Social media is an amazing platform to learn, regroup and focus oneself by practising effective time management. Considering the Facebook Live as an intuitive medium to engage the audience in a new way, creative individuals of Bangladesh have been making use of this platform as a medium to prowess positivity since lockdown activated.
It is normal to be staying home, far from regular life and looking through the news related to Covid-19 in social media resulting in negative energy. Creative individuals alongside professional trainers have taken this opportunity to enlighten the audience with positivity by arranging Facebook live sessions focusing on the impact of Covid-19 in our day to day agenda.
The notables ones were Live from the Living Room by Don Sumdany from the house of Don Sumdany Facilitation, Casual: Couch Talk with "M" by M Aminur Rahman, Words with Mirza by Mirza Rajan, and What a Homemade Show by renowned show host Rafsan Sabab.
Live From the Living Room by Don Sumdany
Starting from the early days of stay home, Don Sumdany, a trainer organised "Live from the Living Room". The goal was to let others know about how Covid-19 affecting everyone and how we can harness the positivity from it. A regular show which ran every night from the start, Don Sumdany collaborated with creative individuals from every sector as well as corporates from different industries to spread the positive energy among his audience. Also collaborating with organisations he has escalated his public speaking calibre to the netizens. Still going strong and no plan to stop very soon, Don Sumdany is looking into opportunities to run his regular courses in an online structure to maximise the potential.
Live from the Living Room completed 50 episodes on May 20.
Casual: Couch Talk with "M"
A professional photographer, M Aminur Rahman, ran a 20-episode informal yet informative Facebook live show from mid-April to the first week of May. The co-founder of creative school also participated in an eight episode live session from their official facebook group alongside Tanvir Ali, founder of Creative Nation. M Aminur Rahman's show was a mix of essentials for individuals who are in search of positive motivation.
Bobby Hajjaj, a renowned personality in education policymaking stated Casual as one of the most relaxing yet integrating approaches he found while dealing with his students and well-wishers to be connected during the pandemic.
The show started with Don Sumdany as the guest and season finale was ornamented by Nazim Farhan Chowdhury, managing director of Adcom Limited. Later on, M Aminur Rahman co-hosted the week-long photography learning live show with acclaimed learning platform "Photo Discussion" on the wedding photography category. Owner of Cats Eye, Syed Siddiqui Rumi, was the guest of honour in a special weekend classic episode.
Words with Mirza
There is a first time for every individual but don't be late to join the party, that's what the belief of new-age anchor in social media, quotes Mirza Rajan. A professional photographer for 13 years, the host of Words by Mirza hasn't compromised anything with the quality of the show and diversity of the guests.
Focusing on the result of Covid-19 in different sectors of Bangladesh, from travel to advertising his approach towards the discussion have eased guests to discuss in details and take the positives in the account. Guests such as Akram Khan, former captain and cricketer of Bangladesh National Team and Navid Mahabub, the infamous stand-up artist of the Navid Mahabub Show ornamented the guest of honour in his show.
With the rising concern on how creative industries will shape up during and after Covid-19, Iresh Zaker, a well-renowned media personality focused on important aspects through an informal discussion. Mirza Rajan has set the example of condensing the qualitative approach in live show results in positivity boost for everyone.
What a Homemade Show
Rafsan Sabab launched the Facebook live version of What a Homemade Show as a legacy of is popular What a Show. By not only asking guests to be part of his show but also making interesting contents with the snippets, Rafsan has totally taken the game to a whole new level. Not only national celebrities such as Jon Kabir of Indalo, but also international guests such as Richard Stonier, coach of Bangladesh Under 19 Cricket Team, ornamented as a guest of honour.
How Rafsan has managed to tune in with all the celebrities on such a high note? "Well, it is my duty to make them easy and go with the flow on the designated topic," Rafsan stated. It is about passion which has moved me to influence and indulge my audience with positivity practice in this difficult situation, an IBA graduate and executive of Grey believes. This acclaimed show has now become a benchmark on how creative energy can be translated into digital media to spread positivity.
The writer is the CEO and chief photographer of Checkmate Events. He can be reached at [email protected]
