by ALI AHAD ULLAH
It’s a common notion in Pakistan that Lahore and Karachi artists have some kind of a rift in between them. That the people of these two mighty cities are as similar to each other as chalk and cheese. But I witness a “social change”.
Eckova Productions and British High Comission provided a platform to 30 aspiring Media students, from these two cities, 8 from lahore and 22 from karachi, to show their talent and showcase there work in London International Documentary Festival. The platform is named as FILMMAKING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. I can’t predict how much social change a film made at this platform can cause. But the platform itself has Bridged the gap between young filmmakers of these two cities and rejected the common notion.
I, myself, have felt a lot of change. Before I was invited to this platform, as one of the 30 young participants though i don’t look young but i am younger than few others, I used to consider Lahories as my competitors in Media, ofcourse, I belong to Karachi. But after the orientation and week long workshop, I realised that Lahories are actually my partners in revival of Pakistani Media.
The Lahories have left today, and I pray to Almighty Allah for their safe return to their homes, and before these words will be published they will be at home. Although every student was brilliant in his own way and time spent with them is memorable, some are worth mentioning.
Umar (lhr), is the young heart throb of the lot with his funny laugh which has become ringtones of many mobiles. Well his laugh made me nick named him Ignition. He along with Alizeb were a laughter riot. Their jokes in Punjabe, which mostly I don’t understand) were rib tickling funny. The most Innocent face belongs to Kamran (lhr) and Mohib (khi). They were always smilling at the jokes cracked at them, a rare talent among Pakistanis. Sehar palijo was the craziest and caring (with unstopable laugh ) made group with the guy with the best hairstyle, Bilal. Bilal a.k.a. Ghajini (because he is actually bald) was the targets of many of mine and Ali Changezi’s(khi) jokes. Changezi on the other hand lost half of his tooth in an incident which will be remember for his hidden smile and non stop caring laugh from Sehar. Sara ( KU/Khi ) was another innocent face that reminds me off Harry potter. She’s the cutest along with another Sarah( IVS/Khi ). Sara (IVS) along with Huma(lhr) were the most photogenic faces among girls and my camera always tried to capture their pic, in which i succeed a lots of time. Keyzad is my first ever parsi friend and I am very pleased to have him as a friend. Paiman, Keyzad (both from IVS/Khi ) and I made a lot of fun of others while playing DUMBSHRAD, a game in which you have to act the name of a movie while other guess it). Ali Hameed (lhr) and Awais (lhr) were my hard targets in Dumbshrad, they have to act as a lady bacause I keep on giving them the hardest feminine titles. Ali Hameed was finally titled MADHURI. Prem Lata (khi), though inteligent, seems to be a chatterbox and has a very jolly nature. Mohammad Ali Sheikh (khi), with his sober looks and glasses, seems nerdy which he is not. Nabiha (khi) was definetly a nerd in some part of his life, proven by her facebook profile pic.
The Volunteers worth mentioning too. Moiz is a kind of F1 (help button), you need him you call him. Sehreen, Namrah and Nayab are the GIRLS WITH THE STILL CAMERA. Sehreen a quite girl busy in photographing, Nayab Speaks but smiles more and Namrah is full of energy, I bet if the chandeliers were a little lower, she would have jumped and hanging from it.
Last but not the least, The bigger pictures: Sarwar Mushtaq, Denise, Patrick and Grace. Grace, as according to the girls, is graceful. Patrick is a lot different from what I had expected. At the end of the workshop he was laughing at Umer and Alizeb’s jokes too, obviously without understanding a single word like me. Denise is a wonderful women, in my opinion she has seen and know Pakistan better than many of us. Also she knows how to ask my name in Urdu. Sarwar Mushtaq is a powerful figure. Seems friendly at one instance and strict at another, but knows very well how to befriend with youngsters.
In the end, I would like to thanks every one who contributed in this event, extremely sorry to those student I forgot to mention in above paragraph but naming them here: Atif, Sidra, Kiran from lahore and IVS girls, Alifia, Ali Brohi, Talha, Zohaib, Ghayas from karachi and Masood Alam from Eckova. Its just an overview of what have happened yet. A detailed blog on funnienst moment is in planning. Until then, Allah Hafiz, Chao…good luck for your films .
Filed under: orientation, Workshop 1 | Tagged: karachi, lahore, participants, workshops | 12 Comments »
Filmmaking for Social Change 