Study Abroad India: Video Documentary Production and Cultural Studies

Winter Intersession 2013

The 21-day hands-on video documentary course will be based at the renowned Prasad Academy, and in and around Chennai, India, in the state of Tamil Nadu. The production component will involve collaboration between CUNY and Prasad Academy students, and include tech sessions, writing assignments, group pre-production exercises, research and development of a documentary topic, and the production and post-production of that documentary.

The course is open to majors and non-majors. Students with little or no background in documentary production will learn to operate digital cameras and sound equipment, and how to structure a short documentary. All students will participate as crew members. Those with a preference for nontechnical crew positions will be able to work as writers, script supervisors, production coordinators and assistants.

Through a series of classroom lectures and screenings, students will receive a comprehensive introduction to South Indian cinema, with an emphasis on documentary. Students will also be introduced to the role media can play in community outreach efforts in both urban and rural regions. 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 Southern India, the concerns of urban and rural development will be integrated in all course material, field trips and lectures.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, all majors.

Program website

Program Dates

January 6, 2013 – January 26, 2013

Program Fee

$2,925 (includes international airfare, health insurance, program-related transportation in India, excursions, housing and most meals)

Additional Costs

Tuition, personal expenses, visa, out-of-pocket meals (approximate $206 plus tuition)

Courses and Credits

FILM 3202 (International Documentary Production) (three credits) or
TVRA 4849, Code 3513 (undergraduate Study Abroad India) (three credits) or
TVRA 7749x, Code 3421 (graduate Study Abroad India)

Financial Aid / Scholarships

Financial aid does apply; alternative loans are available. Scholarships that apply to this program are: SASA, Gilman, Furman and STOCS, among others. (See Scholarship listing on IEGE website.).