Bhopal: Tourism, Culture and Spirituality Minister Sushri Usha Thakur said that Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India, is known for its innovations. This initiative of the tourism department to upgrade the skills and provide employment to the artists of the state will surely become the basis of Aatm-Nirbhar Madhya Pradesh. Sushri Thakur was addressing at the launch of the one-day educational and interactive session “The Expert Shots” workshop organised by the Department of Tourism at Minto Hall. Sushri Thakur said that along with training and knowledge of various genres and techniques of cinema world in the workshop, youths would also get inspiration from the life struggles and experiences of experienced and eminent artists. During the production of films in the state, employment will be available to the artists at the local level only.
Sushri Thakur said that contents like films and web series are not only means of entertainment but also medium of communication and protection of culture, traditions and nationalism. On the occasion of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Sushri Thakur urged the directors, producers and eminent artists associated with the state to produce film or web series based on the lives of the heroes, warriors who made sacrifices and great men of the freedom struggle belonging to the state. With this, the future generations of the state will be able to get acquainted with the life struggle, sacrifice and golden history of India of the brave revolutionaries and great men.
Principal Secretary Tourism Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla said that the film industry has appreciated the natural beauty, cordiality of people and work culture of Madhya Pradesh. In the last years, good film projects have been completed in Madhya Pradesh. The tourism department has started a new initiative for the education and training of the artists of the state with the belief that this film project and web series production should become a medium for the advancement of the youth. This workshop will prove to be a milestone in the creation of an organic eco-system of film making.
Smt. Shilpa Gupta, Additional Managing Director, Tourism Board, said that Madhya Pradesh Film Tourism Policy 2020 has been implemented to encourage state and international film production in the state. Under this policy, the process of grant and permission for film making has been simplified. Due to which there has been an increase in the shooting of various films / web series / TV serials etc. in the state. During the production of films, this workshop has been organised to increase employment opportunities to the artists and youth of the state and to enhance their institutional skills.
Renowned film director Shri Anurag Basu said that eminent director Shri Prakash Jha had started the process of film production in Madhya Pradesh. Which drew the attention of all the big filmmakers of the film industry towards Madhya Pradesh. Now Madhya Pradesh has become the most favourite destination of film making. This workshop will not only be beneficial for the youth of the state, but the film industry will be able to get skilled artists at the local level. This is a win-win condition for both the film industry and the artistes of the state.
Raj Shandilya, writer and director of successful shows like Dream Girl Movie and Comedy Circus, said that he has a long association with Bhopal. He has done engineering from Bhopal and his life partner is also from Bhopal. In this way, Madhya Pradesh has given a lot to his life. That’s why he has a special interest in teaching the skills of cinema world to the artists of Madhya Pradesh and training them. Shri Shandilya said that with these efforts of the tourism department, Madhya Pradesh will surely emerge as the nursery of cinema world.
Casting Director Shri Mukesh Chhabra said that in Madhya Pradesh there are artists and knowledgeable persons of all arts required for the film industry. Through this workshop, the skills and techniques of the artists will be upgraded. Other states will also take inspiration from the state’s skill development programme.
Director of Madhya Pradesh School of Drama, Shri Alok Chatterjee said that experienced persons associated with the world of cinema are like a moving theatrical school. Along with the genres of books and theatre, they are also familiar with the struggles of the cinema world. It is hoped that through this workshop, the struggling artists of the state will take inspiration and make continuous efforts to bring more refinement in their skills.
Actor Shri Shivankit Singh Parihar said that Madhya Pradesh has been his favourite film shooting destination since beginning. Due to the circumstances of Covid-19 in Rajasthan, he has shot most of the season 2 of Kota Factory in Madhya Pradesh. The projects are ready for further shooting in Madhya Pradesh. In which the skills of local artists of Madhya Pradesh will be fully utilized.
In the workshop, the students related to film making got an opportunity to learn the nuances of the skills from the established artists of the cinema world and to resolve their curiosities and questions related to cinema. Expert speakers invited to the workshop covered topics related to cinema such as how does an actor develop holistically? Apart from acting, they interacted directly with students and shared their experiences on topics such as knowledge of other genres, daily riaz– comportment/vocal, challenges faced during shooting, nuances of script writing, tips and tricks to prepare a profile, and experience in the film world.
On this occasion, the concerned officers-employees of the tourism department and artists and students associated with the cinema world were present.