Interview with Gotham Chopra of Virgn comics
Vijay Sappani - February 02, 2006
This is an interview I did with GC for Weekly Voice in Canada and for a few other blogs that I write for. GC is not aware that I'm publishing this in Intent, but then you guys do deserve to read it too.
1. The Indian comics market is nowhere as mature as that in the United States. Further, earlier comics ventures have not had as much success as one might expect. What's different about Virgin Comics? Apart from the big names and creative talent, what is the key factor?
Our goal from day one has not been just to build a comic book or publishing company but a media and entertainment company that uses comics as the vehicle to create powerful properties that we can spin off into a variety of ancillary media opportunities. While the Indian comic market may not be fully matured or developed (mostly because of distribution) we do think it is a very dynamic and evolving one. It is also an innovative market in general as it related to entertainment and consumption of it. The digital and mobile evolution of India is staggering and something that we definitely plan to focus. All that said, ultimately what we hope will define us and our success will be the quality of our stories and characters. And that's an area that is a tremendous priority for us, insuring that we are churning out stories that people love.
2. Current TV is perhaps the future of Television, in one sense. Are there plans to launch it in South Asia, and do you think it would work?
The international market in general is definitely a priority for Current's expansion. As mentioned before, I think India and South Asia is a very vibrant and innovative marketplace when it comes to media and entertainment and enormously fertile in my opinion for the type of creativity that Current fosters. I think in India, however, you really have to be working with the right credible partner to be successful. And that takes some careful consideration and patience.
3. What are your perceptions of the moves towards openness in South Asia? How can the Internet and sites like IntentBlog, Desicritics, etc. help foster this openness?
Blogs, digital cameras, laptop computers, and other innovations have really opened up the medium of expression and creativity and enabled a degree of media democracitization. But democracy - even opening up the media - requires patience and practice so i think experiments like intentblog, desicritics, and others are all very essential in empowering the everyday voice and creator to get involved and part of the process.
4. Series like X-men, etc., and the whole superhero mythos were successful in part because of the individualism of the American mindset, and American exceptionalism. How would this translate to the Indian ethos?
When I look at the superheroes that defined American culture, I see a man vs. science themology: spiderman getting his powers from a radio-active spider, the incredible Hulk getting his powers via a nuclear accident. Japan brought us the man vs. machine themology with stories like Godzilla and the birth of robotics gone awry. I think when we look at the Indian/Asian themology, we see a man vs. mythology themology. Whereas in the west, heroes often charted out their own destinies, our cultural stories often find heroes dealing with issues of their fate, challenging it or alternatively facing it. This is increasingly a narrative structure that I think is resonating even in the west. When we look at some of the most popular stories and films of the last few years, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter, we see those sensibilities.
5. Are you planning to use Marvel creative talent, etc. in Virgin Comics?
Our goal is to work with the top creators no matter where in the world they are. We feel strongly that India is an unmined marketplace for this type of talent and are excited about really discovering and fostering it there. But we'll not be help back from working with mavericks wherever they are in the world as our goal is really to make sure that we are creating the best properties possible.
6. What do you think is the role of the New Media like blogs, and how do we get away from the echo chamber effect?
The echo chamber effect? Not sure my lingo is up to par! In general I think blogs and the like are revolutionizing the media and providing a voice to the normal creator and critic who before has been locked out by the establishment. I think it's also enabling us to bring information to one another with an air of subjectivity which is the new trend in news. "Objectivity" (which never existed) is yesterday's fad.
7. Bulletproof Monk was a creative tribute to numerous films. It was also quite entertaining. Any other such films in the works?
No one ever described BPM as a "creative tribute," so thank you! It was a very fun project to work on and something I really learned a lot by being associated with. Currently I have one project set up at Fox Searchlight studios that I am developing that is actually based around the idea of re-incarnation and karma. Not sure when that will end up in the theaters as we are in the early stages of development but am quite excited about it. As for other projects, I am very hopeful that the Virgin Comic and Animation will be the foundation for many new properties that will one day see life on the silver screen. So for now, that's really where my creative focus is going.
8. What is your role in Virgin Comics and how was your motivation to get involved?
I am the Chief Creative Officer and will be overseeing all of the creative development for our original properties. Mainly my motivation comes from the opportunity to be involved in a creative enterprise based out of India. I think there is a very unique opportunity to be part of a real creative renaissance in India. I am so impressed by the tremendous talent I am already working with in India and am excited by where we are headed.
9. When do you plan to hit the streets with the first edition and are you planning to publish them in regional languages too?
Our first four properties will be out in the marketplace in India in July of this year. our intention is really to make them available everywhere. In India, yes we will be printing in about 15 different local languages and hope to make readers proud of what we create!
Digg this entry 
Add to Del.icio.us 
Share on Facebook 
Subscribe
Posted by Vijay Sappani at February 2, 2006 04:54 PM
Comments
WOW..HARD HITTING..##S KISSING
"CUT"
TAKE 2- REAL INTERVIEW ...ACTION
Thanks for posting, Vijay. Nice interview :). Virgin Comics seems like such an exciting idea!
