Friday, January 27, 2012

Creative writing and Script writing in February in Bangalore

SCRIPT WRITING WORKSHOPStorygram is starting a three weekend workshop on script writing starting this Sunday, 12 th February, from 11 am to 6 pm.
VENUE : Pioneer Manpower Solutions, 14/1, 3rd floor, Wood Street, Parallel to Castle street, Ashok Nagar, Richmond Road, Bangalore.
Landmark: diagonally opposite to Sacred Hearts' Church, next to Reliance Trends, near Show Off outlet
All the students will write a five minute script in the Celtex (American screenplay) format during the course. We will learn how to 'show' and not 'tell' the story in the audiovisual language of scriptwriting. We will study how good scripts are written by analysing scenes from good films, by reading the scenes and then viewing them. The theoretical aspects that would be covered are:  Characterization, Plot, Theme, Dialogue writing, Structure, and Flow.

All the writing classes will have ample writing assignments for the students. These assignments will be either read out in class or feedback will be given over email. Since the workshop is spread out over three Sundays, the students will also get homework assignments. The end result of this endevour would be a complete short film script, in the proper audio-visual format.
Fees : Rs. 6,200
Teachers Profile :
Manjushree Abhinav is an author and a film maker. She has studied at FTII, Pune and worked in the film industry in Mumbai for ten years as an AD, scriptwriter, and has made her own short films. After that, she went on to teach at reputed institutes like NID in Ahemedabad, FTII in Pune and SRISTI in Bangalore. She has conducted several creative writing workshops at Times of India. Her films are uploaded on this site. Her book, A Grasshopper's Pilgrimage, is available on flipkart. Manjushree lives in Bangalore, she blogs at www.baktoo.blogspot.com  and her email id is manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com .
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
Storygram is also planning a creative writing workshop on 18th February, Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm.
Fees: Rs 1,600
SOULPEN  1
  • A three step ritual to loosen the writers block.*
  • Exploring the map of the mind, from oceans to the stars, to write a short story.
  • The two approaches to fiction: A ) the American Conflict- Resolution Structure and B ) the Navarasas.
  • Secret tools of a writer.**
Participants will be given plenty of writing exercises during the workshop to bring home their understanding of the concepts.

*DEALING WITH THE WRITERS BLOCK
Why do we write? Because we need to tell the story. As children, all of us are born creative. When we learn to talk, there is no difference between imagination and reality. Education encourages us to develop our logic and the creative process takes a back seat. The glimpses of the muse are short and sweet: She comes visiting, she leaves a scene and takes back the movie. Missing the muse, the creative spirit, leads to the writer’s block.
Creative blockage can happen to the best of artists. Although we call this a writer’s unblocking ritual, this exercise is known to help all kinds of artists in getting over their creative blocks. This exercise is self-introspective and at the same time lighthearted. Words get tossed out, opening a series of self traps. Those who are truly interested in unearthing their hidden depths love this exercise.

**SECRET TOOLS OF AN ARTIST
Creativity is not just a hobby. It is a spiritual path. More like a spiritual garden. A garden that is watered with attention and shined on with energy will flower. The creative gardner who is flowing in art carries a bag full of secret tools. I am not talking of the painters canvas and oils. Those you can buy in the shops. My bag is full of attitudes. Devil may care or not, the artist is not an artist without them.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Film making course in Bangalore from Feb to April, 2012

Please note : For the fifth batch of film making course from Jan to April'13, please click on the word, 'Mountain' on the image above, and then scroll down for the latest post.

 'FINAL CUT'

A FILM MAKING COURSE
on  Saturdays & Sundays
from February to April, 2012

The course has started, but backup sessions are being conducted for late joiners. You may join the course till 18th February.

VENUE : Pioneer Manpower Solutions, 14/1, 3rd floor, Wood Street, Parallel to Castle street, Ashok Nagar, Richmond Road, Bangalore.
Landmark: diagonaly opposite to Sacred Hearts' Church, next to Reliance Trends, near Show Off outlet.

'FINAL CUT'

Manjushree Abhinav, a film-maker, novelist and teacher, is organizing the second batch of the course in film making, from concept to screen, on Sundays over three and a half months, in Bengaluru. Manjushree has taught at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, NID ( National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad), and SRISTI, Bangalore.
This Weekend batch organised by Manjushree Abhinav has a great faculty, reasonable fees and a convenient location. It gives people the opportunity to learn film-making without leaving their jobs or studies.
So you can now follow your dreams while taking care of your responsibilities.

