RESUME:
Name
HARISH RAO
BHARISH RAO Short Bio
HARISH RAO was born in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania and raised
in Southern California. Mr. Rao's professional career began at BLIZZARD Entertainment
in Interactive gaming, starting on the breakthrough title DIABLO. Shortly
thereafter, Harish joined FOX INTERACTIVE, where he worked directly with GRACIE
FILMS, Matt Groening's THE CURIOSITY COMPANY and Joss Whedon's MUTANT ENEMY
PRODUCTIONS. At Fox Interactive, Harish worked on many franchise titles with
budgets up to $5,000,000 including THE X FILES GAME, ALIEN vs. PREDATOR, TITAN
AE, and THE SIMPSONS' NIGHT OF THE LIVING TREEHOUSE OF HORROR. His latest
project, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: CHAOS BLEEDS, was released on Sony PlayStation2,
Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube in September 2003 and received unanimous
critical acclaim.
This was a staging ground for Mr. Rao's true passion, entrepreneurship, specifically
venturing forth in the promotion of SOUTH ASIAN ENTERTAINMENT in the landscape
of the Hollywood Entertainment community. His first foray into this landscape
was as the SENIOR EDITOR of Hollywoodmasala.com where he contributed as a
movie review critic, entertainment reporter and producer from 1997 through
to 2005. Since then, he met his current business partner and launched his
next and most current venture.
Ash Kumra and Harish Rao created www.desiyou.com in March 2006 and share over
10 years experience in online media, operations and content production. Our
advisors include Latham Watkins technology chair Perry Viscounty and digital
media executive Larry Schwartz; a recent co-founder of online action sports
network www.lat34.com with America Online. Content contributors include Miss
India America 2006, and successful South Asian entertainers in film, music
and comedy.
DESIYOU is a South Asian community destination with more online original South
Asian video content than any North American website. Our content includes
event coverage, interviews with thought leaders, and original shows featuring
our community. Our unique content includes cast/crew interviews with the two
most successful 2006 South Asian abroad films, a sponsored online South Asian
film critic show, and grassroots user generated videos with our audience attending
popular South Asian based social events.
The company's sponsors already include MakeMyTrip (India's largest travel portal) and TalkPlus (Mobile services provider). South Asian clothing label BadKarma and spiritual music provider www.omstream.com provide product specials in which Desi You receives an acquisition fee for each sale. Our content provides value for companies marketing to the South Asian culture. Current partners include leading online video network www.revver.com, movie distributor www.jaman.com and online Indian social network www.myindianplace.com.
Truly following his passion and marrying the concept of strategic goals and passion, Mr. Rao is also actively involved in producing original films. DESIYOU PRODUCTIONS has just completed co-production of a short film entitled THE TRIDENT, directed by Anurag Mehta (American Chai) and features the ancient Indian Martial Art of Kalaripayattu. The film stars David Carradine (KILL BILL, KUNG FU) and perhaps the most intriguing element of the film is that it is entirely shot on the latest digital process known as 4K resolution by DALSA CAMERA, with Academy Award Winning Cinematographer DAVID STUMP (Cast Away) as the Director of Photography. The film is preparing to go through the film festival circuit.
Additionally, Mr. Rao, is able to purse his filmmaking goals through DESIYOU PRODUCTIONS and has written and directed his first short film through DESIYOU Productions entitled THE INDIAN CAFÉ featuring comedian GERRY BEDKNOB (The Forty Year Old Virgin) and is currently in post production. Mr. Rao is actively involved in creating content for the future, as well as staging an online destination for South Asian filmmakers to collaborate through DESIYOU and promote independent South Asian film cinema.
Among the achievements and accolades that DESIYOU has achieved thus far, the company secured its initial round of funding in summer of 2007 and the founders, Ash Kumra and Harish Rao are currently shaping the future of the company and their long term goals for the future.
The last component comes from Harish Rao's educational
background. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Fine Art and an
emphasis on Art History, Mr. Rao despite his busy schedule, makes time to
teach Art History on a regular basis at the Fashion Institute of Design and
Merchandising (FIDM) in Orange County California as well professionally exhibit
his own fine art work, which he calls SURREALISTIC REALISM. With already two
solo exhibitions under his belt, CONFUSION at the Kerkar Art Complex in Goa
India in January 2004 and his most recent exhibition at GALARIE CIDADE in
CIDADE DE GOA in January 2005, Mr. Rao is always preparing his next series
and with DESIYOU as the website distribution medium he has co-founded, there
will be a dedicated section soon the website which will feature artists and
promotion of artists worldwide.
Harish Rao
