Fw: [Aaj-ke-naam] Re: [cc-india] filmmakers initiative

Tue May 28 07:14:01 CEST 2002

----- Original Message -----
From: sabeena gadihoke <sgadihok at del2.vsnl.net.in>
To: vector <tarana at cal2.vsnl.net.in>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 10:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Aaj-ke-naam] Re: [cc-india] filmmakers initiative


> Dear Ranjan:
> I absolutely agree with your comments on shooting in Gujarat (guerilla
style
> rushing in and out). I haven't seen the existing films/footage on Gujarat
> but have heard about the reactions that they get and wouldn't be in a
hurry
> to add to that. I think we are however agreed that filmmakers are free to
> make whatever images they feel express their concerns. There will be a
> curating committee that will put all of this together.
>
> Some of us are part of another initiative to intervene in schools
> (schoolworkshop.com) on issues of communlism. .For further clarification,
> Schoolworkshop.com is an initiative of a group of teachers, artists,
> storytellers, writers, puppeteers, filmmakers etc who met to discuss
> interventions in schools in Delhi from the new session in July.  Many of
us
> were alarmed at a number of reported instances of children being heckled
in
> school around their religious identities. Gita Hariharan and Ayesha Kidwai
> (at JNU) are coordinating with the schools. The idea is to offer sessions
> whenever they can give us time. These would be both for students as well
as
> for teachers and obviously they would have to be pitched differently. Many
> of the schools are requesting media related presentations like discussions
> around representation of communlism/fundamentalism/minorities etc in
popular
> films and TV. Ranjani Mazumdar and Sabina Kidwai are doing two
presentations
> in Springdales (but we need to move beyond Springdales of course).. A/V's
> are also welcome in this initiative and I think we could add photographs.
>
> Going back to Aaj ke Naam...existing images/films are welcome. We have
also
> discussed the possbilities of re-editing old stuff or adding a context
etc.
>
> Love, Sabeena
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: vector <tarana at cal2.vsnl.net.in>
> To: RAHUL ROY <aakar at del3.vsnl.net.in>
> Cc: <Aaj-ke-naam at mail.sarai.net>
> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 8:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [Aaj-ke-naam] Re: [cc-india] filmmakers initiative
>
>
> > dear rahul,
> >
> > i was away,shooting in shillong, and have just got back and read about
the
> > initiative, though i had heard, maybe 7 weeks ago,(from amar and sanjay)
> > that someting was being discussed....
> >
> > am glad that its got off the ground-better late than never!!
> >
> > some questions....
> >
> > 1) you say images-are we restricting ourselves to images, only, or are
we
> > talking about films ?(have i missed out on something-like a detailed
idea
> of
> > what's been attampted?)
> >
> > 2) do the films have to be shot in gujarat, or can we do them anywhere?
> >
> > 3) do they have to be SHOT?
> >  i for one have no plans of going to gujarat-see no sense in adding to
the
> > immensely moving archive of testimonies already there before us-i think
> its
> > important to construct significant arguments with them, rather than
leave
> > them unstructured, and available to be used by anyone in any fashion-i
> think
> > that can be dangerous...one of the films already done, is a bit like
> that!!!
> > also, setu niraj and gurpal are going to be there for awhile, gathering
> > testimonies, painstakingly(getting majorly deppressed and debilitated in
> the
> > process) and not doing the guerilla filmaker thing-rushing in, blazing
> away
> > and out!!
> >
> > 4) so, i'm asking whether i can use existing material and do stuff with
> > it....
> >
> > looking forward to a quick response from all of you out there -let's get
> our
> > act together before it is too ----
> >
> > love
> >
> > ranjan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: RAHUL ROY <aakar at del3.vsnl.net.in>
> > To: Parvez imam <f20com at yahoo.com>; <cc-india at yahoogroups.com>;
> > <aaj-ke-naam at mail.sarai.net>; <docuwallahs at yahoogroups.com>
> > Cc: <cc-india at yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2002 12:10 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Aaj-ke-naam] Re: [cc-india] filmmakers initiative
> >
> >
> > > Dear Parvez,
> > > I am writing to you as one of the people who was present at the first
> > > meeting of this group... We are still in the process of working out a
> > > distribution strategy but I can share with you what many of us felt
> during
> > > the initial discussion. It was said that we as a community of film
> makers
> > > should protest against the virulent communal atmosphere in the country
> by
> > > creating images. How exactly these images will be taken out,
> distributed,
> > > screened is a process we will work at simultaneously but that should
not
> > > restrain us from doing what we are skilled at, that is, making films.
> For
> > > many of us our best work has happened when we were not weighed down by
> > > production companies, distribution strategies, TV channels and
duration
> > > issues. And many of these films have actually been seen much more than
> > those
> > > which had everything going for them in terms of commissioning,
financial
> > > resources, etc.
> > >
> > > There are no restrictions in terms of  duration and format. We are
open
> to
> > > images which can be projected with no constraint of style, genre or
> > format.
> > > At present our understanding is that we will create  a package
(unedited
> > > ofcourse!) and tap into exisiting forums, people, institutions to
screen
> > the
> > > package. Incase  there is a good response to the initiative then we
can
> > also
> > > generate resources to create our own screening chains. However that
> would
> > > depend on how many people join in and the kind of responsibilities
they
> > are
> > > willing to take.
> > >
> > > About your enquiry regarding TV stations, I hope someone else on the
> list
> > > with contacts can help you but we are not yet in touch with any of the
> > > Channels. We will aproach the channels once the package is ready but
we
> > > would not like participating film makers to restrain themselves with
> > notions
> > > of what would be acceptable to TV stations.
> > >
> > > The deadline 30 August is for film makers to submit their films to be
> part
> > > of the Aaj Ke Naam package. Once the films are in, a group will
package
> it
> > > together in one or several packages depending on how many films are
> > > submitted and then we will start the process of screening them.
> > >
> > > There are more than 70 members on this list and I am sure there are
more
> > > people from Bangalore. We would request those who are already on the
> list
> > to
> > > forward this to others who could be interested in being part of this
> > > initiative. We would like this forum to be 'owned' by all of us and
> > > voluntarily offer to take on responsibilities towards making this
> package
> > > possible.
> > >
> > > We would like to hear suggestions/criticisms/advice from those on the
> > list.
> > >
> > > The mails for this group can be sent to aaj-ke- naam at mail.sarai.net
,
> > and
> > > the archives/other information about the same can be had from the
> > following
> > > site: http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/aaj-ke-naam . Others from
> > > film/media background could also become members of this egroup by
> > > registering at the above site, or requesting us for the same.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Rahul Roy
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Aaj-ke-naam mailing list
> > > Aaj-ke-naam at mail.sarai.net
> > > http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/aaj-ke-naam
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Aaj-ke-naam mailing list
> > Aaj-ke-naam at mail.sarai.net
> > http://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/aaj-ke-naam
> >
>