Since filmmaking is about creating visuals and acting is an art of expression, there is some overlap between the two professions. Acting is a kind of performing arts where an actor enacts a story for a stage, theatre, or movie. On the other hand, an actor is someone who plays a character in a play. \”Film making, like any other art, is a very profound means of human communication,\” according to Kenneth Lonergan, who defined the genre. \”Beyond the professional pleasure of succeeding or the pain of failing, you do want your film to be seen, to communicate itself to other people.\”
Students who take acting classes learn about various acting styles and techniques. Various acting theories, including those of Meisner, Method, Stella Adler, Kristin Linklater, HB Studio, and others, are introduced to students in class. Students can use their imaginations, create performances, engage in stage combat, improvise their dialects, and learn stage makeup in acting classes, which are open workshops. Students are assigned parts from well-known classics, historical plays, etc. during their final semester.
Those who choose to specialise in filmmaking have the chance to integrate their technical film education with a liberal arts curriculum. Students studying filmmaking also study knowledge, literature, theories, graphic arts, and communication. In addition, many universities provide exchange programmes that allow students to interact with professional filmmakers and gain an understanding of the intricacies of international production while completing coursework. In order to become experts in post-production techniques, they also study sound and editing specialisations.
Here are some of the major course highlights of Acting and Film-Making courses in India.
| Level | Diploma, Certificate, UG and PG Courses |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Months – 3 Years |
| Minimum Academic Requirement | 10+2 for UG Diploma Graduation for PG Diploma/Certificate |
| Minimum Aggregate Score Requirement | 45% or more |
| Subject Preference | Any Stream |
| Admission / Selection | Based on Merit / Entrance, Personal Interview and Group Discussion |
| Average Course Fee | INR 15K – INR 10 LPA |
| Average Initial Salary | INR 3 – INR 8 LPA |
Why Choose an Acting and Film-making Degree?
Acting and filmmaking offer numerous opportunities to work in creative fields. Candidates can find work in film studios, advertising agencies, production companies, and government agencies, among other places. Not only does one get good pay, but also fame. The professions of acting and filmmaking allow you to express yourself freely. This position allows you to meet creative people who enjoy telling stories. You can travel the world and learn about different cultures. Lastly, it gives an opportunity to expand your perspective.
Acting and Film-making Eligibility Criteria
Candidates are eligible for any course in Acting and Film Making after completing 12th Class in any stream. Given below are some eligibility criteria for Acting and Film Making courses.
- For Acting and Film-making UG Courses or UG Diploma, candidates with a 10+2 diploma (from any stream or subject) or equivalent may apply to this course in Acting & Filmmaking. Candidates who are taking or have taken qualifying exams (i.e. 10+2) may also apply.
- In order to be eligible for an acting & film making course, candidates must have scored at least 45 percent in their 12th board exam.
- Candidates for the PG Course or PG Diploma must have a graduation in any stream or equivalent from a recognised institute.
- Age Limit: Few institutes, such as NSD, have an age limit ranging from 18 to 30 years.
Note: Please keep in mind that all original documents, certificates, and mark sheets must be submitted at the time of admission.
Required Skill Set for Acting and Film-Making
A successful career in Acting & Filmmaking requires a number of skills and abilities, some of which are as follows:
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Leadership skills
- Team spirit
- An eye for perfection
- Patience
- Concentration
- Understanding
- Memorize
- Promotion
- Emotional
- Intelligent
Acting and Film-making Entrance Exams
Several acting and filmmaking colleges offer admission based on interview and merit. However, a few prestigious acting and filmmaking universities admit students based only on their performance on entrance exams. There are state-level and national-level entrance exams. Some of the top Acting and Film-making Entrance Exams are given for well-known colleges and universities below:
- FTII JET (Film and Television Institute of India Joint Entrance Exam) – It is a national level exam and generally conducted in the month of May. The candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in science stream and Physics as the major subject at 10+2 level. FTII JET is an offline exam and the duration of the exam is 3 hours. The exam is taken to offer admission in courses such as Post-Graduation/Post Graduate Diploma.
- NSD (National School of Drama, New Delhi) – NSD is a very popular college that conducts a national level exam for the course in the post-graduate diploma in Film Acting and the duration of the course is three years. The interested candidates for taking admission in NSD will first have to qualify for the preliminary test and then pass the workshops as conducted by NSD. The exam is conducted in an offline mode and the language used in the question paper is English and Hindi.
- Whistling Woods Aptitude Test -The Whistle Woods conducts a university-level exam for students for granting admission to Whistling Woods institute. The exam duration is 2 hours. There are a total of 4 rounds that the candidates have to face before getting admission in acting and film. The first round is the general aptitude test which has a weightage of 30%, then second round is the creative ability test with 20% weightage, then the third one writing the personal statement of purpose with 20% and the fourth and the final round is the interview which also has a weightage of 20%.
- SRFTI (Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Entrance Exam) – SRFTI college is one of the most prestigious institutes for Acting and film. This college conducts exams to offer admission in post-graduate programs. It is conducted in an offline mode and mostly the exam is being held in the month of May. The exam includes sections such as mental aptitude for 20 marks, creativity aptitude for 40 marks and specific subject for 40 marks. The best part about this exam is that there is no negative marking for the incorrect answer.
Acting and Film-making Admission Process in India
Acting and film-making admission procedures in India can vary slightly from other courses because these courses demand a specific set of abilities and knowledge. To shortlist students for admission, most colleges still administer an entrance exam followed by an interview and/or group discussion. The following are the admissions procedures for Acting and Film-Making programmes in India.
- Entrance-Based Acting and Film-making Admissions
- Merit-Based Acting and Film-making Admissions
Though the admission process for acting and filmmaking varies by college, the following are the general steps to admission:
Step 1: Complete the online application for Acting and Filmmaking.
