A cosy apartment, on Hayes Road is converted into an editing studio and workshop space where Miriam Jakobs and Gerhard Schick edit the films they have completed shooting in the city. They are here on the invitation of Max Meuller Bhavan as part of the bangaloREsidents@MOD Institute & Suchitra Film Society programme.
While Gerhard is more eloquent, Miriam wins your heart. A bright smile and a dance in her step, she starts off with, “We are documentary film makers from Germany. One area that we are interested is urban development, history and the future of cities. We shot in the US, Africa, Europe, but never in Asia. If we wanted to do modern metropolises then we could not leave out Asia. And, here we are. It is a great opportunity as we now are staying in a big Asian city. Thanks to Bengaluru’s rapid growth and changes, we felt it is a good destination for our research and documentaries.”
The duo is “especially interested in urban structures and architectural representations of society and culture”. In the past they have made films on Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, libraries of German-Jewish refugees and their relation to the German language, and the possible genetic causes of depression.
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Now they are “developing a web-based, independent documentary series, where we want to look at the challenges of urban planning in a globalised world,” explains Gerhard, who adds that “we did different things before we worked together. I always wanted to be a reporter or a documentary film maker. I never became a reporter but I studied film, literature and history and now I make films.”
“While Gerhard worked as practical film maker, I saw films as a viewer first and then analysed them. Then became a lecturer and taught film studies at a university. I had a long teaching history and he of making films. He is competent on the technical side and me on the editing and theoretical aspects,” explains Miriam.
Miriam and Gerhard are also passionate about teaching and working with students from different disciplines. They are working with 10 young film makers here.
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“The students have shown us the city in a way that is normally not seen by tourists. As tourists we are always shown the city in its stereotype way – like its transition from a garden city to an IT hub. But, now we have come to know the story of a man who lives in a house that is loaded with thousands of books, which are literally falling off from every corner. We also have a student who has focused on the garbage collection in the city. She has followed the garbage van and garbage collector in her film. These discussions and encounters have been enlightening for us. We have learnt a lot and hope our students too have learnt something from us,” beams Miriam.
Then they talk about the advantages of documentary film making.
According to Gerhard, “We can tell something about reality and the world we live in. It gives you a closer look and helps you see things that are normally ignored in reality. The camera makes you become aware of things. You can collect images and stories. Fiction can do that too, but, in documentary you can do it with a smaller group, camera and budget. Documentary has a direct approach.”
Miriam explains that in documentary films “reality is always stronger than what you are.”
“People’s perception,” observes Gerhard, “too has changed towards documentaries in Germany. Fiction is for big screen and masses will always go for them. But, there is a growing audience for documentaries as there is a growing awareness for real stories.”
And, no, they are not “always” making films on poverty or depressing issues. “There can also be happy documentaries even though this medium is normally drawn to serious issues,” notes Gerhard.
Their films and those of their students will be screened today.
For details, call 25205306 to contact the Bhavan.