Filmmaking for the young
Uvindu Illeperuma
Filmmaking is still an alien concept to the Sri Lankan young people
who desire to be familiar with it. It is true that there are courses
available in Colombo on the subject but they don’t welcome the young
from other parts of the country; souls of these young people from remote
areas have souls are gifted with nuances of creativity.
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Filming in progress |
In fact they lack a medium to give vent to their artistic thoughts.
This year, like last year, a film camp will be held funded and organized
by the Embassy of United States of America with the assistance from
Galle Film Festival.
The organizers believe that the event will enable the harmony among
youth as they can have an opportunity to enjoy the company of people of
different ethnic, linguistic, religious and social backgrounds. This
difference, or discrimination, is the principal reason that causes a
fracture in national harmony and the program expects to create
reconciliation among different social groups.
The film camp this time will be held at the tranquil environs of the
Sarvodaya Centre, Bandaragama. Blessed by the gentle breeze coming from
the Bolgoda lake, which is located to the borders of the spacious land
where the Sarvodaya Centre is built those taking part in the workshop
will earn an unforgettable experience in their life.
“This crowd is very creative. We only have to tell them what’s to be
done. My group created a nice story line and they produced the film.
Their message is greatly relevant to the adults nowadays. The story is
woven around a girl who passes O/Ls with flying colours. This girl is
vested with creativity and wants to do A/Ls in Arts streams. But her
parents want her to take up science for her A/Ls and become a doctor.
She cannot go beyond that, and ultimately she fails her A/Ls. And she
finally commits suicide. Actually this is a common experience in society
where parents meddle with children’s education unnecessarily. Perhaps
this is how some parents get compensated for their meddling with the
education of their children.” Said Buddhini Ekanayake, a local film
director.
Vidya, a student from Badulla, explained the reason why they have
selected such a topic to shoot the film. “This is a common thing and we
discussed it before we finished working on the script. We acted in the
film and the directors gave us the guidelines. The message we put across
is a common incident.”
A total of nearly 80 young people ranging from 14 to 17 years of age
take part in the program. Majority are from Kalutara, Trincomalee,
Anuradhapura, Hanbanthota, Matara, Bandarawela, Galle, Badulla,
Batticaloa, Maneragala, Amparai, Puttlam, and Jaffna districts.
The finale of the workshop will be marked with the screening of the
film produced by the young people who have attended the workshop at
Punchi Theatre. |
