[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

First time feature director Penny Vozniak dropped by the Rue Morgue Studio of Bollywood Horror to discuss her film DESPITE THE GODS, a documentary that details Jennifer Lynch’s ill fated attempts to direct a Bollywood Horror Movie about a Nagin, a shape shifting snake woman. This film was released in 2010 only in India under the title HISSS. Of course, Jennifer Lynch is the daughter of legendary filmmaker David Lynch and is responsible for such films as BOXING HELENA and SURVEILLANCE.

DESPITE THE GODS had its world premiere here in Toronto at the 2012 HOT DOCS International Documentary Film Festival.

Fans of compelling films about the making of films will not want to miss this docography, exhumentary, cinementary or whatever this subgenre of documentaries is called. Whatever you call it, DESPITE THE GODS is destined to be a classic.

Endure,

:- FDBK

http://rue-morgue.com/2012/05/rue-mo...penny-vozniak/

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Apparently, HISSS is available in the States through NETFLIX'S streaming services.

Thanks to Jason Brashier for the info!

FDBK

[ROBERT BLACK]

Originally Posted by Stuart Feedback Andrews

Apparently, HISSS is available in the States through NETFLIX'S streaming services.

Thanks to Jason Brashier for the info!

FDBK

It's also on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Dxw...9BC063522EFAF7

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Have you seen it yet, Mr. Black?

p.s. I don't really like to watch films on the computer but I might 'acquire' this one to watch on DVD.

[ROBERT BLACK]

Originally Posted by Stuart Feedback Andrews

Have you seen it yet, Mr. Black?

p.s. I don't really like to watch films on the computer but I might 'acquire' this one to watch on DVD.

I attempted to. I haven't seen the documentary but I'd hazard a guess and say that the film was drastically re-cut in part to very restrictive Indian censorship. Whatever the reasons it's rendered the film pretty silly and not a little bit incomprehensible.

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Yeah, the film was taken from Lynch and recut. She resents that her name is still attached to the film and claims to have not seen the version that was released in India.

[impossiblefunky]

I've been a little afraid of watching HISSS - trying to remember why. Might have been a cheesy website or poster. The original trailer intrigued me. Now I really want to see it as a double feature with Despite the Gods. I love these kind of meta-docs.

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Originally Posted by impossiblefunky

meta-docs.

Hmmm.....you should've entered the last contest.

[ROBERT BLACK]

Enlightening interview and a fine job Stuart. I can't say I cared very much for Penny's culturally sensitive take on the Indian film industry. If you really want to know about how nightmarish it is for a Westerner shooting a film in India you may consider interviewing z movie auteur Fred Olen Ray on the subject. He's shot two films back to back there that I know of and he didn't mince words about his experiences when asked. This is not to undermine the fact that India produces in excess of 800 films a year quite successfully I might add, but considering how disorganized and haphazard the process there is you have to wonder how so many films are even completed.

[Stuart Feedback Andrews]

Well, as Penny mentioned in the interview, she's friends with the producer of HISSS, Govind Menon, so obviously that influences the 'culturally sensitive' perspective you've correctly pointed out.

And while I don't have any immediate plans to track down Mr. Olen Ray (not that there would be anything wrong with that), I do have an interview coming up in a few weeks with someone who also made a film in India. And that's an interesting episode as well!

But thanks for listening and for taking the time to post comments.

[impossiblefunky]

Will Keenan has some interesting observations on an American filmmaker in India, too.