India Study Abroad

Film and Media Program

Creativity, Craft and Chaos in Filmmaking

ISAC’s film and media program is a one of a kind program that is based in the heart of India’s film industry popularly known as “Bollywood”.

The program is a great way to see the industry first hand through its professionals and work environments. The program emphasizes the inner workings and logistics of the film industry in Mumbai and incorporates meetings with film professionals, visits to film shoots, post production studios and hands on student project.

The program is for students of film and media, communication and for those with an interest in Indian cinema. “Bollywood” is the largest film industry in the world and unique in its sensibilities, presentation and cultural context.

Program Overview

Application Fee:	$45.
On Acceptance:	$2300 for a 4 week program. (for year 2010 only)
How long can I come for?	4 weeks.
Items included?	Pre-departure orientation and support, airport pickup on arrival, all program activities including meetings with film professionals, film screenings, visit to film shoots and post-production facilities, support and guidance with the student project, monitoring, 24 hour emergency support, personal cellular phone.
Items not included?	Daily local transportation. Air ticket to India, visa fees and any travel insurance will be the responsibility of the student. Airport drop at the end of the program.
Accommodation	All included. On sharing basis in volunteer guest house.
Meals	All meals included. (Vegetarian Indian cuisine)
Activities	Film screenings, one on one meetings with film professionals, visits to film sets and post production facilities. Student project at the end of the program.
Eligibility	This program is open to all levels of students and individuals with an interest in film and media. Participants must be over 20 years of age, easy going, flexible, independent and willing to take the initiative to learn.

Program Details

The cinema of Mumbai, or Bollywood, as it is popularly called, has always dominated the Indian film industry. However, its noticeable presence in the West is a much more recent phenomenon.

Wax figures of universally acclaimed stars Amitabh Bachcchan and Aishwariya Rai on display at Madame Tussauds, Nicole Kidman dancing to a popular Hindi number in Moulin Rouge, Indian music influencing background scores for international blockbusters: Bollywood's influence has increased tremendously in recent years.

An in-depth, comprehensive experiential learning program that puts you at the core of Mumbai's multi-million dollar film industry, to give you hands-on, on-site experience in diverse and dynamic areas of film-making.

The program draws on the vast resources of the Mumbai film industry to create an extraordinary training ground. Students observe the craft, nuances and intricacies of the industry in a spirited environment that combines professional training with real-life work experience. However, students will not be working on any live film sets. The visits to sets would be observational in nature. The hands-on work is limited to a student project only.

What do I do on the program?

Informational lectures and meetings: Students have one-on-one meetings with directors, cameraman, scriptwriters, producers and actors. They get to interact with industry professionals in their own environment. This gives students an understanding of the processes and people involved in the making of a film, including production, direction, post production, finance, and distribution.
Attend Shoots: Students spend a few days on a film set to get a behind-the-scenes view into the world of set designers, prop houses, casting directors, production executives, action directors, stunt masters, make-up artistes, fashion designers, lighting men, spot boys, music directors and other cast and crew.
Post Production: Students also visit post production studios to see editing, color correction, visual effects, audio post, background music and song recordings.
Student Project:All students have to work on and submit a project. This project is designed in consultation with the Academic Director keeping in mind the students' individual interests and skills. The project usually takes a week to ten days to complete and ensures that the student is not merely a passive observer but an active participant. This project will deepen the students' learning and help them reflect on their 4 week experience

Where is the program located?

*Please book your flight to arrive into Mumbai international airport.

Mumbai is India's commercial capital. With a population of nearly 13 million, Mumbai's most affluent inhabitants live alongside the working classes and urban poor in soaring skyscrapers and sprawling slums. Mumbai is a melting pot of residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds that speak over a dozen languages.

Mumbai is an international city with many attractions. Mumbai also has a vibrant nightlife that ranges from simple pubs to hi-tech discos and glamorous nightclubs. Its location is convenient for short weekend trips to many beaches and resorts in India including Goa.

Who can participate?

This program is open to all levels of students and individuals with an interest in film and media. Participants must be over 20 years of age, easy going, flexible, independent and willing to take the initiative to learn. Individual or groups of students can apply to the program.

Filmmaking is a creative but arduous task and participants must be willing to work hard and adapt to different surroundings and work environments.