A Bollywood Experience: Internships in Mumbai
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What You Need to Know
Come and learn firsthand about the largest film industry in the world! This four-week, 2- to 3- credit course introduces students to the history, aesthetics, language, business, and process of filmmaking in India. Through a combination of seminars with film directors and internships with production companies, students will discover the detailed inner workings of Bollywood. Students work on teams with film directors, producers, and other crew members. The program is supported by the Whistling Woods International Institute for Film, Television, and Media Arts. Field visits to Pune to visit the Film and Television Institute of India and the Film Archives, along with a tour of Bombay and nearby sites of cultural importance are included. Students will quickly learn to appreciate the history, aesthetics, language, business and process of filmmaking in India. Open to Syracuse University TRF and VPA juniors, seniors, and graduate students with a minimum of two production and/or writing courses.
Tula Goenka is an associate professor in the Department of Television, Radio, and Film at Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communications. Her resume includes work with several top filmmakers and notable projects during her 20 years of experience in the film and television industry. Goenka has worked with Spike Lee on "Do The Right Thing" and "Malcolm X," and Mira Nair on "Salaam Bombay!" and "Mississippi Masala." She has also worked on several award-winning documentaries, including "Unzipped," the story of fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, and "Keep The River On Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale" about explorer and writer Tobias Schneebaum.
In 2002, Goenka produced and edited the award-winning PBS documentary "Dancing On Mother Earth." This film chronicles a year in the life of Oneida Indian singer/songwriter Joanne Shenandoah and was screened in several film festivals, including the prestigious Smithsonian's Native American Film and Video Festival. Her documentary, "El Charango" was an official selection at the AFI/Discovery SilverDocs Film Festival in 2006.
Goenka was born and raised in India and continues to be very involved in the South Asian community in America. She is a founding member of Sakhi for South Asian Women, a New York City based organization working to end violence against women. She is currently on the Board of Directors of Breakthrough, an international non-profit organization that raises awareness using popular culture. Goenka also serves as the director of Syracuse University's annual South Asian Human Rights Film Festival.
Students are encouraged to contact Professor Goenka at her e-mail address: tgoenka@syr.edu.
Students will arrange and pay for their own round-trip transportation to Mumbai. A group flight may be arranged if there are enough students interested in traveling together. Transportation for course-related field trips is arranged by SU Abroad and covered by the program fee.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not purchase your airline ticket before receiving written notification from us that you can book your flight. You will have to present this notification if we cancel the program at a later date, and you want to be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket.
Students will be housed in student hostel apartments located within the Royal Palms complex, within Film City and only 3 km from the Whistling Woods International complex. A free shuttle bus service operates throughout the day, transporting students between the campus and hostel. The complex includes a gym, swimming pool and medical centre, and is very safe and secure. Meals available at the student complex are included in the program fee.
| Housing begins: | May 16, 2009 |
| Orientation week: | TBA |
| Internships: | TBA |
| Program Ends: | June 12, 2009 |
| Depart Mumbai: | June 13, 2009 |
| Application Deadline: | March 1 |
| UNDERGRADUATE (2 credits) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $1,808 (estimated) |
| Program Fee | TBA |
| Total | TBA |
| GRADUATE (3 credits) | |
| Tuition | $3,387 (estimated) |
| Program Fee | TBA |
| Total | TBA |