On Friday, 25 November 2016, Moviyana Film Society organised a discussion session titled “Cinema Five Alap” at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Actor and director Tauquir Ahmed was the main guest of the session, and he drew from his years of experience to talk about the relationship between an independent film maker and an actor.
According to Ahmed, “acting has a science. A filmmaker must know about acting and the sensitivities of an actor, so they are better able to work with and direct said actors.”
He also stressed on the importance of casting, and how it can make or break a film.
“As a filmmaker, it is your decision on whether you want to select an established actor for casting, or you can discover a new talent. But to get the sort of acting you want out of that actor, a filmmaker must know the basics of acting and think like an actor, otherwise he will not be able to bring out the hidden talent.”
The important of finance in filmmaking and its ability to affect a film was also highlighted in Ahmed's talk.
“I convinced the actors to be a part of my first film Joyjatra by holding up my reality to them, and they were convinced to work in my film without money. When I was acting in Tanvir Mokammel's Nadir Naam Modhumati, we were in the same situation, and we were working without payment, because we cared about the story and wanted to see it on screen.”
Speaking on his own work, Ahmed said “I directed four films which were financial flops, but I don't want to make a super hit film. I want to tell a real story of local people. An independent film maker is truly independent because he can see a new dream.”
He added, “the main element of an independent film maker is his responsibility and honesty. Film is not like corporate business, it's art. What we see in commercial films in not our reality. The challenge in independent films is to produce something that is real and people can connect with on a personal level. Our independent film makers are now doing this, and their work is now gaining international admiration.”
At the end of the discussion, Tauquir Ahmed's new film Aggatonama, which garnered praise from all quarters, was screened.