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In her first documentary ‘Dolpo Diary’, Prasuna Dongol encapsulates her 2017 journey to Higher Dolpa. The candidly shot documentary captured the realities of a lady touring alone to some of the distant areas of Nepal. Dongol’s movie reveals the risks and hurdles of touring alone to the farthest corners of the Himalayas, however nonetheless maintains the great thing about the rocky panorama and the kindness of the individuals who dwell there.
I began the interview with a generic query; “Who’s Prasuna Dongol?” Dongol
responded by saying that she is a really shy-natured one who has the behavior of not speaking an excessive amount of. She expresses that though she may be very verbal and has the necessity to talk with individuals and share her ideas, she is healthier at speaking and expressing herself by the technique of visible arts.
On this dialog with Inside Himalayas, get to know the woman behind the lens. How she migrated from a psychology scholar to filmmaking, her difficult but liberating journey to Higher Dolpa, her first documentary, her newest movie, and the way this as soon as shy individual got here out of her shell to grow to be a assured filmmaker.
Selecting up the Digital camera
Dongol initially studied psychology and sought to pursue a profession in youngster psychology. She recollects that whereas she was nonetheless a scholar, she used to volunteer and intern at Kanti Youngsters’s Hospital and wished to proceed on the identical path. Digital camera and filming had not even come into the body on the time.
Finally, Dongol determined to pursue greater training within the UK. That is additionally when she determined that research filmmaking as a secondary possibility. “I wasn’t across the digital camera an excessive amount of, however my dad used to have a digital camera and I believed perhaps it might be higher to pursue filmmaking as properly. I wasn’t very eager on it however on the time it appeared like a very good choice to have and consequently determined to pursue filmmaking overseas,” Dongol claims.
Proper after ending movie faculty, Dongol felt the strain of making one thing. She explains, “To be trustworthy, I used to be solely pushed by the concept of constructing movies. As a result of the concept was, ‘I studied filmmaking, so which means I have to make a movie.” She continues, “I suppose whenever you begin that’s the basic concept. You form of have this strain to place one thing on the market.”
As for at present, Dongol is extra targeted on studying and understanding extra about the primary topic or protagonist of the story. She now believes that communication, time, and empathy is one of the best ways to know an individual’s story or the subject material.
“Now we have to overlook in regards to the digital camera. When you your self should not genuinely taken with them or their story then the ultimate end result of the movie is not going to come out good, regardless of how polished or edited the ultimate product is,” she expresses.
Challenges as a filmmaker
In line with Dongol, her challenges have modified as she has grown as an individual and a filmmaker.
The preliminary problem she used to face again in 2014 was the motive to make a movie. Typical filming challenges would include budgeting points, tools points, and an absence of crew or manpower. The primary problem was to seek out the precise crew. And even when she discovered the precise crew, the problem would begin to take a social believability difficulty.
As she explains, “Even when we had a correct crew for filming, individuals would nonetheless not take us significantly, based mostly on the truth that we have been younger. One other problem that I really feel uncomfortable mentioning is the truth that since I used to be a lady, individuals would have a tough time believing that I may make a movie. Had there been a male cinematographer, he could be talked about as a cinematographer nonetheless, a lady could be known as the ‘woman with the digital camera’.”
That being mentioned, after continued effort, Dongol has been in a position to make a reputation for herself as a filmmaker. She shares, “At the moment I’ve the precise individuals. I’m lucky sufficient to know a number of certified individuals within the subject. However now the challenges are that there aren’t sufficient mediums for our merchandise (movies) to achieve the worldwide market.”Dongol goes on to say, “It’s not that the help isn’t there, however it might’ve been extra useful if there have been extra help for the trade and impartial filmmakers.”
It appears that evidently we lack the medium to attach us to the worldwide market, be it a producer or a distributor. And the most important misplaced alternative for Nepal movie and filmmakers like Dongol is that regardless of how good the filmmakers and their movies may be; they’re simply circulating within the small market in Nepal.
Dolpa Diary
In 2017, Dongol traveled solo to Dolpa. She then produced “Dolpa Diary” a documentary detailing her adventures, the trials, the tribulations, the individuals she met, and her return house. The movie premiered on the 2018 Kathmandu Worldwide Movie Pageant.
Since then Dolpa Diary has been screened at many movie festivals inside and out of doors Nepal. The documentary is broadly acclaimed and has acquired many accolades, successful Greatest Feminine Director of the 7th Nepal Human Rights Worldwide Movie Pageant (HRIFF) in 2019 and Greatest Journey Movie at Kathmandu Worldwide Movie Pageant (KIMFF) in 2018.
Whereas the movie itself is a really candid retelling of Dongol’s journey and struggles, she elaborated that whereas she did plan to go to Dolpo on a solo expedition, she initially didn’t plan to make a documentary about it.
She explains that she had gone to numerous widespread trekking routes with bigger teams, nonetheless, the expertise had been underwhelming. “While you journey in a bunch, there are at all times points with timing, logistics, and decision-making. If there have been 4 of you, each particular person has their very own method of touring, however in case you journey alone all of the decision-making is faster. So, the problem of group journey triggered this concept in me about touring alone. I wished to attempt it and I wished to see if I may do it and see how a lot I can push myself”, Dongol explains.
On being requested why she select Higher Dolpa, she retorted, that the reply retains on altering. She was younger, she was energetic, she had the time and he or she wished to problem herself. With the touring neighborhood behind her and a company began by Pemba Sherpa and Jason Shah known as Nepali Vacationers supporting her; Dongol had the help and encouragement to move out into the wild.
