SLM-GEF project established training for concerned staffs from DoA and DAR for the use of basic ICT tools and capturing good practices through video and descriptive documents. The farmer channel is mainly broadcasting agriculture program, CSA programme and other practices. And the farmer channel is disseminating to the wide of audience in Myanmar.
Descriptive document and script writing training was successfully done on 4 June to 10 June, 2018 at Farmer Channel Building, DAR. During Day 1, understanding of good practices and capturing good practices was presented. Then, the Basic story structure and dramatically was introduced. Then a short fiction film named (The sheep Thief) was screened. In the afternoon, the theory about character and story structures was discussed.
Day 2 centered on introducing documentary script writing. A featured length Documentary film (9 Stars Hotel) was screened. The afternoon session focused on use of documentary film language, the difference between documentaries and fictions.
On Day 3, the concept of research and challenges during documentary research was centered. Participants were divided into 5 working groups. Then a featured length Documentary film (The story of weeping camel) was screened. It was followed by group discussion on its dramatic structure, film language and analysis. The afternoon focused on theory on documentary research and its strategies. Then group works of finding a character in the surrounding area.
Day 4 started with screening of two Myanmar short documentaries (Khayar & Kissapa Story). Then the participants went outside to continue their field research, shooting and writing. The afternoon session focused on watching the footage, making a discussion and continuing the pre-shoot script on the group`s chosen character.
On Day 5, theory on visual elements, sound elements and story elements was introduced. It was followed by screening of mentor Yee Nan Thike`s short documentary film (A life in Songs) and Q&A was done among groups and mentors. Then the participants went outside to continue their shooting and writing. The afternoon session started with screening of mentor Dr. Aung Min`s film (The monk) while some groups continue their shooting and writing the scripts. Later, editing the group projects started with the guidance of mentors.
Day 6 started with screening of participants` films and programs from Farmer channel DAR. Then discussion and feedback from the mentors was followed. The afternoon session continued with group work editing and writing the scripts. The mentors joined each group`s editing room and commented to shoot further on necessary story points. This continued on some groups whose participants could work later than the workshop schedule. On Day 7, the final day, summary of writing documentary script was summed up. Documentary script format and Fiction script format were explained with sample scripts. Then briefing on script competition and its rules on submission was explained. Then the participant groups continued editing their projects while some individual participants who wanted to participate in the script competition made one to one discussions with mentors on their story ideas. This continued till the afternoon. The mentors then joined each group in their editing room and gave their final feedback on the project. The training program was successfully finished in the evening with screening of short documentaries made by five participants groups during the workshop time.
In conclusion, participants reflected on the 7-day training workshop and could rate the quality of the workshops and the relevancy for their work. Participants overwhelmingly appreciated the content and implementation of the workshop with a strong recommendation for further training on script writing with longer duration and recognition in the form of certificates. It was found that the workshop program made the participants to have a chance to learn on dramatically, documentary research, teamwork and creative documentary film-making process which would benefit their skills and creativity on the programs they would make further in the future.
