Diploma in Acting - 1 Year Programme

The Actors' Studio is located in WWI’s main Mumbai campus in Film City. Actors' Studio students have the added benefits of being immersed in this filmmaking campus, being cast and acting in projects, as well as learning first-hand the crucial relationships they will have as professional actors with directors, producers, screenwriters, cinematographers, sound designers and others.

As with every specialization, Mr. Subhash Ghai has master oversight of this program, continually assuring its curricula provides the optimal components of all aspects of the actors craft to prepare Actors' Studio members in becoming successful professional Actors.

The course is divided into 2 durations;

Diploma in Acting for Screen | 1 Year Programme in Acting

The training here invites students to reveal the many complex layers of the vulnerable human soul, freeing the artist’s imagination to deal with the actor’s core challenge:tension. As soon as they are able, actors begin the fulfilling and revealing experiences of acting in films and high-definition projects, ranging from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.Student productions are sent to film festivals across the world, several gaining critical acclaim. The films in which the students act provide them with scenes for their personal reels to share with industry professionals as acting samples.

1. Freshman | 21 Weeks
The objective is to make students aware of, and expose them to:
a. Basic preparation exercises such as relax, sensitize, and personal inventory.
b. Overview of what acting is – and what is good or great acting.
c. Definition of talent.
d. Moment-to-moment and “being” exercises.
e. Related to real objects & people.
f. Basic craft/technique tools to stimulate desired life & behavior.
g. Fundamental sense memory exercises.
h. Introduction to obligations and objectives.

2. Sophomore | 21 Weeks

The work expands into deeper instrument areas and more complex choices. The course covers new combinations of choices, exploration of new choice areas, and a review of previous craft/technique approaches.

The objective is to wake the actor up to his own aliveness and truth; to encourage the actor’s confidence in his craft and talent by completing more difficult objectives; to being to develop some reliable solid choices and tools.

3. Junior | 21 Weeks

Individual, group, and twoperson exercises continue to encourage greater awareness, sensitivity, expression, and dissolve barriers to vulnerability and imagination. Actors will continue to develop a variety of craft tools and discover the best tool/choice approach to fulfill any material.

The semester begins with a review and summary of first two semesters. This class goes further into depth with regard to instrument and craftwork. As always, specific attention is given to creating an ambiance of open and honest communication and support to provide the best environment for artistic growth – emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Scenes and monologues continue with more complex challenges. We also explore how to work with a director and how to analyze films.

3. Senior | 21 Weeks

The term focus is on reviewing and refining the previous semesters’ work as well as introducing more advanced craft tools and instrument growth work. Classes are structured with group work, individual work, scenes and monologues, and readings of plays and screenplays. Senior students learn how to be more specific about their craft, how to prepare, and how to fulfill the obligations and objectives for any material: i.e. – plays, screenplays and songs.

Acting - Faculty

Head Of The Department

Salim Arif

Salim Arif is an illustrious alumnus of National School of Drama, New Delhi,currently the Head of Department of Acting and Production Design in Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, he is also on the visiting faculty of several prestigious institutions including National School of Drama, New Delhi, Film and Television Institute of India,Pune, BNA, Lucknow, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai and National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. He is also a resource person for Sangeet Natak Akademy,New Delhi.

Innovative in approach, SalimArif has directed actors like Farooque Shaikh,Sonali Bendre, Tabu, Rakesh Bedi,Anjan Srivastava,Avtar Gill, Atul Kulkarni, Yashpal Sharma, Javed Khan, Rajeshwari Sachdeva, Sulabha Arya,Bharat Kapoor,Vaishali Thakkar, Lubna Salim, Seema Azmi, Harsh Chhaya,Kiran Karmarkar,Anoop Soni,Kishor Kadam, Ganesh Yadav, Jameel Khan,Nissar Khan and singers like Bhupinder-Mitaali, Talat Aziz,Seema Sehgal, Jaswinder Singh amongst others in plays like Aapki Soniya, Arre O Henry, Manto Mantra, Ghalibnaama, Kharaashein, Taj Mahal Ka Tender, Kaifi Saab, Peele Patton Ka Ban, Dil Chahta Hai, Shyam Rang, Agar Aur Magar, Bayaane Ghalib, Rakt Kalyan, Parwaaze Bayaan Aur, KachcheLamhe, Atthanniyaan, Lakeerein, Chaurangi, Hum-Suffer,Sunte Ho etc. These plays have made him one of the most exciting and popular director on Hindi theatre scene in India. His critically acclaimed play Aap Ki Sonia has been performed extensively in India and abroad. His path breaking Kharaashein and Ghalibnaama were showcased by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, New York at Lincoln Center, NY in 2004.