I just saw this site from Vijay's blog page. It is nice to see some of our own Canadian's here too.
This is a great venture and I am surprised I never got to hear about it.
I was reading an article about how the print market in India is booming and all the foreign media groups are now moving to India because of large English readership base there. Three of the top 10 English dailies are from India and this market is expected to boom and grow by 15% every year.
Like any other Indian forum I see there are Pragmatics and sadists visiting this site, which gives a good balanced views of objects.
Thanks
Ganesh
SADIST???????/...OUCH.. YOU MEAN DITTO HEADS
RUSH LIMBAUGH ANYONE??
Vijay,
Thanks for sharing the interview.
Gotham,
Good luck with all your creative endeavors and especially Virgin Comics, which sounds great.
Love,
Donatella
P.S. I love having the alternative of sharing information 'subjectively'. Thanks for Intent.
Wonderful interview, Vijay!
Gotham, this sounds like a marvelous project!! I think it will be a positive influence on the Indian market, when you unfold for them, via the comics; India's legends and folklore!!
I think it's wonderful to bring these icons to the front.... comics can be educative as well as entertaining, and I am placing a bet; that this is where you will stand, to deliver for the public!! Bravo, and all the best, towards launch day!!
North
Hi Divya,
How can you say that India has a more open society than Canada? Perhaps India is more open than US which is subject to argument/discussion but Canadian society is far more open and accepting than US.
I really don't understand your defense against Indian society if you have lived in India, Canada and the US.
India is a country where class system still exists, go down to south India and you will find people proudly proclaiming themselves to be Brahmins. Even in the north, "servants" are usually treated like untouchables. A friend of mine went to India for the first time last year, and he took his so called servant (who was the same age as him) on a road trip, and that offended a lot of people!
Most of the kids in India choose a career which their parents think is best. OR they choose the one which everyone else is doing. There are reasons why Indian DNA = computer career.
Talking about sex or your sex life is still a taboo in India. Having an unconventional sexual orientation is very unaccepted.
Girl child is still considered a burden by a large section of the society.
These are just a few things that make Indian society very closed compared to Canadian.
You are right when you say every society has its own constraints. But the constraints are definitely more in Indian society than in Canadian. Unless you are comparing a very small section of high class Indian society to Canadian.
Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of things about India and I don't blame the people there when most of them are struggling for one meal a day. But these are some obvious differences.
Nimita,
I totally agree your honest opinion about india.
Bottomline India is very difficult place to live.
Cululturally it is most backword society in the world.It is socialist coutry.
And people like divya always make argument that india is great..My advise to her is go back to india for only one week and see day to day life then she will understand difference between india and US.
Jignesh
NIMITA...WELL DONE
HONEST, BALANCED AND OBJECTIVE
Nimita - The problems you outline with regard to India exist in western society to the same extent *if not more.* English-speaking Indians such as you pick up the western criticisms of Indian society and repeat them in the same exact way. In reality, most of the problems Indian society faces have to do with poverty and this just gives the problem an aura of being more acute.
1. Class - Class distinctions exist to the same extent in western society. This was most recently highlighted in New Orleans during Katrina. In contrast, Brahmins in India are extremely poor and do not enjoy any privileges so this is a bad example (simple parroting of the west). There is not one iota of difference in attitudes in the west regarding class except in the amount of lip service paid to it. Because western society is richer than India it appears they are treating the lower classes better. Not true in the least.
2. Career - I don't see what this has to do with being open. Nothing wrong with parents advising their children. It's quite pathetic how in the west everyone wants to be an actor or a dancer and in the name of "finding themselves" they squander their whole lives away. It's actually very sad.
3. Girl Child - This is a particularly Asian phenomenon and does not have a western equivalent. Without going into the scandal of it, please do not fail to note India's liberal stance towards abortion. By contrast the U.S. is somewhere in the middle ages. In addition, the west has its own problems with respect to children. Child abuse is rampant, both sexual and non. Just last week in NY there were two cases, one of a 7 year old and another of a 4 year old being beaten to death by their step-fathers. So before we start pointing fingers at the treatment of children, please do undertake a study of child abuse in the west.
4. Sex - Talking about sex is hardly a measure of enlightenment. I would place restraint and reserve more in that category. In any case, India had *legal* prostitution and homosexuality (and drugs) before the British decided they needed to civilize the natives and they outlawed these practices. It took the west centuries to struggle out of their misplaced beliefs and unfortunately the Indians are now stuck with their stupid laws. Europe has pretty much liberated itself from their bigotry against gays but the situation in the U.S. is certainly not better than it is in India. Also, please note, Indians never ever persecuted, killed, tortured or murdered gays like they do in the west. Since sex is not something that is flaunted, homosexuality is on par with hetrosexuality in terms of openness in India.
I found Vijay and Gotham's stance patronizing because they are coming from the same place as you - which is that the west has something to teach India in this respect. In reality, they have a lot to learn from India.
Divya,
On a global scale, India is economically far ahead of many countries, and socially much ahead of many middle eastern countries. I love and miss India a lot, that doesn't mean I will close my eyes and shut my ears and not accept the shortcomings just because I am an Indian.
