Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Tue, July 21, 2009
Mon, July 20, 2009
RCN Corporation: RCN Launches 'World Wide Lens' Series Featuring Independent Film Makers; Premiere Kicks Off With Locally Produ
HERNDON, VA--(Marketwire - July 20, 2009) - RCN Corporation (
"'Bhool,' which roughly translates to mean a mistake or misstep, is a tender drama about a woman trying to put her tragic past behind her," said the film's Director Mansoor Ahmed, who has many years of experience in various aspects of video production and serving as a technical director for a local Pakistani television program. "It is a sensitive portrayal of a woman's struggle to survive life's unexpected curveballs and the resilience of the human spirit. Although the story is set in the Pakistani community in America, the message and appeal is universal."
His passion for films can be traced back to his early childhood days in Peshawar, where he lived across the street from a cinema hall and became mesmerized by the world of film. The idea for making this film stemmed from the realization that the Pakistani film industry has continued to dwindle since the late 70s and has shown no signs of recovery. "Bhool" is roughly based on a book, "Zamana Nazuk Hai," and the screenplay of the 60s classic Pakistani film, "Neend," both written by Shaista Saleem, who now resides locally.
The original concept for a remake came from Shaista Saleem and Muhammad Saleem, president of Lahore Foundation, an organization dedicated to promote education in remote areas of Pakistan, and who served as executive producer of the film. Together they wanted to retell this story in a more modern context, one that would appeal to today's audience.
"We are pleased to bring 'Bhool,' which is in the Urdu language with English subtitles, to our subscribers. It fits nicely with our goal of bringing a rich, diverse blend of choices of independent, international and local filmmaking," said RCN's Strategic External Affairs & Programming Senior Vice President Richard Ramlall. "This will be the first of many deserving independent films to be shown and it is fitting that the debut film has been produced locally."
The original music score is written for the film by Arthur Lovelace. He is a well-known and loved artist in his native Haiti and now in the Washington Metropolitan area. The music is a beautiful blend of East-West rhythms and arrangements. Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Arthur is a former lead singer for "L'ensemble Nemours Jean-Baptiste." He is also a song writer and composer. He sings in a few languages and performs a variety of genres of music. He has performed in many Caribbean countries and many cities in the United States with several Latin Bands. Locally, he has performed at the Smithsonian Institution, Capitol Hill and various clubs and restaurants.
The screenplay is written by Basharat Ahmad who has been writing Urdu plays for Pakistan Television Peshawar since 1990. Basharat has received a first place award for his play "Zohra" at the Independence Day Drama/Film Festival in 2003 and a nomination for Best Playwright for "Pakistan Express" at the National Drama Festival in 2001.
"Bhool" was filmed entirely in the Washington, D.C. area using experienced local Indian and Pakistani stage actors. With the advances and affordability of the digital technology the "Bhool" team was encouraged to take this bold step of demonstrating that a feature-length film can be produced on a small budget. Their hope is that professional artists in Pakistan will also be encouraged to showcase their talents and join together in reviving the Pakistani film industry.
"It is a very rewarding and creative experience to work with local filmmakers," said RCN's Senior Manager, Creative Services, Melanie Smith. "We have created cross channel spots, in addition to several marketing pieces, to give this worthy film maximum exposure on our network. We're looking forward to bringing more independent films to the RCN platform."
About RCN Corporation
RCN Corporation (
