We were at a small screening hall, Auditorium 3, 80-100 seats, at Vision Cinemas . But it was packed! And who packed it? Our students from the Sri Rakum School for the Blind. We zipped through 20 different stories in less than two hours!

The joy, the laughter, the gasps of fear and the sheer union of viewer and cinema was evident in that little cinema hall. It didn't matter that all couldn't 'see' the films. Those who could, would narrate to those less fortunate. But the understanding was instantaneous. The blind did 'see' films presented by FilmCamp.TV at the Bengaluru International Film Festival. And nothing gave us more happiness than to be facilitators of this rare and momentous happening.

For the Rakum students the screening was clearly a revelation into what could be said in 1-2 minutes. At the onset of the workshop, as they wrote their scripts, many were not truly convinced that a film could convey a story in that duration. That doubt exists no more. The day following the screening, as we continued our workshop, there was a flood of stories and scripts. Some groups had as many as three stories to offer! Making the choice of story, without hurting anybody's feelings, became the challenge.

Practical training has started too. Since these students will actually shoot their films, they must know the camera, how to operate it, mount it on a tripod and work as team. We demonstrate through touch and feel. The students would touch and hold different parts of the camera starting with the the lens, the viewfinder screen and the microphone. Where does the tape go? How is the image recorded? Students actually screwed on the camera's base plate, mounted the camera on a tripod, adjusted the tripod's height and did a rehearsal shoot of a scene from their script.

All our blind students have participated in drama and debates on stage. So there is this overwhelming perception that cinema and acting is like drama with all the action happing in one 'shot'. The realization that a film consists of shots knit together in story order is beginning to sink in. And by god what a revelation that is for the blind. The revelation that that the camera can go anywhere. A close-up can make an ant look like an elephant!

Excitement is building. Shooting is round the corner with at least three films to be made this weekend, January 13th. More to come...

Read The TImes of India article

Read The Deccan Herald article

For pictures, click here.