A Career in Digital Filmmaking

The first ever usage of animation in films happened in the year 1899. And the first ever digital film was distributed via satellite to cinemas in the year 2001. During this time period, filmmaking has been transformed head to toe, owing to digital technology. Simply put, the transition from film reels to digital format for film production and distribution characterizes Digital Filmmaking.

Digital Filmmaking involves handling equipment, such as cameras, recorders, projectors, and computers. So essentials for Digital Filmmaking naturally include possessing knowledge of latest software, shooting with digital cameras, digital storage devices (such as SD cards, hard drives, etc.), and video formats (such as 3D). A career in Digital Filmmaking can be enriching and rewarding in terms of knowledge and pay packages.

India releases a large number of films every year in local languages. These are not only the feature films, but documentaries, promotional films, TV commercials, music videos, and more. Nowadays filmmaking is not merely for entertainment and information, but also for communication. A fresh new approach to mass media is promoted by upcoming creative talent in this industry. There are several key creative roles required for filmmaking. Some of them are:

Production: From sourcing ideas to finally screening of the film, production is a task which requires strong management skills. A digital film producer has to be highly alert of all the needs of everyone involved and has to oversee that the project runs smoothly. Several filmmaking schools across the country offer both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in media entertainment business. These courses aim to cover general management issues which arise when making a film, such as how to procure copyrights, personnel management, and licensing all activities.

Direction: For digital films, excellent direction is a key factor. With video cameras and latest equipment, it has become highly cost effective and easy to shoot footage. A director and his team are responsible for bringing the script alive. They also lead the sound and visual effects team, which is a very important aspect of digital films these days. A director is responsible for successful delivery of the film. Undergraduate and postgraduate studies in film and cinema studies are necessary to acquire the right skills and training to become a director.

Screenwriting: A story is the life of a movie and a screenwriter is one who gives life to a story. For digital films especially, where adaption has to be engaging, a crisp story is the basic foundation for a film. If you are an imaginative and creative individual with a flair to write great narratives, and a will to share it with the world, screenwriting can be your calling. General courses for screenwriting include creative writing, film theory, and digital media production and screenwriting. Apart from degree programs, various diploma and short term courses for screenwriting can be pursued to refine your writing skills.

Cinematographers: If you wish to present a story on screen and you wish to know the ABC of handling a camera, cinematography can be your vocation. A critical job for Digital Filmmaking, a cinematographer is the one who handles all the camera equipment, sound, and recording devices. They must be aware of different camera angles, lighting, picture quality, and various nitty-gritties of digital videos and sound files. Beyond this, they need to have good observational skills for editing the videos. Special courses with focus on cinematography, photography, post production, and editing are suitable to learn cinematography in detail.

There are several other tasks and roles involved in Digital Filmmaking, like graphic designing teams; technicians for sound, light, and music; and crew and cast. Professional training can be sought for each of these. A simple search can throw results for ever increasing number of institutes offering filmmaking courses. This is backed by the scope of Digital Filmmaking in India. The present value of the Indian film industry is estimated to be Rs. 14,000 crores. And this figure is only going up.

Media consumption in India has also seen a high growth in the last decade. An average smartphone user spends nearly 21 percent of his time consuming audio and video entertainment. Spending per month on digital media is expected to grow by 2.5 times by 2020. And this is a good news for upcoming film makers. With different digital formats, the users are not limited to theaters only. Different platforms, such as YouTube, are great for budding film makers to showcase their talent. Anybody who is willing to devote his time to this creative vocation is facing a great opportunity at this time in our country.