Vivek Kumar | PassionforCinema

Admin Director and Co- Founder of SAAFA (www.saafa.org)

Vivek Kumar's Blog

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For Student Filmmakers In The US
Hi Folks, Below is a notification for the US based students and also, I guess, US students studying in global locations. 2009 Student Academy Awards® Entry Deadline Approaching Beverly Hills, CA — The deadline for U.S. student filmmakers to submit their films for consideration in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 36th Student Academy Awards...
by Vivek Kumar at March 12th, 2009 at 01:03 pm
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Scripts – The Drought Continues In Bollywood
Folks, Been a while while I posted and there will be gaps, as I continue my shift from SF to Mumbai (in part), hence the “brick and mortar” interactions, rediscovery of my hometown, and the push to continue with my debut film, make for a much more interesting use of my time, as opposed to getting on the computer and blogging. However, today is one such instance...
by Vivek Kumar at February 27th, 2009 at 02:02 pm
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End of the Road for TZP in Oscar’s
Folks, The Academy just announced the 9 Foreign Category films that made it to the next round and unfortunately Tare Zameen Par was not in that list. Here is the list Foreign Language Film category for the 81st Academy Awards®. Sixty-five films had originally qualified in the category. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Austria, “Revanche,”...
by Vivek Kumar at January 13th, 2009 at 11:01 am
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India At The Golden Globes, A Golden Day
Hi Folks, It was indeed Golden for India at the Golden Globes last night. A.R. Rehman winning the best score and we can take pride in that he has stuck to his guns, rather than “adapting to the or from the, west,” and still winning the west over. Kudos to this home grown genius. The 4 of 4 success of Slumdog Millionaire proves that we might have another “Gandhi”...
by Vivek Kumar at January 12th, 2009 at 09:01 pm
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Mumbai Events – Shame on the Media + Film Folks!
Hi Folks, Been a while since I posted. Partly because I happened to be in Mumbai (luckily in Yari Road), when the unfortunate events unfolded in end, Nov, although the director of my project, came dangerously close to the Vile Parle taxi blast, on his way home to Sion, from our meeting. That morning co incidently I happened to be in JW (which thankfully was not damaged)...
by Vivek Kumar at December 17th, 2008 at 02:12 pm
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Filmakers Beware- We Are The Audience & Investor!!!!
Hi Folks, This one is for the audiences of the world. Films must be the only service industry where if the product is rejected, it is almost always because the audience is at fault. At least that is what our desi new breed filmmakers seem to believe. This thought astounds me. Whether we like it or not, ANY film, is a mass communication and an entertainment services industry...
by Vivek Kumar at October 16th, 2008 at 04:10 pm
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Oscar Entries – Short Film- Due Oct 1, 2008
Hi Folks, Just got this from the Academy. I know there are quite a few folks in PFC who have made short and animated short films, so if you want to chance your luck, here is the opportunity. Read on: Beverly Hills, CA — Wednesday, October 1, is the deadline to submit entries in the Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film and Foreign Language Film categories to...
by Vivek Kumar at September 23rd, 2008 at 01:09 pm
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Attend The Oscars.
Personally I would much rather be at the Filmfare awards, but for those who do care about the Oscar’s here is notification of how to attend as part of a raffle draw. Oscar® Fans Invited to Win Red Carpet Seats Beverly Hills, CA – The annual online drawing for some of the most sought-after seats of the year is about to get underway. Beginning on Monday, September...
by Vivek Kumar at September 16th, 2008 at 02:09 pm
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Rock On- Oh For 60 Minutes
Hi Folks, Caught a press screening of Rock On at the beautiful Saratoga area in Northern California. 60 minutes, oh 60 minutes seperates this movie from being a reasonable watch to being a classic watch. It was 60 minutes too long, if 60 minutes had been shaved off a super movie would have played out. The two biggest strenghts of this movie are a) a strong story told via...
by Vivek Kumar at August 28th, 2008 at 12:08 am
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Mumbai Meri Jaan – Below Average Screenplay & Preechy!!
Hi , Caught a screening of the eagerly avaited Mumbai Meri Jaan, and have to admit, if this was about the spirit of Mumbai, then one came out of the theater feeling very dispirited. In an audience of approx 40 people, in the Bay Area, this is what worked in the film. Some very fine acting, good dialogues and fine production values. Now the big drawback and bore. It was...
by Vivek Kumar at August 23rd, 2008 at 01:08 am
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Bachna – Take A Hobby Along!!
