PAST EVENTS
An introduction to Free Software: a review of computing basics
Resource persons: Krishnakant Mane, Anusha Kadambala Lajpat Dhingra and Prajakta Walimbe
Date: Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August, 2008
This workshop was suited to those already using computers extensively in their work and wanting to expand their capabilities and move to Free Software.
Storytelling, rhythm and movement
Date: Tuesday, 12 August, 2008
Resource persons: Aban Bana and Dilnavaz Bana
This workshop is suited to both those who wish to get introduced to the philosophy of Anthroposophy, as well as those already practicing joyful methods of teaching and learning and wanting to expand their capabilities.
Storytelling
Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture and in every land as a means of entertainment, education, continuation of culture and values. Every culture has its stories and storytellers, who convey the magic of tales through their voices and expressions. In this section we look at the various kinds of stories which are told and re-told over generations – myths, fairy tales, fables, legends, folk tales, epics, etc. We will also explore the effect storytelling has on the listeners, be they young or old.
We will also practice telling one full story as a demonstration of storytelling. elements of stories and storytelling include plot and characters, as well as the narrative point of view.
Rhythm and movement
Post lunch, we will have a session to explore principles of Eurythmy, meaning harmonious rhythm, followed by rhythmical exercises to improve coordination and movement. Eurythmy is an expressive movement art originated by the educational philosopher Rudolf Steiner, who also introduced it into education and developed it as a performance form and movement therapy with his colleagues.
Through various synchronous and symmetrical activities participants will explore their own responses to the qualities of straight lines and curves, the directions of movement in space (forward, backward, up, down, left, right), contraction and expansion.
Participants should have an energetic disposition, come in loosely fitted cotton clothes and be prepared to sit on the floor.
LUKSH Workshops
Our first LUKSH workshop is on 2nd February 2008 which will focus on understading the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Free and Open Source Softwares (FOSS). To get details about LUKSH workshops click here
To know more about LUKSH click here
Materials and motifs: how the past speaks to the present
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
The past speaks to us in the present through features known as continuities. This course will clue us into the methods of recognising these signs and symbols
and interpreting them within a historical context.
GIS (Geographical Information System) Workshop
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
The 3-day workshop, targeted primarily at individuals working in the sphere of social development, will demonstrate the creation of an online open-access spatial database and base map of key areas within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This will be deployed through a web-based geographic information system (GIS) for social workers who want to use it for their own mapping, planning and development needs and aspirations, with the base map forming a platform for public dissemination and intervention. It will involve the development of a set of simple, cross-platform and Unicode-compliant spatial tools and mapping applications in English and localised in Hindi and Marathi, to enable participation of communities, citizens, and stake-holders in spatial planning and decision-making in Mumbai and other global cities in the Asia-Pacific region.
New Media Art in India : An Exhibition
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
To be announced soon.
Get the picture: Understanding world cinema
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
Comet Media Foundation is conducting a film appreciation workshop across 12 Saturdays in Mumbai from 24th June to 9th September 2006. Admissions open to all; age and qualifications no bar.
You would do this workshop if…
- you love cinema!
- you want to engage in critical thinking about cinema
- you are interested in watching good cinema
At the workshop you will…
- learn how the language of cinema evolved worldwide
- watch international film classics and excerpts from related genres
- discuss them in detail with practising filmmakers
- understand the nuances of shots, scenes, sequences, lighting, montage, mise-en-scène
Who’s the faculty?
Chandita Mukherjee, Director, Comet Media Foundation (www.cometmedia.org)
Trained at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), she is a filmmaker and science communicator, and has taught at National Institute of Design (NID), Xavier Institute of Communication (XIC), FTII and the Industrial Design Centre of IIT Mumbai. She is currently the Vice President of Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) and also Vice President of GraFTII, the alumni association of FTII.
Working largely with voluntary organisations and educational institutions, she has produced films, print materials, educational exhibitions, fairs and festivals, and has conducted a variety of training programmes. She has been awarded the Prix Jules Verne, the French award for science communication, for her film series Bharat ki Chhap or The Identity of India in 1989, and the National Award for best short fiction for her film Totanama or Tales of a Parrot in 1992, as also for best science documentary Another way of learning in 1995.
Where and when?
Saturdays, 2 to 6 pm, from 24th June ’06, till 9th September ’06 (12 weeks)
Register by 21st June. Limited seats.
What will it cost?
The course fees are Rs 3,500/- but if you join before 17th June you pay an ‘early bird’ fee of Rs 3,000/-.
Discount on group registrations. Contact us for details.
Interested?
Contact Chandita
Tel +9122-23869052 / +9122-23826674 / +9122-23821893
Email: cometmedia@vsnl.net
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Storytelling and Screenplay Writing
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
This workshop offers tools to understand the critical and analytical aspects of cinema with writing assignments, which will help participants to plunge into active storytelling and scripting for films. This will consist of 8 sessions, (10 to 5 pm) four days a week (Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri) spread over two weeks 17th April to 28th April.
