RIVER

Duration              #  60 to 70 Seconds

Language            #  Hindi

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  A ghat of a major river like Ganga, Yamuna or Gomati in Northern India.

TREATMENT

The intention of this spot is to inform the viewers, about the misuse of a river. A day’s happening at one of the ghats. The audio-track will have music mixed with the ambience of the location.

 

SCRIPT

SHOT#1     Black Screen

Caption : 0530 Hours

Fade in

The entire frame has a dominance of bluish tint. A middle aged person comes to the ghat to clean his back, after defecation. The camera follows him in a mid long shot.

Fade out.

 

SHOT#2       Black Screen

Caption : 0715 Hours

Fade in

The sun has just risen. The camera focuses on a person who is cleaning his tongue, while several persons are seen in the background, out of focus.

The camera tracks in from medium to close shot, who after cleaning his tongue, spits on the river. The character has a rim light, from the rising sun.

Fade out

 

SHOT#3          Black Screen

Caption : 0910 Hours

Fade in

Medium long shot. A group of women chatting casually and washing clothes with detergent.  A few of them are drying their clothes on the ghat, in the background.

Fade out.

SHOT#4      Black Screen

Caption : 1123 Hours

Fade in

A dead body of an animal floating in the river. It is a prey for a couple of crows.  The camera pans in medium shot, along the dead body.  The light is toppish and harsh.

 

SHOT#5        Black Screen

Caption : 1415 Hours

Fade in

A herd of cattle is brought by a farmer for bathing.

The shot begins with the cattle entering the water. The farmer sprinkles water on their soiled bodies.

Fade out.

 

SHOT#6      Black Screen

Caption : 1750 Hours

Fade in

Evening light. The yellow colour is dominant.

By the side of the bank, on a heavy stone, a person in early fifty’s is seen washing his face. He then, discharges his nasal mucosa onto the river. The camera initially holds the person in the mid-long shot. His reflection is seen in the water.

With the nasal discharge, the camera tilts down to reveal a human excreta at the river bed, and the water floating over it.

Fade out.

 

SHOT#7       Black Screen

Caption : 1812 Hours

Fade in

Camera is positioned almost same level as that of the water. The frame is dominantly occupied by the river, while the upper one-third is covered by the setting sun.

To begin with, the frame is empty. We see only the water flowing. The corpse of an infant is placed on the water – it floats.

The crowd then, release the corpse – it floats away from the camera.

Fade out

 

SHOT#8    Black Screen

Caption : Each Moment

A tannery in the background, while the ghat of the river is in the foreground.                         The camera intends to capture the difference in the colour of discharged water from the tannery with that of the river-water.

The factory could be mild out of focus. The smoke from the factory, covers a large portion of the sky.

Fade out.

CAPTION

WATER IS LIFE. DON’T TAKE ITS LIFE

EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

 

Duration              #  45 to 60 Seconds

Language            #  English

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  Naked sand dunes in Jaisalmer

TREATMENT

Quite often, girl, in an agrarian civilization, from the time she is born, till her death, is dependant upon a male member for support — both emotional as well as financial.

This is particularly true in India, where a majority of population sustains itself on agriculture for livelihood.

This spot is based on the assumption that a girl lives under the shadow of her father till she achieves adulthood; depends on her husband after marriage; and on her son at an old age.

To bring out this point visually, this spot makes use of shadow.

This spot, intends to be shot in the back-drop of sand-

 

 

SCRIPT

Location                             :      Desert with virtually no vegetation

Time                                   :      Evening

Landscape                         :      Sand dunes in the background. The sand appears virgin, with no foot steps. The pattern of sand will be uneven with several layers.

Atmospheric Conditions      :      Hot and windy

The camera is mounted on a straight track of 40 o 50 feet. It captures shadows of two characters, one male and the other female, walking at 180^o angle to the camera i.e. parallel to the track. Care will be taken in costume designing so that the audience can distinctly recognize the gender in the shadows.

The shadow of the female is often hidden under the male shadow.

After approximately 30-35 seconds of parallel track along the shadows, the camera tilts up to reveal an old lady with wrinkles on her face; walking with a stick, adjacent to her son, a young man, with turban.

The camera hols on to them for six to seven seconds in medium shot. Both the characters leave the frame, towards the end of the shot.

Sound of the desert wind is dominant; along with a running commentary.

 

COMMENTARY

I have lived throughout in the shadows of someone. I continue to live in the shadows. And don’t know for how long I have to live like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

VACCINATION

Duration              #  70 to 100 Seconds

Language            #  English

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  A village in Uttar Pradesh/Bihar

 

TREATMENT

The treatment is more like the format of a medical report on an infant’s death, owing to lack of vaccination.

