I really want to be a film director

I'm in Class 11 and B.J.M.C. is the course which comes natural to me. But I really want to be a film director as well. Please advise as I'm confused regarding my career path.

Film direction involves a lot about creativity, knowledge and story-telling and a little about technicalities. To become a film director, you need to have skills like writing, research skills and visual storytelling. Working in any field related to filmmaking gives you great exposure to the movie world. From a screenwriter to a cameraman, start with any one job that you are interested in and then work your way up to filmmaking. Many of our successful directors have walked this path.

A career in direction is not an easy one. The field is full of struggles and hardships. Only those who have close relations or contacts have an easy access. For others, it's pure grappling. Even after so much hard work and expertise that they put in, directors don't get to be as famous as the actors.

On the other hand, the profession is truly a rewarding and satisfying one, for those who are crazily passionate about it. You get to make the stars dance to your tunes! You can inspire people and sow the seeds for a significant positive change in society. And if you are consistently determined, you will make crores.

With the presence of YouTube and websites like Voot, you have various platforms to showcase your talent. You can direct a short film and put it on YouTube or look for an opportunity to assist already existing television, YouTube or Voot directors. As of now, you can plan to join BJMC and along with this, try your hands at making short films.

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What is the career in Film making?



Direction, editing cinematography, production, are some of the avenues in film making.



Finding work in the film industry has become relatively easier today with several universities offering specialisations in Filmmaking and Mass Media and familiarising them with the basic filmmaking process. An aspirant who has a great idea and is passionate about converting it into a motion picture can become a filmmaker. And a bachelor's degree in Art and Drama can give you an edge.



How it works?



Making a film is not as simple as it looks. From pre-production to post-production, there are many variables at play. A director has to be involved in each and every process from scripting and dialogue writing to editing. The director translates a script creatively, decides the cast costumes, the venue of shoot and chooses assistants and producers to help the director manage the entire production by looking into the operational aspects such as hiring technicians, managing locations, arranging camera rentals and so on.



What are the prospects?



India is the largest producer of films. Bollywood alone is valued at more than $2.28 billion. Other than Bollywood, the South Indian Film Industry as well as the Punjab Film Industry, not to forget television channels and ad films, employ a great number of directors, cinematographers, screenwriters, etc. Major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, New Delhi and Bengaluru have opportunities for talented workforce in films, television, and even theatre.



Where to study?




  • Film and Television Institute of India, Pune: Postgraduate diploma course in Direction and Screenplay Writing - Three years.

  • Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata: PG Programme in Cinema.

  • Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai: Diploma in Film, Television and Digital Video Production - 10 months, full-time.

  • M.G.R. Government Film and Television Institute, Chennai: Bachelor of Visual Arts and Diploma in Film Technology and Television Production: Cinematography: Diploma in Direction and Screenplay writing and Television Production; Diploma in Film Editing and Television Production.



Required skills




  • A knack for films: Knowledge about films across regions and genres.

  • Keen observational skills: An eye for detail and find a story in everyday life.

  • Knowledge of all the aspects of filmmaking

  • Good communication and planning skills: Conveying thoughts and ideas clearly to the entire crew and getting work done on time.

  • One should be able to make last minute changes and at the same time stick to the budget



 



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What is the career in film making?



A director’s role



The director translates a script creatively, decides the cast, costumes, venue of shoot and chooses technicians and producers to help the director manage the entire production by looking into the operational aspects that include hiring technicians, managing locations, arranging camera rentals and so on.



According to Chowdhury, the first thing one requires to become a director is a knack for films. “You need to watch a lot of films. I started watching Hindi and Bengali cinema and then moved onto foreign films,” he says.



It is equally important to acquire knowledge of all the aspects of film making. A director has to be involved in each and every process from scripting and dialogue writing to editing. “One should be able to close one’s eyes and visualize the entire film,” says Chowdhury.



Good communication and planning skills will help in conveying thoughts and ideas clearly to the entire crew and get work done on time.



What to study?



Film making is taught as part of mass media at an undergraduate level. You can opt for special courses offered by film schools for further specializations.



Where:



Film and Television Institute of India, Pune: Three year post graduate diploma in Direction and Screenplay Writing.

Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi: Master of Arts in Mass Communication.

Satyaji Ray Film and Televiison Institute, Kolkata: Three year post graduate programme in Cinema.

Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai: Diploma in Film, Television and Digital Video Production.



Challenges



Film-making is a labourious art form, requiring a lot of hard work and discipline. “Making a film is not as simple as it looks. There are many variables at play.” says Chowdhury.  “A director has to juggle all of them.”



One should be able to make last-minute changes and at the same time stick to the budget. “Sometimes while shooting it may suddenly rain and you will have to change the location or reschedule the shoot. This can cost a lot and budgeting and planning skills are important,” he adds.



Another challenge is co-ordination and understanding of people. A director has to handle actors, (which can be a tough job) hone their skills and abilities the way it’s needed in the film. This requires an understanding of people and how to motivate them to give their best.



One should be willing to constantly learn and relearn everything they know. “You are always learning. You have to stay abreast of new technology and the latest in cinema and film-making,” adds Chowdhury.



Director’s speak



Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury fell in love with cinema when he watched his first film Haathi Mere Saathi, in a quaint single-screen cinema hall at the age of 10. But it took him a long time for his dream to be fulfilled. To begin with, Chowdhury, who directed Pink, had no idead how to get started in the industry. Coming from a middle-class background, Chowdhury was the first one in his family to venture into films. “There was no one to advise me or guide me. So I used to hang around at Tollygunge Studio in Kolkata daily to see what was happening there. At that time it was the only way I could get a peek into film-making,” says Chowdhury, quickly adding that he wouldn’t recommend this to others. Slowly, he began helping out on the sets and later took on full-time work as a film-executive at a private studio. “I slogged it out at the studio for five to six years. There was very little money, but I made it a point to familiarize myself with every aspect of film production, which is essential if you want to become a director,” adds Chowdhury.



With some experience under his belt, he moved onto making telefilms for Doordarshan, and there was no looking back after that. “I got to travel a lot and became involved in the film-making process and I realised that I have stories that I want to share with people (through films),” he adds.



 



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Dramatic Vocation

I want to make a career in acting. I tried to find about a place where I could learn acting, but in vain. Please give me all the information. Also, how good is the scope in acting, or is TV the only option after actors?



Most youngsters today enroll for an acting course because it opens avenues in the TV and the film world. A good grounding in acting is desired for success in TV and films, because an acting school teaches you clarity of language, dictation, body movements and variations in expressions.



Also. Making a living solely out of theatre is very difficult. A better approach is to take up some good productions on TV.



The National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, is the hub of theatre activity in India. It has a three-year course, admission to which is granted after graduation. The list of NSD alumni is the who’s who of acting in India from Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah to Manoj Bajpai and Ashutosh Rana. In fact, the NSD course is equivalent to post-graduation, after which you are eligible to apply for an MPhil and teach in an Indian university. Admission to the three-year post-graduate diploma course is on the basis of a week-long workshop at NBSD.



You can contact the registrar, National School of Drama, Bahawalpur House, Bhagwan Das Road, New Delhi for admission details.



Bharatendu Natya Academy, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow offers a two year diploma course in theatre.



Admission is on the basis of an audition and aptitude test, in June.



Universities like Osmania University in Hyderabad, Madurai Kamraj University, Devi Ahilya University in Indore and Maharaj Sayajirao University in Baroda conduct PG courses.



 



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