PROJEKT iVIEW : Stop Blaming Writers Dammit!
iVIEW AUTHOR:
Kumar Gautam (Bombay, India)
email:
writerdirectorgautam [at] gmail.com
Anytime an issue of plagiarism is raised in industry, blames shifts on to writer. It has become common for the publicity vying producers – directors to come up with quotes like, “There are no good writers in industry that has original script…there is complete dearth of originality when it comes to scripts…” Some of the so called experts who, think themselves as the custodians of film fraternity and have their vested interests (read business and marketing) come up with the idea, “How will our writers learn to write when there are no good film schools except few teaching them how to write screenplay?”
Some pretentiously humble producer – director paint there naïve image by commenting, “Oh, I am not a writer but since there are no original writer in the industry we have to take up writing.” Rest of the self proclaimed film experts who have mastery in stealing and presenting things as their work of art come up with crisp quotes like, “Our script writers are expert duplicators…” How true are these sheepish demons? Let’s examine them one after other.
Even in 50’s and 60’s there were no institution to teach screenplay writing still our scripts were hailed and even aped around the world. And you don’t teach an art form to an artist except for giving tips to enhance finer details. We are well aware of the fact that how many direction pass out’s from film school (with all due respect to direction graduate from various film institutes) end up becoming commercial or let’s say even critically acclaimed directors. So, a reason to have many more writing schools is mere shooting from lips (though it’s intelligent, journalists like it…I guess). Desire to excel, creativity and life aka survival of the fittest teaches one to become some one from no one. So better stop charging 6 lakh for writing screenplay and for those paying I wish them good luck. I hope that they recover the same amount by writing screenplay ASAP.
Here are few instances from real life which demean and demoralize the stature of writer. I hope my journalist friends are reading in between before shifting the buck.
Instance No.1.
A famous film actor – distributor – producer, who has survived in industry just because of his alternate sexual inclination club comments, “Script is the last thing you need in film making…first know the star, get him agreed…financers will follow, then hunt for exotic locations, get a first class music…when on set make sure you have a script…even if its not there…forget…shoot impromptu…editor will do the rest…if not leave it to marketing and publicity…you have sellable stars…need not to worry…your film will be a major hit.” So, hello…there is no script writer around. So, there are no chances to blame the poor soul.
Instance No.2.
A friend of mine, associate to famous comedy director narrated me an incident that exemplifies the functioning of directors in film industry. He said, “A writer narrated a story to director…director reacted…what rubbish…this is impossible to shoot. How can you shoot this sequence with emotion and passion…writer came next day with a DVD and showed it to director…director was rejoiced with surprise seeing a similar sequence shot of an English film. He suggested…why you are wasting your time with your original script…let’s make this film…it would be easier for me to operate on set…just write it down in Hindi…the poor writer didn’t knew English well…he couldn’t even sense out the original lines from sub-titles…and the director was so impressed that he wanted the original lines…which can be easily twisted and turned by dialogue writer…the writer than hired a young English speaking lad and got the script written and the film was a hit.” So, you decide what the role of writer was and where is he to be blamed.
Instance No.3.
I went to meet a young music director to make him hear some of my lyrics. His unemployed brother exchanged pleasantries with me and in our conversation we discovered more about each other. He claimed of having a list of top ten directors with him ready to direct for him, its just that story should click. We decided to meet where in I will narrate him ideas. Out of excitement and hope, I narrated him 13 ideas of different genres. He appreciated all of them and suggested the name of director for each one of them. But at the end of conversation, he said, “All your ideas are excellent but let’s make a Hindi version of ‘Carlito’s Way’…for a cinematographer – director.” Well, I wanted to break as a lyricist and didn’t want to take a chance with music composer’s brother. I worked on and adapted it as “Khwab” for Indian audience. But my surprise didn’t end over here. He further said, “You know…I want to involve my wife also in the process of film-making…so further on…she will expand (read write or co-write) on “Khwab” and we will get back to you.” I wished him luck and said, “Please remove my name from the credits…if the film sees the day.”