In theatre, he has several production oriented workshops to his credit in a number of places in India. He was awarded a NSD fellowship to work on the subject of Interaction between Traditional and contemporary Indian theatre with reference to the works of Habib Tanvir, B.V.Karanth, Ratan Thiyam andK.N.Panikker.

Some important plays designed by him are Karna-The great warrior, Ismat Apa Ke Naam, Shyam Rang, Mrigtrishna, Jisne Lahore Nahin Vekhya and Madhyamvyayoga.

He made his mark as a Costume Designer of substance with Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj, Gulzar’s Mirza Ghalib, Dr.Chandraprakash Dwedi’s Chanakya and Nirja Guleri’s Chandrakanta.

His important films as a designer are Ketan Mehta’s Sardar Patel, Gulzar’s Maachis & Hu-Tu-Tu , Govind Nihalani’s Takshak and Anil Sharma’s Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo. He has been a consultant for period details in Anil Sharma’s Gadar and Mani Ratnam’s Guru. He was commissioned by Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) to do an appraisal on Costumes in Hindi Cinema titled The Essence and Fabric for Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema published in 2003. He has been a Theatre Critic for Mid-Day, New Delhi, wrote articles and reviews for Free Press Journal, Mumbai on Theatre and films and is currently a regular contributor toHardnews, a magazine published from New Delhi since 2003.

He was awarded the prestigious Urdu Adab Award of U.P.Hindi-Urdu Award Committee for his contribution in Theatre.

Senior Faculty
- Subhash Ghai
     
Faculty
Jameel Khan
Sanyogita Sharma
Aru Verma (Asst. Faculty)
Hemendra Bhatia

Guest Faculty
Rahul Bose        
Bansi Kaul        
Suhasini Mulay
Meeta Vashist
Subhash Ghai
Shashank Khaitan
Ratna Pathak Shah
Shabana Azmi   
Makarand Deshpande

Trainers
Binisha Naik (Fitness)
Sanjeev Mehta (Modern Dance)    
Dr. Sangeeta Shankar (Voice)    
Deepak Kumar (Acrobatic)
Vandana Trivedi (Yoga)    
Dr. Sangeeta Shankar (Voice Trainer)

Payments

Notes / Benefits / Penalties / Refunds:

1. All amounts are payable, unless mentioned otherwise to ‘Whistling Woods International Limited’ by cheque / demand draft / NEFT / RTGS / online transfers. Details for online transfer of funds are as under:
WHISTLING WOODS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Bank Name : PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK
Branch : SEEPZ, Andheri (E)
A/c no.: 1253009300009473
IFSC : PUNB0125300
SWIFT : PUNBINBBBSZ

2. Of the amounts payable in each instalment, certain payments will need to be made to parties representing the University that is granting the degrees. You will be intimated of such party names and the split in payments to be made on a semester basis. Further, Examination Fees, as payable to the University are additional and will be payable on a semi-annual basis.

3. Service Tax as applicable (currently 12.36%) is included on all payments made to Whistling Woods International Limited. Service Tax has not been levied on the security deposit. Payments made to other parties directly may not attract Service Tax as per current rules / guidelines, but the same are subject to change. Further, any additional taxes if levied by the government / taxation authorities would need to be borne by the students. Appropriate timely intimation of any additional payments in lieu of taxes would be given to students.

4. The Semester 1 instalment includes security deposit, wherever applicable. This is non-interest bearing and refundable on course completion or withdrawal, subject to deductions.

5. All amounts are listed in Indian Rupees. The same amounts are payable by both Indian and International students. Non-Indian nationals who cannot make payment in Indian Rupees may make alternate arrangements with the Whistling Woods accounts department.

6. All payments made by Indian nationals must be accompanied by the Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the payee, without which fees will not be accepted.