The Captions will appear, as if handwritten by a medical practitioner.

 

SCRIPT

SHOT #1      Black Screen

Name : Haria

PAGE TURN – Computer Graphics

Camera on the circular track, moves from the back of the crowd to a medium shot of an infant on the death-bed. His face is not yet covered. Women are crying.

A hut is seen in the background.

PAGE TURN

SHOT #2    Caption

Age : 6 months

PAGE TURN – Computer Graphics

Camera on the straight track – low angle. To begin with, the face of the infant is seen in Mid long shot. It is then covered with a shroud. The camera tracks in with the shroud to frame the infant in close up.

Crying of the women-folk is audible in the audio-track.

PAGE TURN

SHOT  #3    Caption

Father’s Name : Gajanan Mahto

PAGE TURN

Circular track of the father in medium shot, from his profile to frontal view. The crowd is seen in the background.

Crying of the womenfolk is audible in the audio-track.

PAGE TURN

SHOT #4    Caption

Address :

 Village     : Khiriama

 Post       : Chakradharpur

 Distt.       : Gaya

PAGE TURN

The corpse is picked up, by the male members.

Camera is at low angle almost to the ground level.

To begin with the crowd is seen in the background, while the corpse of the infant is in the foreground. The corpse exits from the top of the frame. The camera tracks to the mother who continues to beat her chest with tears rolling down the cheeks.

The audio track will also include the chanting of “Ram Nam Satya Hai”.

PAGE TURN

SHOT  # 5    Caption :

Complaints :

#       High Fever 2-3 days

#       Cough

#       Running Nose

#       Watering Eyes

#       Skin Rash

PAGE TURN

Extreme long shot

Semi-silhouette Image

The corpse is carried along the bank of the river. Top one third of the frame is covered by sky, while the bottom one-third by the river.

“Ram Nam Satya Hai” is faintly audible in the track.

PAGE TURN

SHOT  # 6    Caption :

On Examination :

Temperature     :        102^o F

Heart Beat          :        Rapid

Pulse                     :       120/minute

Throat                   :        Congested

PAGE TURN

Mid long shot.

On the top of the shroud logs are arranged one after another.

Time of the day is evening-with a strong side-light.

Wind sound is dominant.

PAGE TURN

SHOT   # 7    Caption

PROVISIONAL DIAGNOSIS : MEASLES

PAGE TURN

Dusk – Magic Hour

A ritual is performed by the members of the family. The earthen pitch containing water is broken.

The camera moves in a circular track.

Wind sound is dominant.

PAGE TURN

SHOT  #8    Caption

This spot has been enacted.

However, it could happen !

PAGE TURN

The pyre is about to be lit.

The crowd is seen rushing towards the dead body. Logs are removed. The shroud is uncovered. The infant is picked up, who is seen sucking his thumb.

The camera tracks backward. The lights, microphone, reflectors are seen in the frame, in order to establish that it is a shooting.

FADE OUT

POND

Duration              #  110 – 120 Seconds

Language            #  Hindi

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  A pond in the eastern coast of India, surrounded by trees, all around.

TREATMENT

This spot is designed to create an awareness about our environment, a pond in particular.

In this spot, a case study of a pond in a village is undertaken. Over the years, how a young, vibrant and beautiful pond has degraded; due to misuse, neglect and lack of concern by human beings.

However it is still competent to regain its vitality and youth.

The narrative Structure is treated like an autobiography. Instead of talking about the pond, it speaks about herself directly to the audience, in first person, feminine gender.

Text of the Commentary

I hate flattering myself. But I cannot resist saying one thing… I am beautiful, clean and transparent. Do you know what eatery one calls me… Beauty. Indeed I am beautiful.

On my lap colourful fish play. Whenever a bit of dirt comes over on my body, these cute little sisters gulp them. I don’t have to remind them.

With the arrival of soap and detergent in the village, has spoiled my skin. Harmful chemicals has settled on the body.

Gradually, poison has spread on my entire body. Little fishes, they deserted me. These days plastic swim instead.

Human beings stop using me. Only the cattle come to rest. I know this is what I am capable of. Their urine and defecation has not only spoiled my beauty but I stink as well.

In spite of this I have millions of lovers. They are constantly surrounding me. They don’t leave me for a second.

Often I am sick. With medicines, I know for certain I can revive my lost beauty.

Leprosy – a spot for a film

Duration              #  60 to 75 Seconds

Language            #  Hindi

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  A rehabilitation colony in Northern India.