Instance No.4.
I overheard a conversation. Two producers were talking to each other. “Who are writers? They are emotional fools…talk to them decently…make big promises and they will give you all in one go…” The other producer responds, “What about money…they have started asking for them?” The first promptly responds, “Money…give them daru (wine)…take them on set…let them talk to actors…that’s enough…you’ll be making their day…still if they persist on money…Give them little and if they ask for more…spread the word around that you are on a look out for new writer…the earlier writer will come back else hundreds of writer will come wagging their tale (synonymous tail) and drooping down their saliva for fame, money (free alcohol)…many of them will agree to work for free.” So, where’s the choice for writers? And who will listen to their new script?
Instance No.5.
A writer friend of mine went with a concept to a producer. The producer liked it but very politely asked her to look for a one-liner which can click with intellectuals listening to concepts in T.V channels. She worked on it and went with the story to channel. The story was mess-mashed for a year and it is yet to see the light of the day. Today, she can’t even see 10% of her original script in the umpteen times thrashed concept by tens of intellectual in scores of meetings. Producer can’t raise a voice. His relations with channel will be affected. He also suggested writer to keep calm as they can’t take panga with mai-bap else they will remain unemployed. So, who spoils the originality?
Instance No.6.
Another writer friend of mine went with a concept to corporate tagged T.V producer even on being told by my friends that particular producer has history of crediting herself for concepts. But my friend was left with no choice because a larger chunk of T.V software in market was with TV producer and my friend wanted to develop relations with her for work. TV producer listened to her concept and said it was rubbish. Though, she gave her another assignment to write. After, few months my friend came to know that her concept in twisted and distraught form is on air with credit in the name of producer. My friend was not worried about the credit but for the story which had been beaten to death.
Instance No.7.
A TV czarina said, “Writers…I can even make my servant into writer and my competitors will come chasing after them…for me…writers are mere typists…they just need to listen to my ideas and type it out.” Hmnn…so you want to say something.
Instance No.8.
An editor friend of mine who is trying to get me a direction assignment with a major production house after listening to my story says, “Dada…ek dum perfect…but you need to change the end.” Before I could utter a word, he says, “Dada…I know it’s real…it happens this way in life but we are here not to make films for our self but for production house, for mass. We have to give them the way they want…so change the end of your story…else you becoming a director will remain a dream for a while.” So, I see the story of my dream changing into shatters at first stage…you never know what is going to come next and next and next and thereafter.
Instance No.9.
A producer owed a writer friend of mine few lakh rupees. When my friend asked for money, writer said, “Sir…I wish I could get you more money then promised…but I can’t you anything now. You know the budget I kept for you went into paying for the business class ticket of actress…she just refused to travel to New York with rest of the crew in economic class. Now you are a writer, a sensible person…you can understand my pain…you have habit of thinking through other persons perspective…living other’s pain…so please excuse me…and I hope I pay you after the film sells.” My friend had no answers. There is popular saying in Bihar, “Pet mein gelak khuddi ta chale lagal buddhi (meaning, when grain goes in stomach, the brain starts working).” Our writers also need grain for activation of creative impulses of brain. If you don’t give them grain (money), how do you except them to give your best original script.
Likewise, there are umpteen instances which rules down the voice and work of writers in industry. It’s rare to find a producer who is interested in story. It is common to find producers – directors twisting stories to give a new shape so that they can save few bucks and credit themselves for writing. Family culture and relationship mania is common in our industry. Producer – directors get their relatives or loved ones or ‘friends’ (read comfort factors) to do all the work in creative and production department even if they don’t have any experience. Dead passion and intensity of producer–director force them to kick out writers, who are confident about their script and doesn’t believe in ‘practical’ changes. The writers who also believe in betterment of project and fight their lungs out are termed as insane and useless by producer-director. And to end with, there is major section of writers who are unable to reach the right place even though they have right script. You also blame writers for this because we don’t wear designer dress material, drive sedan, carry vaio and speak sophisticated English even if we have to write script in Hindi. Darling, we don’t make that much of money and Hello, we are writers not pimps (supply girls to get into group) or PR persons (to lick a** for business) or submissive (offer sexually to get in core group). Still you blame writers? In this minimal, struggling role how are writers to be blamed for disastrous rapport of Indian Cinema.
