2 Year Diploma in Filmmaking

Diploma by Whistling Woods International Mumbai View Contact

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Students receive a WWI Diploma in Filmmaking after they successfully complete a rigorous programme primarily composed of production exercises and projects that are built upon a foundation of global motion picture theory and culture. Each graduate receives thorough experiential training in a single motion picture discipline of Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Screenwriting and Sound. Preceding the aforementioned specialisation studies, students must successfully complete a rigorous 32 week Filmmaking Foundation Programme.

Filmmaking Foundation Programme: In this programme, students are thoroughly immersed in the full spectrum experience of developing and producing films. The Filmmaking Foundation Programme introduces students to motion picture creation, fusing theory instruction with project assignments and complete productions.

Specialisation Programme:

Having completed the Filmmaking Foundation Programme, the students are led into a specialisation subject which is intensive and thoroughly prepares them for a professional career in the respective field. The Specialisation Programme enables the students to:

1. Master their chosen craft

2. Work independently and with a full production team

3. Participate in increasingly challenging production exercises and projects

4. Approach all learning as an emerging professional

5. Harmonize creativity with success-determining audience connectivity and business feasibility

6. Contribute to increasingly sophisticated and ambitious productions

7. Emulate actual-industry productions, from script development, through director and actor attachments, full pre-production, principal photography and post-production

8. Learn Motion Picture Industry discipline and efficiency by adhering to the Industry's strict time and financial parameters

9. Embrace production teamwork through the constant rotation of cooperation and collaboration from assisting on one another's assignments and productions

10. Create student alliances that will continue with them into their professions. These student alliances create a stimulating, high-energy environment, fostering ties that will benefit them throughout their careers.

The specialisations available are:

• Cinematography

• Direction

• Editing

• Producing

• Screenwriting

• Sound Recording & Design

Whistling Woods International (WWI) is renowned for programmes and courses that are intensive and offer world-class education in all aspects of film and television production. All our programmes are based on motion picture studies in theory, practical exercises and hands-on producing. The learning takes place in a professional environment, where students learn from working professionals and the stalwarts of the industry. WWI is distinguished by its unique in-depth specialisation programmes.

Everything within the spectacular Whistling Woods International campus, such as its facilities, studios, whole range of producing cameras and equipment, faculty, weekly celebrity master classes, specialisation curricula, student productions and advanced student learning are a thorough preparation for the students to embark on their professional film, media and entertainment careers. All the divisions – WWI School of Filmmaking, WWI School of Animation, WWI Actors’ Studio, WWI School of Broadcasting, WWI Media Management Studies and WWI Professional Development Programmes – equip the students with the necessary skills and expertise required for the professional world.

“Apart from the many subjects the 2 year Diploma in Filmmaking students study in the Foundation Program & their Specialisation, each student also undergoes extensive education in four co-curricular subjects which are mandatory for all students, including those from the WWI School of Animation. These subjects enhance the basic visual / auditory / aesthetic / cultural understanding of the student and enable him to appreciate and excel in his or her specialisation, while imbibing a overall sense of cinema and the arts.”

What are credit Points?

For all programmes and courses, Whistling Woods International follows a system of credit points which are the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects based on international academic standards. Credit Points provide a uniform measure of total student workload for each programme, in all of its various forms across all WWI programmes. This uniform approach facilitates consistent and equitable application for students' learning accomplishments at WWI to be recognized and used by other institutions.

Characteristics

The system is based on a standard measure of 40 credit points for one academic year of full-time study. Faculties may vary this pattern, if appropriate to student accomplishments, from one year to the next within the programme structure, provided the credit points required for completion of the programme is a minimum of 80. Even with variation, per term totals should not exceed 24 credit points.

The normal full-time 20 credit points for one semester is based on a student class/project/study workload averaged over a semester of approximately 48 hours per week. WWI's credit point system considers actual student workload and the variance in each student's ability, prior education and professional experience, if any.

The credit point value for each subject, considers students' load in the form of the various teaching and learning requirements of the subject – including projects, essays, independent and library study, and other teaching/learning strategies appropriate to the discipline or subject.

Exchange Programmes

WWI run an exchange programme with Deakin University(Australia), Griffith University(Australia) and NHTV Breda(The Netherlands), in which 2nd year degree students from Griffith, Deakin and NHTV Breda and selected former students from WWI, can study at the host institute for a whole semester.

Studying overseas as part of your Whistling Woods International Diploma is an opportunity not to be missed. You can live in Australia or Europe and fully experience a different country, culture, ant its people while studying topics related to your WWI diploma.


