Trackback URL
Download PDF Terming cinema a strong medium for reflecting life and the society, filmmakers and cultural activists yesterday called for launching a film movement in the country in collaboration with the government and private entrepreneurs.
There are plenty of good ideas and good filmmakers, but there is a lack of patronisation and initiatives for collaborative work with other countries, which could have created a greater market for cinema, they said.
The observations came out of a roundtable discussion on ‘Films we want made’, organised as a part of an ongoing contest of movies, photographs, and lyrics titled Celebrating Life 2008, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank and The Daily Star.
The roundtable was held in the conference room of The Daily Star.
“If our market is only Bangladesh, we will have problems. In Europe some countries involve other countries in directing and producing films, and it helped in creating a larger market for films there,” said eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud.
They also pick story lines that are multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, he said adding that filmmakers of Bangladesh should also collaborate with India, Nepal and Pakistan to create a larger market for cinema.
He also suggested expanding the market for art in the country and improving the environment in movie theatres to attract viewers.
There are young Bangladeshi entrepreneurs working in the film industry in Britain, Masud said adding, “We should communicate with them, we should be smart.”
Chandra Shekhar Saha, a designer, said movie goers’ attitudes and tastes also changed in line with the developments of technology, resulting in a decrease in their numbers.
The media can play a very important role in popularising cinema, he said adding that good movies sometimes are not considered good because of a lack of media coverage, while low quality movies sometimes hit the box office due to media attention.
In Bangladesh, there is a serious shortage of documentary films, which sometimes may have serious positive effects on viewers, he said.
Young filmmaker Animesh Aich said there is no lack of rich ideas and literatures, but a lack of promotion by the government and the private sector. “I personally met producers who suggested making films based on their formula. I could not accept that,” he said.
Shah Masud Imam of Standard Chartered Bank said there is a negative image of Bangladesh in the international arena, although there are many positive things to focus on.
“We need to showcase our art and culture besides economic aspects if we want more foreign direct investment,” he said adding that Standard Chartered Bank is pleased to support the contest.
Freelance journalist also filmmaker Shameem Akhtar said there was a time when little magazines, weeklies and fortnightlies used to publish reviews of cinemas and other write-ups on movies, but those are not seen in today’s newspapers and magazines.
The media can and should contribute greatly to promotion of cinema, she said.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said Bangladesh is a country with plenty of elements — struggles and successes of people — which are rarely being depicted in cinemas.
Filmmakers with social commitment may depict the complexities of a society, he said, citing the example of Charles Chaplin. Chaplin spoke hard truths in interesting ways, he added.
“Here, as a newspaper we have a supportive role to play. We expect to help you, even with fund raising for good films,” Mahfuz Anam said.
Coordinator of the contest also Star Insight Editor Rafi Hossain said, “Let’s work together to create a movement for cinema.”
Comments are not moderated and only expresses personal views of visitors. BangladeshNews.com.bd is not responsible for commets posted by visitors.
Leave a Reply