Diploma in Digital Film Production- 1 year

Diploma in Digital film production

 Faculty: T. Krishnanunni, P.J. Cherian, N.V. Narayanan, Sivakumar, Madhu Eravankara

Welcome to the Orange Film Academy and Research Centre! This one year diploma course gives you the right wings to express themselves through cinematic visual storytelling and reach out to masses. The course includes broad topics such as Film and Television with practical training in Digital Film Technology, Sound Design, Video Editing, Cinematography, Light Design and Script-writing.

The important topics covered in the course include: Film appreciation, introduction to digital photography, introduction to cinematography, pre-production, introduction to visual editing course, introduction to sound design, advanced digital photography, advanced cinematography, advanced visual editing, advanced sound design and multi-cam production.

Our Faculty members are masters built on their experiences in the fields of their specialization.  We have well-experienced faculty including T. Krishnanunni who is a three-time national award winner for Audiography, P.J. Cherian, an expert with three decades of experience in Cinematography, A.V. Narayanan, an experienced editor who won State awards  and Madhu Eravankara, a tutor of international repute and famous as jury of filmfestivals across the world to take you to the core of the course. Apart from the Syllabus based classes, we will have Masterclasses, Workshops and assignments to hone your skill in film production.

The course is given 100% Online, so that you can learn at the comfort of your home. The course material can be accessed for two years that will help you to watch the same lessons multiple times to understand the concept thoroughly. This will help self-paced and flexible kind of learning.The basic qualification is Plus Two and there is no age limit. On discussion forum, students can ask questions and working together to solve each other’s questions.

Anyone who wants to learn film-making techniques, anyone who wants to polish their skills, anyone who has a passion in directing and filmmaking. New batches will be started at the beginning of each month

The scope of digital visual media is ever expanding and the careers associated to it such as audio and video editing, camera, script writing and directing are so significant in both the service and entertainment sectors worldwide. These course modules are tailored to meet the various skill sets that are required in the Media and Entertainment industry.

We hope to see you in this course!

1 Year Diploma Course
  • Classes for 4 hours per week on alternate days
  • Assessment will be made at the end of each Module
  • A mandatory student project (10-15 minute-long digital film) will be the part of the course

Learning Structure:                  Self/ Instructor-paced

Duration:                               1 Year

Method of Teaching:     Recorded and  Online classes

Language of Instruction:                English

Program starts:                                  1st December, 2020

Eligibility:                                              Senior secondary school or equivalent

Course fee:                                            Rs.70,000/-

For further details:                          Call us: 9496168654, 8921958160
Write to:                                                 orangefilmacademy@gmail.com

Course Curriculum:
FILM APPRECIATION

MODULE 1:

  • Cinema and spectatorship
  • Cinema as art, cinema as industry
  • Hollywood cinema
  • Indian cinema, Bollywood movies.

MODULE 2:

  • Film and other visual arts
  • Film and novel. Film and theatre. Film and music.

MODULE 3:

  • Technology and film
  • Fundamentals of image technology, sound technology.
  • The lens; the camera. Aspect ratio, colour contrast and tone.
  • Post production, editing, special effects.

MODULE 4:

  • Film genres. Fundamentals of film theory.
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

MODULE I: BASICS OF DIGITIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Photography; difference between still and movie; purpose of photography;
  • Different categories of photography (travel, commercial, wedding, documentation, hobby, family album, tour, landscape, profile etc); qualities and qualifications of a photographer
  • Difference between analogue and digital photography.

MODULE II: THE CAMERA

  • Photographic image, brief history of the development of still cameras from camera obscura to the modern digital camera, types of cameras and focusing methods, exposure controls, shutter speed and aperture,
  • Different types of lenses, depth of field, filters, basics of colour and digital photography,

MODULE III: HANDLING THE CAMERA AND THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CAMERAS

  • Holding the camera; using tripods and monopods; tricks and tips; white balance; shift; bracketing; choosing; colour temperature; white balance preset; light; shutter speed; aperture; ISO, ASA, DIN;
  • Light, shutter speed, aperture and ISO; point and shoot; presumer;

MODULE IV: UNDERSTANDING OF LIGHT

  • Fundamentals of Light, Available light; artificial light; hard and soft light;
  • Subject detail and shape; choosing the right colour; moving camera and subject;
  • High shutter speed and low shutter speed; frozen picture; movement in picture; control of lighting conditions; colour difference in relation to shutter speed; shallow depth of field and increased depth of field; varying ISO for getting more depth
INTRODUCTION TO CINEMATOGRAPHY

MODULE I: BASICS OF CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • Elements of composition, image size, camera and subject movements,
  • Creative use of light and colour
  • 5 C’s of cinematography (camera angles, continuity, cutting, close – ups & composition)

MODULE II: LIGHTING SOURCES

  • Ambient/natural light, hard and soft lights, light fixtures and reflectors,
  • Indoor lights, three – point and four – point lighting, functions of lighting

MODULE III: VIDEOGRAPHY

  • Principles of videography, video recording systems, colour coding systems,
  • TV broadcast systems, difference between studio cameras and camcorders, types of video cameras, video recording formats, camera operations,
  • Single camera and multi camera shoots
PRE-PRODUCTION

MODULE 1:

  • Fundamentals of a Script; Conceiving the idea; Theme and story;
  • Screen Play; Dialogue;
  • Essentials of a good script-structure, clarity, coherence; Script development;
  • From script to story board; Objectives and structure of story board; story board styles; Story board exercises.

