By Panchamee HEWAVISSENTI

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Channa Perera - a film director turned actor broadened the prospects of Sinhala movie by "importing" stars from foreign movies which he calls variety trend. He is not hesitant to establish his view that a professional artiste can widen his dimensions economically and socially, in spite of fallacious belief that the job of a professional artiste is not lucrative.

Here are the excerpts from that interview:

You captured many a heart as a capable and dashing actor. Then you turned to be a tele drama and a film director. If we take for example, the tele series that you have directed, obviously the children's adventure themes, out-number the ordinary themes. Is there any special reason for you to make your debut as a director in children's series?

That field was not vastly touched by any director before. It was somewhat difficult for me to familiarize to the audience my first children's series - Punchi Weerayo. It was an absolutely new series and I wanted to do something new rather than following a traditional method; that's why I embarked on such a new theme. That adventure series became popular and I was encouraged to continue with the children's series.

There is another story behind that. When I was a kid I used to read a lot of action packed story books; among them, Famous Five and Secret Seven were the most frequently read. The germ of doing something of that nature deeply rooted itself in my mind when I was a little child and I could accomplish my dream after gathering more experience by being involved in the filed for a long time.

Are you preparing to direct another film?

Yes. I will do it with the use of advanced technology. HD technology is completely new to the Sri Lankan film industry. It notes for its high capacity to produce high quality visuals and audio. Though it's expensive.

I am of the view that the films done using such advanced technology will undoubtedly grab the Sri Lankan market.

Channa Perera first came to the lime light as an actor. Now you have become a tele drama and a film director. Could you give an honest statement of what you like most out of these two enterprises?

Both the trades give me pleasurable feelings in the same quantity.

Directing demands much more responsibility than acting and it gives a sense of accomplishment along with the satisfaction.

But I'm determined to be choosy in acting since I have acted in more than hundred creations. But still I would say, I like them both.

Some actors prefer acting in films to acting in tele dramas. We would like know where your preference goes...

During my initial stage I made my contribution to tele dramas in a great deal. Yet, now I highly prefer films to tele dramas. But still I do have a great respect for tele dramas since people got to know Channa Perera through them.

Have you totally stepped away from making your contributions to tele dramas?

No, but my contribution to acting in tele dramas is comparatively less. My recent tele drama starring me is yet to be released.

Like most other actors, did you too make your debut as a stage drama actor?

Yes. I highly respect the stage because, for a novice, there's lot to learn from the stage.

When you had the passion to be an actor, did you have the idea to be a full time actor?

Yes, I wanted to be a full time actor, but in the face of my parents' vehement protest, I had to give acting the second priority with my job.

What of your job?

I really didn't have an interest in my job though I had to work at the Commercial Bank due to my parents' tremendous request. But during that time I was involved in acting and didn't let my passion die a natural death. I worked at the bank for three years and then I realized that I should do what I was interested in rather than wasting my time on what I really didn't like.

After you gave up the bank job, did you involve yourself in the tele drama and film industry on full time basis?

Yes. I'm professional in this field. I have a huge range of prospects in this field as an actor, director, producer and I also make my presence in commercial advertisements.

Although some people are infallibly of the view that being a full time artiste is not a lucrative career at all...do you have any strong points to counter that argument?

Yes of course! I am a good example of that nature. I am a professional artiste and I am well off. I am not involved in any other profession. I am proud to say that I can earn as much as or more than what other professionals earn. Do you believe that I invested in the major part of my wife's business venture - that's to start a beauty centre with the money that I earned being in this field?

This idea is an utter myth that people strongly hold on to. What I have to say is, if you can manage everything in a proper way, you can come up in whatever trade you are engaged in. Let there be no doubts about this, that any one who has a strong desire to be a professional artiste can survive without any difficulty. I'm not the only one who depends on this as a profession, I would say there are plenty in the country and there's a big tendency for it.

On the other hand some say that Sri Lankan film industry is at a low ebb and those who are professional are unable to survive....

I agree with the fact that our film industry was one time at a critical stand point. That was due to the unsuccessful films done. Most of them were based on Hindi movies - those were copy cats of Hindi movies. When the audience can watch the original which is rich in taste, why should they go for the second best? Those films were not up to good standard and the Sri Lankan audience lost the interest in them.

I personally believe that if you can produce a good creation, undoubtedly you can grab a large audience.

