Film Making Career Career Scope: Jobs, Placements, Salary, Top Recruiters/Companies

Updated on Dec 5, 2024 02:17 IST

A career in Film Making is one of the most sought-after careers among creative people, irrespective of their backgrounds. A career in films doesn’t just imply acting on the big screen as there are other significant jobs in the film field, like a director of photography, casting director, set designer, screenwriter, hair stylist, makeup artist, editor, sound designer etc. 

The salary offered in the Film industry at entry-level positions ranges between INR 2.8 LPA, for mid-level profiles INR 8 LPA, and for senior-level profiles INR 15+ LPA. The graduates of this course can either work at different job profiles like Assistant Director, Assistant Manager, Assistant Producer, Film Editor, Cameraman, Cinematographer, or start their own work as freelancers. The Top recruiters include Big Production Houses such as Yash Raj Films, Red Chillies Entertainment, Zee Entertainment Ltd, etc., and TV Streaming Providers such as Netflix, Balaji Telefilms, etc.

A career in films is not traditional and so is the work environment. Though it takes a lot of effort, time as well as technical and artistic expertise to make films/shows, you get to be around hard-working, passion-driven people and learn from them. 

To know more about the FilmMaking Career, read the article further.

Candidates also liked these for the Filmmaking career:

What is the Filmmaking course

Job Opportunities after Film Making Courses in India

Film Career: Quick Facts

Before opting for a career in Filmmaking candidates should consider the below-mentioned points:

  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), there is expected to be a 12% increase in the employment of editors and camera operators in the upcoming 10 years.
  • As per data provided by Deloitte, the film industry is a swiftly growing sector with a compound annual growth rate of 10.5%.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) employment of animators and special effects artists is expected to grow by 5% in the upcoming 10 years.
  • According to U.S. News and World Report, acting is one of the top 100 desirable occupations in the world.
  • About 18% of film school graduates are working in literary, artistic, and media occupations.

Top Career Profiles in The Film Industry

Bollywood is a rapidly growing industry, growing more and more with each passing year which in turn has increased the scope of employment in the industry. There are a lot of jobs in the industry that are deemed to be desirable. While a film career is not exactly a conventional kind of career, at the same time, there are a fair amount of opportunities available in the Indian film industry. Although acting is one of the most sought-after professions in the Indian film industry, it is not the only desirable job. 

It takes a lot of creative talent and workforce to bring about a motion picture and all of those are in high demand in the industry. While most of the jobs in filmmaking don’t require a particular educational background or degree (but are preferred), there is a range of filmmaking courses in India. Mentioned below are some of the professions in the Indian film industry with promising career growth:

Filmmaking Job Roles

Filmmaking Jobs Description

Average Salary

Actor

Actors work in movies and screens, Some actors also perform in TV series, and daily soaps. INR 1.3 - 10.2 LPA
Director Responsible for the overall vision and execution of a film or project, guiding actors and crew. INR 1 - 18 LPA
Producer Manages the production process, including budgeting, scheduling, and overseeing the project from start to finish. INR 2.2 - 17 LPA
Singer A singer is an Artist who performs music to live audiences and records songs for albums or movies. INR 1 - 10 LPA
Special Effects Artist Creates digital effects that enhance or create scenes in films. INR 1.5 - 5 LPA
Writer Crafts the script, developing characters, dialogue, and story arcs. INR 1 - 8.1 LPA
Director of Photography Handles the visual aspects of a film, including camera work and lighting. INR 2.6 - 10.1 LPA
Stylist and Makeup Artist Stylists and Makeup artists in the film and television industry are responsible for creating looks for actors and actresses.  INR 1 - 8 LPA
Editor Assembles the footage, working closely with the director to create the final cut. INR 1 - 8.5 LPA
Production Designer Responsible for the visual concept of the film, including sets, locations, and props. INR 1.8 - 26 LPA

Note: The average salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Emerging Trends in Film-Making Career

  • Virtual Production: Technologies such as LED walls and virtual sets, exemplified in "The Mandalorian," enable real-time background changes and enhance visual effects.
  • AI and Machine Learning: AI is being used more frequently for editing, script analysis, and visual effects, which speeds up production and enhances creative processes.
  • High-Resolution Cameras: Advancements in 8K technology and beyond provide ultra-high-definition visuals that deliver greater detail and flexibility in post-production.
  • Remote Collaboration: Cloud-based tools and remote collaboration platforms are allowing teams to work together efficiently from various locations, enhancing the production process.

