Bhubaneswar, Aug. 12: Enthusiastic filmmakers from across the country are learning the nuances of creating interesting scripts for children’s films that will make for an entertaining watch while becoming a box-office success at the International Green Screen Lab here. The film workshop that began on Friday features eminent names from the industry.
Odia boy Nila Madhab Panda of I Am Kalam fame, whose latest film Jal Pari is set to release, is one of the mentors at the workshop. Apart from the young director, others names at the workshop are Sanjay Chouhan, actor and scriptwriter for films such as Paan Singh Tomar, Saheb Biwi aur Gansgter, filmmaker Onir, German director Arend Agthe and actress Tannistha Chatterjee.
“The call for entry to the lab elicited a huge response and the selection jury had a tough time picking up the chosen 18 as the quality of the submissions was high. This gives us great hope about the future of children’s cinema, which has largely been a neglected genre in India,” said Panda.
At least five films discussed in the workshop are likely to get funding for production in 2013. The 18 screenplays include six from Northeast as part of the organisers’ idea to bring out many exciting stories from that region to other parts of India.
The selected screenplay writers who are presenting their scripts are Adhiraj Singh (Forgot About Mina); Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket (Mountain by the Roadside), Bassanti Pathak (Pincha My Talking Dog), Bhaskarjyoti Das (The Puppet Theatre), Dominic Megam Sangma (My Mother’s Dream), Gaurav Saxena (Rangzen), Jyoti Nisha (Kahani Chamki Aur Cheeku Ki), Reema Borah (Yeh Jo Hara Hai), Reema Sengupta (Kayko), Romi Meitei (My Home), Shazia Khan (Sabiha), Soumendra Padhi (Time to Run), Sudipto Sen (Amatali), Utpal Borpujari (Ishu), Vijay Rajan Singh (A Roadside Dream), Irfan Jami (Jaagna Mana Hai), Mohinder Singh (Bhujang) and K. Ramchandran (Children of Rhythm).
“It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about making a good children’s film. We have wonderful mentors here to groom us,” said Shazia.
In the fully residential lab, there will be intensive group and one-on-one sessions with the mentors and experienced directors, as well as advice on international children’s film production, marketing and distribution.
There will also be screenings and discussions on internationally-acclaimed children’s films at the 10-day workshop organised by KIIT School of Film and Media Sciences in association with Eleeanora Images Private Ltd, New Delhi, and Performing Arts Labs (Pal), London.
“Usually, a seven-day workshop is enough for scriptwriters. With three more days here, it is sure to benefit the participants. All of us will be in touch for the next four months. This workshop will help aspiring filmmakers discover their talents and themselves too,” said Onir.
