Department of Documentary Cinema
About the course
The Documentary Cinema course at FTI AP will establish itself as a distinctive entity, focused on training future documentary filmmakers. This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the dynamic and evolving field. Students in this program will undergo rigorous training in various
aspects of documentary filmmaking, including research, storytelling techniques, cinematography, editing, sound design, and production management. They will learn to conceptualize, plan, and execute documentary projects that explore real-
world issues and narratives. The department will provide students with access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, enabling them to produce high-quality documentaries. Through practical exercises, workshops, and interactions with industry professionals, students will gain hands-on experience and develop a deep understanding of the documentary filmmaking process.
Course Objective
The two-year PG course in Documentary Cinema teaches students about making documentary films, including research, storytelling, and technical tools. It also teaches students about the history and significance of documentaries in society.
Students practice making films, analyze them, and develop new ideas. The course covers ethics, funding, and distributing documentaries globally. By the end of the programme, students are prepared to create meaningful documentaries that can positively impact society.
Overview of Global Documentary Film Market
The market for documentary filmmaking is anticipated to surpass $16 billion by 2030, as the demand for factual content continues to rise. The wide range of subjects explored in documentaries provides filmmakers with opportunities to
express their individual viewpoints. The significance of technology, particularly streaming platforms, in expanding distribution and reaching a worldwide audience is substantial. Proficient filmmakers with compelling narratives can achieve success in the international arena. In addition to influencing public discourse and increasing awareness of social issues, documentaries offer captivating narratives.
Gaining knowledge of market dynamics, experimenting with different methods, and implementing latest technologies are critical for students to succeed in this dynamic industry.
Course Structure
Students will gain an understanding of the aesthetics and historical development of audiovisual media, with an emphasis on the techniques, principles, and practices that comprise nonfiction storytelling. The curriculum encompasses a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to social and cultural studies, documentation processes, ethical considerations, narration techniques, research methodologies, interview-based exercises, and direction and production. In addition, theories of new media convergence, experimental forms, and fundraising are covered. Students will be equipped with the skills necessary to become accomplished documentary filmmakers through an emphasis on production, critical thinking, and execution.
SEMESTER I (Common to all 3 Courses)
The first common semester intends to introduce students of all 3 courses to the history and aesthetics of audio visual media and its production. Laying the foundation of audio visual media practices, it will take the students through a comprehensive overview of the principles, techniques, and practices involved in the art and craft of audio visual storytelling. Through a combination of theoretical classes, practical exercises and projects, students will gain a fundamental understanding of direction, production, screenwriting, cinematography, editing and sound design.
Semester Ending Project: A 3 Mins / 10-Shot Exercise through Video Images, Edit and Sound.[All 50 students will do an individual project]
SEMESTER II
In the second semester, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking. Course topics, addressed through lectures, screenings, hands on exercises and workshops, will include social and cultural studies, history and evolution of documentation processes, international and Indian documentary film genres, ethical issues in documentary production, storytelling techniques in documentaries, research and writing, camera work, editing work, sound work specific to non-fiction filmmaking, location based exercises and interview based exercises.
Semester Ending Project: Location based film of 5- 7 mins in length. [All 10 students will do an individual film, with facilities of the institute in and around the campus]
SEMESTER III
Based on the skills acquired in the second semester, the third semester is intended to impart advanced understanding and finer nuances of the form of documentary filmmaking. Through guided lectures, screenings, hands-on exercises and workshops, topics addressed will include advanced social and cultural studies, theories and practice of new media convergence, expanded definitions of documentary films, experimental and hybrid forms. Advanced research methodologies, camera work, editing work and sound work along with documentary production methodologies, fundraising and pitching will address the executive skills of the students. Semester Ending Project: Prepare a Pitch Docket and Pitch for a documentary based on research at the end of an extensive pitching workshop. [All 10 students will do an individual project pitch.]
SEMESTER IV
The final semester of the course prepares the students as competent documentary filmmakers with understanding and command of execution, production and critical thinking. The semester will be largely project oriented where students need to ideate, research, pitch, shoot and complete the post production of a diploma film as their final show case.The whole process will be closely monitored through personal mentoring sessions by faculties and experts.
Semester Ending Project: Ideating, Researching, Pitching and making of a Documentary Diploma Film. [All 10 students will do an individual film] The nature of the Documentary Diploma will be Partly Commissioned- Shoot in commissioned format where the institute provides a portable edit facility with each student to come up with a rough cut, while the project is remotely monitored by faculty; the final post production will be carried out physically at the institute.
Total No of Seats 10 (Ten)
UR 4 OBC_NCL 3 SC 1 ST 1 EWS 1
