FILM & TV DIRECTION COURSE IN MUMBAI

FILM & TV DIRECTION COURSE

*** “Rajashree taught me how to create 3-dimensional characters, structure the plot, and direct actors, which helped me tremendously when I was writing and directing my movie.” Rakesh Mehta, Rajashree’s ex-student, whose debut feature film, ‘Khuda Kushi’ has won 3 international awards and been screened at many film festivals. ***

*** "The next best thing to a course at FTII." - Bharati Hemmady, Rajashree's ex-student. ***

Do you dream of making feature films, TV shows or short films? But can't spare the time to learn full-time? Here's the fourth batch of Rajashree's popular 4.5-month Film & TV Direction Course, with full-day classes on Sundays, in Andheri (W), Bombay. Three films made by students as a part of this course were screened at the Short Film Center at the prestigious International Film Festival of India, Goa, 2010. This Sunday course organized by Rajashree is very popular because it has a great faculty, reasonable fees and a convenient location. ^_^

Please contact 9769449556 or rajashree.in@gmail.com for more information.

Rajashree’s Film & TV Direction Course is right for you if you are:

• A Newcomer: The course would equip you to enter the Film and Television Industry as an assistant director or to make short films independently.

• A Mediaperson who’s learnt on the job: You would benefit from learning the basics formally and getting your fundas clear.

• A Professional who is already working in the Industry in another capacity: It would help you become a full-fledged director.

• From the Corporate Sector: The course would add to your qualifications since films are an increasingly important medium of corporate communication & advertising.

*** "Rajashree is like the energy drink Red Bull! She motivates you to spring into action and pushes you to deliver beyond your limits." - Priya Saraiya, Rajashree’s ex-student. ***

The benefits of joining this Film & TV Direction Course are:

• FACULTY: The course is organised by Rajashree, an award-winning film-maker and bestselling novelist, who has taught at the Film & Television Institute of India and some of the best film schools in Bombay. The faculty members are FTII alumni and professionals from the film industry

• SUNDAY CLASSES: Full-day classes on Sundays, so you can pursue your dreams without forsaking the responsibilities of your work or studies.

• WELL-DESIGNED SYLLABUS: More than 50% of class time would be devoted to hands-on film-making, so that you learn how to transform your ideas into films that light up the silver screen. While the course is practical-oriented, the theory portion would help you develop a sound understanding of the basics of story-telling and film-making.

• STUDENT FILM: You would write and direct a short film. The cinematography and editing would be done by professionals from the Industry, which would be a great learning experience. It would also result in a well-made film which you can be proud of and use as your showreel as well as submit to film festivals.

• VENUE: The classes will be held in an air-conditioned classroom in Andheri (West). Since the venue is on S.V. Road, opposite the railway station, it is very easy to reach.

• CERTIFICATE: You would be given a certificate at the successful completion of the course.

• FILM FESTIVALS: The student films made as part of the course are sent for film festivals. Three films made by previous batches were screened at the Short Film Center at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, 2010.

• PLACEMENTS: We have tied up with 1TakeMedia.Com - India's Largest Entertainment Jobs, Casting, Distribution & Resources Platform. They will now be our placement partners, and help you in getting a job in the Film & TV Industry after you've completed our course.

• DEMAND FOR FRESH VOICES: The Indian film and television industry is looking for fresh voices. With the diminishing appeal of the formula masala film, there is a demand for out-of-the-box thinking, for directors who understand the art and craft of film-making. It’s a great time to enter the field.

*** "I have had an amazing experience with Rajashree’s script-writing and film-making workshops. The workshops were structured very well and had a good effective blend of relevant theory, creative discussions on assignments, analysis of classics and hands-on experience in writing a script and making a short film. The workshops were conducted very diligently in a focused manner encouraging participation from all students. I found them to be especially useful for working persons as the structure and organization of the workshop accommodated these aspects very well." - Rajesh V. , ex-student

*** FACULTY Rajashree has been a film buff since she was a kid – she stood in a line for five hours to get tickets for Sholay when it was re-released. She has been working in Bombay after studying direction at the Film and Television Institute of India, Poona. She’s assisted Mansoor Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. A film she wrote and directed, The Rebel, was screened at many film festivals, and won the National Award and the Golden Ten Award. She has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Film Writers’ Association. Her critically acclaimed first book, Trust Me, is a lighthearted romantic comedy set in the Bombay film industry. According to figures given by The Times of India and The Sunday Telegraph, Trust Me is the biggest-selling Indian chick lit novel. She is represented by Isabel Atherton, the director of Creative Authors, a literary agency based in the UK. She has taught at her alma mater and some of the best film schools in Bombay. She has been organising courses independently since 2009. http://rajashree.in/

Pankaj Rishi Kumar will conduct the editing classes in the course. Graduating from Pune's Film and Television Institute in 1992, and specialising in Film Editing, Pankaj was assistant editor on Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen. After editing documentaries and TV serials, he made his first film Kumar Talkies. Subsequently, Pankaj has become a one-man-crew producing, directing, shooting and editing his own films. (Pather Chujaeri, The Vote, Gharat, 3 Men and a Bulb, Punches n Ponytails, and Seeds of Dissent). His films have won many awards and been screened at festivals all over the world. He was a TA at the first Asian Film Academy (Pusan). He has won grants from Hubert Bals, IFA, Jan Vrijman, Gotoberg, Banff, Majlis and Sarai. Pankaj was awarded an Asia Society fellowship at Harvard Asia Centre (2003). http://kumartalkies.blogspot.com/

The faculty members would be FTII alumni and professionals from the film industry.

