Proposed Syllabus

3 Year Program in Film Direction & Screenplay Writing

Total credits – 144

Objective of the Course

The course offers unique opportunity to learn the art and craft of screenplay writing and film direction from
multidimensional approach. The course intends to enable the student to be conceptually rich, skilful to be aware of her own
cultural resources and also to be using her own persona to engage with various forms of cinema in a creative manner which
will be significant in social and cultural terms, relevant to the time and milieu of her creation. The nature of engagement of
the student should allow her to be sensitive to the merging possibilities of cinematic form and cinematic narrative.

The focal areas of the course has been re­calibrated from teacher­centric top down approach to learner­centric bottom­up
approach by introduction of choice­based credit system, continuous process of evaluation, within the pre­existing robust
fabric of mandatory and essential graded phases of learning. This would enable both student and faculty more responsible
towards their mutually shared time.

The course also proposes to be more sensitive towards diverse pedagogical methodologies and to create a nuanced balance
between those.

Highlights of the Structure of the Course

3 year course divided into 6 semesters, each containing 20 weeks.

One week will consist of 5 working days. One day will consist up to 8 hours of contact period.
Twenty weeks will consist of around up to 100 working days and provision of up to 800 contact hours during
class hours. Beyond that works done after class hours also needs be accounted as contact hours.

Semester I is an Introductory & Common Course for Direction and Screenplay Writing,
Cinematography, Editing, Sound Recording and Sound Designing and Art Direction & Production Design.
Semester II­VI will be specialization for all these departments.

Acting students will attend first 12 weeks of 1st Semester and then move into their specialization course.

The specialization semesters should have at least 16 credits, at most 24 credits per semester, depending
on the density of the content and the depth of learning aimed for.

To be considered for the subsequent semester minimum 75% credits from overall credits and 90% of
the Hard Core credits from the preceding semester and to be acquired by the individual student.

For the courses primarily intensive in theoretical and conceptual learning, 20 to less than 30 contact
hours can be considered equivalent to 01 credit.

For the courses intensive in theoretical learning, supplemented by practical learning, 30 to less than 40
contact hours can be considered equivalent to 01 credit.

For the courses intensive in practical learning, independent study, independent work, exercise and
project mode learning 40 and above contact hours can be considered equivalent to 01 credit.

The rationale for assigning credits to any course or module needs to be envisaged separately based on
the nature of course and the nature of engagement of the student.
Electives to be offered by Direction and Screenplay Writing Dept:

A. Open Electives (Inter­departmental)

During the total tenure of the course spread over 6 semesters, Direction Dept will offer two electives for two weeks in the
end of 2nd semester and again two electives for two weeks in the beginning of 4th semester. The electives will consist
theoretical classes, exercises and home assignments, based on the nature of the courses. Some of the features might be:
a) Maximum no. of students per course – 10
b) The detailed course description will be provided in advance, preferably at the beginning of the respective students
c) The Courses will be available to students of any specialization based on first come first serve basis.
d) No extension for the completion of the elective courses will be offered to any students.
e) Two types of courses will be offered:
i) One type will address issues of writing and direction for short narratives and documentaries.
ii) The main thrust of the other type will be upon the textual understanding of cinema as a discursive medium
from various theoretical vantage points and the importance and nature of the creative role of the director.
f) The dept will not provide physical infrastructure (like video camera, editing systems etc) to the students opting electives
to do the exercises and assignments. The infrastructure if needed needs to be shared from other departments.
g) The courses will comprise at least one component where the students need to present some aspect within the paradigm of
the course about which academic material is not readily available.

Examples of some tentative courses:

1. Writing and developing a sequence
2. Scripting for documentary
3. Scripting from actuality
4. Spatial notions and Cinematic space
5. Temporal Articulations in cinema
6. Non­fiction films by Fiction masters
7. Comparing Melodramas
8. The Cultural Self of Cinema

B. Electives for Direction and Screenplay Writing Specialization Students (Intra­departmental):

1. Independent Study
During 5th Semester the students of Direction specialization have to opt for a course based on independent study. They have
to submit a proposal for the theme of the independent study and those need be approved by the Direction Dept. They will be
assigned faculty guides based on their themes. They have to report to their guide from time to time about their progress and
by the end of the semester they need to submit assignments in the form of written essay or video essay exploring enough
about the theme and will be graded accordingly. The time for doing this need to found from the gaps after or before
completing the Long Take exercise and writing for Degree film. The themes can be based on:
a) already existing cinematic works
b) field work related to visual culture and visual anthropology.
Some even can look at FTII archive and can produce a work based on
c) recycling and re­treating images from FTII archive and they can present a video, video art, location based installation etc.

2. Electives for Graduation Film

a) The direction specialization students will be allowed to exercise their preferences for degree film during 6 th semester in
terms of predominantly fiction or predominantly non­fiction.
b) Also there will be preferences for mode of production, i.e. light­weight flexible crew members vis a vis full strength crew
for industrial mode of filmmaking.

3. Electives for Final Written Assignment

The direction specialization students can opt for preferences for the final written assignment to be submitted at the end of
the 6th semester. Either they can opt for a full length feature script or they can submit a well researched article (min 6000
words) on any theme related to aesthetics, practice, theory and philosophy related to cinema.
4. Elective elements in the Mandatory Modules
In an art school scenario, there are supposed to be exercises, practicals and projects where the choice of theme is often based
on creative preference, and not determined by fixed domain of theoretical concepts. These creative choices need to
considered partially elective in nature. The choices of those themes demand domain specific research to actualize those in
artistic works. That way that becomes elective self learning in parts. In that way, most of the learning modules in
specialization and exercises do have that elective creative component.

