Diploma In Screenwriting
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 |
At Institute of Moving Images, we believe that Screenwriting is film making. Screenwriting is a craft. Talent of creative writing alone is not enough. An understanding of all the technical aspects of film making is the foremost requirement to study and practice Screenwriting.
IMI Diploma in Screenwriting is an intense one-year full time programme with the emphasis on harnessing the writer's original talent in the context of a collaborative film making process and trains them to become professional screenwriter with deep understanding of the craft to write on a range of topics for feature films, documentaries, advertising and television shows.
As a part of a fully integrated programme, IMI Screenwriting students explore the related areas of film making that improve their screenwriting skill and put them in a real-world context. At the outset of the programme, each student writes, shoots and edits a short digital film which eventually gives them the edge in the world of professional screenwriting by providing a balanced overview of creative exploration of script writing and other industry skills.
At the Institute of Moving Images, students are taught the universal principles of story-telling, combined with intensive exposure to different dramaturgical traditions and modern screenwriting principles through classroom lectures, regular workshops, interaction with renowned & prolific screen writers who form our guest faculty.
At IMI, we constantly emphasize on self-discipline and productivity. Through our many student productions during the year in the real film making environment, students learn the working methods and practice of professional screenwriters as a member of a creative team. You write rigorously to meet the fast and furious deadlines, to work alone as well as part of a writing team, and to rewrite effectively. You attend every shoot and see how your own writing is being transformed as screen reality. This on set experience further enhances student's visual storytelling ability.
IMI Advantage
And furthermore, to ensure you are truly prepared to begin screenwriting career professionally, the IMI programme also teaches you the most important aspect of business of screenwriting- how to protect, pitch and market your work, including overview of film industry conventions, copyright, legal & finance aspects.
During the year-long course, each Screenwriting student writes an original feature length screenplay, develop treatment for second screenplay adapted from a literary work, one complete proposal for a television programme with one script for pilot episode and complete story-line for 52 episodes, and number of treatments for reality television, short films, commercials, corporate films & documentaries.
Upon successful completion of the course, students are awarded Diploma in Screenwriting and a show-reel on DVD. Students take away substantial writing portfolio to enter the industry and start professional career as an Associate Writer in feature films or Creative Head in Production houses or in Television channels.
Course Outline
In IMI Screenwriting Diploma, regular writing is the main thrust and purpose of the programme, exposing students to creative challenges of being writer. Students are constantly encouraged to explore their individuality, discover their own talent for telling stories.
They learn the screen-craft of story telling through lectures, film study classes, class-room discussions and in-depth analysis of successful screenplays, story ideas of varied genre of Indian as well as international cinema.
First Semester
In the first semester, students get an overview of dramatic principles as applied to a distinctively cinematic approach to storytelling. It also encourages a critical evaluation of those principles in relation to the creative process and the development of the original work for the screen.
Workshop on storytelling and film language, characterization, screenwriting and step outlines, development of original ideas for the screen and adapting from another medium are based around practical writing exercises. Our guest faculties who are professional screenwriters discuss their methods of working with practical example of their work.
Collaboration between writers and filmmakers is continuously encouraged through group sessions and posting of projects on the students blog in IMI website.
Term one -
The Screenwriters Craft
The term provides an introductory and theoretical framework for the practical work with the emphasis on the writer's personal development. Students are instructed on the necessary elements and conventions of screenplay writing, establishing a foundation for all future writing.
Classes on Film History and Culture help students to gain a perspective on development of writing for the screen from classic film to current trends.
Topics include Film Style; Film Criticism and Cinema-going practice; entertainment industry organization; and other topics in the culture of film.
Simultaneously, students learn film grammar & practice the different technical aspects of film making process. They write, shoot and edit a digital film which helps them to explore the related areas of film making that eventually improve their screenwriting skill and put them in a real-world context.
Students are required to write number of treatments for reality television, commercials, corporate films & documentaries for immediate production by IMI Film making Students.
Term Two -
Short Film Writing & Feature Film Preparation
In the first half of the term, students explore the Short film format in depth. You learn early on in the course that in the film business "writing is rewriting" and all to the fast and furious deadlines, delivering final draft of a 4-6 minute film to be submitted for selection with the Direction Diploma student for their first semester production.
Writing craft classes run continuously throughout the semester and are designed to teach the key skills required for screenwriting.