COURSE CONTENT

We have altogether three modules:

1. Creative writing : Four sessions of half day each. (Rs.3,200/)

2. Script writing : Includes creative writing plus three full day sessions. (Rs.9,200)

3. Film making : Includes both creative writing and scriptwriting, plus acting workshop, camera practicals, Editing practicals and a short film. (Rs.24,800)
(For installment options, scroll down to Fee Structure )
Creative Writing : Since this course deals with fiction films, we would first tap the biggest reservoir of stories : an unblocked storehouse of memories and emotions. We will also understand the structure of the conflict-resolution story, and we shall dip into the Navarasas. The aim of the workshop is to dig out the blocks that hamper the sprouting of the creative juices and fuel the love of writing towards an intense and natural discipline. It will help the beginner as well as the writer who is stuck in the middle of a story, a script, a film….
Scriptwriting : The story we have structured in the creative writing workshop, we will strech out into an audio visual script. We will understand the elements of Scriptwriting: Characterization, Plot, Setting, Theme. Students will pitch their scripts to the batch, and a few scripts will be selected to be developed for shot breakdown and dialogues.
• Acting workshop : It is only when we our-self get liberated from inhibitions that we can direct others. A theater professional will teach us that acting is not acting, it is much much less.
Introduction to Screen Grammar : The various elements of shot-taking: Image Size, Camera Angles, Camera Movements, Lighting, Camera Speed, Stocks, Graphics, Colour. The Rule of Thirds & the Golden Points. Lenses. Depth of Field and Selective Focus. Maintaining continuity, the imaginary line.
• Camera Practicals : Basics of how to use a digital camera will be followed by shooting a five shot exercise to understand the rules of screen grammar in a practical manner. A professional camera person will show us that cinema is a play of light and movement.
• The Elements of Editing : What we have shot we will now edit on final cut pro, an editing software. We will also talk about how the history of Editing is synonymous with the development of language of cinema.
• Making the short film : The final project of the course will be to make a short fiction film with a small group of students, depending on the script that is selected.
Here is one of the films we made in the last workshop. Its called , The Skipping Rhyme. An old man gets an answer to a deep question from a little girl : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9jPvErYrwM

TEACHER'S PROFILE
Manushree Abhinav has authored a novel, 'A Grasshopper's Pilgrimage'.
She is a film maker. She has studied at FTII, Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. She has made several documentary films, and taught various aspects of film making like scriptwriting, making documentary films, video editing, at FTII, NID (National Institute of Design), Ahemedabad, Srishti School of Art and Design, Bangalore.
She has also conducted several creative writing workshops at the Times of India Nalanda group, Bangalore, Ahemedabad and Mumbai.This is the second batch of film making workshops she is conducting in Bangalore.
She blogs at www.baktoo.blogspot.com.
CONTACT : Please contact 09945192862 OR manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com for more information.

FEE STRUCTURE
The film making course includes creative writing, script writing, acting workshop, camera practicals, elements of editing, and making the short film, over three months of weekend classes.
The total fees for this course is INR Twenty-nine thousand and eight hundred, (Rs.29,800/), payable in two installments, of Rs.15,800 at the time of registration and Rs 14,000/ before 5th of March.
Those who can pay the full amount in one go, will avail a discount of Rs. 5000, so they will have to pay only INR Twenty four thousand and eight hundred. ( Rs. 24,800/ )
The course fees cover the classes, the visiting faculty's fees, the cost of making the student film, and study material like books and cds. A donation of Rs 250 would be given from every student’s fees to a children’s charity.
Manjushree Abhinav’s Film making Course is right for you if you are:
A Newcomer: The course would equip you to enter the Film and Television Industry as an assistant director or to make short films independently.
A Mediaperson who’s learnt on the job: You would benefit from learning the basics formally and getting your fundas clear.
A Professional who is already working in the Industry in another capacity: It would help you become a full-fledged director.
From the Corporate Sector: The course would add to your qualifications since films are a very important medium of corporate communication & advertising.
Animators will understand film making, which is an important aspect of animation.

The benefits of joining this Film & TV Direction Course are:

SUNDAY CLASSES: Full-day classes on Sundays, so you can pursue your dreams without forsaking the responsibilities of your work or studies.
• WELL-DESIGNED SYLLABUS: More than 50% of class time would be devoted to hands-on film-making, so that you learn how to transform your ideas into films that light up the silver screen. While the course is practical-oriented, the theory portion would help you develop a sound understanding of the basics of story-telling and film-making. You will also be watching many world class films to appreciate the different aspects of the teaching.
• STUDENT FILM: You would write and direct a short film. The cinematography and editing would be done by professionals from the Industry, which would be a great learning experience. It would also result in a well-made film which you can be proud of and use as your show-reel as well as submit to film festivals.
STUDY MATERIAL : The students would be given:
  1. • Copies of important books
  2. • Scripts
  3. • Links to useful websites and free scriptwriting software
  4. • CDs & DVDs of some important films
• CERTIFICATE: You would be given a certificate at the successful completion of the course.
• FILM FESTIVALS: The student films made as part of the course would be sent to film festivals.
• DEMAND FOR FRESH VOICES: The Indian film and television industry is looking for fresh voices. With the diminishing appeal of the formula masala film, there is a demand for out-of-the-box thinking, for directors who understand the art and craft of film-making. It’s a great time to enter the field