What does filmmaking as a profession entail?
It’s much more difficult than any other profession. Go to a film school, build the foundation, then write a story and then think about the screenplay.

It is very important to know lensing, camera placement and camera movement because that greatly determines your perspective. This is taught in film schools. Training in screenplay writing is highly recommended — it is easier for you to break into the industry as a writer-director than just as a director. You get more opportunities as a multitasker.

What are the career prospects?
Begin by assisting a reputable filmmaker. Learn the technicalities and then approach production houses.

How does one find work as an assistant director? Do film schools help with networking?
Some might, but it is not easy convincing a big director [to let you assist]. You should have made a few short films that you can show him, meet his manager and fix up meetings, meet him on location and be persistent.

Are the skills of a documentary filmmaker very different from that of a feature filmmaker?
As a documentary filmmaker, one should have a lot of knowledge and sensitivity towards the subject s/he is working on. Editing skills are very important for a documentary filmmaker.

A feature filmmaker, on the other hand, needs lots of imagination to create fiction, turns and twists.

Name three recent Indian films that exemplify good direction.

Kaminey, Dev D and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. They were mainstream films, yet broke away from the cliche.

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