Distribution of Credit Types over the Semesters

SEM I SEM II SEM III SEM IV SEM V SEM VI Total

A1: Mandatory credits for Common Course 15 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 15
without Elective Elements
A2: Mandatory credits for Common Course 09 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 09
with Elective Elements
A3: Mandatory credits for Specialization N/A 08 12 12 10 06 48
without Elective Elements
A4: Mandatory credits for Specialization with N/A 12 12 06 10 10 50
Elective Elements
A5: Intra­departmental Elective credits N/A 00 00 02 04 08 14
A6: Open Inter­departmental Elective credits N/A 04 00 04 00 00 08
24 24 24 24 24 24 144

Distribution of Credits over the Semesters According to Pedagogical Domains

SEM I SEM II SEM III SEM IV SEM V SEM VI Total

B1: Theoretical Learning Modules 09 03 00 00 00 00 12

(Hard Core)
B2: Practical Learning Modules and 05 02 08 02 06 00 23
Mandatory Independent Work Modules
(Hard Core)
B3: Theoretical and Practical Integrated 00 12 08 04 04 00 28
Learning Modules (Hard Core)
B4: Exercises and Projects Modules 04 00 08 12 08 16 48
(Hard Core)
B5: Choice­based Independent Study Modules 02 00 00 02 04 08 16
(Soft Core)
B6: Masterclass, Workshop, Special Learning 04 03 00 00 02 00 09
Modules (Soft Core)
B7: Open Electives 00 04 00 04 00 00 08
24 24 24 24 24 24 144

Hard Core Modules – 77% (approx)

Soft Core Modules – 17% (approx)
Open Elective Modules – 06% (approx)

Schematic Flow Chart of Modules over the Semesters

WEEKS SEM I SEM II SEM III SEM IV SEM V SEM VI
01 INTRODUC­ CONTINUITY DIALOGUE & WINDOW SPECIFICS OF GRADUA­
TORY AND CINEMA FOR LONG TAKE TION FILM
02 MODULE ALTERNATIVE ELECTIVES AND IDEA PROJECT
MODES OF DEVELOPME
NARRATIVE NT FOR PLAN
03 THEORY AND SCREEN DOCU­
SEQUENCE
PRACTICAL PLAY MENTARY
EXERCISE
MODULE 1 WRITING FOR THEORY AND
04 SCREENPLAY DIALOGUE PRACTICALS PLAN
WRITING EXERCISE SEQUENCE
05 EXERCISE
06 SOUND
DESIGN IN
07 CINEMA: CINEMA DOCU­
THEORETICAL MENTARY
08 THEORY AND AND PHILOSO­ SHORT FILM: PROJECT
PRACTICAL PHICAL DIALOGUE DEVELOP­
MODULE 2 PERSPECTIVES BASED MENT
STUDIO
09 LOCATION EXERCISE
STUDY TOUR
10 WORKING DOCU­
WITH ACTORS MENTARY
EXERCISE
11 MONTAGE: MASTER
FORMATIONS CLASS
OF POETICS OF
12 CINEMA
SCREEN­
WRITING FOR
13 CONTINUITY DIPLOMA
EXERCISE PROJECT &
14 MISE­EN­
SCENE PRE­
15 PRODUCTION

16
17 ASPECTS OF
CINEMATO­
GRAPHY
18 ASPECTS OF
ART
DIRECTION
19 WINDOW FOR
ELECTIVES
20 EVALUATION
OF
CONTINUITY
EXERCISE
 Within FILM DIARY SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION INDEPEN­ DISSERTA­
the SUBMISSION BASED ON OF IDEAS FOR DENT STUDY TION
ADAPTATION DIPLOMA
Semester FILM
SEMESTER I : INTRODUCTORY AND COMMON COURSE (20 WEEKS, TOTAL CREDITS 24)
Objective: Learning aspects of Continuity as a narrative tool & having an overview of history of cinema
(Introductory Module – 04 credits, Theory – 09 credits, Practical – 05 credits, Continuity Exercise – 04 credits, Film
Diary – 02 credits. Theory and Practical credits are to be shared among the respective departments)

CREDIT
LEARNING DURATION LEARNING
NO DETAILS DISTRIBUTION &
MODULE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT
1 INTRODUCTORY 1st – 2nd week a) General Introduction to The understanding of 01 credit @ 20 contact
MODULE Cinema – 20 hrs cinema as a distinct art hours
02 weeks *Understanding the form
INT101 10 days moving images as signs The relationship of 20 contact hours –
80 contact *Space and Time to cinema with other art (approx. 12 hours of
Module Type: hours Cinematic Space and forms lecture and 08 hours of
A1B6 Cinematic Time Basic exposure to the classroom screenings/
Soft Core *Specification of cinema in appreciation of various exercises/discussion per
comparison to other audio­ art forms Component) – 01 credit
visual media
*Cinema and other art Total – 01 x 4 = 04
forms credits

(b) Visual Art Component The evaluation can be

– 20 hrs done separately for each
*Ways of seeing credit or all together for
*Reading a painting 04 credits
*Idea of Frame and
Perspective Active presence – 70%
*Artisan and Artist weightage
*Value of art, art and Exercises/assignments –
mechanical reproduction 30% weightage

