That was a time when production professionals for films and TV programmes were suddenly in demand. But to find good professionals in the field was difficult. Realising that properly trained professionals are a prerequisite for the production of films and television programmes, the management of Marwah Films & Video Studio decided to make use of its infrastructure to establish the first ever centre for media education and training in the private sector in India.Asian Academy of Film & TV (AAFT) was thus founded on July 22, 1993. Incidentally, AAFT is also an alternative to formal film & TV schools offering two to three-year long courses.
AAFT now has permanent staff; dedicated studio complex and video equipment for the post-production work; well stocked books and videotape library etc, which are absolutely necessary for the training. The students of AAFT have access to at least six production floors, lighting equipment, sets and props of Marwah Films & Video Studio, where facilities for the indoor andoutdoor shooting are available in abundance.
The Academy also makes substantial use of the eminent practising professionals as the guest faculty to keep its training in close touch with the real world time frame of reference. A judicious mix of theoretical instructions and practical exercises help students in imbibing knowledge and developing skills for production of films and television programmes.
The Academy lays full emphasis on learning by doing. Each student is provided with an opportunity to produce at least six programmes and observe others at work in another 50-60 productions during his/her stay at the academy.
Asian Academy of Film & Television is the only institution in the country which helps the aspirants of a career in the exciting field of film and television both in single camera & multicamera TV programme production techniques.
The commercial cost of the three months long training is nearly Rs 1 lakh per head. The student, however, is required to pay only Rs 18,000 as the course feeand another Rs 3,000 to 4,000 towards production cost during the training.
Notwithstanding the fact that students opt for specialisation in production/direction and TV journalism; camera & lighting techniques; video editing and sound recording and acting & presentation and advertising & public relations, the training is essentially an integrated one. The students of the technical courses (other than acting & presentation) are training as a group for the major period of three months' courses as their orientation classes are common and the programme production is a team work. In other words, the training courses have been carefully designed to fulfil the perceived needs of producers/directors, camerapersons, video editors and the performers in the real life situation.
The credit for the design of the course goes to Sadhan Mullick, former Dean, Television, Film & Television Institute of India, Pune, and hosts of media bigwigs who are advising the academy on training matters from time to time.
A noteworthyfeature of the training is that the students of the academy often get an opportunity to be associated with the in-house programme productions. Two 52-episode serials -- Footpath and Kanoon Ka Beta are under production at the Marwah Films & Video Studio.
As effective training in the performing arts can be conducted only in a congenial environment, AAFT is privileged to be located in the picturesque area at FC-14/15, Sector-16A, City, Bodia, some 17-km from New Delhi. The proximity of several studio complex provide an atmosphere which is conductive to proper training in the art & craft of films and television programme production. Hostel facility is available for the outstation students.
Another noteworthy feature about AAFT is that this is the only institution which has continuously been conducting training courses since July 1993. About a dozen similar training centres pulled down their shutters after conducting a course or two. Majority of over 1,000 persons trained by AAFT so far are gainfully employedin their chosen field of creative work. The authorities at AAFT attribute its success to a mix of dedication, hard work and good luck.
The Academy has received numerous national awards for outstanding contribution towards media education. Among the awards are Hind Gaurav Award, Kala Darpan Award, National Media Award, Dr Radhakrishnan National Award, Sadhabhavana Award, Rajdhani Ratan Award, Rashtriya Gaurav Award. The academy is headed by Mr Sandeep Marwah.
The nineteenth session of AAFT has been slated for the third week of March 1998, admission for which is on this month.
Credit: Asian Academy of Film & Television
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
