The number of short-term scriptwriting workshops in the city have multiplied over the recent past Nobody has ever cracked the riddle about what turns a film into a box office hit music,foreign locales or item girls? A large majority of filmmakers,however,agree that,all too often,it is the script that's the hero. So,it is a trifle ironic that till 2004,when Film and Television Institute of India (FTII),Pune,launched a year-long course in screenwriting,not even one institution in the country offered a full-fledged course in scriptwriting. Even today,the only other institute that offers a full-time degree course on the subject is Whistling Woods International Institute. The growing popularity of scriptwriting as a skill and a career choice can be judged by the fact that 170 people applied for 12 seats for a one-year-long scriptwriting course at FTII this year. So,where do budding storytellers for the screen go to hone their talent? To a institutes that offer short-term certificate and diploma courses in scriptwriting,whose numbers have multiplied in recent years. These scriptwriting worshops fill the gap between full-time courses and short-term diplomas. People who don't get seats in the course and also those who don't have enough time for a full course,workshops are a good option, says Vikas Sharma,course coordinator and resident faculty at the scriptwriting department at FTII. Over the past few years,Pune has hosted several workshops on scriptwriting. This very month,three such workshops will be held in the city. According to Anjum Rajabali,writer of films such as Raajneeti ,Ghulam and The Legend of Bhagat Singh,scriptwriting is the fastest growing department in the film industry at present. Rajabali attributes the trend to the renewed acknowledgment by producers of the fact that only good scripts lead to good films. There is a search for good writers and well-written scripts. The workshops are a great introduction to scriptwriting not only for those who wish to make a career out of it but also those who simply wish to learn a new skill," says Rajabali,who also heads the scriptwriting department of FTII. In collaboration with the Living Bridge,a film education hub in the city,he will conduct a scriptwriting workshop in the city from August 15 to 19. Four-year-old institute Zen Ideas organises 10 scriptwriting workshops in a year and has around 10-12 students in each batch. An intensive 30-hour workshop not only familiarises one with the basics but also stimulates the student to explore new ways of telling stories. "Four years ago,people were not aware about the course and its prospects. Over the years,the interest in scriptwriting has picked up because of our exposure to Indian and international movies," says Ram Yadav,founder of Zen Ideas. Zen Ideas' workshop is scheduled from August 20 to 24. Apart from Rajabali's workshop,the city is also hosting scriptwriting workshops by Open Space. Annie Zaidi,a creative writer,is conducting the workshop at Open Space with the Ramayana as the main theme,from August 17 to 19. While a full-time course costs around Rs 35,000,the charges for workshops that range from two days to one week,are between Rs 700 and Rs 7,000. Having attended the scriptwriting course at FTII as well as some short workshops,Rajesh Madhini,an aspiring screen writer,feels that the course or a workshop is not enough to make anyone a professional scriptwriter. While a workshop can arm you with essential tips,ultimately it is a writer's talent that works,he says.
