How did you get involved in the field of cinema? Was anyone in your family ever involved in filmmaking? (or some other form of aesthetic/ entertainment). Please tell us about your journey into the world of film.
Hyder:
My uncle works for Muzzaffar Ali the director who had made Umraojaan. My interest started when I was very young not even in high school when I use to hear stories related to the shooting of Umrajaaon. For my family education was every thing. They wanted me to be a doctor and me I wanted to be in films. Not informing them I joined a theater group NTH that was one of the few theater companies in Hyderabad, India.
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Hyder Bilgrami @ the Indo-American Arts Festival with Madhur Jaffrey and Aroon Shivdasani
I have almost thirty productions to my credits. Right from Mohan Rakesh`s Lehron Ke Raj Hans a play based on Buddha to Raja Ka Baja a social problems of India.
I have learned the every art of theater from Make up to set designing to direction and production management.
After graduating from my college I went to Bombay the Mecca of Bollywood not realizing it was so tough to work there. Had struggle there three years working as an assistant director to Raj Tilak and few others. I came back to Hyderabad and here I signed a serial with Naga Bharana. I would say he is one of the best directors in South India. Mean while worked with Manishankar who was making promotional films for Congress. There had happened to worked with Rajesh Khanna as an actor.
I had done two serials as an independent director called Anokhi Khaniyan and Do Dooni Paanch both for national channels. While editing me and Jayanth a known telugu movie director use to discuss related to making films. I migrated to USA and Jayanth went on to become a known director.
Coming to USA from India meant to began the life again. The whole process started again. A new life. It took me 5 years to realize that film making is the only thing I can do the best. So I decided to make movies and we launched Bandhak.
What are your major responsibilities as a filmmaker?
Hyder: First and fore most to make movies that can have an impact on our society.
Do you feel a formal education is required for the field of filmmaking? What about say, for writing?
(Robert McKee`s principles.)
One has to have practical training. As you know I am from India and there they are few schools and getting education is difficult. So usually the best is to give time in practical training but that is slowly is changing in India too. Directors who are coming out of school are making real good film. We in USA can surely get good education but there should be some kind of schools for training in India too like a real good ones.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced, or are currently facing? What significant problems does the field as a whole face? (Piracy, and the like). I remember about 10 years ago, when I walked into a blockbuster video rental store, the store was packed with videos. Today, almost 50% of the store is dedicated to videogames. Do you think the videogame business is eating up the market share of films?
The challanges we South Asian face are funding of the film. When there is no or little funding then every thing is compromised then quality degrades. As far as Piracy its a universal problem. In India till Indian government comes out with strict penalties I would say Bollywood will find tough to survive. Those who do piracy for Indian films are so cheap that they shoot the film in theater and then make copies. Not even the cameraman is professional. So if you see the film its so horrible and we Indians viewers in general should boycott those films. When Americans can wait for a year to see the original DVD why cant we wait.
I had seen the movie Dhoom original DVD the quality is so good. It worth waiting for original DVD.
What do you have to say about the contribution digital technology has made to the world of film? Can multi-million dollar movies now be made at much lower costs?
Hyder: Its great. Its the future. When Panavision and Arris had come out with digital cameras I am sure they also want there share in the digital market. A good film is always made with many factors not just money.
A good film is good script, good treatment and great performance. they are all related. Its a team effort.
If its on digital why not?
What personal qualities do you feel a person should possess for filmmaking in general? In a fight between Guts and Reason, who`d win according to you?
One has to shed their egos while making a film. There is nothing like I am the greatest . Even the greatest some time flops. So one has to be humble to accept if the movie is bad and just keep on making film. One has to have humble attitude towards the team too. Work positive. There are so many times I think I might not be able to complete the film. Then the very moment I change my mind and say YES I WILL COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. Its too much there in Bollywood where I come from. Every thing is so disorganized that reminds me of Nagesh`s movie Bollywood calling its so true. I had seen many a times a big banner company in South making Hindi film in South India had to get the lines written in Bombay for shooting happening in Hyderabad. That is the reason many films in India even before they are completed they are dumped.
Reasoning is always good but that should be in Pre Production stages not at the time of production. Guts there is nothing guts when you shoot a film.
what do you most enjoy about your work?
Hyder: I enjoy every aspect of film making and also an involvement of an actor. When an actor performs while you shoot some of the times the directors forget to say cut as they get so involved. I too do that as I love my actor perofrming.
What do you least enjoy about your work?
Hyder: When there is a hassle. For example I was shooting near Verizono bridge on tuesday morning with valid permits. We were being surrounded by atleast six cops. People in general might have thought some dark skin filming verizono bridge and reported the event to 911. We had to wait for almost 2 hours and we had to come back for shoot again as we needed to shoot early morning.
How has being an ethnic minority been an advantage/disadvantage to you?
Hyder: Disadvantage just told you in my last question and advantage I think I had yet to know in USA. I heard there are many benefits in USA but yet to know how to get it. For me I really dont care about this.
What is your take on inspiration?
Hyder: 100 percent. Every of my film I made so far (Bandhak and Junoon my second project which is in
post) are being inspired by true events. They are fictitious but like a tag line had been inspired. Like racial attacks on Indian that is Bandhak. Some one stalked is Junoon and one more script I am writing is also inspiration from some event in life.
What are your favorite films?
Ten Commandments, Macennas Gold, Sound of Music..oh there are so many.
In present time making Lord of the Rings was easy but in mid fifties when they made Ten Commandments the SFX were so difficult.
I also like few Indian films like Sholay. Lagan was nominated for Oscar but you still cant compare the film with Sholay as Sholay was over all so good that no movie can be made like that in Indian cinema.
One more film is so dear to me is Iranian film Children of Heaven directed by Majid Majidi. It is a movie made on shoes. So simple yet so beautiful.
What is your definition of "success"?
Hyder: May be now it is to direct films that give me recognition but usually it changes as eventually I want to make good film. Its totally on your needs. I simply cant say I am a successful man but I dont have money as I even have to support my family. As you know all the film makers are working some place or the other but I am totally dependant on this profession. I would be lying if I say Success is to attain my satisfaction.
What advise do you have for aspiring writers/filmmakers?
Dont give up. Challenges are always there and in all profession so why not in films.