Shyam Madhavan Sarada runs a small online network of independent filmmakers called Wannabe Studios. I liked what they were doing, so I joined this group about a year ago. This is what Shyam has to say about his online group of filmmakers.
“Most small-time filmmakers, hobbyists and aspirants are wary of taking that important first step towards chasing their movie dreams. They have heard so many horror stories of failure that they are constantly plagued by self-doubt and tough questions.
Is it really worthwhile? Will it be always be a losing game? Will I ever make money out of it? Will I ever be able to become a ‘real’ filmmaker? These are questions they find difficult to answer to themselves and to those who have invested in their projects. So much so that many of them choose to give up their filmmaking dreams, convincing themselves that it is ‘not for me’.
Some of the more motivated among them who begin projects find it next to impossible to proceed for want of funds, a good team, adequate support or sometimes just encouragement from others like them. This is where Wannabe Studios, now just over a year old in its online avatar, hopes to make a difference.
One of the primary objectives of Wannabe Studios is to produce movies through borderless collaboration, and without the big budgets. A sort of ‘I have the bricks, do you have the mortar’ kind of concept of doing things together by pooling talent, equipment and knowledge/expertise. Next, of course, is to make our movies commercially viable. Mind you, the focus is not on commercial/box office ‘success’, but viability – in order to prove that it can make business sense, given the right content. It need not be an ‘all is lost’ scenario every time!
Our first such feature film, ONAN (Tamil/English), was the result of an online collaboration among 11 members (15 in all) from 7 countries. I am not sure if this is something unique but it is one of Onan’s USPs. A first cut was previewed to a limited audience in November 2008 to good reviews, and the final cut has since been made ready after a few tweaks. I am currently in the process of securing a theatrical release for it in India.
Thanks to the successful completion of our first one, we have already started off on our next such project, which is in development with at least 25 people willing to participate. We hope to see the project through by the 4th quarter of this year.
And that’s the story of Wannabe Studios, in a nutshell.
I have been exploring avenues for cashless strategic partnerships and barters to take Wannabe Studios and its movies to the ‘next level’. Needless to say, I am constantly on the lookout for distribution possibilities.”
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Thank you very much for the push, Peter. You have been a vocal supporter of Wannabe Studios and we are proud to be associated with you.