(c) Literary Art Component

– 20 hrs
*Idea of narrative
*Idea of epic
*Idea of Rhetoric
*Poesy, how to read a
poem

(d) Performative Art

Component – 20 hrs
*Theatre as ritual
*Body as a site of culture
*Body, face, inhibition,
emotion *Performance art
*Formal qualities of music
and dance
 Total for Module I and II
Direction Theory:
THEORY AND
­ Role of a director
PRACTICAL Theory – 200 hours
­ Space and time in cinema
MODULE 1 (09 credits)
­ Elements of shot and
(Morning theory, Evaluation of theory
composition
afternoon papers to be done based
Direction Practical:
practicals) 3rd – 7th week on class room
­ actuality – exercises in
assignments or take away
observation
Theory­ 2 classes 05 weeks assignments
­ 3 shot, silent, static,
per day of 2 hrs. 25 days
focusing on composition
each 200 contact Practical – 200 hours
and exploring a given
hours (05 credits)
theme
2 Theory Courses Evaluation of practical
Screenplay Theory:
Module Type: Total theory: modules to be done in the
­ What is fiction
A1B1 100 hours respective modules
­ What is narrative
Hard Core
­ What is screenplay
Total Practical: Total contact hours for
­ Elements of Fictional
Practical – 4 hours 100 hours Direction and Screenplay
Narrative: Character
each day Writing Theory –
Action, Setting, Dialogue
40 hours in classroom and
Common both for
Practical Courses 08 hours as take home
Course codes: Module I and II
Module Type: assignments (48 hours)
DSW101T
A2B2
DSW101P *Acquaintance of
Hard Core Total credits for Direction
history of cinema in
and Screenplay Writing
20th century
Theory – 02
*Acquaintance of basic
tools
01 theory credit @ 24
for production
Direction Theory: contact hours
*Acquaintance of
­ Basic concepts of Mise­
continuity as a narrative
en­scene and montage Active presence – 50%
tool
­ Continuity and Narrative weightage
Cinema Assignments – 50%
8th – 12th week
­ Elements of Sound in
THEORY AND cinema Total contact hours for
05 weeks
PRACTICAL Direction Practical: Direction and Screenplay
25 days
MODULE 2 ­ 6 shot, silent, static, in Writing Practical –
200 contact
(Morning theory, one location, exploring 40 hours
hours
3 afternoon spatial continuity and eye­
practicals) line matching Total credit for Direction
Total theory:
Theory­ 2 classes Screenplay Theory: and Screenplay Writing
100 hours
per day of 2 hrs. ­ Elements of Drama: Practical – 01
each Conflict, Mystery,
Total Practical:
Surprise, Suspense, 01 practical credit @ 40
100 hours
Dramatic Irony contact hours
­ Construction of a Scene
Outline, Step Outline, Active presence – 20%
Treatment, Drafts weightage
Practical Assignments –
80%
 Average engagement time
CONTINUITY per student 120 hours per
EXERCISE exercise and 40 hours of
13th – 19th week evaluation (total 160
CNT101 hours) –
07 weeks 04 credits
Not less than 10 shots, not
Module Type:
st more than 20 shots, not
A2B4 (1 week for 01 credit @ 40 contact
more than 5 minutes of
Hard Core script hours
edited length
discussion, Ability to demonstrate
finalization and spatial and temporal
To be shot within campus,
pre­production) continuity, developing a Script submission with
4 sync sound, exploring one
narrative exploring storyboard for continuity
location and maintaining
characters around one – 30% weightage
spatial continuity
location.
Completion of the film
including attending the
evaluation – 50%
weightage
20th week
EVALUATION 01 week Active presence during
OF CONTINUITY evaluation of all the
EXERCISE exercises – 20%
weightage
To be done based on the Estimated contact hours
films shown in general beyond classes – 100
screenings and films
Ability to articulate and
referred in classroom. The 02 credits
FILM DIARY express about various
writings can be in various
SUBMISSION aspects of cinema in a
To be done forms, including sketches, 01 credit @ 50 contact
personalized yet
within the graphics etc. It should hours
FDS101 communicable manner
5 semester contain personal reflections
on cinema, informed by To be evaluated by Dept
Module Type: Ability to retain the
some reference work. It of Screen Studies or Dept
A1B5 experience and
also should contain various of Direction and
Soft Core observations derived
conceptual queries, Screenplay Writing
from screenings
confusions and initiatives
taken for the solutions,
searches etc.
DETAILED CREDIT DISTRIBUTION FOR SEMESTER I
Course Code Course Name Dur (hrs) Credits
INT101A General Introduction to Cinema 20 01
INT101B Introduction to Visual Art 20 01
INT101C Introduction to Literary Art 20 01
INT101D Introduction to Performative Art 20 01
DSW101T Direction and Screenplay Writing Theory 40 02
CNM101T Cinematography Theory 24 01
EDT101T Editing Theory 24 01
SSD101T Sound Recording and Sound Designing 24 01
Theory
ADP101T Art Direction and Production Design 24 (16 + 8) 01
Theory & Production Theory
AMS101T Acting theory & Music Theory 24 (12 + 12) 01
FLP101 Film Appreciation 40 02
DSW101P Direction Practical 40 01 (Elective element in terms of
choice of theme)
CNM101P Cinematography Practical 40 01 (Elective element in terms of
choice)
EDT101P Editing Practical 40 01 (Elective element in terms of
choice)
SSD101P Sound Practical 40 01 (Elective element in terms of
choice)
ADP101P Art Direction Practical 40 01 (Elective element in terms of
choice)
CNT101 Semester Ending Exercise: Continuity Film 160 04 (Elective element in terms of
choice of theme)
FDS101 Film Diary 80 02
Total 24
Mandatory credits without
elective elements – 15
Mandatory credits with elective
elements – 09
 Example of SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) Calculation based on 10 Grade Points
Grade Points Chart: The given grades are to be rationalized based on assessment criteria announced in advance for each
course as absolute grading. Other than absolute grading, relative grading also can be ascertained in a special assessment
situation.
Percentage Grade Grade Point Remarks
75 and above A+ 10 Excellent
70 to less than 75 A 09 Very Good
65 to less than 70 B+ 08 Good
60 to less than 65 B 07 Moderately Good
55 to less than 60 C+ 06 Moderate, needs improvement
50 to less than 55 C 05 Poor
45 to less than 50 D 04 Very Poor
Less than 45 F (Fail) ­­ Needs to repeat the course

