New Yorkers get Bollywood tips from India filmmakers

New York: Aspiring filmmakers and Bollywood cinephiles in the Big Apple got some "insider" tips about directing, producing, writing, and financing Bollywood films at an event here over the weekend.

Conducted by Indian filmmakers Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar, and Anuraadha Tewari, the event provided a platform for aspiring and established actors, directors, and producers to determine how they could potentially break into Bollywood. The two-day `Ticket2Bollywood` event on the theme of "Bollywood: Beyond the Song and Dance," was presented by New York and Mumbai-based Molecule Communications and Dar Motion Pictures. "So many Bollywood directors are choosing to shoot their films abroad, whether in New York or other major cities around the world," said Ajay Shrivastav, Director of Molecule Communications. "These filmmakers are always looking for local talent, production crews, writers, directors, and music composers to give their films an international flare and perspective," he said. "Bollywood has truly gone global, and the main agenda for this conference was to make the general public aware about how much the Indian film industry impacts the world`s economy." From Bollywood came Imtiaz Ali, nominated for best director for recent super hit `Rockstar` and 2007`s `Jab We Met`, Zoya Akhtar, FilmFare Award winner for best director for `Zindagi Na Milege Dobara` and Anuraadha Tewari, script writer of `Fashion`, `Jail`, and recently released `Heroine`. Local New York talent who participated in event included: music composer Wayne Sharpe, DJ Rekha, Vikram Chatwal, Nandana Sen, and Melanie Kannokada. IANS