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Review: Whistling Woods International |
Earlier this week, I got a chance to visit the just begun, Asia’s biggest Film Institute, the Whistling Woods International, located in the heart of the Film City, at Mumbai. It was only for my sister who got admission for the course of Direction that we were allowed an entry into the institution campus. :mrgreen:
A dream project of the showman Mr. Subhash Ghai, WWI has brought the whole bollywood under one roof. Designed with the expert guidance of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, the courses at WWI offers students a modern, thorough and balanced course and an educated entryway to the entertainment industry. With a well-rounded Foundation Program and concentrated Specialisation Programs in various disciplines, the Whistling Woods International Institute for Film, Television & Media Arts provides unparalleled training in all aspects of filmmaking and television production – the aesthetic, the technical and the professional.
The Whistling Woods International has full-time intensive courses which span over two years and provide world-class training across all technical and creative aspects of filmmaking, television, animation & other media arts. All the students are given hand-on experience to all aspects of film making. The specialisations available are : Acting, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Business of Film & Television, Sound Recording, Design And Music Production, Animation and Screenwriting.
With about 84 seats in all, at the institute, WWI does ensure that you are given personal guidance. The Institute offers state-of-the-art training facilities, an internationally developed and structured curriculum, affiliations with highly respected global media corporations and a faculty that combines the best in Indian and international professional experience.
The list of faculty and board members reads like the cast from one of Ghai’s multi-starrers. With eminent film personalities, like Subhash Ghai, Shyam Benegal, Naseeruddin Shah, Hema Malini, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, A.R. Rahman, Dilip Kumar, Javed Akhtar, Mahesh Bhatt, Om Puri, Ramesh Sippy, Shabana Azmi, Ashutosh Gowariker, Nagesh Kukunoor, Satish Kaushik and many more as the faculty and a part of the advisory board it truly sounds like the whole bollywood under one roof. 8O
Whistling Woods International promises to train students in top-of-the-line digital and analogue systems using the latest, state-of-the-art equipment. Driven by the conviction that only the best available infrastructure and environment can aptly prepare students for the ever-changing technological development sweeping the industry, WWI has a dynamic and contemporary approach to media instruction. A mastery of the newest equipment would enable students to enter the global entertainment industry as leaders with a firm grip on latest technology.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Mr. Subhash Ghai, Chairman, WWI said:
“A dream of 10 years has finally been realised. In a way, Whistling Woods International (WWI) is my way of repaying the film industry for what I have received from it over the last 27 yrs. WWI will act as a stepping stone for anyone who wants to make a career in the world of Television, Cinema or Animation. It has been designed to meet the highest international standards – be it in terms of technology, faculty or resources. We are also fortunate to have a strong academic and management team with Heads of Departments who will make this institute one of the best film schools in the world.”
Probably the only rip off is the dimension of the fees that one has to post. Good things do come at a price. Thee fees being high by Indian Standards are still a fourth of those that you would have to put up for other International Film Schools.
The Institute is also helping students from less affluent backgrounds in getting loans and scholarships. The Institute also provides students with housing facilities at the Royal Palm Resort! 8O
Summarising on the whole review of the esteemed institute, I would truly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the field and has the zeal to lead the Film Industry!
For more information log on to their official website: www.whistlingwoods.net
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Hey, thanks for the review!! I’m going to apply for the next batch and was looking around for people familiar with the place to get an actual not-just-the-news-articles account of it. Your sister doesn’t happen to have a blog, does she? heh. =)
[...] ‘கிஸ்னா’ மாதிரி படங்களை எப்படி எடுக்கக் கூடாது என்றும் சொல்லித் தருகிறார்களா என்று கேட்கவேண்டும். [...]
ok dude, u need to do more than take text from their website
http://www.whistlingwoods.net
Yes Praveen, true… major portion of the text above is right from the website. And it is so… because every thing they have written about is true and is the best way to explain and cast the glory of the institute.
I have been there on day one of the inauguration of the institute. With not much to write about their working (at the time of the review), I believe this is the best one can manage.