Whereas researching the area Dongol solely discovered minimal details about the realm. The storyteller in her felt that the tales in regards to the space have been underrepresented and it wanted to be coated. Dongol explains, “One of many features of why I select Dolpa was that numerous tales within the media are underrepresented. We typically do have a imprecise concept in regards to the individuals, the tradition, and the languages of assorted locations in Nepal. However once I got here to Dolpa, we didn’t know a lot in regards to the individuals there or their tales. I wished to discover that. Plus, on the time I used to be a bit naïve and courageous (laughs). At the moment I’d be extra fearful or cautious, however at the moment, I used to be youthful and I had the mettle to do it”.
So for 23 days, an introverted Dongol was out within the open, traversing an space that had no path markers on the time. She had no concept the place the following or the closest vacation spot could be. She claims it was a tough affair however in hindsight, she feels that it was the great thing about it.
Each new individual she met, she needed to open up and share her story. In an unplanned method, she could be popping out of her shell. And with all of the troublesome ups and downs she went by, she was breaking out of her consolation zone. For her, it was not in regards to the bodily problem nor was it about proving a degree. The problem was inside herself to return out of it as a greater communicator and storyteller. Every single day Dongol needed to discuss to whoever she had the chance to satisfy.
One of the crucial thrilling and emotional moments within the documentary was when Dongol will get misplaced. On reflection, it’s maybe probably the most highly effective second within the documentary but it surely may have additionally been a lot worse. She explains, “It was a really dangerous area. There are circumstances of snow leopard sightings in that space as properly. If I’ve to say, I’m 25% courageous, 25% silly, and 50% fortunate. I’m glad to say within the 23 days of solo trekking I used to be lucky sufficient to not have any disastrous encounters. Now that I give it some thought, in a method, the whole lot went easily.”
She shares, “Whereas I used to be touring, I didn’t have the intention to make a movie. I used to be simply recording myself and about my travels. However on the day I fell and was misplaced, the whole lot regarded like a mirage. I couldn’t inform if the route I used to be taking was proper or fallacious. And I used to be recording myself as a result of at the moment I felt very weak and unsafe, and if something had occurred to me, then no less than there could be video proof of my account of what was happening.”
“Even later whereas making the movie, I used to be not assured if I wished to place that scene once I was misplaced within the movie. You don’t actually wish to present the weak facet of your self. The character, the protagonist in me didn’t wish to present that, however the filmmaker in me felt that this shot was essential” she continues.
After the discharge and screening of Dolpa Dairy, the documentary and Dongol acquired a number of constructive reception and accolades. It was undoubtedly a proud second for her and her mother and father for the time being.
She recollects, “I keep in mind that in the course of the preliminary screening of realizing how surreal it was to look at your journey as a 3rd individual. And to look at your mother and father watch your movie and undergo the feelings as a protagonist made me very pleased with myself.”
You’ll be able to watch Dolpa Diary right here!
Earlier than You Had been My Mom
However we’re additionally our greatest critics. Following the success of Dolpa Diary, Dongol sought to do extra as a filmmaker; each on and off the display. Dongol then got here up together with her second documentary, ‘Earlier than You Had been My Mom’ a visible letter to Ibemhal, Dongol’s mom, who was born and introduced up in Manipur. The documentary movingly explores Ibemhal’s life in Manipur and Nepal and explores her individuality past her id as a mom and a spouse.
The documentary for Dongol was not simply one other movie to make, but additionally an try to attach together with her mom on a deeper degree. Not simply as mom and daughter, but additionally as their very own people.
“This movie is about what occurred between us. That is about who my mom was earlier than me. So, by this visible letter I wished her to know that she isn’t a foul mom, she is only a mom, and at present I perceive her motherly intuition. And in sure moments, I could not be capable of clarify a state of affairs correctly however that is our relationship and I felt that the one option to present her what our relationship meant to me was by this observational movie,” confides Dongol.
Sheffield Docfest
Dongol together with 4 Nepali ladies filmmakers was chosen for Sheffield Docfest, the UK’s premier documentary movie pageant and one of many world’s most influential markets for documentary tasks. The pageant goals to encourage ladies who’ve been engaged on movies or movie festivals to refine their respective works, and pitch and discover potential traders for his or her tasks in addition to have the chance to community with filmmakers from throughout the globe.
Earlier than being chosen as one of many delegates to take part in Docfest, Dongol had been working at KIMFF for about 8 years. She expresses that this system was very insightful and allowed her to look at and learn the way worldwide movie festivals are being organized and run. This additionally gave her an understanding of the expectations worldwide delegates could have in the event that they have been to go to Nepal’s movie festivals.
Moreover, Dongol expressed that there are many good and fascinating tales in Nepal however as a result of hole out there we’ve not been in a position to transfer past the native market. “Nepal has a number of good tales and is appreciated by the native viewers however I imagine that the primary hole is linking with the worldwide neighborhood.”
What we lack is a wider community between Nepal and the worldwide filming neighborhood. If we are able to set up such hyperlinks and networks Nepali movies and filmmakers similar to Dongol could as properly discover worldwide recognition.
The Ending
Dongol believes that one doesn’t want an costly digital camera or the most recent gear to be a filmmaker. All you want is one thing that may file and nice creativeness.
“Individuals are inclined to take filmmaking too technically. The entire means of filmmaking has been too polarized. There may be this have to make the ultimate product look good and bundle it properly. Individuals and their context are simply instruments. And even I’m responsible of pondering like this. However then you definately simply have to have the ability to take a look at your topic or the character by an emphatic lens. Be there, hear and empathize,” shared Dongol.
“I believe it’s essential, to be trustworthy with your self and be trustworthy in what you do. Be genuinely curious as a result of in case you are, your story will naturally be lovely,” Dongol concludes.
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