Imphal: Manipur State Film Development Society, MSFDS, announces its 6-month intensive fiction feature film screenwriting Lab (October-March), to be mentored by acclaimed screenwriters of Film Industry.
The incubation-mentorship lab is designed as an hand-on, intensive, project oriented screenwriting lab for Manipuri feature length, fiction film.
Experienced as well as aspiring fiction screenwriters interested in participating in the Lab have to fulfill the preliminary online submission for selection in the limited seat, first-of-a-kind lab for screenwriters in Manipur, said a statement by Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, Secretary, MSFDS.
The preliminary submission includes one-sentence logline, synopsis (400 words), narrative outline or treatment (2500 words) and story intent & motivation (500 words).
The preliminary online submission closes on 15 October 2022 and the final pitch of incubated screenplays is scheduled to be held on 30-31 March 2023 with attractive cash awards, grants and commitment for production for the outstanding screenplays.
Details of the screenlab are available at MSFDS office at Palace Gate or on MSFDS websites, namely www.msfds.org and www.msfds.net .The Lab which is in a hybrid format, combines online and offline interactions and mentorship.
The takeaway of the lab are : Screenplay writing from concept to screen, area specific guidance and input, understanding the 3-act structure story and beyond, scripting scenes, dramaturgy and narrative thread, developing characters, screenwriting techniques to guide dialogue and action, writing effective logline, synopsis and treatment and marketing screenplays.
MSFDS urges screenwriters of Manipuri fiction feature films and those aspiring to become screenwriters to avail the opportunity to fine tune story ideas to full-fledged screenplays with inputs from industry experts.
To clarify any doubt and question regarding the Lab, aspiring participants may contact MSFDS Secretary for interaction at its Palace Gate Office during office hours. The Screenwriting Lab is supported by Cine Writers & Playwrights Forum Manipur.
The6-month latest Lab is a part of MSFDS’ promotional activities to encourage good cinema practice in Manipur and help articulate Manipuri stories for the global audience.
Between the year 2021-2022, MSFDS has undertaken several skill development training programs like the film archiving workshop, cinematography Lab, editing Lab, Master Classes on screenplay writing, film direction and editing, a talk series by Aribam Syam Sharma on acting for films, sound & music direction for films and on film direction. Another project incubation and mentorship Lab, by the name of ‘Documentor Imphal’ was also organized in which 8 documentary projects were incubated and cash awards worth Rs. 8 lakhs doled out to filmmakers who participated with projects.
