Director Dev Benegal of "English August" and "Split Wide Open" was recently invited to be a script
advisor at the famous eQuinoxe script workshop. No one before him from Indian cinema has been
selected for the honour.
Explaining the nature of the workshop Dev says: "The eQuinoxe script workshops are similar in spirit
to Robert Redford's Sundance workshops. It's a merit-based workshop, which selects films
worldwide.
"It has been famous for attracting some of the top talent from across the world. In the last 12 years
over 8,000 scripts have been submitted of which 230 have been selected and invited and 65 films
made. Among its founders are Sydney Pollack and Frank Pierson Chairman of the Academy of
Motion Pictures."
The advisors along with Benegal were several legends of Hollywood. These included:
James V. Hart who wrote director Francis Copolla's "Dracula".
Marcia Nasatir, first female vice president of United Artists. Her slate of films includes "Rocky", and
"One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest".
Eric Pleskow, president and CEO of United Artists and founder of Orion Pictures, who was
responsible for "Raging Bull" and "Hannah And Her Sisters".
Lorenzo Semple Jr., the screenwriter who wrote "Never Say Never Again" and "Batman".
Martin Sherman, the American playwright and screenwriter known for "Bent" and "The Roman Spring
Of Mrs. Stone.
How does Dev feel being in this august company?
"It was an honour to be a part of this group which has been responsible for some of the memorable
films in our lifetime..."
Commenting upon his future plans, he says: "I'm back, my batteries recharged. Will be starting a
movie very soon."
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 15:32 IST