Swinburne film students depart for AsiaBound-funded Bollywood study tour
In Summary
Some of the students departing for the study tour, as well as teacher Boris Trbic (far right).
Ten Swinburne University of Technology film and television students will get a close-up of the world’s largest film industry when they visit Mumbai, India, in a trip made possible by a federal government AsiaBound grant.
The study tour will be coordinated through the India Study Abroad Center and lead by Bollywood director and Hasal Mahta, whose credits include the critically acclaimed biopic Shahid.
When the Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Film & TV) students depart for their tour on 15 June, they will learn from the best in the business by attending live film sets and meeting with directors, actors, editors, producers and post-production teams.
“The film and television industries across Asia are increasingly home to exciting opportunities for Australian filmmakers, and in fact a number of Swinburne graduates have forged successful careers in various Asian markets,” Swinburne film and television lecturer Boris Trbic said.
“So this trip is a very valuable chance for students to network, build contacts and increase their Asian-literacy, as well as broaden their horizons with a global perspective of their industry.
“And of course seeing a Bollywood dance scene being filmed, which are jaw-dropping feats of filmmaking, would be an unforgettable experience.”
A selection panel, including former Neighbours storywriter and Bollywood scriptwriter Mithila Gupta and Melbourne-based, Indian musician and filmmaker Girish Makwana, chose the 10 students based on their knowledge of and interest in Bollywood, proposals for the tour itinerary and ideas for a short film to be made during the trip.
One of the students going on the trip, Joshua Macaulay, said he was excited about to be travelling to such a culturally diverse place.
“I haven’t been to India before, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the country has to offer,” Joshua said.
“What excites me the most is the unexpected. It’s going to be a unique experience and I’m looking forward to immersing myself in the Indian culture.”
Bollywood – which refers to India’s Hindi-language film industry, one of many that exist in the country – is the most prolific film industry in the world, producing over 1000 films every year, compared to about 600 produced by Hollywood.
Indians also go to the cinema more often than people from any other nation on earth, buying almost three billion movie tickets every year.
Students taking part in the study tour are enrolled in Swinburne’s Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Film & TV).
This one-year Vocational Education course, based in Prahran, gives students hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge in all aspects of film and television making, and allows them to specialise in the areas of cinematography, production planning, post-production, script writing, directing or editing.
Graduates can also take advantage of a direct pathway into Swinburne's Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design).