Storytelling is an integral part of human development and films are one of the few formats that use pretty much all major mediums – writing, photography, performance, narration etc. This is what makes filmmakers such good storytellers. They hone their skills in all fields

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Advanced Certificate Program in Filmmaking

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Storytelling is an integral part of human development and films are one of the few formats that use pretty much all major mediums – writing, photography, performance, narration etc. This is what makes filmmakers such good storytellers. They hone their skills in all fields.
A good filmmaker doesn’t just understand his/her role well but also the roles of every other team member working on the project. Keeping this at the core, WWI Virtual Academy’s Advanced Certificate Program in Filmmaking offers you comprehensive training across all spectrums of the craft of Filmmaking.

Filmmaking

This is an online weekend Web Series writing course, which will be conducted over 24 Weekends, or 6 months. Each Saturday and Sunday we will have 4 -6 hour sessions, and on some days it might be 8- hour sessions. Apart from these classes, students would be expected to read study material and write during the week to prepare themselves for Guest Lectures and Feedback on their writing.

Masterclass

Learning Outcome

Mentored by Industry Professional on one-to-one basis

Free access to the Screenwriting Program during course tenure

Course Access

Advanced Certificate Program in Series Writing from WWI     

This is an online weekend Web Series writing course, which will be conducted over 24 Weekends, or 6 months. Each Saturday and Sunday we will have 4 -6 hour sessions, and on some days it might be 8- hour sessions. Apart from these classes, students would be expected to read study material and write during the week to prepare themselves for Guest Lectures and Feedback on their writing.
You will be given access to the Screenwriting course which has 10 modules. It is recommended that you learn the concepts of Screenwriting before or during the Series Writing course.During the programme, participants will go through the complete process of creating a Show Bible for a web series – starting with ideation, creating unforgettable characters, expanding the idea into a broad story, plotting it over 8 episodes and writing the screenplay of the Pilot Episode.
Renowned TV & Web Writers come regularly during the term and conduct masterclasses with the students during the two terms. In this one-day session, the writers share their writing practice, their inspirations, their writing technique, and show examples from their shows and explain principles to the students.
Students also get masterclasses from screenwriter-teacher Anjum Rajabali on Mythology, on the Mahabharata, and on Psychology. There will also be an in-depth session on the importance of Navrasa in Indian dramaturgy by screenwriter-teacher, independent filmmaker and script consultant Ashwini Malik.
Mentoring: Students will be mentored by industry professionals on a one-on-one basis.
<b>Assignments:
A pitch-ready bible for a finite fiction series of 8 episodes with scope for a second season.
A pitch for mini-series in a genre of participants choice
Apart from this, the students will read screenplays and show–bibles of different web series.

Series Writing

This class provides a comprehensive overview of a cinematographer’s duties and the key skills that he/she needs to possess in order to effectively make artistic and technical decisions related to the image.

Role of a cinematographer

This class introduces you to different types of lights used on film sets in order to produce desired effects on the image on screen. You also learn about the advantages and limitations of each type.

Types of lights

This class underlines important grips and gears that you will need in order to effectively set up light and the camera for a shoot.

Types of grips and gears

Cinematography Basics

This class introduces you to the history and science of a still camera

The history and science of a still camera

In this class, you will learn about different techniques to moderate exposure of images in your film depending on the style and setting of a given scene.

Exposure and Metering

In this class, you will learn about the techniques associated with three point lighting- the simple, versatile setting which forms the foundation of most complex lighting systems.

Three-point lighting

In this class, you will learn about the advantages and limitations of different kinds of lens that you can use to film scenes. You will learn how to use specific lenses to produce unique artistic effects depending on the scene.

Lensing

This class teaches you how to use deep focus by using hyperfocal distance and you will learn when and how to intentionally use this technique.

Deep focus and Hyperfocal Distance

This class provides you important rules and tips regarding effective framing and composition while shooting a scene.

Framing and Composition

This class gives an introductory overview of electricity & studio power layout methods to set lighting within a film studio.

Electrical methods and studio layouts

Non-motion photography

This class teaches you about more complex lighting situations

Standard Definition

In this class, you will learn about the foundational parts that make up  a standard digital motion picture camera.

