Here we were, In our Director’s office, all the officials planning to make the most out of the decided 3-day tour. The ever-growing tension in the office pushing us to create a top-notch plan. And finally, we created the ultimate plan to get our students involved and entertained.
Introduction
This month, we set out to plan a trip for our students to visit the top Production studios in Mumbai. The main purpose was to set a journey to let our students explore and imagine the possibilities of their careers. And what is the best location to go other than the Sapno ka sheher itself-Mumbai!
Expressions of excitement were to be seen gleamingly on our faces. The excitement to share it with our students, letting them know how much fun they are going to experience. Plot twist! If only they’d agree to be a part of the tour.
The Declaration
Keeping it to the side, we declared the official MUMBAI STUDIO VISIT Tour to the students. We believed that they would be twice as excited as we were, but we were held back. Problems arose and the students hesitated due to various reasons. Crowds and crowds wishing they could come but letting their intrusive excuses win.
Anyways, we were determined to help our students have the experience to feel the literal joy and opportunities that would blast their minds open to possibilities. (not literally though). We got back to work and came up with the updated version of our masterplan and rushed to show it to the students. Encouraging them to face their fears and get onto the ultimate trip.
To our surprise, They were ready for the ultimate trip. We were overjoyed with their response. The response got so overboarded that the limited seats got filled and students had to be adjusted into the waiting list.
We were trying our best to accommodate all the enthusiastic students and get them to experience the ultimate tour. The hopeful faces had us determined to make this trip one of the best trips they’ve ever had.
The day arrived.
The day to start our journey.
The faculties and more than 50 students set out from Ahmedabad to the Sapno ka Sheher itself, Mumbai.
Right at 6 PM, We initiated the journey with tons of excitement and open-mindedness. As the sun sat down, the night started to come alive. All of us started dancing our hearts out right on the bus. Our faces were full of joy and enthusiasm. The air filled with a funny feeling.
The mixed crowd of students awkwardly befriending each other, all started to mix up with each other, little by little.
To spice all the vibe up, the faculty members joined the crew. Students were snacking, dancing, singing, and even playing, most of all, enjoying themselves. This moment was all that we were wishing for on the first day.
As dawn arrived, we had covered about 500 km and reached Mumbai. Everyone was settled in, snuggling into their reclining seats. We arrived at our stay for the upcoming 3 days -The Bhawan.
The Bhawan
The Bhawan was located just a little farther away from the main city. The roads were surprisingly clean and the air felt frisky. It was a surprise to us, that even in the early dawn, people were awake and the streets were still alive. Just imagine, 4 AM and the city is awake at 4 AM!!!
We made our way to the Bhawan and started allotting rooms. Just one thing common between the phones and us- we were desperately in need of a good recharge. All sleepy and tired eyes made their way to their rooms and eventually fell asleep in no time.
I don’t wanna walk!
Same day, A huge event was coming up for us- The Industry Expert Workshops. We hosted two long sessions to equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to get into the industry. This morning, we all were super excited to witness experts and get to talk to them.
The venue was just 2 km from our stay. For those of us who haven’t been to Mumbai, it is general advice to walk your way rather than booking an auto or a cab. Autos and cabs are usually stuck in traffic while we walk past them.
So, we took the good old advice and started walking to the venue.
“Sir, aur kitna door hai?
Sir, aap chalo, main 10 min baad aata hu
Sir, thoda break lelete hai, kitkat khao”
summarizes most of the conversations we could hear the whole way.
Contrastingly, we don’t walk as much in Ahmedabad as compared to Mumbai. But that was a heck of an experience. We reached the seminar on time and guess what!
IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.
Expert Sessions
2 power-packed sessions on the “Art of Storytelling” and the “Future of Artificial Intelligence ” left us all starstruck and inspired. Students were brimming with creative energy. Asking questions of all sorts, touching all creative zones in their brain. (Click here)
To amp up the enthusiasm, we had planned a Discotheque DJ Party at one of the top clubs in the area. The vibe of the party was immaculate. With unlimited snacks and dinner, the party was rocking. Bringing the day one to an end, we joined the dancing crowd and danced our hearts out.
The Studio Day
Day TWO was one of the most important days of this tour.
As the saying goes, “Every adventure comes with its challenges”.
We were met with our challenges too. As we were excited and ready for the Studio Visit of the TOP 3 Studios in the industry, time had different plans.
Top 3 Studios of the Industry,
45 minutes to visit each and
15 minutes to switch the studios.
A fairly tough task to accomplish with a crowd of 56 people.
Anyhow, we took up this challenge, we believed in ourselves, and came up with a foolproof plan to combat time. We divided the crowd into groups and got ready for the challenge.
A pro point for us was that the studios were equally distanced from each other making a triangle on the map. This experience was no less than an adventure for us.
M2 ANIMATION STUDIO:
We visited the first studio, M2 Animation Studio, an international production house based in Denmark. Students had discussions with senior artists from the company. They discussed the scopes of various design and modeling programs. They also elaborated vividly on the production pipeline of their work. Click here!
YASH RAJ FILM STUDIO:
One of the big sharks of the industry, YRF (Yash Raj Films) welcomed us with our brimming curiosity and passion for films. We visited their sound recording studio and movie production facilities. Our students were beyond excited to see the movie sets. They interacted with the VFX Supervisor, Mr. Deepal who encouraged students to create authentic pieces of work through various mediums. Click here!
Pixel Digital Studio
The final production studio, Pixel, specializes in editing, compositing, and VFX work for OTT platforms. Students met with their HR team and learned about post-production pipelines. Students also interacted with their in-house artists and witnessed their skills coming to life. Click here!
Day Two was a grand success for all of us. Visiting these top studios planted a fresh vision and opportunity for all our students.
The IMAGICA Day
Heading for our final day in Mumbai, THE IMAGICA DAY!
The final day has arrived, filled with all the fun and adventure. Starting our morning with a hearty breakfast, our trip to Lonavala began. The ride was calm.
This morning, all the students decided to sleep in the bus, so they could enjoy their hearts out in Imagica. “A fair plan!”
That was quite well thought out, not gonna lie.
Adlabs Imagica invited us with a welcome dance and a welcome parade. We danced and let the students explore their separate ways to rides.
Students enjoyed various rides, like Scream Machine, Dare 2 Drop, and even Nitro.
Imagica was a delightful day for us all.
We conquered our fears, made new friends, and enjoyed the funny butterflies in our tummies on the rides. These pictures and videos will tell you everything about our experience at Adlabs.
Conclusion
Our 3-day and 4-night trip to Mumbai was an overall success. We laughed, cried, and danced together. Strangers became friends through this experience.
This trip brought all of us together, bringing out the best in each of us, and showing us the power of friendship, dedication, and dreams.
Coming back to the question,
Is Mumbai really a Sapno ka Sheher?
Well, After these 3 days in Mumbai, we would say it’s a definite YES! Mumbai has been a delightful trip. From Studio Visits to late-night dances, Mumbai really transformed us all into someone better.
This is your sign to start exploring your industry, to dream of something bigger, to tap into your highest potential, and to build meaningful connections.
Until then!
Keep Creating!
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