Cinematographic delights

Q. I am interested in a career in filmmaking and want to take up cinematography. Where can I do it from'
Dhiraj Chetia

A: Cinematographers translate an abstract idea or a story into a tangible, pulsating array of visuals flowing in a meaningful sequence. Thus, the acuteness of perception and artistic ability are as important as an extensive technical knowledge of lights and filters.

The following institutions offer the relevant courses:

• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Calcutta (http://srfti.gov.in), offers a three-year postgraduate diploma in motion picture photography. The eligibility is a bachelors degree.

• Jadavpur University, Calcutta (www.jadavpur.edu), offers a masters in cinema studies.

• AKJ Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi (www.jmi.nic.in), offers a two-year MA in mass communication (radio, television, film and audio-visual production).

• NID, Ahmedabad (www.nid.edu), offers communication design courses in film and video communication (both undergraduate and postgraduate).

• Film and Television Institute of India, Law College Road, Pune (www.ftiindia.com), offers a three-year diploma and a one-year certificate course in cinematography.

• Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA), Mumbai (www.zimainstitute.com), offers a one-year diploma, a six-month certificate, a six-month advanced certificate in cinematography, production, film animation and direction, sound, editing, etc.

• Whistling Woods International Institute for Film, Television, Animation and Media Arts, Mumbai (www.whistlingwoods.net), offers two-year full-time courses in direction, screen writing, cinematography, acting, editing, sound recording and design.

Score with an MBA in supply chain

Q: I am a computer science graduate working in the procurement department of an MNC. What courses can I do to enhance my prospects'
Abhiranjan Sethi

A: An MBA wouldn’t hurt, but I’m not sure that taking two years off would be a good move. You can opt for a part-time MBA or a one-year executive MBA or you can check these out:

• Postgraduate diploma in supply chain management at ICFAI, Hyderabad (www.icfai.org/icpe), Institute of Management Technology, Distance and Open Learning Institute and Welingkars Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai (www.welingkar.org).

• IIM-A offers a management development programme in supply chain.

• Indian Institute of Materials Management, Mumbai, offers international purchasing and supply chain management.

Being a software engineer without an MCA

Q: I want to be a software engineer but have scored only 45 per cent in my BSc. Hence, I am finding it difficult to gain admission to an MCA programme in any college. Can I opt for other institutes accredited by DOEACC A, B and C level'
Sonam Rumba

A: Taking up a DOEACC course would be a good idea as the eligibility criterion for admission to MCA courses is minimum 50 per cent aggregate at the bachelors level, although some universities ask for 60 per cent.

The DOEACC Society (an autonomous body of M/ Information Technology, GoI) conducts an established accreditation and certification programme in IT education.

Four levels of (AICTE-approved) courses are offered under this scheme. While the -Level is for Plus Two students, being a graduate you can directly opt for the A-Level, or advanced diploma course which will qualify you to work as a programmer, web administrator, training faculty, web content developer or trouble-shooter. Incidentally, “A” level qualifiers are also eligible for obtaining work visas in Japan.

Should you wish to study further, you can take direct entry into the third semester (second year of MSc IT programmes through distance education mode in some universities). Similarly, you can get direct entry to the third semester of MCA at IGNOU under the lateral entry scheme if you have cleared the “A” level exam and completed your project work. You can conveniently take up a job and attend the classes at your nearest study centre. The minimum duration is one year and the eligibility is a Level ‘’/three-year engineering diploma after Class X or XII/bachelors degree.

The B-Level is equivalent to BE/BTech, MCA or MSc and attests your proficiency to work as a network systems administrator, database administrator, software engineer or senior faculty member. The eligibility is level ‘A’/PGDCA/three-year engineering diploma/bachelors degree.

The C-Level is equivalent to an MTech and certifies you to hold jobs as systems specialists or project managers, IT consultants or R&D scientists. The eligibility is BTech/BE/MCA/MSc/bachelors degree in mathematics, statistics, operations research/MBA with BSc/BA (mathematics/statistics), GATE (computer science).

Log on to www.doeacc.edu.in for more information and additional details.