Study Abroad India: Documentary Production and Cultural Studies
December 30, 2014 – January 19, 2015
(Winter Intersession 2015)
This 21-day course will offer a meaningful combination of lectures, field trips, production work and sightseeing. Students will learn about Indian cultures, religions, history and cinema, with excursions to major cultural, historical and religious sights.
Hyderabad's Ramoji Film City/Mahendra Ecole Centrale and Dindigul District's Gandhigram Institutions will provide the setting for studying media production within a South Indian context. Through a series of classroom lectures, field visits and screenings students will receive a comprehensive introduction to South Indian cinema, with an emphasis on documentary. Students will carry out production exercises at the Film City complex, which according to the Guiness Book of World Records is "the largest studio complex in the world." A visit to the Gandhigram Institutions will teach students about the role media can also play in community outreach efforts in both urban and rural regions. This will include traditional folk media as well as digital video formats.
The production component of the course will involve on-going collaboration between CUNY and students from the Ramoji Film City and Mahindra Ecole Centrale. The course will emphasize communication, creativity, connection and collaboration. This will include: tech sessions, writing assignments, group exercises, research and development of a documentary topic, and the production and post production of that documentary. Students with little or no background in documentary production will learn some of the basic technical skills required to operate digital cameras, sound equipment, as well as how to structure a short documentary. All students will be expected to participate as crew members. Those with a preference for non-technical crew positions will be able to work as: writers, script supervisors, production coordinators and assistants. In the development of a documentary topic, the role of culture, religion, and social structure will be considered. Students will learn the importance of cultural sensitivity when considering how we depict poverty, deprivation and economic development. Since we will be based in both urban and rural regions of India, the concerns of urban and rural development will be integrated in all course material, field trips and lectures.
Students will reside in double rooms at the Residence Hall of Mahindra Ecole Centrale in Hyderabad, and in double rooms at the three-star Park Plaza Hotel in Madurai.
This program is open to undergraduate (sophomores, juniors and seniors) and graduate students with a GPA of 3.00, all majors. Freshmen will be accepted only under special circumstances.
Program Dates
December 30, 2014 – January 19, 2015
Program Fee
$3,199 (includes international airfare, CISI health/travel insurance, program-related transportation in India, excursions, housing, equipment rentals and some meals)
Program Fee Payment Schedule:
- First Payment Due: October 31, 2014 — $1,415
- Final Payment Due: November 18, 2014 — $1,784
Additional Costs
Brooklyn College tuition and fees for three credits, as well as out-of-pocket costs ($405 estimated minimum) for personal expenses, visa, Internet, laundry and out-of-pocket meals.
Courses and Credits
Participants will register for one three-credit course, selecting from among the courses listed below. Final course offerings will be dependent on course enrollment.
- FILM 3202/TVRA 4849: International Documentary Production
- TVRA 7749X: Graduate Study Abroad India (graduate students only)
Financial Aid/Scholarships
Financial aid may apply, and alternative loans are available. Scholarships that apply to this program are: SASA, SIROCS and Furman, among others (see Scholarship Opportunities).
How to Apply
- Complete the IEGE Notification of Study Abroad/Brooklyn College Study Abroad Application (pdf) and submit via e-mail to the International Education and Global Engagement office, or in person at the IEGE office, 1108 Boylan Hall.
- Contact the program director to express your interest in joining the program.
Application Deadline
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Deadline extended to Monday, November 3, 2014
More Information
Professor Annette Danto (Program Director)
Department of Film
P: 718.951.5664
Program website
India-Film Study Abroad Facebook Page
International Education and Global Engagement
1108 Boylan Hall
P: 718.951.5189
Cancellation and Refund Policies
Please read and understand the IEGE Cancellation and Refund Policies Information and note that a participant wishing to cancel their program participation must send written notification to IEGE to officially withdraw. Program withdrawal will be official from the time and date that the written communication was received by IEGE.
Please note that all information listed above is subject to change at any time.
