Category Cinematography

I have a great passion for acting.

I am 15 years old and I have a great passion for acting. But I am very tense because it is very costly. But I’m not ready for any other career. What should I do to become an actor? Which acting class is best to join and where? And what steps I should take to become a successful actor?

If you believe you possess the ability to imagine, to relate to people and situations that exist in another mind, if you can project moods and emotions, if you can present a make-believe performance that may not be splendid but is convincing, then you could well take a swing at acting. A good memory is necessary in order to learn parts quickly along with the stamina to cope with arduous rehearsals, countless retakes and outdoor shoots.

One way to start off is to first undertake a suitable course at a good acting school. Get a portfolio done by a professional photographer and take a screen-test if possible to seek an unbiased professional opinion about your potential. While good looks are an asset, they are not everything. It’s your acting skills that really count.

Here are some of the institutes which offer courses in acting: Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi; The National School of Drama, New Delhi; Film & Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.

But be cautious, don’t be impressed by a handful of actors who are famous and earn in crores. Most actors have a second part-time job just to pull them through. The actors have to deal with long strenuous rehearsals, temperamental individuals, touring opportunities, and many other aspects. Competition is tough and there is no job security.

 

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I am a Std IX student and I want to be a cinematographer. Please suggest some courses I could do after Std XII. Will my choice of stream affect my profession?

Cinematographers are the movie ‘photographers’, planning and executing the whole shooting of a film. They determine how each scene in a movie, TV show, advertisement or video will look on camera.

Various certificate and diploma courses in Cinematography are available to acquire knowledge in this field. A good course polishes one’s visual imagination and creative ability, includes live shooting, gives exposure to advanced digital shooting technology and computer software for creating visual effects for individual shots, experience with live studios and so on. Eligibility is usually 10+2 in any stream.

Some of the Institutes offering courses are The Film and Television Institute of India, Pune; Asian academy of Film and Television, Noida; Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata; L.V. Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai; Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.

 

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Throw Light

 

How to pursue career in film direction?

Film direction is not an easy job. Even if you do get selected to the Film Institute in Pune and do well there, your struggle would have, in fact, just begun. For the initial years of your career you would be making ends meet by doing ad films. Even a few years down the line, you probably would still not have worked under a famous banner. Small time work and big time uncertainty may be your way of life for several of your initial years.

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) IN Pune runs a three-year diploma course in film direction. Admission forms have to be submitted in the month of March. The address is:

Film and Television Institute of India, Law College Road, Pune- 411004.

 

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