Film (Conversations 1968 - 1974)

Expressions researched:
"film" |"filmed" |"filming" |"filmings" |"filmmakers" |"films"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Suppose if we take film, very long film, what will be the cost?

Questions and Answers -- Montreal, August 26, 1968:

Prabhupāda: Dāmodara, what is the price of these films?

Dāmodara: Price of the films?

Prabhupāda: Suppose if we take film, very long film, what will be the cost?

Dāmodara: Well, in an eight-millimeter, the size film that you saw last night, the other night, it's not very expensive. It costs a little more than a dollar a minute for, you know. So if there was an hour and a half film, it might cost $150. Not much. But to make a film of the quality that's seen in the theater, it's very expensive. An hour and a half film, it's not unusual, a hundred thousand dollars.

Prabhupāda: (laughing) Oh!

Dāmodara: That's quite a bit of difference. You see, when you have sound on a film it makes it very expensive. And the proper lighting. It takes a long time to make a film that has the right quality. It's expensive.

Prabhupāda: So why don't you get a financier? We can give so many ideas of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and we have got our players.

If you can take up filming the Bhagavad-gītā, I can direct you.

Questions and Answers -- Montreal, August 26, 1968:

Dāmodara: Brahmānanda mentioned that I should write to some foundations, groups...

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dāmodara: ...and I'll do so. There are a couple I've thought of. Making films on Vedic scriptures-they'll be interested in them.

Prabhupāda: Hm. (pause) Yes.

Devotee: Somebody said you want to film the Bhagavad-gītā, Swamiji?

Prabhupāda: Yes. If you can take up, I can direct you. (exclamations from guests)

Devotee: In Sanskrit or in English?

Prabhupāda: English. Yes.

Devotee: OK, Swamiji. (laughter)

This is not modern war. There are many modern war films. You can present that. But it is different kind of war. So if you want to present Bhagavad-gītā as it is, then these things will be required.

Questions and Answers -- Montreal, August 26, 1968:

Devotee: You can rent elephants.

Prabhupāda: You can rent, but how many you can rent?

Devotee: Well, how many do we need? (laughter)

Prabhupāda: You know, there is, there were eighteen akṣauhiṇī senā, eighteen groups of akṣauhiṇī. One akṣauhiṇī, so many hundred thousands of soldiers, so many hundred thousands of chariots, so many hundred thousands of elephants, horses. That is one group. Such eighteen groups were present there. At least, to make a successful scene we require at least fifty elephants to make a show. And chariots. Then it will be something scenic. Bhagavad-gītā, I think, has not been attempted by any cinema company for this reason. It is very difficult to make arrangement for the war scene. This is not modern war. There are many modern war films. You can present that. But it is different kind of war. So if you want to present Bhagavad-gītā as it is, then these things will be required.

Devotee: Are there elephants available in India, Swamiji?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Elephants, there are many in India. Elephants, camels, horses also. Still there are many.

Devotee: Could we film on location, on the battlefield?

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. The battlefield is still existing, Kurukṣetra. Yes. It is about hundred..., about within two hundred miles from Delhi. It is not far off.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Any film shown, when it is killing film as is very much popular. Shooting film is very popular.

Interview -- July 5, 1972, New York:

Prabhupāda: Lord Jesus Christ says "Thou shalt not kill", but I think cent percent of the Christian people, they are very much engaged in killing. So there are, I mean, disobeying the laws of God. Don't you think? What is..., what is the value? And if you disobey the laws of God, then what is your religion? It is simply show. God says, or God's representative, God's son, Jesus Christ says, that "Thou shalt not kill," but the whole Christian world, the killing art is very much favored. Maintaining slaughterhouse, shooting in sports, and creating (indistinct), and so many things, simply killing. And any film shown, when it is killing film as is very much popular. Shooting film is very popular.

Film is ready? Where is he? He has gone?

Morning Walk -- October 15, 1972, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: (Hindi) Accha. If you want to take photo, you can take.

Indian: If you wish, you can take photo.

Prabhupāda: Is it ready? Film is ready? Where is he? He has gone?

Śyāmasundara: You can take photos of the Deities if you like.

Devotee (1): He has gone to the other side.

Prabhupāda: All right.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

We can see the film of Ratha-yātrā, but we are no more interested to see ordinary film.

Room Conversation -- August 11, 1973, Paris:

Devotee: How does transcendental knowledge burn to ashes the reactions of sinful...

Prabhupāda: Yes. If you always engage your mind in transcendental topics, naturally all other nonsense topics will be stopped. Or you'll have no interest in such topics. That is burned down. Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anya... (SB 11.2.42). That is the test. If you increase your devotion, then you'll be not interested in ordinary things. Just like our devotees, they are no more interested in the worldly topics. They do not like to go to the cinema. That is no more interest. We can see the film of Ratha-yātrā, but we are no more interested to see ordinary film.

This time I was present in the Ratha-yātrā. Yesterday, they were showing me the film. It was very successful.

Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris:

Professor: You had a yātrā, I guess, in San Francisco, didn't you?

Prabhupāda: Yes, Ratha-yātrā, yes.

Professor: That was for the first time in '68, I guess.

Prabhupāda: This time I was present in the Ratha-yātrā. Yesterday, they were showing me the film. It was very successful. Ten thousand people participated.