A combined Indian and American crew and cast filmed scenes

Rajiv Punja with Maura DiTucci in a scene from The Inscrutable Americans. DiTucci is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in communication, with a minor in drama.

at the University for an international feature motion picture, The Inscrutable Americans, from Dec. 20 through Jan. 15. Sundeep Muppidi, assistant professor of communication, is the associate director/screenplay writer of the Indian motion picture. Sites for filming included various buildings on the University campus and local restaurants, including the New York Pickle Deli in Rocky Hill and Mill on the River in Windsor. Additional scenes were filmed in downtown Hartford, at Bradley International Airport, in private residences in the greater Hartford area, and at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.

Auditions for the cast were held in New York and Hartford in October and November 1999. Most cast members are professionals from Broadway and were selected on a competitive basis. Faculty and students of the University also have roles in the film. The main character, Gopal, is played by Rajiv Punja, and his friend, Randy, is played by Eron Otcasek, both from New York. The three female leads are also from New York: Sue played by Jana Williams, Gloria played by Staci Cobb, and Ann played by Roni Jane Gannascoli. Some of the crew are from India, and others were selected after auditions in New York and Hartford. Interested University of Hartford students and local residents were given priority for many positions.