Bollywood gets ready to take on Hollywood.. at DVinfo.net

Christopher C. Murphy · January 15th, 2005, 08:22 AM

Hey all, I just thought this was a very interesting article and wanted to share it with you. Recently, I was in Los Angeles and noticed how many different channels they have on basic cable...maybe 60% English speaking and 40% other languages. In my neck of the woods we have about 80% English and 20% other.

Anyway, this article is about "Bollywood" - which I'm starting to see more and more of in the news and entertainment world. I'd be interested to know what others think. My thoughts are that it will be huge in the coming few years because of the sheer amount of people - over a Billion people apparently spend $ on Bollywood entertainment because it's the only thing they've got available to entertain them.

Also, has anyone watched that "Sunday Morning Shoot-Out" show? They give a lot of facts and figures on that show. (The younger guy is annoying as Hell, but otherwise the show is good. The older guy is much more thoughtful and sincere. Both are industry veteran's though.) Anyway, they talk about internation markets in relation to films and it's very enlightening.

I've been writing a screenplay for over 4 years now that's based in WWII. (Over 4 years of research and 15 drafts...it's quite the story!) I think that the audience for larger thought provoking films is coming back. The international world seems to be tiring of American Pie, force-fed entertainment....they want romance, drama, dance and overall more value in their film experience. That's exciting to know!

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=410630&page=1

Glenn Gipson · January 15th, 2005, 12:14 PM

Bollywood taking over Hollywood? I don’t see it. First off, there needs to be major Indian actors over here in Hollywood first, secondly, a good amount of their stories are musicals, and I just don’t see musicals boxing out something like Star Wars Episode III. And finally, as many people as there are in India buying Boolywood fair, it’s still a poor third world nation.

Robert Crawford · January 15th, 2005, 12:46 PM

Ever seen Asoka? While the musical numbers may seem a bit jarring to modern western audiences, they don't take away from a movie that's better than 90% of what Hollywood churns out.

And, of course, Bollywood's audience isn't just India any more than Hollywood's audience is just the US.

Rhett Allen · January 15th, 2005, 01:02 PM

I think it's great! I enjoy Bollywood films. Despite whether you actually like the movies or not, the actors and productions are usually very high quality and show a great deal of talent.
Really I enjoy a lot of foreign films in general. Netflix has been a big help with that because you can find a decent selection of foreign films and be referred to others according to which ones you enjoy. There is a particular writer/director from Iran I enjoy named Abbas Kiarostami. If you have a chance to catch a few of his films, I recommend them. Not your typical movies, these actually have thought in place of CGI and loud noises and they are "stories" instead of strings of punch lines with an occasional special effect.
Anything to escape the incessant product placements, advertising and reality TV!

Imran Zaidi · January 15th, 2005, 05:05 PM

Well Bollywood is nothing new - they've been churning out movies, good and bad for many years now. There's really no question of Bollywood and Hollywood somehow conflicting or going up against one another or anything like that. They're just two very different entities, from very different nations, appealing to very different cultures that sometimes overlap.

I grew up with a lot of Bollywood movies, and I can tell you, they've been ripping off Hollywood movies and music for years! And on occasion, they spit out a film that is just phenomenal. Even more so now than in the past, but nevertheless, there's no vs. thing going on there.

I have heard, though, that Bollywood spits out more movies than Hollywood consistently every year. And they're probably the most bootlegged films that you'll find anywhere - which gives you an idea of how much they are watched, by Indians, Pakistanis and other South Asians around the globe.

Joe Carney · January 16th, 2005, 03:34 AM

Hey, I'm watching The Kumars at #42 on BBCA for the first time. It's hilarious. Outrageously funny.

Jesse Bekas · January 26th, 2005, 09:07 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Robert Crawford : Ever seen Asoka?...a movie that's better than 90% of what Hollywood churns out... -->>>

That could be said of a huge number of films made outside of the Hollywood system, inlcuding true American indies. It doesn't really mean much.

