Tele Tales - My CEB Lead EducationTimes Article

TELE TALES

DID SOMEONE SAY ‘SMALL SCREEN’? THE ERSTWHILE POORER COUSIN OF MOVIEDOM HAS GOTTEN LARGER THAN LIFE, AND IS IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN. SATSHEEL REDKAR AND MILI SEMLANI PRESENT DETAILS ON THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO TV WANNABES

Lights, camera, action! These words might conjure images of Bollywood glamour and song and dance routines, but as with everything else in the entertainment business, times are achanging, and the focus of a large part of India’s acting talent, has switched to the booming television industry. Saonjivkumar Pahwa, Co-Producer of Baabarr, explains, “Many people are intent on being seen on, or working for the big screen, and are willing to work for less money. As a result, character/ junior artists are paid less in movies than they would be paid for working in television shows.” This is one of the factors that has made the television industry very popular with professionals. According to a FICCI-KPMG survey, the television industry is projected to grow
at a rate of 14.5 per cent over the next four to five years, attaining the Rs 473 billion mark. No longer the big screen’s poorer cousin, the television industry in India (the third largest television market in the world), has witnessed the launch of a slew of new channels in recent years. Whether it’s daily soaps, comedies or reality shows, musical programmes or quiz shows, there are a host of opportunities for aspirants in the television business today.
SURFING CHANNELS
While film may be a competitive, difficult medium to start with, the sheer number of television shows and channels ensure many aspiring actors get a break, and perhaps, later move on the big screen. Besides acting, opportunities in the television industry include direction, cinematography, editing, script and screenplay writing.
PRODUCERS: The television industry offers aspirants with an interest in production, an open platform to step up and prove themselves. After completing a TV production course, students can start their careers as independent producers or executive producers. There is also the option of working with a producer as his assistant. A television producer’s responsibilities begin with making certain everyone makes it to the set on time, to ensuring all production activities proceed smoothly until the end of the post-production stage, when the show is ready to be screened. Pahwa agrees, “A producer has to do everything, right from conceptualising the show, to acquiring finance, and project and time slots from the channel, to making arrangements for food and lights. But he has to start with enlisting the services of a director and writer.” There are innumerable TV channels in India that offer jobs to students trained in the field. You can join a TV channel that is of interest to you, or opt to work for a specific programme.
Actors: If you intend to act on TV, you might need to brace yourself for hectic schedules, with shooting continuing even until the last minute for daily soaps. Tanvi Hegde, who plays the protagonist in Son Pari, offers, “Talent and passion coupled with formal education and a sound knowledge of technical know how paves the way to success in this industry.” Even so, acting is a tough profession, so be prepared to struggle initially, when you queue up for one audition after another.
As Gautami Kapoor, popular television actress reveals, “It is a myth that television is a lucrative field. The struggle period is too long, while success can be short lived. Your initial remuneration can be as meagre as Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per day. The field is extremely competitive and uncertain, and people in the industry follow the mantra, ‘out of sight is out of mind’.” She also stresses that long, incessant working hours leave little or no time for a personal or social life. The working conditions can be strenuous, and with no fixed job hours, television can be a very challenging work atmosphere. Junior artists get an even worse deal. They might need to report to the set at 7
am, when all they have is a five-minute role at 7 pm. Chitralee Chogle, a college student in Mumbai, is an aspiring artist who has acted in a few television serials, and also worked as an assistant director for one. She suggests, “Actors with talent will definitely make a mark, but you need to remember to work hard and be flexible about matters, keeping yourself ready to take up new challenges at all times.” Directors: A director brings ideas to life. Whether it’s decisions related to set designs, costumes, auditions, or other creative aspects of television shows, a director must be adept at all these tasks. However, to be a director, one must possess the requisite skills and be passionate about creating something. Janardhan Bhende, who began as an apprentice cameraman, and has steadily risen to the profile of a reality show producer for a dance show, explains, “Though there are a few aspirants who are genuinely talented, and these often find success, there are many others who do not possess that talent and come to reality shows, attracted by their scope for stardom.”
Cameramen: Cameramen or cinematographers are responsible for capturing scenes on camera. They need a certain degree of imagination in order to visualise frames and shooting angles. Sebastian Anthony, assistant cinematographer for movies like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Aks, and now, an independent Director of Photography, offers, “As a part of the system, and not the system in itself, a cameraman should only advise or lend support to his director. Initially, one would need to assist a professional cameraman on the sets to learn the tricks of the trade.”
K U Mohanan, Director of Photography for films such as Don and Aaja Nachle, believes that without professional training, a cinematographer will not be able to handle equipment. He says, “Earlier, most aspirants pursued training at FTII, but many more institutes have come up as of late. With respect to skills, handling the equipment and camera are foremost. Also, playing with the light and postproduction work, such as digital analysis, Photoshop, etc, play a very important role in making you a better cameraman.” Editors: Editors decide what stays in the final cut, and what gets canned. An editor needs to rely on his own resources - good judgement, creativity and observation skills. Omkar Patki, an editor, who has worked with leading production houses, shares, “Editing is easy, rewarding and creatively satisfying, provided your concepts and skills are in sync with the script.”
Both editing and camera work are very technical fields, and it is best that anyone aspiring to pursue a career in these areas comes armed with a degree in the subject. Most film and TV institutes have cinematography and editing courses available.
The television industry has more opportunities to offer, including scriptwriter, storyboarding artist, pre-production/ line manager (dealing with budgets, scheduling, location, etc), artist co-ordinator, studio director, studio floor manager, soundman, production assistant, lighting man, console operator, online/ offline editor, visual effects artist (for opening sequences, VFX in shows, etc), music director, props manager and many more.
PICK YOUR PLATFORM
Aspirants can opt to work with production houses, TV stations, product design and R&D companies, the Internet, broadcast companies, companies that set up TV studios and stations, and need the technical expertise, or animation studios working for TV shows.
MOOLAH MATTERS
The television industry certainly does not send you home empty handed. The pay/ wages are earned daily, and not monthly. To begin with, if you are an actor/ actress playing a small character role, your pay starts from Rs 1000 and goes up to Rs 3000 per day. As you progress in your career, and your character is shaped into a long-term character, you start earning Rs 3000 to Rs 5000 a day. Cameo roles for better-known actors can fetch about the same amount. However, once the audience starts to recognise you, and begins appreciating your role, your daily income may go up to between Rs 5000 and Rs 1,50,000. That’s not the end of it. Once you establish
yourself and can command your time, you can adjust two to three assignments in a single day, which means you can earn in the range of Rs 4,50,000 in one day.
For directors, the pay structure is entirely different. A director may earn a salary, some minimum guarantee, or may even engage in profit sharing. Sometimes, a well-known director can be paid simply for lending his name.
Although television is one of the most lucrative industries, the instant fame and accolades that follow are remarkable as well. For most people, television brings lasting reognition and a place in the hearts and minds of millions of viewers. INSTITUTE INDICATOR
Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (www.ftiindia.com) Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India (srfti.gov.in) Asian Academy of Film and Television (www.aaft.com) Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia (www.ajkmcrc.org) Xavier’s Institute of Communications (www.xaviercomm.org) Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (www.simc.edu)

Uday Ravi Koduru
A total cricket freak, I love hanging out with friends and family, and enjoy watching Bollywood movies. I have learnt that going after what you believe in is the key to success.

Aditi Gala
Sometimes crazy, sometimes wise. At times, juvenile, and at times, unbelievably kind. I am a dreamer and a doer. A true Mumbaikar, who lives life by the Hakuna Matata policy. Books, literature and movies are a passion.