Suppose a student Rohini gets the following grades in the 1st Semester:

Course Course Name Credits Grades Grade Grade Points Wightage

Code Points (No. of Credits x Grade Points)
INT101A General Introduction to Cinema 01 A­ 09 09
INT101B Introduction to Visual Art 01 B 08 08
INT101C Introduction to Literary Art 01 B­ 07 07
INT101D Introduction to Performative Art 01 B 08 08
DSW101T Direction and Screenplay Theory 02 A­ 09 18
CNM101T Cinematography Theory 01 A 10 10
EDT101T Editing Theory 01 B 08 08
SSD101T Sound Recording and Sound Designing Theory 01 B­ 07 07
ADP101T Art Direction and Production Design Theory 01 C 06 06
AMS101T Acting Theory & Music Theory 01 A­ 09 09
FLP101 Film Appreciation 02 B 08 16
DSW101P Direction Practical 01 B­ 07 07
CNM101P Cinematography Practical 01 B 08 08
EDT101P Editing Practical 01 C 06 06
SSD101P Sound Practical 01 B­ 07 07
ADP101P Art Direction Practical 01 C­ 05 05
CNT101 Semester Ending Exercise 04 B­ 07 28
FDS101 Film Diary 02 B 08 16
Total Credits 24 183

SGPA SEMESTER GRADE POINT AVERAGE (Total 183/24

Grade Point Weightage / Total no. of credits) = 7.62
SGPA is the weighted average of the Grade points.
CGPA (Final result for the course in terms of grade points) will be the average of SGPAs of various semesters

If some credits are not done, a provision has to be kept, so that the credit can be completed within a due course of time. In
case of the credit is not completed within the semester, the grade will be 'I' (Incomplete). Alternative exercises, assignments
are to be figured out so that the pending credits can be completed within the course time with some leverage of time for
clearing of backlogs.

Extra Credits
There can be provision of collecting some extra credits (might be maximum 8 credits over 6 semesters) in terms of critical
evaluation of a film festival, participating in book club, participating in a play, music appreciation, learning a musical
instrument, participating in workshops on painting, sculpture, pottery, clay modelling etc.
 SEMESTER II : SPECIALIZATION A (20 WEEKS, TOTAL CREDITS – 24)
Mandatory credits for Specialization without Elective Elements – 08
Mandatory credits for Specialization with Elective Elements – 12
Mandatory Intra­departmental Elective credits for Specialization – 00
Open Inter­departmental Elective credits – 04

Objective: Learning various theoretical aspects of narrative cinema

CREDIT
LEARNING DURATION LEARNING
NO DETAILS DISTRIBUTION &
MODULE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT

Identifying trends of Realism

and Modernism in cinema
through 20th Century and
delineating the developments in
film form

Realism in Classical Hollywood

Cinema
Screen Graphics To locate the
Neo­realism impulses of realism Total 03 credits
Realism and Indian Cinema and modernism in
CONTINUITY
cinema 01 credit @ 40 contact
AND
Modernism in pre­WWII hours
ALTERNATIVE
Modernist trends in post­WWII To analyze and
MODES OF 1st – 3rd week
Cinema articulate the co­ Presentation and
NARRATIVE
Modernist trends in post relations of 20th assignments –
1 03 weeks
independent India century history with 40% weightage
DSW201 15 days
developments in
105 hours
Student Presentation and cinema Practicals – 60%
Module Type:
submission of assignment on weightage
A4B3
theoretical issues To understand basic
Hard Core
modes of spatio­ (Elective elements in the
Articulations of Space and Time temporal practical exercises)
articulations
At least two sets of practical
exercises including shooting,
editing and detailed discussion:
­ One character, one space,
compression of time
­ One character, one space, real
time
­ One character, one space,
expansion of time
 Screenplay Writing
assignments, at least one
Aristotle's poetics of drama,
based on adaptation
Hero's Journey and classical Overview of
dramatic structure, narrative traditions
Total – 03 credits
SCREENPLAY Narrative traditions around the around the world
WRITING 4th – 6th week world
01 credit @ 40 contact
Overview of Indian narrative Ability to analyze
hours
DSW202 03 weeks structures – epic, oral and folk scripts
2
15 days traditions. Contemporary
Active Presence –
Module Type: 120 hours narrative forms, Study of Developing
20% weightage
A4B3 Adaptations with practical practical ability to
Writing assignments –
Hard Core exercises, Analysis of feature write a scene for
80% weightage
film script, Analysis of short short films
film script
(Elective elements in the
writing assignments)

