Before jumping into the details of the content as promised in the title, let’s understand what cinematography is. A cinematographer, also known as the Director of Photography (DoP), is the head of the camera and lighting crews on set. They are responsible for choosing the film’s visual style, camera setup for every shot, deciding on the lighting for every scene, and deciding on locations for scenes.
“Knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.”
Any skill needs to be studied and practised before calling yourself good at it. Similarly, you cannot be a good cinematographer without studying it in-depth and experiencing it under professional guidance. Even a creative occupation such as cinematography requires a lot of logical thinking, knowledge of various things like colour, light etc. Why attending and earning a degree in cinematography is essential? It’s because the course will give you all the knowledge you need to give your creativity a starting line.
Let us now take a look at the pros of studying cinematography in India:
- Quality of education
It’s a known fact that India is home to some well-ranked universities, and they’re still climbing the ranks. These universities not only employ highly qualified faculty but incorporate first-hand experience to enhance the learning process for the students. Film schools offer high-quality equipment for the students to use and have hands-on experience with, unlike learning directly on a film set where you can’t touch the equipment. Not to mention, India’s top university degrees are well-recognized across the globe. A good film school will not only teach you the skills, but it will also make you more confident in yourself. A cinematography degree from India will make you more appealing to recruiters all around the world.
- The potential of India
India is one of the fastest-developing countries in the world. Its technology infrastructure is also growing. Entrepreneurship is on the rise, which increases job opportunities for all career paths. Choosing India as your study destination not only means terrific opportunities but understanding the dynamic global business landscape. The future for freelancing cinematographers or any other occupation will be bright in India.
- Students gain a global perspective.
Students who study in India develop a well-informed mindset and wider perspective towards other cultures and people. Being able to think from a multinational perspective will help you face modern challenges and come up with innovative solutions in future. You will graduate with a richer set of experiences that will allow you to think more openly and creatively.
- Diversity in culture
Studying cinematography in India will make you see the different cultures closely. For an aspirant cinematographer, India is a gold mine of visuals! From beautiful landscapes to the streets are filled with visuals that a cinematographer can capture. While people have to travel from all over the world to film in India, the residents get easy access to the culture by living amongst it. Communicating confidently in the local language will help you to excel in your studies and make new friends. Let’s not forget the variety of food India has, you come to India for studies but stay for the food. India should be one of the top choices to study cinematography.
- Prestigious film schools
India has many great film schools that are recognised globally. These schools have some of the best faculty and technicians that make you interact with film equipment under their supervision. In today’s time, everything is available to us from the comforts of our homes, even a degree or certificate. Many online courses offer you the same knowledge as a film school or maybe even more, as the internet is a vast ocean of information. Numerous cinematography short courses online are there for students who don’t want to commit to a school. The rise of online courses has made colleges consider offering online courses as well.
- Bollywood
We were saving the best for the last! Bollywood is one of the biggest movie industries in the world. The competition in the industry is high, but it is worth it. With movies evolving constantly, fresh minds will bring about a revolution in the industry. However, Bollywood shouldn’t be the only focus for aspirants. There are vast opportunities in web series, documentaries, short films, tv, ads etc. There are numerous job opportunities such as videographer, cameraman etc. The industry does value a degree in film, or more specific degrees; the degree is proof that you know what you are doing and are not an amateur. With the expansion of the industry onto different platforms, the demand for cinematographers has risen exponentially.
While going to college and getting a degree is an option, online cinematography institutes are a good option for students who don’t want to go to college. Online cinematography courses are of short duration and at the end of it give you a certificate. In the current pandemic situation most institutes offer distance learning and online certification programs. We believe students should be aware of all available options and then make a mindful decision.
Cinematography is a language that one has to master to tell good stories through their movies. Your institute is the first place where you learn the intensities of the industry and is the place where you make your first set of contacts in the industry. Pursuing a cinematography degree course will make you gain a lot of experience because of the cultural diversity and constant travelling. India is a great place to put your creativity to use and create something. India is a country with over 1.2 billion people living in it; cinematographers should use this to put out their work and gain popularity. Studying in India will make you well-versed with the people and aid you in putting out the right content to gain attention.
If you are committed to achieving your academic goals, get admission to a course and institution of your choice, then, go ahead, take a leap of faith and fulfil your dream of becoming a cinematographer!