MODULE 2:

  • Schedule and Location planning;
  • Casting and scheduling; Role of production crew – Assistant Director, Cinematographer/videographer; Camera assistant(s); Shot division of script;
  • Shot types – Extremely long shots (ELS); Long shots (LS); Medium long shots (MLS); Medium close-up (MCU); Big Close-up (BCU); Extreme close up ( ECU); Level angle shots; High angle shots; Low angle shots; Extreme wide shot.

MODULE 3:

  • Shot composition; Proportion; Rule of thirds; Framing; Pictorial balance; Continuity; Light positions;
  • Taking different shots to convey idea(s), meaning and relationships; Master shots/establishing shot; Point of view shots; Cut-away shots; Retakes;
  • Sound recording equipment: types of microphones –unidirectional, bidirectional, omni directional, cardioid; Shot guns, booms;
  • Audio recorder, control console, amplifiers; Noise/hum reduction; systems; MIDI
INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL EDITING COURSE DETAILS

MODULE I: BASICS OF VISUAL EDITING

  • Fundamentals of aesthetics of editing;
  • Time and space in editing; Rhythm, movement and cadence; Continuity;
  • The soviet school, Vertov, Eisenstein, Pudovkin;
  • The French New wave; Approaches to Editing in Hitchcock; Bunuel; Bresson; Revoir

MODULE II: EDITING STYLES

  • Linear and Non-Linear Editing,
  • Recording in analog and Digital mode; Editing in Digital era;
  • Standardization in formats and aspect ratio in Television;
  • Action cutting; Sequence cutting; Parallel cutting;
  • Editing styles in advertising; Editing dramatic scenes; Dramatic continuity;

MODULE III: EDITING SOFTWARE

  • Introduction to non-linear editing equipments and software;
  • Adobe premiere, AVID, Final cut pro; Timing;
  • Manipulation of time through continuity;
  • Structuring a scene; structuring a program;

MODULE IV: AUDIO IN VISUAL EDITING

  • Audio tracks; Mixing audio tracks;
  • Editing and organizing audio effects; monitoring and adjusting audio levels; Setting key frames to change volume;
  • Usage of an audio mixer;
  • Recording a narrative track.
INTRODUCTION TO SOUND DESIGN

MODULE I:

  • Perception of sound, hearing sensitivity, frequency, range-sound wave length-measuring sound-
  • Basic setup of recording system-analog/digital cables, connecters, analogue to digital conversion.

MODULE II:

  • Microphone types-unidirectional, bidirectional, omni directional, cardioids
  • Direction and pickup pattern, noise, choosing the right mike, technique
  • Sound reproduction devices, input devices, various sound file extensions.

MODULE III:

  • Location sound recording, Separate Audio vs In Camera Audio, Leads and Adapters
  • Microphone Accessories, Lavelier/Tie Clip Placement, Boom Mic Placement
  • Recording Gigs & Amplified Performances, Wildtrack & Roomtone, Syncing Audio.
ADVANCED DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

MODULE I: DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHOOTING MODES AND MENU OPTIONS

  • Programmable modes; preset modes; special modes; setting camera menu; easy accessing switches;
  • In-camera picture editing (D-lighting, crop, retouching).
  • Light Design for Photography, Lighting for Indoors,

MODULE II: COMPOSITION

  • Different types of composition; rules of composition; colour harmony; focal length;
  • Selection of lenses (zoom, wide angle zoom, tele zoom and fixed lenses);
  • Metering systems, measuring falling light and reflecting light; auto focusing; manual focusing.

MODULE III: INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL IMAGE EDITING

  • Introduction to Adobe Photoshop or any other open source photo editing software;
  • Basic image editing tools, basic image manipulations, Portraits, news photographs, lighting for still life, lighting for table-top, tricky lighting for special effects
  • Macro and micro photography, use of different focal length of lenses for landscape shooting, architectural photography etc.
ADVANCED CINEMATOGRAPHY

MODULE 1

  • Shot types, Shot composition; Proportion; Rule of thirds; Framing; Pictorial balance; Continuity;
  • Light positions; Taking different shots to convey idea(s), meaning and. relationships;
  • Master shots/establishing shot; Point of view shots; Cut-away shots; Retakes;

 

