Lights, camera,leak it!
We choose, we’re informed, we contribute — even entertainment is inclusive today. Bollywood is riding the social-network wave.
Filmmakers and actors are increasingly getting on to platforms like Facebook and Twitter to be ‘inspired’ by Netizens. They rely on social media for titles, posters and ideas from their TA.
When filmmaker Prakash Jha and Mahesh Bhatt were in a dilemma about the posters for their films, Aarakshan and Murder 2, respectively, they pinged for the final word. Rowdy Rathore’s poster was finalised only after a phenomenal response on the Net.
David Dhawan has tweeted for a title for the remake of the 1981 classic, Chashme Buddoor. “…Send your title. If chosen you get `25,000 and an invite to the premiere,” actor Anupam Kher (he has a triple-role in the film) wrote on Twitter.
Mahesh Bhatt sees this as a revolution. “Rather than talking, we targeted on listening to public opinions and going with them. Social sites help us judge the audience’s appetite for a film,” he says.
Director Onir has gone a step further, sounding out followers for funds for I Am. Voila! Facebook and Twitter helped raise about a third of the requirement — `3 crore. “It was an experiment... successful. For an independent filmmaker, the connection with the masses is really important. Not just finances, I also managed to get the crew members for my film,” says Onir.
Editor-turned-director Shirish Kunder tweeted to decide on the cast and crew for his film Joker. For Mahesh Bhatt, the 10 lakh Facebook entries on the Murder2 page make a good base for Murder 3, “where I will ask my followers to decide on the cast and share their ideas”. Onir recently posted a poster-designer hunt for his next, Chauranga. Already, 75 entries are in.
Producer Karan Johar posted the first look of Katrina Kaif’s item song, Chikni Chameli, from Agneepath, on Facebook. South-sensation Dhanush’s Kolaveri di for his Tamil film, 3, won YouTube’s ‘Recently Most Popular Gold Medal’.
As trade analyst Taran Adarsh puts it, social media is the shortest route to a strong network. Now, filmmakers get an insight into audience interests, real time. “Nothing is more gratifying for viewers than to be a part of a film’s production process,” he says. That does it, doesn’t it?
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