Accessibility and Inclusion In the Indian Film Industry with Priyanka Pal and Shweta Ghosh
Art Heals All Wounds
05/03/23
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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.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
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:
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Previous Episode
Today, I’m joined by the members of Crying Uncle Bluegrass, a California-based bluegrass band. Fiddle player Miles Quale teamed up with his brother Teo, a mandolin player, bassist Andrew Osborn, and guitarist John Gooding to jam together almost five years ago when they were all in their early-to-mid teens. Together they represent the next generation of the community-driven bluegrass genre.
In our conversation, the four members share how they were introduced to this type of music and what inspires them to continue playing it. They first crossed paths at the Father's Day Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley, CA. Festivals are a common theme in our discussion as they’ve played a critical role in their growth and success as musicians. Miles and John describe how the collaborative nature of bluegrass lends itself well to spaces that promote community building, jamming, and workshops that are often featured at these events. Because it’s not everyday that you meet a group of young musicians playing bluegrass, I wanted to get their perspective on mixing traditional sounds with modern trends. They reflect on how they’ve evolved musically and the gratitude they have for the rich history of bluegrass music. They also share what they hope to accomplish as a band and what they’re looking forward to in the near future.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● How Miles, Teo, Andrew, and John came together to form Crying Uncle Bluegrass
● Each band member’s relationship to bluegrass music
● The influence of new players on this traditional genre
● A look back on their most memorable performance at the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France
● What they love most about bluegrass as a genre and community
● The story behind the name ‘Crying Uncle’
Guest Info:
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● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
Next Episode
Today, I’m joined by Shavonne Allen, Joel Yates, and Dazié Rustin Grego-Sykes, three members of Skywatchers, a performance ensemble based in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. Skywatchers is an interdisciplinary, intergenerational, mixed-ability, and multicultural performance group that aims to amplify the voices of Tenderloin residents. Their mix of movement, music, visual art, and spoken word get to the core of what the Tenderloin is, which, despite the despair that is visible on the streets, is a place of abundant generosity. In Dazié’s words, community members in the Tenderloin have been given a limited view of themselves based on what outsiders see on the surface. The Tenderloin is an inclusive neighborhood where people support their neighbors and forge social spaces despite the hostile architecture that discourages social gathering in the area. Skywatchers performances explore the real, raw, lived experiences of ensemble members and life in the Tenderloin, but also share a vision of how things could be. Shavonne, Joel, and Dazié highlight the impact their art has on the neighborhood and reflect on how their lives have changed since joining the ensemble.
Listen, rate, and review Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● The history of the Tenderloin neighborhood and how it became a containment zone for the city’s biggest unsolved social issues
● How Shavonne, Joel, and Dazié were introduced to Skywatchers
● The story behind the ‘Opulence Portraits’ and ‘Towards Opulence' pieces
● Examples of what hostile architecture looks like, particularly in downtown San Francisco
● What Shavonne, Joel, and Dazié have gained from being part of Skywatchers
● What other Tenderloin community members gain from the work of Skywatchers
Guest Info:
● Towards Opulence, the Opera at The Cutting Ball Theater
● Skywatchers on Facebook
Follow Me:
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● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
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