News Broadcasting
Krishna Shah to conduct seminar in Mumbai
MUMBAI: Noted Asian American writer-director-producer Krishna Shah will conduct a Story Telling Seminar in Mumbai on 10 and 11 July.
To tackle both, the art and science of storytelling, the seminar will dwell on the various elements that go into storytelling for feature films and television shows, study classical films through the years, as well as learn the art of a one minute pitch for their stories.
Research, dialogues, subtexts will all be dealt with in a systematic manner. The seminar will also discuss whether crossover movies are here to stay, and whether Made In India films will rule the world in the same way Indian literature has, and how the epistemology of the ‘intermission’ and the ‘inevitable songs’ shades Bollywood differently from Hollywood.
The hands – on, immediate feedback seminar will incorporate guided visualisations, mini-mediatations and group exercises to help the participants to confront and nurture the storyteller within them. The high point of the seminar, says Shah, is creation of their own story – a complete story for a screenplay through a one hour guided visualisation. Participants will also be taught how to use the Internet to research their stories and learn which writing and formatting computer programmes are worth investing in, how to copyright, pitch and network in order to sell their product. “The business aspect of storytelling is 50 per cent of the game,” avers Shah.
The seminar, he says, will also support and promote storyteller groups who will form their own group and continue the work in creating and nurturing their stories with peers and friends. Shah has, over the years, written and directed several Broadway and Hollywood productions, including a South African play Sponono, Kalidas’ Shakuntala and Tagore’s The King of the Dark Chamber. In Hollywood, Shah’s feature length screenplays include Island in Harlem for MGM, April Morning for Samuel Goldwyn Jr and wrote and directed Shalimar, the taut rollercoaster ride into the world of conmen and thieves.
Shah, who has organised similar workshops in London and South Africa, says he spent over four months customising the programme for Indian participants. He is now planning to take the seminar to other citieis in India. A bankruptcy of original ideas, a plethora of existing channels, the easy availability of dubbed movies has all made it imperative for originality in scripting and filmmaking, he avers.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