Step 2: Pay the registration fee and any additional fees that may be set if admission is granted on the basis of merit. Candidates for the entrance-level acting and filmmaking programmes must take and pass an exam.
Step 3: Candidates who have been shortlisted will be invited to the next stages of the selection process, which may include personal interviews, group discussions, or counselling.
Step 4: Once the preceding steps have been completed, candidates must submit all required documents and fees in order to be accepted to the Acting and Film-making admission.
Acting and Film-making Fees in India
Acting and Film-Making course fee ranges from INR 15K – 10LPA. Course fee may vary depending on the Acting and Film-Making colleges. A government-based institute charges less than a private institute because of its facilities and infrastructure.
Career Options After Acting and Film-Making
Following the Acting and Film-Making course, you can work in a variety of settings, including educational institutions, classical dance theatres, music bands, film and television production companies, dance and drama schools, and event management firms, among many others. To be considered for a role in a film, actors can attend auditions and show off their skills with all of their passion and fervor.
There are numerous employment options for candidates with government agencies, production companies, advertising agencies, and movie studios.
Here are a few different career options for Acting and Film-Making in various fields.
| Job Profile | Job Description |
|---|---|
| Lead Actor/Actress | You can work as a lead actor in films, television series, web series, theatre productions, or street dramas. |
| Co-Actor/Actress | As part of an ensemble cast, you can work as a co-actor in multi-starrer films, TV serials, web series, theatre productions, or street dramas. |
| Supporting Actor/Actress | You can work as a supporting actor in films, television series, web series, theatre productions, or street dramas. |
| Crowd Actor/Actress | Initially, you may be cast as a minor character with a cameo in the production. |
| Acting Instructor | You can work as a drama or acting school teacher or instructor. |
| Dialogue Instructor | You could teach dialogue in a drama or acting school. |
| Stunt Man | You can use your acting skills to perform stunts and teach others how to do them. |
| Dance Performer | You can work as a dance performer in both movies and live shows. |
| Theatre writer | A person in this profile writes the screenplay that will be used to entertain the audience. |
| Assist. Event manager | A person in this profile is responsible for managing all events, beginning with organising, arranging, creating an agenda, and arranging resources until the entire event is completed. |
| Producer | A Producer is the person who provides financial support for the production of a film or the organisation of an event. |
| Acting consultant | The person in this profile is responsible for advising the client on the best actors to cast based on the story\’s content and characters. |
| Teacher | A teacher should be skilled in acting so that he can teach his students more effectively. |
| Script Writer | A scriptwriter, also known as a screenwriter, scribe, or scenarist, is a writer who creates screenplays for the entertainment industry. These screenplays serve as the foundation for films, television shows, and video games. |
| Director | A Film Director is a creative professional who is in charge of overseeing the artistic aspects of a film production. They are in charge of directing and managing the actors and film crew, as well as interpreting scripts and ensuring that the visual storytelling matches the desired narrative style. |
| Assistant Production Controller | They are in charge of manufacturing process planning, coordination, and control. Assistant production managers oversee the production of goods or the effectiveness of services, ensuring that the correct amount is produced at the right quality and cost, and providing administrative support to production personnel. |
| Cinematographer | The cinematographer, also known as the director of photography, is the person in charge of recording a film, television production, music video, or other medium. |
| Camera Assistant | A camera assistant assists the camera operator with the setup and preparation of the camera and equipment for shoots. They also keep equipment and consumables like batteries in good condition between shoots. |
Acting and Film-making Top Recruiter
There are various recruiters for Acting and Film-making such as drama companies, film industry, televisions soaps, advertisement, agent companies. The candidates can check some of the top recruitment companies mentioned below.
- Space Consultant
- Green Valley Crest Infraheights PVT. Ltd.
- E-Capsule
- Great Coach Solutions PVT. Ltd.
- Boom Events and Production Management
- Gurukul Activity Centre PVT. Ltd.
- SETC Institute
- Vanvim Media PVT. Ltd.
- Mangalam Casting
Acting and Film-making Employment Area
The demand for good actors and filmmakers are steadily increasing due to the versatility of digital entertainment mediums as well as traditional avenues. Listed below are some of the recruiters who provide acting and film making jobs:
- Film Production Houses
- TV Production Houses
- Web Content Production Houses
- OTT Platforms
- Streaming Services
- Theatre and Drama Companies
- Government Departments
Acting and Film-making Salary
There is no set salary for actors/actresses working in any film because their pay is determined by their track record, skill, experience, and popularity. Yet, there is a salary system in place for TV shows and stage dramas.
The average salary after acting and filmmaking ranges between INR 3 and 8LPA.
Here is an estimate of an individual\’s monthly income after completing an acting and filmmaking course.
| Job Profile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Movie Actor | There is no upper or lower limit on the amount that can be earned per month, which can amount to crores of rupees. |
| TV Actor | Up to INR 2 crores p.a. |
| Theatre Actor | Up to INR 12 Lakhs p.a. |
| Theatre Writer | Up to INR 4.80 Lakhs p.a. |
| Event Manager | Up to INR 12 Lakhs p.a. |
| Acting Consultant | Up to INR 9 Lakhs p.a. |
| Acting Teacher | Up to INR 6 Lakhs p.a. |
| Dance Performer | Up to INR 7.20 Lakhs p.a. |
| Script Writer | INR 12 Lakhs p.a. |
| Director | Up to 95 Lakhs p.a. |
| Cinematographer | Up to 8 Lakhs p.a. |
| Camera Assistant | INR 3.78 Lakhs p.a. |
| Teacher | Up to 10 Lakhs p.a. |