Folks, Caught a screening of Bachna, which began at 6:15 at Fallbrook, Southern Cal and ended at 9:05. Why am I giving you all these stats. Cause therein lies the problem. While an ok watch, it was just too long and too predictable. I looked at my watch 12 times after the first hour and when intermission came, I actually thought it was “the end.” Actually if...
by Vivek Kumar at August 18th, 2008 at 01:08 pm
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Amazing “Anand” & Brilliant “Bakshi.”
Hi Folks, A few days back was the birthday of our finest lyricist, the late Anand Bakshi. I, having a writing bent ,am always more biased to the writers/lyricists than to the other creative and corporate beings in our industry (actually corporate come second and then the other creative). That being said, his son Rakesh, an up and coming director and a very dear friend,...
by Vivek Kumar at August 12th, 2008 at 01:08 pm
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Singh is Kinng- Moderataly scripted moderate entertainer
Hi Folks, Just wrapped up the screening of Singh is Kinng. For a movie that does not take itself too seriously and stays true to the we will entertain you, it does that fairly well. I am wearing the cap of the front bencher, “aam audience,” today and for that it does not bore you, while not entertaining you to death either. If I were to rate it in the scale...
by Vivek Kumar at August 8th, 2008 at 12:08 am
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Interview With Akshay Kumar- LA
Hi Folks, Attended the press conference of the promotion for Singh Is King, by it’s producer and lead actor, Akshay Kumar, on Friday, July 25th at the Universal City Hilton. Here is the text of the press conference. Questions were asked by the various journos in attendance. Mine are in bold. (Have not published a couple of real dh–uh..questions) Q) How do you...
by Vivek Kumar at July 27th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
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Oscar Updates – Foreign Category
Hi Folks, Every year during Oscar nomination times, the controversies, etc abound in India. Hence want to elucidate all the filmmakers on PFC so they can further talk about it to their friend and enemy circle. These came straight from the Academy Office. And you can mention you first heard about it on PfC (and while I may be a foodie, I don’t mean PF Chang’s,...
by Vivek Kumar at June 24th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
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American Desi-An Enigma
Hi Folks, In 1997, a new kind of concept hit the screens in America. It was not from the studios and it was from the generation that grew up in the US….oh, and that generation were for the most part, from the sub continent. A lot, if not most of them, had never faced the camera or even behind it professionally, a lot of them had met at Rutgers in NJ. The film was...
by Vivek Kumar at June 12th, 2008 at 05:06 pm
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Supporting Saasbahu Serials/Software/Spectators
Hi Folks, When I had an event with filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor, 3-4 years ago, in the SF Bay area, he was asked the question (at that time the films he had come out with were HB/Rockford/Bollywood Calling), what was his biggest competition….without battling an eyelid he said Ekta Kapoor’s soaps. That was the first I had heard of it since I had left India, when...
by Vivek Kumar at June 4th, 2008 at 05:06 pm
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Trends Change – Bollywood & Hollywood
Ok, Maybe I am in a slumber and I am dreaming this (call it dreams cause it is definitely not a nightmare). In the big bad world of Hollywood an unusual scenario is unfolding. A film with an Indian American and a Korean American, is making $36,750,091. 43 cents as of midnight Sunday, May 25th. If that is not a big deal, then consider this. The film is made and distributed...
by Vivek Kumar at May 28th, 2008 at 01:05 pm
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Mahesh’s Making & Marketing Methodolgy
Folks, Upfront let me add, I ain’t no fan of Mahesh Bhatt and can see through his persona in minutes. His aura of intelligence, deep thinking, anti establishment, etc, is just that, a facade. After all in a career spanning more than 75 films (as director or writer or producer), only Arth, Sadak, Naam, Saraansh, Zakhm, Gangster standout. Hence a success ratio of...
by Vivek Kumar at May 21st, 2008 at 05:05 pm
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Brham – Not Bad
Hi Folks, Late in the day for this (actually not the moment the Brahm DVD was delivered to RAAGA, since I know the onwer and his spouse, she unrapped and rented it out to me), but got a chance to see BRHAM. While I won’t call it a classic, actually was not bad. I put it in the same overall category as Jhonny Gaddar and Manorma (from an audience perspective)- not...
by Vivek Kumar at May 18th, 2008 at 01:05 pm
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The INability to give back!