This workshop will be conducted by Indranil Chakravarty. Indranil studied film direction at the International Film & TV School (EICTV) in Havana. He was a faculty member at the Satyajit Ray Film & TV Institute in Calcutta where he taught screenplay writing. His publications include 'The New Latin American Cinema: Readings from Within' (1998).
The following areas will be explored:
Special aspects of a story told in the audiovisual medium
- Traditions in story-telling such as
- the Aristotelian narrative epitomised by Hollywood cinema
- alternative models of storytelling that challenge the American model taking examples from European, Latin American and Asian cinema
- analysis of several significant Indian films in order to explore if there is any distinctive ‘Indian’ way of telling stories
- Practical writing exercises running parallel to lectures
- Film screenings and critical analyses of key films
- Technical aspects of scriptwriting such as formatting and choice of software
Schedule: 17th April, 18th April, 20th April, 21st April, 24th April, 25th April, 27th April and 28th April.
These are the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of two consecutive weeks.
The Wednesdays and the weekends are to be kept free for completing writing assignments given during the workshop.
Each session will be from 10 am to 5 pm.
Venue: Comet Media Foundation, Topiwala School, Topiwala Lane, Lamington Road, Mumbai
The nearest train station is Grant Road and Topiwala Lane is just opposite the Lamington Road Police Station on the East side of Grant Road Station.
Registration: Contact Jacob at 2386 9052 or 2382 6674 or email:cometmedia@vsnl.net
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Hyper Media Communications
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
Schedule
3rd April, 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 1 A brief history of communication media:
- From oral tradition to visual text/ Evolution of written text from hieroglyphs to program code/ Evolution of mass media from printing press to the internet/ Media transmission: from smoke signals to the telegraph to video conferencing/ Media politics: democratic and autocratic communication.
- Understanding the substance of media:
- Their visual, acoustic and temporal aspects/ Analog vs. Digital media
- What does "hyper" mean
- What are hypertexts, hyperlinks and hypermedia
- A presentation of cutting edge communication formats: hypertext narratives, performative texts, interactive essays, wiki webs, multimedia blogs, etc.
- Exercise: Find a piece of hyper media to present in the next session. (A list of interesting websites shall be provided).
4th April, 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 2:
- A discussion based on hyper media works presented by the participants:
- What is inventive and what is effective about the work
- An examination of its structure, design and temporality
- Designing expressive communication in a digital world: angry alphabets, impulsive pixels, moody mouse controls, jumpy buttons...
- A demonstration and tutorial in web-designing software: An exercise in making a clickable button and assigning actions to it
6th April, 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 3:
- Understanding hyper-linking: non-linearity, interlinking, navigation paths
- A demonstration and tutorial in web-designing software: An exercise in making a hypertext document
- A demonstration of Internet chatting followed by a class discussion in a chat room. Discovering expressive digital typography
7th April, 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 4:
- Understanding basic animation, interactive animation and programmed animation
- A demonstration and tutorial in web-designing software: How to build hyper media pieces that weave together text, picture, animation, interaction, sound, etc.
- How traditional media are transformed on a digital platform. Case study: Electronic comic books vs. printed comic books
- Making digital collages: working with pre-existing digital material and re-appropriating program codes - cut and paste techniques
11th April, 6:30-8:00 pm
Sessions 5:
- Exercise: Rendering a given piece of text in hyper media. (individual final project)
- Planning the exercise and problem solving: Flow charts, site maps, interactive controls and navigation design
13th April, 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 6:
Pre-presentation sharing of work in progress from home locations. This would involve use of text, visuals and voice chat. Comments and criticisms would be used as inputs for final session 7
15th April, 10:00 am -1:00 pm
Session 7:
Presentation of the final individual projects, ending with farewell lunch.
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Understanding Film Texts
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
Comet Media Foundation invites you to a workshop “Understanding film texts” – an intensive series of sessions replete with film screenings,
discussions and analyses. It will be held over two weekends 27th to 29th Jan and 3rd to 5th Feb 06.
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Engaging With Media Content and Representation
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
How can social activists create awareness on social issues through media? By knowing media better, activists can refine their advocacy skills, create
long-term strategies and go beyond delivering merely factual information to putting forward aspirations and perspectives.
Those who conduct outreach activities will find this workshop useful. All
day 21st and 22nd Jan 2006.
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A to D: from analogue to digital transfers
COSMOS, a New Media initiative of Comet Media Foundation
Comet Media Foundation invites you to a workshop that will enable you learn various means to go digital. Convert your records - photo prints, negatives,
tape recordings, VHS tapes etc and bring it into the digital domain. Find out how to enhance the quality if possible, add graphics and edit with style to
make presentation CDs. 7th January 2006.
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