Talent agent in tinsel town

HOLLYWOOD REEL

There is a growing business in representing Indian talent in Hollywood

It's a busy Wednesday afternoon at "Mr Chow" "� the famous Asian restaurant in Beverly Hills. Emanuel Nuñez is sitting across the table, explaining why he wants to visit India. "I'm fascinated by the Indian culture and the movie industry there "� I can't wait to be in Mumbai", he says in his clipped, Cuban-accented English.

Nuñez, an attorney and a member of the California Bar, is a senior agent at Hollywood's most-sought-after talent agency Creative Artist Agency (CAA). He works in the motion picture division of CAA where he represents many of the entertainment industry's foremost artists, including Hollywood stars Antonio Banderas, Robert De Niro and Will Smith.

Hollywood from the outside is made up of above-the-line talent such as movie stars, directors, producers and musicians but is actually run from behind-the-scenes by senior studio executives, talent agencies and industry players.

To make it in Hollywood, an actor needs to be represented by talent agencies such as CAA, William Morris Agency, United Talent Agency, Endeavour or International Creative Management.

All the agencies have been approached by Indian companies for partnerships in India. However, the presence of Indian stars in Hollywood is nearly non-existent. There are only a few Indian actors on TV or film and the number is abysmal.

The lively and energetic Brinda Bhatt is the first of many Americans of Indian descent to have made a significant mark as a talent agent in Hollywood. Brinda though originally from Gujarat grew up in New Jersey and completed her Law Degree from the prestigious New England School of Law in Boston.

She joined United Talent Agency six and a half years ago. She has quickly moved up in Hollywood and now represents a number of young stars including, Gaspard Ulliel - French actor who plays Young Hannibal Lechter in "Behind The Mask" and musician Phil Collins's daughter Lily Collins who was a contributing writer for a columns in Cosmo and Elle magazines.

Brinda also represents Serena Reeder (Get Rich and Die Tryin'), John Patrick Amedori, (Unbreakable) as a younger kid, Jonathan Jackson (Insomnia) and Jesse Bradford (one of the leads in Clint Eastwood's new movie - Flags of Our Fathers).

Brinda, who loves watching Hindi films, is part of a growing Indian community of senior executives working in Hollywood and is proud of her Indian heritage. While Brinda agrees that the Hollywood film industry is embarrassingly behind the times in terms of casting Asians and Indians, she firmly believe that the fundamental things still apply for an Indian actor to succeed in Hollywood "� hard work, talent, perseverance and luck.

Brinda is keen to get Indian talent its share of Hollywood. Last December, she visited Mumbai and met with the major Film and Television majors. She has already signed on to represent Lisa Ray (Water), Sheetal Sheth (Looking for Comedy) and is on the look out for more Indian actors.

Meanwhile, even Emanuel Nunez of CAA has now set his sights on Indian film stars and is exploring the possibility of representing them in Hollywood.

As we depart, Nunez folds his hands and says, "Namaste". He is all set for his maiden Indian voyage.