CINEMATOGRAPHY COURSE

At FACE – Film Academy of Cinematic Excellence, Students don’t just study cinematography-they learn it where films are actually made. Located inside a working film studio, FACE offers a truly immersive learning environment where aspiring cinematographers gain hands-on experience with professional cameras, lighting setups, and real production workflows.

The Cinematography Course is designed to move beyond traditional classroom teaching, combining weekend lectures with weekday practical assignments and studio access, allowing students to practice their craft on authentic film sets. This unique approach ensures that every student not only understands the theory of visual storytelling but also develops the confidence and skills required to work in a real filmmaking environment.

COURSE STRUCTURE

3 Months Module (Weekend)

A comprehensive 3-month program with 24 expert-led sessions covering all core cinematography modules.

Masterclass

A hands-on 1-day masterclass introducing students to advanced cinema cameras like RED, ARRI Alexa Mini and Sony Venice, covering camera operations while guiding them through the creation of a short cinematic project.

Practice & Assignments (Weekdays)

In addition to the scheduled weekend lectures, the academy provides students the opportunity to visit the campus on weekdays to practice and work on their assignments.

+15 Days Portfolio Making

As the final stage of the program, students are given a 15-day portfolio-building period with exclusive access to the studio’s professional film sets to shoot and develop their cinematography projects.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN IN CINEMATOGRAPHY?

Introduction to Cinematography & Camera
Camera Settings & Lenses
Lens Theory & Techniques
Exposure & Light Control
Composition & Framing
Camera Movements & Setup
Lighting Fundamentals

Studio Lighting & Outdoor Lighting
Gimbal and Dolly Track Operation
Chroma Key & Special Setups
Product & Commercial Shoots
Revision & Assessment
Masterclass on ARRI Alexa / RED Cameras
Final Portfolio

WHY LEARN CINEMATOGRAPHY AT FACE?

Comprehensive Cinematography Curriculum

The program follows a well-structured curriculum covering all essential cinematography modules, including camera operations, lighting techniques, shot composition, lensing, camera movement, and the fundamentals of visual storytelling, ensuring students develop both technical knowledge and practical filmmaking skills.

Weekend Learning with Weekday Practice Access

Complete access to cinematography equipment is provided to students on weekdays for practice and assignments, with an equipment supervisor available on campus to offer guidance and support.

Industry Expert Mentors

Sessions are conducted by experienced professionals who bring real-world filmmaking knowledge into the classroom.

Hands-On Learning with Professional Equipment

Students practice with industry-standard cameras, lighting equipment, and filmmaking gear rather than learning only through theory.

Learn Inside a Real Working Film Studio

FACE Academy is located within a fully operational Film & Television studio (SJ STUDIO) and features its own in-house shooting studio, allowing students to learn and practice filmmaking within a real professional production environment.

Portfolio Development on Professional Sets

14+ professionally built film sets at SJ Studio are exclusively made available to students for their final portfolio shoot, including locations such as a hospital, bungalows, luxury villas, police station, office interiors, market area, and more.

OUR FACULTY

Chehek Bilgi - Cinematography Course Faculty

Cinematographer | Digital Advocate | UNCCD Youth Caucus Regional Focal Point

Chehek Bilgi is a filmmaker, cinematographer, and youth advocate with a passion for using visual storytelling to drive social change and bridge the gap between storytelling and policy-making. With a background in International Relations from the School of Liberal Studies, PDPU, and Cinematography from Whistling Woods International, she has developed a unique blend of creative expertise and policy insight.

As a Director of Photography (DOP), Chehek has worked on a range of award-winning films, including the stop-motion film “Religion for Dummies”, which won a Southern Shorts Award for cinematography, and the Marathi feature film “Vrutti”, which won the Audience Choice Best Feature Film award at the DC South Asian Film Festival. Her short film “Karma Café” and diploma film “Pehchaan” have also been recognized at several international film festivals.

Chehek is also a member of the Indian Women Cinematographers Collective (IWCC), where she contributes to promoting women cinematographers and fostering gender equity in the film industry. Her work spans feature films, commercials, and documentaries, showcasing her versatility in visual storytelling.