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Moulding filmmakers

— Photo: H. Vibhu

Fostering talent: One of the participants at the digital film-making camp at the Orthic Creative Centre.

As the camera starts rolling, the shrill voice of Kaarthika could be heard, shouting “Action!” Just as the actor completes the dialogue, the voice returns to shout “Cut!” And every time this is heard, as rushes were played back at editing suite, the beaming young director could not suppress her happiness.

Hers was one of the three short films that were made at the end of the digital filmmaking camp organised by the Orthic Creative Centre. The six-day camp, which ended on December 31, introduced the participants to the basics alphabets of filmmaking.

The films

Kaarthika, a ninth Standard student at Kerala Kalamandalam, had visualised the story of a painter, who gets a gala opening ceremony and good footfall at his show, but fails to sell any work. “I got the idea after coming here,” she says. The camp was held inside the gallery of Orthic Creative Centre.

The edited version of the film, Lonely Paintings, could pass on at the first glance for a production by an experienced filmmaker.

Anjaz, the 10th Standard student of Holy Family High School, Cherthala, had developed a storyline based on never-satiated human greed. The protagonist is a boy who develops a fancy for the costly pen that his friend brings to the school.

When his request to keep it for a day is turned down, he steals money from his mother’s purse and buys a similar pen; only to find that his friend is now having an even costlier pen.

The film, titled Aagraham (Desire), ends with the boy moving towards his father’s wallet.

The third film, conceived by Noushad, working with the Life Insurance Corporation, has a teenager venturing out to the road on a motorcycle. Suddenly a policeman stops him, only to ask for a ride. The policeman even asks the boy to ride a bit faster.

After dropping the policeman, the boy rides along. On his way back, the same policeman stops him again and books him for riding without a licence and a helmet. And the film is rightly titled On Duty.

“These films might not have the technical finesse, but they are charged with genuine energy and enthusiasm,” says Jabbar Kallarackal, ad-film maker who was the course director.

The films will be screened on January 26 at Orthic Creative Centre.

Anand Haridas

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