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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, Nov 7: The most radical restructuring of the academic programme of the Film and Television Institute India (FTII) since 1961, which has sparked protests and student strikes in the recent past, will finally be implemented from February 1, 2000.
The focus of the revised syllabus, which for the first time, offers techno-savvy, integrated instead of separate courses in film and television, is an attempt at overcoming the “artificial divide between the two media created in the campus over the years, by different objectives of the film and television wings of FTII, their separate faculty, space and infrastructure in the campus.”
Though fees have been hiked from Rs 2,500 to 15,000 per year, its present director Dr Mohan Agashe calls it a minimal raise, saying, “The Institute would have to shut down if fees were not hiked,” and justifying it by describing the expenditure of Rs 4.5 lakh per student borne by the FTII every year. FTII presently faces an annual resource crunch of almost Rs 1 crore, from its non-planned budget of Rs 6 crore.
The revised syllabus, prepared by a 12-member committee of FTII faculty over five months, has done away with final-year-end written examinations, and reduced the thrust on classroom teaching, for the focus is on “learning by doing and continuous assessment,” says Agashe. Divided into three units over three years, 80 seats are available for the basic course in film and television, which qualifies you for the second-year specialisation (12 seats each) in a certificate course in direction, (film and television) cinematography (film and television), audiography (film and television) editing (film and television). The final year post-graduate diploma offers a specialisation in any of the above fields, with eight seats each. In this year students have to submit a project proposal for a 20-minute film and television programme each.
Those who fail to qualify for the next year, or wish to discontinue can avail of jobs as generalists in film and television, says Agashe, since the syllabus teaches you to operate as a professional in both fields. “An effort is on to develop a system of internship in the final year, to forge a liaison with the industry,” he says.
Other proposed courses, which depend on recruitment of staff, which Agashe says will take place next year, are an advanced diploma in digital media, advanced diploma in production and management, and an advanced diploma in television engineering.
With the revised syllabus approved by the FTII’s academic council and governing council, the written examinations for the basic course will be held in 11 centres on November 14, and interviews are slated in December. What is crucial for the successful implementation of these changes is strongly motivated staff and students, and `peace’ more than anything else, says Agashe.
The FTII will start conducting short-term professional courses in film and television, which will be finalised in 2000. These include courses in script writing, art direction, production management, animation, and television engineering.
“We are trying to develop a category of professionals to conduct these courses and interact with the faculty and students,” says Agashe. The funds generated will be channelised toward purchasing and maintaining infrastructure, like the new computerised media laboratory, for which purchases have already begun.
