The line-up for 2009
The Beginner's Workshop

Intensive Programme in Documentary

Programme in Fiction Filmmaking 

Suitable for beginners and others

CONTACT: impulsemail (AT) gmail (DOT) com

WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO SAY

I guess before joining I expected this workshop to be a “how to” kind of training, but it really encouraged us to think on our own.

PRIYANKA CHABBRA, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2004
After the workshop, Priyanka completed her studies and then joined NID. Her student film there, “The Furnished Room” is winning acclaim and awards in the festival circuit.

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The programme has turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

For one, I learnt a lot of things that I never expected to – like how to manage the difficulties of teamwork under pressure. I’ve learnt to handle the production process from zero – organising actors, locations, and all… It’s been really instructive – and tough – to apply everything that we’d learnt in practicals to the final film shoot. The editing table was a source of constant learning – with takes that were supposedly good being unusable, and NG material giving positive surprises. It has been a crucial experience towards avoiding some big mistakes in future shoots.

I never expected that a weekend programme would involve so much effort – and I am really happy that it did. I feel that it has been very close to what it’d be like to shoot a professional project. I feel much more secure about how to use the camera and will definitely put it to use in the near future.

Finally - it’s been such an opportunity to meet so many interesting people who share a common passion.

MARIBEL IZCUE, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Maribel is a Spanish journalist based in Delhi, who writes for the El Periodico de Catalunya, a newspaper from Barcelona. She takes a keen interest in social documentary.

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The whole experience makes me feel more confident about what I want, and how to take things further from here.

JESSICA SADANA, PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2007
Jessica is currently studying filmmaking at FTII, Pune

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With this programme, I have begun to understand the importance of each and every shot.

SHREY TATKE, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Shrey works with a media production house in Delhi as an animator and graphic designer. He is also a musician and an amateur filmmaker.

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I think the programme was a wonderful starting point for a person like me who doesn’t want to invest more time pursuing further studies in this field.

Before this, I had gone through articles and other content on film making, which had given me a theoretical idea, but I wasn’t confident about the process in its entirety. This programme helped me to deconstruct the filmmaking process and make it less mysterious.

The final exercise in shooting fiction was the highpoint for me, as that’s where my interest lies. Working with actors, conceptualizing a scene, understanding the narrative structure and story flow – it was a wonderful experience.

The course was also very insightful in terms of how filmmaking teams function as a unit. With things going wrong and things going right, it was a lesson in what to expect and how to manage conduct in real-life film crews.

Lastly, the programme has been great for me in terms of developing a network. Knowing people who are interested in film making and the performance arts will help me in identifying other opportunities and perhaps working together with some of them in the future.

RICHA LODHA: SUMMER PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Richa worked with the not-for-profit sector in USA till recently. She is currently based in Delhi, and intends to pursue her filmmaking activities further.

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The most useful aspect was the practical side of the exercises. The situations got close to real conditions and proved valuable as learning experiences.

The programme has helped me realise a lot of things about myself. It was great working with different people and I learnt the importance of good team work.

ANKIT MEHROTRA, PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2006
After the programme, Ankit studied at FTII. He currently lives in Mumbai and works in the film industry. An avid still photographer, his photostreams can be found online and on Flickr.

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Yes, my expectations were met and exceeded.

SRIRAGHAVAN KADIRGAMAR, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008

Raghavan is a consultant-architect by training who is currently shifting to filmmaking. After the programme, he shuttles between Mumbai and Mysore, where he is working on a documentary.

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It has helped me pursue my passion in this field, and to understand how to take things forward after the programme.

VARUN SUD, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2005
After the programme, Varun joined Whistling Woods to specialise in camerawork. He is currently based in Bombay.

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It helped me understand so much more about aesthetic detailing.. and about technical matters… It taught me patience, team-work and planning…. It turned out to be a most challenging experience.

SUNAYANA SINGH, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2004
Sunayana Singh is currently studying Cinematography at FTII Pune.

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The open and informal approach came as a breath of fresh air.

ABHIK GHOSH, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2004
Abhik works as an advertising professional in Mumbai.

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My expectations from the programme have been more than met. Before joining, I never imagined that we will reach this far; and the final film was truly a learning experience.

The preparatory shooting exercises that we did towards building a narrative sequence were invaluable. The scripting sessions and storyboarding exercises with their mentored inputs were a great learning experience. The editing of the final project was an eye-opener – I realised half the film is made on the editing table.

After this programme, I feel confident about making a short fiction film or a documentary.

MANU KHURANA, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Manu Khurana is an architect by profession, a jazz lover and a film buff. His work as a still photographer has been exhibited in public. He hopes to use what he learnt in the programme to continue making films.

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The environment was great for learning, without fear of failure.

Over a period of time, I found I was able to judge my own work - sometimes even critiquing it myself before others had a chance to do so. Handling the camera equipment was undoubtedly the best part for me – I doubt we’d be allowed to get so much freedom with cameras elsewhere.

Today when I watch a film, I feel I am not a mere spectator. I feel as though I’m looking at it through the eye of the director. Even while walking on the road outside, I see things as if I were looking at them through the frame, through the camera… What I have learnt has become a part of my daily life. 

I’ve learnt how to work with different people. I’ve understood that sometimes a film is made in the scripting, and at other times its made on the editing table… Oh, and I continue to still read the study material – it’s such a compact set of inputs that we can build upon.

