young guns: Participants at the film appreciation workshop at Soochana Bhavan in Patna on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, July 22: Cinema and its finer aspects are the focus of the 13th film appreciation workshop, organised by Bihar information & public relations department (IPRD), which began today at Jai Prakash Bhavan in the state capital.

Thirty students from different colleges participated in the six-day workshop to learn the art of filmmaking and editing.

IPRD minister Brishen Patel formally announced the commencement of the workshop. “The workshop will provide knowledge to students who have an eagerness to learn the art of filmmaking and editing. It is a known fact that we learn more while observing something rather than reading. So we can say that watching is more effective and the students must utilise this workshop as a stepping-stone to the film industry if they really want to go that far.”

He said: “The workshop is related to many aspects of cinema. Everyone must try to find out his or her own interest. We are just providing a proper platform to learn and understand films. Cinema does not only stand for entertainment. There is also a lot of technical know-how involved. Any professional needs to have in-depth knowledge of his/her field, which is very important and this would be the best opportunity for the students to utilise the workshop to enhance their knowledge.”

IPRD secretary Rajesh Bhusan said: “The department had started this innovative initiative in 2006 and since then, many students attended the workshop and benefited from it. Some have become directors and many have ventured into mass communication and are doing very well in their respective fields. It is a good sign that young boys and girls are thronging the workshop to understand cinema. While attending the workshop, the students must learn the nuances of direction and production. One must try to understand why certain shots are taken at a particular angle. These thing need to be understood if one really wants to take up Cinema as a career.”

Today, students from Patna Women’s College, Commerce College and Bihar Art Theatre took part in the workshop where they were guided by experts and specialist from the the world of cinema.

Chief co-ordinator of the workshop R.N. Das said: “From the time the workshop started, many students have got admissions in institutes like Film and Television Institute of India. The films screened during the workshop will mostly include serious cinema focussing on social issues. Such kinds of films are only shown during film festivals. The students would not feel bored. They would, on the contrary, learn a lot about technical aspects of cinema.”

Ankita Gupta of Patna Women’s College said: “I always wanted to understand cinema and the use of camera. I am sure I will acquire a lot of knowledge in the workshop.”

Amardeep Kumar, a student of Bihar Art Theatre, said: “Being a student of theatre, the workshop would be of immense help to me to understand cinema. I would like to attend the workshop to gain knowledge on the technical aspects of films. It’s up to me as to how I would use this knowledge in my career.”

History of world and Indian cinema are some of the topics which students would study at the workshop.