Movie enthusiasts enjoy American Film Showcase

Islamabad
The US Embassy and Hunerkada joined hands for American Film Showcase (AFS) in Islamabad from May 23-26. The programme included 60-Second International Film Festival hosted by Founder and Festival Director Abrar ul Hassan, screening of a dramatic documentary ‘Crash Reel’, three-day film workshop by filmmakers Andy Merkin, Martha Mitchell and finally a roundtable conference. The programme later moves to Lahore and Karachi concluding on June 3.
The 60-Second International Film Festival, as the title suggests, showed the audience impressive films which begin and end within a minute. Abrar ul Hassan made a good selection of short films. An extremely low-budget film in which a candle is re-lit in the dark after sound of bullets was impressive with a simple but well-executed concept.
Hunerkada Chairman Jamal Shah explained the purpose of this tour speaker programme, which educates the youngsters interested in the film medium. By including excerpts of films, it really becomes a totally involving experience. AFS is a partnership between the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts. IVS, NCA and Morango Films are also collaborating this year.
US Ambassador Richard G. Olson was brief in his comments and thanked Jamal Shah for organising the event. The ambassador revealed that American films had a $500 billion turnover last year and they were shown around the globe.
True, American films are screened just about in every country of the world. Needless to say, these films have always been the staple food for filmgoers in Pakistan. Now the youngsters are enjoying them not only in the multiplexes but also at home on computers, cable, DVDs and cell phones.
Documentary ‘Crash Reel’, which won 22 awards worldwide, is a moving but tragic experience about a young and energetic snowboarder who is about to join the US Olympic team. He crashes and his dream turns into a terrible nightmare for him and his family. The film takes us for a walk through the memory lane as the hero struggles for life in the hospital. He survives with a strong will to live and help from the family but he is now going to be a different person. And the admission of that fact is not easy. The brain injury has changed his life and now he wants to change the life of other people.
Producer Martha Mitchell, who was in attendance, informed the audience that making of a documentary is enormous amount of hard work. ‘Crash Reel’, far way from fiction genre, deals with real people and true events and it has kept the journalism standards intact. Nothing has been made up for the film.
The film workshop titled ‘Transmedia Storytelling: Art Direction & Production’ went on for three days at Hunderkada and a hotel. It dealt with just about every discipline of filmmaking from scriptwriting to pre-production and then from filming and post-production to marketing. In the recent years with digital films taking over the scene from 35-mm and the latter taking a backseat (about to be buried in our memories, archives and film museums). The filmmakers on digital cameras are shooting too much and getting confused (along with editor) on what to choose and what to delete. It was pointed out by Andy and Martha that 35 mm came with limitations on ample use of precious raw stock. Digital filmmaking has removed that limitation.
To be creative, limitations should remain intact in some form. The workshop then moved on to the concept of actual filmmaking by the enthusiastic students with the help, techniques and methods revealed and discussed over the three days by Andy and Martha.
Looking back, American Film Showcase this year was a good experience. While technique and mechanics in the age of transmedia are essential, we should never ever move away from the human experience. Computer-generated-effects known in the trade as CGE, are now part of almost every film but human conflict and crisis (Crash Reel) still remain at the heart of every premise and its final resolution.
The author can be reached at aijazzgul@gmail.com