Diploma in Cinematography is an undergraduate course having 1 or 2 years duration. It’s conducted as a full-time course and the minimum qualification to learn cinematography is 10+2. There is no minimum percentage required to apply for the course.
Interested students can pursue the course from a filming institute as a full-time course or choose it as an additional course along with another major course in filmmaking.
The average fee for Diploma in Cinematography course would range between INR 35,000 and INR 1,25,000.
During the course, students will be taught various skills and techniques for planning and coordinating film. They are taught several techniques of cinematography like the handling of the camera, size of a shot, use of special effects, camera angle, movement and shot, lightning techniques and aesthetics, editing and transitional devices, sound effects, and many more.
Diploma in Cinematography course helps students in aiming for job profiles like Director of Photography, Cinematographer, Video Editor, Cameraman, and Videographer. The entry-level salary for a cinematographer would be between INR 7,000 and 8,000 per month. With experience, the cinematographer may earn anywhere between INR 40,000 and 50,000 per month or even more depending upon the project.
Table of Content
Diploma in Cinematography: Course Highlights
| Course Level | Diploma |
| Duration of Course | 1 or 2 year |
| Eligibility | Pass in class 12th examination in any stream |
| Admission Process | Personal Interview |
| Course Fee | INR 35,000 – INR 1,25,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 7,000 – INR 8,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Doordarshan, Zee Studios, Film studios, TV Studios, Associated Broadcasting Company Ltd. |
| Job Positions | Camera Production Assistant, Motion Control Operator, Camera Operator and Camera Assistant |
Diploma in Cinematography: What it is about?
The cinematography is a profession for those who are eager, committed, and passionate about pursuing a career in filmmaking. Students can increase the scope of their study by pursuing a bachelor’s degree side by side by from a film institution. Diploma in Cinematography course primarily teaches its students about camera and light crews working on film production, television production or any other live event and making technical and artistic decisions related to the image.
Concepts in Cinematography include visual storytelling, camera techniques, lighting methods and techniques, scene composition and working with the entire film crew. During the course, students are introduced to several concepts on editing through short film projects genres, film lighting, basics of cinematography and digital cinematography.
The important topics covered under the curriculum of Diploma in Cinematography include:
- Film Dimension and Packaging, Processing and Printing, Films for Motion Picture, Motion Picture Cameras and Shooting Format
- Various Camera Test, Types of Film Cameras, Types of Digital filmmaking, Special Cinematography and Cinema Projection.
A start in a career as Cinematographer can be challenging but turns lucrative depending on candidates’ project and experience. A two-year Diploma in Cinematography is sufficient to start a career in movies, television, and documentaries. The course structure will largely help a student in gaining experience required in field work.
Diploma in Cinematography: Admission Process
The selection criteria is based on candidate’s performance in personal interview. The institute shall evaluate whether the student is really passionate about studying Diploma in Cinematography course. Some institutes will offer direct admission based on first come first serve.
Diploma in Cinematography: Eligibility
Students need a pass in class 12th examination in any stream. There is no minimum percentage requirement to seek admissions. In some institutes students above 15 years of age can also apply for admissions.
