Department of Screen Acting

About the Programme

The Screen Acting programme at FTII Itanagar focuses on preparing students for on-screen performances, recognizing the need for versatility across various forms, styles, and settings. Screen Acting is an artistic discipline in which actors draw upon their inner thoughts and emotions to create vivid, authentic and believable portrayals of characters. It is a collaborative experience where actors engage with audiences and convey universal human emotions, offering profound insights into human nature and life. This intricate process demands careful craftsmanship from actors and continually adapts to evolving conventions in acting styles. The postgraduate programme in Screen Acting enables students to refine their craft and enhance their skills to become seasoned professionals.

Programme Objective

This postgraduate programme in Screen Acting is designed to equip students with essential skills for the entertainment industry. Students learn character development, scene analysis, emotional authenticity, and technical nuances of on-screen performances under the mentorship of experienced faculty. The curriculum blends theoretical foundations with hands-on practical training, ensuring that experience through students gain valuable workshops, masterclasses, and performances. The programme this prepares students to navigate diverse challenges and opportunities in Screen Acting across various media including films, television and digital platforms. FTII Itanagar offers the ideal environment for transformative journey, empowering students to unlock their potential as versatile screen actors.

Overview of Indian Screen Acting Sector
The Indian screen acting sector is one of the largest and most diverse in the world, representing multiple languages and cultures. The Indian media and entertainment industry has grown enormously to produce content with worldwide significance, crossing geographical and linguistic borders. The industry engages consumers globally through a variety of media and genres. India’s cultural diversity and technological capability will soon make it a global media superpower. With the world’s largest film industry, India’s Screen Acting profession is one of the most in-demand, with many aspiring to a career in Bollywood and beyond.

Programme Structure

The Screen Acting programme aims to equip actors with the necessary skills to navigate the film industry. It focuses on developing their creative, emotional, and intellectual capacities, inspiring excellent performances and fostering an appreciation of transformative power of acting. The programme begins with a comprehensive introduction to filmmaking, followed by specialized instruction from regular and guest faculty members. This structure ensures that students deepen their understanding and gain a deep appreciation for the artistry and skill required to excel in the field of screen acting.
This is a two-year programme to be delivered over four semesters.

SEMESTER I (Common to all 3 programmes)

The first common semester intends to introduce students of all 3 programmes 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 Minutes / 10-Shot Exercise through Video Images, Edit and Sound. [All 50 students will do an individual project]

SEMESTER II

The objective of second semester of the Screen Acting programme is to help students develop students’ foundational skills in screen acting through an individual exploration as well as integrated approach to performance. It introduces students to fundamentals of methods and techniques of acting, including voice and speech, and basic craft work. Students will engage in sense memory and imagination exercises, improvisation, monologues and basic scene work, and ensemble performance. Throughout the semester, consistent technique development will be emphasized through observation, concentration, voice training, and physical training.
Semester Ending Project: A movement based/stylized production. It will be an Integrated Project, an ensemble performance by all 20 students.

SEMESTER III

Building on the foundations developed in the second semester, the third semester aims at an advanced training in the craft of screen acting. The curriculum explores diverse approaches to character development, advanced scene work, advanced improvisation, performance analysis, make-up workshop and theatre performance. Building up finer nuances based on subtlety and emotional depth is the prime drive of the semester. Advanced voice and speech training, physical conditioning, and exploration of psychological realism will be an integral part of the semester.
Semester Ending Project: Theatre Production (Realistic) with a practicing director built up through a theatre workshop. The students will do an ensemble theatre performance.

SEMESTER IV

The emphasis in fourth semester lies on integrating the craft with medium. It will prepare the students for industry while expanding their range as performers and fine tuning their knowledge base on screen acting principles. Programme topics in this semester include advanced scene works, camera and sound techniques, continuity and multi-cam shoots, casting process, auditioning techniques, interaction with industry professionals and film project. Throughout the semester, students will participate in intensive scene work, technical training, performance labs and industry interaction to apply their skills in a professional world.
Semester Ending Project: Degree film projects under guest directors and other professionals (wherever required) with students as actors. [Each of the Students will perform in the films as a final showcase. Three films will be produced for three separate groups of students.]