A career in filmmaking

Hi this is my last year of graduation and I want to pursue a career in film making. The reason is mainly because I have always been very good in my school and college dramatics, whether it is acting in it or directing a play and my friends and family say that I am very creative.

However I am scared whether my decision is right because I have heard it is very difficult to succeed in this sector. Can you please help me with the right procedure, the colleges, the courses etc?- Riyaz Khan, Hyderabad

Amongst the plethora of mixed career options that the film industry offers, film making is the broadest, and is big business. It is expensive, complex and time consuming.

It includes making of feature films, documentaries, newsreels, promotional films, TV commercials, music videos, etc.

A famous director has defined film making as, “The method of telling a story, or putting across an idea on a canvas that supports audio as well as visual matter”.

It involves acting, directing, producing, script writing, cinematography, sound recording, visual mixing, editing and so on.

If you have a desire to weave dreams on the big screen then be ready for challenges, hard work, patience and the test of creativity. This field involves lot of responsibilities and a combination of skills such as:

People skills and outstanding communication skills to lead large number of people with varied skills

To be an able director who can captain different units of work such as script, story, music, editing, background and foreground

Art of telling a story in visuals

Making financial arrangements and the most important of all would be the distribution, screening and marketing

Requires experience and entrepreneurial ability to succeed

Getting an entry in this field is tough as new faces are not easily welcome in this un organised film industry.

It demands proving your talent and sincerity and hence you can start working as an assistant director. This will give youhands on exposure to a film set and you can observe and learn a lot.

You can also take up a job with a production house as an intern.Start making your own short films and send them to film festivals. It is said that this brings in lot of learning.

Moreover, if film making skills are already ingrained in you then this experience can save you from the expensive film making course fees.

However, acting and directing even though a creative field that demands inherent talent, needs training to hone the skills.

A formal training can make it easy to understand the technical aspects of filmmaking and how to convert them into actions.

Job prospects include opportunities with film studios, advertising agencies and government departments which make films. Some of the top recruiters include:

• Asian Academy of Film & Television
• Balagi Telefilms
• Cine Dreams Film Corporation
• AVM Productions
• Crystal Media Inc
• Fame India Ltd
• Cine Dreams Film Corporation.
• Famous Studios
• In House Productions
• Instant Media Solution
• Mindscreen Private Limited
• Rajashri – Producers and Distributors
• Ramoji Film City
• Yash Raj Films
• PritishNandyComm Ltd
• National Film Development Corporation
• Mukta Arts Ltd
• Zoher& Company

Visionaries – Film Making

Even though the future of filmmaking as a career is bright, there is no yardstick to measure the success of a filmmaker.

Film appreciation among viewers is day by day increasing and therefore if you have a combination of artistic and technical skills and simultaneously have the art of conveying your ideas then this could be the right field for you. All the best!!

• A filmmaking course imparts
  
• Theory and practical knowledge of the hardware’s and software’s needed in film making
• It includes teaching on how to handle a camera, the recording systems, the editing process and the pre and post phases of production.
• The course trains the student on film direction, cinematography and audiography.
• Specialization areas include production, direction, editing, cinematography, film processing, animation, acting, sound engineering, make up, photography and so on.
• Premier colleges that offer courses in film making:
• Film and Television Institute of India, Pune It is considered as the Offers PG diploma courses, PG certification courses in television and film making. The courses are in Direction, cinematography, sound recording and sound design, Editing, Acting, Art Direction and Production Design, Animation and computer Graphics and Feature and screenplay writing.
• http://www.ftiindia.com/courses_main.html
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkatta
• Similar to FTII, it also offers Post graduate courses but only in four areas, they are Direction in screenplay, audiography, editing and cinematography.
• Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
• Chaired by the famous director SubhashGhai it offers a balanced, modern and complete course in film making. The specializations available are: Acting, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Business of Film & Television, Sound Recording, Design and Music Production, Animation and Screenwriting. The institute helps students from less affluent backgrounds in getting loans and scholarships.
• Center for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), Delhi
• It is an NGO registered as a public charitable trust to impart quality education in the field of film, television, and other media arts. Offers short and long term courses with specialisation in various disciplines.
• Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida
• It offers four types of courses- 3 months course, one year diploma, two years diploma and 3 years course.
• Ramoji Academy of Film and Television, Hyderabad
• Offers courses in digital film making
• Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, CIT Campus, Chenna
• Xavier Institute of Communication, St Xavier’s college, Mumbai
  

By:Shehre Banu Kagalwala