No budget film post-production. Satyajit Ray's debut film, "Pather Panchali" (1955), which was produced on a budget of Along with the other films in Ray's "The Apu Trilogy" the film is frequently listed among the greatest films of all time. In 1960, Ron Rice released "The Flower Thief", starring Taylor Mead, to a positive reception. The film was produced for less than $1000 using black-and-white 16mm 50' film cartridges left over from aerial gunnery equipment used during World War II. In the early 1960s, filmmaker Jack Smith used discarded color-reversal film stock to film "Flaming Creatures". John Waters' 1964 black-and-white film "Hag in
Pather Panchali had met Ray on the set of "The River", where Mitra was allowed to observe the production, take photographs and make notes about lighting for personal reference. Having become friends, Mitra kept Ray informed about the production and showed his photographs. Ray was impressed enough by them to promise him an assistant's position on "Pather Panchali", and when production neared, invited him to shoot the film. As the 21-year-old Mitra had no prior filmmaking experience, the choice was met with scepticism by those who knew of the production. Mitra himself later speculated that Ray was nervous about working with an