The media and entertainment industry is poised to double by the year 2017, according to industry body FICCI’s estimate. A lot of media professionals will be required to man this rapidly growing sector. The Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA) is trying to fill this gap by training students who will join the fast evolving media and entertainment industry. ZIMA is a venture of Zee Learn Ltd of the Essel Group, which also runs the ZEE Network, one of India’s largest media and entertainment companies.
ZIMA was designed to be a blend of cutting-edge technology and traditional expertise. A flexible learning environment bolsters free flow of ideas among students and ZIMA keeps this in mind while designing its courses. It offers bachelors and masters degree programmes in film making and various short term specialised courses. The institute’s admission is based on an entrance test conducted by the university or an agency authorised by the university to hold the exam on its behalf. The final list of successful candidates is drawn on the basis of total marks obtained in the written test, group discussion and individual interview.
The faculty comprises industry experts who have rich experience in various fields of media studies. The institute has more than 70 mentors whose emphasis is on imparting hands-on training in studios, in addition to hosting regular interactive sessions. One of the faculty members, Vikrant Hajare, is a Steinberg-certified trainer. ZIMA is also India’s only Steinberg-certified institute for its programmes in sound engineering.
Keeping with the requirements of a modern media institute, ZIMA has technologically advanced camera and sound equipment, non-linear editing suites, advanced software for computer graphics and other equipment for students to master the technical aspects of film making. The institute has a well-stocked library with latest journals and VCDs/DVDs of films. Students are exposed to outdoor shooting experience as well.
Students at ZIMA have to engage in practical exercises like making short films, documentaries, ad films and music videos. They are also required to bring out a magazine called ZIMAG which publishes all the latest updates about the institute. To provide practical exposure on how films are made, students are taken to live shoots and production houses.
“In future, ZIMA plans to expand to Asia, Middle East & South Africa,” says Pradip PIllai, COO, Zee Learn.
