'Satyagraha' famed writer Anjum Rajabali teams with Mumbai Mantra's new initiative
Distinguished
screenwriter and academic Anjum Rajabali, who is known for his work in
‘Satyagraha’, ‘Aarakshan’ and ‘Raajneeti’ among others, has joined hands
with Mumbai Mantra for their new initiative - Mumbai Mantra CineRise
Screenwriting Programme '100 Storytellers A Year', which was announced
of late.
With
Anjum Rajabali as its Convenor, the Mumbai Mantra CineRise
Screenwriting Programme is a detailed step-by-step process of nurturing,
which will have 8 defined stages of creative intervention. The
Programme invites applications from enthusiastic and determined Indian
screenwriters from any part of the world. The programme is also open to
non-resident Indians and even those with mixed Indian parentage. For
which the submission date is August 20th.
Said
Anjum Rajabali, "Indian screenwriting is in an exciting phase right
now, and poised to take a leap to another level. Young aspirants are
coming up with very promising work. By giving a much-needed boost to
their efforts, this programme will help create an eco-system where all
kinds of cinemas can co-exist."a
Rohit
Khattar, Chairman, Mumbai Mantra said, "Our mission at Mumbai Mantra is
to provide a springboard for writers which will help them take their
scripts to the screen. We want to reach across to every storyteller with
a dream. These screenplays (and even those that do not get selected as
finalists), shall be part of the CineRise Script Bank and may still get
attention from Producers in the future. India is a land of stories and
we would like to provide a platform to these stories so that they can
travel and cut across barriers."
Said
Aparna Purohit, Head - Creative Initiatives, Mumbai Mantra, "To provide
comprehensive support to the writers, a 2-day screenwriting workshop
will be held in different cities across the country. Among the submitted
applications, 100 stories will be selected for the workshop out of
which the finalists will come in for intensive interactions with
experienced writers and directors at the workshop. The selected
participants can choose the Center closest to their homes."
The
first day of the workshop will be open to EVERY enthusiast (for a
nominal fee), including applicants who did not get selected in top 100.
Those selected (in the top 100) will be invited to attend and shall not
be required to pay any fees. The workshop will be an intensive
introduction to screenwriting where some valuable lessons about the
craft will be imparted. It will help participants understand the
creative tools required to be able to create a robust screenplay. Those
who do NOT make it to the top 100 this year can therefore use this
guidance to apply to the programme next year.
After
the workshop, these 100 screenwriters shall have 2 months to submit the
first draft of their screenplays basis which the final selections will
be made. 12 to 15 deserving screenplays will make it to the final
selection. These screenplays will be sent to the Mentors and other
experts, for detailed evaluation and notes. The Mentors will be leading
film Screenwriters and Directors.
After
receiving notes from the Mentors, the writers will have 1 more month to
send in the second drafts of their screenplays. Post this; the
finalists will be invited to a 5-day workshop at a Resort destination.
Here, the screenwriters will have 4-5 exhaustive one-on-ones with the
Mentors, who will be renowned writers and directors from the Indian as
well as the International film Industry.
Using
the notes from the workshop the writers will revise their screenplays
and turn in their third draft, in readiness for an S2S event (From
Script to Screen). This draft will then be pitched to studio heads,
independent producers, directors, financiers, distributors, film
festival directors & curators at the Pitch Event to be held in
Mumbai. This is one of the highlights of the programme.
