Indo-Americans laud historic signing of Hollywood-Bollywood ‘cooperation pact’

NEVADA - Indo-Americans have applauded the reportedly historic cooperation pact signed between City of Los Angeles and Indian film producers at Paramount Studios in Hollywood (USA) on November 10.

It will reportedly result in the formation of Los Angeles-Indian Film Council to encourage joint film production and commercial cooperation.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said, “it was a step in the right direction”.

Zed, who is Chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, further said that forming closer ties and sharing resources on various creative and technical aspects of filmmaking would be mutually beneficial for both Hollywood and Bollywood.

Since they controlled the psyche of a large populace of the world, Hollywood-Bollywood collaborating together might result in world coming closer, Rajan Zed added.

According to a Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) release issued on November 10: “As part of the declaration, the city of Los Angeles and the Indian film industry, represented by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India and the Film Federation of India, agree to develop and strengthen motion picture production, distribution, technology, content protection and commercial cooperation between the two filmmaking communities. The two parties also support the creation of the Los Angeles-India Film Council to increase Indian film production in Los Angeles”.

Attendees at the event included Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Film Commissioner Amy Lemisch, Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO Brad Grey, MPAA Special Policy Advisor Fritz Attaway, Film Federation of India President L. Suresh, Hindi films producer Bobby Bedi, representatives from Reliance BIG Entertainment and UTV Motion Pictures, etc.

“Our vibrant film communities share many of the same goals and concerns. The numerous co-productions with Indian studios over the past several years are evidence of a growing bond between our two industries. Today’s action is an important step toward furthering that growth,” said Bob Pisano, MPAA President.

Release further says: This is the second major step towards economic development and cooperation between Hollywood and the Indian film industry this year. In March, the two industries came together in Mumbai to launch the Alliance Against Copyright Theft, a Bollywood-Hollywood content protection coalition in India. Indian investment in Hollywood has been steadily increasing, most notably with Indian entertainment conglomerate Reliance’s production and distribution deal with Dreamworks SKG. (ANI)