CONTACT Please contact 9769449556 or rajashree.in@gmail.com for more information.

DURATION Full-day classes on 12 Sundays and half-day classes on 5 Sundays & 1 Saturday over 4.5 months.

FEE STRUCTURE The course fees cover the classes, the cost of making the student film, refreshments during classes, a directory of the Film & TV industry and study material like books and cds. A donation of Rs 500 would be given from every student’s fees to a children’s charity. There are two plans for paying the fees: 1. It is preferable if the student pays the full amount at the time of registration. The fees would be Rs 37,000 for this plan. 2. It is also possible for the student to pay in monthly installments, in the form of post-dated cheques (non-refundable) that would be submitted at the time of registration. The fees would work out to Rs 45,000 if the payment is made in instalments. The first instalment: Rs 17,000 The second instalment: Rs 14,000 The third instalment: Rs 14,000 If a student is very keen to join, but can’t afford to pay in this manner, another instalment plan can be worked out.

COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS: would be provided to the students during the classes.

CHARITY : The administration would give Rs 500 from the fees paid by each student to an NGO that’s working for underprivileged children.

STUDY MATERIAL: The students would be given: • Copies of important books • Scripts • Links to useful websites and free scriptwriting software • A directory of phone numbers and addresses of everybody in the Film and TV Industry • CDs & DVDs of some important films.

COURSE CONTENT: The course has been designed to teach the students the basics of film-making. There is a well-worked-out balance of practicals and theory classes. The topics that would be covered are:

• The Process of Making a Film

• Scriptwriting: Audiovisual Writing & the Format for Writing the Synopsis, Step-outline, Screenplay and Script for a film.

• The Elements of Scriptwriting: Characterisation, Plot, Setting & Theme

• Introduction to Screen Grammar: What is a shot? The editing transitions that can be used to join two shots: Cut, Dissolve, Fade, Wipe, Bleach. The various elements of shot-taking: Image Size, Camera Angles, Camera Movements, Lighting, Camera Speed, Stocks, Graphics, Colour. The Rule of Thirds & the Golden Points. Lenses. Depth of Field and Selective Focus. • Shot Breakdown • Continuity and the Imaginary Line • Ways of Shooting • Preparing for a shoot • Assisting in Direction • Production Design: Art Design. Costumes • Directing Actors

• The Principles of Editing. • Sound Design • Music: Songs & their Picturisation. Background Music • Production, Budgeting & Marketing

• How to make your own low-budget (or no-budget) film • Television: Genres & Techniques • Film History

For the detailed syllabus of Rajashree’s Film & TV Direction Course, please go to http://rajashree.in/workshops/film-tv-direction-course-in-mumbai/ ^_^ Please contact 9769449556 or rajashree.in@gmail.com for more information.

COMMENTS ABOUT RAJASHREE'S WORKSHOPS BY EX-STUDENTS:

"I had read quite a few books by Syd Field and Robert McKee but most of them had been written keeping in mind Hollywood movies. After attending Rajashree's workshop I got to know that Bollywood is a different ball game altogether and what works in Hollywood might not necessarily work in Bollywood, or to make it work you need to add those extra spices (masala) to make it palatable for Indian Audience. If you need to know what works in Bollywood and Tellywood (I mean television) per se, the Bollywood Structure, the Rasas etc., then you must attend her workshop." - Brijesh Bolar "To me, Rajashree is like the energy drink Red Bull! She motivates you to spring into action and pushes you to deliver beyond your limits. Without her encouragement, I don't think I would have been able to transform my idea into a screenplay .....And with her encouragement came the right dose of constructive criticism......Also it was a great help to share and brainstorm ideas in the presence of other students and see where your idea stands....It is a relief to see so many people sailing in the same boat as you are and trying to get better and getting there.I was actually groping in the dark when Rajashree came as a ray of hope...." - Priya Saraiya

"This programme gave me the mechanics of writing for features, along with the confidence. But what Rajashree really did was crack the whip, pushing us constantly to keep writing and keep exploring. The lively discussions were the best part of this programme." - Satish Desa "You can't open a door by pushing a wall, this is what I realised in the workshop. Rajashree will not only let you open your thoughts but also direct them to a proper way so that we push the door and not the wall." - Amit Shukla