Creative & Entertainment

Music Composer

Overview

A music composer creates original pieces of music along with a team of artists and technicians in accordance with the requirement of the project at hand. They write and create original music in a variety of musical styles such as pop, classical, rock etc. They are also seen as music conductors as they lead orchestras and other musical groups during performances and recording sessions. They ensure that the musicians play with one coherent sound, balancing the melody, timing, rhythm and volume. Composers also work with advanced electronic sound equipment to perfect sound recordings on a digital level; perfecting the sound, tone, rhythm and harmony of a musical piece. Depending on the project at hand, they need to ensure that the soundtrack created suits the mood, tone and feel of the project. Their job is to convey a message through the medium of sound; songs and background score. Music composers work in a variety of different settings. Some write scores for movies or television shows; others write jingles for commercials, while some prefer to create music for a live audience.

Job Prospects

Some of the prospective jobs under this field are:

Music composer (film/television/theater industry)
Live concerts
Computer games (background score)
Member of Orchestras & Bands
Music teacher

Roles & Responsibilities

Certain duties attached to this field are:

Interact with clients to understand their requirements for any particular project.
Create original musical compositions keeping in mind the needs of the client.
Coordinate with artists and technicians in order to create a musical piece.
Prepare, practice and record a composition.
Ensure that one’s creation is original and not plagiarized.
Make changes in the pitch, tone or melody in order to obtain the desired results.
If needed, use softwares to refine and improve one’s composition.
Practice one’s craft to keep on improving.
Expose oneself to newer sounds and work of contemporaries.

Desired Attributes

Given below are desired qualities for professionals in this field:

High levels of creativity.
Patience and motivation to achieve high levels of excellence.
Ability to think out of the box to crete unique and original compositions.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work well within a team setup.
Effective time management skills and ability to work for long periods of time at a stretch.
Sound technical knowledge regarding different softwares used in music composition.

How to get there

Graduation:

Bachelor of Arts (Music Composition)
Bachelor of Music (Music Composition)
Bachelor of Science (Music Composition)
Duration – 4 years

Post Graduation:

Master of Arts (Music Composition)
Master of Music (Music Composition)
PhD in Music Composition

In most cases, an audition is required for students interested in pursuing these degrees. Students may be required to perform their own compositions, along with their portfolios highlights the projects they have been part of in the past.

Game Developer & Designer

Overview

Game developers are software developers who specialise in the field of video games. Their primary job involves writing codes for making a game idea functional. They are involved in various aspects of game’s creation from the initial concept to finished product including coding, programming, audio, design, production and visual arts. On the other hand, game designers are concerned with the aesthetic appeal and overall design of the video game. They play an active role in brainstorming and conceptualising the idea behind a game. Designing characters, puzzles, levels, layouts etc are also fall under their area of work. Both game designers and developers, collaborate on projects, along with other experts to push the creative boundaries in the gaming industry. Given below are some specialisations within the gaming industry:

Game Art: All visual elements in a video game are created using game art with a help of different digital art creation softwares.
Game Designing: It involves coming up with concepts or ideas based on which the games are developed.
Game Development: Professionals associated with this aspect of gaming, provide technical as well as creative expertise to bring an idea for a game to life by developing codes and working algorithms to make games functional.
Game Testing: An important step post game development is testing the game to identify any technical, graphical or user based errors.

Roles & Responsibilities

Certain duties attached with this field are:

Game Designer:
Conduct market research to come up with new ideas for games as well as identify the needs of the target audience.
Create the design and video features of the game.
Work on the layout, levels, graphics, characters, animation for the proposed game.
Make a detailed structure regarding every element of a new game including the setting, rules, story, props, character interface and modes of play.
Collaborate with others, including games developers, artists and programmers, to produce a prototype for the proposed game to be developed.
Adapt and change the design based on the progress made and the difficulties faced in the development phase.
Game Developer:
Construct the base or the engine on which the game will run.
Produce prototypes of game ideas and features.
Translate game idea into specific and efficient code.
Generate game scripts and storyboards.
Run trials to test for errors in the developing phase.
Train quality assurance (QA) testers to play the game to test its performance.
Resolve identified technical issues that interfere with the performance of the product.

