By Dipendra Lama
(Published on Nagarik Nepali daily on August 6, 2012)
Nepali film has yet to get formal structure of industry.
Despite its limitations to become an industry, it has own small periphery and a
kind of 'star system' too. On the basis of their popularity some actors has got
the status of star.
Few years ago, the distributors have control over the star
system in Nepali film. Film producers compelled to cast the actors suggested by
the distributors. Producers were obliged to do so because they need money for
shooting and distributor was the person who used to fund them. Distributors
were the big stake holder. They often used to interfere in the creative
department.
But with the advent of digital technology in film making,
this equation is no more in existence. Since, films are produced on small
budget; the dependency upon the money for distributors is ended. Now the star
system is under the control of producers and directors. But it seems that it
will be soon transferring under the casting directors.
There are two types of star systems exist worldwide viz;
vertical and horizontal. Vertical is the kind of system where star is limited
on stereotyped roles. But in opposite to
vertical, horizontal system has a range of roles to perform from one to another
for the star. Nepali film industry started its journey with the vertical star
system and continued till very recent. In this system, stars are categorized in
merit list and people believe that this kind of system is the sole responsible
for worsening the quality of Nepali film.
In previous days, it was expensive to shoot film in
celluloid. A producer has a huge risk to recover investment. Following this
risk, producers were bound to follow the vertical star system, since it would have
been reliable option for their investment recovery. Number one star was always
on their priority list & if the number one was unavailable, they were happy
with number two.
But after the digital revolution, everyone is shooting
their films on digital format. Since the budget felt down to 300 thousands
rupees (3000 US dollar) from 600 thousands rupees, directors have started to
cast the actors according to demand of the story. Now Nepali films have
succeeded to expand its market on Diasporas, the investment recovery chances
are better than before. Due to this change, the star system has also been
transformed from vertical to horizontal one. In this system each actor is specific;
no one is substitute to others.
The reason behind the stereotyped Nepali film is not
other than vertical star system. In this system, all actors have to perform
action, romance and comedy. And also the actors of lower tiers have to copy the
actors of upper tiers. Even the hair styles are copied.
But in horizontal system, actors have their own
identity, quality and styles. There will be more choices for audience. It definitely
encourages makers to produce films on different genres.
In vertical system, there may be risk of not accepting
the existence of other actors by highly ranked actors. This creates an
unhealthy competition between the actors. While in horizontal system, every
actor has equal existence and value.
There was a practice to write script keeping the stars
on mind. This system of writing has not lost its ground completely but exists
in modest size. In past only few producers wanted to introduce new actors in
their films. If we look back to 10 years of Nepali films, we can find that each
film has a star. Vertical system was the main cause behind this trend.
Sociologists believe that horizontal society is the best
society to grow up. We can somehow find this theory also relevant in the film.
Films will be exceptional, if all cast and crew complete their responsibility
with the feeling of unity. We can't expect this kind of feelings in vertical
system.
In Hollywood, the studios were regulator of the star
system until 60s. At that period, stars gained massive popularity but didn't
get the status of actor. They were stars but not actors. When the actors applied
the acting style of Stanislavsky in 70s, the monopoly of studios stopped.
Star or artist, who is better, this can be a topic of
discussion very relevant in context of Nepal too. One can be established as star
and as an artist simultaneously, but this can only be possible in horizontal
system. Because in this system, actors get enough time and space to prove
themselves creative.
The gap between the fees of actors was too high in past.
When first tiered actor used to get 300 thousands rupees, the second tiered
actors used to get only 100 thousands. But now in digital generation, there is
no big gap in payment.
The digital technology also changed the release of films
from vertical to horizontal system. Nepali films used to release with only six
prints in 120 stations of the country in previous days. Due to shortage of
prints, films have to be shown through vertically ranked cities. But nowadays
every film gets horizontal nationwide release through the digital projection.
Today's producers get back their investment within few weeks.
Following the above mentioned argument we can say that
it would be better if we follow the horizontal star system. It will be suitable
for country like Nepal because film making is not only suffered by lack of
money, here, also enduring the limitation of market.
