Students learn the ropes of filmmaking at a workshop organised in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 8: Do not be surprised if you bump into filmmakers at Surabhi 2011 during the annual Sishu Mahotsav organised by the state school and mass education department.

Around 30 students from various parts of the state are here to learn the ropes of videography at the filmmaking workshop, which kick-started here today.

These children will then go about filming the three-day mega event, which is set to begin on November 12.

On the concluding day of Surabhi-2011, the students will also present a documentary film.

Mostly from Classes IX and X, the students have been shortlisted after participating in various competitions at the block and district level.

“For the next three days, these students will be taught how to use a video camera to record and shoot films. They will be taught the basics of pre-production, production and post-production,” said coordinator of the workshop, Gadadhar Puty.

“Students will learn how to capture the raw elements on film and how to use sound. The workshop will be more activity based than theoretical,” he said.

Seasoned filmmakers such as Jugal Debata, Subash Das, Chandrashekhar Sahoo, Sushant Mani and Dilip Panda have been roped in as resource persons for the event.

Three camera sets had been arranged for the workshop. The students would be divided into groups and taught how to handle the device, the organisers said. The children are equally excited to drop their school bags and take up video cameras.

“We had only seen films till now. Now we will make them. It’s so exciting. I will try to learn and remember as much as I can,” said student Pragya.

“This time, we are planning to make Sishu Mahotsav much more activity oriented. Workshops to teach students puppetry, origami and balloon art have been lined up. Similarly, there will workshops such as “Mathematics as fun” and “Science in everyday life”,” said school and mass education secretary Aparajita Sarangi.

“There will be a screening of the children’s films. Dance, theatre, magic shows will also take place. Students from primary and secondary schools from across 30 districts of the state are expected to participate in the mega event,” said Sarangi.