My intention was to only make my blog readers aware of this fantastic institute. I hope I have been able to extend it to you too… lol!
hi aseem…. thanx for ur comments…. i plan to take admission next july. the fees are prohibitive though..! i hope the institute matches the standards of FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata. however i wonder how they are going to ensure placements of 84+84=168 passouts every year… even then, it is dfely the best film school around…. Cheers!
hi aseem
i m applying next yr for direction
but i wanna kno abt your sisters qualification??
what kind of portfolio she had for applying to this college??? i mean can you give me her email id for firther reference…
I see a lot many students interested in joining the institute. Belive me, its worth all the fees you pay. And if you excel in the first year you get upto 100% 2nd year fee scholarship.
Well pria, I cannot give you any personal email ids here. You can contact me on yahoo messenger on this id: aseem_chatterbox@yahoo.co.in
hi Aseem i read ur article & i congrtulate ur sis 4 her admission in WWI. Hey i want to tell u that i also want to join this institute so can u plz send me the details of the institute ie. Fees,website, and the address of the institute. I will be very thankful to u if u give mee this information. My e-mail id is nischal_2185@yahoo.co.in & pastagianischal21@rediffmail.com u can send mee on any 1 of this id ok bye tc
Can you give more info on the kind of interviews they take during the admission process. Your review is of gr8 help. thanks.
To Nischal and Mini… I have emailed you the requested details.
hey aseem
can you please also send me the details which you hv sent to nishchal and mini.. it will be a great help for me ..
hi aseem… pls do send me the details you are sending to other guys at my id: ranjankghosh@yahoo.co.in. thanks in advance for ur early reply… ciao….
hello ppl
i am already studyin ai the insi…
it truly is a fab place to be in SG’s dream is Whistling woods International ltd. and i am really proud to be a small part of it…
:)
hi trupt..
its so nice to know tht you r studying there.. wat course you r doing there?? and can you please tell me the details for the admission procedure on my id . priamundra@gmail.com…
i ll be really obliged if you help me in this.. thanks a ton!!!
thanks for this information well i got selected and i have been called for an interview
can you please help me with this
thanks for this information well i got selected and i have been called for an interview
can you please help me with this
my maill address is graphdez15@gmail.com
help from anyone is requested
Hey, I too want to apply and am gathering all the stuff right now. Can anyone give me information about the interview or other things I have to look out for? Thanks
Someone who made it through the process would be great!
Hi I want to study animation at WWI. Can u mail me more info on the admission procedure, the interviews and on what basis selection is done. I also, wanted to know how is it compared to international standards. I have also, heard that learning animation in U.S. is better than in India. What do you suggest? Please, mail me on viny06us@yahoo.com
i am going to apply to WWI acting course this Janauary, do they take non-graduates for the course? can i get any help with the fees in the form of loan facilities?can you please mail me some details on the loan facilities if any ,at: nemu.marathe@gmail.com
hey can plz any 1 tell me the selection procedure ….the numb of rounds for the direction course at wwi ? can under grads apply ? do they need 2 have any prior exp in this field ? how many seats r there for the dir cour ? and what abt the placements ….since im not frm a filmy background
by the way my e mail id is
kashmirzindabad@hotmail.com
hi aseem.
i read ur article.it was good,i wanted to know that before enroling for any course in the institution,do we need to show any of our earlier graduation degree or any of our work related to films or similar related field. because i am totally ignorant about all these things as a do not have a filmy background.yes…. but am absolutely excited to be a part of all that.
i would be highly obliged if you enlighten me on the same.
Dude,
the Australian film,tv & radio school charges Australian $ 5000 a year,thats Rs 1.73 lakhs ,to that add the living and other costs by Rs 5-6 lakh p.a. So,in Rs14-15 lakh, I could get that Australian degree on which WWI is based!
Any ways, Australian school too offers scholarships and financial aid to deserving students.
Also,the Australian school has definitely more reputation and more INTERNATIONALLY accepted!
Plus there r many other film schools in Australia,where in one year,u could get the degree,within Rs15 lakh-EVERYTHING-ALL costs included!!!
so,is ur Whistling Woods international, Review without any bias,I have reason’s to doubt it.
@sanket and every1 else requesting for info about WWI.