Parts of a Digital Motion Picture Camera

In this class, you will learn about the most important and commonly used shot sizes, camera movement techniques and camera angles, each of which produces a specific type of effect.

Camera Angles and Camera Movements

In this class, you will learn about frame rates and how to adjust them depending on the kind of film and effect you want to produce.

Frame Rates

In this class, you will learn about different cameras and their dynamic ranges

Dynamic Range

In this class, you will learn how to effectively change the temperature of your shots to warmer or cooler depending on the type of effect you want to create cinematically.

Color Temperature

In this class, you will learn about the different techniques that will allow you to make your scene seem like it’s either day or night, depending on the needs of the scene by using different lighting and camera techniques.

Day and Night Lighting

Video Fundamentals (SD & HD)

Components of Mise-en-scene and their impact

Understanding Mise-en-scene

In this class, you will learn more about 16mm and 35mm Motion Picture Photography with an in-depth study of Advanced Film Exposure with Grey Card, Exposed Negative Processing & Printing, Color Temperature Theory and Advance Lab Theory

Shooting on film

This course provides a comprehensive description of the different parts that make up a motion picture film camera. You will learn how to adjust them, their functionality and limitations and the safety measures associated with each one of them.

Parts of a Motion Picture Film Camera

Motion Photography on Film Cameras(16mm/35mm)

This class introduces you to the fundamentals of color theory- the perception of colors, the visual effects of how color mix, their match and contrasts, each color’s impact on a scene etc.

Color Theory Basics

This class will teach you about the theory of color contrasting and introduce you to some of the most popular color contrasts used during production and the impact each type has on the scene.

Types of Color Contrasts

In this class you will learn about different color schemes that are commonly used during production design

Color schemes and example

Theory of Color

This class looks into music videos and the cinematography techniques associated with it. You will learn the difference in the commonly used shots and camera movement techniques between a film scene and a music video scene.

Understanding music videos

A non-fiction film, unlike a fiction film, assumes responsibility of the truthful depiction of the accuracy of the information and people being presented. In this class, you will learn about non-fiction films and the subtle differences in the techniques, color and camera movements between non-fiction and fiction movies.

Understanding non-fiction films

Cinematography is the craft of visual storytelling on film or television. It consists of everything that you see on the screen – framing, movement, lighting, composition, camera angles, lens, color, depth, and more. It is important in setting the tone, look and feel of a video, essentially, supporting the written narrative of the film with visual elements.

Certificate Program in Cinematography from WWI

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Cinematography is the craft of visual storytelling on film or television. It consists of everything that you see on the screen – framing, movement, lighting, composition, camera angles, lens, color, depth, and more. It is important in setting the tone, look and feel of a video, essentially, supporting the written narrative of the film with visual elements. Also known as the Director of Photography, a Cinematographer is the master of movement and light, responsible for how every single frame in the film turns out. It is their job to harness both the technical and creative capabilities of a camera.<br>The role of a Cinematographer is to translate a written script into visuals and shoot the video to bring to screen the vision of the Director. While they may not be the one holding the camera, they are the mastermind behind deciding what the final video should look like – colored or black and white, vibrant, dull etc. The cinematographer works closely with the Director and helps them bring their creative vision to life. After deciding on a certain look and feel for the project, the Cinematographer or Director of Photography then works on how to achieve the same through camera movement, lighting, framing, props, etc. in terms of equipment & more.

Cinematography

This introductory class will take you through the screenwriting process and its different elements: Premise, Theme, Story, Character and Structure. You will understand what writing a screenplay entails and the difference between writing a novel and screenplay.

Introduction to screenwriting

In simple words, this class will teach you how to write a story. You will learn about different elements of a good screenplay and look at different processes that go into writing it, thereby making it a compelling film. This class will teach you to think like a screenplay writer.

Elements of screenplay

In this class, you will learn about character development, an important part of creating believable fictional characters. You will learn what makes for an interesting character and how you can make the audience resonate with them.

Character development

In this class, you will learn about conflict, the trials and tribunals of the protagonist. In every narrative, conflict is the key element that provides interest, tension and suspense, while also helping the protagonist transform himself/herself. This class will analyse the importance of this ingredient in a story.

