August 2, 2019
The prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune
had launched a course for youngsters with autism. Ten students have signed up
for the first batch and the two-week course will be done in two separate
phases.
Get ready to witness a whole new universe in films. The renowned Film
and Television Institute of India (FTII), among India’s top
institutes, has launched a filmmaking course exclusively for youth on the
autism spectrum. This is being done for the first time in India and parents
and disability rights groups say this will open new doors.
Launched in late July, 10 youngsters have signed up for the first batch. They
will learn to use their smartphones to make movies in the 10-day programme.
The course has been conceptualised by the NGO Art Sanctuary
with all government support.
Gopinath Ramakrishnan, Co-founder of
Chennai-based parent support group, Special Child Assistance Network
(SCAN), lauds this as a great step towards inclusion.
The FTII brochures and application forms already shows reserved special
seats for intellectually disabled youngsters and those under the autism
spectrum. That means, they are rightly following the protocols unlike many
other institutions across India. Many youngsters with autism might lack
verbal communication skills, but they may have many untapped skills in
arts, photography, music and so on. So, giving them the right tools and
training them is a great initiative. Since this is a short term course, it
suits their needs and requirements as well. This can be a stepping stone to
a career in the film industry as well. –Gopinath Ramakrishnan,
Co-founder, Special Child Assistance Network
The course will be conducted in two phases and the students will be given
regular breaks between classes so they have time to grasp and process the
learnings.
Sarbani Mallick, Founder, Biswagouri Charitable
Trust in Bengaluru, runs an exclusive school for children with
developmental disorders called Bubbles Centre. She believes
that this will open a whole new approach both for the film industry and
audiences.
“When you make a movie there is much to look beyond just technological
stuffs. It requires comprehension and there is a social component too”.
Sarbani believes that with the right guidance this can be taught to youth on
the spectrum. “NGOs and institutions never thought of such courses but now
communities are coming forward with options. Most of the times, the
individual has potential but no skills or opportunities. Hope this new course
will benefit many youngsters across India”.
Biju Issac, Secretary, Ernakulam Autism
Club agrees. “There are many untapped talents amongst youngsters
with autism and it is important to find them and bring these to the
forefront”.
Set up in 1960 by government of India, the FTII has seen some of the
country’s most well-known directors and actors graduate. The course has
started at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New
Delhi.
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Source: https://newzhook.com/story/top-film-training-institute-ftii-course-for-youth-with-autism
