Diploma In Direction
by Institute of Moving ImagesPune, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi |
Request Info |
| Age Group: | Above 18- Years |
| Eligibility: (Pre-requisites) | - Minimum age of 18 years. |
| Medium of instruction: | English |
The Director is simply one who takes charge of, and is responsible for, all the elements that go in making a movie. Directors are versatile people- independent, creative and sometimes geniuses; the directors are the driving force in shaping an art of cinema and leave behind their personal stamp on film making. They are the real superstars of movie business. They are the God.
The world is full of aspiring directors. Only the best make it.
Those students selected for the IMI's one year full time Direction course will be provided with a once in a lifetime opportunity to strengthen and increase their directing skills to the point where they stand out from the crowd.
Course Outline
First Semester
In the first semester of Direction Diploma program, you don't just attend the classes; you live every moment of it- morning, noon, and night, total immersion in all aspects of film making as a Direction student, you are required to have a broad knowledge and mastery of many skills. It focuses on the many responsibilities of the director and film crew to successfully take a project from script to screen.
Term One - A Foundation in Film making
The first term is dedicated to the principle of learning how to think an idea as images, how to tell a story in pictures. The center of the term is the film exercises, which provide the platform for basic teaching in film language and its grammar, the foundation of filmic storytelling, story structure, characterization, pattern of script development, format and genre through lectures, extensive hands-on workshops and immediate directing experience. You will also have to practice basic production management skills and learn business procedure of film making.
In parallel, students will learn camera skills, exposure control and lenses, practical on Sony DV & HDV camera, sound recording exercises and editing on Avid Xpress Pro.
Every four weeks you direct one short film, in which students work in units of five to six and in rotation share the responsibility; from screenwriting to operating camera, production designing to recording sound, securing permission for outdoor shooting to editing. You try your hand at every discipline. An emphasis is placed on the cooperation and interaction of various disciplines and director's ability to communicate with team, to know what everybody does on a film, the difficulties and technical issues. It gives you empathy. You get proper command of this collaborative craft.
Each student gets the hand-on experience of working on at least 15 film projects, 3 of which he or she directs him or herself on series of assigned topics.
Their work is constantly assessed critically by their teachers who are industry professionals. The student applies the experience gained through this process to the next project, and the learning process continues.
Term Two- Advance filmmaking Techniques
The second term is intense and exciting. Their aesthetic, technical and craft skills of film making techniques are further honed in the core areas- developing drama script, scripting & interviewing techniques for documentary, principle of continuity & break down of scene into shots.
The term introduces students to theory & practical for location & indoor lighting, camera operation, recording sync sound on location, different editing style, artistic and technical use of sound & music, laying multiple sound tracks and sound mixing- drawing upon a rich pool of international and national award winning films crossing themes and genres i.e. drama, comedy, thrillers, documentaries. The students master skills in advance film making techniques:
-
Sequence construction
-
Multi-camera set up
-
Personality based and social issue Documentaries
By the end of both the term of first semester, students finish close to 20 films, 6 of which are independently directed projects.
These film exercises serve as a practice and foundation for more complex and ambitious group projects in the second semester where students take all the aesthetic decisions, solving problems similar to those faced by professional director.
Second Semester
In second semester, the requirements and expectations from students are very high. The students are encouraged to develop their personal orientation to this most complex of all arts: their syntactic narrative skills, their understanding of the pattern of possibilities presented by a script, their capacity to create results with their collaborators, their ability to construct expressive mise-en-scene.
Term Three- Directing Actors
In the third term, the course involves an element of observation of professional practice where students learn by doing. There are an important series of directing actor workshops and working with actors is a major component of these which include:
-
Casting professionally and successfully
-
Communicating effectively with actors from a wide range of background
-
Diverse range of acting methods and techniques
-
Working with children and non actors
-
Directing rehearsals using improvisation exercises
-
Character development
-
Giving playable direction under the pressured environment of a film set
-
Creating Dynamic, moment by moment performances
-
Q&A sessions with established actors and directors
The course includes a trip to India's leading film making center- Mumbai in which students visit finest acting academies to gain first hand experience of how actors are trained for the screen. The students take part in acting classes to experience receiving direction as well as giving it.
Simultaneously, through series of master classes, workshops, extensive exercise and complete production, students gradually enhance their story telling skills by interpreting feature scripts, TV script, shorts for drama, comedy & thriller and they learn how to asses the dramatic and filmic merits of a script. Each student directs multiple projects that include Dialogue exercises and Mise-en-Scene exercises.
Term Four- Advance Screen Direction
A filmmaker's most precious assets are his instincts, imagination and intuition.
Guest Directors from the industry hold workshops for students that emulate a professional film production environment, where they give away the secrets that can keep an imagination alive and free a director's intuition, so everyone on the set can function at full creativity.
