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This project is co-funded by the European Union and DFID India |
OVERVIEW BY WORKSHOP
DIRECTOR
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This was an incredible experience. During
this workshop, we managed to train over 30 students from Anna and
MOP, produce 22 spots plus one song. . . a record in anybody's book!
Suffice it to say this was a superlative workshop. Press coverage
was so intense that students would say: "It's strange we have
not seen you or had news of the workshop in the newspapers today!"
Despite news of flooding in Mumbai, landslides caused by heavy rain
killing over one thousand people, fire that destroyed a strategic
oil-pumping platform, a television report on the workshop was broadcast
twice nationally during prime time news programs.
The enthusiasm of the participants was also a record in my book. Never
having worked outside of Africa, the Caribbean or Europe, I worried
I would not be understood by the young participants. I based that
after being unable to communicate with my driver upon my arrival in
the country, I worried that communicating with my audience would be
a huge challenge. Obviously I had no need to worry. Indian youth are
studious, polite, articulate, and very respectful of their elders.
I marveled at their deference to their parents and family. And, yes,
they speak the Queen's English better than most and they did understand
my "Franglais"!
Almost all participants, were eager to take part in the workshop.
They wanted to learn and they actively participated in the proposed
courses. All eagerly accepted the challenge of learning sound techniques,
interview and studio skills, handling mini discs, conceiving, creating
and producing promos and jingles.
The professional presenters T.M Viswanaath of Jaya TV, Dayal Krishnan,
freelance, and C. Gobinath, Star Vijay, are very talented and very
quick to learn how to create catch phrases and use them in their presentation.
Their products are fun and informative.
After listening to most jingles by the participants, some people remarked
that what they created in a very short time was much better than the
promos created by the government health agency. The HIV/AIDS presentations
were first rate particularly those by three HIV positive ladies who
impressed the students with their candid recount of how they got infected.
One who lost her husband said: "If only he had told me he was
infected, I would have helped him and cured him.
A great moment for the participants was the presentation by Cyrus,
a very popular VJ at MTV India. He galvanized the crowd by telling
them how important it was to inform the public about HIV/AIDS and
do it in an exciting way.
But this success had also its drawbacks: time and the number of attendees.
Each session started with less than 10 participants, but grew quickly
with new arrivals eager to participate.
Time was too short - with 7 days spent in each venue. This included
AIDS awareness sessions, technical training, articulation of concepts,
and production training. Enormous traffic problems that delayed constantly
students' arrivals, and field visits must be taken into account.
Studio production required significant effort to adapt existing studio
equipment to the needs of the workshop at the campus community radio
stations. It also took time to locate mini-disc recorders for the
trainees. They are not yet available in India and had to be imported
from Singapore.
All these problems could not have been solved without the incredible
coolness of the impressive Dr. Jaya Shreedhar. Dr. Shreedhar is highly
respected in this city of over 10 million people. She managed to make
this first "Young Voices" workshop run smoothly and efficiently.
She presented HIV/AIDS issues, led participants into lively discussions
or managed day-to-day problems with assurance and tact.
This session has proved again - if need be - that we need more time
to fulfill our mission. Even in the best of all worlds, having all
equipment needs met and good studios, sound engineer Götz Bürki,
most participants, and I lamented the fact that more time was needed
to correctly carry out our commitment. Activities such as working
in studio, learning broadcast presentation, improving interview and
reporting skills . . . things needed to really achieve our goal .
. . take more time than that allotted.
Mr. Bürki is a professional - a master sound engineer and a precise
teacher. He alone would need a week to train participants who, for
instance, have no idea what good sound really is or how to handle
a microphone, much less how to work on-air.
We did not have time to "sweeten" and "finish"
the promos and jingles with the participants. This process is essential
in order to help DJs and VJs understand the creative process required
to produce the abstract and essential information about AIDS awareness
in ways that it will have a strong impact on listeners without creating
info fatigue.
Fortunately, we are able to continue work on the words and music of
the song, which, I believe, is going to be a success. The musicians
had very little time to put together a song that will be not only
relevant to the issue of AIDS awareness, but also that could be catchy
enough for people to remember. I insisted that the orchestration include
Indian instruments. Master Indian musicians will be used to "flavor"
the recording. This song is being recorded in Chennai.
Despite these problems, the "Young Voices" workshop in Chennai
was a big success and I am sure the next one will achieve even greater
heights. I would like to thank UNICEF, the European Union, Internews,
Deutche Welle and formedia for this experience.
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