Bikalpa – an Alternative with the support from Atlas Networks hosted a two weeks nonresidential “Liberty Film School Workshop” from 10th to 24th of September 2021 (25-29 Bhadra 2078) in Hotel Shree Krishna, Biratnagar. The workshop was structured in three phases.
First phase was indoor class-based film-making workshop that lasted 5 days (10-14 September 2021) featuring several key film-making concepts delivered in different sessions from various resource persons. In the second phase participants were divided into 4 groups after the training to complete their final film-making project based on the story given by the Bikalpa during the training. In the third phase of the training, 4 videos prepared by the participants were screened in front of a large audience. The participants were selected on open basis and Bikalpa had opened applications for the program 1 month in advance.
Core objectives of Liberty Film Making Workshop:
- To enhance participant’s understanding on film-making and help develop a holistic approach to film making i.e. identifying issues, developing concepts, pre-production, production and post production.
- To enhance the participant’s understanding on public policy issues and equip them with skills required for sensitizing targeted stakeholders and general people.
- To make the participants realize the true potential of visual media in fostering progressive change.
Overview about the Workshop
During this Liberty film workshop in Biratnagar, 22 aspiring participants from diverse sector and organizations joined the workshop. After welcoming the participants, Mr. Suman Rai shared the objectives and overview of the training and introduced all the participant’s. Following this, the remainder of the workshop was facilitated by Bikalpa’s team members and few other facilitators.
Over the 5 days, participants were engaged and learned different aspects of film making in these sessions. The program comprised of the following topics.
- Introduction to Movie making and key concepts of film making
- The key elements of camera: Exposure, Focal Length and Composition
- Cinematography: Using Camera works and Photography artistically
- Public Policy: To provide a brief introduction to public policy
- Script Writing & Screenplay
- Advocacy: Effectives tools for advocacy
- Introduction to Public Policy issues
- Light handling and Sound Art Direction
- Editing: Compiling video, audio and image into a compelling work of art.
- Acting class
- Leadership and Team Building
- Director’s Job, The Making- Challenges
- Group Formation & movie making on the site
Summary of the session
Riwal Dahal
At the first glance of the training session, Riwaj Dahal Member of Bikalpa, introduced movie making and key concepts of film making. During his session he stressed on the topic what cinema is, history of cinema, how moving pictures cinema evolved. He also highlighted on historic view of South Asian cinema and “Talkies” which further clarifies the participants to understand about film making history. It was interactive session where Participants also expressed their concerns about the film making techniques.
Punam Dahal
On the other session, participants witnessed various tips on photography and Lighting where Punam talked about the basic rules of the photography. He shared three basic elements of exposure: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO which is used in three different combinations according to the type of photography. He also explained that photography is the art of learning by doing; one need have a passion and patience for it.
While talking about lightening he said Lighting is one of the most important aspects of creating a video because it allows setting the mood of the video. He talked most commonly-used techniques for lighting like: Key Lighting, Fill Lighting, Back lighting and explained practically during the session.
In his sound session, he talks about the History of Sound, types of Sound (Used in film-making). He said sound engages audiences, helps deliver information, increases the production value, evokes emotional responses, emphasizes what’s on the screen, and is used to indicate mood.
Sarwagya Raj Pandey
Sarwagya’s session included tips on how to convert a story into a plot and how to market issues by converting them into a compelling story. His other sessions included familiarizing the participants about the works of art director and the use of colors in production design. He also summarized the entire film making process from a director’s point of view and also talked about the difficulties involved in film making process.
Ratna Jyoti Shakya
The sessions moderated by Ratna were Cinematography and Editing. In his session, he talked about The elements of Cinematography, role of a cinematographer, shot sizes: Telling what they see, camera Angles: the art of manipulation and camera moves. During his sessions, he also played short movie clips to make participants understand his lecture. In his editing session, he talked about the basic step of editing, essentials cuts, and skills required to be a good film editor. In his own words, He said “Editors are called the third storytellers of a movie because, after the writer and director, the editor will construct the narrative and truly define the story that audience will see”, so it also important for editors to have some cinematic knowledge of the movie. Participants were delighted to know these techniques and had good conversation on the topics that where shared. He also moderated a session in which the participants prepared a one-minute film silent film as well.
Basanta Adhikari
He facilitated two sessions on “Introduction to public policy issues” and “Why visual media advocacy is important?” Speaking at this session, He said, we rarely speak about public policy issues that is hindering our life. It is important to see the issues through public policy angle and need to act on it. In his presentation he highlighted the public policy issues and gave numerous examples to clarify the participants. During the session he also shared about having a lot of opportunity here in Nepal. He continuously raised questions on topics like why are we still poor and economically backward, what kind of policies should be adopted, and so on. Since the objective of the session was to help the participants identify new approaches to understand policy problems and its solutions. This session allowed participants to dive deeper in policy issues.
In his second session He talked about “Advocacy” and “Lobby”. He said Lobbying is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to legislators on an issue which plays a significant role in modern politics. Both lobby and advocacy increase the scope of influence to improve policies and achieve structural change. He further shared Issue for Advocacy, Advocacy and Lobby-Planning stages, issues of concern, collaborative learning by designing campaigns. During this session, Bikalpa advocacy video was showcased and encourage participant to identify such issue for making movie after workshop.
Suman Rai
In this session of leadership and Team work, the main focus was on team-building among the participants and to enhance their leadership potentials during field work. Here, facilitator used games to build conceptual understanding of team work. He also shared the importance of teamwork and how film making is all about team work. Throughout the conversations in session the participants delved into various unique perspectives and looked at how each individual has their own definition of leadership. Team building activities was played before the session to make participants realize the importance of team building and leadership in film making.
Om Prakash Karna
In this session one of our participant’s facilitated the Acting session. He gave practical demonstration for those. He also made the participants participate in acting by making them experience acting. The participants were made to enact various scenes which were analyzed by the entire participants. He also gave drama “Sutra”(tips) for acting. These exercise and tips helped the students understand the nuances of acting and helped them in guiding their actors during film-making.
Group Division and Ideation of issues
During the workshop hours, the participants were constantly made to think about the issues that they think were needed to be addressed. The organizers put forth the 4 issues related to the public policy issues which helped the participant to brain storm and come up with the stories. Four such concepts were handpicked by the facilitators on the final day of the workshop. Also, on the final day of workshop the participants were divided into 4 groups where they had to work as team for making short films.
Throughout the all session the facilitators used participatory tools like games, exercises, individual reflection, group work, interactive discussions, films, role plays and other creative modes in workshop. Sessions were kept, interactive and had open conversations during the workshop. For the participants, the workshop was not only about the knowledge and skills they learnt, but also the relationships they had made. It was a splendid journey for them to meet and explore themselves with diverse identities together.