TREATMENT

Leprosy has inflicted more wounds on the psyche of a person than his body. The commonest and the most dreaded stigma that is attached to it, is that the disease is contagious and that it can never be treated – which is a hoax. But no one bothers to believe it. This affects most, a person who is suffering from it.

With so many discoveries in the field of medicine, it is unfortunate that it has a minimal effect in eradicating leprosy.

This spot is an attempt to put in perspective the feelings of a person afflicted with this disease who has lost all his interests in life; resulting in hatred and bitterness towards the society.

What is most important is to realize that we need to care for them like any other sick person.

But a mute question is, : “Can we achieve this with a sense of involvement?”

Script

This spot captures a television unit shooting a documentary on leprosy. The camera, microphone, reflectors are all visible in the frame.

The location is a rehabilitation colony intended for leprosy patients.

The Reporter is a young lady, who is moving about in the colony with the crew members, for a possible interview with a person affiliated with leprosy.

On identifying a person in his forties with obvious deformities on his face i.e. sunken nose, lose of eyebrows and a leonine appearance, the Reporter asks the crew members to get ready for an interviewer. The videographer composes the shot with the camera on his shoulder. A collapsible reflector is placed below the person being interviewed.

He is not consented for an interview. He is extremely tense, confused and probably seeing a camera unit for the first time.

While a lapel microphone is attached on the interviewee’s shirt, the Reporter says.

Reporter              :     “We are producing a documentary on leprosy – and we will ask you a few questions”.

Interviewee         :     (with politeness) “It will be better if you ask someone else.””

Reporter              :     “You are unnecessarily worried………….. Relax………….

Reporter then asks the Sound Recordist to roll the Video Recorder.

Interviewee         :     Look…… I am not interested to come on camera.

Reporter              :     (irritated) Give me one good reason-why you don’t went to be interviewed?

Interviewee         :     You give me one good reason to interview me ?

The reporter fumbles, and looks for words.

Interviewee         :     I have leprosy therefore you want to interview me — is this the reason ?

Reporter              :     Yes…..Yes……

Through you — through your experience the audience will benefit — the society will benefit.

Interviewee         :     Whey should I bother about the society.

Tell me —- .

Are they bothered to know if I have eaten today. Tell me.

And what have they given me. Hatred. They have Ostracized me from my family — from my village.

Physically I am alive. But for the wretched society; I am dead.

He requested the crew members to remove the reflector. He takes out the microphone himself and gives it to the recordist. He then asks the videographer to stop shooting and leave.

ADULT EDUCATION

Duration              #  45 to 60 Seconds

Language            #  Hindi/English

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  To be shot in several diverse geographical regions of the country.

TREATMENT

This spot tries to bring out a visual relationship between illiteracy and light. An illiterate is like a face in silhouette.

The characters in this spot are seen in silhouette i.e. the characters will appear dark, with virtually no details on their faces, against a bright backdrop.

The spot comprises of approximately, 14 shots of short durations of 2 to 3 seconds each, with a caption at the end.

SCRIPT

Shot # 1

A fisherman against the backdrop of a lake/river/sea.

The camera is just above the water-level.

The fisherman throws the net in the water.

The net almost touches the lens.

Shot # 2

Desert Sand dunes in the background.

Strong Back light

A man with a caravan of five to six camels; walking in the desert.

Shot # 3

Production of salt, adjacent to the sea, either in Tamil Nadu/Andhra      Pradesh/Gujarat.

Vast stretch of land with hundred of salt pans of approximately 20          feet x 20 feet dimension are filed with sea water.

Salt is seen either floating on the surface or deposited on the bed.

The shot is framed with a labourer in silhouette with bare body working at one of the salt pans.

Several labourers are seen in the background.

Shot # 4

An artist making a statue, out of rock. The statue is well-lit; not the artist. The setting is rural Rajasthan/Orissa/Tamil Nadu.

The camera tilts up from the statue and tracks to the artiste.

Shot # 5

A blacksmith is engaged in the production of a horse-shoe.

He picks up the said item from the oven that if anguish in colour, beats it with a hammer in-order to give it an appropriate shape.

Shot # 6

An industrial worker.

Lathe Machine.

The setting is a metropolis.

The sparks are in the foreground, while the worker is in the background.

The focus is switched from the sparks to the worker.

Shot # 7

Green fields in the background

Dust; after sunset

Several layers of colours are seen in the horizon, predominantly orange.

A man carries his plough on his right shoulder.

Parallel track.

Shot # 8

Construction site

A multi-storied complex being constructed.

The setting is a city like Bombay/Delhi.

A group of ladies carrying bricks on their heads.

The well-lit complex is seen in the background.

The women however, are in silhouette.

Shot # 9

A street circus show

A man walking on a rope

Low Angle.

