BOLLYWOOD CALLING, CAMERA ROLLING & ACTION !!!

“OH MY GOD!!! It’s real, isn’t it? I am at the sets of Hindi Feature Film.” This was my first reaction when I went to the sets of Film. Everyone out there was busy, engaged in their assigned work. We (students of workshop), however, were confused, nervous & anxious. I tried to relax & stayed close to those with whom I feel comfortable. The thoughts and excitement settled down. I gripped my nerves & was ready to rock n roll.

I was given the work to maintain the Continuity Sheet (by the Director!). I was glad to work, to be part of film and be able to do something than standing idly like live audience. I cleared my doubts and was ready to work, to experience the whole new world inside & outside me.  Inside I was curious about each & everything, there were so many Whys and Hows nagging me. Outside it was like every day job. Actors rehearsing, Technicians checking their settings and other staff doing their work dedicatedly. Director came with his final instructions to all. He looked deadly serious. To be honest I could not identify with him, seen him earlier. Once the scene was ready to shoot, he called for Silence. “Camera Rolling”? He asked. “Camera Rolling” was reply from all Cinematographers. “Action”, were his final word. Now this was time when my inner wanna be director peek outside, examining the performances of Actors. I wasn’t happy from what I saw. I looked for Directors decision. He called for retake. I was jumping inside with his decision matching mine.

Fortunately & luckily the shoot was of one scene only. So it was wrapped within 2 hours with small appearance of rain. I had got enough for day/evening and had enough queries to be answered. After we pack up, I felt little experienced. Now I was more comfortable relaxed & at my ease with cast & crew. My workshop colleagues were also happy with experience. We were in car, leaving for flat. This was the time for my unanswered queries to get answers & explanations. My doubts were easy to answer, quite obvious for first timer. Director explained me everything with proper examples.

Then it was time for celebrations, to celebrate my first shoot, my first feel of being part of Hindi Film Industry (Bollywood). I bought Ice-cream, family pack for everyone- my three flatmates including the Director, Cinematographer & Art Director.

I had two thoughts in my mind when i crashed on my bed at late night: Well begun is half done & all well that’s end well- sweet & cold.

Next day...and The Next Day

Hey friends...this blog is in continuation to my previous blog, so please read "Atlast It Begins" first if you have not read it yet.

Next day, 

                  I woke to realise previous night was not a dream sequence. I did my morning/noon stuffs and waited for Dad to tell me more about that Producer and Mom to have little more conversation on what we have discussed earlier night. But for some reason, they were not keen to resume the talk from where it was paused or stopped (I was in doubt).

Noon became evening and evening turn dark but my Mom’s daily household works were not even near to finish line. Dad was out for whole day except for evening tea and returned with Balika Vadhu(She ‘s on reel, He was in real).

                    All the excitement, nervousness & anxiety turns pale. Nothing helped me to hide or dilute my disappointment, except 30 mins of TWO & HALF MEN serial. And the worst part was that nobody bothered. It was a lesson for me that if you over think about anything don’t mean it will happen your way. So my much awaited next day was short, unfruitful & painful.

The Next Day, 

                    “Why you are not ready?” “We are supposed to meet Mr. Moreshwar Meshramji(that Producer) at 12 pm”, my Dad said to me when i was having my morning tea at 11:45 am. “But you never told me anything about meeting”, I replied putting my cup down & searching for shirt. “Oh.. I might have forgotten, I met him yesterday (i.e. Next Day of “that” night) and took appointment for today (i.e., the Next Day of “next Day”) ”. “Might have Forgotten!!!” I exclaimed (Under the Rule of Manners & Education I can’t shout at him.) Nothing screws you like such excuses.

                  We were 15 min late & in waiting queue to meet him. It took another 1and half hour to enter his cabin. Then it was three of us. He seemed happy from his morning, tea & work. I missed most of my morning, had little tea & no work. He knew my name & qualification. So he directly jumped to point. What you want to do & what you expect from me?” were his simple questions. I said I want to become writer –director and want you to give me some work for experience. And our conversation started. For next 10-15 mins, it was like only two of us existed there inside his cabin.

He told me about his elder son, who is directing a Hindi feature film & has organised workshop on Cinematography & Editing. The participants will be given chance to work in that Film as trainee or Assistant. These were the words that made my day, I reached the location & movie set in my fantasies, but in real it was long way to go.

                  It was said “Don’t Trust people at first meet” but Me & Dad has always skipped this thought and we trusted him. While leaving his office thought came to my mind- “We had a dream, We have a path & We will succeed in future”.

At last...It Begins

At last It Begins…

Have you ever imagined the day It will start. It means your dream run, your first step towards what you have been dreaming consciously & sub consciously, if yes then let me tell you it won’t happen that way. It never happened that way to anyone and you are not an exception.

I was doing usual facebook, twitter & checking my mails when log onto Quickr.com & searched for jobs a script writer (this may shock many). I find some interesting jobs and replied to few of them. To my surprise I got a call from some producer who wanted to go through my story, but the call was answered by my mom. She was shocked and asked for explanation over my day dreaming. I guessed it was time to reveal my dreams to parents, so I told them everything about my dreams to make it into HINDI Film industry.

They were stunned or numbed I don’t know exactly but there was silence for few minutes. Out of curiosity I asked them what happened? Asked my mom if she thinks I can do this? Asked my Dad what he thinks of all this? I was anxious, nervous & scared. It was longest few seconds of my life and then “Nothing is impossible and you can do this” were words my mom said. They were not just words then. “But you must work hard” she added. I was into another world. To be honest I was taken aback by her boldness & confidence on me. “My friend knows a producer, would you like to meet him & talk” my dad asked. I was still in glorifying effect of mom’s word and Dad bombed me. I was stunned & numbed. Both. For a moment I thought they misunderstood me, because no parents has ever said this words when their son says what I said. OMG!!!

And then the moment passed. I was still lingering into their words. It was an inexplicable feeling. I was happy for sure but at a same time anxious, scared & out of world. Whole night the scene was playing before my yes. That night I understood how important it is for you to have someone who believes in your belief. That night I loved my parents little more, respect them more, adore them more, idealize them more, owe them more.

Given a chance to write this scene as fiction, even then I could not have make it happen this way. It was above all. Some one has rightly said “Truth is always stranger than fiction”

So at last it began, my dream run. One day this blog will go into my biopic or stays here just as another blogs. Time will tell what prevails. Stay connected to know what happens next day.