Film institute has a memorable alumni engagement evening

The Alumni Engagement Month at a film institute at Goregaon saw some the industry’s most successful professionals gathering to celebrate their alma mater. It hosted a series of Masterclasses and workshops, which finally culminated in the alumni meet celebration. The evening of February 16, 2019, also witnessed the alumni pay their tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives at the Pulwama attack.
Sharing nuggets of advice
Among the renowned names leading the Masterclasses were director Shashank Khaitan, underwater videographer and drone pilot, Shamsher Singh, and Utsab Bandopadhyay. Shashank Khaitan, director of films, 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' and 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania', ensured the month began on an uplifting note with an interactive session with the current batch of students. He shared the secret to becoming a successful filmmaker. “Be yourself. Don’t try to be everything at once. Stick to what you’re good at and always ensure the emotion of the moment comes through”, where his advice to the students. However, his best advice was saved for the last, when faced with a question on his career path, “Don’t try to imitate someone else’s career. Your journey is your own, and makes you the person you are.”
Shamsher Singh, who has contributed to films such as 'Dhoom 3' and 'Masaan', led a hands-on workshop covering the technical workings of the industry. During the intensive workshop, students learned a number of practical skills, as he summed up, “Simplicity is your best friend. It brings out your best work.” Simultaneously, Editor Utsab Bandopadhyay guided the students through a masterclass on post-production. Speaking on the importance of editing and its impact on the film, he shared, “While editing may seem simple, don’t be fooled. There’s a lot of money involved and strictly there is no room for errors.” As concluding advice, Utsab Bandopadhyay urged the students to continuously polish their skills through constant practice.
While few alumni, namely, Joel Vilian and Namrata Wadhwani came on board to share their experiences and journey, Sanjay Kumar Patel and Parth Nable conducted interactive workshops with the students of editing and cinematography specializations, respectively. The campus was brimming with enthusiasm and fervor as WWI’s momentous impact on the Indian cinema was toasted to by alumni and faculties alike.
Meghna Ghai Puri, President, concluded the Annual Alumni Meet 2019 by adding, “I wish our alumni more success in the years to come!”