Unlike most Media and Communication industries, Film making is probably the most diverse, rich and alluring form of communicating with its audience. With various forms of media emerging like the Broadcast media, and lately the online boom, it is only films that have been able to go beyond all structured frame-works and formats.
Essentially the craft of film making is telling a story. But along with this creative process of story telling, the technical aspects like Cinematography, Editing, Sound, etc cannot be forgotten. A film is the vision of a film maker that is translated on to the screen by a group of highly talented and dedicated technicians.
Today, films across the world are available and are being watched and appreciated. From the Oscars to the various Film festivals, like the Cannes, Sundance, Pusan, Tribeca and our very own National Awards, talented filmmakers are showcasing their work and everyone is given an equal opportunity to take Centre-Stage. Various forms of filmmaking like documentaries, short films, advertising films, to a complete feature length film have evolved, and each form has managed to create an important space for itself.
Today, with the vast exposure to all forms of cinema, film making has become a priority option for a lot of youngsters to pursue as an academic course. The best part of studying filmmaking is that there is no pre-requisite that you have to come with a certain background. All one needs is the art of telling a story and immense passion to see their thoughts transform into a motion picture on screen.
Premiere institutes in India like the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), in Pune has been training youngsters for over decades in this craft. Some of India’s finest artists like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Subhash Ghai, Smita Patil, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali have all been trained by the Institutes’ superior faculty. Courses in Film Direction, Cinematography, Sound & Light, Editing and Acting are all extensively explored and taught. While FTII has been India’s first Film Institute, many have successfully followed suite.
With newer technical advancements like Visual effects, 3D Animation, the craft of film making seems limitless. From Walt Disney’s flip book animation to today’s 3D Shrek, the film industry has evolved manifolds and is continuously pushing the envelope to doing better work. Trained students are being taken on in various projects by filmmakers that give them a hands-on experience in learning how to make a good, successful film, until they finally make their own.
Gone are the days where getting into films was taboo. Film making is now a matter of choice for today’s youth and there is a place for everybody.
- By Salil Inamdar, India Syndicate