Outbound Exchange Programmes

Who can go on the exchange programme?
Under the Outbound Exchange program, all WWI students can go for their third semester to Brisbane – Australia, Melbourne – Australia, Breda - The Netherlands after their Senior terms at WWI.

 

What courses can be selected while on exchange?

Griffith University

Exchange students going to Griffith will have to select 60 units for the semester (This is approximately 6 courses) and Griffith’s Faculty will approve 4.

a) Direction, Production and Editing students will be able to choose ONLY from selected courses available in the Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production

b) Acting, Cinematography, Screenwriting and Sound students will be able to select from all the courses available in the Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production.

c) Animation students will be able to select courses from the Bachelor of Animation.

Note: Not all the courses will be available in both semesters; look out for semester I and II courses.

Examples of courses available to WWI exchange students:
-    Multicam 1

-    Film Production 2

-    International Mediascapes

-    Media Audiences

 

Deakin University

Exchange students going to Deakin will have to select 4 credit points equivalent courses units for the semester (This is approximately 4 courses).

All students will be able to select courses from the Bachelor of Film and Digital Media.

Examples of courses available to WWI exchange students:

-    Documentary Production Practice

-    TV Studio Production

NHTV Breda

Exchange students going to NHTV Breda will be able to select courses from the

-    Bachelor in International Media and Entertainment Management

-    Bachelor in International Game Architecture and Design

How to Apply
Students interested in the programme and planning to apply for both February and July intakes will contact Affiliations before the end of their Freshmen terms. Remember that obtaining and Australian Visa takes about 3 months.

Students will be sent a soft copy of WWIs internal application form and they will return it in the first month of their Sophomore terms, while Faculty members and Management will interview applicants and select successful candidates.

Selected students will book IELTS tests through: IELTS website(Cost --7.200 INR) and will complete the Griffith application form with all questions and course selection.
Along with the application form students will have to submit:
*    Nomination letter from WWI provided by Affiliations.
*    Original or certified copies of academic records (schools need a student's background to verify if the courses chosen by the student are appropriate to their studies and also to check course prerequisites).
*    A portfolio containing:
-    For studies in animation - an original animated film, video or CD in addition to your portfolio
-    For studies in Film & Television the portfolio - original scripts (or other creative writing, photographs, videotapes of theatre performances worked in, drawing or other evidence of artistic capability)

Griffith will confirm WWI student acceptance in the exchange programme and students will have to apply for:
*   Accommodation at Griffith University Village 
*   Australian Visa (approximately 450 AU$)

Fees

Selected WWI students will pay 100,000/-(exclusive of tax) fees to attend the exchange programme at the host university.



Inbound Exchange Programmes

Who can go on the exchange programme?                                                             
Under the Inbound Exchange program, selected Griffith, Deakin and NHTV Breda students can come for the first semester (Freshmen) at WWI and transfer their credit hours to their degree program at their home institute.

What courses can be selected while on exchange?
Every semester at WWI follows a particular curriculum and has a set number of courses chosen by WWI Faculty. Exchange students can also apply to other ongoing workshops from specialization semesters.

For more information on the topics thought in each semester email: Affiliations

How to Apply
Students interested in the programme and planning to apply for both January and July intakes will contact Affiliations before the end of November and May.

Applications will be evaluated by faculty while the Admissions department will send selected students an offer and a student contract.

Students will have to inform Admissions of any hostel requirements and will have to pay hostel fees, and other charges, before departure, through wire transfer.

Co-Curricular Subjects

Course Calendar for the July intake:

Semester 1: July – December
Semester 2: January – June
Semester 3: July – December
Semester 4: January – June
Usually, each semester commences on the 3rd Monday of the month. Exact dates will be informed to you as needed.

Course Calendar for the January intake:

Semester 1: January – June
Semester 2: July – December
Semester 3: January – June
Semester 4: July – December
Usually, each semester commences on the 3rd Monday of the month. Exact dates will be informed to you as needed.

*Courses beyond 2nd July, 2014 will not be conducted on the current campus. Arrangements for new campus are underway and the same will be intimated in due course.

Whistling Woods International

The Institute

Founded by one of the India’s leading filmmakers – Subhash Ghai and is promoted by Mukta Arts Limited & Filmcity Mumbai. Whistling Woods International(WWI) is Asia’s largest Film, Television, Animation and Media Arts institute, providing world-class education in all technical and creative aspects of filmmaking and television.

Whistling Woods has also been rated amongst the top 10 film schools in the world by ‘The Hollywood Reporter’, alongwith institutes like NYU Tisch, NFTS, FAMU & AFTRS. WWI was the youngest school to be featured in that list.

