Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Script writing and Film making course in Bangalore from Jan to April'13



Learn to Film your Dreams!

Weekend Classes from March to April'13

Free intro talks on 16th and 23rd Feb!



FINAL CUT



Manjushree Abhinav, a film-maker, novelist and teacher, is organizing the fifth batch of the course in film making, from concept to screen, on Saturdays and Sundays over two months, in Bengaluru. Manjushree has taught at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, NID ( National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad), and Srishti, 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

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….
Students will get assignments to work on during the week, and they will be expected to write a short story by the end of the workshop.






Scriptwriting 

The story we have structured in the creative writing workshop, we will stretch out into an audio visual script. We will understand the elements of Scriptwriting: Characterization, Plot, Structure, Theme, etc. We shall also be watching world class films and understand how they have been structured  and written. Students will get assignments to work on during the week, which will be reviewed in class. By the end of the course, students will write a short script in the prescribed format.


Acting workshop 


It is only when we our-self get liberated from inhibitions that we can direct others. A theater professional will conduct this workshop, which includes body work, skits, and loads of fun. Most of the times, the short films that we make at the end of the course are enacted by the students themselves. So students have a great time performing for each other.

 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 twelve shot exercise to understand the rules of screen grammar in a practical manner. A professional camera person will conduct this class.

The Elements of Editing 

What we have shot we will now edit on Final Cut Pro, an editing software. So we will experience the entire process of scripting, shooting and editing. The basics of screen grammer, like continuity, will thus become clear.

 We will also talk about how the history of Editing is synonymous with the development of language of cinema. A professional Editor will conduct this class.


Making the short film 



 The final project of the course will be to make short fiction films. The best scripts will be selected from the scriptwriting course, and students will make groups of five to make their fiction films.

Here is one of the films we made in the first batch. Its called , The Skipping Rhyme. An old man gets an answer to a deep question from a little girl.

You can watch other student films here : http://storygram.in/student-films/

CONTACT : You can also email us at  manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com for more information.

VENUE : Bangalore Film Society, 4th cross, Thyagaraja Layout, Jai Bharat Nagar, Banaswadi, Bangalore.
Directions from MG road : Take the road to commercial street, keep going through wheelers road, cross the fly-over cox town, and you will reach Jai bharat nagar bus stop. A few meters ahead there are petrol pumps on both sides of the road. Immediately after the petrol pump, turn right into Thyagaraja layout , find 4th cross on the second right turn. Bangalore Film Society is the corner building, with bamboo trees.
map: click to enlarge.
From MG road to Bangalore FIlm Society, Jai bharat Nagar

DURATION : The course would span across two months of weekend classes, from 2nd march to 28th April' 13.

FEE STRUCTURE

The film making course includes creative writing, script writing, acting workshop, camera practicals, elements of editing,  and making the short film, during two months of weekend classes.
The total fees for this course is INR Twenty two thousand and eight hundred, (Rs.22,800/).

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 500/- 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 Direction Course

  • 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. The visiting faculty will be from reputed institutes like FTII, SRISTI School of Art and Design, Chitra Kala Parishad, etc.
  • 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!

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 fifth batch of film making workshops she is conducting in Bangalore.

She blogs at www.baktoo.blogspot.com. You can watch her films and read part of her book at www.storygram.in.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Two songs, related thus

I call my father, he lives in Nagour, in an old age home.
'hello Baba.'
'hello mantu.'
'wo garmi ki raat,
woh jade ki baat,
woh paani ka matka, rasoi ki aag...
sab satata hai muje, ghar yaad ata hai mujhe'
Ghar yaad ata hai mujhe. ho ooo, ghar yaad...

i am misty, choking.....


'why are you crying, mantu?' he asks.
'i miss you.'
'what do you miss?' he asks, hard of hearing.
'i miss you, baba. ' i say.
'oh.'

'Listen to the song, baba. u will know why i am crying.'
,so i play it on you tube, holding the phone near the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJboPjn--7k



'lovely song, mantu. so this is your favourite song these days?' he asks.
'yes, i listen to this seventy times a day.' we laugh.
'what is your favourite song baba?
after a pause,
he says,
'lagta nahin jee mera ujade dayaar mein'

'Ok, wait . I will find it on youtube and play it to you.' I say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe30kgVca7w



After the song, Baba says, 'thank you mantu, thank you...'
'its such a sad song, baba'...
and baba starts howling. 'no baba, dont cry....baba....ok, cry it out, its ok to cry....its good to cry....baba...(please dont cry )....good to cry, ....

'you know who wrote this song?' he asks me.
'no. who?'
the last emperor of india. bahadur shah jafar. in his last days, he was captured and taken to burma. during his imprisonment, he wrote this song.'
'oh. so thats why he says, i didnt get two feet to lie in my coffin ?'
baba starts crying again.
'its ok baba, its ok....you are my baby...'
'thankyou mantu. for the song, and for letting me cry.'
'dont have to thank me, baba. thats what family is for isn't it? for someone to cry with?
'yes mantu.'
'anytime u want to hear this song, or any other song, call. ok?
'ok mantu.'
'goodnight baba'
'goodnight mantu. love u.'