Conflict

In this class, we will be talking about the structure of a screenplay. The structure is defined as the arrangement of the story elements into a specific order to evoke the perfect response in the audience. It is the chronological design of highs and lows, conflict and resolution etc. in the story.

Structure

In this class, we’re going to learn how to break the script down into smaller divisions, i.e. scenes and dialogues, and treat each part individually.

Scene design and dialogue

In this class, we will learn the last step of completing the screenplay – inserting dialogues. Unlike structure and design, dialogue is the only thing each audience member will definitely notice. It can make or break your film. This class will examine dialogue writing with a few examples.

Dialogue writing

In this class, we’re going to take a well written short film and trace all the different elements of screenplay we’ve learnt about so far. We’ll discuss how everything comes together to form a complete narrative. The example that we’re taking is the first film that Claude Berri wrote in 1964. It is a short film called LE POULET, the chicken.

Analysis of short film

This class will be split into two. The topic will be the hero’s journey and we will be discussing screenplay on a more philosophical level. In this class, we’ll discuss Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey, based on the book, “A hero with a thousand faces”. This concept discusses the pattern of narrative or character graph that every lead character is found to follow across cultures and time.

Hero's journey Part 1 & 2

Screenwriting is the art of penning down scripts for mass media consumption such as films, television, theater, advertising, etc. Screenwriters are responsible for understanding and doing due research on a story, structuring how the narrative shall flow, jotting down the script and screenplay, writing dialogues and how they must be delivered.

Certificate Program in Screenwriting from WWI

Screenwriting is the art of penning down scripts for mass media consumption such as films, television, theatre, advertising, etc. Screenwriters are responsible for understanding and doing due research on a story, structuring how the narrative shall flow, jotting down the script and screenplay, writing dialogues and how they must be delivered. A professional screenwriter exerts a huge influence over the final outcome of a project, be it the energy of the narrative, the emotional impact of the film or the characterization of people in various roles.
The story is in your head, but what sells it to the audience is the screenplay, the script. Through the Certificate Program in Screenwriting, we will teach you how to successfully transfer that story you have in your mind to the paper, and eventually to the big screen. This is where a movie starts and is where we will start our journey to understanding filmmaking.

Screenwriting

This class covers the role of a film producer. They include creative, business and financial aspects of production.

Who is a Producer?

This class covers the responsibilities of the producer in detail

Responsibilities of a Producer

This class will show you the timeline of the evolution of film sound

Evolution of Film Sound

This class covers the the main types of film producers in the industry today and their roles and responsibilities

Types of Producers

What does a Producer do?

This class introduces the first step of film production where you will learn how a producer selects the story and develops it by preparing a treatment, summarizing the storyline and determining its mood and characters.

Story Development

This class teaches you how to generate ideas to make a movie

Idea Generation Techniques for movies

This class teaches you how a producer works with writers to develop a story

Working with writers

This class teaches you how to write an effective logline- a one-line statement that powerfully conveys the film’s plot and the emotional hook which makes it easier for you to pitch and sell your movie idea.

Writing a logline

Film Budget

Basics of Film Financing

This class introduces you to tried and tested successful techniques that will help you prepare a persuasive movie pitch that will stand out to the financers.

How to make your film stand out to financers

Script Development and Funding

This class gives you a comprehensive overview about the producers’ role during pre-production.

Producer’s role in pre-production

This class teaches you about the important steps that you need to consider while establishing your own production company with a Limited Liability Corporation model.

Setting up your film company (LLC)

This class teaches you industry standard norms on breaking a script during pre-production into its basic scene elements such as cast members, props, objects etc. which helps you to keep track of everything that is going on during production.

Script Breakdown

This class discusses some important aspects to consider before hiring your crew for production and post production

Selecting your crew

This class teaches you how to plan creatively prior to shooting

Creative Planning phase

This class teaches you about the workflow from the shoes of a line producer, and how to effectively plan and communicate every vital step of the pre-production process.

Workflow from line producer’s point of view

This class teaches you how to successfully allocate the available budget to different stakeholders involved in the film-making process.