Desired Attributes

Given below are the desired qualities for professionals in this field:

Be creative and original in developing new concepts for games.
Ability to visualise and draw in great detail.
Have strong communication and presentation skills.
Good problem solving and time management skills.
Ability to work well within a team set up.
Ability to work efficiently and meet regular deadlines for project completion.
Need to stay up-to-date with the latest gaming trends, techniques, softwares and technologies used in the field.
Willingness to gain hands on experience primarily with C++ or Java or other programming languages such as artificial intelligence, 3D Rendering, 3D animation etc.

How to get there

After clearing 12th standard exams, students can enroll for one of the following degrees:

B.Sc in Gaming Design
B.Sc in Computer Science (Game Development & Design)
B.Des in Game Design
B.Sc Animation Game Designing and Development
BFA in Game Design
Diploma in Game Design and Integration
Certificate in Game Art and Design

Mastering a few important computer languages such as Actionscript, Assembly, C++, Java, Python etc is always an advantage. Gaining work experience through internships would further assist in advancing one’s career in the gaming industry.

Film Studies

Overview

Film studies provide a lens to analyze and understand films from a historical, theoretical and critical standpoint. It provides an opportunity to explore a narrative along with its economic, artistic, cultural and political implications. Films are known to mirror a society’s values, beliefs, traditions and culture. Therefore, analysing and interpreting films in a given context goes a long way in initiating a dialogue on social constructs and their impact on the society we live in. As an academic discipline it develops one’s analytic, theoretical as well as interpretive skills. Film studies also explore the different components involved in making a film; technologies used, individual creative approaches and styles. A film theorist might ask how a film differs from a painting or other artistic modes of expression and propose a different way of understanding and looking at experiences. Studying films draws both from your intellect as well as imagination.

Job Prospects

Some of the prospective jobs under this field are:

Cinematography: It is the art of photography and camerawork in film-making.
Video Operator: Camera operators physically control camera equipment both in a studio and on location for film, television, video broadcasts and recordings.
Film Editor: Film editing is a technical part of the post-production process of filmmaking during which cuts are made to shape the film as per the director’s vision.
Music Composer & Director: Music composer creates the background score as well as the music album for a film. He works in tandem with the music director who is responsible coordinating and managing all aspects of the production.
Film/Theatre Director & Producer: The director helms the creative process of making a film or a play. He is the captain of the ship whose vision the creative artists and technicians try to bring to life. Producers back the director vision and provide the funds to take a project forward from its inception to the very end.
Creative & Art Director: An art director’s tasks and duties include:working from a brief with a copywriter, generating ideas to present to the client. preparing movie sets, commissioning specialists such as artists and photographers, to work on the project.
Light & Sound Director: They create and manage all aspects of lighting & sound for a production.
Sound Mixer: Sound mixer is responsible for recording all sound recording on set during the filmmaking process using professional audio equipment.

Desired Attributes

Given below are the desired qualities for professionals in this field:

Having a unique perspective on things in life to emulate that creatively in the projects that one works on.
Ability to think creatively and out of the box.
Have a strong technical foundation depending upon one’s area of specialisation. For example – different softwares and technology available to create music.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to handle work pressure well.
Adapt and problem solve in an quick and efficient manner.
Working long hours and meeting deadlines on a regular basis.
Able to inspire and motivate others.

