The Community Video Unit (CVU) is a unique space for local communities to voice their stories of joy, strife or tribulations. Here communities create, control and disseminate their stories through the medium of videos. It comprises of 6 – 8 community members who are trained as full time Community Video Producers. They produce a ‘Video Film’ on different social issues in every 2months. These films are screened in around 25 bastis or villages on widescreen projectors to up to 10,000 people. Every film sparks debates, discussions and ultimately actions towards a positive change. Drishti collaborates with different non-profit organizations in India to set up a Community Video Unit, within communities they work.

WHEN? HISTORY OF CV IN DRISHTI

DRISHTI ventured into Participatory Filmmaking in the year 1992. The Founders of Drishti wanted to make films, which would depict the true scenario of the underprivileged. While the team was moving ahead with their endeavor, they started involving the people from the underprivileged communities as Script Writers and Actors. Eventually, the team realized that to speak of a community’s problems in their own language, the local populace should be involved in all aspects of making a film.

This perspective of engaging communities in filmmaking, moulded into Drishti’s Community Video Programme in June 2006. Drishti initiated this, in collaboration with a group of leading Non-Profit Organizations and launched six Community Video Units in three states of India namely Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.