I have already replied to many emails asking information about the institute and the procedure to get in. I dont think I would be answering more here on my blog or through email. Simply because I am not just the right person to do so. Those who are really interested can search for the Whistling Woods Community on Orkut and contact the students through that forum. I am sure you guys will get a lot more inputs from there.
Good luck and Best Wishes
Aseem N
@ Film Student
Well those were nice stats. But have you realised that our bollywood industry wont care a damn for ya even if you have the best degree in this field? Sadly true but you need contacts, references… you need to show some work done with indian people with indian setup. And you get it all at Whistling Woods. No doubt, in India its the best Institute for those aspiring to get into mainstream cinema. FTII is nowhere close.
12L for 2 yrs is not a big deal, when you actually get to interact with directors, actors and many others involved in film-making. The first batch of WWI has also been promised a 100% placement so that you could get a step into this field. So would you still want to go to Australia and pay 15L a year?
What about Colombia,Nyu,USC,… these R THE BEST ( actually- top 3 inthe WORLD) film schools?
So WWI is on par with these?!?
So, u mean “swades” is the best practical bet! i c ur point.
But,assuming i do my MFA from Columbia,it still doesn’t matter?
the basic question does remain very simple- around Rs(INR) 15-16 LAKHS for 2 years of education( including hostel and other expenses) is required.How will these loans be paid off?
How much will be the average student ACTUALLY paid after the placement? I think a lot of them work on a pittance or even for free for first ” few ” years.
If that same amount is spent in USA/UK/Australia,u will be paid in dollars,so one could at least pay off these loans faster,and also there is always the option of immigration open.Makes sense.
One could get a good degree say from Griffith College,Australia,in under Rs 15 Lakh,then ,one could also definitely pay off those loans faster,by working there( getting decently paid job there is not a problem for the right candidate,after all one has degree from THAT country,how much will really this WWI degree be recognized in USA,Australia?In the sense,that it would help getting PAID jobs,which r needed for the wonderful bank loans,family commitments and for a place to sleep !
Hi… its not imp whether u do the course or not, but doing it from WWI in India will have its plus points if u want to work IN India,that is…. u will make contacts here, what good will an australian degree give you in terms of contacts…??? as for ur knowledge abt their working on a pittance or for free, the scene is changing fast…. so there….
Mr Ghosh,
Nice reply:)
Answer remains simple- the scene is changing “fast’ u say.I take ur word…
Time will prove it to be right or wrong- to be specific ;the capitalistic market forces in India and even global,will decide if the institute can keep running at the current costs or it needs to hike it fees to US dollars or strike down fees by at least 50 % …
So,what I understand from ur answer- U seem to say that forget Columbia,Nyu,USC, and other PROVEN GLOBALLY respected Film schools and come to WWI as it enables u to make contacts.So,academics don’t matter,its Ghai backed project,so just look at the contacts,.Doesn’t it sound unprofessional on ur part Gentleman?
2 years is a “long time” to make contacts,but ur answer doesn’t really gel well.Why not open a Employment Exchange,then instead of a film school?
Get people with experience and promise( there r plenty lying in India) take few lakhs from each and provide placements,why mess with film school?
i hope u do know that Columbia is USA … i trust u on that Sir!
i hope u do know that Columbia is in USA … i trust u on that Sir!
Dear Mr/Miss Film Student, liked ur caustic reply… but you would surely appreciate the fact that students at WWI are not going to cut grass in these 2 years at the school… hence ur comment ” So,academics don’t matter,its Ghai backed project,so just look at the contacts,.Doesn’t it sound unprofessional on ur part Gentleman? ” is baseless and utterly loose…. So cut the crap! and when WWI is being commended by the international and national media as the biggest film school in asia and it is also proving itself to be one, ur analysis seems true for urself only…. i guess… newez, tc and cheers!
Lol!
i liked ur reply.
My question remains again- so,instead of doing my MFA from Columbia,u mean, I should come to wwi- say if I would at some point may be like to work in India?
