Ever since the early 2010s, OTT platforms have been slowly shaping how we consume our entertainment media. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu have been instrumental in changing the global film industry and how we consume our entertainment. Bangladesh caught up rather soon, with the release of Bioscope in 2014; the country is slowly shifting towards an OTT-heavy film industry. Currently, Hoichoi and Chorki are the go-to places for audiences to consume their Bangladeshi films and series. But how has this impacted the industry?
TBS Graduates sat down with Ashfaque Nipun, the critically acclaimed filmmaker and director whose works focus on social realism, power dynamics and struggles of ordinary people, to talk about the influence of OTT platforms in the entertainment industry, along with his own works.
1) Given the subject matter that you tend to work with, has it been easier since the advent of OTP platforms?
In a word, yes, but I have always worked with these subjects. Previously, when we had to work solely for television, I worked with topics such as extrajudicial killings, question paper leaks, corruption, etc., and these were works that were for Eid. These were all topics that I worked on and made for the purposes of entertainment.
But it is true that currently I have a lot more freedom to work with my chosen subject matter. The audience that I work for is now a lot more niche. The censorship is more relaxed. So, I can work with topics that are a few notches riskier and larger than I used to, such as social taboos, political topics, etc.
2) How has it impacted the financial area of the industry?
Undoubtedly, it has made a huge difference in the industry. Back in the days when we had to work with the television industry, we had a lot more budget constraints. It was difficult for us to tell our stories according to our liking. The audience was sympathetic towards us as well. They understood that the filmmakers had to work with a tight budget to bring out their work.
Additionally, nowadays we have the budget to afford high-quality postproduction, sound design, and costume design departments, both from local people and from places such as Singapore, Bangkok and India. This has allowed us to improve our standards of work.
3) How has the process of work improved?
Working with the OTT platform budget has drastically changed the workflow for the better. I work with Hoichoi, and their workflow is different from television. Previously, we had only a few days maximum to create a 40- to 50-minute drama. Now we get almost a month for a nine-episode series.
The bigger budget has allowed us to create work that is more honed and of a higher quality. You can see this difference clearly when you see the transition made by a director, who previously only had a budget of a few lacs to now of 40-50 lakhs. More often than not, the director is not prepared for this transition and doesn’t know how to properly utilise the funds. This is slowly changing nowadays as directors are working with OTT platforms.
4) Do you think this impact has largely been a positive one for everyone out there?
Definitely. You can see that the quality of work has improved a lot. Nowadays every film or series that is released has many dedicated departments behind it. This was not the case before.
Now you can see the impact it has had on cinema. Each production has a dedicated VFX department and costume department. There is higher quality in PPM, postproduction, and sound design. These all contribute to the recent success of the industry.
5) What do you think about the indie film industry of Bangladesh?
The indie film industry is brilliant. Some of the directors out there, such as Mahdi Amin and Nuruzzaman, make incredible films. One such shining example is Abdullah Mohammad Saad. He recently went to the Cannes Film Festival, and it’s heartwarming to see the recognition he got for his work.
He makes movies in such a way that portray stories outside our traditional norms. He doesn’t care about anyone when he comes up with these stories, and it’s good to see him making it big.
The indie film industry is really fascinating. I hope that in Eid we get to see such films on screen along with traditional commercial stuff.
6) For any aspiring young directors out there, what should they do to hone their craft?
Social media and the internet have made it quite easier for people to access international films and media. Nowadays you can see any movie from any country; this was not the case when we were growing up, and I believe the young directors should take advantage of this opportunity.
Now the sky is the limit. So, you should put yourself out there and experiment with your work. But you must always be true to yourself and be honest to your craft. The audience will forgive any mistake that you might make if you are honest with your work. So that is the key.
7) What is next for Ashfaque Nipun?
Well, my next project, Jimmi, is set to be released on 28th March on Hoichoi. It is currently in postproduction. Jaya Ahsan will be the lead, and I have tried to do something new by venturing into the Black comedy genre.
We are already in an unstable situation, so I didn’t want to tell another ‘serious’ story in a serious way. So, I have tried to tell the story of a middle-class family from a unique perspective.