The term provides an advanced screen directing techniques for both the small and the big screen. Students take charge as directors and utilize their scripts and actors to master visual storytelling strategies for:
-
Composition & performance led blocking
-
Camera placement & lighting for dramatic presentation
-
Using an environment as a dramatic factor
-
Song Picturization
-
Advertising Film
-
Diploma Film
This is in parallel and intersecting with the classes which cover film analysis & screen studies of Indian, European, Asian & Hollywood films.
Throughout the course, regularly film of great masters are screened in the class and analyzed from the point of view of the complex pattern of directing strategies, made in the context of historic, aesthetic & technical limitation or possibilities.
This way, students identify the techniques used by filmmakers in their approach to story telling as well as students get encouraged to develop a meaning based repertoire on which to base their own directing practice.
Music is the communicating link between the screen and the audience. At IMI, we take music seriously and recognize its importance as a dramatic tool and an integral part of the physical experience of cinema.
Our music consultant in his class give Direction students a comprehensive view of the ways music can be used in film, a composure's requirements, instruction in music copyright law and assistance with finding right music for each project.
Apart from knowing the technicalities of film making, a basic understanding of disciplines like architecture, history, sociology and politics is crucial for good filmmaker.
Through regular Sunday morning sessions, students are encouraged to have direct interaction with our guest speakers from a variety of backgrounds i.e., sociologists, economists, political analysts, management experts, psychologists, human-rights activists, advertising professionals, painters, writers, poets, musicians & theater personalities which provides students an environment for in-depth aesthetic development and overall intellectual growth.
Our Educational Advantage
As an integral part of the curriculum, the Directing Diploma students are also required to complete a separate three week internship program under an established director. This endows them with real world skills, team work, business and industry etiquette and put them in front line of production to gain experience of professional ad film, television and feature film making. The internship helps students to forge relationships and build their network of contacts before stepping into the working world.
By the end of both the semester, students finish working on close to 30 short films, 10 of which are independent projects. All our student films are shot on actual locations. Each student gains a thorough proficiency with different camera types including Sony DV, HDV & 35mm Arriflex Cinemascope 435 camera and editing experience on non linear on Avid Xpress as well as Final Cut Pro.
Students cast and work with trained, professional actors for their final Diploma Film on 35mm Arriflex cinema scope cameras and post production on Final cut Pro.
On Completion
At the conclusion of the program, Graduation ceremony is hosted by the IMI and all films produced on the Diploma course are screened at National Film Archive of India auditorium for press, students, crew, cast, friends and family. Students retain the DVD copy of a body of work they produced at the Institute. It acts as their show reel- the ultimate calling cards. Student films are also sent to several competitions and film festivals in India and abroad.
Upon successful completion of the program, each student receives a Diploma in accordance with industry expectations and we continue to offer you careers and business advice long after graduation.
Unique Features of IMI Diploma
-
One-year of intensive course
-
Full-time: Total 1900 hrs. of Tuition’s
-
Specialization in Direction or Screenwriting or Producing or Cinematography or Editing
-
Practical training by industry professionals in all key discipline of Film making process
-
Excellent tutor-student ratio
-
Average 12 students in each discipline
-
Minimum age 18 (average early 20s)
-
Tutor are experienced professionals, currently working in the Film & TV industry
-
On location shooting or editing exercise in day times
-
Classroom instructions & Screenings in evening
-
Each student independently makes close to 10 films projects
-
Students perform all key roles while crewing in 30 other films
-
Training on Sony DV, HDV & 35mm Arri CinemaScope 435 camera
-
Editing experience on non linear AVID Xpress Pro & FCP
-
Professional assessment and feedback
-
One month Internship with industry contacts
-
Each student makes their final Diploma project on 35mm Film in Key role (Director/Cameraman/Editor)
-
Graduation screenings and showcases to invited guest
-
A Diploma & demo-reel of final film are awarded
-
Selected students films sent to festivals & competitions
-
Financial & time commitment to gain excellent standard of professional film training
-
Recommended for those who want to kick start a full time independent career in Film & TV industry
-
Students also gain fast track entry in senior positions in creative or technical team of Television Channels
Eligibility Criteria
Welcome to the Admission Process at IMI.
Institute of Moving Images is open to applicants of all nationalities and background with minimum age of 18 years who are seriously interested in the field of professional film making.
The average age of students is in their early twenties, but the range is wide and we welcome applications from older students also.
To be eligible for the admission in any course at IMI, graduation is preferred but not mandatory.
IMI admission policy recognizes that there will be some outstanding applicants with backgrounds in other disciplines and work experience including those without standard graduation degree. What we are essentially looking for is raw talent and new voices with something to say.