I think Columbia is ranked 2nd in the world as a film school.
well- i expect u to answer this question neutrally
Of course….!!!! u shud come to WWI and study filmmaking here irrespective of whether you want to work in india or outside….!!!! as u do understand, just studying at NYFA or NYU or USC wont make a gr8 fimmaker…. it applies to all of us – aspiring filmmakers…. a good training is needed along with talent…. and if that training is being provided here, then why not avail it….????? why hanker after foreign univs………?????????
Let me try to put it short and simple for ya. Hollywood Cinema is distinctively different to Indian Cinema. If you plan to work on Indian films you dont have a better bet than WWI. Otherwise you are free to explore the horizons :).
Hi friends
I do have plan to join WWI for acting courses. Does anyone know what will be the procedure to join the same.I have visited its website and came to all the stuff theoratically not practical. So please do reply me on pankajlrai@yahoo.com with the details. The person who has already taken admission to this course, i think can guide me better way. please reply on my mail id pankajlrai@yahoo.com or reply on this blog.
thanks again
Pankaj Rai
Hi ,
I am alumni of Asian Academy Of Film & TV and doing 2 years Ma in Cinema , the course is fab with extra ordinary faculty from all over the world including tisch nyu. I have also studied at the New York Film Academy for one year before AAFT. I suggest people in India should do AAFT with reasonable fee and it has a strong foothold in the industry already as 5000 alumni are working.
Whistling woods looks good but overpriced and yet to prove itself , I was thinking of joining WWI for 2 years but then I selected AAFT as I got world class education with a degree.. I suggest AAFT is the ideal place for aispiring filmmakers.
Hey Aseem,
Good job regarding the review. I am planning to apply for music production but I am a bit tentative because I have hardly read anything about the music production course anywhere and wanted to get a feedback about it. Also it would be wonderful if you could send me the details about the admissions and what is the ratio for the selection so that I have an idea as to what am I going to be up for. My mail id id pranav.music@gmail.com
hi aseem,
im planning to take up the ftii entrance this year…pls tel me how to prepare for it….mail me at sandeep_mohandas@yahoo.com
hi
I want to join WWI for film dierction but i am confused because i am not sure it si right for me or not i am a very quite and not very creative type of person.
I am a IT graduate and studying hospitality in australia. should i join animation or film direction. any onethere who will like to give advice or any comments plz send at jjenas07@yahoo.com
what made ur sister 2 choose WWI…?
gimme ur assistnce 4 d interview &admissn……..!
my id s pm.nabeel@yahoo.co.in
Hey guys !!!
Just reading some of the posts has caused me to write this !!! Its very obvious that a few ppl here have no clue of 2 key aspects of the M&E (media & entertainment) industry:
A) Growth
M&E industries in US, UK, Europe have all plateaued out – with a average growth rate of 2-4% pa. The average age of media workers in these markets is around 40 yrs. Further, film schools in the US, UK & Europe put together produce about 250,000 m&E graduates a year alone…
So, A – there is very little space available for new talent & B – there is huge supply for low demand, leading to lower salaries and lower value for new creative talent (as evident from the writers’ strike over the past year)…
India’s the exact reverse – M&E here is growing at a (ridiculous) rate of 18% over the next 5 yrs, People employed in the industry will grown from 3 million to 6.5 million and the total output of (employable) film graduates in India annually is ONLY 200-250 (with 150 of them coming from WWI)…
So which market would you rather work in – India – or get lured by white trash ???
(Mr Film student – pl research these facts before you open your mouth again and make a huge fool of yourself!!!)
B)
How does the Indian M&E industry work?
Well, to be frank – What you know is very important, but who you know is important too…. And that is why you need to educate yourself in a place that integrates you into the industry right from DAY 1… Do you know who took the 1st lecture of the the 1st batch of Whistling Woods students – it was none other than Rakeysh Mehra… Over the past 2 yrs, both Rakeysh and Bharti (his wife & editor of RDB) have come across to the school umpteen times for master-classes, workshops, guest lectures, etc, they know the students on a first-name basis and would hire them in a heartbeat because they know they’re good !!!
Similary, all our faculty are working professionals – our faculty for BOFT, Samar Khan is now the head of Red Chillies TV – of course he’s gonna hire the students he’s trained himself because he knows that their level of education is great !!!
