The course, which begins on June 30, at the FTII, is a pilot for director Dr Mohan Agashe's plans to start short-term paid courses for professionals. The proposal had come in for a lot of flak from students during the long strike last year for being a design to capitalise the government-grant run FTII.

The workshop is to be conducted by Sandeep (Bobby) Bedi of Bandit Queen and Fire fame, and will focus on breakdown of script and scheduling with orientation to budgeting. Advertisements, visible at the noticeboard of the National Film Archives of India, recommend it for directors, assistant directors, art directors and production managers. The fee of Rs 5,000 includes accomodation, breakfast and lunch. Dr Agashe denies that the course is a part of the money-raising activities of FTII, which had been opposed vehemently by students fearing change in the entire objective of the government institute. ``One course of Rs 5000 cannot raise money for the FTII. There have been many inquiries from professionals in the field desiring master classes upto six months in duration, in specific topics and this is a kind of pilot that would help us in formulating concrete proposals,'' he says.

He is emphatic that the course is not for students. ``This is meant for professionals who have experience in the field but are looking for formal training,'' explains Dr Agashe. Also to follow is practical training for students undergoing classes at the FTII, another one of Dr Agashe's ideas.

At the moment we are focussing on specific objectives which have been spelt out in the course structure, we want to check if it is feasible to run such courses, how they are to be conducted and what is the response from professions for whom the courses will be organiseds, says Dr Agashe. With hostels vacant due to ongoing vacations, the sternest critics, namely students, are not available for comment.