How to get there

Film Making:

Path 1:

Clear 12th standard in any stream
B.Sc. / BA in Film Making/ Cinema or Screenwriting – 3 years
PG Programme /PG Diploma Course in Film Making – 2 Years

Path 2:

Clear 12th standard in any stream
Graduation (any stream) – 3 years
PG Programme/PG Diploma Course in Film Making – 2 Years

Path 3:

Clear 12th standard in any stream
Diploma Courses – 1-2 years

Acting:

Path 1:

Clear 12th standard in any stream
Bachelors in Mass communication- 3 years
Post Graduate Degree in Acting

Path 2:

Clear 12th standard in any stream
Diploma In Acting – 1-2 years

Path 3:

Clear Class XII (any stream)
Pursue Graduation in Mass Media
Special courses in Acting
Art:

Path:

Clear Class XII (any stream)
Bachelors in Architecture/ Painting/ Applied Arts/ Interior design/ Sculpture
3 Year Post Graduate Diploma in Art Direction and Production Design (FTII)

Music:

Path 1:

Clear Class XII (any stream)
Pursue Bachelors in Music(Hons) for 3 years

Path 2:

Clear Class XII (any stream)
Diploma in Music for 1-2 years

Commercial Arts

Overview

Almost every element of modern consumer culture has been influenced by commercial art professionals at one point or another. Commercial artists sell, promote, explain, narrate and inform the masses about the nature of product or service in question. It plays a very important role in the growth of a business as it determines the manner in which the consumer will interact with any particular product or service. It is through this medium that a brand image is created and sustained over a period of time. Professionals in this field work towards creating designs, illustrations, computer graphics, still or moving video art, charts, graphs, advertisements, logos, billboards, brochures, book covers, product packaging and product layouts. They are typically employed by advertising agencies, newspapers, magazines, graphic design firms and television studios. Given below are the various fields under Commercial Arts:

Illustration :An illustration is a decoration, interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process designed for advertising in books, media, flyers, posters, movies and video games.
Graphic Designing :Graphic designing is an art of planning and projecting ideas with the help of visual and textual form which can include graphics, images or words.
Photography :Put simply, it is the act of taking photographs. In the commercial space, it is dictated by the message that one wants to convey to the consumer.
Art Direction :Art directors are responsible for creating the physical environment in which a video, advertisement or movie is shot.

Job Prospects:

Some of the prospective jobs under this field are:

Fashion designer
Graphic designer
Illustrator
Commercial photographer
Cartoonist
Title artist/Tattoo artist

Roles & Responsibilities

Day-to-day functions depend on one’s area of specialisation and nature of work. Some of them are as follows:

Meet with clients to get an idea regarding the concept of the project.
Work and generate creative ideas at an independent level or with the help of a team to meet the demands of the client.
Combining both the client needs and market research based on target audience to arrive at the best solution.
Helping clients to decide the best designs based on the type of productand target customer base.
Creating several drafts and continuously evolving their creation to best meet the needs of the client.
Use computer aided techniques when required to achieve success in the creation of the final draft.
Remain in constant touch with the clients throughout the design process to keep them updated on the progress and clarify any doubts or queries.
Provide numerous options to the client of the finished product so that the client may choose the best one.

Desired Attributes

Given below are desired qualities for professionals in this field:

Creative and artistic in their orientation.
Imaginative and inventive in their approach.
Good interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to listen attentively to clients, as well as to their team members.
Meticulous and detail oriented in approach to work.
Ability to function efficiently within time restraints.
Knowledge of latest software and technology used in the field.

How to get there

	Eligibility Criteria
Degree	B.F.A (Bachelors of Fine Arts)in Commercial Art or Diploma in Commercial Art
Education	10+2 or Higher Secondary Examination in any stream from a recognized college or university.
Minimum Score	Completion of higher secondary certificate examination (10+2) from any recognized Board or Council with minimum 50% marks in aggregate. There is a relaxation of 5% marks given to those belonging to reserved categories – SC/ ST/ Physically Challenged categories)
Course Duration	2 years

Architecture

Overview

Architecture is an art as well as a science which deals with designing and building of structures. It entails working closely with clients to develop and customize designs to fulfill their needs and specifications. It is ensured that structures created are safe, economical, functional and aesthetically appealing. Professionals in this field are engaged with a project from the beginning to the end, providing guidance at various stages of conceptualisation and construction. It is a collaborative field where engineers, designers, architects and contractors among others come together to accomplish a common goal. The field of architecture determines to a large extent how we interact with the environment and greatly influences our experience of the world around us.