Only theoretical classes

Evaluation by Sessional
submission

Overview of classical film Total – 03 credits

CINEMA: Understanding
theories
THEORETICAL various ideas on the
01 credit @ 25 contact
AND intrinsic nature of
7th – 8th week Overview of related concepts in hours
PHILOSOPHICAL cinema as an art
cultural studies:
PERSPECTIVES form
02 weeks Semiotics, Psychoanalysis, Active Presence –
3
10 days Structuralism, Post­ 40% weightage
DSW203 Understanding the
75 hours structuralism and
inter­relationship of
Deconstruction, Feminism, Written assignments and
Module Type: cinema with larger
Post­modernism. presentations – 60%
A3B1 domain of
weightage
Hard Core humanities
Through an exposition of the
above theoretical concepts, the
intention is to elucidate
cinema's propensity to time and
reality

9th week Learning to

Submission of sessional with scrutinize a location Engagement with field
4 LOCATION 01 week still images, video clips, and do situation – 50%
STUDY TOUR (including research documents etc corresponding weightage
both the research based on
DSW204 weekends) Ways of approaching a location, its specificity Assessment of sessional
how to unearth the pulse/s of the and presentation – 50%
Module Type: location, the history and myth Learning to see the weightage
A3B2 associated with the location, the location as a source
Hard Core societal phenomena, their for ideation Total – 02 credits
visible traces
Learning to study a Total hours 90 including
Locating the specificities of the location from the hours beyond official
location in terms of visible, perspective of hours
showable and invisible but felt Production
 attributes

How location lends itself as a

site for laying the creative
subjectivity of the filmmaker
01 credit @ 45 contact
possibilities
hours
Bridging between the location
generated ideas and actual
production possibilities, relating
with the living practices in the
location

The Camera and Actor

Difference of acting in theater
01 credit
and cinema
WORKING WITH
Movement and improvisation as
ACTORS 10th week 01 credit @ 40 contact
part of Mis­en­scene
hours
Ability to work
DSW205 01 week
5 Practical exercises focused on with actors and
05 days Active presence – 60%
Directors understanding the non­actors
Module Type: 40 hours weightage
working process of an actor
A3B6
Soft Core Interaction with the
Practical exercises focused on
actors – 40% weightage
working on characters with
chosen actors
Theory Classes
Fragmentation of real space into To fragment the
Total 03 credits
cinematic space, developing real space into the
MONTAGE: relationship between cinematic cinematic space and
01 credit @ 40 contact
FORMATIONS spaces of various shots based on create meaning
hours
OF POETICS OF 11th – 13th different direct and indirect through various
CINEMA week modes of associations associations.
Presentations –
Ability to dynamize
6 30% weightage
DSW206 03 weeks Practical exercises the frame.
15 days Two exercises: Understanding the
Practicals – 70%
Module Type: 120 hours – Use of Close ups, Exploring multidimensional
weightage
A4B3 the possibilities of conveying an relationship
Hard Core idea through a montage of static between images,
(Elective elements in the
shots sounds and words
practical exercises)
– Movement and montage in cinema

14th – 16th Theoretical classes and practical Total 03 credits

7 MISE­EN­SCENE week exercises Developing
sensibilities 01 credit @ 40 contact
DSW207 03 weeks Developing sensibilities towards towards elements of hours
15 days elements of creating cinematic creating cinematic
Module Type: 120 hours space – through various space and time Active presence – 30%
A4B3 illustrations and exercises, weightage
Hard Core focusing on Tonality, colour
Practical hands­on and
Movement in cinema written Assignments –
70% weightage
Time in cinema
 (Elective elements in the
practical exercises)
Getting acquainted
with the tools of 01 credit
Familiarity with different kinds
cinematography
ASPECTS OF of lenses and their effect on
and learning to 01 credit @ 40 contact
CINEMATO­ crafting cinematic space
17th week work in hours
GRAPHY demonstrated through practical
01 week collaboration with
exercises.
05 days the Active presence – 70%
8 DSW208
40 hours cinematographer weightage
A basic orientation on lighting
Module Type: principles. Familiarity with
Assessment – 30%
A3B6 lighting equipments.
weightage
Soft Core

Ideas about set construction, 01 credit

ASPECTS OF previsualizing the set,
ART DIRECTION approaches of art direction Getting acquainted 01 credit @ 40 contact
18th week
with the tools of art hours
DSW209 Function of art direction in both direction and
01 week
real location and studio­space learning to work in Active presence – 30%
05 days
Module Type: collaboration with weightage
40 hours
A3B6 Practical Exercises on Floor the art director
Soft Core Plan Assignments – 70%
weightage
19th – 20th
week

WINDOW FOR 02 weeks

02 credits per each
ELECTIVES 10 days Flexibility to learn
course
80 hours Direction Dept will offer two some topics based
DSW210ECT & on the interest of
courses as Open Electives* 01 credit @ 20 contact
DSW211ECT Individual the student from the
10 hours
student may bouquet of the
take two Courses will be announced in elective courses
the beginning of the semester Total 04 credits
Module Type: course one in given from all the
A6B7 each half of departments
Open Electives
Open Electives the day