And fourth estate shows (article on writer’s means humanitarian socialistic stories from filmdom which is otherwise rare) utmost concern and sympathy by mentioning about downtrodden writers, when it comes to a story from film fraternity. But they never care to contact writers at root level. In order to ‘maintain’ their relation and meet the deadline they end up talking to powerful creative goons at the top level of hierarchy who just enjoy shifting mantle and crush writers community under its shadow. Their crisp and sarcastic quotes end up demeaning writer’s community but help the journalists in expanding their readership.
Now, what writers can do? Take the blame because they are emotional, sensitive, destined for it or fight. Fight, the way Salim-Javed put their name on every poster in the town because their name was not mentioned by producers as it was not a culture to mention writer’s name on poster. Fight the way, Sahir fought with producers for royalty of every song to lyricist. Fight the way, Ashutosh Gowariker stick with original script of lagan for four years without any undue change. Collect and fight under “The film Writer’s association” (Its changing man, else me and you are there. We just can’t avoid the system to improve the system). Put their norms when it comes to originality of scripts, rights, fees and value. And voice their opinion without surrendering to monetary or lustful advances. If you say, ‘script is the hero of the film’, then let the world understand it too. Show the world that we have something original; influence the world that original scripts are worthy and most importantly let the world know that its money and power (PDD gang, producer, director, distributor) and not the creativity (writer) to be blamed for corruption. Else writers will be blamed for all bad reasons and paid nothing for any good reasons. Most importantly creativity and originality of writers will be crushed as ever and our souls will die under the own weight of grief and sorrow.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Hi Gautam,
Its a well written piece and you have hit the nail on the head. Basically the Bombay film industry is modern oligarchy at its shrewdest. Right down from AB who leaves no stone unturned in pushing ahead his ‘blimey’ baba to our other actors and directors who don’t think twice when it comes to promoting their kith and kins, its a complete family affair. That is why your CV is never good enough to get you the job. But if you have the right contact, you are well on your way to the high road. Sab contacts pe chalta hai yaar. Yeh sab ki gaand khol ke dekho … sab saaley madarchod hain.
What you said is right. But there is another instance. Most of the people who come to the film industry are wannabe actors or directors. Producers, directors, etc are not interested in meeting them unless you have a contact. But all of them are ready to meet them if you are a writer. So these wannabe actors, directors are more interested in meeting the the concerned people and say that they are writers and they have a lot of ideas. They meet the people and tell them an idea of a film they saw. The concerned people may tell them to make some changes or tell them that they need a concept based a specific genre. They sometimes say okay for the idea and ask for the complete script. These guys go back watch movies on that genre. They write it down and the script is ready. They are ready to make any changes till the producer or the concerned person is happy. They get the satisfaction of being in the industry and after getting a lot of contacts their dreams may come true.
That how a lot of people who come to the industry for being something else and end up being a writer.
when all the movies being made are rehashes or remixes of their Hollywood,European,Japanese,Korean and Chinese counterparts,when directors are more comfortable with their own screenplays because they have written or translated them from DVDs,when a whole nexus of stars-producers-directors is controlling the business,how can you expect a level playing field.Even if writers’ credit is taken up by some of the vultures in the industry,at least pay him for whatever services sought.Pay them for translation of DVDs,pay them for ghost writing screenplays or polishing them.Pay them for story ideas that will come in a different avtar later on..Dammit pay them so that they can stay and create another day. It is worst kind of capitalism with all its negative connotations that prevails behing the glitz and glamour. You have a point Gautam and that is to unite and fight in face of severe temptations to join the club or clique.Till that becomes a ground reality, writers are the most dispensable element in filmmaking process as of now in Bollywood.