Camera tracks forward to a position, where the rope is just above the camera-lens.

Against the bright afternoon sky, the man appears to be in silhouette.

Shot # 10

Snow capped Mountain, in Himalayas.

No vegetation.

A group of four-five sherpas carrying heavy load on their backs.

Shot # 11

Potteries are baked in a kiln. A couple is keeping the kiln hot by putting dry weeds and branches of the tree.

The frame is full of black smoke.

Setting : Rural Bihar/Orissa.

Shot # 12

A housewife with her face covered by a duppatta.

She fetches water from a well.

The camera tilts up from the bucket in the well, to the lady.

The setting is rural Rajasthan/Madhya Pradesh.

Shot # 13

A villager climbs a coconut tree to fetch the tender ones. The legs are tied with a rope to facilitate climbing.

Low angle, half circular track around the palm tree.

The setting is a coastal region of the country.

Shot # 14

Potter’s wheel in motion

A potter in his fifties is producing earthen cups.

Top light

Face of the potter in silhouette

Camera tracks back from the face of the potter to reveal the wheel.

CAPTION

EMERGE OUT OF

SILHOUETTE…….

BE LITERATE……

SAFE DRINKING WATER

Duration              #  150 Seconds

Language            #  Hindi

Format                #  High Definition

Location              #  A village in Uttar Pradesh/Bihar/Rajasthan

TREATMENT

This spot is not flooded with messages. Only one message: Hand Pump is, often a means of safe drinking Water, has been identified and threaded into a story. Care has been taken to have a balance of message and story.

The treatment of this spot is fictional. Two characters, one lady photographer and a male driver are in a remote village, without potable water. The photographer is adamant not to drink anything, but safe water.

SCRIPT

A lady photographer, on an assignment, comes to a village. She is assisted by a driver cum guide, who is an egoist and often likes to speak in a broken English.

The jeep is a vintage. It is noisy and the entire body of the jeep tends to rattle.

The lady photographer shoots the landscape and village life.

While driving through the bumpy ride in the village, the flask containing drinking water falls. They are now without water.

They come across a stream, flowing across the road. The driver stops the vehicle. He gets out of the jeep with a ‘lota’ in his hand. The lady photographer prefers to sit in the jeep.

The driver drinks from the stream and fetches water in a vessel for the lady.

Driver : Have it Madamji?

The lady photographer does not reply.

Driver : Running water Madam… Always Clean !!!!

The lady photographer does not even look at him.

Driver : I have grown so big drinking this water Madamjee. I haven’t ever fallen sick.. Understand…..no understand I tell again

Photographer : Understanding….. Fully Understanding…

The Jeep is driven through the village. The driver stops by the side of a well.

Driver : Pease get down…This water from the well I know you can certainly drink….

Photographer : Is this drinking water ?

Driver : Yes Madam… Entire village drinks.. My great grand father used to drink… My grand father drank… My father drinks…..My family drinks….

Photographer : What about you ?

Driver : Even I drink….

Photographer : But you just told me that you drink running water from the stream.

Driver : It is the job of womenfolk to fetch water. Usually I don’t ask them whether it is from the stream or the well. By the way do you want to drink this water?

Photographer : No

Driver : Let us went …….

The Jeep passes through a lake. The engine is hot. The jeep stops all of a sudden.

The driver rushes to fetch water carrying a five litre mobile can. On his return, he tries to cool down the engine.

Photographer : Have you ever ever tested the water from this pond ?

Driver prefers not to respond.

Photographer : You must have certainly tested this water in your dreams …..

Driver : uncase you can to drink.. I will fetch it.

Photographer :  Why should you bother… This is the job of the womenfolk…

While the lady photographer deliveres her last sentence, she observes a group of women carrying firewood on their heads. They are at a distance. She takes a photograph. When they come close, she interrogates.

Photographer : Where do you fetch water for drinking purposes?

One lady : If you drive straight for 2 minutes, on the left side you will find a hand pump.

Photographer : Does it work?

Second Lady : Yes it is working since the inception…..

The ladies with the load of firewood leave the frame.

The lady photographer and the driver are seen walking towards the hand-pump. The driver develops cramps. On questioned by the lady photographer, the driver doesn’t reveal the fact.

An eight year girl is seen using the hand-pump, with ease.

The driver fills up his vessel and tells the lady photographer:

Please wait for one minute… I will come in two minutes….

The driver almost runs to a bush. The lady photographer takes a few seconds to understand. A sentence from an earlier scene is played back with reverberation.

Yes Madam… Entire village drinks.. My great grand father used to drink… My grand father drank… My father drinks…..My family drinks…