When we take Bollywood film industry for example, you can find up and coming actors and actresses in abundance. Unfortunately Sri Lanka has a limited number of such actors. Do you agree with that fact?

Yes I do. But then again it is relative. Why I'm saying this is that India is a big country in comparison to Sri Lanka

What can be the reason for the young generation to deviate from film and tele drama industry?

The younger generation gives the film and tele drama industry the second priority. They are more job oriented and they often want to convince others that they're holding such big position in a particular company and so on. But hardly any one likes to tell that he/she is an actor or actress by profession.

There was a deeply rooted myth in society that acting is not a stable career. I do not think that notion still holds meaning when you look at the number of young people who like to make their foray into this field. I think the attitude inspired by the aforementioned myth, hinders a youngster to emerge as an actor. I do not say that there are no new comers. There are numerous lucrative opportunities for youngsters and the probability of their entrance into this field is quite less.

You are of the view that nowadays youngsters are enthusiastic in entering this highly competitive field?

Yes of course! Not only youngsters, parents too are keen on seeing their child on screen. There are parents who force their children to act in tele dramas and films.

I can cite a fine example. When I advertised for actors and actresses for my children's series, I received a vast range of applications and I still have them in store. That shows how enthusiastic the parents are to make their children popular.

Don't you think that the young crowd goes much behind the overnight popularity and they are less likely to learn the art and make their debut?

Yes. That is the most convenient way for a novice to go behind mere popularity without acquiring a thorough knowledge on the subject. What they want is to draw sudden attention. They are less committed and dedicated. Some times when they have to act in a bit tough role they are more likely to quit the role in the mid way, so the directors often find it difficult to see a satisfactory finish of the creation.

There is a group of talented novices who knows the art is more likely to survive in the field.

You stated that if someone is aspiring to enter this field, he or she should learn about it. But there's hardly any recognised institution to teach the art.....

You can't say that we are totally deprived of that facility. There are institutions which teach the art but I cannot say a word about the standard of such courses. What I feel is that the government should take the initial step.In other countries, the actors have a truly academic background. I think an institution to impart this knowledge is a long felt need.

You say that we don't have enough facilities to train up and coming actors and they are not up to good standard. Is that why you have selected an actress from India to act in your film?

That is a complete myth. I never wanted to get an actress down from the Kolleywood and promote her in my films. What really happened was a different story.

When I was writing the script, there was a girl who I had in my mind for that particular role. I was looking for an ideal person, but I didn't meet any one. One day I happened to watch a Tamil movie and accidentally I saw the ideal girl whom I was planning the role for. And I was happy that I found the ideal person for the role and determined to get her for the role. It took some time for me to talk Pooja into act in my film. Somehow after some time she agreed.

After Pooja's debut into the Sinhala Cinema, that was after you have brought her in Sri Lanka, it became a trend to get Kolleywood actresses in Sinhala films. Are you positive or negative on this?

I hold a passive view on this. I do not exactly know if it became a trend or if the script writer had the ideal image as of that particular actress in Kolleywood.

Isn't taking many Kolleywood actresses into Sinhala films an injustice to the Sri Lankan actresses?

I don't think so. People in this country like to watch films that Sri Lankan actresses act. Even Pooja has a Sri Lankan origin and an appearance. That's why she suited that role.

Do you think this will continue to happen?

No! This trend is temporary. Now directors are not interested in taking foreign actors or actresses. There are better actors and actresses emerging on the scene.

How do you find the ideal person for a role?

When I write the script, the person for that particular role is pictured in my mind. Then I look for a person who has at least seventy percent similar features. Your statement that we don't have a huge reserve here for actors and actresses is correct. So, it is often difficult to find the hundred percent ideal person.

When you write the script, there is a high possibility that the familiar faces who are already famous in the field may come into your mind for a particular role. Then there is less opportunity for the potential talents of those up and coming actors?

Yes, that weakness is there. Less often a totally strange face comes into mind. Yet I have look into the fact that if that novice, though he or she is similar in features to the particular role, is not good in acting, the whole effort is a waste. With the limited budget it is an absolute risk.

As you feel what type of films are suitable for the Sri Lankan audience. High calibre films or commercial and entertainment films?

I think light hearted romantic films are more welcome than the other. Why I say that is the people in this country are living with immense problems and stress.

They go to cinema halls to get a relief and to enjoy. They do not like to depress their minds by watching complex movies. The meaning of cinema is providing an entertainment for the audience.