By Ms Michelle Pereira & Ms Natasha Nair for BIS Mumbai

On August 30, 2024, the Stellar Don Bosco Academy in Nerul hosted a dynamic workshop on filmmaking, in collaboration with the Don Bosco International Media Academy (DBIMA), Paris. This immersive event brought together a team of industry experts who shared their insights and expertise with 65 eager college students, aspiring to make their mark in the world of cinema. The distinguished filmmaking team included Fr John Paul Swaminathan, a renowned film director and producer, Mr John Vijay, an accomplished actor-director from South India; Mr. Nathan Taieb a skilled cinematographer and film producer; Ms Maeva Ramkalia, an expert screenwriter and narrative designer; Fr Jose Enrique, a communication specialist and digital marketing expert; and Mr Felix, a Da Vinci editing expert. These professionals were warmly welcomed by Ms Wenonah Castellino, Advisor at Don Bosco Academy.

In his opening remarks, Fr Barnabe D’Souza reflected on Don Bosco’s vision of communicating values to the youth, guiding them along the right path. Addressing the students, he encouraged them to “dream your dream, telling your stories to different audiences.” He also stressed the importance of paying attention to the art and nuances of the craft of filmmaking. Mr Vijay inspired the students with his advice to “remember your dreams and make it big as a filmmaker.” He encouraged them to keep a ‘Dream Diary’ and make notes daily, as a story might emerge from these reflections.

Fr Swaminathan shared his perspective on the role of technology in filmmaking, emphasizing that while AI is man-made, it still takes a beautiful mind to create a movie. “We are in control of AI,” he said, reminding the audience that they are unique and special. He urged them to bring their viewpoints to the screen, confident that their stories would resonate with someone.

The day’s events continued with a Masterclass that covered every aspect of filmmaking, from visioning and scriptwriting to filming, editing, and final discussions. Ms Ramkalia led the scriptwriting session, challenging the eight groups to develop a storyline featuring two characters who would speak for two minutes.

A team from Canon India provided the film equipment, allowing students to shoot their amateur movies. Participants were then immersed in the filmmaking process, collaborating on shooting their scenes before moving to the auditorium for the editing phase.

Mr Joseph Felix, one of the facilitators, took the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of post-production, guiding participants on how to approach the editing process. He emphasized, “We humans are natural filmmakers; we dream every day.” While tools like Da Vinci or Premiere Pro are essential, he pointed out that the true essence of editing lies in the thought process. “You can learn the software, but editing is a skill you develop over time,” he said, encouraging them to trust their instincts and creative judgment. Fr Swaminathan then spoke about the courses offered at DBIMA before the participants had the chance to watch the films they had created. 

The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Bipin Purshottam, who, along with the DBA Nerul team, was instrumental in organizing the event.