A cameraperson specialises in operating a film or video camera to capture the footage in a film or TV show. These professionals may work with a camera crew, a video company, film professionals or independently, serving a variety of clients through their work.
Personal Competencies
You have a creative bent of mind
You like working with gadgets
You pay attention to details while working
You are comfortable working in groups
Entry Pathway
1. Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
2. Complete Bachelor’s degree in Science (B.Sc.) in Mass Media/Film Studies/Filmmaking followed by a Master’s degree in Mass Communication/Film Studies
OR
Complete Bachelor’s degree in any subject and then follow it up with a Diploma in Photography and Videography
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
Where will you study?
This course is offered by the Department of Media and Mass Communication This list of institutes is indicative only
Government Institutes 1. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune 2. SRFTI, Kolkata 3. Government Film and Television Institute, Bangalore 4. National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
Private Institutes (Please check if Institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying) 1. CRAFT Film School, New Delhi 2. Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida 3. Rayat Bahra University, Mohali, Punjab 4. FA School of Media & Films, Mumbai 5. MV Media Institute, Lucknow 6. Whistling Woods International Institute of Films (WWI), Mumbai 7. L V Prasad Film And TV Academy, Chennai
*NPTEL - National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. It is by the Government of India and offers a variety of courses in an audio-video form
Fees
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 44,000 - 24,00,000*.
*(The above-mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from institute to institute)
Scholarships & Loans
Scholarships
• National Scholarship Portal - Please visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different Departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.* • Please visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI • Scholarships are also available in the Institutes based on merit
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
Loans
•VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA). •Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc. • All banks give education loans.
Where will you work?
Places of Work: Film/Ads/TV Production Sets, Media Houses
Work Environment: Your work hours will typically depend on the shooting schedule of the project you are involved with. It is likely to be 8 to 9 hours per day.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field
Expected Growth Path
Assistant Cameraman → Movie Cameraman → Head Camera Operator
Expected Income
The approx. salary of a cameraperson ranges between INR 18,417 - 1,67,000* per month.
*These figures are indicative and subject to change
Experts from the field
Santosh Sivan is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, and the most awarded director of photography in India. He graduated from Mir Ivanios College and then graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and completed 45 feature films and 41 documentaries. He has won five national awards and was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian cinema in 2014.*
Cameraperson
NCS Code: 3521.02 | MC0211. Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
2. Complete Bachelor’s degree in Science (B.Sc.) in Mass Media/Film Studies/Filmmaking followed by a Master’s degree in Mass Communication/Film Studies
OR
Complete Bachelor’s degree in any subject and then follow it up with a Diploma in Photography and Videography
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
This course is offered by the Department of Media and Mass Communication
This list of institutes is indicative only
Government Institutes
1. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
2. SRFTI, Kolkata
3. Government Film and Television Institute, Bangalore
4. National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
Private Institutes
(Please check if Institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying)
1. CRAFT Film School, New Delhi
2. Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida
3. Rayat Bahra University, Mohali, Punjab
4. FA School of Media & Films, Mumbai
5. MV Media Institute, Lucknow
6. Whistling Woods International Institute of Films (WWI), Mumbai
7. L V Prasad Film And TV Academy, Chennai
Information on the institute rankings can be found at - https://www.nirfindia.org/2022/Ranking.html
Distance Learning Institute
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
Online Courses
• NPTEL* Swayam - https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc21_hs17/preview
• Udemy - https://www.udemy.com/topic/videography/
*NPTEL - National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. It is by the Government of India and offers a variety of courses in an audio-video form
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 44,000 - 24,00,000*.
*(The above-mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from institute to institute)
Scholarships
• National Scholarship Portal - Please visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different Departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.*
• Please visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI
• Scholarships are also available in the Institutes based on merit
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
Loans
•VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA).
•Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans.
Places of Work: Film/Ads/TV Production Sets, Media Houses
Work Environment: Your work hours will typically depend on the shooting schedule of the project you are involved with. It is likely to be 8 to 9 hours per day.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field
Assistant Cameraman → Movie Cameraman → Head Camera Operator
The approx. salary of a cameraperson ranges between INR 18,417 - 1,67,000* per month.
Source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Cameraman/Salary
*These figures are indicative and subject to change
Experts from the field
Santosh Sivan is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, and the most awarded director of photography in India. He graduated from Mir Ivanios College and then graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and completed 45 feature films and 41 documentaries. He has won five national awards and was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian cinema in 2014.*
Source: https://www.moviecrow.com/interviews/91/interview-with-santhosh-sivan
*The above information is for training purposes only and will not be used for any commercial gains.
cameraperson, cameraman, camera operator