The Half Ticket Young Adult Script Writing Workshop encourages young adults in the age group of 12-16 years to write for cinema by training them in the basics of screen writing. Mentors Dibakar Banerjee, Varun Grover and Dia Mirza share their experience of interacting with these ingenious youngsters.

Dibakar Banerjee, Dia Mirza and Varun Grover with the participants at the Half Ticket Young Adult Script Writing Workshop

Dibakar Banerjee, Dia Mirza and Varun Grover with the participants at the Half Ticket Young Adult Script Writing Workshop

DIA MIRZA

How was the experience of interacting with the participants?

I think it’s great to share a one-on-one session with children. Especially with kids who are so enthusiastic about exploring storytelling and story writing. Though we came as mentors, there’s still a huge room for learning that’s open for us as well.

What according to you is the relevance of such workshops for young writers?

Communication is the basis of progress. And cinema is its biggest tool. Each of their stories were unique through which they were making social comments.

DIBAKAR BANERJEE

As a mentor, what was your takeaway from the session?

It was a tremendous discovery for me. Sitting with kids made me realize that most of us know just the basic grammar of storytelling. It is the influences that corrupt us.

What was the most exciting aspect of this workshop?

It was the sheer process of delving into the art of narratives. It’s something that we are deeply connected to, that’s the way our brains are hard-wired.

VARUN GROVER

Being a writer yourself, do you think it is essential to creatively nurture minds from such a young age?

I feel screenwriting is more about balancing art and craft. Actual writing is an art. So art is the base and craft is the thing that you build on it. As a writer, you are on one hand full of doubts, but confident that the doubts are unique. Being interested in writing at this young age is great enough.

What was your reaction to the kind of stories that were submitted?

I am amazed at the level of stories that they have. One of the stories was an out and out adventure. The other one was a realistic, drama about a kid rescued from human trafficking. The third one was like a Murakami story. There were such diverse stories.