The topics include Classic screenplay structure, Developing the characters, Character arcs, Dialogue, Writing the visual Image, Introduction to final draft, Theme, Text and Subtext, Conflict, Climax and Resolution, and Beats of the Scene. Screenplay formatting is the main focus and students learn how to write scene descriptions, describe characters & locations, and develop action sequence.
Students research and prepare treatment and synopsis for their first feature project. This will include creating concept for screenplay, flesh out characters and organize their story structure.
In small group sessions, students discuss their work in public arena and get feedback. The sessions are informal but extremely useful in teaching you to express yourself regarding your work or communicate your ideas effectively to others.
This prepares you to welcome criticism and interpret them to improve your screenwriting skill.
Second Semester
In this semester students gain a greater knowledge of the writer's process: writing and rewriting. The course takes students understanding of the screenwriter's role in the film industry to the next level. Students learn about the business of screenwriting- how to protect, pitch and market their work.
The main writing goal now is to complete the final draft of feature length project. Write a detail treatment for second screenplay adapted from a literary work, develop one complete proposal for a television programme with one script for pilot episode and complete story-line for 52 episodes,
Term Three -
First Feature Screenplay
In the third term, students continue to develop their feature length project.
The term is designed to further students knowledge of the intricacies of feature length screenwriting through topics as Re-writing, Adaptation and Television Drama. Each week, students are required to read a script prior to an in-class screening of same film. The teacher then critique the film as it is screened, offering minute observation on topics such as subplot development, visual storytelling, turning points, planting and pay-off, and character development.
By the first half of the term, students complete the initial draft of their first screenplay. Feedback and mentoring sessions give opportunities to discuss the draft with screenwriting tutor or mentor. Students scripts are read in the class and their strength and weakness are identified, strategies are discussed for improvising them.
Specialist screenwriting classes also introduce students to working producers and directors who discuss their perspective on screenwriting and what they look for in a screenplay.
Through Acting for Writers workshops, students at IMI witness how actors build their characters and performances based upon the information provided in a film script. These workshops are designed to deal with dialogue and script clarity, to develop and enhance the writer's subtlety.
This eventually helps writers to meditate how to re-write their initial drafts for more powerful dialogue, re-develop more powerful characters, and re-create more effective dramatic actions.
The term culminates with each student revising and finalizing their first feature film script and start thinking about creating take away writing portfolio to enter the industry.
Term Four -
Portfolio preparation & Business of Screenwriting
In the final term, with classes on more advanced form of writing like Adaptation or television drama/comedy, students start writing one or two major project independently. They either write a detail treatment for second feature film script adapted from a literary work or write a proposal for a television programme with one script for pilot episode and complete story-line for 52 episodes.
A successful writer has to be savvy as well as talented. Pitching is crucial and most tough job in the film and television business. Pitching is the ability to accurately and engagingly convey the basic outline of your story to another person verbally in a shortest possible time. Working with experienced professionals, students actually practice pitching in mock real-world session. Students get opportunity to pitch several ideas to the panel and fellow students, followed by a one-to-one tutorial to discuss the merits and challenges of your ideas.
The copyright, legal & finance classes explains the nuts & bolts of film industry conventions and business of screenwriting. It is crucially important for a writer to know how to protect his or her work. The topics also include the legality of buying a previously published work for adaptation for screen as well as the financial aspects of film making- contract and knowledge of the relative cost of the film or television programme and what to expect as remuneration.
On completion
If any short film script of 15-20 minutes duration is selected for IMI Direction students graduation project, it is shot on 35mm film format with professional actors on location. Upon successful completion of the course, students are awarded Diploma in Screenwriting and a show-reel on DVD. Students take away substantial writing portfolio to enter the industry.
Students get exposure to different dramaturgical traditions and modern screenwriting principles with overview of film industry conventions, copyright, legal & finance aspects. If your script is selected, IMI Direction students make their final Diploma film on 35mm film format with trained actors on location.
Admission Criteria
-
Applicant must demonstrate a background of creative ability in the area of fiction writing through a portfolio of written work and/or writing experience for visual arts
-
Graduation preferred
-
Having proficiency in language
-
Visualization skills
-
Having knowledge of contemporary film culture
-
Ambition of a professional career in screenwriting in film industry
-
Wants to join as a Creative Head in a Production house or in Television channels
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 Timings: 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 | Class Timings: The classes are held Six days a wee... 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.
