Words
At the script-writing workshop, children are allowed to let their imagination run free and explore their powers of story telling as they convert ideas into movie scenes. Headed by Apeksha Harsh, this workshop will teach children how to develop an understanding of stories, incorporating dialogues, action and create memorable characters and plots.
Vision
At the film-making workshop by Akshat Nigam and Supraja Srinivasan, technical details are explained in a way the child can understand and assimilate. Right from conceptualising the story, writing the script, planning the shoot, shooting the film and completing the edit, children go through the complete process of film making. “This is the second time we are conducting this workshop. We had done this last time as well, when we came in 2011, and the response was amazing. Around 80 children had signed up for it. This time too, 35 students are taking part in the filmmaking workshop alone,” said Supraja Srinivasan, who’s jointly in-charge of the workshop. Previously a journalist before moving into education, she has been delighted to be working with children. “To see kids from different parts of the country, from rural Andhra Pradesh to Karnataka to Assam and Kashmir, come up with so many different ideas and watch them achieve the task of filmmaking is absolutely heart-warming and satisfying,” she added.
Taking us through the process of conducting the workshop, she said, “We first begin with technical aspects like how to come up with a different story and teach them how to handle a camera. Our aim is for children to make a movie by the end of this workshop.”
Action
At the animation workshop, children can accomplish basic animation without using any animation software. Children use paint, clay, paper cutouts, collage, chalk and so on to discover a new medium of story telling. In charge of this workshop is Aditi Chitre, who has conducted workshops in creative art and storytelling through animation all over the country. “Adopting all kinds of advanced animation softwares can get very confusing for the children. Animation is actually a very simple concept and can be perfectly explained without using any software. At this workshop, we are focusing on the imagination and creativity of children,” said Aditi.
Elaborating further on the workshop which has been introduced in the festival for the first time, she said, “The children learn about what goes into creating a story. It explains the concept of animation. Once they learn that, they will find it easier to learn about animation wherever they go.”
About 20 children were present at the workshop and the room was buzzing with excitement as children chatted, giggled and jumped around. Kids from eight years of age to 16 years were present. “I am interested in animation, I look forward to learning about it and do more of it in the future,” said 15-year-old Vanshika who had come from Dehradun.
Some children had enrolled to get a feel of how animation works as the concept is entirely new to them. “I know a little bit about it. So far I have found it very interesting,” said Mudit, a 10-year-old boy from Surat.