Lorence Wilson from Kalem, Sanguem, is a passionate film lover who has an extensive collection of old model cameras, projectors, and other film related equipment.
75 years old, Wilson’s fascination with films began in his childhood. From a very young age, he was deeply curious about cinema not just watching films, but understanding the technical details of how films were made and projected. During those days, movies were often screened in open grounds in villages as part of promotional activities. Wilson would regularly attend these screenings, observing the projection process with great interest.
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At the age of 25, driven by his passion, he left his regular work and travelled to Mumbai to learn more about the film industry. There, he met several film promoters, filmmakers, and producers. Initially, he took up small jobs related to film promotion, for which he was paid modestly. Over time, he gained experience and eventually began organising film screenings across various cities and villages in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Wilson used projectors to screen films in villages and was usually accompanied by two assistants. They would stay in the same villages where the shows were organised. At that time, the ticket price for a film show was just 2 rupees.
Alongside his work,Wilson developed a strong passion for collecting film equipment. Over his lifetime, he gathered cameras, tripods, film reels, projectors, and other cinematic tools. His main objective behind this collection was to preserve the history of cinema and introduce these vintage technologies to the younger generation.
He successfully fulfilled this vision by organising several exhibitions across Goa, where he displayed his rare collection of old model film equipment. Wilson has also worked with many actors and directors, and photographs from these associations are displayed on a large banner at the entrance of his house.
Due to financial difficulties, Wilson is now considering selling his entire collection. While a few individuals have shown interest in purchasing some items, no one is willing to buy the collection as a whole. He believes that selling the entire collection would help him survive his remaining years with dignity.
Wilson has appealed to the government to purchase his collection and preserve it for public exhibitions. He feels that this would not only support him financially but also ensure that future generations understand how films were made and screened using traditional equipment.