I’m not likely to forget this summer… The work was quite hard at times, but I’m glad… happy I joined and happy I stayed till the end.

ASTIK SINHA: SUMMER PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Astik is a student of Journalism at the Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi University

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Shooting on our own from the very first day, and then analysing it together, was really helpful. I shot a kulfi-seller for a documentary exercise where I made him enact his own work. Watching it later, it looked absolutely ridiculous. From then onwards, all of us became conscious about not interfering with the flow of people’s actions; and keenly aware of the common mistakes we make when shooting people. “Learning through mistakes” been the highlight of the programme for me. It’s also been great to learn from other people’s works.

The exhaustive study material is great!

I had a blast participating in the programme. It was great to interact with so many others with whom I share a common interest. I hope we band together for more such projects in the future!

BHAAMATHY SIVAPALAN, SUMMER PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Bhaamathy is currently doing her MA in Mass Communications from MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia

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I now also understand the kind of effort that goes into a production. This understanding – which I did not have earlier – is invaluable for me towards my work.

KABEER HAZARIKA, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Kabeer is a Partner in a media production company in Delhi, where he handles Marketing and business development. He hopes to make wildlife documentaries sometime in the future.

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I learnt so much about exposure, white balance, light, colours – all those things one tends to ignore when one is so used to digital cameras. I found the film screenings very helpful – when we watched movies at the of a day, it was no longer about the story – it was all about light, sound, colour, camera placement, acting…  we saw these films in a very different light, we paid attention to detail.

ARUNIMA SEN, SUMMER PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Arunima is currently a student of LSR, Delhi. She is a music and movie buff, who puts her handycam to constant use.

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The feedback sessions were so helpful - after every small or big practical exercise, when we all would sit together, watch and analyze everyone’s work and get constructive criticism. I think that was a great way of learning and improving our skills.

FARHAD COLABAVALA, PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2007
Farhad is an undergrad student and an amateur theatre actor

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I used to dream of making films earlier, but now I have found the way to make those film-dreams come true.

VISHAL AGARWAL, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Vishal works with a multinational corporation based in Gurgaon; and hopes to continue making films for the sheer pleasure of it.

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The programme completely exceeded my expectations in the amount and quality of training we got in such a short period of time.

KHUSHBOO RASTOGI, INTENSIVE PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Khushboo works with a multinational concern in the IT sector. She is looking to explore her options in acting and filmmaking.

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After the workshop, I think I can confidently call myself a “budding filmmaker”.  I know it is a big word to use but that’s the way I feel now.

VIKRAM KOCHHAR, PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2007
Vikram is currently studying theatre at the National School of Drama. He continues to shoot, act and be involved in filmmaking.

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I entered the programme hoping that it would justify me leaving the comforts of home to do a programme in the gruelling Delhi heat. And at the end of the course, I didn’t want to leave.

It was a revelation, in a sense…. You think you know something, you think there hardly is anything to it, and then you get down to actually learning it and doing it, and you realise how wrong you were! This realisation was vital for me, as I intend to take up film-making as a career.

I found the final fiction shooting was really important for me.  It was my one chance at culminating all that I had learnt in the preceding weeks. And the amount we learnt in that short span of time was simply mindblowing. Although we cribbed about the hours, and the heat and the sun, we all knew that what we were learning was unmeasurable. 

SHAYONI SARKAR, PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2007
Shayoni Sarkar is currently finishing her undergrad studies; and makes films – both for herself and for NGOs – as often as she can.

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The most useful aspect of the workshop is the hands on approach. The practical exercises particularly the out door ones helped bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and technical capabilities. The workshop added fuel to my interest, consolidated my understanding, and helped me realise my limitations.

CLAIRE PREST, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2005
Claire is an Australian who lives and works in India as a team leader for adventure travel groups.

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The workshop gave me confidence and reasonable technical know how. The rigor of working on the short film and completing it was a huge learning experience. Best of all, it gave me lot of confidence about making a short film. I understood what sustains, and what doesn’t; how to go beyond just pretty shots and focus on the content.

ANJALI JYOTI, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2005
Anjali is a practising architect and film buff.

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I have become more observant. I pay attention to colours & light lot more.

TANUSHREE BHASIN, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2006

Tanushree is an undergrad student at LSR, Delhi University

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The most useful aspect is that each participant had been given access to the camera and using it with out instilling fear of the equipment.

SWASTIKA MEHTA, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2005
Swastika is a broadcast professional. She has worked with NDTV, MidiTECH, and several media production organisations in Delhi.

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The screening sessions introduced me to the world of documentary and world cinema which I didn’t know existed.

SONIYA BHARAT, WORKSHOP IN FILMMAKING, 2004
After completing the programme, Soniya has been assisting a Delhi based filmmaker.

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Comfort with cameras. I finally understand what an aperture means and does…

JAIDEEP S WARYA, SUMMER PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING, 2008
Jaideep is an early-career architect and film enthusiast..

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The hands on technical experience on equipment like PD-150 cameras, FCPs, mikes etc. would have otherwise been impossible at such an early stage (in my career).

ABHIMANYU, PROGRAMME IN FILMMAKING 2006.
Abhimanyu joined the Editing course at FTII after the workshop. He currently works in Mumbai as an editor and post-production professional.

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