Gauri Chabbra
The corridor from real to reel life is covered with a red carpet; brings to our mind a mosaic of the drama of life- scripted on the canvas of creativity, born out of the idiosyncrasies, follies and foibles of real life, spiced to emote and play with the subconscious… to merge with reel life. Laced along the corridor is the chaoticloud speaker, the quixotic team with cameras and lenses all over, the picture perfect heroes, the launch parties, the interviews with the press and the red carpet with all its glamour and glory.
Who is the showman behind this glamour and glitz?What holds the strings of the celluloid?
It is a complex cusp of two worlds- one in front of the camera and the other- behind the camera. If you are really interested to know what lies at the other side of the picture, you need to step in the shoes of the director who is the real weaver of dreams .He is the one who knows the art of telling a story, or putting across an idea that supports audio and visual matter.
Now the question arises, what exactly is film making. Well, it is a broad spectrum of activities performed on the canvas of creativity. The technique of filmmaking is a teamwork which needs close and coherent organization of various skilled individuals. It involves acting, directing, producing, script writing, cinematography, sound recording, visual mixing, editing and so on. A film maker has to concentrate on all these concepts equally. He should have a curious amalgam of that creative as well as technical knack for story ideas and unique implementation towards carrying out an appealing effect. His job demands a lot of work that is from ideas, story, script, cast, screenplay, music, direction, budget, sets, location… and the list is endless. He has to start at the grass root and work his way up. He has to tap venture capitalists’ door to raise capital for the film to its distribution, screening as well as all the steps from conception of the idea to inception to making apperception in the minds of the audience.
When asked about the role of a director, Deepak Tanwar who has directed the film, AbHogaDharna Unlimited says, “While hiring assistant directors, I look for enthusiasm as my shoots are fairly rigorous. I shoot my films very fast and aggressively therefore I want someone who is committed and has the passion. If you can work as an assistant director for someone it is a very cheap way to learn, as you don’t have to join an expensive filmmaking course instead. You’ll get a hands on of the film set”.
Educational Qualification: For technical courses in this field, basic eligibility is 10+2. For other courses it is graduation. Generally, most universities conduct aptitude tests and interviews to assess candidates’ potential for this specific field of study.
There are Diploma, Degrees, Post Diploma and even Certificate courses in each area of specialization. Specialization areas include production, direction, editing, cinematography, film processing, animation, acting, sound engineering, make-up, photography and so on.
Skill set:
A film maker should essentially have artistic flair, ability to work cooperatively, sense of responsibility, ability to work under deadlines, great physical stamina, strong visual sense, good communication skills as well as administrative skills.Besides, creativity, desire, motivation, focus, sensitivity, self- discipline, patience and determination are few of the necessary attributes one must have to become involved in the art of film making. In addition, one must be compulsorily a unique storyteller -you don’t want your viewers to yawn while the movie is going on.
Institute watch:
Filmmaking is complex, expensive, and also time consuming. It can also be a big business. Potential filmmakers spend many years perfecting their profession.There are numerous colleges that offer professional Film making courses on bachelors, PG or as Diploma.
Some of the colleges that offer Filmmaking courses are:
*Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
PG diploma and PG certificates in various courses,www.ftiindia.com
*Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
Course in direction, cinematography, editing, acting and production, www.whistlingwoods.net
*Delhi Film Institute, Delhi
Diploma in Video production
*Zee Institute Of Media Arts (ZIMA), Mumbai
Course in direction, cinematography, editing, acting and production, www.zimainstitute.com
*SRM SivajiGanesan Film Institute
Bachelor of Film technology (BFT);1 year full time Diploma in Film Acting (DFA), 1year full time Diploma in Film Acting (DFA).www.srmuniv.ac.in
*Asian Academy of Film and TV
Post Graduate Diploma in Film and TV production
Formal training in filmmaking however may make it easier to understand the technical aspects of filmmaking and converting them into action. A course imparts the theories and practical knowledge of the hardware and software needed to make a film. An aspirant filmmaker is taught all aspects of filmmaking be it camera handling, recording systems, editing, productions to the post-production phases of moviemaking. To join a two-year filmmaking course in a reputed institute, you need to be a graduate. The eligibility test for filmmaking courses cover areas like general awareness on films and aptitude tested on parameters. Besides, some of the institutes like Whistling Woods have also come up with a Management Program on Film Making.
Career Pathways:
The field of film making has today escalated vertically and also has widened horizontally to involve many offshoots in its ambit. Especially, in India which releases a large number of films every year. If one possesses artistic and technical skills and at the same time an ability to express ideas, this is the most appropriate field to work in. Even for acting and directing, which are basically creative fields that require inherent talent; training helps to hone the skills.
You can explore certain forking pathways like getting employment with Film Studios, Production Companies, Advertising Agencies, and Government Department which make films. Moreover, you can start theirown venture as producer.
Careers in films can be of two types, one which is related to the actual production of the film and those related to the film field such as a Film critic, Film archivist, Film curator, Film distributor and the like.
Producer: He is the chief decision making authority in all matters. He plans and manages the technical and artistic resources. It is he who decides the story, acquires legal permission, appoints the director, actors, decides the crew and the location etc. The producer’s role is occasionally combined with that of directing.Post graduates in Mass Communication or diploma holders from the Film and Television Institutes can join the industry as producers.
Director:
What I really want to do is direct.” If this applies to you, read on. Directors turn a script into a movie; they are responsible for the quality of the final product and its success. In most cases, the director works on films far longer than any actor, technician, or editor, from the first day of brainstorming to the final release; it is no wonder that directing is physically,mentally, and emotionally draining. He also works with actors; makeup artists; cinematographers; writers; and film, sound, and lighting technicians. He is responsible for determining all the particulars of how scenes are to be shot, from visual requirements to the placement of the actors and the appropriateness of the script. Sound judgment and an open mind are important during these initial phases. A director guides actors to a greater understanding of their characters’ motivations and encourages them to perform at a high level, sometimes by gently cajoling and sometimes by yelling, anything to get the job done. A director’s unique vision of the final product and ability to communicate that vision effectively and immediately are critical. After the film has been shot, editorial skills are important. He must have a good feel for pacing and structure and must know how to integrate and cut scenes so they work effectively. Issues of finance are important in this industry-making films is expensive.
Editor: Putting the film in correct sequential order is an editor’s job. He re-views processed film and video with production personnel to choose scenes which need to be enhanced or re-shot. He also synchronizes the sound track and adds special effects. Here, degree in film direction and editing or professional experience is required.
So if you want to build a corridor between real and reel life…film making is the right choice… for you.
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