Rajen Kothari is the HOD of Cinematography – and several of our cinematography students have interned with ppl like Prakash Jha, Kabir Lal and the like…
Getting these working professionals together in a place needs the stature of someone like Subhash Ghai and he is the only reason this place is here !!!
All, the same, I don’t mean to blow WWI’s trumpet, even though it deserves it !!! I just wanted to clear up some of the nonsense air thats floating around on this forum…
Anyone who thinks they know better, feel free to engage in a debate…
Cheers and ALL the BEST!!!
PS – the 1st Career fair of WWI has just finished its first 3 days and we have 45 offers from about 20 organisations with another 30 companies expected to visit the campus over the next 2 weeks… We aim to have all students graduate (on July 18) with at-least 1 job offer in their hands and by the strength of our education & hard work, we will strive to make that so!!!
chaitanya,
i think you a fool of the highest order,
have you even heard of NYU? UCLA?
they are schools anybody,anywhere in the world would be proud to be a part of.
it was my dream to be in UCLA but i got rejected…(but so did steven spielberg….so i can dream)
what do you mean by white trash anyway-i would much rather work in B graders there than be a part of the typical run of the mill movies here.
Most of the people have no idea what cinema means here and even if some guy has an idea up his sleeve-he wont get it,no backing,nothing
ever heard of independent cinema?
try gondry,jonze,linklater and then we shall move on to the kubricks and the coens.
anyways back to the topic-i dont know how good the institute will turn out because its still early to say but if you get an offer letter from UCLA and WWI and you choose WWI it’ll prove my believe that the world indeed is flat
hi rishi… i agree with you that WWI is still to prove its mettle while UCLA and NYU are established names. it is good to hear that you are trying there, but sad to know that they are rejecting you… don’t lose heart… keep trying. remember robert bruce? that spider story? so there… also, why don’t you try out FTII – you have heard about that right? the one in Pune? or have they rejected you too? ok, may be you wanna try out only foreign schools… that’s not an issue though… but… i see only one problem – your english grammar and sentence construction – these areas have a huge room for improvement, they need some polishing… so do work on them… and please don’t pay heed to any sarcastic comments on your fascination towards foreign schools – all that is called the ‘colonisation effect’…. we understand perfectly. cheers!
yea ghosh
thanks for that uplifting remark,
my fascination towards foreign schools?
i think its justifiable, if the school is good then why shouldn’t i like it.
you know what is the meaning of ‘being cool’ ghosh-its being what you are and being happy about it- and i try to be just that.
If i have a liking towards something why should i bother if its INDIAN, WESTERN OR MARTIAN!
you are immature-i am gorgeous, like in the greatest city i the world (nyc) and have a passion for life
now what are you-fat,bald,conservative- i dont generalize people but 95% of indians i meet are that! oh plus they are doctors/or engineers…so i avoid them
now you call it colonialization hangover or whaever so be it as long as i never bump into you at the airports
as for my grammar-i am drunk almost always , even when i am on broadway
oh n mr ghosh,
i love my country but that doesn’t mean i go bonkers stating its the best in everything, like most of you people do….
One of my deluded Indian colleague says that bollywood will be on par with international cinema in the next 50 years as far as fan base is concerned-
he wasn’t praising his craft or passion=he was being patriotic
being patriotic is one thing,being a moron is another and you are being the latter-
i have nothing against you and hope that you achieve your goals(it will do good for many) because you may be from a non-filmy B.G but don’t expect me to come and try my luck there even if you pay me 3 million
oh and yes-do watch a lot of cinema-and not just BOLLYWOOD (hollywood of india is it?) start with woody allen-need recommendations-annie hall, manhattan, bullets over broadway is good
then try satyajit ray or kurusawa or kubrick
(man am i drunk!)
there you go…. rishi…. once again you spelt kurosawa as kurusawa…. !!!! hell dude… i like your affinity towards all things ‘foreign’, but what about your basic ticket? the language called ‘English’? why don’t you try to work on that???? without mastering that, no one will even bother to kick your ass or spit into your eyes out there…. so, once again, improve your english. period. and if you wanna know about me, yes, i do come from a non-filmy b.g.. actually am an ex-shipcaptain… presently testing my screenwriting abilities… oh yes, being a student of cinema, i do watch a lot of cinema, apart from your ‘kurusawa’…. it would do good for you if you can name ten world directors other than the proverbial greats like ray, bergman, kurosawa, et al – they are available all over the net. once you can actually do so, consider yourself a connoisseur of cinema… otherwise… NOT. Cheers!
