FilmIndia (1945)

Hollywood's "Reception" To Our "Experts" "Experts 99 Become Suddenly Wise Whatever "Expert" K. S. Hirlekar and his colleagues on the "chaingang", who flew to Hollywood as "delegates" of the Indian film industry (without, or course, any one authorising them to do so), on return say to the people in our film industry, it will be interesting to read about the actual reception these "Experts" got in Hollywood. The Hollywood Reporter, a leading film paper or America, flashes the following front-page story in its issue of the 29th August 1945: "Producers, directors and technicians from many countries feel that bymaking a pilgrimage to Hollywood they can overcome their own lack of knowledge, and that when they return home they will have a magic wand to help them make motion pictures that look like the product of our best producers, directors and cameramen. "How little these delegations actually learn has long been a secret to all but the hundreds in Hollywood who steer the groups around studios — and to the delegations themselves who return home knowing little more, but impressed with the necessity of mak ing their associates think they have suddenly become wise. "From India comes word of a new delegation of six experts soon to arrive in Hollywood. But before leaving home, they have been told what will happen to them in Hollywood, by Baburao Patel, editor of "Filmindia," who put it into his June issue with his customary frankness: "We want to know what these six ten-year-old 'experts' have been doing for the Indian film industry during the last ten years. Have they helped the industry in achieving any substantial progress to claim now the special privilege of being members of a delegation of experts for going overseas? Most of the names which are being whispered and suggested today for this delegation are practically un known names in the industry. "The entire delegation idea is a mere waste of time and money and, moreover, waste of air transport space which can be better used for the more needy war-worn persons. The Indian film industry does not need a delegation of six 'experts' to go overseas to bring home the technical and Jamuna has always been a thinking type. Here she is at the thess board exercising thought in, "Pahechan" a social story of New Talkies Ltd. Recruit Raj Kamal, P. O. Box No. 60. New Delhi, is an undergraduate standing 5 feet 8 inches, and is very anxious to act. He has already posed with some flowers. commercial developments. The Indian film industry has not yet been able to put on the screen all that it already knows about film production, for one reason or another. Even its limited knowledge has not been used up yet for want of opportunities. The average worker in the Indian film industry is at best a time-server who has not yet realized either the responsibility or the purpose of his work. Our main stumbling block is the unindustrial and almost criminal mentality of the inefficient personnel. "Most of the members of the proposed delegation are fence-sitters with no invested stake in the film industry. Some of them are professional idlers with nothing to do. Some of them have never done any executive work on the practical side of the industry. "The Hollywood Yanks are very good at business. They will give a reception to the "delegation" and a couple oi cocktail parties, take a number of photographs with star; and executives and take the members around the studio sheds. But that is all. The delegates will never know how pictures are actually made. They will never know the different processes which contribute to the specta cle in Hollywood product. Nor will they ever know the commercial secret of Hollywood's greatness. We are atraid that the members of the delegation will return more confused than ever before ami none the wiser for the tour." 47