Glenn Gipson · April 29th, 2005, 01:15 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050429/...a_bollywood_dc

January 15th, 2005, 08:22 AM	#1
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Bollywood gets ready to take on Hollywood.. Hey all, I just thought this was a very interesting article and wanted to share it with you. Recently, I was in Los Angeles and noticed how many different channels they have on basic cable...maybe 60% English speaking and 40% other languages. In my neck of the woods we have about 80% English and 20% other. Anyway, this article is about "Bollywood" - which I'm starting to see more and more of in the news and entertainment world. I'd be interested to know what others think. My thoughts are that it will be huge in the coming few years because of the sheer amount of people - over a Billion people apparently spend $ on Bollywood entertainment because it's the only thing they've got available to entertain them. Also, has anyone watched that "Sunday Morning Shoot-Out" show? They give a lot of facts and figures on that show. (The younger guy is annoying as Hell, but otherwise the show is good. The older guy is much more thoughtful and sincere. Both are industry veteran's though.) Anyway, they talk about internation markets in relation to films and it's very enlightening. I've been writing a screenplay for over 4 years now that's based in WWII. (Over 4 years of research and 15 drafts...it's quite the story!) I think that the audience for larger thought provoking films is coming back. The international world seems to be tiring of American Pie, force-fed entertainment....they want romance, drama, dance and overall more value in their film experience. That's exciting to know! http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=410630&page=1 __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 15th, 2005, 12:14 PM	#2
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	Bollywood taking over Hollywood? I don’t see it. First off, there needs to be major Indian actors over here in Hollywood first, secondly, a good amount of their stories are musicals, and I just don’t see musicals boxing out something like Star Wars Episode III. And finally, as many people as there are in India buying Boolywood fair, it’s still a poor third world nation.

January 15th, 2005, 12:46 PM	#3
Robert Crawford Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 33	Ever seen Asoka? While the musical numbers may seem a bit jarring to modern western audiences, they don't take away from a movie that's better than 90% of what Hollywood churns out. And, of course, Bollywood's audience isn't just India any more than Hollywood's audience is just the US.

January 15th, 2005, 01:02 PM	#4
Rhett Allen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 607	I think it's great! I enjoy Bollywood films. Despite whether you actually like the movies or not, the actors and productions are usually very high quality and show a great deal of talent. Really I enjoy a lot of foreign films in general. Netflix has been a big help with that because you can find a decent selection of foreign films and be referred to others according to which ones you enjoy. There is a particular writer/director from Iran I enjoy named Abbas Kiarostami. If you have a chance to catch a few of his films, I recommend them. Not your typical movies, these actually have thought in place of CGI and loud noises and they are "stories" instead of strings of punch lines with an occasional special effect. Anything to escape the incessant product placements, advertising and reality TV!

January 15th, 2005, 05:05 PM	#5
Imran Zaidi Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,315	Well Bollywood is nothing new - they've been churning out movies, good and bad for many years now. There's really no question of Bollywood and Hollywood somehow conflicting or going up against one another or anything like that. They're just two very different entities, from very different nations, appealing to very different cultures that sometimes overlap. I grew up with a lot of Bollywood movies, and I can tell you, they've been ripping off Hollywood movies and music for years! And on occasion, they spit out a film that is just phenomenal. Even more so now than in the past, but nevertheless, there's no vs. thing going on there. I have heard, though, that Bollywood spits out more movies than Hollywood consistently every year. And they're probably the most bootlegged films that you'll find anywhere - which gives you an idea of how much they are watched, by Indians, Pakistanis and other South Asians around the globe.

January 16th, 2005, 03:34 AM	#6
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Hey, I'm watching The Kumars at #42 on BBCA for the first time. It's hilarious. Outrageously funny.

January 26th, 2005, 09:07 PM	#7
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	<<<-- Originally posted by Robert Crawford : Ever seen Asoka?...a movie that's better than 90% of what Hollywood churns out... -->>> That could be said of a huge number of films made outside of the Hollywood system, inlcuding true American indies. It doesn't really mean much.

April 29th, 2005, 01:15 PM	#8
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050429/...a_bollywood_dc