wow,
took a wrong time to reply eh?
plotting ur words took you a week?
anyways i wont bother….ok,yes i have an affinity for all thing foreign and as i stated above…i am almost always drunk…and you know why….actually am an ex-shipcadet
cheerio
Guys anyone got thru animation course at WWI? any idea what the procedure for getting admission is? I have 3 years of Work experience but in software development. would that be considered or not at all? Also i have a Masters in Computer Science … pls any help appreciated at dev.kamdar@gmail.com … thanks much in advance … stay cool … Dev.
rishi…. that’s good to know…. :)
hi
i just want 2 kno abt d creative aspect of WWI courses…b’coz i’m planin 4 admission there do they hv creative factor at first place.. i dnt giv damn to fees n indo-foreign institutisons’ debat.. i’m plannin 4 acting course… hardik_mailme@yahoo.co.in
Hi,
I have secured admission into wwi. I am a software engineer with 3 years of work ex in IT field. I come from a middle class family and as such am having no backing whatsoever in the film industry. I have about few days to decide whether to leave my secure IT job and pursue my passion. I was reading ur blog, that ur sis also studied here, how was the placement? My parents are apprehensive of sending me there, also I do not want to be a financial burden upon them. Can I take the risk and take up the course? Please reply.
Thanks & Regards
Kiran
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good article, i like this
hey aseem .. this is anuj here .. i wanted to join the sound technology course in whistling woods .. i am an electronics engineer .. can you tell me how good is the course over there . and will my degree of electronics help in any way .. please do tell me on my email id coolgandhi2006@gmail.com
hey assem i hav read ur article and i was impressed but can u plzz do me a favour plzz giv me all details about WWI i really need it as i want to join it and i m impressed also with this institute and i want to join it for course of acting so plzz giv me the details including how much fees are there so plzz undrstnd i hav talent but i need a platform to perform it and i think that WWI
can do dat so plz help me out my id is blackleo_007@yahoo.com
er….. i dnt really know how many u guys know who r actually in wwi… i know 1…. he sed its a gr8 place…. but thrs always d question of fees…. n y r v ignoring ftii n srfti here???? i mean they R very gud institutes… n i talkd to ppl thr…. heres vat i heard…. if u want to get into commercial cinema… go to wwi… however if u want to get thr on d basis of ur knowledge of films… n hv d guts to stake it out… join ftii or srfti…
hello can anyone help me with…
when should the 2010 graduating students apply for the MBA in media and entertainment programme at WWI ?
And what is the selection and admission procedure for the above course ?
hi.
can nybody help me out?
m architecture student.n i want to design a film school..
so can nybody give me information about whistling woods school/
please reply…
Very interesting blog and more so the comments that have followed it…I havent seen any of the Alumi posting any comments about their experience probably coz they dont really know this blog exists so its ok I guess.. and yeah the debate between wheather to go to NYU, UCLA or NYFA Vs WWI did catch my attention, and I would say it depends upon the fact where you want to work after you get the “degree” .. here in India or abroad??
Coz by going to all the reputed film school in the US or for that matter The London School of Film Making which by the way is among the top schools and I was really surprised that no one even mentioned it and that fact that it is much cheaper than ur NYU’s and UCLA’s…. will do nothing for you in India expect for a degree and big fat loan which you will have to re-pay..
I dont know how good WWI is but if has the technology and the brains in the right place and if you want to work in India I guess it will be the right choice plus its much easier on the pocket…
-A
heyy every1….wat is dis MBA in Media & Entertainment course all bout?? Is anybody doing that?? warz the progress in that cuz seems to be a really new course….n howz the placement here in WWI??
Hello, I am wondering if anyone has heard anything about the international student one month course at WWI? I’m interested to do the course, as I’m doing a masters about screenwriting for commercial hindi cinema in australia.
would love to hear any experiences!
Cheers