I smell politics!!!
Its not so bad a scene. What you’ve missed out is that there are writers who have gr8 ideas & concepts & then there witers who also understand the science & technique of writing, genre final medium etc. Its is rare to see both in the same professional. The gap needs to be bridged. I have also seen the growth of many wrieters from the previous to the later or vice versa & also soon them loosing their minds!!!
Film/Tv Industries around the world have a tendency to corrupt…its on the writer to preserve self yet excell in the same industry.
Hi Guatam… quite an article if i may call it that… warna tamacha zyada sahi shabd hoga… even then… there are things that we can change and there are people you just can’t even imagine a shred of change in them, those so callled handful of exploiters are demoralizing us to the core… first as a writer we have to decide what exactly we want in our career and life, forget that salim javed kind success in the begnning and talk about reality that make you turn back and look at the due rent and empty kicthen and your torn out pocket, if you and me have come out of it a bit, another generation of procalimed band of writers by forced situation are standing behind us, ready and on their toes to get exploited, humiliated once again… so that make the fight back less encouraging because no one is going to be untied empty stomach… and if we are working for money and stable life and write television stuff there… why not anywher else? that’s how i came to this conclusion, a vow…let’s make buck and merge later and turn one of them, not litrally but if i have my capital, i have a dream a step closer to me… so after working for fifteen years in Telvision, writing hundreds of episodes… i just left… writing here in jakarta for television again, and for the past ten months, i have earned more than i would have in two years…or more.. my point is, if you are on for film and for name… fight back… don’t sulk… nothing is gonna change buddy until a spot light beams at you suddenly (suddenly yeah…)wait with patience and passion… or if it is for money, catch a flight and come to me… hahaha…
regards
Sameeir
madharchod writer…that’s what a producer director used to call me….some middle level directors n producers know me very well n they all takes me for granted..i go to their office..makes tea for them (dere wer off boy but they just want my tea..m a gud cook also)…they ask me wheater i know driving..the other is shocked wt i know cooking…wow..tu chal yaar shoot pe….mast butter chicken khayenge..they all treat me as…? i don’t know..ek kaam kar sun do parathe le aa….it seems they all forgotten that i came to mumbai to become a writer..i just want to b a writer nothing else…no direction no production..but that tooo is far far far..from me…..till then i hav to follow the orders of producer ..excuse me he is calling..n ya this time….also…writer madharchodh kahan gaya
I’d call the article an eye opener :o for those who sit as an audience ! i wont take it as a reason to ‘abuse’:-w some strata of people or call it ‘politics’[-(.
Having no experience in the industry, for me few examples do speak for themselves.
I feel writers themselves have created this attitude towards them by being desperate and even writing a script for 100 rupees. Yes, there is a guy who hangs around in 7 bungalows who will write a script for 100 rupees. You can guess what the outcome will be and the respect “writers” will have in the industry.
This is the reason I decided to respect myself and my work first before expecting others to respect it. Recently, I got the opportunity to write for a noted producer and I even started the work. I was called to his office and his EP talked to me about the money. He said he will pay me 50,000 for the script. I was shocked hearing this and told him that as an Associate Director I used to get this much. He said working with this so called producer will enhance my name. I refused point blank and did not take the 10,000 advance cheque they kept for me. I told him that even for my first movie as a writer I was paid 1.5 lacs and will not take anything less and left.
Now that same EP has been bad mouthing me about my attitude and I don’t care a damn anyway.
A production boy gets 500 per shift. Let’s take 2 months of work, he gets 30,000/-. There are many instances where writers were paid less than this.
A Makeup Man and HairDressers make more money than writers.
Well, anyway, all said and done, the Darwin’s rule of survival comes here. You got to bear this till you get your first hit. Like Anurag Kashyap’s and Abbas Tyrewallas, all they have to do now is lend their names and take part in a few story discussions (stories that the director’s themselves get)and which assistants type and take home lakhs worth of cheques.
You got to bear all this till you get there…but at the same time, create some minimum standards.