7. All fees are as mentioned are for the course and are simply being collected over 5 instalments. The semester-wise payments are not specific to the semester or reflect the value of the course completed till then. They are simply broken up to reduce the burden of paying large amounts on the student.

8. For the Certificate Course in Filmmaking (Online) under the Whistling Woods Virtual Academy - Admission will be confirmed only after all documents are verified and Course Fees are paid. Course Fees once paid are non-refundable. Further, Students need to finish all modules and successfully complete all tests before a period of 2 years from the date of course commencement, failing which the student would need to re-enroll in the course in order to get the certificate of completion.

9. The ‘Acceptance’ payment is payable within two weeks of being accepted into a Whistling Woods International course. If a student is accepted within two weeks prior to course commencement, this is payable on registration day.

10. The ‘Acceptance’ payment is non-refundable, although it can be carried forward to the next intake for a maximum of 2 intakes, subject to management approval.

11. Semester 1 fees are payable on Registration day, which may be a few days prior to the day of course commencement.

12. All other instalments are payable on or before the first day of each Semester, except for the final Semester.

13. All payments listed under the Final Semester of each course have to be paid 1 month before commencement of the final semester OR before completion of the Semester preceeding the last, whichever is earlier. E.g. For the Diploma Course in Direction, the amount of Rs 300,000/- listed as Semester 4 payment has to be paid by the student before completion of Semester 3 or 1 month before commencement of Semester 4, whichever is earlier.

14. Transfer of fees across / between courses is subject to management approval, on a case-by-case basis, and per conditions as under:

- If a student changes specialisation mid-course from a course with a lower fee to a course with a higher fee, the fee difference, on a retrospective basis (for the semesters already completed), is to be paid by the student before commencement of the next Semester.

- If a student changes specialisation mid-course from a course with a higher fee to a course with a lower fee, no refunds will be made retrospectively for fee differences, if any in the Semesters already completed, and, irrespective of such differences, fees payable for future Semesters have to be paid as per the fee policy.

15. Once a Semester has commenced, all fees paid / payable before that Semester are non-refundable. Any fees paid in advance for future Semesters will be refunded, along with the security deposit paid, subject to deductions, should a student leave his/her course mid-Semester.

16. If a student wishes to withdraw from the course between 2 semesters, he has to convey the same in writing to the Dean and the Manager – Administration atleast 2 weeks prior to Semester commencement. After such date, entire fees payable for that semester will be applicable.

17. For 2-year & 3-year courses, students electing to pay the total tuition fees before Semester 1, will receive a waiver of Rs. 25,000/-.

18. Any scholarship extended to a student will be used to reduce the fees payable for the final Semester of his/her course.

19. Following payment lapses will attract a penalty of Rs. 5,000/-:

- Delay in Fee Payment - a delay of even 1 day will attract this penalty per month.

- In case of each act of cheque bouncing / dishonour of cheque.

- All delays due to non-acceptance of fees on account of PAN unavailability.

20. We have Institute provided health insurance at a fee of Rs. 2,800/- per annum. This is mandatory for all students as they are covered under a group insurance policy.

21. The on-campus cafeteria managers will charge an advance to every student a sum of Rs.5,000/- (Five thousand only) per annum for meals in the campus Cafeteria. This amount, payable in advance, will allow each student food credit points, which can be availed at the cafeteria for meals.

22. During orientation week each specialization will provide a book/supply list of items that will need to be purchased. Students opting for the Producing specialisation would need to acquire an Apple (Macintosh) laptop and Movie Magic Budgeting & Movie Magic Scheduling software. While the laptop prices are not standard, the cost of Movie Magic Budgeting & Movie Magic Scheduling is discounted & subsidised for WWI students and is fixed at US$ 99/- each.

23. Whistling Woods is currently undergoing litigation with respect to its campus in Filmcity, Mumbai and there is a possibility that for any courses that extend beyond July 2014, the classes / activities beyond that date may be carried over at an alternative campus of the institute. However, before the same is put into effect, adequate intimation / notice will be given.

24. Adjustment of students’ dues / outstandings against advances / deposits may be considered by management at its discretion on a case-to-case basis.

25. Excessively delayed fee payments may be cause for cancellation of admission.

26. Fee Policies as above are subject to change at Management’s discretion. Appropriate notification after change of the same will be given to all students.