40 hours for
each course
 SEMESTER III : SPECIALIZATION B (20 WEEKS, TOTAL CREDITS – 24)
Mandatory credits for Specialization without Elective Elements – 12
Mandatory credits for Specialization with Elective Elements – 12
Mandatory Intra­departmental Elective credits for Specialization – 00
Open Inter­departmental Elective credits – 00

Objective: Learning to write and shoot a dialogue­based scene with actors

CREDIT
LEARNING LEARNING
NO DURATION DETAILS DISTRIBUTION &
MODULE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT
Total – 04 credits
Theoretical classes
What is dialogue? Sociological
Total 112 hours including
and philosophical aspects of Understanding the
hours beyond class
dialogue need for dialogue in
DIALOGUE & 1st – 2nd week
cinema and society in
CINEMA 01 credit @ 28 contact
Comparative study of literature general
02 weeks hours
and cinema Ability to create
DSW301 10 days
1 characters through
80 hours in Written assignments –
Analysis of different kinds of dialogue
Module Type: class and 32 40% weightage
Dialogue sequences
A4B3 hours beyond
Understanding the
Hard Core class Practical assignments –
Practical exercises narrative function of
60% weightage
Shooting and editing of short dialogue
theme based dialogue
(Elective elements in the
sequences
practical exercises)
Total – 05 credits

Total 150 hours including

hours beyond class
SCREEN
3rd – 5th week
PLAY
01 credit @ 30 contact
WRITING
03 weeks Developing screenplay hours
Working with script guide from
15 days for dialogue­based
2 DSW302 idea development to a working
120 hours in short film Active presence – 20%
draft stage
class and 30 weightage
Module Type:
hours beyond
A4B2
class Draft for Dialogue script –
Hard Core
80% weightage

(Elective elements in
dialogue script)
Theoretical and Practical Total – 04 credits
3 SOUND 6th – 7th week classes Developing
 sensibilities towards
soundscape
Total 108 hours including
­ Relationship of sound to space hours beyond class
Exploring the creative
DESIGN IN ­ Soundscape, Sound art
possibilities of sound
CINEMA ­ Elements of sound in cinema 01 credit @ 27 contact
and music in cinema
02 weeks and their inter­relationship hours
DSW303 10 days ­ Notion of cinematic silence
Getting acquainted
80 hours and ­ Important musical genres in
with the tools of sound
Module Type: 28 hours India and their usage in cinema Active presence – 50%
designing
A3B3 beyond class ­Playback technique weightage
Hard Core ­ Analyzing ‘Music' and its
Learning to work in
uses in world cinema Assignments – 50%
collaboration with the
weightage
sound designer

8th – 20th Interior space

week 5 characters max.
Dialogue­based
Max 2­3 scenes
No music
4 SHORT FILM: Schedule and To develop the ability Total 08 credits
DIALOGUE norms are Duration: 7­8 min to coordinate and work
BASED only for Shooting Format: Digital with as a team Internal evaluation – 60%
STUDIO reference. It choice of block lenses (C300 divided in 5 components
EXERCISE may change camera) Script submission– 15%
in the final Shooting ratio: 1:3 To develop characters
CRD301DSW decisions on through dialogue in an Rush viewing – 10%
those. Production: No pre­PC interior set.
Module Type: PC to be conducted one week Rough cut viewing – 10%
A4B3 13 weeks before set preparation To learn to create
Hard Core (pre­ Shooting 2 days, 12 hrs per effectively with modest Final cut with mixed
production – day, 9 AM to 9 PM resources and tools sound viewing – 10%
week 1 & 2, 2 shoots simultaneously in 2
shooting – studios Final DCP viewing –15%
week 3­8, 3 days for art direction
editing – 1 day for lighting and props External evaluation – 40%
week 4­9, A basic indoor set will be
sound – week provided as per approved Average quality
EVALUA­ 5­10, design engagement equivalent to
TION Mastering – Minor alterations and approx. 320 hours
6­12, Buffer movement of 4th wall may be including discussion with
– week 13) allowed faculty, production
Sync sound planning, shooting,
No Voice over editing, sound post
No dubbing or foley recording production
No music
20th week or Provision of basic incidental 01 credit @ 40 contact
Over sounds hours
weekends
Post Production: For other departments
Edit plan and sound script to be depending on the nature
submitted and approved in the and amount of quality
respective stages of post­ engagement hour the
 production
Transcoding – 2 days
Editing – 5 days.
Sound cleaning and mixing – 4 credits needs to be
days ascertained
Lab, Colour correction and
DCP – 2 days

SCREEN­
PLAY BASED
ON ADAPTA­ Total time 90 hours
To be done
TION beyond official hours
within the To be able to develop a
A fictional script based on
total time of screenplay based on
6 DSW304 adaptation of 30 min of Total 03 credits
the project secondary literary
projected length
sources
Module Type: 01 credit @ 30 contact
A4B2 hours
Hard Core
 SEMESTER IV : SPECIALIZATION C (20 WEEKS, TOTAL CREDITS – 24)
Mandatory credits for Specialization without Elective Elements – 12
Mandatory credits for Specialization with Elective Elements – 06
Mandatory Intra­departmental Elective credits for Specialization – 02
Open Inter­departmental Elective credits – 04

