Dear Participants of Genesis film Project 2007,
After the successful completion of the project we had sent participating certificates to all the filmmakers and organizations.
Those who haven’t recived it can collect it from our office.
Please contact Vishal: 9869362581 for more info.
Smile and the world smiles with you :))
Recently ‘Smile’ a mumbai based NGO had celebrated their 10th Anniversary. We had an opportunity to work with them and create a video through ‘Genesis film project’. The event started with this film (made by Aparna and Shiv). And the moment we saw this film with them, my heart swelled with exhilaration. I could feel the ripples of joy created through ‘Genesis project’ and my belief in us being the instrument for a higher purpose was again deeply affirmed. How proudly they used this film to share about their amazing work. A work which truly and selflessly made a difference in lives of so many children living on the streets.
Film was followed by performances by little children and the felicitation of various people and organizations they worked with. MAM was fecilitated for doing Genesis film project.
It was a humbling experience to see our work making a difference.
In Thankfullness today to everyone who have helped us achieve this.
“Dream Big, so big that you look very small before it” ,Said Prof Anil Gupta when we met him in IIM Ahmedabad. A brief meeting with him and you are so enthused with life that our day to day projects and problems seem so insignificant and suddenly you find yourself tune with your higher consciousness and there’s an urge to do something beyond yourself.
What’s your dream for next 20 years? he asked and as I was looking for words to phrase my thoughts, thats when he enthusiastically added ,” we need to be little crazy, crazy enough to see things which do not exist, think about projects for next 100 years or 1000 years”
and this thought became the foundation of our next project where we are inviting 101 filmmakers to make films for 101 rural innovators in 11 days.
With support from IIM Ahmedabad and National innovation foundation, the expected launch date for this project is 30th April 2008, which would most probably take place in IIM (A) itself.
The idea I am kicked about is that this time filmmakers will be invited from all over India and they will all assemble in Ahmedabad for event launch with their backpacks, without a clue about which part of the country they would be traveling, to spend the next 11 days making a film on a rural innovator. A journey to unknown, with the spirit of service, it definitely promises an experience of lifetime.
So we have started to warm up after a long rest for this service marathon and hope together we can make a substantial effort to make a difference through stories.
-Madhusudan :)
Films from ‘She creates’ and ‘Genesis film project’ were screened in St Mary’s college, Thrissur (Kerela, India) as part of their Teen Reels Film Festival on 18th November 2007.
The festival reflects their spirit through these lines written in their brochure:
“What Teen Reels brings before you is not the cry of the children lost in wilderness…but experiences that scarred, molded and inspired…expressions that touch, baffle and shock… “
Our sincere thanks to Benedict varghese and Dr Sr. Jesme (principal of St. Mary’s college) for showing these films.
MAM Movies along with SAAFA ( South Asian American Films and Art Association) are showcasing the films of the winners from the Genesis Film Project at the prestigious in Los Angeles on July 21st 2007.
MadhuSudan co-founder of MAM Movies says “ This is a great opportunity for the people who participated in the Genesis Film project to showcase their talent in the overseas market make a difference by showcasing the films on Indian NGO’s to them. In this way it opens a lot of doors for these new upcoming film makers who have potential to make films for the overseas market as well.
Raj Vasudeva, Indian Head SAAFA says” The product by these new film makers it very intriguing and very well executed. MAM has given them a great platform to spread the message and also use their talent. We will also have a representative from FILMAKA. FILMAKA, is a company which has on it’s board people like Deepak Nayyar and Colin Frith, and provides opportunities for new filmmakers, by evaluating their short/doc and if potential is found, to support them in their evolution as feature filmmakers.”
GENESIS sets sail…
One just seems to forget the outer world when you enter the house surrounded with orange walls (one of the colours of the GFP). Mom was a bit annoyed at me this morning and no doubt the yells and screams had their share of the day. All throughout the autorickshaw ride to office, I kept questioning my involvement in “engineering” as that is one major worry that occupies Mom and Dad’s minds.
