Bollywood Steps: Background Information

I invite anyone interested in my documentary, "Bollywood Steps," to check out the website of the "Bollywood Step Dance Troupe," the professional dance troupe created by Yogen Bhagat, the choreographer/dancer featured in my film. The website features an in-depth look at Yogen's achievements, and defines the basic elements of the Bollywood dance style. Yogen's the foremost Bollywood-trained choreographer living in the United States. In addition to his professional dance troupe, he also maintains a thriving Bollywood Dance school.

For those of you who aren't familiar with my documentary, "Bollywood Steps" is the story of the relationship between Yogen Bhagat and a group of American-born Indian boys in his dance workshop. Growing up in Southern California, the boys are learning, with Yogen's help, to connect with their heritage through popular Indian culture. You can see the trailer at my website. The hour-long film goes out to festivals in January.

"Bollywood Steps" Update!

I'm currently racing to have a version of the documentary ready to enter in a series of film festivals with deadlines in January - so I don't have much time left. I'm currently tweaking the final cut - making minor and semi-major adjustments as I gauge the reaction of viewers less familiar with the project.

Music is still an issue - I've licensed some music from a couple of online sites, but one of those sites has since gone out of business, so I'm not certain if that has an impact on my ability to use the footage. These sites generally offer music and stock footage that is posted on their site by outside artists. If I can't answer those questions, or find suitable alternatives, I still might commission a custom soundtrack. In the short term, however, I'll use the music tracks as they exist for the festival entries; my concerns are rights to broadcast and distribution.

Another Call to Join the "Bollywood Steps" Facebook Group

If you haven't already, this is another request (if you're on Facebook) (this is a feed from my blog at richsamuels.blogspot.com), I'd like to invite you to join the group I created for my documentary, "Bollywood Steps." The success of an independent documentary like this depends a great deal on a "grassroots" campaign of sorts, and this group is a way of keeping all interested parties informed on an ongoing basis with all the various aspects of the production.

This coming year is going to be very eventful for this film, and I'm hoping to use a variety of new distribution avenues (in addition to the traditional forms). I'l be posting specifics here as time goes on.

Facebook users can find the group at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=55951506862

Thanks!

"Christmas Story" at the Valencia Mall.

"BOLLYWOOD STEPS" UPDATE

Last night, I met with Yogen and his wife, Rashmi Bhagat (some of my friends know her as Rasha Goel) for a factual review of the current cut of my documentary, "Bollywood Steps." For those of you who aren't familiar with this project, "Bollywood Steps" is my hour-long film about the relationship between a transplanted Bollywood dancer/choreographer (Yogen) and the American-born Indian boys in his Los Angeles-area Bollywood dance class. See more, including a trailer, on my website, http://www.rlsventures.com

Yogen and Rashmi reviewed the documentary for accuracy, as the film not only traces his relationship with the boys, but how a choreographer who worked with the biggest names in Bollywood came to teach children in Los Angeles, and start his career anew in America.

Their "thumbs up" brings me to an important stage in the completion of the documentary. Expect more news shortly. I'll be scheduling a "premiere" screening within the next 2-3 months.

BOLLYWOOD STEPS PIX

The boys from my documentary, Bollywood Steps, now (finally) nearing completion!

DON'T FORGET TO BUDGET FOR THE A.I. GUY!

I'm endlessly entertained by the continuing stream of news related to the Natal Milo concept. The latest information relates to the news that Peter Molyneux, of Lionhead Studios, which is developing the project, is shopping for an Artificial Intelligence specialist to help work on the illusion that is the "Milo" character - in other words, to improve on his abilities to react and respond like a real human being.

Inevitably, I would think, as this technology develops and is incorporated into this new entertainment genre, the AI researcher could become as indispensable as the scriptwriter.

Bollywood Steps: In Color!

I took precautions when I shot the "Holi" holiday celebration for my documentary, "Bollywood Steps." That's Neil, getting ready to add some color to my life!

Join the "Bollywood Steps" Facebook Group

If you're on Facebook (this is a feed from my blog at richsamuels.blogspot.com), I'd like to invite you to join the group I created for my documentary, "Bollywood Steps." The success of an independent documentary like this depends a great deal on a "grassroots" campaign of sorts, and this group is a way of keeping all interested parties informed on an ongoing basis with all the various aspects of the production.

Facebook users can find the group at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=55951506862

Thanks!

"Milo" and the Future of Entertainment

A while back, I wrote in this blog about my enthusiasm for a new development in gaming technology called "Natal" (it's an add-on for XBOX), and in particular a game employing that technology involving a virtual boy named, "Milo" (or girl, you can choose your preference. In a recent commentary in the UK newpaper, The Guardian, "Milo" developer Peter Molyneux wrote more about this incredible technology, and revealed more details about the game. If you haven't seen Milo in action, take a look here at my original blog entry, then read Molyneux's additional comments below:

So what we've done is create a boy called Milo with hundreds of little muscles behind that face. We've created this boy, or a girl, you can choose a boy or a girl. This boy starts off when you first meet him, he's moved from the city to the countryside, he hasn't got any friends, he is starting school in two days' time and he sits there and looks out at you and he says "I need a friend, and you are going to be my imaginary friend." And everything that you do with Milo inspires and changes him, and you see the glory of him improving.

