Community Video – Drishti

In 2004, we started with our first community video unit using VHS cameras. This initiative has come a long way and today the community prodcuers make videos using mobile phones and use social media for dissemination. The wave of community video reporting is finally spreading like never before....

We have helped initiate Community video units of different compositions and thematic focus

Each of these units makes videos on different issues.

From the Sunderbans to Kutch, we have trained across the length and breadth of the country

The films are shown to thousands of people. Earlier with the help of projects and now thorugh social media, cumulatively the films made by the video units have crossed a million viewers.

How it works

We work with local partner organisations to train and support in production and dissemination of videos. After initial discussions with the partner organisation the training module is created by us, while the partner organisation is responsible for selection of the trainees. The training and handholding process is a continuous process, and at every stage we improve on the skills and help create startegies to disseminate the videos to maximum people.

DISSEMINATION

During the last stage we also train, teach and demonstrate how to set up channels of dissemination. Social media campaigns and physical screenings are conducted to maximize the outreach of content generated, so that a dialogue space is created, people are mobilized and authorities are made accountable.

TRAINING

Involves basics of scripting, shooting and editing, is hands-on, activity-oriented and elaborate.

Module1: Covers the basics of scripting and shooting basics

Module2: Conducted after the first round of assignments/ productions are shot. Covers editing and advanced shooting tips

Module 3: Covers dissemination through creation of social media profiles, creating groups and posting

SHOOTING & HANDHOLDING

From research to review, we handhold and train each participant during every step of production from research, storyboarding to shooting and recording interviews to Editing.

SUATI – JIVA PROGRAMME I COMMUNITY VIDEO TRAININGS

SuATI–JIVA is an initiative supported by GIZ India to promote agroecological transformation through community-led media. The programme aimed to equip farmers, youth, and community resource persons across five states with skills in participatory video production, enabling them to document local practices and indigenous wisdom.

In Phase 1 (May–Sept 2024), six-day mobile videography trainings were conducted in Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, where ~80 participants learned research, scriptwriting, and filming. They produced short films on seed treatment, bio-inputs, mixed cropping, soil health, and integrated farming systems.

In Phase 2 (Sept–Dec 2024), editing workshops were held with intensive handholding and site visits. Participants learned technical and creative editing using Filmora and completed over 30 short films. These were screened locally, strengthening community voices and promoting climate-resilient farming through accessible media.

Partners: WOTR, SEWA, WASSAN, GSS, GBVSS

Period: Phase 1 – May to Sept 2024 | Phase 2 – Sept to Dec 2024

WETLAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME | COMMUNITY VIDEO TRAININGS

As part of biodiversity and climate protection initiatives, Drishti conducted community video trainings on wetland management across four sites in three states—Point Calimere in Tamil Nadu, Bhitarkanika in Odisha, and Pong Dam & Renuka Ji in Himachal Pradesh. The project aimed to build the capacity of youth and community members to document conservation practices and cultural values linked to wetlands.

Workshops introduced participants to documentary filmmaking basics, equipment use, interviews, and visual storytelling. Groups scripted and shot films on themes such as canal restoration, fisheries, mangroves, crocodiles, handicrafts, organic farming, cultural traditions, and the ecological impact of dams. Each workshop was followed by field handholding and editing support using Filmora, enabling participants to complete short films despite logistical and environmental challenges.

The programme empowered participants to become local storytellers for wetland conservation, using self-produced films as tools for awareness, community engagement, and advocacy.

Partners: Dhan Foundation (Tamil Nadu), APOWA (Odisha), GIZ India (Himachal Pradesh)

Period: January to March 2022

JAGYA AAPNI I YOUNG WOMEN/ GIRLS TRAINING ON VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Jagya Aapni is a campaign led by young women from tribal, dalit, and muslim communities in Gujarat, India to reclaim physical and digital spaces. It asks one important question: While we continue to talk about spaces needing to be safe, when will they be truly ours? The campaign was formally launched on 14th Feb. As part of the campaign the idea was to create a cadre of 50 young women who would use the video and social media tools to talk about issues agency, space and choice. A training of 3 days on videography using mobile phones followed by a shooting and handholding process and finally an editing workshop of another 3 days were conducted. The campaign was launched over facebook, whatsapp groups and also through physical camps in these 4 talukas. The campaign has entered the second round now, after the pandemic, and the new round of training and handholding that we are conducting with these young women is aimed to bring out stories of violence, and other issues of choice and employment that women are facing during the pandemic.

Partner: ANANDI
Period: 1st round : Jan- Mar 2020; 2nd round : May to July 2020
For details about the project, please see the e-booklet here Watch the film made on the initiative here

CRP AND FARMERS TRAINING IN MAHARASHTRA ON VIDEO MAKING

As part of the prosoil project of GIZ in partnership with WOTR and BAIF in Maharashtra, farmers and community resource persons were trained to use mobile phones and tablets to be able to make small videos on sustainable agricultural practices. This was a 1 month long process in which the training was divided into three parts; 5 days on scripting and videography, followed by handholding visits and another 5 days of editing training. A total of 10 films were made by the 27 trainees who took part in the process. The films were on varied topics related to sustainable farming practices. Some of these films also won awards in the farmers conference where these films were screened.

Partner: GIZ, BAIF and WOTR

Period: Dec 2019 - Jan 2020

For details about the project, please see the training report here Films made by the farmers and CRPs can be seen in this link

YOUNG WEAVERS TRAINING ON PARTICIPATORY VIDEO

Young Weavers of Kutch were trained and supported through a year long process of making films on the social, cultural, economic aspects of the community. 6 young people were trained in film making process. 6 films were made as part of this project on changes in the weaver community of kutch with respect to gender, history, ecology, environment, economics and youth. The young people were trained on DSLR camera and on Adobe Premiere pro software. The films were also of longer duration 20-30 mints. That was the reason for the longer duration of the project.

Partner org: Khamir and Kalpvriksh
Period: May 2018 to May 2019

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS MOBILE VIDEO TRAINING

ECONET, Maharashtra works for ensuring rights and entitlements of denotified and nomadic tribes. The training was organized to empower their community youth volunteers to be able to use video as a tool for capturing stories of these communities and use it for purposes of advocacy. The training was conducted in three batches with 25 people in each batch. The trainings were of 3 days duration and focused mostly on shooting videos on mobile phone and editing it over editing applications on mobile phones.

Partner: ECONET
Period: Nov-Dec 2019

YOUTH TRAINING ON USING MEDIA FOR GENDER SAFETY

22 Young girls and boys from Surendranagar district were trained to take up small issues concerning gender safety in their villages and use the mobile phone to make films around those. 4 days of training and on-ground handholding resulted in 6 films from the group.

Partner org- Swati, Gujarat
Period: March 2018 to Sept 2018

THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF VIDEOGRAPHY

A handbook for grassroot video units

'The basic concepts of Videography - A handbook for grassroot video units' is a result of our decades of work. While the basic concepts of grassroot video making remains same, it has been specifically written keeping mobile video making in mind. The handbook contains key concepts of scripting, shooting and editing.

Currently the handbook is available in Hindi and can be downloaded free of cost. If you wish to purchase a print copy please drop a message and we shall get back to you. We look forward to hearing from you on how you have used the handbook and what we can do to modify it.