Best Film, Acting & Photography Courses in India

Thousands in this country dream to make it big in the big screen. ‘Bollywood’ is the destination for many in India. Each year there are several students enrolling in the Best Film and Acting Schools in India to kick start their career as an actor, while a good deal of aspirants are eyeing the silver screen by taking up modeling, theatre etc. as gateways to the world of cinema. There are, of course a fair amount of deception the aspirants are into. They believe in myths which are nothing but misleading, listed below are some myths which budding actors can strictly not believe in.

You must look ravishing

Nope! There are numerous examples from our cinema industry itself which stands in contrary to this thought. You need not be a Greek God to land up in a meaningful role for yourself. Yes, being presentable is something that matters but that is true in case of any profession. So if you think you can’t make it because you don’t have those chiseled features and to-die-for body, you are wrong!

Casual headshots can work

Headshots are outright important. If it is a headshot it has to be taken by someone who is professional. Many claim to be professionals but in reality they might not even have the basic idea of the Photography courses in India and usually are amateurs. So chuck out the idea of a friend with a DSLR to click you headshots. Spend some money on someone professional, with proper experience.

Modeling & Theatres are gateways

Although we have eminent actors from the field of both theatres and modeling, these two should never be considered as the stepping stones of getting into mainstream acting. Modeling requires very different skill sets from what an actor would need, so is the case of theatres. They are distinct in their appeals. If you think you can use any of the platforms just to get into mainstream cinema, you need to re-think!

Best Filmmaking Schools

Filmmaking is no rocket science for somebody who gives a dramatic touch to the common happenings of life. It’s all about creating drama while playing with your story. The people who are working in the film industry are important components of a film. It’s not just about the actors who act and say dialogues. There are many other people in the background who are involved in the making and execution of the people some of which are Cinematographer, lightening person, sound engineer and music composer. Budding filmmakers who wish to make a mark in the film industry can join Filmmaking schools to do a professional filmmaking course. The Filmmaking course generally starts with a very short motion picture script. The students are asked about different ideas relating to how to start a particular scene. To become a film director, one should be well versed with a scene inside his head so that he is able to depict it practically. These schools make the students familiar with a movie set. They teach the students about cinema and its components like the set- up of camera, Sounds and background. Training and workshops are provided to the students where they learn about the works of famous film directors.

The Film Schools also open doors to other professions such as cinematographer, music composer and editor, which are related to the film industry in some or the other way. Some of the filmmaking schools divide the whole course into three broad categories namely basic filmmaking course, film editing course and film scoring course which goes from making a film to editing it as and when required and finally obtaining the final film to go on stage. Various editing tools and software are made available to the students so they can learn as well as practice editing films. So if you have a story to tell and a scene to dramatize it, filmmaking is the right course for you.

Movies that Made a Difference to My Life

The Indian cinema has played a great role in shaping my character. I have always been laughed at for being too idealistic. The way I perceived things was not the way things used to and still happen in reality. As time passed by, the daily news regarding the growing crimes against women, corruption, murders and honour killings etc. portrayed the dark reality of our Indian society. Being an ordinary mortal with no direct means of making a difference, I grew morose and bitter. From an absolute optimist, I was rapidly making my way towards becoming an absolute pessimist. I had convinced myself that my dream of getting admission in the best acting school in Delhi would always remain a dream. But during those years of utter confusion, these are the movies which managed to restore my faith in humanity:

1.    Rang De Basanti

While violence is something I would never resort to, this movie greatly impacted the mind-sets of millions of youth (including mine) in the country to step forward to make the change we all wish to see. While the society is far from the way I had imagined it to be, the movie made me realise that the power needed to change the world resides with each one of us.

2.    Chak De! India

The women who played the roles of the hockey players hadn’t pursued any acting courses from the top film schools, and yet the way they portrayed the fierce struggles the women sports persons in India have to face, impressed and inspired me at the same time. What is there that we women cannot achieve if we only give it our all?

3.    Fashion

This movie clearly depicted the way the fashion industry works. While I was initially taken aback by the events that unfolded in the movie, I could not help but praise the strength of character of the protagonist. While she too gave in to the ways of the industry initially, I was truly amazed when she emerged victorious in the end against all odds.

Types of Cinemas in Today’s World

With the Film Schools in India swarming with aspiring youngsters, waiting to get their share of lime light in this cinema crazy country of ours, no doubt, films have come a long way to become a part of every Indian’s life. From the alluring item songs, to the expensive guest appearances, from the artificial fights to the destruction and the flying cars; the cliché dialogues to the tongue in cheek double meaning ones, movie making in India, with a dynamic and diverse audience has surely come a long way. Many filmmaking schools out there teach you the nuances of the trade which will definitely give you the heads up, but then before that you need to know that cinema as a discipline involves so many other genres, it is not always comedy, drama or action, there are varied genres outside that! Let’s have a look:



•    Biography/ Biopic:

This is an emerging genre of cinemas nowadays with a slew of biopics being made on famous persons in India. The recent one being the popular awards winner Priyanka Chopra starrer: “Mary Kom”. So biopics generally dramatize the life and events of an actual person be it sportsmen or social reformers, and use real names and situations unlike the “based on a true story” ones which use fake names. Example the biopic on Stevie Wonder named “Ray”

•    Documentary:

As the name suggests, these are non-fiction movie that as the name suggests documents certain aspects of reality and involves projecting facts through a series of interviews or commentary with photographs etc. Some popular documentaries are Man on wire and project Nim.

•    Musical:

So basically, musical is a movie which contains lots of songs and characters dancing to these numbers. It is also known as opera comedy or Broadway, and in most cases the actors are singers themselves. It involves lots of energy and actors bursting into songs with every situation. Popular musicals include Mamma Mia and The high school musical series.

•    Western:

Have you watched the handsome cowboys riding those horses, A La Texas style with that different accent, so then yes! you have watched a western genre movie. If not, watch Open Range and you will know!

Women Celebrities: Beyond The Stereotypical Shores

“I am not telling you that it’s going to be easy, but I am telling you that it’s definitely going to be worth it!”

There once was a time when women were pinched, pushed and were occasionally given weird glances and comments thinking that they won’t really be able to turn the curve and have to subside, for being a weaker sex. God knows, what set the mindset and what further encouraged folks to entertain it. Fortunately, things have changed for the betterment and with changing times and importantly the perception, there has been tremendous transition and people are actually acknowledging and valuing the works of women celebrities. Scenario has changed to a great extent and women celebrities are bagging off hefty cheque in the very same way to that of the male counterparts for which filmmaking schools have to be accredited. Breaking those conventional bars, womenfolk are proactively embedding their very own mark in the Bollywood fraternity. If I were to name a celebrities whose talent seems to be quantifiable, who manage to bag of hefty sums with multiple zeros in it, I would end up filling in notebooks. Having least said, there are many of us, who despite being blessed with super splendid looks, end up hesitating if they could take their aspirations to the next level or what if all the haphazard and glam of the vibrant world leads to the pit.

Well, first thing first, to all the beautiful girls out there, who are planning to enroll in film schools, it is advised not to waste time in thinking over much and begin with taking those baby steps. If merely mulling over aspirations would have helped us in any way, overall scenario has been dazzling different. Alas! there’s no escape to hard work. As they say…all roads that lead to success have to pass through hard work boulevard at some point.

So all you pretty girls out there…do work hard in silence and let the success make the noise! Cheers!