AMERICAN FILMMAKERS VISIT BANGLADESH

The American Center recently brought Dawn Porter and Tim Skousen, two American filmmakers to Bangladesh. For the duration of their stay, they conducted some workshops at the EMK Center and Pathshala for young filmmakers and social workers. Star Showbiz had the opportunity to catch up with the filmmakers to find out more about them.

What inspired you into filmmaking?
Dawn: I always had a soft spot of journalism and storytelling. I am a lawyer by training and spent 5 years working for a law firm. I did a lot of media work as well by working for the newspapers and journalists. After that I went to work for news networks by starting at ABC News in New York for over seven and a half years. While there, I saw how a story is put together and how to make it compelling and decided that this is what I want to do.
Tim: My love for filmmaking came during my days in college, where I was studied Economics. I stumbled into a film class and there, I was given a camera and instructed to make a movie. I did as instructed but through this, I fell in love with filming. The fact that I made a film, had a screening in front of an audience and seeing them clap gave rise to a feeling that I can't quite describe. I immediately dropped my major and decided to be a filmmaker and since then, loved every moment of my life.

What do you think of Bengali films?
Dawn: I have definitely been struck by the distinctive styles of filmmaking here. There is a big emphasis on story here as well as visually compelling characteristics. As a filmmaker, its inspiring to come here and see people's styles, and that's what's so great about travelling.
Tim: We saw Monpura, a trailer for Most Wanted 2, Matir Moyna and Jesus 71. In essence, we got a taste of the movies made here in the 90s till more recent productions. We feel that it's gone a bit commercial with Bollywood style films and popular themes. However, I found that Monpura was very moving and it had a Shakespearean story and very mature story telling style.

Dawn, please share a few words about Gideon's Army, your critically acclaimed film.
Gideon's Army follows the personal stories of Travis Williams, Brandy Alexander and June Hardwick, three young public defenders who are part of a small group of idealistic lawyers in the Deep South challenging the assumptions that drive a criminal justice system strained to the breaking point.

Tim, since you also have experience with TVCs, please share your views on the TVC's made in Bangladesh.
Well, we visited Amitabh Reza and he showed us a couple of his creations including the one he did for the Bangladesh Tourism board it was magnificent. As far as I have seen, Bangladesh has a very modern and sophisticated advertising infrastructure and because of this, a lot of the big advertising firms are here. A way for improving TVC work here is a change in the current system. The current system involves an ad agency hiring a director directly. So he gets involved with the financial side of things as well as the creative side. This hinders his performance. Improvements can be made with the establishment of a production company for TVCs. This company will be contacted directly by the ad agencies and this would mean that the director is free to focus on just the creative side of the project.

Tell us about the workshops you conducted here at the EMK centre.
Dawn: We feel privileged to part of this workshop. The participants in the workshop had a really tough assignment. They have to make a short film in 2 days! That includes planning, shooting, editing, and sound, etc. and then presenting the work at the end of the workshop where it would be screened in front of an audience.
Tim: Before any of that began, we started with a lesson on everything they needed to know before they actually went out to shoot. For example we broke down the different categories of documentary so that they had all the basics, at least on paper, on what they needed to do before they went out and tried it for real. We were also present during their shootings, their editing and also when it was screened in case they needed some guidance, but we mostly wanted them to tell their own story their own way. It was a very rewarding experience when we saw them introduce themselves in front of the audience and describe their work to others.

In your opinion, how can the Bengali film industry improve?
Dawn: I feel that every film community has to respect its audience. The problem in most cases is that they take the audience for granted. Story telling needs to evolve more and if that continues, good films are bound to come out. There is a big audience here and I honestly think there is more room for other entertainment than just soap operas and sports.
Tim: I believe that every country should have a film identity. And films that came out in the 90s definitely had that because they were about deep things like liberation war of 71. But now, it seems that trying to compete with Bollywood films has diminished that root. What I feel is that the film industry needs is to retrace their steps back to their roots. The success of films like Monpura is proof of that. If this trend continues, the film industry here can have a rebirth.