Hi Folks, The one thing we don’t (as in in not PFC, but the Indian media), seem to be highlighting, is the ability to give back, creatively, by some of the men and women who are in cinema. And I am not talking about social service, etc. I am talking about TRYING or ATTEMPTING to make good cinema or institutes which nuture talent, from a Hindi or Bollywood film perspective...
by Vivek Kumar at May 9th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
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Tashan – & What Now?
Folks, Caught a screening of one of the bigger films of 2008, TASHAN, in LA (Fallbrook) this weekend. They say a movie is all about stars (this one had 4) & what now. I laugh loudest when I hear/see arguments over camera angles/techniques/film vs digital/ other technical stuff (cause in the larger scheme it is so immaterial). But this one had all the right...
by Vivek Kumar at April 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
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Destroying 4 Myths
Hi Folks, As I go about my debut project and learn a little more about the very people I grew up amongst, but now view them professionally as opposed to personally, I get more fascinated by how “unimaginative and by the book” is the creative, “imaginative,” and “percieved as out of the book” film industry (both this side and that side...
by Vivek Kumar at April 15th, 2008 at 04:04 pm
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The Surprising “Numbers” Game
Folks, A while ago I had published this write up on Return on Investment determining a “hit” or a “flop” as opposed to gross collections (the key word I have an issue with is “gross” as opposed to “net”). For anyone who has ever balanced their own checkbook for starters, it is KEY that unless you are making NET numbers, it...
by Vivek Kumar at April 10th, 2008 at 07:04 pm
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Amazing Amrish
Hi Folks, Given that I am in the middle of my film development, don’t do much writing nowadays other than analyzing ad nauseum, my script. But having said that, the bad guys, the villians, have always fascinated me way more than the good guys. The villian has got to be the strong actor, the good one can be bad, but the bad had better be damn good. That being said,...
by Vivek Kumar at March 17th, 2008 at 03:03 pm
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Reality Show + Auditions For Bollywood Film In LA
Hi Folks, Mark your calendars. Next Sunday, Feb 17th, in the beautiful city of Hollywood, CA, SAAFA and RK Promotions present, A reality audition show which will culminate in one male and one female supporting role being awarded, to that lucky guy and gal. MORE SPECIFICS: Ever thought you wanted to be a part of Bollywood, but did not want to risk making that trip to Mumbai,...
by Vivek Kumar at February 7th, 2008 at 05:02 am
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Festivals & Documentaries ….And Me????
Hi Folks, On this rainy Northern California day (yes I miss my tennis, but yes we also need water so I can drink some and swim in some more), most people would think that I have lost it, if I write a post on film festivals and documentaries. I am not about festivals and my only purpose to be involved in cinema is to write and see stories that can entertain (of course my...
by Vivek Kumar at January 27th, 2008 at 11:01 am
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Oscar’s – Care and Not Care
Hi Folks, The next round of Oscar Foreign Film categories were announced and of course Eklavya did not make it: Here is the list that did make it to Phase 2: The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Austria, “The Counterfeiters,” Stefan Ruzowitzky, director Brazil, “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation,” Cao Hamburger, director Canada,...
by Vivek Kumar at January 15th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
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If Hollywood Script Gurus Came To Mumbai!!
Hi Folks, This is pure fiction and any resemblance to any human beings is purely coincidental and unintentional. So with increase globalization and Hollywood entering Bollywood with mega flops such as Saawariyan and Marigold, two of Hollywood screenwriting gurus, Syd McKee and Robert Field decided to come to Nana Nana park in Oshiwara to conduct a workshop for scriptwriters....
by Vivek Kumar at January 3rd, 2008 at 06:01 am
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Media Happenings In India
Hi Folks, Just concluded my whirlwind tour of India. While there is good news to report on my project, will make it public when a couple of legal formalities are completed. But what was outstanding and infectious was the media mood and the general mood in Delhi and Mumbai. I can safely conclude that there is more excitement in the air, on the television and in places...
by Vivek Kumar at December 5th, 2007 at 02:12 pm