Diploma in Cinematography: Top Institutes
| Name of the Institute | Location | Average Fee |
|---|---|---|
| CRAFT Film School | New Delhi | INR 1,25,000 |
| Asian Academy of Film and Television | Noida, UP | NA |
| Rayat Bahra University | Mohali, Punjab | NA |
| FA School of Media & Films | Mumbai, Maharashtra | NA |
| MV Media Institute | Lucknow, U.P | INR 35,000 |
Diploma in Cinematography: Syllabus and Course Description
The course structure and topics covered in the syllabus depend on the duration of the course. A full-time Diploma in Cinematography course of two years would have more modules then short-term course which covers broader concepts. Presented below are the important modules covered under the syllabus as provided by some leading institutes:
| Module | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Film Dimension and Packaging | Negative and positive perforation |
| Edge No | |
| Cores and camera spool | |
| Edge marking | |
| 16mm film winding | |
| A-winding and B-winding | |
| CAN. label information | |
| Processing and printing | Various section of Motion picture lab |
| Colour negative and intermediate film | |
| Intermediate film | |
| Positive film | |
| Wash, Drying, Development | |
| Colour film printing | |
| Printer | |
| Liquid gate printing | |
| Photo-guard | |
| Step printer, optical printer | |
| Printing colour Correction | |
| Necessity of colour correction | |
| Additive colour correction method | |
| Scene to scene colour correction | |
| Trimmer correction | |
| Colour correction effect | |
| Colour correction determination | |
| Black and white film printing | |
| Films for Motion Pictures | Screening of films |
| Studying the conceptual lighting | |
| Music video-styling of lighting | |
| Motion Picture Cameras | Various parts of Motion picture cameras |
| Perforation loop | |
| Pressure plate | |
| Plate catch | |
| Pull down claw | |
| Magazine | |
| Threading of film | |
| Loading unloading of magazine | |
| Types of magazine | |
| Intermittent Movement | |
| Analysis of Claw motion | |
| Registration pin | |
| Sprocket wheel | |
| Frames per sec | |
| View finder. | |
| Eye piece adjustment | |
| Camera Motors | |
| Slow motion and Fast motion | |
| Reverse Movement | |
| Tacho meter | |
| Lens Mount Flange Depth | |
| Matte Box | |
| Blimp | |
| Changing bag | |
| Magazine Cover/rain cover | |
| Transfer of Film to Video | Tele-cine basic |
| Type of Tele-cine machine | |
| Frame per sec | |
| File type | |
| Digital Intermediate | |
| Various Camera Test | Physical condition of the camera and lenses |
| Optical path and focusing | |
| Shutter | |
| Gate | |
| Camera Choking | |
| Motors | |
| Scratches | |
| Fogging of film | |
| Sample lens test | |
| Eye piece /viewfinder/ground glass | |
| Batteries for Motion Picture Camera | - |
| Shooting Format | 16mm |
| 35mm | |
| 70mm | |
| super.16 | |
| I-max | |
| 3-D | |
| Types of film Cameras | AATON.35-III |
| Aspect ratio | |
| ARRICAM | |
| Video assist | |
| ARRI-535.B | |
| ARRI-435 | |
| ARR-BL | |
| ARRI-3 | |
| ARRI-2C | |
| 16.SR-II | |
| 16.SR-3 | |
| PANAVISION | |
| Cinema Projection | Print Colour balance |
| Screen luminance | |
| Print loading and rewind | |
| Random points about projection | |
| Electronic Display Devices | |
| Special Cinematography | Rigging the camera |
| Underwater shooting | |
| Shooting in snow | |
| Aerial photography | |
| Shooting through Mirrors | |
| Use of Acrylic Mirror | |
| Digital film making | LFR(Laser Film Recorder) |
| DI (Digital Intermediate) |
Diploma in Cinematography: Career Prospects
Cinematography has become a career option since the requirement for cinematographers is always high owing to the ever-expanding film and television industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S states that the demand for cinematographers will increase in near future due to a globalized network that is being formed in the entertainment industry. Diploma in Cinematography graduates may take up entry-level job roles in the capacity of Camera Production Assistant, Motion Control Operator, Camera Operator, and Camera Assistant.
With experience, cinematographers find jobs as:
- Director of Photography
- Cinematographer
- Video Editor
- Cameraman
- Videographer
The top recruiters for cinematographers are Doordarshan, film studios, television studios, news studios and corporate. They can also work in wedding cinematography, which has a huge scope now or takes up freelancing work.
Students don’t need to study further in Cinematography and a two-year Diploma is sufficient. The scope and future prospects for cinematographers depend on the nature of work they’ve been associated with and largely on personal contacts and references.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Production Assistant | Set up and position the camera equipment and more. | INR 8,4000 – 96,000 |
| Motion Control Operator | Systematically repeat camera moves for special effects purposes. | INR 80,000 to 1 Lac |
| Camera Operator | Operates the camera as per the direction of the Director of Photography. | INR 70,000 to 80,000 |
| Camera Assistant | Keeps the camera on the focus of the subject, loads the clapper-board at the start of each take and loads the film stock onto the camera. | INR 3,00,000 – 3,20,000 |
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