MUMBAI: FRAMES 2003, the biggest global convention in Asia on the business of entertainment organised by the apex business organisation of India FICCI, kicked off on 14 March 2003 and also included a technology seminar on 13 March.

This year, for the first time, the convention which has been rapidly growing every year, is spread over four days and is being held at The Renaissance Hotel and Convention Centre, Powai, in Mumbai.

Here, we present a ringside view of the happenings as mediamen rubbed shoulders with top head-honchos who hobnobbed with bureaucrats and ministers. Deal-makers were on the lookout for surefire winners and "down-and-out" entrepreneurs were waiting for receptive "bakras"! Media representatives were seen clamouring for that one bit of news which no one had managed to lay their hands on!

* The technology seminar held one day prior to the inaugural sessions on the opening day saw sparsely populated crowds attending the sessions towards the latter half of the day. Does this indicate that the media and entertainment sector head honchos have a high RC ( resistance to change) factor when it comes to adopting new technology?

* PYTs (pretty young things) handing popcorn: outside session halls so as to indicate that the talks are going to be boring just like a typical Hindi film, hence some timepass. What’s more, people graciously accepting it.

* Overheard: two firangs (foreigners) talking about who the revered Shyam Benegal was (they referred to him as Bengal - sic!)! The knowledgeable of the two describing the filmmaker -- "Low budget but very famous." Wonder what Shyambabu has to say to that.

* Overheard again: "Shekhar Kapoor is in a class of his own. Not unlike the guys you see with big egos!" Guess who he was referring to.

* Venture capitalists (VCs) blasted those creative geniuses who have massive egos and urged them to sacrifice their egos in favour of better corporate governance. Some so-called creative geniuses who own media companies were seen walking out mid-way as if to express pain at such "impropah" behaviour.

* Gaffe of the opening day: One of the FICCI speakers excitedly announcing, "Now may I take the pride and pleasure of inviting a filmmaker whose last film made me lose sleep - Shashi Kapoor" and in walks an amused Shekhar Kapur.

* Film makers Sudhir Mishra and Ketan Mehta exchanging smirks and meaningful glances right through the session.

* During the Q&A sessions, several members of the audience indulged in bragging about their exploits or that of their ventures. At the end of a long winding session, it was difficult to pin point whether they really had questions or were interested in free publicity at the august gathering!

* One bored member of the audience was heard commenting: "Moderators must be asked to inform audiences that their questions must be restricted to one or two sentences. Those who wish to do PR (public relations) can distribute company backgrounders to people as they walk in"!