In the fond memory of legendary art director Phatik Baruah, a filmmaking workshop was held at the Tirtha Nath Sharma Hall in Chandmari, Guwahati.
The workshop was organised and conducted by the critically acclaimed filmmaker Shankar Borua and assisted by Ratul Das and Jyotirmoy Baishya.
The filmmaking workshop and interactive sessions covered, among other elements, the art of screenwriting, mise en scene (visual design), storyboard and treatment, narration and voice-over, motion picture lighting, composition, production design, sound design, editing, writing, and directing fiction cinema, mechanics of cinematography, music, etc.
Borua, who has been conducting such workshops in different parts of the country, especially the Northeastern region, emphasised the fundamental principles of the film medium and diverse story-telling patterns, the visual structures, the various phases of fiction and non-fiction cinema, which have their own specific tasks, among other aspects.
It was a great opportunity for the participants to familiarize themselves with the sensitivities and practicalities of the medium.
Borua, with his unfailing enthusiasm, empathetically shared his vast knowledge and experience of cinema that enlightened and motivated the enthusiasts, aspiring filmmakers, and film students.
“It is my own little way of paying tribute to an exceptional artist/craftsman and a wonderful human being," Borua said.
"One very rarely has the fortune of closely getting to know such a personality and intimately learning the ropes of the business. I have great memories of spending hours with Phatik Dodaideo, cooking a meal together, and deliberating on our lives and times. His exceptional life is a movie and I sincerely hope the people of Assam will get to know more about his life and work in the days ahead," Borua added.
Borua is known for his recent unique film narratives ‘Grief on a Sunday Morning’ (a film about the sexual abuse of little boys), ‘The Curiosity Shop’ (a film that espouses the adoption of a girl child while depicting the abuse of women within the family unknown to the world outside) and the political musical ‘Rongeen’ (Colorful) highlighting the power of participatory democracy in the face of endemic corruption and injustice.
The workshop also saw the participation of national-award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer Suraj Duwarah and film editor Jiten Borah as resource persons, enlightening the participants with insightful commentaries on the various aspects and segments related to the art of filmmaking.
