Pune, March 07, 2005
TNN
A career in films and television offers a combination
of artistic endeavours with technical expertise. The
major areas of work that enthuse people are acting,
editing, script writing, direction, cinematography
and sound engineering or audiography.
India's premier institute for training in film and
television, Film and Television of Institute of India
(FTII) at Pune, has been in existence since 1960.
The FTII, today, is considered as a Centre of Excellence
not only in India but in Asia and Europe too. The
in-house faculty provides guidance and inspiration
enhanced by visits from well-known industry stalwarts
who offer in-field work experience and hold workshops
in their respective fields.
Useful qualities
You should be a good observer, pay attention to detail
and possess good powers of concentration and an interest
in colour and design. Cinematography and art direction
students should have a good understanding of colour
and basic aesthetic elements of visual imagery too.
If you are serious about working in these industries
and appreciate the constraints and demands of the
careers, try to find out basic requirements so as
to choose the right course in line with your abilities
and personality. Media-related experience or a portfolio
would be advantageous.
What is in store?
The admissions' announcement for 2005-06 offers some
new courses in the creative fields of film and television.
There are eight programmes for film and television.
The three-year, post-graduate diploma courses open
to all graduates are in the areas of direction, cinematography,
editing, and audiography, which is for graduates who
studied Physics at the 10 plus two level. These four
courses are to be considered under Group I, Section
A in the application form. As part of Group II are
courses in acting, which is a two-year PG diploma
course and feature film screenplay writing is a one-year
PG certificate course. Both are open to all graduates.
Art direction is a two-year PG Diploma course after
a bachelor's degree or equivalent diploma in architecture
or painting or applied art or sculpture orinterior
design or related fields in fine arts. Animation and
Computer Graphics is a one-year certificate course.
There are 12 seats in all courses, except for 20 seats
in the acting course.
There are eight seats in each of the one-year television
PG certificate courses targeted at graduates. The
programmes include direction, electronic cinematography,
video editing and audiography and TV engineering.
Physics at 10 plus level is required for those who
want to apply for audiography and TV engineering course.
They form Section B of Group I in the form.
There is reservation of seats for SC/ST candidates
and two seats in each course are reserved for foreign
students or NRI.
Application
While applying you have to choose between Group I
or Group II. In Group I, applicants have to state
preference 1 and 2 against the appropriate course
in Section A and Section B. The space on the last
page of the form is for the statement of purpose for
applying for a course at FTII.
The entrance examination for all courses except certificate
course in Animation and Graphics is scheduled for
May 8. It's a written test expected to evaluate General
Knowledge based on Indian society, culture and the
arts, General Mental Ability, which includes verbal
and non-verbal reasoning and interest in arts in general
and with reference to film and television in particular
as well as aptitude for these media.
The entrance examination for certificate course in
Animation and Computer Graphics will be held at FTII,
Pune, on June 19, followed by interviews on June 20.
Prospects
Subhash Ghai, one of Bollywood's commercial film
makers and Mani Kaul, one of India's leading art film
makers are both alumni of FTII. The FTII students
enjoy diverse opportunities. They may make feature
films, documentaries, ad films, corporate films, music
videos and television programmes, as a freelance or
join production houses or television channels. Alumni
of the FTII are present in all corners of the Indian
film and television industries giving FTII students
an edge for entry-level openings.
Talent and perseverance are important for success,
as are a good network of contacts, a finger on the
pulse of the industry and the public, exposure and
visibility.