STUDENTS LEARN FILM MAKING

Amit Rai, of Road to Sangam fame conducted a 7 day workshop on film making for the students of PG Diploma in Photo Journalism and Visual Communication and BA in Media Studies second year, of the Centre of Media Studies, University of Allahabad. Mr. Rai was to make a short film with the students during the workshop. In his inaugural note, Amit Rai emphasized the importance of cultural and social flavor in cinema. He said that, for a film to touch the heart of the audiences, the story should be close to the lives of the people and weaved out of the multi colored threads of the society.

Amit Rai, spend the first few days of the workshop in a brainstorming session with the students about idea generation and story development. The concept was to have the story for the film from ideas generated from among the students.  His advice for the students while generating ideas was to think different and think of ideas close to the soil. While talking of new concepts he discussed epic films like Mother India, Padosan and Rang De Basanti etc. He was particularly impressed with the current Oscar winner film, King’s Speech. He held special screenings of King’s Speech and Children of Heaven for the students.

The final idea for the film was generated from amongst the various ideas suggested by the students. The name of the film was decided to be, ‘ABSENT SIR’ and it was to be a film about education pattern and also touching on the effect of socio-economic status of students. After the finalization of the story and screenplay, the shooting schedule was formulated.

The shooting for the film started with a lot of zeal and excitement at various locations around Allahabad. Amit Rai, showed a great deal of enthusiasm and fervor in shooting the film and teaching the students. After working around the clock, shooting the film, it was completed in 3 days and ready to go on the editing table. Final two days of the workshop were spent on editing the film.

During the editing sessions also, Mr. Rai asked the students for input and the entire editing process was done with complete participation of the students. During the entire process of the film, the contribution of  Mr. Vidyasagar Mishra, teacher for Visual Communication was immeasurable. Complete editing of the film in two days would not have been possible without his nimble fingers working on Final Cut Pro, the film editing software.

On the last day of the workshop, in his parting speech Amit Rai gave special thanks to the University of Allahabad for inviting him and the entire staff and students of Centre of Media Studies for their participation and support. He made special mention of the contribution of Mr. Vidyasagar Mishra. Amit Rai closed the workshop and left the centre with a promise to return every year to guide the students of Centre of Media Studies.

Report: Vani Singh

Pictures: Gunjan Dwivedi and Tribhuwan Prasad

Students

P.G. Diploma in Photo Journalism & Visual Communication

Center of Media Studies

University of Allahabad