TIPTOPSTARS

Cameroonian film guru, Bassek Ba Khobio has been describing the dynamics of filmmaking to young critics. The popular filmmaker was speaking at the March 2010 edition of Film-Klub at the Goethe-Institut Kamerun in Yaounde. Bassek was responding to questions on Le Silence de la Foret, a 2001 film he co-directed and produced with Didier Florent Ouenangare. The film is an adaptation from Le Silence de la Foret, a novel by Etienne Goyemide of the Repubic of Central Africa.

During the discussion, the critics looked into two salient aspects - lighting and performance of the actors. Bassek explained in detail how these aspects were handled in what has been the maiden and biggest film project in the Republic of Central Africa. "It was not easy lighting the forest, but our huge generator and sound lighting system played the trick," he said. "The lighting technician was really competent and did just what was expected of him," Bassek added.

About the actors, the renowned filmmaker explained, "It took us quite some time to drill the Pygmy cast. We had to take time to explain what our mission was and once they were convinced, it became really easy to shoot with them." "We shot the film for nine weeks."

Other aspects of Le Silence de la Foret were discussed between Bassek and the film critics, with the filmmaker providing the clarifications.

Also speaking at the March Film-Klub, Jean-Marie Mollo Olinga, its coordinator said the club was privileged to have in their midst a producer of Bassek's calibre. "That's why we should use such a golden opportunity to learn many more things about filmmaking, to help us in our critique," Mollo said.

On her part, Thekla Worch, Culture Officer at the Goethe-Institut expressed the institution's profound gratitude with the presence of Bassek Ba Kobhio. "We are really honored and also want to thank members of the Film-Klub for coming around once again for the exercise," said Thekla.

The Film-Klub is a gathering of film critics, run by the Goethe-Institut Kamerun in Yaounde. It is made up of film journalists, experts and students. The club was born in sometimes last year after a workshop to initiate Arts journalists into film critique. On the last Wednesday of each month, members meet at the Bastos edifice of the Goethe-Institut to project and appraise films. Among the aspects they appreciate are sound, lighting, shots, theme, performance of actors, etc. On certain occasions, like was the case in March, the directors and producers of the films are themselves present to through more light on their works.