Chasing Windmills
The film Chasing Windmills is in development. It is set in the Himalayas in India.
GM Inc.
The film GM Inc is in development. It is set in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Independent film The Journey, directed and produced by Harish Saluja stars Roshan Seth, Saeed Jaffrey (both were in Gandhi) and Carrie Preston (My Best Friend’s Wedding).
The film (a comedy/drama) was shown in various Film Festivals around the world. It won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Florida Film Festival and the Best Independent Film award at the Cleveland Film Festival.
A family-oriented film, The Journey received excellent reviews. In Variety, Emanuel Levy wrote: “technically accomplished directorial debut from Harish Saluja. This nicely executed cross-cultural, cross-generational seriocomedy deserves to be seen on the big screen, particularly in cities with Indian (and other immigrant) communities.”
“Reminiscent of Ang Lee’s debut Pushing Hands. Touching, life-affirming tale.” -Mill Valley Film Festival, K. Wolff
The Journey has been on BskyB in UK, on Bravo channel in South America. It had a theatrical run in most major cities in India.
Cast
Roshan Seth
Roshan (Kishan Singh) has had an illustrious career in theater, film and television. Selected film credits: Mississippi Masala, My Beautiful Launderette, A Passage to India, London Kills Me, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Gandhi, Street Fighter, Stalin, Electric Moon, Bideshi, Not Without My Daughter, Mountains of the Moon, First Burn, Little Dorrit, Deadline, Partition, The Happy Valley.
Saeed Jaffrey
Saeed (Ashok) has done extensive theater and film work throughout India, the U.K. and the U.S. His credits encompass: Satyajit Ray’s The Chessplayers, My Beautiful Launderette, Gandhi, A Passage to India, The Man Who Would be King with Michael Caine and Sean Connery, The Deceiverswith Pierce Brosnan, and The Wilby Conspiracy with Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier.
Carrie Preston
Carrie (Laura Singh) has performed on broadway. Her role as Miranda in The Tempest received for her a spotlight in the New York Times’ Up & Coming section. Prior to filming The Journey, Carrie completed work on My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts.
Antony Zaki
Antony (Raj Singh) is a London-based actor who has credits ranging from theater to film and TV: The Governor II, Gypsy Magic, Little Orphan Annie and Young Indiana Jones.
Betsy Zajko
Betsy (Audrey) has been seen in Hollywood Pictures’ Money for Nothing and Columbia Pictures’ Striking Distance.
Nora Bates
The Journey is Pittsburgh native Nora’s (Jenny) film debut.
Michael Emerson
Michael has numerous credits including a significant role in the TV series ‘Lost’.
Awards
- Best Independent Film Award – Cleveland Film Festival
- Audience Award for Best Feature Film – Florida Film Festival
- Bronze Carp Award – Seattle Asian American Film Festival
Reviews
One priceless scene after another?Technically accomplished directorial debut from Harish Saluja?Deserves to be seen on the big screen?Pic?s tech credits are appealing, particularly John Rice?s lensing of outdoor sequences?
-Variety, Emanuel Levy
Charming. The best moments recall Satyajit Ray?s final film, The Stranger.
-Seattle Times, John Hartl
A warm and funny film.
-The Chicago Film Festival
I think (Satyajit) Ray would be pleased with Mr. Saluja?s first effort.
-Arts Review, John Baker
The Journey is stuffed with interesting fragments?It?s beautifully photographed? Lovely piece of work.
-Pittsburgh Tribune review, Ed Blank
Reminiscent of Ang Lee?s debut Pushing Hands. Touching, life-affirming tale.
-Mill Valley Festival, K. Wolff
If you believe Indian filmmakers can make a serious film without relying on old stereotypes and sexually deviant characters, then “The Journey” will please you with realism.
-Girish Khera
Funny, endearing film
-The Slant, an Online Magazine
Comedy aside, however, the real value of this wonderfully realized narrative is its approach to life?. the film leaves an indelible mark for its appropriate balance of broad comedy, home-spun humor and touching metaphysics
-Harvey Karten
Festivals
A list of some of the festivals attended: Seattle Film Festival, June 1997, World Premiere
- Seattle Film Festival, June 1997, World Premiere
- Florida Film Festival, June 1997, East Coast Premiere, Audience Award ‘Best Film’
- Smithsonian, Indian Embassy, August 1997, Special Honor Screening
- Vancouver Film Festival, September 1997, 4.1 Audience Rating (1-5 scale)
- Mill Valley Film Festival, October 1997, Sell Out
- Seattle Asian American Film Festival,
- Chicago International Film Festival.
- Three Rivers Film Festival
- Mumbai Film Festival
- South Asian Film Festival Florida
- San Francisco Asian American Film Festival
- Cleveland Film Festival, ‘Best Independent Film’
- Singapore Film Festival
- Sedona International Film Festival
- St. Louis Film Festival
- Filmfest DC
- Kerala, Trivandrum (India)
Crew
Produced And Directed By – Harish Saluja
Director Of Photography – John Rice
Associate Producer – Jane Aseniero
Casting – Caroline Sinclair
Music By – Chris Hughes
Editor – Tom Dubensky
Screenplay By – Harish Saluja And Lisa Kirk Puchner
Screenplay Development By – Heather Hartley, Diana Osberg, Renee Depalma
Unit Production Manager – Jeff Stimmel
First Assistant Director – Steve Parys
Second Assistant Director – David H. Weinstein
2nd Second Assistant Director – Ron Recio
Gaffer – Eris Baca
Best Boy – Jeff Vandermolen
Generator Operator – Phil Salvato
Electrician – Bob Lumboski
Key Grip – Bart Flaherty
Best Boy – Brian Buzzelli
Dolly Grip – Gregory L. Edwards
First Assistant Camera – Andrew M. Cohen
Second Assistant Camera – Ingrid Grimes
Video Assit – Durayshavar Bachooali
Still Photographer – Robin Marie Cobb
Script Supervisor – Nicole Petitpierre
Sound Mixer – Skeeter Jarvis
Boom Operator – Jarrett H. Buba
Pittsburgh Casting – Donna Belajac
Sound Designer – Bernard Hayden
Post Production Sound – Sound Dimensions, Ny
Stereo Consultants – Daniel W. Victor, Jr., Fred Rivas
Prop Master – Paul Bucciarelli
Art Director – Elaheh Ferrari
Set Dresser – Holly Gessler
On-Set Dresser – Samir Desai
Props Assistant – Bridget Conrad
Key Wardrobe – Tammy S. Mahramas
Make-Up – Patty Bell
Assistant Make-Up – Craig Hicks
Hairdresser – Sandie Scott
Production Coordinator – Hope Ann Nathan
Production Accountant – Mona Rice
Locations Manager – Brian Keith Soloman
Key Set P.A. – David J. Jose
Set P.A. – Jason Winn Bareford
Craft Service – Al Miner
Transportation – Mary Beth Mcdonough
Legal Counsel – Marcia Grimes, Eli Kabillo
Publicity – Deborah Ervin
Administrative Assistant – Debbie Mackulin
Payroll – Pat Yasurek, Dick George
Website Manager – Ashlee Caul