The 10-day workshop will include basics of film language, concept of story-board, translating ideas through still pictures and captions/commentary with practical exercises, practical aspects of film-making, guided exercises in handling video camera, editing, understanding cinema with illustrations etc.

The purpose of organizing the training programmes is to encourage individuals with and without disability working in the disability sector to learn to disseminate information by way of audio-visual presentations. They can use this medium effectively for public awareness, breaking down barriers, myths, stereotypes and misconceptions about disabled and disability. After a series of training programmes we plan to organize film festivals in which films, documentaries and spots made by persons with and without disability working in the disability sector will be screened.

We wish to inform you that the Rehabilitation Council of India - a statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has agreed to give certificates to the participants after completion of the workshop on film-making.

About Brotherhood

BROTHERHOOD, a socio-cultural organization, has been organizing various orientation, interaction and association programmes to bridge the gap in perception between children with disability and other children in schools since 1994 through the ORIENTATION, INTERACTION AND ASSOCIATION MODEL (OIA MODEL).

We have been using the medium of films and documentaries to create awareness about disability in schools, hospitals, community etc. and have organized - a first of it kind - two film festivals on disability issues so far.

• First International Special Film Festival-2003 from March 14 to 20, 2003 at Delhi.
• Second International Special Film Festival -2004 from September 8-19, 2004 at Delhi and December 1-9, 2004 at Bhopal and from April 13 - 19, 2005 in Mansoor, Rajgarh and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) in association with Arushi, a local NGO.)
  
  

Brotherhood has been using Audio-visual media to inform people about the issues affecting the lives of persons with disabilities and to initiate discussions and dialogue on their integration into the mainstream of society. Now Brotherhood is using films and documentaries in workshops and training programmes to present and discuss the social model of disability. Films have proved an effective medium for discussing controversial topics and demonstrating new approaches for improving the lives of Persons with disabilities in the community.

The portrayal of disability in Indian cinema has always been a matter of great concern - they are portrayed either as objects of pity or charity or as super-heroes. The world of the disabled as it is, their feelings and concerns and their rights do not find a place in films made in Bollywood or in other parts of the country. There is an urgent need to sensitize film-makers to the portrayal of issues involving disability and cinema.

Simultaneously, a lot of personnel working in the sector can learn to communicate issues and concerns of persons with disability through the medium of films. A large number of disabled persons can also undergo training in the techniques of film-making and hence learn to make films on issues affecting their lives. For this, a series of training programmes on "Understanding Disability and Cinema" are being proposed.

Looking at the international scenario, a preliminary net search reveals 25,000 films on disability. Many of these films are very well-documented and well-presented and available to the audience. In the Indian scenario, there are only about 25 - 30 films on various issues of disability. In our country, there are very few films, short films and documentaries available on disability issues. But there is not much information about these films and documentaries.

Our database has grown to around 40 films (Indian and foreign) and about 40 documentaries (Indian) are in our kitty and we are in the process of acquiring more. As far as the documentaries are concerned, these are hardly available to the NGOs and professionals who are working in the disability sector as there is no distribution network in India.

To give a fillip to the process of film-making on disability issues, the idea of giving training to various persons with disabilities and professionals working with various NGOs in the field of disability was mooted by Brotherhood which has organized two special film festivals in the past and many screenings in the community, hospitals, schools etc. Everybody appreciated the idea and showed interest in pursuing training in the techniques of film/documentary-making.

Resource Persons