Diverse inspirations, captivating intents!

Channa Bandara WIJEKOON

Bennett Rathnayake was born in Matale. He came to Colombo in his youth with the ambition of becoming a film director. He took a stepping-stone by directing a series of teledramas which brought him recognition.

Bennett's debut film Aswesuma (The Compensation) was acclaimed locally and internationally. His next productions Sulanga (The Wind) and Ira Handa Yata (Under the Moon and Stars) too followed suit. The award winning director shared his views in regard to teledramas, films and the anticipated future trends in local cinema with Daily News Projector.

Q: How were you inspired to become an artiste?

A: While in school, I used to direct small dramas with friends and stage them in the monthly literary society gatherings. Inspiration came from there.

I loved to read folktales. A gentleman called Wijesinghe at the library encouraged me to read translations of Russian, British and Chinese novels. I also read novels of Gunadasa Amarasekera, K Jayathilleke (Pls check the spelling) and Martin Wickramasinghe. Reading books inculcated rich imaginations in my mind. I used to travel to Colombo and see films and stage dramas during my youth. I aspired to become a film-maker one day.

Q: How did you enter the national platform?

A: I had a huge urge to learn the finer points in film directing. I followed a course in cinematography at the OCIC in 1986. Later I wrote the script and directed a short video film called 'Piyawaru Saha Puththu.' Elson Divithuragama and Leena De Silva were casted for the main roles and I too acted in the production. It was chosen as the best presentation by the OCIC panel.

Recognition of the OCIC award paved way for the film to be telecast over Rupavahini and ITN. It was shown in prime-time belts. My name was publicized during the event. I directed a five-episode teledrama called 'Sayuren Eha.' Linton Semage was included in the cast. I did another production called 'Tharu'. The story revolved around a theatre actress who conquered cinema. It was telecast over MTV. This was followed with a range of my teledrama directions. In 1994 we launched our television production house, Benn Films.

Q: Most of your latter teledramas embody cinematic attributes. Have you inserted these features on purpose?

A: Yes. I used the teledrama medium to do all my experiments before directing a film. I experimented in shooting long scenes without dialogues, yet keeping the audience intact. My latest teledrama is 'Romeo and Dante' based on 'Count of Monte Cristo'. It is my ninth teledrama and it will most likely be the last one.

I did my maiden film creation 'Aswesuma' in 2000. I wrote the script and directed the film. The film was well received by the local audience and clinched many awards at local film festivals. It was acclaimed at international film festivals.

Q: The cinematography in 'Aswesuma' was on par with films made by seasoned film directors.

A: That is because I let loose all my know-how at that time into the creation. That was a result of years of experiment. Usually the first film by many directors makes such an impact. Joe Abeywickrama walking on a rapid pace across a paddy field in a village and crossing a hanging bridge to enter a new world shows the burning desire dwelled within me to become a film director. 'Aswesuma' brought vast recognition to me. 'Aswesuma' enhanced this effect. It received two international awards and a Sarasaviya award.

Q: 'Ira Handa Yata' was your vision about the separatist war. A lot of criticism was aimed at the film.

A: There is a 'war-film culture' in the cinema world. There are various categories. A film like 'Saving Private Ryan' had many emotional aspects. I did 'Ira Handa Yata' in 2009. I wanted to insert my own philosophy about the separatist struggles into my film. The film was recognized at international film festivals in Los Angeles and Italy.

I have seen the 1983 July riots and have experienced the bitter struggle which prevailed for three decades in our country. Love and compassion was a far cry from the environment that was present during that era. People were yearning for peace because they were at the receiving end of the situation. It is high time we learned to call ourselves Sri Lankans. All our relationships are hampered by race, caste and dogmas. I wanted to have a dialogue in line with these aspects in my film. Some critics were only concerned about my son being casted in the film.

Q: What do you think of film criticism?

A: It is a vital aspect in nurturing the quality of films. However, critics should know their basics before venturing into criticism. There should be standards for film criticism or for any piece of art for that matter. Budding local film critics should read works of Gamini Weragama.

A film critic must have a wide exposure to the current world trends and history about cinema. He or she must be a well read person and must constantly update himself or herself. Any man geared with a pen cannot be a film critic. Even a world renowned film maker had once commented that "Some critics are like slaughters that come to gun down the wounded soldiers after a battle well fought".

Q: Relate some of your experiences of directing Joe Abeywickrama.

A: He is a top class and a disciplined actor who did not treat me as a newcomer. He read the 'Aswesuma' script and made some suggestions regarding his character.

He enquired whether he could perform a particular scene only with expressions, without delivering dialogues in the script. Many a time I let him bring his creativity into the scenes in his own unique manner.

Q: What are your suggestions to uplift local cinema?

A: Cinema is an entertainment medium. It is also an industry. We had a healthy film culture in the 1960s and 70s.

Seeing a film was a family outing during our childhood. The unrest situation in the country due to terrorism brought a blockade for this trend.

During 1983 riots, many cinema halls were destroyed. The downfall in the industry was triggered. This decline was further fuelled by inferior quality sex films and low budget comedy films. The quality of films too deteriorated.

Now there is peace in the country. Making hi-tech mini cinema halls with all facilities would facilitate cinemagoers.

The North and East market is now open. Thus the distribution network should be enhanced. We must bring new technology to cinema.

Tax concessions given by the government is good. Concessions should also be granted for advertising. Television channels could be used to provide publicity for cinema in a much greater and effective manner.