The WWI Mumbai campus is located inside Mumbai’s film & television production hub ‘Filmcity’, and offers courses that vary in duration from 1 year to 3 years, both full-time and part time in nature. All the major specializations of the Media & Entertainment industry are catered to, including Acting, Animation, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Producing, Screenwriting, Sound and Media Studies. WWI also offers India’s first MBA in Media & Entertainment and India’s first MBA in Media & Communication.

The full-time faculty of WWI is a body of academics and renowned industry professionals like Subhash Ghai, Rajen Kothari, M Krishhnamurthy, Rob Reece, Anjum Rajabali, Rakesh Ranjan, Ashmaki Acharya, Somnath Sen, Samar Khan, Prashant Naik, Yusuf Mehta, Dhananjay Khore with regular guest lectures by leading Indian & International filmmakers, actors & technicians like Ashutosh Gowarikar (Director of oscar-nominated ‘Lagaan’), Farhan Akhtar, Ashok Amritraj, Shyam Benegal, Naseeruddin Shah, Danny Boyle (academy award winner for Slumdog Millionaire), Rajkumar Hirani, Rakeysh Mehra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Farah Khan, Nagesh Kukunoor, Shelley Page (head of international outreach for Dreamworks Animation), and several more. Students at Whistling Woods, hence, have a unique opportunity to interact on one-on-one basis with some of the most successful professionals in the Indian film industry.

The courses at WWI are designed to ensure that the students’ learning is collaborative and industry oriented. The curriculum at WWI is a unique hybrid of theoretical and practical aspects and ensuring that the creative dovetails well with the business aspects. All students also undergo rigorous study in several co-curricular faculties like Film Appreciation, International Art Literature Culture, Production Design & Music.

These unique elements in the curriculum & the teaching methodology have seen WWI’s student body growing over three times over the past three years. Further, almost 15% of the student body now comprises of International students, from the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Vietnam and others who choose WWI over the multiple film-studies options available in their own countries.

The Institute is also highly committed to ensuring that its students move into the industry in creative and rewarding areas of employment. WWI alumni are currently working at several leading media organisations like Aamir Khan Productions, Annapurna Studios, BIG Animation, Balaji Telefilms, Dharma Productions, Dreamworks, Excel Entertainment, Fox Star Studios India, Mukta Arts Ltd, Percept Picture Company, Prime Focus, Rajshri, Red Chillies Entertainment, Reliance Mediaworks, Rhythmn & Hues, Star TV, Technicolour, Walkwater Film, UTV Motion Pictures, Yashraj Films and several more.

In early 2011, The Sony Media technology Center – a global Center of Excellence established by Sony Corp. & WWI and located at the WWI campus in Filmcity, Mumbai was inaugurated by Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman, CEO & President, Sony Corp.). Sony has recognised WWI as a leader in the Media & Entertainment education sector in Asia, decided to partner with the institute for setup of the same. This follows Sony’s two other centers in London & LA and is the only one that has been setup in association with another organization, the first two being standalone centers. The Sony Media technology Center (SMTC) at WWI will focus on new and emerging technology in the fields of High Definition filmmaking, 3D filmmaking, High Definition Exhibition and HD Broadcast. Sony has equipped the WWI Mumbai campus with the latest technology in both HD filmmaking & 3D filmmaking and will also be stationing on campus their global subject matter experts from whom WWI students would learn a great deal.

In 2010, WWI was accepted as a full member of CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision) – a global association of film schools, which lays very high standards on admitting members (there are only 150 members of CILECT). This membership has enabled huge expansion in WWI’s international operations with student & faculty exchanges been planned with the best film schools in the world. In the past as well, WWI has initiated affiliations with several global film schools, including first-ever-in-India activities like International student co-productions. Some of the schools that we have undertaken these activities with are Deakin & Griffith in Australia, Bradford College UK, Syracuse University USA & NYU Tisch Asia.

In a major step in secondary education in India, WWI was invited to partner with India’s premier High School Board - the CBSE board by the Ministry of Human Resource Development - Government of India to design a Media Studies curriculum for the country’s primary High School board (the CBSE board). WWI has prepared the curriculum, teaching methodology & is undertaking teacher-training for the ‘Media Studies’ elective in the 11th & 12th grade.

With the Mumbai campus operational since July 2006 and the student body having grown from 90 to 350 over 3 years, WWI is strongly looking at expansion both in terms of course verticals and campuses.

The above is just a snapshot of what Whistling Woods International has achieved in the short span of five years and the institution strongly marches on its way to fulfilling it’s goal – to be the institute of choice for media education globally.