The general category of applicants apply for admission in IMI are those who have not yet had any production experience but who have a history of creative interest in film, theater, writing, painting or in still photography.
Admission is purely on merit.
Applicants merit & creative potential are evaluated on the basis of their response to aptitude test questions listed on the admission form and their performance at interview.
The entire admission process at IMI is free of stress and straightforward as possible.
Just browse the pages step by step.
To avoid any last minute rejections of your application for technical reasons, please go through all the pages carefully before filling the "Application Form for Admission."
Who Should Apply?
-
Those seeking career change or recent graduates who want to kick start a full time independent career in a highly rewarding industry
-
Committed and dedicated people with a proven passion for film making
-
Can demonstrate a strong instinct for the grammar of visual story telling
-
Collaborative, articulate and creative people
-
Can make financial & time commitment to gain excellent standard of professional film training
-
Applicant of all nationalities and background with minimum age of 18 years (average early 20s)
Admission Criteria
-
Students applying to Institute of Moving Images come from a wide-spectrum of educational backgrounds. What we are essentially looking for is raw talent and new voices with something to say. Graduation is preferred. However, minimum eligibility is a 10+2 / HSC / A-Level or equivalent level of education
-
No previous experience of film making required. However, a strong instinct for the grammar of visual story telling is preferred
-
Admission purely on merit. Applicants merit & creative potential are evaluated on the basis of their response to three aptitude test questions listed on the admission form and performance at interview. For more detail, go to Admission requirement page
-
The need to follow and understand the intensive course of lectures and high pressure of group work make it imperative that all students have a satisfactory knowledge of English language
Course Duration : One Year Full Time + 3 months Internship
Class Timing: The classes are held Six days a week
10AM to 5PM - Classroom instructions & Screening
Students are expected to work additional hours daily, outside the normal teaching hours including on weekends for on-location shooting or editing exercise.
Diploma Course Dates & Fees
The Diploma programs at IMI start twice a year which means you can choose when it is best for you to begin your film education. The dates below represent the day instruction start for the program. Students come from all over the Asian countries to attend IMI program, so start dates fill up quickly. Applications are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Course dates
June intake 2014
|
Last date to apply |
: 15th March 2014 |
|
Interview Date |
: 02nd June 2014 |
|
Course Commencing |
: 30th June 2014 |
| Classroom - Full Time (Group Size: Below 13 - ) | ||||
| When | Duration | Where | Remarks | Price |
|
30th June, 2014 (10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) |
1 Years (Total 1900 Hrs) |
All Venues | The classes are held Six days a week. Students are... more | Price On Request |
| Classroom - Crash/Intensive (Group Size: Below 13 - ) | ||||
| When | Duration | Where | Remarks | Price |
|
30th June, 2014 (10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) |
1 Years (Total 1900 Hrs) |
All Venues | The classes are held Six days a week. Students are... more | Price On Request |
Pune, Deccan Gymkhana (Branch):- MA Building, Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics Campus (Deemed University) BMCC Road Deccan Gymkhana, Pune - 411004, Maharashtra, India
Kolkata, Ballygunge (Branch):- Alliance Francaise du Bengale (Indo-French Cultural Centre) 217, A.J.C. Bose Road, Beck Bagan Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Mumbai, Dadar West (Branch):- Ravindra Natya Mandir, P.L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy Next to Siddhi Vinayak Temple Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
New Delhi, Mandi House (Branch):- Shri Ram Centre of Art & Culture, Shafdar Hasmi Marg Near Mandi House Metro Station Mandi House, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Institute of Moving Images
Though we are the Filmmakers of today, you are the Filmmakers of the future. Our primary mission is to do everything in our power to launch you - the next generation of Filmmakers, into the Filmmaking business with a profound sense of excellence, a brimming self-confidence in your abilities and a passion for movie-making poetry.
Institute of Moving Images is an intimate and innovative film school for high standard of practical training in all key areas of filmmaking with latest equipments. It is very independent film school run by non-profit Moving Images Educational Trust, recognized by Government under Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.
Located inside a sedate green, sprawling campus of a reputed university in Pune, IMI provides an interesting backdrop for concentrated study of filmmaking and to shoot student exercise films.
We select only those students who are the raw talent and genuine potential. We have very high expectation of our students and demand 100% commitment from each of them.
Today, we can proudly say many of our alumni are employed in prestigious Film Production Companies & Television Channels. But the fact remains that no one is ever hired in the film industry on the basis of mere paper qualification. This is our faculty of high profile, award winning and established film professionals, who often come straight from their movie set; teach students how to succeed in this
competitive field since they know better how the film industry works.
Success in film industry is a matter of right skills, attitude & confidence- this is what IMI provides to its students.