We must have an acceptable norm and methodology of screening films and the National Film Corporation is responsible for this. The public censor board should standardize films apart from approving them. 'Good films' and 'not-so-good' films should not be kept in the same queue.

We need film archives to preserve our films. It is a secondary data of our history. Dr Lester James Peries had been requesting this for many years.

Q: What will be your next film?

A: It is a story revolving around some significant events took place in our country between the 1910 and 1948 period.

I am doing a research for the film script these days with Sugath Ratagedera.

Digital technology will be adapted for the film and it will be made to international standards. The film will be a pleasant experience for the local movie buffs.

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Not just another film festival

[SAARC Film Festival]

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

[Film schedule]

* May 16 :
10 am - My Mother tongue (Bangladesh - documentary)
1 pm - Red Building Where the Sun Sets (India - documentary)
2 pm - To be announced (Sri Lanka - documentary) 5.30 pm - Inauguration 6.30 pm - Byari (India - feature)

* May 17 :
10 am - The Historic Speech of the 7th March (Bangladesh - documentary) 11.30 am - Ane We Play On (India - documentary) 1.30 pm - Saving Face (Pakistan - documentary) 3.30 pm - Sazaa (Maldives - feature) 6 pm - Bol (Pakistan - feature)

* May 18 :
9 am to 1.30 pm - Film vs Digital workshop 3 pm - Akasa Kusum (Sri Lanka - feature) 6.30 pm - Khelaghor (Bangladesh - feature)

* May 19 :
10 am - To be announced (Sri Lanka - documentary) 1 pm - Ranjan Ami Ar Ashbo Na (India - feature) 3 pm - Ram Chand Pakistani (Pakistan - feature) 6.30 pm - Loodhifa (Maldives - feature)

* May 20 :
10 am - Priyotomeshu (Bangladesh - feature) 1 pm - Vidhu
(Sri Lanka - feature) 6.30 pm Awards ceremony

Sri Lanka's time certainly has come at last with the country going through a transformation in the field of arts. Now more than ever before Sri Lanka is the place to be in with so many exciting things happening in the island.

The SAARC Cultural Centre is gearing up to launch a Film Festival from May 16 to 20 at the National Film Corporation.

"The event is not just a film festival. We have an artistes camp, there is a research component, there are publications regularly coming out, conferences and workshops. This film festival is one of the many events that the SAARC Cultural Centre is organizing in order to promote culture and bring together the members of the SAARC countries by promoting culture. Fostering arts and culture is merely a tool whereby we bring together the countries. There is more bonding and unity and we are basically celebrating the cultural heritage we share as a region together," SAARC Cultural Centre Deputy Director of Programmes Soundarie David Rodrigo commented about the event.

She recalled that the first SAARC Film Festival was held in 201. It was a huge success.

"We had films from Bhutan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year. Since it is a SAARC event, there is a lot of protocol involved. Governments nominate the films that are to be screened at the film festival. This will be a feature and a documentary film festival," she said.

It would be a great experience indeed for anyone who is a lover of true art films. As Soundarie states all these nominations are not the typical commercial films.

They are serious films with a message. "There will be adjudicators coming from non SAARC countries such as Singapore, Russia and Iran. So they will be judging the best feature film and the best documentary.

We will be having a silver and bronze medal going out. The directors of some of the movies will also be in attendance. Audiences can expect a rich and thought provoking series of films that will showcase the film industry of the region,' she said.

Speaking about the artistes camp which will be happening from June 7 to 10 Soundarie said, "So far we have got confirmation from Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and India. There you will see top caliber artists at work.

We have a governing board which consists of representatives from the SAARC region but the National Film Corporation as well as the Iranian and Russian Embassy are sponsoring the adjudicators for the film festival. The Bank of Ceylon has also been a supporter of the event.

Our director G L W Samarasinghe has guided us in all these activities. We plan to have the SAARC Film Festival as an annual event.

We will also be having a workshop on May 18 as part of the festival. It is open for the film directors and invitees."

Speaking to the Daily News SAARC Cultural Centre Director G L W Samarasinghe said, "We are hoping to showcase an excellent film festival. This will be a great event for South Asia in the future. In some countries film industry is a little weak. So we can't expect films from Maldives and Nepal. Even in the case of Afghanistan it is very difficult to get some participation from them. We can hope to get some very good films from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This will be a good experience for Sri Lankans."

For more information about the event visit www.saarcculture.org

Higher Diploma Course in film direction

The Higher Diploma Course in Film Direction conducted by the Sri Lanka Television Training Institute will commence on June 23. Students who are interested in applying for this two year course can send their applications to the Sri Lanka Television Training Institute. No. 100A, Sri Lanka Foundation Mawatha, Colombo 7 before May 31.

The course content will cover all subjects directly and indirectly connected to cinema: the history of cinema, scripting, cinematography, editing, acting, production designing, production planning, lyric writing, film music, art direction, make-up, movie criticism and appreciation etc. The aim of this course will be to set a new trend in Sri Lankan cinematic creation for the new generation.

Enoka Sathyangani Keerthinanda will be the course director. M D Mahindapala, Prasanna Vithanage, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Vishvanath Buddhika Keerthisena, Jayanatha Chandrasiri, Prasanna Jayakody, Pravin Jayarathne, Udara Palliyaguruge and Saminda Ranawake make up the panel of lecturers. Practical sessions and workshops will be conducted throughout the period.