinking of something kind of like… Brooklyn – meets – Bollywood” come out of Nick’s mouth, I immediately thought of hipsters. Then I asked my brother for funny cliches about hipsters and he sent me this video-> “Being a Dickhead’s Cool.”
Now I am aware that I have some hipster tendencies myself, (Urban Outfitters definitely still has a lure on me :-x) but one thing that I’m very proud to proclaim I don’t have (which is only pertinent in extreme versions of hipster-itis) is this air of this proud sense of apathy. I get very upset when I’m surrounded by inconsiderate people, people that are more concerned about their appearance and staying “cool” than how they might be making another person feel.cialis Hardcore hipsters are just a really funny version of this to me… It is one of the reasons I dropped out of college to be completely honest. Too much hipster energy. I mean it’s one thing to “not give a f@*# what other people think!” but for pete’s sake, life is tough enough as it is, why not try to share a little smile/empathy/connection for/with thy fellow man and stop worrying if your scarf is placed fashionably enough or if you have the latest iWhatever.
Being white in India, even Mumbai, invites a lot of stares in itself, so for a white person to walk around with an obnoxious attitude and an accessory as impractical as empty frame ray bands was just a hilarious image for me.
I also wanted to compare and contrast this with the character of Bollywood Boy. Both characters are obnoxious in their own ways and they find that after they get over themselves that they can develop a genuine connection and friendship with one another.
I’d like to start integrating more focus on deeper messages and inspiring content to my work. This video probably just seems like cartoony fun (I was trying to channel Pepe le Pew!) for most people but you might be able to see my attempt at showcasing a glimmer of “realness”/humanity.
As far as my team…. I have to send a million thank you’s to Nick, Shubhangi, and Yatharth. I thought it wouldn’t be for a couple more years that I would be having opportunities like working with an amazingly sweet, creative, intelligent, professional cameraWOman, having the most frickin’ awesome producer possible, and of course “the (Indian) male version” of me full of life & energy, absorbing all of my directions and suggestions- all 3 of which totally vibing with and testing all of my ideas! I had an amazing time with all of them (and Ashok!!!) and I can’t thank them enough for supporting and pushing me to put together a music video in a week and edit it in a month (maybe a little more….:-/) and having it come out pretty flippin’ awesome!!!! So much love<33333
My buddy Max ZT just emailed me these camera phone pictures from today’s edition of the Mumbai Mirror newspaper.
Wow! This Indian press coverage really makes me happy. When we filmed our music video, we kept insisting: This video is our tribute to Mumbai. We wanted Mumbaikars to love it. Everything else is icing on the cake.
Come out to The Frontier Room at The Bell House this Wednesday, April 20th 2011 for a live screening of our video in conjunction with Girl Walk All Day.
Where: The Frontier Room at The Bell House 149 7th Street, Brooklyn NY 11215
When: Wednesday, April 20th at 8:00 p.m.
Free + open to the public! Anne, Nick, and the Girl Walk team will be in attendance, so we hope you’ll come out, say hello, and join us for a drink.
I asked everyone to type up some words about our little video project. Here is the full text from Shubhangi. Read other’s on our About page.
One wild experiment, four loopy folks, four manic days, and a gazillion bewildered Indians on the streets later, Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you this: Brooklyn to Bollywood.
Being used to shooting guerrilla (the documentaries teach fast), it was Nick who I first spoke with and who proposed the plan to me. I, obviously, really did not know what I was signing up for. And then by the time it did sink in, well, it was too late to retreat. Like we folks here would say, Teer kammaan se nikal gayi (the arrow had been released. The damage is done). Before Anne could say action, I was hooked, line, sinker, camera et al.
Needless to say, I have loved every portion of being a part of this eccentric project. Anne and Nick challenged me to keep pushing my boundaries and attempting to shoot in spaces that otherwise would require rolls of requisition papers that would go around in circles for days, sometimes even months among fat, boorish beaurocrats. Not to mention wads of greens shelled to even enter them (eg: dhobhi ghat), forget allowing Anne and Yatharth to go bonkers there. But we did each one of those places listed on our sheets, uncompromisingly. And honestly, my biggest achievements on this project would be:
Not paying a dime to any party involved for using the streets or their space. (stall owners, authority, residents, ahem, cops). Hey, don’t call us ungrateful. We worked our charms to the extent our jaws hurt, thanked them profusely and scooted before they knew what hit them.
I said a little prayer at the end of every day, for successfully not being responsible for the deportation, worse imprisonment of these valiant white folks(?), who by the way, stuck out like a sore thumb in every spot we stood at, sometimes even if we did nothing suspicious.
Sweet, sweet Victory. Well, enjoy the video folks. And try not to think of the sweat, some blood and a LOT of fun gone behind the product you see.
