Every dreamer is a filmmaker - Manipur Film Workshop Diary
- janantikshukla9
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 7
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1
Mobile film workshop with Conflict-affected Manipuri Children as a part of ‘Shall we go, Bapu?’ An Initiative by Vishwagram.
‘Every dreamer is a filmmaker. Do you see a dream? Yes, then you are a filmmaker.’
Nothing is more satisfying than empowering children with new skills, giving them confidence through various creative exercises, inspiring them, discovering stories with them along the workshop and of course, laughing with them while enjoying some beautiful short films across the world.
Why am I doing it?
It’s my guilt conscious that I am not doing anything for the people in crisis. Though it won’t make any difference, it just satisfies my innermost ego. Still, many of us will be doing what we know best and share our knowledge.
Images are taken during the Mobile film workshop at Bal Vidya Mandir School, Imphal between 13-18 March.
Can I take your autograph?
Pinkycha- Why?
When you become a great director, I will show you this signature, and you will recognise me.
She blushed like a teenage girl.
Pinkycha Leishram won my heart with two beautiful short stories, she directed one of the stories as a short film as a part of a mobile filmmaking workshop between 13-19 March, with sheer confidence, creativity and of course hard work.
When I left her hostel, her eyes were moistened so did mine.
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She is the youngest child of her family and has lived in Bal Vidya Mandir Hostel, Imphal for four months. Her parents have lived in a relief camp for the last 8 months in Imphal only.
Her two sisters are living in hostels too at other places. All family members are separated because of Maitai-Kuki's ongoing conflict. They had to flee from Morey, a business town of Imphal last June.
But in this situation too, she learned to be happy. Very few people inspire us the most. Pinkycha Leishram, a student of class 9th of Bal Vidya Mandir school, Imphal is one of them for me.
3
Second Mobile Film Workshop-Sardar Patel School, Khurkhul.
I learned a lot during the Manipur mobile film workshops from children, people and sounds around.
On the first day during the listening exercise at Sardar Patel School, I asked the children to observe the sounds all around from the furthest to the closest sounds. I also close my eyes along with them. When I opened my eyes all the children’s eyes were still closed. Felt nice and I took this video.
Around that time I realised through our eyes we can see only 130-150 degrees but we can hear sound from 360 Degrees. I shared my newfound discovery with them. (I was not aware until then. We take our ears for granted. We could develop our ears more and can hear many things. )
Every day we did this listening exercise. Most of them could listen to wind, trees, birds and classroom sounds. But on third day Rahul, an 8th-class student could listen to insects in the grass too. Can you hear that sound?
I was happy he could hear the sound that I couldn’t. There are many stories, each one makes me a better listener, better filmmaker.
(’Shall we go, Bapu’ An initiative supported by Vishwagram-Gujarat Based NGO and Ekta Parishad Manipur )
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