Using cellphones to portray people’s bitter struggle for survival

 

 

Call it citizen journalism or social activism, but people from various walks of life are increasingly dabbling with the latest tools in communication to get their message across the world and India is no different. Video blogging is one medium which is used, effectively to send the message across to a larger audience. Goa is involved in a bitter struggle against a concerted assault on their lives and livelihoods from the forces of Globalisation of which the state government is a willing accomplice.

In a bid to empower grass root social activists in using cellphone and video blogs, as a quick, effective visual communication the organizers of Goan People's Film Festival also hosted a workshop last week, which was an overwhelming success as part of the People’s festival .

The people’s festival which was put together as a people’s initiative by the people of the state of Goa while the government sponsored India International Film festival was also staged in the state from

“You would learn how to spot a story, get a point of view, stick to one focus point and techniques of in-camera editing for fast production times. Our aim is not to teach you film making but using video blogs for quick, effective visual communication. This workshop could be beneficial to grassroots activists as a means of getting their stories to a worldwide audience. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate in the workshop do register at the venue or send me a message, “that was the message that I and several of my friends received from Gasper D’Souza.

D’Souza’s was referring to the workshop on Video blogging and online activism which he conducted at the Institute Piedade  Hall as part of the Goan People's Film Festival, with a focus on using cellphone cameras to communicate effectively and quickly in one to three minute digital stories (films).

How far grass root activists and citizen journalists use the medium will be seen in the days and months to come as Goa braces for another showdown with the administrators in protecting the small sate from the axe of development.

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