In a similar mood, I reached Office but as soon as Madhu opened the door with the regular smile on his face and “Hello Sir!”, everything seems to have just vanished!And then there wasn’t really much time to waste to think over silly issues. Today was the Kick-off event of the GENESIS Film Project (GFP). It had to be good! There was already enough of running around going on and to add to it, there was the tensed faces of the crew members…tensed but still anxious…all wanting a few more minutes to finish the pending work but at the same time waiting for the time we all have been working for! And, then it did come! Anupam Kher walking into the venue with a look which he did explain later as “I have made the right choice by being associated with this project” was just nothing but a pleasure to look at. I would never forget one line that he said to me once – “Good ideas need Good support!”…I guess he couldn’t be more right than this. Sachin Pilgaonkar was kind enough to show equal enthusiasm and talk for GFP with Anupam Kher! And then came the moment which we call “our small little launch” of the GFP! Anupam Kher giving the clap hit and Sachin saying, “Action!”…I’m sure the entire team couldn’t have experienced a more emotional moment of achievement than this!
People were/are/will be indeed impressed with the kick-off! The sms/responses we’ve got so far speak for that! But, I wish to believe that this is just a small begining of a story that we would be telling soon! The characters are well defined, I wish to believe again, and the story would surely want to be read by many, I hope! At times probably you just need that small little expression on people’s faces which say, “Alright, good job!”…and it just makes you want to get up and work even more! I just experienced that today…
Inspired by the films of the GENESIS film project, Godrej, one of the leading business houses of India, has agreed to make a special contribution to the children of NGO’s who participated in GENESIS.
On the occasion of ‘Makar Sankranti’, the festival of kites, Godrej and Genesis are distributing as many as 2500 kites to various children related NGOs across Mumbai. This collaboration aims at bringing joy to the underprivileged children and allow them to enjoy one of India’s favorite sports, which somehow died out with modernization.
There are also talks with Akshara, to organize a kite flying event where the all their children and women can participate and enjoy kite flying with full fervor.
The exact time and location of this event shall be announced within 24 hours.
The GENESIS film project ended on the 9th of January. Due to technical hitches, all the 25 films could not be shown, and only 5 of the 1o awards were distributed.
The remaining 9 films have been compiled into one DVD and given to the judges who shall be making a final decision on the remaining categories of awards.
The GENESIS film project is also in the process of organizing a GENESIS film festival where all 101 films shall be screened. This event shall take place in the month of February. All participants shall be updated with the proceedings.
DNA
101 is a traditional magic palindrome
Kiran Wadhwa
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 23:57 IST
“Of course, it is not numerology,” says 25-year-old Ajesh Shah of The Genesis Film Project, with an incredulous smile. The project just gave 101 a new connotation, beyond Dalmatians and Cruella De Vil. It is a filmmaking competition inviting 101 amateur filmmakers to make short, five-minute films. The 101 concept doesn’t end here — films have to made on 101 NGOs in Mumbai and within 101 hours.
“101 is the traditional gifting ritual and this is our gift to those who are trying to change the city,” he says. Ajesh was an e-commerce manager in the US, but he realised that he wanted to give something back to society and what better place to begin than your motherland. Chucking his lucrative career, Ajesh returned to India in September, 2005. “I travelled across India as part of my research and realised that though we take pride in our art forms, we don’t do much to help them evolve.” And that is how Project Peacock with the goal to develop the arts scene (films, music, art, photography and writing) in south Asia was created.
Project Peacock then collaborated with MAM Movies, an international film organisation founded by Madhusudan, a US-based filmmaker, to craft Genesis. Filmmakers participating in Genesis will capture the NGO’s mission, its achievements and difficulties, and the heart of the people who make it work — all in five minutes. The shooting will take place from the January 2 to 6, 2007 and registrations are closing on December 30, 2006. At the start of the event, the NGOs’ will be randomly allocated to the filmmakers. Out of 101 films, 25 best films will be screened at Cinemax on 9th January 2007.
A panel of judges, including Anupam Kher, Nagesh Kukanoor Rati Agnihotri, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Khalid Mohammed, will judge the best films. When asked about what will he look for in a film that is done in the blink of an eye, Anupam Kher says, “More than the technical aspect, I’ll be looking for content and pure intention of the filmmaker.”
Project Genesis has already been invited to the Cape Town Film Festival and is hoping to distribute the movies internationally.
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1071420
Mumbai Mirror
Five minutes of fame
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 | Satish Gaikwad on Smiles to go :) |
 | mamcreates on Do gooder TV |
 | Kavita on Do gooder TV |
| mamcreates on Virtual Theaters For Docu… |
 | shibani on Virtual Theaters For Docu… |