Objective: Learning Documentary Cinema

CREDIT
LEARNING LEARNING
NO DURATION DETAILS DISTRIBUTION &
MODULE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT
1st – 2nd week
Total 04 credits
02 weeks
WINDOW FOR
10 days Direction Dept will offer
ELECTIVES Flexibility to learn 01 credit @ 20 contact
80 hours two courses as Open some topics based on hours
DSW401ECT & Electives* the interest of the
Individual
1 DSW402ECT student from the 02 credits per each
student may
Courses will be bouquet of the elective course
take two course
Module Type: announced in the courses given from all
one in each half
A6B7 beginning of the semester the departments Open Electives
of the day
Open Electives
40 hours for
each course
Total 04 credits
3rd – 6th week Historical overview of
Documentary movements
01 credit @ 35 contact
DOCUMENTARY 04 weeks through 20th century.
To develop the ability hours
THEORY AND 20 days Scripting Documentary,
to identify and express
PRACTICALS 140 hours having a 'voice' in the
through images and Active presence – 50%
documentary
rd st sounds from existing weightage
1 DSW403 3 week (1
reality
week of the Analyzing documentary
Practical – 50%
Module Type: module) films
To understand the weightage
A4B3 common course
need 'to document'
Hard Core with Politics and ethics of
(Elective elements in
cinematogra­ documentary practice
the practical exercises)
phy students Research Methodologies
2 DOCUMENTARY 7th – 9th week Documentary project Learning from the Total 02 credits
PROJECT development experience of an
DEVELOPMENT 03 weeks foregrounding the eminent documentary 01 credit @ 60 contact
15 days content, stylistics and filmmaker hours
DSW404 120 hours awareness of
documentary discourse Developing a Research – 30%
 Week 8 – Idea
discussion
Week 9 –
weightage
Research to
documentary project
specified areas
Module Type: effectively on the basis Project Presentation –
Week 10 –
A3B4 of research and 70% weightage
Presentation of
Hard Core working within the
the
given resources. (Elective elements in
documentary
the choice of domain)
idea with
production
details
10th – 20th week
DOCUMENTARY
EXERCISE 11 weeks

CRD401DSW Schedule and Total 12 credits

norms are only
(The time indicates for reference. It Average quality
To be shot within
the total time for all may change in engagement equivalent
Maharashtra, max. 100
the projects to get the final to 480 hours including
kms from Pune, The focus
over. decisions on shooting, editing, sound
will be on studying the
Individual project those. post production
rural landscape. Locations
completion time
will be assigned to
needs to be Week 11 – 01 credit @ 40 contact
students in the course of
ascertained Approval of hours
discussions through
separately) ideas
project development
Script – 20% weightage
Week 12­13 – Learning to execute a (02 credits)
Duration: 15 to 20 min
20th week Pre­production reality based
Shooting format: Digital
Evaluation and shooting of documentary idea in Direction – 50%
3 HD with sync sound
5 groups authentic manner weightage
Pre production and
Module Type: Week 14­15 – within the given (06 credits)
shooting: 2 weeks
A3B4 Pre­production resources and time
Hard Core and shooting of Post­production – 30%
Other equipments to be
remaining 5 weightage
provided: Laptop with
groups (04 credits)
editing software, sound
Week 14­17 –
recorder and portable
Post production
small lights if necessary
of first five *For other departments
with accessories
films depending on the nature
Week 16­18 – and amount of quality
Post production: 4 weeks
Post production engagement hours the
of rest five credits needs to be
films ascertained
Week 20 –
Screening and
assessment

4 SUBMISSION OF To be done Three alternative ideas Total 02 credit

IDEAS FOR within the total need to be submitted for
DIPLOMA FILM time of the diploma film Total 80 hours beyond
project official hours
 DSW405
01 credit @ 40 contact
hours
Module Type:
A4B2
(Elective elements in
Hard Core
the choice of ideas)

SEMESTER V: SPECIALIZATION D (20 WEEKS, TOTAL CREDITS – 24)

Mandatory credits for Specialization without Elective Elements – 10
Mandatory credits for Specialization with Elective Elements – 10
Mandatory Intra­departmental Elective credits for Specialization – 04
Open Inter­departmental Elective credits – 00

Objective: Developing an advanced understanding of narrative cinema

CREDIT
LEARNING LEARNING
NO DURATION DETAILS DISTRIBUTION &
MODULE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT
Total 04 credits
1st – 3rd week
Average quality
03 weeks
SPECIFICS OF engagement equivalent
15 days
LONG TAKE AND to 140 hours
120 hours in Theoretical classes with
IDEA
class and 20 examples from different kinds Learning to engage
DEVELOPMENT 01 credit @ 35 contact
hours beyond of explorations in long take critically with the
FOR PLAN hours
class cinematic elements of
SEQUENCE
Practical classes in long take mode of
1 EXERCISE Active presence – 30%
1st week of cinematography department presentation
weightage
the module)
DSW501
common Developing the idea for the Learning to script for
Practical and writing
course with long take project based on the a plan sequence
Module Type: Assignments –
cinemato­ given resources
A4B3 70% weightage
graphy
Hard Core
students
(Elective elements in
the practical exercises
and choice of theme)
2 4th – 10th Learning to conceive a Total 08 credits
PLAN SEQUENCE week Studio based coordinated shot of long duration
EXERCISE exercise with cinematography, within studio setup, Average quality
art direction and sound while choreographing engagement equivalent
CRD501DSW 07 weeks specialization students for movement of to 320 hours including
camera and characters scripting, pre­
Module Type: Schedule Two shoots simultaneously in production, shooting,
A3B4 and norms two studios Learning to explore and post production
Hard Core are only for extended cinematic
reference. It Duration: 3­5 min, single shot time emerging from a 01 credit @ 40 contact
may change Shooting format: Digital, shot of longer hours
in the final equivalent to ALEXA duration.
decisions on Given set with minimum Script – 25%
those. alterations – movable walls, weighatge
painting and choice of props 02 credits
 Sync sound
Set construction – 1 day
Lighting and rehearsal – 1 day
Shooting – 75%
Shooting – 1 day
weightage
Sound post production (like
06 credits
dialogue exercise)
MOV to be made after color
correction

