What's Down with the Brown?

Brownscape's Baby hits Festival Scene

Elizabeth Paul

Saying goodbye to a child is never easy. Sometimes, however, it is a heavily anticipated and joyous occasion. Sometimes, it feels a little less like a "Come home soon, darling," and a little more like, "Good riddance!"

This is certainly the case for Deepti Paul, director of Made in India? Deepti has been through many testing tribulations with Made in India?, the firstborn child of Brownscape Productions, nursing it into the feature length documentary it is today.

And now Made in India?, blinking and stepping into the sun, has made its world premiere on July 8, 2006. It was featured in DCTV's 24 Hour Film Festival. The festival took place in the landmark DCTV firehouse in Chinatown. Made in India? was featured during the "Wondering Women" segment, bright and early at 7:30 on a Saturday morning.

The Brownscape Productions family, and the multitudes of insomniacs from New York attended the festival. Made in India? was well received by the audience. Judging by noise levels during the applause (which lasted unusually long), it was the most well-liked film during the segment.

Deepti, and producer Sudha Narasimhan, were able to breathe a sigh of relief-- their (often troublesome) progeny had graduated, picked up its diploma, and managed to not trip over its own feet.

However, their ease did not last for long, as Made in India? was selected to appear in the Fire Island Golden Wagon Film Festival -- a three day event, between July 14 and 16, 2006. The festival took place on the beautiful and famous Fire Island, and boasted a panel of judges from Lifetime, A&E Network, HBO, Sundance Channel and Showtime. Made in India? played on the first evening, on a giant screen—making it the biggest that the film has ever played on.

The audience adored the film. Their response was very similar to that of the first film festival. Many audience members approached the filmmakers afterwards, asking for more information about the film. It was a very successful outing.

Made in India? has proven to be able to stand on its own and pique people's interest. If you missed the first two festivals, come see the film at the Anthology Film Archives on October 11 at 6PM. It will be playing as part of the New Filmmakers Showcase. Address: 32 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003. -elizabeth@brownscapeprod.com