24 November 2023, IFFI Premises: Today, Manoj Bajpayee, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K, Apoorva Bakshi, and Srikrishna Dayal attended a Master Class session on Crafting Compelling Web Series for OTT at 54 IFFI, Goa.
Manoj Bajpayee's Communiqué, "OTT platforms should support independent and creative filmmaking."
Pritish Bagdi
From L to R: Host Naman Ramachandran, Apoorva Bakshi, Raj Nidimoru, Krishna D.K., Mr. Manoj Bajpayee, Mr. Srikrishna Dayal
Manoj Bajpayee, a cinematic beacon of brilliance, unravelled an actor's intriguing journey. He painted the canvas of an actor's goal and passion to breathing life into a character with his words, emphasising the critical necessity of preparation, consistency, character graph, and embracing the flow that challenges and enriches every actor's essence. "You have to prepare well for the role and then forget about it to keep your mind empty to be receptive to new ideas coming," he went on to say.
The Family Man actor, speaking on the success, shortcomings, and future of OTT, stated that OTT platforms should encourage independent creative films.
Srikrishna Dayal, a theatrical maestro and another prominent performer in The Family Man series, spoke of the symbiotic relationship between the stage and the digital canvas of OTT, remarking that the most significant benefit of OTT platforms is regular watching. He stated that the discipline learned in the theatre allows players to grow in their versatility across many genres of acting.
Raj Nidimoru, co-director of the OTT Series The Family Man, highlighted the tremendous impact of documentaries on the ever-changing OTT landscape, reflecting the feelings of a shifting paradigm. He emphasised the importance of these storylines on the platform.
Krishna D.K., co-director of the OTT Series The Family Man, has created a canvas of continual learning, unlearning, and relearning that has assisted in traversing the spectrum of independent filmmaking, shows, and series for the OTT platform.
Raj and D.K., the dynamic director team, extolled their indie filmmaking background as a springboard for their work on OTT, and it distinctively shapes their creativity on the platform. They underlined the importance of story confidence in pushing for compelling storytelling even while working within budget limits.
Apoorva Bakshi, who came from a banking background to produce the acclaimed 'Delhi Crime' series, emphasised the importance of faith in the script, explaining the basics for story engineering in both fiction and non-fiction genres. Extending on the preparation of a pitch for a new series called Bible in the OTT environment, I demonstrated the need of a clear idea note in fiction, as well as a well-crafted pilot, and the importance of comprehensive research in non-fiction genres.
The teaser for Manoj Bajpayee's next opus Joram was also shown at the end of the event, enticing spectators with promises of yet another cinematic marvel.
Notably, IFFI has created the Best Web Series (OTT) Award this year to recognise the creativity and talent behind the burgeoning digital entertainment. This year, 32 entries from 15 OTT platforms were received in 10 languages. The winning series will receive certificates and a monetary award of Rs.10 lakhs, which will be disclosed during the closing ceremony.
