Don't know how sustainable independent filmmaking is: Konkona Sen Sharma
Dharamsala
November 5, 2017
National Award winning actress Konkona Sen Sharma, marked her
debut into the world of directing with critically acclaimed independent film "A
Death in the Gunj". However the actress is unsure when it comes to
sustainability, how lucrative independent filmmaking is.
She was speaking
at a panel discussion titled "The State of Independents" here at the sixth
edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival, with a panel consisting of
filmmakers directors Rima Das (" Village Rockstars"), Pushpendra Singh
("Ashwatthama"), Karma Tarawa ("Ralang Road"), Bornila Chatterjee ("The
Hungry"), and Ektara Collective ("Turup").
About funding of an
independent film, Konkona shared her experience of directing her film and said
that she was not expecting anyone to fund her film.
"I have acted in 40
films and out of them, some were nice, some were not ...at least eight are
memorable. It was actually very frustrating also. Because sometimes one felt
that everybody is doing something for you, somebody else is telling you the
lines to say, somebody else is doing your make-up or telling you where to stand.
"Maybe at some level it felt that what am I doing. And then at one point
what I thought was that without planning or thinking that I want to write or
direct," said the "Lipstick Under My Burkha" actress.
"I just started
developing a story which was really close to me and kind of had been in my head
since I diversed. When I started, I never had thought... because we know the
reality of the world we live in, what will get money and what will not get
money. It is nothing new or a surprise.
"So I don't know how sustainable
this (independent filmmaking) is.. It is great as a one off project but when we
think of long-term, how can one receive this process, " Konkona added.
Asked if she is open to making another film, by going through the same process,
she said: "I think I would be comfortable in this zone. I don't even see myself
making something epic in that sense. I think I will be comfortable with this
set-up."
With films like "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer", "Omkara", "Talvar" and
"Wake Up Sid" to her credit, Konkona stressed on the fact that the process of
writing and getting actors is not that difficult, but it's "after that when it
comes to production, distribution and PR... how can you compete with films with
so much budget?"
"You have to have a song and that is how you advertise
and publicise your film," she said.
Dharamsala
November 5, 2017
National Award winning actress Konkona Sen Sharma, marked her
debut into the world of directing with critically acclaimed independent film "A
Death in the Gunj". However the actress is unsure when it comes to
sustainability, how lucrative independent filmmaking is.
She was speaking
at a panel discussion titled "The State of Independents" here at the sixth
edition of Dharamshala International Film Festival, with a panel consisting of
filmmakers directors Rima Das (" Village Rockstars"), Pushpendra Singh
("Ashwatthama"), Karma Tarawa ("Ralang Road"), Bornila Chatterjee ("The
Hungry"), and Ektara Collective ("Turup").
About funding of an
independent film, Konkona shared her experience of directing her film and said
that she was not expecting anyone to fund her film.
"I have acted in 40
films and out of them, some were nice, some were not ...at least eight are
memorable. It was actually very frustrating also. Because sometimes one felt
that everybody is doing something for you, somebody else is telling you the
lines to say, somebody else is doing your make-up or telling you where to stand.
"Maybe at some level it felt that what am I doing. And then at one point
what I thought was that without planning or thinking that I want to write or
direct," said the "Lipstick Under My Burkha" actress.
"I just started
developing a story which was really close to me and kind of had been in my head
since I diversed. When I started, I never had thought... because we know the
reality of the world we live in, what will get money and what will not get
money. It is nothing new or a surprise.
"So I don't know how sustainable
this (independent filmmaking) is.. It is great as a one off project but when we
think of long-term, how can one receive this process, " Konkona added.
Asked if she is open to making another film, by going through the same process,
she said: "I think I would be comfortable in this zone. I don't even see myself
making something epic in that sense. I think I will be comfortable with this
set-up."
With films like "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer", "Omkara", "Talvar" and
"Wake Up Sid" to her credit, Konkona stressed on the fact that the process of
writing and getting actors is not that difficult, but it's "after that when it
comes to production, distribution and PR... how can you compete with films with
so much budget?"
"You have to have a song and that is how you advertise
and publicise your film," she said.
Tags: Konkona Sen SharmaA Death in the GunjThe HungryLipstick Under My BurkhaTalvar