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Some MAGIC, some ORDER
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Students of Magic in Motion learn two things in one go: the inspired art of filmmaking and all the sweat that goes with it
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Students are taught the basics of camera work using Mini DVs and they do two short films: one closely follows a given script, either filmed singly or in pairs, and the other is a group effort with everyone being assigned roles.
IN JUST eight weeks, students at Magic in Motion learn all it takes to make a film. They make two films in this short period, the second entirely on their own, taking turns to play director, producer, sound assistant, editing overseer, scriptwriter, and sometimes even actor, during the filming. They learn the basics and theories behind all the techniques involved in filmmaking whether logistical, financial or creative, in a programme that school-founder Nikhat Aslam loosely modelled on her own course at the Jamia Milia Islamia. "There was a need to provide avid film buffs who are professionals with the opportunity to turn filmmakers," she explains. And so, the course welcomes working professionals, who often wish they didn't have offices or factories to go to, laughs Nikhat.
Evening classes
Since a large number of the students who enrol for the Rs. 23,000-course are already working (they have to be aged above 18), classes are in the evenings and on weekends. The strength of each batch ranges from five to about 15 and there are three batches a year.
Students are taught the basics of camera work using Mini DVs and do two short films: one closely follows a given script, either filmed singly or in pairs and the other is a group effort with everyone being assigned roles. There's a detailed production schedule with tight deadlines to be followed for this second film though, and if students fail to meet deadlines, there's no film. "Deadlines are sacrosanct," says Nikhat. "They are a big part of your attitude and we have a ladder system here, you have to learn every rung. It's a very intensive course."
The eight-week course has had students as old as 45, keen to learn the basics and then turn to film full-time. They begin with classes in still photography and are taught the basics of all aspects of cinema, discuss films which are screened for them and interact with professionals from the industry. Before the beginning of the course, students are asked to watch some films — not the avant-garde stuff of film festival circuits but popular films such as Casablanca, Shawshank Redemption and even Speed.
All the work produced is fictional, and since the final film forms the portfolio for most students, a professional cameraperson shoots it. "I believe that if you understand fiction, you can change your genre to anything," declares Nikhat. "Fiction puts everything in your control, everyone identifies with it and people enjoy making up stuff."
Disciplined work
Two things make her course different, says Nikhat. One is that students actually get to do hands-on work and handle equipment. Indeed, although this isn't a technical course, many students go on to become editors or camerapersons. Secondly, the focus on discipline. Her husband has worked in a production capacity at some Merchant-Ivory productions and from his exposure Nikhat learnt the importance of keeping production deadlines in this exorbitantly expensive industry where each day's shooting can cost thousands of rupees.
Students films are screened at the Alliance Francaise where classes are held, but are also taken to BYOFF (the Bring Your Own Film Festival) in Puri, Orissa. Back from this year's BYOFF, Nikhat says the students' film this year, Deja Vu, an 18-minute story of a pregnant woman whose recurring nightmare haunts her, was very well received.
"I'm a difficult person to please," says Nikhat, "but I saw a lot of student films at BYOFF and I thought ours stood on a good level. Perhaps there wasn't as much experimentation as in some of the films from students who had taken intensive courses, but our students were able to create emotion and were strong on basics."
Young filmmaker
Perhaps reflecting how easy Mini DVs and videos have made filming, the inaugural film at last year's BYOFF was a three-minute film Where Is My Brother by Kabir Aslam, Nikhat's son who often assisted as clapper boy and soon picked up how to shoot and direct. This year, he filmed a 15-minute story on a cricket match along with his friends, sticking to a tight production schedule to wrap up in five hours.
Nikhat welcomes people to her course, whatever background they may come from. Budding filmmakers may already be familiar with handy-cams and editing on their laptops, but what Nikhat teaches is professional filmmaking where production schedules and crisp discipline are all important.
HEMANGINI GUPTA
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