Panda on the sets of I am Kalam

Bhubaneswar, June 27: Nila Madhab Panda, the director of two critically acclaimed films, I am Kalam and Jalpari: The Desert Mermaid, is truly a man of words.

Panda, who has time and again exhorted the need for more sensible movies for children has taken his belief a step ahead and come up with a unique workshop on film-making titled, The Green Screen Lab for Children’s Cinema – 2012, in short, “Green initiative”.

This noble initiative is Panda’s brainchild and he plans to execute the 10-day workshop at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in August.

“We have decided to chose 18 of the best budding filmmakers in the state and give them a thorough background on movies that focuses on real issues such as social problems prevalent in our country, or any specific issues on child rights as well as the art of making a children’s movie,” said Panda.

Apart from the story-telling aspect of films, the workshop will focus on economical and eco-friendly ways of film production.

Panda, who has shot both his films on a “tight budget” with minimal use of electricity and without unnecessary trips to foreign locations, will give the 18 bright students a lesson or two on sensible filmmaking.

“We have already received around 700 applications from young talents, from which we will select only 18. We will give them an insight on script writing, pre-production work and on various social problems existing within the country,” he added.

At the end of 10-days, the students will have three-months to write their own scripts and work on pre-production issues and within a year they will get an opportunity to release their own films. Panda has also promised to produce a couple of promising films made by the students.

“We will also pitch the projects through international events and conferences,” said Panda.

Eminent film personalities from across the world such as John Newbegin, Jenny Thompson, Onir, Sanjay Chauhan and many more are expected to attend the workshop as mentors for the students.

The initiative is supported by various organisations such as Children’s Film Society of India, Goethe Institute, Commonwealth Foundation and the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

The deadline for registration is July 10.