JAX BROADS, Director/Editor
I've worked as an independent film editor for over 20 years with a proclivity for character and authenticity. With the emergence of 'reality' tv, my documentary jobs were few and far between. I missed cutting and watching true stories. I'd always danced as a hobby, and in 2004 a friend suggested we take a Bollywood dance class. I was immediately seduced by the combination of technique, grace and narrative that characterized this style. While the dancers were of many ethnic backgrounds and welcoming to all, they were predominantly of South Asian descent. I was astounded at the commitment so many of these hard-working mostly corporate professionals were willing to make for a 'hobby.' What I discovered in them was a longing to connect with their past that didn't contradict their present. I created "Bollywood, NYC" to share this engaging and infectious art form with a broader audience.
RABIA SULTANA, Producer
Rabia is a British-Pakistani Archaeologist turned Filmmaker. She has worked as both producer and assistant director on several projects including the feature films "Extra Innings", "Angelfish" and "Truth about Santa Claus".
Her documentary work includes “Contrôle d'Identité” and “Children of Chile”.
Rabia was raised on Bollywood movies, and international cinema has influenced her approach to storytelling. She is excited by “Bollywood, NYC” which raises cultural issues while still celebrating the South Asian community.
MATT LAVINE, Producer
Matt produced the award-winning theatrical and PBS-broadcast feature documentary film, "Four Seasons Lodge". He coproduced the award-winning nationally theatrically released feature doc, "Tying the Knot".
Matt’s love of Bollywood started by attending NYC’s downtown ‘Desilicious’ queer/South Asian dance parties in the 2000s.
JENNIFER COX, Director of Photography
Jennifer is a filmmaker with a background in both Architecture and Fine Art.
Her award-winning work has aired on National Geographic, The History Channel, ESPN, LifeTime and Odyssey Network
SANDHYA JAIN PATEL/CULTURE PRISM
DEI/Cultural Consultant
Sandhya was with the department of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art at Christie’s New York for 13 years, culminating as VP and Department Head. She was the Executive director of Wrightwood 659 and DEI Manager at Lucasfilm. Her company, Culture Prism, provides insight and guidance on diversity, inclusivity, and authenticity
KELLY HARGRAVES, Advisory Board
Kelly Hargraves is a dance film creator and curator. She co-founded the Los Angeles festival of dance film in 2001 and was named the Executive and Artistic Director of Dance Camera West in 2018. She has been a board member of the Silver Lake Film Festival and the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival. She has been a dance reviewer for Eye Spy LA, Dance Insider, Ballet-Tanz International, Danceonline.com, Cover Magazine and Dance Connection Magazine.
VALERIE SOE, Advisory Board
Soe is an award-winning filmmaker, artist, writer and educator.
Her experimental videos, installations, and documentary films have received dozens of awards, grants, and commissions, and have exhibited at venues such as the J. Paul Getty Museum in LA, the Museum of Modern Art, and the New Museum in NYC, on cable and broadcast television, and at film festivals worldwide.
Her feature documentary, LOVE BOAT: TAIWAN, was released in 2019.
She currently teaches courses in Asian American film history, media production, and photography at San Francisco State University.
JOIA SPECIALE, Director of Photography
Joia was nominated for an Emmy for her cinematography on the A&E TV series "Intervention". Documentary films include: "A Hole In The Sky" and "Robin Hitchcock: Sex Food, Death … and Insects". She has worked for Sundance Channel and Discovery, shot an episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s web series "Comedian’s in Cars Getting Coffee" and taught cinematography for the graduate documentary program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
NIRAJ CHAG, Composer
Niraj is a London-based composer and artist whose work spans from albums, to film scores, theatre and live events.
He composed the Emmy Award winning and Bafta Nominated "The Power of Art, The Age of Terror" (2008), "Darwin’s Dangerous Idea" (BBC2, 2008), "Origins of Us" (2011) and "The Rise of the Continents" (BBC/Discovery Channel, 2013).
He created a piece using over 600 musicians and vocalists for the 2008 official Olympic Torch event on London's South Bank, and composed the music for the West End Bollywood musical "Wah! Wah! Girls"
JAPJIT KAUR, Lyricist
Japjit is a prolific singer-songwriter and actor. She is a nominee
for the Karamveer Chakra award and the UK Bhangra award.
Japjit's work includes the multi award winning play Nirbhaya. She has recorded and written on several critically acclaimed albums including The Lost Souls and Mud Doll by Niraj Chag.
Additional Crew:
Cinematographers:
Craig Marsden
Amy Bench
Tabha Joshi
Andreas Vingaard
Piibe Kolka
Additional Photography:
Arati Menon
Lisa Futterman
Editor:
Jessie Weiner
Sound Mixer:
Dayana Capulong
Choreography:
Pooja Narang
Seema Iyer
Payal Kadakia
Rehan Qureshi
Ruby Verma
Chandan Hingorani
Saroj Khan
Sonia Mukherji
Aditya Madiraju
Mary Saragoussi
Additional Dancers:
Aalia Ali
Ricki Bagwah
Andrea Beeman
Patricia Belmont
Hallie-Simone Bolden
Kristin Carey
Resha Chandak
Elise Cuevas
Shobita Das
Raviraj Gulrajani
Mickela Mallozzi
Anusha Rao
Sitij Agrawal
Vikas Sharma
Harteg Wariyar
Chatur Advani
Mohsan Seed
Kate Hamilton
Brad McVetta
Naleena Ramchandani
Mehak Punatar
Maki Nakano
Priyanka Patel
Khyate Dave
S. Lalitha Cosme
Jeremy Davidson
Devon Lubar
Joan Caddell & The Midnight Choir:
Joan Caddell
Scott Caddell
Dave Stoler
Sal Azzarelli
Nicole Asserelli
Robert Bocignone
Special Thanks:
Geeta Iyer
David Boyer
Chaia Heller
Meryl & Steve Weiner
Pooja Bakri
Aneesha Balchandani
Mridu Chandra
Duana Butler
Sandi Dubowski
David Thorpe
Jennifer Perrotta
Padmini K. Aiyer
Uma Swaminathan
Navatman
Gibney Dance
Ripley Grier
Champions Dance
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