Again, the fact that you put US and Canada in the same social category means that you haven't done enough research. I implore you to find out more about Canadian society (about racial acceptance, gayism/lesbianism acceptance and also about abortion).
You are quoting some examples of exceptions from the newspapers. I read about those cases too. Obviously those things are there because of human nature. Are you saying that India is totally free of those cases? I have read infinite examples worse than those in Indian newspapers. Society in general is not defined by extremes.
I can argue and give counter examples of each of the points again, but "I would place restraint and reserve more in that category" :)
I never said West has to teach India, but since you mention it, I believe both can learn from each other:)
peace! have a great weekend everyone!
DIVYA...WELL COOKED..SUBJECTIVE JUNK
EXACTLY HOW RUSH LIMBAUGH MAKES HIS CASE
Nimita - You have essentially come down to saying what I said in my initial post. Social injustice is equally prevalent in both societies. There is no need for anyone to act like their actions or businesses are going to be enlightening the natives. Actually, my response was triggered mostly by irritation at the thought of the "karma and reincarnation" garbage that will be dished out. Otherwise, I would just have wished him luck with the venture.
Well Said, Nimita!
India is having all the issues you mentioned.
And Divya, there is no need to compare India with Western Countries & give justification as that won't solve any of the issue mentioned by Nimita. instead of that, we should better accept the reality as it is & do something to change that. Anyway, why do you think that the thought of "karma & reincarnation" is garbage?
Cheers, Rohit
Just read another good interview with Gotham at http://www.cthings.com
"Perhaps India is more open than US which is subject to argument/discussion but Canadian society is far more open and accepting than US."
-Nimita
Well, I don't want an Canada/US war here but bull no matter what you say,You just cannot compare the freedom of expression of minorities in Canada to US. Zilch. It's a blog that is waiting it happen when I find some time:) but heyll ya, Canada should never be compared to US but the Nordic countries when it comes to civil liberties.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH DIVYA ON HER LAST POST.
THANKS DIVYA FOR BRINGING OTHERWISE RATHER MUNDANE AND BORING PRESENTATION TO LIFE, YOUR INTELLECTUAL AND LINGUISTIC FIRE POWER IS AMAZING THOUGH I DISAGREE WITH YOU AT TIMES I AM A HUGE FAN OF YOUR WRITING..KEEP IT UP AND I ADMIRE YOUR UNIQUE TAKE...MANY TIMES IT MADE ME GO UMMMM.
VIJAY YOU ARE A LIBERAL ACTIVIST SO WHEN YOU PRESTENT SOMETHING PLEASE GIVE US A RED ALERT.
Rohit - I have no idea what you read in my posts or if you even read them at all. I do not deny that India has problems. I simply do not think people in the U.S. can act as if they are in a position to empower India solve her problems since they have even worse problems minus the poverty. As for karma and reincarnation - it's the sterotype that gave me the shudders. Wait and see Gotham's next movie will probably be on cows and curry. When he first talked about this project I was hoping for something that wouldn't just be a run of the mill street peddling of this sort.
Nimita,
"I love and miss India a lot, that doesn't mean I will close my eyes and shut my ears and not accept the shortcomings just because I am an Indian."
Well said. This is what I consider as a hallmark quality of Indian patriot. Way to go.
I am holding you in contempt, beware of South Asian talent born of Western descent then...
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
Recent Posts
- 04/08/08: Outlook - Perspective - Meinung - Pensiero!
- 04/08/08: Is the Universe (including life) a Purposeless Accident? Science of Purpose: Part 1
- 04/08/08: Given that, at base, we are One being, should we always bear in mind that even the most conflicting of views will have common root connections?
- 03/08/08: Stampede in India
- 03/08/08: Are We an Accident?
- 03/08/08: Weekly Intent - Kevin Boon
- 01/08/08: New Life in a New World
- 01/08/08: Breathed By Brahman
- 01/08/08: Dear Kaveri...
- 31/07/08: Imagining God in Color
Recent Comments
-
Rita Raju commented on Interview with Gotham Chopra of Virgn comics
I am holding you in contempt, beware of South A
-
Krish commented on Interview with Gotham Chopra of Virgn comics
Nimita,
"I love and miss India a lot, t
-
TORONTO commented on Interview with Gotham Chopra of Virgn comics
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH DIVYA ON HER LAST POST.
-
Divya commented on Interview with Gotham Chopra of Virgn comics
Rohit - I have no idea what you read in my post
-
Vijay Sappani commented on Interview with Gotham Chopra of Virgn comics
"Perhaps India is more open than US which is su
"What are your perceptions of the moves towards openness in South Asia? How can the Internet and sites like IntentBlog, Desicritics, etc. help foster this openness?" . . .
"so i think experiments like intentblog, desicritics, and others are all very essential in empowering the everyday voice"
Vijay, Gotham - This sounds a bit patronizing. It gives the impression that you believe you live in a more open society than India is. This is not true. US/Canada suffer from their own deceptions, own constraints and are in no way more free or open than India. It is a myth perptuated by the west that the rest of the world is less free than they are. You are just repeating that myth.
Reincarnation and Karma! How typical. Shudders.