 MODULE 2

  • Camera Lenses- aperture, focal length, lens angle and image size;
  • Video gain; Exposure, Colour balance; DV Cam, HD, 2K, 4K, Video signals – composite, component – DVI, VGA, HDMI, SDI; Video recorders; Choosing the correct focal length – Zoom lenses;
  • Camera Control MODULEs (CCU); Camcorders; Multiple camera shoot

 

MODULE 3

  • Lighting for Cinematography: natural light and created light; Basic light sources: key light, fill light and back light.
  • Shading devices; Filters: Reflectors; Diffusers; Umbrellas; Light meters; matching outdoor- and indoor-light.
  • Lighting techniques to create mood, time period and special effects.
ADVANCED VISUAL EDITING

MODULE I: BASICS OF EDITING

  • Fundamentals of video formats; Video format compatibility; Audio format compatibility; Starting;
  • Post Production; Raw source footage; Role of special effects; Audio design; Color correction; Keeping track of footages.

MODULE II: BEGINNING A PROJECT

  • Project; Media files, Clips and sequences; interfaces; Key board short cuts and short cut menus; Time code; Split Edits;
  • Working with Multi-clips; Performing Slip, Slide, Ripple, and Roll Edits; Trimming Clips; Adding Transitions;
  • Refining Transitions Using the Transition Editor; Sequence-to-Sequence Editing; Matching Frames and Play head Synchronization; Working with Time code.

MODULE III EDITING VIDEO WITH AUDIO

  • Mixing Audio in the Timeline and Viewer; Using the Voice Over Tool; Using Audio Filters;
  • Exporting Audio for Mixing in Other Applications; Working with Soundtrack Pro; Using Video Filters; Installing and Managing Video Effects;
  • Video Filters; Changing Motion Parameters; Adjusting Parameters for Keyframed Effects; Reusing Effect and Motion Parameters; Changing Clip Speed; Working with Freeze Frames and Still Images; Compositing and Layering; Keying, Mattes, and Masks;
  • Using Generator Clips; Using the Smooth Cam Filter; Creating Titles; Working with Motion;
  • Working with Master Templates; Measuring and Setting Video Levels.

MODULE IV ADVANCED EDITING TECHNIQUES

  • Color Correction; Color Correction Features; Color Correction Filters; Color Correction Examples;
  • RT Extreme; Rendering and Video Processing; Mixed-Format Sequences; Backing Up and Restoring Projects; Offline and Online Editing; Reconnecting Clips and Offline Media;
  • Overview of the Media Manager; Diagnostic Tools for Clips; Printing to Video and Output from the Timeline;
  • Compressor with Final Cut Pro; Exporting Still Images and Image Sequences; Capture Settings and Presets;
  • Device Control Settings and Presets; Sequence Settings and Presets.
  • Editing Software: Any Photo Editing Software based on open source code.
ADVANCED SOUND DESIGN

MODULE I:

  • Audio studio fundamentals: introduction to Pro Tools, installing Pro Tools and the textbooks, DVD contents,
  • The Pro Tools interface, signal flow, gain stages, I/O setup, types of tracks, creating a new session in Pro Tools, keyboard shortcuts.

MODULE II:

  • Pro Tools recording techniques: setting recording levels, sample rate and bit depth
  • Sound wave fundamentals, deeper into sampling, sampling and anti-aliasing, quantizing and coding, hard drive space requirements, disk allocation, session parameters, buffer settings and latency times,
  • The basics of microphones and microphone techniques
  • Pro Tools preferences, importing audio and session data, keyboard shortcuts, assignment: the ultimate recording.

MODULE III:

  • Recording: busses, playlists, use of sound fx, dialogue, music. equalization. balancing of levels- panning, mixing, creative use of sound track,
  • The art of producing and recording Your Own Music, memory locations and markers, window configurations and arrangements, using inserts, the basics of effects loops, headphones and headphone mixers.
MULTI-CAM PRODUCTION

MODULE I

  • Production techniques, planning and management of live shows, single and multi, camera productions
  • Camera controls unit, mounting equipments, preview monitors, switcher, line monitor, VTR, optical disc, hard drives

MODULE II

  • Microphones, audio mixer, console, audio monitor, sound recording and play back devices.

MODULE III

  • Lighting in studio, 3-point lighting, lighting for an event, studio lighting instruments, lighting control devices

MODULE IV

  • Switching or instantaneous editing, multi-function switcher, basic switcher operations, studio floor, treatments, properties, set backgrounds, platforms.

MODULE V

  • Covering events, location sketch and remote set ups, OB vans, camera lighting, audio, intercommunication, signal transmission. Multi-camera production practicals.

PRACTICAL + VIVA VOCE

  • Practical: The examination will be of 5hrs duration and will be conducted by an external examiner. (The internal marks composed of practical records of all papers.)
  • Viva Voce: Every student must attend the viva voce as scheduled by University. The viva-voce will cover all subjects of study including video production.

All the study materials can be accessed for two years