Film TV and video Schools and Programs in Japan

Film TV and video Studies in Japan

The Japan Institute of the Moving Image

Film-making has evolved over the years and presently, the practices, technologies, and talents entailed in modern-day film-making have become very proficient and highly developed. Training is, therefore, mandatory for any person who wants to have a flourishing career in the television and film industry. Due to the growth of this industry, most countries across the world have incorporated its study in some of their universities. Japan is one of the countries in the world that offers courses in television and film. The courses are not only offered to local students but to international students as well. There are a number of learning institutions you can attend in Japan if you want to pursue a course in television and film. Read on to find out some of these institutions and the courses they offer.

Japan Institute of the Moving Image

This institution differentiates itself by its widespread instruction in film-making. At the beginning of the course, learners get to show interest in other people as this is the first phase of training. The students then carry out interviews and research so as to intensify their interest in other people, and realize the delight and significance of taping these interests using sound and images. The students also have to learn how to control cameras and microphones so as to achieve this.

Students in the school are taught in small classes. These classes are structured to position the learners in an energetic position towards their training. Learning does not only take place in class as the students also get to identify their subjects of study via fieldwork and film-making in groups. The students also get to identify problems by themselves and tackle them from different viewpoints via on-going group discussions. This is more or less a trial and error process through which the learners get to convey their views, listen to what their classmates have to say, and share their views with them. These activities need high levels of social awareness and independence and through them, students get to nurture their skills in film-making.

The institution also has a very rigorous learning environment. When taking part in film-making projects and workshops, the learners are freed from their other classes so as to give these projects their full attention. This period enables the students to tackle film-making in a deeper manner. It also promotes teamwork with other classmates in the same group. The students are, therefore, in a position to fully acquire the information and skills needed in the film-making industry.

The institution has a teaching staff that is highly trained. This is because the aim of the school is to develop and nurture students who have both hypothetical and practical knowledge in film-making. The teaching staff is diverse as it contains researchers, experienced film-makers, and even critics. The number of teachers teaching “creative” courses is similar to that of teachers teaching “theoretical” courses. All the members of the creative staff are currently working in film production, and they from time to time offer current information about the present condition of the film industry.

For the students to have a clear understanding of film from various perspectives, the institution provides a number of lessons in association and omnibus classes. In these lessons, professionals from various disciplines are available in the same lecture room so as to reveal diverse approaches. The professionals can also decide to give successive classes on the same subject. By having specialized film-makers instruct the same topic, the learners can be engrossed in motivating talks and learn to obtain their own viewpoints.

Some of the courses offered by this film academy include cinematography, editing, screenwriting and directing, documentary, sound recording, and film theory and production. The institution has two campuses and both are based in the “Shinyuri: Town of the Arts” region, and it is about a 30-minute ride by train from Shinjuku in Tokyo. Shinyurigaoka is the nearest station on the Odakyu Line and it has become a cultural center within the Kawasaki region. This region is presently an “Art Zone”, and is home to an assortment of numeral cultural structures such as the Shinyuri 21 Hall, the Asao Cultural Center, and the Kawasaki Art Center. This town provides the best setting for students learning art as they can take part in different cultural activities and also get a chance to enjoy the mix of the stunning natural scenery and the convenience of dwelling in the city.

New York Film Academy in Kyoto, Japan

The institution is located in the Toei Studios in Kyoto. This is the biggest movie studio in the country. It has high-quality imitations of houses and boulevards from the Edo era (1603-1867) and the Meiji era (1868-1912). A lot of movies and about 200 episodes of period programs for television are shot annually.

Enrolment at the institution are open to all students and the students are not only limited to the locals as international students can also enrol. It is, however, important to note that the workshops and training are very rigorous. Students who choose to enrol in this institution should be ready to live and breathe film-making during the entire period of the workshops. Due to the character of film-making and the need of working in teams, the learners should be willing to work in teams, and they must be ready to not only dedicate themselves to their own projects, but also to those of their classmates as well. Due to the limited space, the school recommends early application so as to get a position in your preferred workshop.

All subjects are conducted in English. Students are, however, advised to work on their spoken Japanese for the duration of the program. This will help improve their comprehension and gratification of Japan.

As mentioned earlier, the workshops are very intense. The curriculum is taught in Hi-Def film workshops where every learner writes, produces, directs, and digitally edits his or her films. The students also rotate among the different positions in the crew when their fellow colleagues shoot. As a result of this, the students are able to acquire rigorous hands-on experience.

At the end of every workshop, a screening is done on the final films of all the students. This offers a once in a lifetime opportunity for family, friends, and cast to view the work produced by the students. The students remain with the digital master tape of their production which they can incorporate in their portfolios. After the successful completion of the programs, every student gets a diploma.

Tokyo Film Center School of Arts

This is an institution that nurtures and develops the human resource needed in the film industry. This institution offers a 3-year curriculum in a number of courses such as acting, broadcasting, film-making, makeup, production design, and the business part of the entertainment industry.

The institution has state-of-the-art facilities that make learning fun and exciting at all times. There is a very big screening room which is used as a venue for movie reviews, film festivals and other events. There is a large studio that is appropriate for TV shows or movies. A set can also be built in this studio. There is an equipment room that is fitted with the newest sound, camera, and lighting equipment. Software for editing are also kept in this room. Students have unlimited access to these equipment but only after they have learned how to operate them correctly. The school also has editing rooms, sound rooms, a make-up room, a dance studio, a production design workroom, a media center, and a library.

The students are taught by highly skilled professionals in the field. The institution also works very closely with experienced creators and artists and the students are always encouraged to work side by side with these professionals on different projects outside the class. The students also get the opportunity to learn in Hollywood! This is acquired through an 8-day tour to Hollywood. All the students must take part in this tour and it takes place in the first year of their curriculum. Besides the tour, the institution also invites different guest instructors from abroad to keep the students motivated with the “Hollywood Way.”

Tokyo Film Center School of Arts also supports its students in their job hunting process. The institution works closely with over 300 hundred companies thus making it easy for students to get jobs. There are also advisors who advise the students on how to prepare their career path. A course is also offered which teaches the students simple business skills which enable them to practice job interviews and even discover how to write their resumes. The institution also invites delegates from different companies to attend special colloquiums twice every year. This is a very good opportunity for the students to interact with recruiting agents as they get to give them their resumes which can lead to interviews and job opportunities.

These are the main film and television learning institutions in Japan. They all offer quality and hands-on experience in this field thus producing highly trained graduates. Why not take this opportunity and pursue a course in this field in the institutions named above and create a path to a successful career that you will definitely enjoy.