Making of “Miles to Go”

Witty International School in association with Mohan Azad’s workshop gave a platform for Witty Students to make a short film “Miles to Go”.

On 7th March 2010 a special screening of the film Miles to go was done in Kasturba Talkies. Several dignitaries from the film industry graced the occasion. It was a day of rejoicing, a day when another feather adorned the cap of achievement of Witty International School.

• Synopsis
• Purpose of Film Making
• Facts
• Message by Miles to Go
  

Part 1

Part 2

“Miles to go…” is a short film showcasing two friends Aanya and Ved studying in school, both of them being excellent performers in studies have to go through an extra bit of pressure of expectations from respective families. But young minds are like unshaped clay, they take their own time to shape or the hard way breaks them apart and sometimes they cannot be remoulded.

Teenage suicides have become an almost daily occurrence and are spiraling out of control. Holding a bold lens to this hapless plight is the short film “Miles to Go” by young budding Wittians.

What better way to understand the impact of media than by creating a film oneself!

The film making has helped our students to sharpen their creative expressions & to build confidence. We realized that film making was not just a wonderful means of creative expression but also an effective way of exploring the social issues.

Through this short film, our students took keen interest in throwing light on the hapless plight “Teen Suicide” and have helped creating awareness among the people.

The film making project helped our students to enhance their communication, presentation and other interpersonal skills. It promoted research, organization, planning, analysis, and synthesis skills. It also helped promoting Team Building, because film making is not just about one person!

The film making helped students become aware of community, family and self. It created connections between curriculum and the world outside the classroom. Students learnt about making of film, script writing, directing, editing, production, storytelling, cinematography & dramatic skills.

Facts:

Facts on Teens Suicidal Behaviour:

• Teenage suicides have become an almost daily occurrence and are spiraling out of control.
  
  
• In Mumbai, the toll of teenage suicides from the beginning of the year until 26 January 2010 stood at 32, which is more than one a day.
  
  
• More than 100,000 people commit suicide in India every year and three people a day take their own lives in Mumbai.
  
  
• Suicide is one of the top three causes of death among those aged between 15 and 35 years and has a devastating psychological, social and financial impact on families and friends.
  
  
• There is also a general agreement between psychologists and teachers that the main reason for the high number of teenagers taking their own lives is the increasing pressure on children to perform well in exams.

- Source: BBC News & Times of India

Message by “Miles to Go…”

Childhood is the time of great prospects. It can be a period of great confusion and anxiety as there is pressure on children to fit in socially, to perform academically, to act responsibly and to grow self-identity; which often conflicts with the rules and expectations set by parents and society.

The film strongly recommends that it is parents’ obligation to help their child cope up when he/she is overwhelmed by difficult emotions or situations. Parents should assist their child to put their problems in perspective and help them find a way to keep going with determination and hope.

Miles to go is a film that puts forward a strong suggestion that “Never choose a permanent solution to a temporary problem...” Because…

You not only leave behind heartbreaks, sadness & unfulfilled dreams but also a void that can never be filled… and

…It is not one life that ends but a family that suffers till eternity!