[Reader-list] Vasudev the bastard film

[Rrivu Laha]

Attached along with is a 6 page long explanation of Pankaj Rishi Kumar’s side of story. 
   
  I do wish to interact on a public forum.
  Because I believe expressing my anguish has nothing to do with washing dirty linen.
  On this platform, I am here with my questions and insecurities regarding the whole commissioning pattern.
   
  I agree to my faults;
  And my very first fault being, not signing a formal contract with Pankaj Rishi Kumar or PSBT.
  I should have been careful enough to know what I am getting into.
  What are the clauses and conditions under which I am to make this film? 
   
  Pankaj Rishi Kumar says that he is not the Commissioning Editor, it is Rajiv Mehrotra from PSBT.  And Pankaj Rishi Kumar is the ‘Mentor’. I should have asked earlier what the role of a ‘Mentor’ is.
  There have been no documents, no contract given to me which clearly state the rights and authorities of a ‘Mentor’.
   
  Does Mentor have the right to decide whether the director is worthy enough to be given the credit?  Can ‘Mentor’ give punishments?
  What kind of punishments?
   
  It is true that after submitting my rough cut, I didn’t communicate with my mentor for 2 months.  And that precisely is that reason why my mentor decided to believe I’m callous and lackadaisical and irresponsible and unprofessional filmmaker. So much so that he took charge to ‘finish’ the film himself without even giving a notice to me once. 
   
  This is my very question. 
  I may have been callous and irresponsible, as a director I may have faltered, but was that a reason enough to deny me my own rough-cut? 
  If Pankaj Rishi Kumar was so unhappy with my performance, he could have sacked the film. Why hack it ?  
  Why keep the film, if throw the filmmaker away?
  And then give an impression as if the filmmaker washed his hands off.
   
  Is there any notification, or any rule book, or contract, or agreement that gives the right to anyone whom so ever to wrap up the film in absence of the filmmaker, no matter how much ever lousy the filmmaker is thought to be? 
   
  I didn’t ask for a rule book or an agreement then, it was my mistake like many other mistakes. I ask for it now. 
  Show me an agreement or a contract that justifies the decision of Pankaj Rishi Kumar as a ‘Mentor’ to ‘finish’ the film and telecast without the credits.
   
  What justifies this telecast?
  Whose telecast is it? For whom?
  Who has approved the telecast? 
  By what logic or law?
   
  Where do I stand?
  What are my rights as against the commissioning editor’s or Mentor’s rights ? 
  These questions are still unanswered.
   
  Pankaj has very skillfully managed to demonstrate how callous a filmmaker I have been, but if I am to demonstrate the callousness of the entire project, I would begin right from the advertisement titled ‘Make your own movie FOR FREE!’
   
  Not to mention that there have been distressing discrepancies between the promises made in the advertisement and the actual functioning of the project. 
   
  I feel disillusioned. 
  Because I think I’m in a very ambiguous commissioning atmosphere, 
  Where I have been simply put off because there have been no certain instructions or guidelines or information.
  Pankaj is my super senior from the institute. And it is his word I took and bore all gaps in the functioning of this entire package programme.
   
  But now, when my own project is robbed off me, I will question till the matter is resolved. 
   
  Rrivu Laha
   
  9372446397
   
  

pankaj kumar <kumartalkies@ yahoo.com> wrote:
      Dear Moderator,

I have responded to Mr. Rivu. 
I do not wish to wash dirty linen in public.
Mr. Rivu has the freedom to publish my mail.

People on this list, those interested may
write to him and get facts from him...
rrivulaha at yahoo. com

with warm regards
pankaj 


------------ --------- --------- ---
  Make your own movie  FOR FREE!

KUMAR TALKIES invites proposals from young/debut filmmakers for a 
series of 5 short films on the theme of 'CONFLICT' 
(around 5 1/2 min each; fiction, documentary or animation)
for the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (www.psbt.org)

What is "conflict"? A clash of attitudes. A disharmony between incompatible ideas. A state of prolonged battle. We seek sensitive films that will try to deal with roots and causes of any conflicts, their implications & consequences with hints at resolving them. These conflicts can be anything, including religious, ethnic, political, social, gender, or more personal issues.

-- Five selected film makers will be invited for extensive mentoring sessions to evolve a shooting script/storyboard, shoot and edit their own DV film in any language. 
-- Kumar Talkies will arrange for entire production/post production 
support, along with a team of trained industry professionals (camera, editing, sound.)
-- ALL expenditure - research, travel, mastering, all costs - 
   will be facilitated by Kumar Talkies. 
-- Each stage of work will be reviewed and discussed at length 
   by industry professionals. 
-- The selected filmmakers will be paid a fee of Rs 6,000.

--- WHO CAN APPLY? ANYONE! --- 
1  Well, anyone who has NOT made long films, say 30 min or more (except  student movies, that's fine)
2  You have to be Mumbai-based
3  Anyone at the beginning of their careers who dreams of films 
   No background in filmmaking? 
   Just have a great idea? 
   APPLY NOW!

--- YOU CAN SEND ANY NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS! --- 
1  In 5 lines describe what your film is about. Yes, just five lines, 
     in any language - English, Hindi, Marathi, French, Latin ...  well,it's up to you. 
2  Also describe the idea, why you want to make it, your 
    background.. .any material to support your application. 
3  If you want, send us a sample of your previous work. Not compulsory!     Send any material that'll persuade us to pick you! 

----
Hurry! 
YOUR DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 20. 
Don't wait for the last moment - Apply now!
----

How to Apply: 
Just email your application with your contact details, including phone 
number, to ALL these emal addresses.
kumartalkies@ yahoo.com
conflict.mentor@ gmail.com
conflict.mentor2@ gmail.com

Optionally, post/courier your additional material to: 
Pankaj Rishi Kumar, B-103, Gokul Tower, Thakur Complex, 
Kandivli (E) Mumbai 400101 
(No hand delivery, people!)
Selections will be announced by Feb 25. Tentatively, your rough cut 
will be ready by April 10

Shoot any questions or queries to kumartalkies@ yahoo.com
***

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