Film at the Film Division in Columbia University where he has been teaching Directing for almost two decades. Besides his freelancing as a Movie Director now and then. Also, he wrote a beautiful book on film directing fundamentals targeting novice directors. 

Nicholas began his film career as an Editor, then Cameraman, then Director of documentaries. One day he got a call from Barbara Loden, an Obie-award-winning Actress who wanted to make a film from an original screenplay she had written. And she wanted to shoot it with the immediacy in which Nicholas shot his documentaries. The two of them, along with a Soundman, a Lighting Assistant, one Production Assistant, and a wonderful Actor, Michael Higgins, made a film. It was shot on 16 mm film and blown up to 35 mm. It was called Wanda, and won the Best Picture Award at the Venice Film Festival! It happened in 1970...      

I began my film career as a Screen Writer for a Director who was in Chennai at that time. I don’t want to dig into the reasons but the film somehow didn’t get launched. Later I became a Ghost Writer to another Ghost Writer in Tollywood. All this I maintained while doing my decent job in All India Radio. During and after this phase I worked for a couple of Co-Directors who’re aspiring to be Directors. I knew very well, from the day one, that their dreams are not going to be fulfilled. The problem was their attitude. I waited for about a year and half. Nothing worked out for them. Then I decided myself to become a Director. That’s it. Within six months I started my first direct job in tinsel world as Writer-Director. Now I’ve become a Producer too. 

It can happen. And it happened to many beginners of my level to great personalities in film industry. Can anybody believes that the great Hindi film Singer Mukesh aspired to become a hero? The legendary Hero Devanand as a Singer? But it’s true. Both the legends aspired to be something and became something… vice versa. In Tollywood too we have plenty of such instances. Can you believe that ‘Sagara Sangamam’ Director Vishvanath began his film career as a Sound Recordist? And that’s what I wanted to share with you… that it can happen. Especially In Tinsel World, there is every chance of aspiring to be something and becoming something. 

Author : Manohar Chimmani - Tollywood Director

Visit web site : http://www.manutime.com

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