Accessibility and Inclusion In the Indian Film Industry with Priyanka Pal and Shweta Ghosh

Art Heals All Wounds

Today, I’m joined by filmmakers Shweta Ghosh and Priyanka Pal to discuss their work together on We Make Film, a feature documentary about filmmaking by people with disabilities in India. Through a series of ‘interview workshops,’ the film highlights the creative ways that filmmakers with disabilities articulate their perspective and artistic vision, despite the accessibility challenges they face. Shweta and Priyanka connected on the idea of making a film where people with disabilities can bring their professional experience, as well their story, into their production process. What started out as Shweta’s PhD project in 2015 eventually became a deep dive into the dynamics within communities of people with disabilities, how they engage with each other, and how they define themselves. In our conversation, Shweta and Priyanka expand on stand-out moments from interviews and how those conversations opened their eyes to small, yet powerful ways to create a more accessible and inclusive filmmaking environment. They also describe how they’re working with the next generation of artists to challenge stereotypes and welcome diverse voices both in front of and behind the camera.

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Topics Covered:

● Why it’s so important to Priyanka, a filmmaker with a locomotor disability, to create a new narrative for how people with disabilities are portrayed in mainstream media

● Shweta’s process for defining the project scope and finding people for each role

● The surprising ways that different participants interpreted Shweta’s interview prompts

● How Shweta’s father’s disability shaped her perspective as an able-bodied filmmaker

● Priyanka and Shweta’s vision for how film crews and media can be more accessible and inclusive

Guest Info:

● We Make Film Instagram

● Shweta's Website

● Shweta's Instagram

● Shweta's Twitter

● Shweta's Facebook

● Priyanka's Instagram

● Priyanka’s Email

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