Learning from the live

interaction with a
reputed film maker 02 credits
MASTER CLASS
11th week Learning to pose 01 credit @ 20 contact
Interaction with nationally or
DSW502 questions about the hours
internationally acclaimed
3 01 week directorial self of the
filmmaker on feature film
Module Type: 05 days filmmaker Active presence – 70%
making
A3B6 40 hours weightage
Soft Core Learning from the
practical shooting and Critical engagement –
editing done with the 30% weightage
film maker during the
master class

Learning to work out a

script of approx 20
Total 06 credits
SCREENWRITING min duration in
FOR DIPLOMA 12th – 20th consultation with the
Average quality
PROJECT & PRE­ week Preparation and presentation project guide
engagement equivalent
PRODUCTION of Diploma project proposal Learning to assess the
to 300 hours including
09 weeks production feasibility
time spent
DSW503 45 days Working drafts of all the of the script based on
3 beyond official hours
220 hours in scripts are to be ready by the prescribed time and
Module Type: class and 80 end of 5th semester resources
01 credit @ 50 contact
A4B2 hours beyond
hours
Hard Core class Learning to pitch the
script for its proposed
(Elective elements in
unique quality in
the choice of theme)
terms of idea and
treatment

4 INDEPENDENT To be done The final submission can be in Total 04 credits

STUDY within the any of these forms: Learning to study
total time of ­ Written essay issue/s related to Intra­departmental
DSW504 the semester ­ Video essay cinema/visual Electives
­ Video culture/visual
Module Type: ­ Video art anthropology etc Average quality
A5B5 ­ Location based installation based on the interest engagement equivalent
Soft Core of the student under to 160 hours including
(*A budget provision has to be the guidance of the time spent
made for successful faculty beyond official hours
completion of this module)
Learning to connect to 01 credit @ 40 contact
the wider society and
other branches of
humanities with an
analytical framework
based on the available
visual and sonic
hours
artifacts

Learning to use visual

and sound archives for
analytical and creative
work
 SEMESTER VI: SPECIALIZATION (20 WEEKS, TOTAL CREDITS – 24)
Mandatory credits for Specialization without Elective Elements – 06
Mandatory credits for Specialization with Elective Elements – 10
Mandatory Intra­departmental Elective credits for Specialization – 08
Open Inter­departmental Elective credits – 00

Objective: Working on Diploma Film & Writing Dissertation

LEARNING DURATION LEARNING

NO DETAILS
MODULE (WEEKS) OBJECTIVES
1st – 20th Total 16 credits
1 GRADUATION week The project to be conceived as Learning to
FILM PROJECT primarily fiction narrative. execute a film Average quality
project of 20 min engagement
CRD501DSW 20 weeks To be shot in Location (200 Kms duration within the equivalent to 640
around Pune) to be shot strictly available hours including
(The time indicates Schedule and within budget. resources scripting, pre­
the total time for norms are production, shooting,
all the projects to only for Coordinated project with Learning to and post production
get over. reference. It cinematography, art direction, articulate in
Individual project may change editing and sound specialization cinematic ways 01 credit @ 40
completion time in the final students. one's creative and contact hours
needs to be decisions on self­reflexive
ascertained those. Duration: 15­20 min ability as a Production –
separately) Shooting Format: Digital with filmmaker 10 credits
choice of block lenses (ALEXA or
Module Type: equivalent) (Intra­departmental
A3B4 Shooting ratio: 1:3 electives in terms of
Hard Core Shooting schedule starts from 2nd production means)
week
Two films to be shot at a time Post­production –
06 credits
Production: 8 shifts over 9 days (Editing – 03 credits)
(Sound – 03 credits)
Editing Post Production:
– 16 shifts
(Transcoding – 2 days
Rough cut – 9 shifts
Fine cut after track laying – 3 shifts
Deliverables after mixing – 2 shifts)

Sound Post Production: 5.1 Dolby

sound
– 25 shifts over 30 days
(Track laying after rough cut – 7
 shifts
After fine cut mixing and Dolby
mastering – 18 shifts)

Lab, Colour correction and DCP – 2

days

On an average a diploma film

should be over within 50 working
days

DISSERTATION: To be done Total 08 credits

Learning to write a
within the
Submission to be made within a due feature length
FEATURE FILM semester (Intra­departmental
date. fiction script with
SCRIPT/ elective)
its structural
RESEARCH *In cases of
The feature film script should be not implications
PAPER ON ANY unforeseen Average quality
less than 90 min of projected length
ASPECT OF delays the engagement
2 OR
CINEMA student may equivalent to 320
In case of research paper it needs to
take one more hours including time
be presented as well before the Learning to write a
DSW501 semester to spent
academic staff and students of the research paper on
finish the beyond official hours
institute, minimum length 6000 cinema with
Module Type: same while
words considerable
A5B5 staying 01 credit @ 40
academic value
Soft Core outside FTII contact hours