Given below are various fields under Architecture which one can pursue:

Architectural Designing:An architectural designer is one who does not participate in the construction aspect of building process, rather focuses entirely on the actual designing of the project. They need to be aware of the lot size for the building, budgetary restrictions, building codes and the customer’s desires before beginning the process of designing.
Architectural Engineering:Architectural Engineers have the dual qualifications of an architect and a civil engineer. They combine the principles of engineering with those of design to plan, design and construct highly efficient buildings.
Architectural Model making:Architectural model makers create miniature scale models to provide a 3D view of the proposed project for the purpose of providing assistance in conceptualisation and construction.
Architectural Drafting:Architectural drafters create detailed drawings using sketches, notes and dimensions provided by architects and engineers. These are used during the construction process as references.
Urban Planning: Professionals in this field oversee the plans and programs for the use of land in a city or a region. They work to ensure that communities as a whole benefit from proper utilisation of land.
Landscape Architecture:This entails the responsibility of designing public spaces such as parks, pavements, recreation grounds by adopting environmentally friendly policies.
Naval Architecture:Naval architects design and construct naval or water vessels for both private and government sectors. They work at boatyards, shipyards and ship design offices to design vehicles such as merchant ships, submarines, cruise liners, aircraft carriers, warships etc.
Interior Designing: Interior designers create a balance between style and functionality to create comfortable and visually appealing living spaces for clients.

Job Prospects

Some of the prospective jobs under this field are:

Urban Planner
Architect (Ex – Lighting, Landscape, Industrial, Research, Political)
Designer (Ex – Interior, Textile, Furniture, Video game, Production)
Architecture Drafter/ Model Maker
Architecture photography
Academician (Architecture)

Roles & Responsibilities

Duties in the field depend upon the area of work that one chooses. Some of them are as follows:

Consult with the client on a regular basis regarding their requirements, objectives, budgets etc to draft plans for the project at hand.
Designing, planning and developing various drafts of the proposed project.
Following building codes, fire regulations, zoning laws and city ordinances when creating plans.
Incorporating the latest technology such as computer-aided designing systems and building models during the process of drafting plans.
Working closely with a team of professionals from other fields such as building engineers, construction managers, quantity surveyors and architectural technologists etc.
Conduct regular on-site visits to review the progress made on the project.
Preparing required documents such as contracts, update reports and proposals for the concerned party.

Desired Attributes

Given below are desired qualities for professionals in this field:

Have a strong artistic as well as technical skill set.
Need to have an eye for aesthetics to be able to create unique design plans.
Innovative, practical and detail oriented in one’s approach to work.
Knowledge of latest architectural drafting softwares.
Ability to multitask, organise and solve problems efficiently.
Strong communication skills.

How to get there

Path 1:

Clear 12th standard in any stream (Maths compulsory)
B.Arch- 5 years
M.Arch – 2 Years

Path 2:

Clear 12th standard in any stream (Maths compulsory)
B.Arch- 5 years
MURP (Master of Urban and Regional Planning) – 2 years

Path 3:

Clear 12th standard in science stream
B.Tech(Architecture) – 4 years
M.Tech (Architecture) – 2 years

	B.Arch	B.Tech	M.Arch
Eligibility Criteria	10+2 (50% aggregate)	10+2	Bachelor’s degree in Architecture
Duration	5 years	4 years	2 years
Minimum marks	Minimum 50% marks	Minimum 50% marks	Minimum 50% marks