Chandigarh,12 August , Dr.Avnish Jolly : With a view to afford an opportunity to the youth of North India, especially of states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh, a talent hunt is being organised in important cities from August 20 to September 25 where young boys and girls keen to join the fast developing media and entertainment industry would be interviewd, while semifinals and finals of the programme would take place at Chandigarh on September 26 and 27.
This was stated by Mr. Manmohan Singh, chairman of the Centre for Media and Entertainment Studies. He said the talent hunt and other related activities would be jointly organised by the CMES –ITFT and department of tourism of Chandigarh administration.
He said that CMES was a venture of the ITFT ( Institute of Technology and Future Management Trends) Education Group, Chandigarh, which was set up to impart education and training in media and entertainment discipline, which was showing a growth rate of more than 35 per cent.
Mr. Manmohan Singh disclosed that ITFT had introduced bachelor’s degree in media -entertainment and film technology with 40 seats in the first year, adding that it would fill the void in imparting training in this discipline in the region and those aspiring to make career in it would need not go to Mumbai or places.
Mr. Manmohan Singh, who is an eminent writer and director and had made many Punjabi films, said that the objective in organising the talent hunt was to provide an opportunity to the television serial and film producers, who are always on the look out for fresh and bright boys and girls to select the same for various roles from the region. It would also enlarge the scope of employment avenues for the youth of the region, he added.
He said that World Tourism Day was celebrated every year throughout world on September 27 with the aim to highlight the socio-economic benefits which accrued from the development of tourism. Organising the finals of the talent hunt on world tourism day would highlight the symbiotic relationship between tourism and entertainment industries, as both depended, to a large extend on the natural, historical and cultural resources for their sustenance and promotion.
As part of its programme to promote North India as a destination for cinematic tourism, CMES would also be organising Cinematic Tourism Week from September 20 to 27, with an international conference when eminent personalities associated with media and entertainment from various countries were likely to discuss various aspects of the industry especially its contribution to the overall economic development of the region. A strategy would be worked out when the north Indian states synergise their individual plans and policies to promote the region as a single destination. The states would also be encouraged to bring out a compendium of information on locations, facilities and other assistance for film shootings.
North Indian would also be urged to provide separate budgets for promoting cinematic tourism and organize FAM ( familiarization ) tours of leading television and film producers to enable them to acquire first hand knowledge, he added..
Mr Manmohan Singh informed that all the north Indian states would be invited to showcase their attractions such as their scenic beauty, historical and cultural heritage, ancient monuments, temples, forts, havelis, lifestyle of the people, customs and traditions, fairs and festivals and their unique cuisine as also the facilitates and incentives they offer to the television and film producers for shooting. On this occasion, eminent and leading television and film producers will be invited for interaction with state authorities, he added..
He informed that on September 28th the ITFT would be organising a jobsfest , exclusively for the media and entertainment industry. This will provide an opportunity to various stakeholders such as film and television producers, radio, music, animation, theatre, events outfits and organizations to select suitable persons for jobs.
Earlier, executive director ITFT, Gulshan Sharma made apresenation on the media and industry and gave details of the various programmes.