The old ‘Film Direction vs Cinematography’ still continues to question people about their choice of career. Both film direction and cinematography are vital to filmmaking. While one steers the ship, the other paints the views. But, for some of us finding their calling, the question looms - what exactly to pursue Film Direction or Cinematography?
In this blog, we are going to uncover film and direction and cinematography, helping you figure out which course is the best fit for you. Let’s dig in.
Film directors are the creative leads of the film. They are the visionary behind the project responsible to interpret the script to guide actors about their roles, deciding the shot composition and even dealing with the budget to make a successful film for the audience.
Globally renowned film directors like Christopher Nolan, known for Oscar-winning movies like ‘Oppenhemier’, ‘Inception’ and ‘Tenet.’ Indian film directors like Zoya Akhtar and S.S. Rajamouli known for their artworks ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and ‘Bahubali’ respectively are some famous examples of successful filmmakers.
If you have a knack for storytelling, working with talented celebrities and seeing your vision come to the BIG Screen, film direction might be your calling.
The other contender is the cinematographer. If the director is the eyes and ears of a project, the cinematographer is the navigator. The Director of Photography (DoP) or Cinematographer is responsible for the visual appeal of the film.
Cinematographers are the one to decide the lighting, composition, camera angles and color tones to create a film’s visual identity. Renowned DoPs like Roger Deakins (Skyfall and Blade Runner 2049), Santosh Sivan (Barfi! & Tamasha) and Ravi Varma (Roja and Dil Se) are some of the popular names in the world of cinematography.
If you ever find yourself gazing over the perfect aerial view of the landscape or pausing a movie to celebrate the right tones, colors, camera angles and composition, cinematography is the right fit for you.
As per the recent reports from Statista, the global film industry is valued at around $136 billion with India contributing to 2000 films annually. HIGHEST in the world.
Talking about the future career options in both the fields, film direction and cinematography offers exciting career prospects.
| Film Direction | Cinematography |
| Film Director | Assistant Cinematographer |
| Script Writer | Camera Operator |
| Script Supervisor | Steadicam Operator |
| Screenwriter | Drone Cinematographer |
| Creative Producer | Gaffer |
| Assistant Director (AD) | Film Editors |
“The best films are the ones that demand something of the audience.” Christopher Nolan
Finding the right school to help you master film direction and cinematography can be difficult. At AAFT School of Cinema, we offer UG, PG, Diploma and Short-Term Courses to help you master the skills with hands-on training and industry insights from the leaders.
B.Sc in Cinema (Specialization in Cinematography) and B.Sc in Cinema (Specialization in Direction) are perfect for you to master the art of filmmaking and get into the nitty-gritty of the filmmaking process.
Throughout the program, you will learn about script analysis, filmmaking process, pre & post production planning and execution, storyboarding, lighting techniques, color theory, composition, framing, and much more.
Well, now that you know about the fields, ask yourself.
Whether you love storytelling, guiding actors and creating a masterpiece that brings your vision to life - film direction might be your calling.
Do you like to play around lighting, colors and crafting visuals that goes WOW - a career in cinematography can be extremely rewarding.
No matter whatever you choose, both film direction and cinematography offers dynamic, rewarding career options combining art and technology. Just remember, it is not about choosing the ‘better’ course - it is about following your passion and what suits you best.
The best part? At AAFT School of Cinema, you will get to work on projects like shooting a film, short films under the supervision of renowned filmmakers like Pankaj Prashar and more. Who knows, you might end up discovering a new talent along the way.
Now, wait no more and start discovering your potential.