CinéV-CHD | InTheWorks Lab
Navigating Your Film at the Rough Cut Stage | RUCHA PATHAK
Producers and Directors usually or mostly make films to get them out into the world. We would like the audience to see what we have produced or directed, we want them to hear our voice through our films, and we want to reach as many people as we can manage. Ultimately filmmaking is a business - a remarkable blend of art and commerce when we get it right.
A filmmaker’s world can be really lonely till we get the film ready. Sure it is team work all through the filming of it, but it starts off lonely at the writing stage and it gets lonely at the editing stage. The rough cut stage is where the filmmaker and the film are probably at their most vulnerable. Here is where we wonder – what kind of film have I directed or produced? What are people going to think about it? Will anyone come and watch it? And can I reach out to the audience with what I have? Most importantly, is my story coming through; will they get what I’m trying to say??
This is where InTheWorks Labs at CinéV-CHD (March 20-23, 2025, Chandigarh) comes in. Here is where you can share your film at the rough cut stage and realize that you’re not alone. Here is where you can meet creative minds who have faced the same dilemmas you probably have, albeit in different ways. Here is where filmmaking can be at its collaborative best – when you meet and work with people who are as passionate about storytelling as you are, and who are as enthusiastic as you are for your own film. A group of mentors who can give you a perspective on your film, documentary, or series.
So do make the most of this platform to get an idea of how you can reach out with your project.
In the business one sees great collaborative work. We have seen how Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane have always been vulnerable with one another and shared their work to get each other’s perspective; Ram Madhvani’s brain trust – where he tests his work with his trusted creative minds. Here is a chance for you to create your own brain trust to help you get your film out into the world.
About Rucha (Head, InTheWorks Lab, CinéV-CHD)
Rucha Pathak is an independent Producer with over 25 years of experience in the Indian film Industry. She recently produced the comedy Madgaon Express for Excel Entertainment and is completing 120 Bahadur (under production at Excel Entertainment)..
Rucha was previously the Chief Creative Officer at Fox Star Studios where she set up a robust film and development pipeline with Neerja, Jolly LLB 2, Phillauri, India’s Most Wanted, The Gentleman, Chhapaak, and Panga. Her films Lootcase and Dil Bechara were hits on Disney-Hotstar.
In UTV Motion Pictures, Rucha actively backed innovative scripts with films like Barfi, Mumbai Meri Jaan etc. She helped build the very successful UTV Spotboy brand that was the forerunner of cutting-edge content and path-breaking cinema in the Indian film industry, having produced films like Dev D, Paan Singh Tomar, No One Killed Jessica, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Aamir, Chillar Party, Anybody Can Dance, etc.
Rucha also independently produced Harud (Autumn) which was selected in Competition at the Toronto International Film Festival 2010 and was a winner of the Don Quixote award at Fribourg International Film Festival in 2011. Her Indie cinema journey also includes winning the top prize at Open Doors, Locarno Film Festival.