46 | It’s Only Cinema > November 2012

It’s Only Cinema

It was India�s �rst Avid authorized education centre. And now, Digital Film School (DFS), already

a highly respected name in the �lm and television industry has added more feathers to its cap with some more meaningful and valuable training courses, making it a one-stop institution for almost everything related to digital media training.�e school, which houses within Quality Cine Labs � QLAB ( a 40 year old Film Processing Labs and end to end digital Post Proudction studio ) spread over a whopping 30,000 square feet in the

entertainment hub of Andheri, Mumbai, has now also been certi�ed by Assimilate Inc., the creators of Scratch DI System & HS-ART creators of Diamant Film Restoration software.DFS is all about the cultivation of a self expressed sensibility, a signature style. �ey do it by providing the absolute standard in Digital Intermediate, VFX, Film Restoration equipment and technology, and a course of instructions that teaches the students to transcend the wizardry of all that gear with the power of their vision. Its �nally not the most costly equipment that money can buy

but the mind and thought that an artist brings behind it that brings out the magic in the images. It's the artist who make a signature statement with the computers as their medium. With a host of high-end system, Baselight, Red Epic 5K camera�s, Color Grading Surface, Film Scanners, Recorders etc at the school�s disposal. DFS is now o�ering a one of its kind courses in the world, which includes courses in Digital Intermediate Colorist Training Program & Red DIT Courses. Students are trained on the latest systems that are being extensively used by DI facilities across the globe. In fact, the course gives

November 2012 > It’s Only Cinema | 47

students access to infrastructure that was so far available only to professionals working in the �eld of DI.While the DI training is the latest addition to DFS� array of courses, the school has always been known to o�er hands on training using the best available tools and systems available in the postproduction domain.Some of the already popular training programmes o�ered by DFS include:� Scratch Editor/Conforming Artist

& Colorist Program� Resolve Conforming & Colorist

Program� Baselgiht Conforming & Colorist

Program� Digital Intermediate Colorist &

Work�ow Program� Grading Stereoscopic 3D Content� Red Digital Imaging Technician

Program� Visual E�ects Master Classes� Animation Master Classes� Film Restoration Courses� Film Editing Courses�e Digital Intermediate process ?It covers all forms of manual improvements to the picture. It gives �lmmakers more creative options as well as very distinctive look to the �lms undergoing the process. DI is more than just a corrective process. Like Lighting and Editing, Used Creatively and E�ectively, it can enhance the mood of the story and help lead the viewers eye to the more relevant action on the screen. No wonder 90% of all feature �lms, 60% of all television and 90% of all music videos undergo one or the form of DI. In short, its an exciting time for DI.

DI Conforming CoursesIt is designed to familiarize students with the fundamentals of using Di Softwares in a Digital Intermediate Production. It teaches the students basics of building Constructs, Conforming Data using EDL�s and Manual Conform, creating Digital Opticals, Understanding Vectroscope, Waveforms & RGB Parade. Understanding Sca�olds, Formatting, and creating Multi Format Deliverable for Film Outputs as well as Digital Cinema Deliverables. �e goal of the 3 month course is to build a strong Understanding of the DI Softwares along with an understanding of the Digital Intermediate Work�ow.�e curriculum includes:1. Projects-- Constructs2. Edit�EDL Auto Conform &

Manual Conform3. Output Menu4. DI Work Flow5. Understanding of Log & Linear

images�e Digital Intermediate Colorist Training Programme� It is the 1st Full-format Digital� Intermediate Course in the World.

Area�s covered include:� Working on Multiple DI Softwares

� ( Scratch/Baselight/Resolve )� Film and Video Color Correction

� Understanding Log and Linear Spaces.

� Creating Color Looks.� Color correcting full reels in 2K

scanned log format, as well as Red r3d and Arri footages.

� QC Tools like VectorScope, Waveform & RGB Parade

� Densitometer Reading� Ultrasonic Cleaning of Film� Reverse Telecine� Film Scanning� Telecine Procedures for DI� Course tutors are experienced

Colorist, Cinematographers, Lab Technicians, DI Line Producers etc.

Key Point of the Course:- Students get their name in a minimum of 5 �lms before the end of the 9 months course, when they opt to work on live projects.Red 4K/5K Camera Assistant Course: 4 Weeks�is includes:a. Components of Red 4K & Epic camerab. Information about lenses.c. Common requirements of a DOP from the camera assistants.d. Functions of Red 4K and Epic 5K cameras.e. Tips and tricks for attending a �lm shoot.f. Hands on experience on the Red 4K & Epic 5K Camera and Trouble-shooting.

48 | It’s Only Cinema > November 2012

RED 4K & Epic Camera Operation and Advanced Digital Imaging Technician Course : 8 Weeks�is includes: Everting taught in the Camera Assistant course plusa. Introduction to digital Videob. Complete RED 4K and Epic 5K Camera Operationc. Digital Data Managementd. How to use RED software.e. Tips and tricks for attending a �lm shooting.f. Hands on experience and trouble shooting on the RED 4K & Red Epic Camera and Digital Data. A course on the Red Camera�s is signi�cant because it has materialized as one of the most signi�cant American inventions of the 21st Century. With over 5 times the resolution of an HD video camera, the RED camera has earned its rightful place as the successor

to 35mm �lm acquisition. �eRED camera has been responsible for creating hundred�s of �lms, from independent Hollywood blockbuster as well as a growing impact on the capture of episodic television. In the short span of three years, RED has come to dominate the music, video and television commercial landscape, as well.Wherever 35mm �lm once tread, the RED camera�s has emerged, bringing with it the advantages of lower cost, lighter weight, same hour dailies, brilliant work�ow and grainless, organic images. All in all, training at the Digital Film School will help your all-round development in the �eld of post-production vis-à-vis digitally. DFS is a Media Training division of Quality Cine Labs P Ltd � QLAB, which boasts of an experience spanning 40 years and having worked on more than 300

Hollywood �lms including the recent James Bond Movie SKYFALL and all the Spiderman �lms to date released in India, QLAB�s audio dept has worked on �lms like English Vinglish, Vicky Donor, Gangs of Wasepur 1 & 2, and many more. �e Experience that students will get learning in such an environment is second to none, it builds up an overall understanding of the Post Production Domain which no other training facility can o�er today.It is probably one of the best equipped �lm schools in the country. With end to end post facilities spread over 3 cities, it ensures live project and Real World Knowledge. �e concept of New Age New Media Courses for the Next Generation Artist will surely be bene�cial. Giving credibility to the learning is an Experience Certi�cate at the end of the course. More than ever, the world is fascinated, beguiled, thrilled, moved and amazed by distinct color looks & visual wizardry each �lm has. Mastering this hot medium whether you choose to be a Conforming Artist, DI Colorist, or Vfx Artist,this is the new career path, where each students creative talent will be seen by millions on the screen, whatever the medium it may be from digital to celluloid.�e goal of DFS is to nurture creativity in the context of the real world. At DFS, they educate students who want to be professional artist, contributing to the real world. DFS is opening up 2 more centre�s one in Bangalore & 1 in Hyderabad shortly. You can get in touch with them on info@digital�lmschool.in or call 9967700002 / 9870154555 or connect on www.facebook.com/digital�lmschool.

Our Aim is to run DFS like a Boutique Training Facility with options to Customize courses b a s e d o n a n I n d i v i d u a l s requirement, and target to train not more than 35 to 40 DI technicians a year thereby increasing the chance of their getting employed as soon as they complete the course says Amit Shetty - Director QLAB - DFS.