|
‘NFC
should control film distribution’- Vasantha
By N. Dilshath Banu
 Vasantha
Obeysekera’s ‘Asani Warsha’, whose latest film
is not screened yet, had made a name for himself and in this medium.
Veteran film director, who got years of experience behind him, said
in an interview with TV Times, unbalanced film distribution ruined
the Sinhala film industry.
In
an interview with TV Times, Mr. Obeysekera, speaks about his career
and achievements.
Q
:-You started your career as a journalist in a newspaper organization.
How did your experience in the print media, help you to progress
in cinema.
A:- I don’t think there is any authentic connection between
print media and cinema in my career. Well, in fact, just after the
graduation, I worked for one year in paper. But I was interested
in the cinema even before I joined Lake House. Back at the University,
I was close to people like Prof. Sarathchandra Ediriweera. I had
an opportunity to involve in ‘Sinhabahu’’. Then
a well known dramatist at that time and the producer was Dr. Linus
Dissanayake. Due to copyrights problem , we overlapped the idea.
Then we started to do our own film. We sat together and wrote a
script named “Sath Samudura “ that is ‘Seven Seas’.
Q:
-Most of your films were awarded nationally, except the film, “Sath
Samudura” . Do you not have any idea to promote your films
internationally?
A: - You see, almost all my films have
been selected for International Competitions. My film, “Palangetiyo”
and “Dadayama” selected for finals and was screened
at Indian film festival. “Maruthaya’ was selected for
finals and it had a fantastic view in Germany. I also took “Theertha
Yathra’ to Japan.
Q:
-You finished your latest film, “Asani Warsha””,
two years ago. Why has it not been screened so far?
A: - That is the question you have to ask from the producer.
Q:
-You have directed documentaries. Could you comment on that?
A: - I did many documentaries through ICS. And ‘Path
to Peace’, which deals with devolution of power and the issues
arising out of it. I did a documentary on ‘Prisoner of Circumstance’.
Q:-
The documentary film, ‘Agenda for a small planet-phase II’
received world wide Television distribution and was dubbed in 17
languages in 1984. Can you relate your experience during the production
of this documentary?
A:- Well, the script was written by Reggie Silva and was
excellently edited. It was very emotionally satisfying It’s
a film about Tourism in South East Asia. . Tourism, in Third World
countries, like Sri-Lanka, for example, had a large number of tourists.
Tourism is a money-spinner. All the Third world countries, face
the same problem. Many film directors become interested in turning
out films about these countries. So to discuss these matters, we
had a meeting in Paris for two weeks and then in Italy. And I had
to edit the film in Germany, for about one and a half month. Then
it was screened in UN Head Quarters.
Q
:-Are you planning to promote such documentary films in future?
A:- Now , the tragedy in our country is that the Tourist
Board has to invest money on such films. In industrialized countries,
they produced the films by the people. A television company in Germany
sponsored my documentary film, “Agenda for small planet”.
Q
:-How do you see the future of film industry in Sri-Lanka ?
A:- At the moment, I think we are in a crisis. I think
the problem faced by the film industry is due to the decision taken
by the President in 1998- that was privatising the distribution
of films. Before the changes, Film Corporation controlled distribution.
The Sinhala film or the local film had 60% of the screen time. Then
there was a flow down. So every Sinhala film had to go to at least
150 out of around 250 theatres. So that, there’s a chances
of recovering at least the investment made to film. When the film
distribution was privatised everybody joined the queue. Therefore,
the screen time for the Sinhala film dropped to 3%.
Q:
-What kinds of changes do you suggest would improve local films?
A: - We have to have our screen time 60%. That is important.
Without that nobody is going to invest money, unless the state does
it.
Q:
-What are your future plans? Are you planning to get on with any
new film?
A: - I have just completed shooting and editing a film,
produced by Sangeetha Weeratatna. I only have to do the dubbing
and hoping to finish it some where around next month. At the same
time, Ceylon Theatres Company had requested me to do an English
film called “Outsiders”. Everything is ready and expecting
to commence it in June. |