Budgeting and Scheduling

This class teaches you the industry standard rules for writing a proper call sheet that includes all necessary elements 

Preparing a Call Sheet

Producer in Pre-Production

This class teaches you about all the elements that you need to consider and effectively coordinate during the principal photography stage of film-making.

How to manage a production?

This class teaches you how to get ready for post production after the principal photography is complete

Gearing up for post production

This class teaches you how to tie in all the elements of a film together

The Big Picture

In this class, you will encounter case study questions and Q&A sessions with an industry expert that will help you contextualize everything that you have learnt with how things work in the real world in the film industry.

Q&A Sessions with an expert (Case study questions)

Producer in Principal Photography

This class provides a comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities of a film producer in order to manage the post production process smoothly and keep the workflow intact.

How to manage post production

This class will help you understand how you can supervise the post production process effectively and ensure the post-production workflow is intact.

Post production supervisor

This class will educate you about the relationship between the producers and the editing team of the movie.

The editorial team

This class teaches you how to structure and carry out the sound design workflow during post production

The sound workflow

This class teaches you about color correction on the material you have filmed

Color Correction

This class teaches you how to package the final deliverables during the post production stage

Packaging the final deliverables

This class teaches you of the final steps involved in completion of the film

Completing the film

Producer in Post Production

Producers are responsible for the promotion and distribution of the film after its completion. This class outlines all the crucial challenges that a producer needs to overcome while working with different third party organizations for the successful distribution of the movie.

Why distribution of film is a tough job?

This class gives you a comprehensive overview of the Indian Box Office model which outlines the technicalities of how Box Office revenues are calculated, taxation associated with box office collection etc.

Indian Box Office Model

This class draws your attention towards a crucial trend in the global as well as the Indian film industry- the rapid rise of Over The Top (OTT) platforms. You will learn how you can effectively adapt with the changing trends in film consumers’ priorities and habits to maximize your reach and profits.

Rise of OTT Platforms

This class teaches you about the rising trends in the M&E Industry and effective strategies concerning the marketing and publicity of your film. Successful marketing and publicity varies greatly depending on many external factors and in this class, you will learn about these variables which will help you maximize your film’s reach.

Film marketing and publicity

This class teaches you how to get started on your next film project

Start your next project

Taking your film to the audience

The process of filmmaking can be divided into three sections – creative, technical and financial. While different teams take care of each individual section, it’s the job of the producer to tie them all together. 

Certificate Program in Producing from WWI

The process of filmmaking can be divided into three sections – creative, technical and financial. While different teams take care of each individual section, it’s the job of the producer to tie them all together. The producer brings together the writers, director, financiers etc. and has complete control over the film’s production. Thus, the producer not only needs to know about all these different jobs but be good at them as well.

Producing

This introductory chapter will introduce you to the concept of editing and how it developed over years of experimentation. You will also be taken through a practical overview of the process and learn the fundamental ways in which you can transition between two shots.

Introduction to film editing

It is essential to understand the kind of material an editor gets to work with and also how this material can be manipulated, keeping in mind the techniques and grammar that have been developed over years of experimentation. This chapter will teach you how to tell your stories effectively and clearly through your edit.

Basic Shot Types and The Grammar of Film

Film editing has become widely accessible through digitization. The process has become much simpler, but the technical expertise required remains the same. An artist cannot work without a thorough understanding and mastery of his or her tools. You will be trained in three of the film industry’s most used editing softwares – Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve.

Software training

Editing is a part of the post-production process that includes a combination of both technical and creative techniques. An editor works with raw footage of a film, choosing appropriate shots and combining them into a sequence that aligns with the vision of the director.

Editing is a part of the post-production process that includes a combination of both technical and creative techniques. An editor works with raw footage of a film, choosing appropriate shots and combining them into a sequence that aligns with the vision of the director. Essentially, film editing is about assembling shots into a logical sequence. It is all about intuition, to know how the characters will portray their emotions and how the scene is going to affect the audience.
A good film editor knows exactly how hours of raw footage should be cut and joined to create a complete story. It’s not just about being well-versed in editing software, but also be a good storyteller. This Certificate program in Film Editing focuses on both aspects of editing.

Certificate Program in Cinematography

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