Till date, the chariot race scene in the movie Ben Hur or the parting of the Red Sea in the movie Ten Commandments or for that matter a few scenes in the Telugu movie Maya Bazaar , are treated as case studies in film institutes across the globe. All the three movies were made over five decades ago, when technology in the film industry was in the nascent stage and it was human intelligence and creativity that dominated the scenario. But now things are different, it is technology that is ruling the roost and human creativity has taken a back seat, said cinematographer and film director M.V. Raghu.
The cinematographer who shot many award wining films such as Swati Mutyam , Sirivennela , Anweshana , Sitaara and April 1st Vidudala and directed Kallu which was awarded the Filmfare Award, feels that overdependence on technology and graphics is killing creativity. “The overdependence on technology and graphics is making cinematographers and directors lethargic and the content in the films is becoming feeble,” he said in an exclusive chat with The Hindu on Friday.
According to him the rise and flow of technology cannot be stopped, but technology should be used as a tool for making films, it should not become the soul of the film.
“Every department in the film industry, be it the script, acting or for that matter cinematography, today lacks creativity because of overdose of technology,” he pointed out.
Mr. Raghu feels that use of technology should go with an equal measure of imagination.
“Directors like Rajmouli of Baahubali or James Cameron of Avatar fame stand out in today’s crop of film-makers, as they give equal importance to imagination or creativity and technology,” he said.
The ace cinematographer is also of the opinion that actors or cameraman or for that matter technicians, should undergo a decent course to learn the nuances of the trade. “Things have changed and it is not like earlier days, when one could just walk in to the industry with some experience. Theory without practice is useless and at the same time practice without theory could be dangerous,” he pointed out.
Workshop
Mr. Raghu will be addressing a three-day workshop being organised by the Vizag Film Society, scheduled to begin from June 3.
Various aspects such as script writing, direction, cinematography, editing, how to make a short film or documentary, will be addressed in the three-day workshop, which will be held at Visakha Public Library.
The ace cinematographer says actors, cameraman and technicians, should undergo a decent course to learn the nuances of the trade