Milo will recognise shapes, but what is really happening here? The process of scanning [shapes shown to the screen] is really lovely, you just reach your arm up. You can also scan in 3D objects, for example if you are eating an apple you can give it to Milo and he will carry on eating it.

The online portion of our inspiration is that we are continuing to collect and improve his object recognition skills. This technology is something that is being worked on by Microsoft Research. With all the Milos that will be released we will be centralising their recognition of everything in the world.

I don't own a gaming system - but for this, I'll sign on! This is, I think, an entirely new genre of entertainment, separate and distinct from gaming as it now exists, and passive motion picture and television entertainment. It won't replace any of these forms, but it will allow us to be entertained in a way that really seemed firmly in the world of science fiction until very recently.

As a writer, I'm also fascinated by the challenge such a technology would offer. A novel, short story, or television writer create specific characters that interact in limited and pre-determined environments. Even a character in a game interacts only a superficial level. For those creating a character like "Milo," his reactions and interactions must not only seem realistic, but believable to an extent never possible. Since you will be conversing directly with the character in a natural, human manner, the character must respond likewise. In "Milo's" case, a shy child might not make easy eye contact at first, but will change attitude with familiarity.

I encourage everyone to read the entire article in The Guardian. I've said it before. As far as entertainment goes, this will change everything

"Bollywood Steps" Behind the Scenes

My production aide, Dave Guerrero, took this behind-the-scenes photo during production of "Bollywood Steps." This is why I like to use small, light cameras!

"Bollywood Steps" Quote

"You respect your family. You respect your parents.
You respect your dance."
Bollywood choreographer/dancer Yogen Bhagat, on lessons taught to his students, in my documentary, "Bollywood Steps"

"Bollywood Steps" Focus: Yogen Bhagat

My documentary, "Bollywood Steps," is about the relationship between Yogen Bhagat, a Bollywood-trained choreographer and dance, now living in Los Angeles, with some of his students, a group of American -born Indian boys who are learning to connect with their heritage through Bollywood dance.

I wanted to offer a link to Yogen's site, BollywoodStepDance.com, which details his career and his professional dance troupe. Yogen, a trained engineer, came to live in America several years ago after marrying producer/reporter Rasha Goel, a friend of mine. Starting his career all over again here in the USA, Yogen and Rasha have build both a dance studio and a professional dance troupe. His skills have been on display in a number of live venues including the Hollywood Bowl, and on a variety of television programs including Jay Leno, Ellen, and Melrose Place, to name just a few. Take a look at his site, and enjoy!

"Bollywood Steps" On!

It looks like I'm finally going to get some quality time over the next few days as I move toward completion of my documentary, "Bollywood Steps." Balancing a project like this, which is self-produced, with my day-to-day responsibilities and other commitments is a challenge. As I've written before, I am at a stage which requires that I repeatedly review this hour-long program. I need to reach a point where the picture is "locked" (the visual portion of the documentary won't change), so that I can focus on audio, including music. To be honest, this is a part of the process that's particularly excruciating - I really don't like sitting in one place for hours on end! But I'll do it!

Things That Remind Me of People and Places

1. Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Drink --> Jones Beach, New York (tasted great under the hot sun!)
2. Black and White by Three Dog Night --> My childhood friend, Larry Gold (I have no idea why!)
3. Cigars --> My dad
4. Pipes --> My Uncle Lenny
5. Jazz --> My Uncle Bernie
6. Donkeys --> Rolling Hills Day Camp in New York, where I rode one.

An Extraordinary Man

I've had a very interesting correspondence over the last few days with people who worked in my father's department at 20th Century Fox in the years before he retired in 1987. My sisters and I have always thought of him as a very decent, caring man, but to hear the remembrances of these individuals was very special. For those interested, I just wanted to share a bit of their memories.

Maureen Pater wrote:

Your Dad had a true appreciation for all his employees. No matter the position or job duties we had, we always felt comforted by Sid Samuels. He would always say "hello" and "how is your day going"? There was never just a quick wave from your Dad. This man was a truly caring individual. We all were family in that department as well as a team. Rich, just a great experience for me that I will always treasure and sorely missed.

Gemma Ribeiro wrote:

Sid Samuels, a wonderful person to have worked for. I was blessed to have had him as a boss...Your father had the love for life...

Coffee at the Office 10-9-09

A "Bollywood Steps" Moment

Still moving ever closer to completion - this is the phase of post-production that is the most intricate and time-consuming- making final structural decisions and continuing to polish the entire program...which means reviewing the same hour over and over again...

Starbucks and the New York Times, 10/8/09, Valencia, Ca

Now Rich is up in the rafters at Raleigh Studios Hollywood