I am studying in Class IX. I wish to be a film director in the future. What subjects should I take in classes XI and XII, and what are the entrance exams that I can appear for? What are the best colleges (national and international) for filmmaking? How should I prepare? Should film direction be a second option and engineering be my first like others are suggesting?

Samiha Falaque, St. Xavier’s School, Calcutta

India is the largest producer of films in the world. Besides movies, television channels and ad films need directors and cinematographers. Businesses also require filmmakers to create video content to increase brand awareness and customer engagement. So filmmaking is a great career option with plenty of opportunities.

Creating a film from scratch entails a lot of passion as well as clarity of vision on the filmmaker’s part. If you have this desire to connect with the audience through the creative expression of storytelling, then a career in filmmaking is right for you.

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Calcutta, Whistling Woods International in Mumbai, and L.V. Prasad Film and TV Academy in Chennai are some of the top institutes for filmmaking in the country. One can be from any stream — science, commerce or humanities — to get admission into an undergraduate programme in filmmaking.

Such programmes would generally have aptitude tests and a personal interview as part of the admission process. You can start preparing by taking short courses in photography, sound or screen play writing to gain a deeper understanding of the film production process. Start making short videos with a camera or cellphone and prepare a portfolio. View and study the works of the great filmmakers from world cinema. Also, do some research into this career; get a deeper understanding of what filmmaking is all about, as well as the challenges and high points of the job. You can read articles, watch videos or speak to individuals working in this field. Then you will know if this career suits your personality, skills and interests. You can explore other options only if you feel that this career is not the right fit for you.

Tech versus business

I am pursuing BCA and am in my fourth semester. After this, I plan to do either MSc or MBA in data science. Could you tell me which course offers better job prospects and career opportunities?

Rijul Maitra Techno India, Salt Lake, Calcutta

in the technical aspects of data science, such as machine learning, data analysis and programming languages, then an MSc in data science would be a better option. It prepares you for roles like data analyst, scientist or machine learning engineer. When you do an MBA in data science, you get to learn some of the technical aspects of data analysis and programming languages but the focus is on business topics such as management, marketing and strategy to provide a holistic understanding of the business implications of data science. After completing an MBA in data science, you can work as a data manager, data strategist or business analyst.

So the choice of course depends on your career goals and interests; both offer good job prospects and opportunities.

Nina Mukherji is a career counsellor and certified psychometric assessor. She conducts workshops in various areas for students. Mail your queries to telegraphyou@gmail.com with “Ask Nina” in the subject line. Don’t forget to add the name of your school or college and a contact number