Film Career Scope in India: Jobs, Salary, and Further Education

The film industry is a melting pot for diverse occupations/careers, helping in the navigation and completion of the process of converting an idea into the final outcome. The film industry is a growing industry, so naturally, the competition is cutthroat in terms of employment. There is a vast spectrum of career profiles in the film industry, ranging from artistic to technical jobs. Mentioned below are the popular sectors for employment in the film industry: 

Sectors

Description

Over The Top (OTT) Media A lot of these OTT platforms have their own production houses, which generates a pool of opportunities for individuals from all sorts of professions and backgrounds.
Advertising An advertisement, just like a motion-picture project requires a production company, writers, actors, etc.
Music Industry Some of the important professions in the music industry are composers, sound engineers, singers, etc.
Mass Media When working in the field of mass media you get to work for various newspapers, magazines, TV channels, etc.
Television The important professions in the television industry are screenwriter, director, actor, producer, editor, costume designer, etc.

Note: The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Courses after Film Making Course

After completing a Film Making program, candidates can pursue various courses based on their interests and career goals. Here are some popular options:

Courses

Description

MA in Film Studies

Film Studies teaches students how to analyze and understand the cultural impact of film, cinema, and other aspects of motion picture technology.

MSc in Filmmaking

A master's degree which teaches about the post-production process of filmmaking and TV production involving video and sound editing.

MSc in Film & TV Production

A degree that focuses on in-depth knowledge of focuses on writing, directing, and the creative application of technology, with highly practical experience in digital film making.

MSc in Cinema

A Master's degree (M.Sc) in Cinema covers all aspects of cinema, including entertainment channels and production companies.

PG Diploma in TV Direction & Script Writing

The course provides unique opportunities to learn the aesthetics, craft, and techniques of film direction and screenplay writing, from conceptualization to the final stage.

PG Diploma in Cinematography

A Diploma course that entails the skill of capturing and visually telling a story in a film or television production

PG Diploma in TV Production

A course that develops skills, such as camera operation, creative lighting, sound recording, nonlinear video editing, and producing multi-camera production. 

Note: The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Helpful Links for Film Making Career:

Short-term Courses to Learn Ad Filmmaking in India

Film Making Courses & Certifications Online 2025

Top Recruiters for Film Making Jobs

The rate at which the films are being produced in India is nothing like in the past days. The industry is becoming more and more fast-paced with film production with each passing day, meaning layoffs are common, resulting in a surge in vacancies. This creates a need for the recruitment of newer talents in the industry. Following are the top recruiters for filmmaking graduates:

Film Making Job Top Recruiters
Red Chillies Entertainment Ltd. Zee Entertainment Ltd Film City Media Ltd.
Hindustan Media Venture Ltd. Info Media Ltd. Doordarshan
PVR Pictures UTV Motion Pictures Aamir Khan Productions
Reliance Big Entertainment Dharma Productions  Sony Pictures

Top Filmmaking Colleges for Placements

Though a majority of occupations in the film industry depend on talent and understanding of art, professional knowledge of technical as well as artistic dexterity is highly favorable. You get hands-on experience with the types of equipment used on and off set, industry experience as well as placement offers. Check out the table below to know about the top filmmaking colleges and the average placements they provide.

List of Colleges For Filmmaking courses with the average salary offered to their students:

 College Name Average Salary Offered
Mumbai University (MU) INR 6 - 18 LPA
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education INR 7 - 11.75 LPA
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) INR 9.5 LPA
Jadavpur University INR 8.25 LPA
Jain Deemed-to-be University, School of Design Media and Creative Arts INR 7.2 - 8.16 LPA
Lovely Professional University (LPU) INR 4 - 7.25 LPA
Institute of Design, Nirma University INR 6.5 LPA
Sambalpur University INR 4.85 LPA
MIT-WPU INR 4.35 LPA
Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University INR 4 LPA

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counseling body and may vary.

FAQs on Filmmaking Career

Q. What are the types of occupations in the film industry?

A. A career in films doesn’t just imply acting on the big screen as there are other significant jobs in the film field, like a director of photography, casting director, set designer, screenwriter, hair stylist, makeup artist, editor, sound designer etc.

Q. What is the growth rate of the film industry?

A. As per data provided by Deloitte, the film industry is a swiftly growing sector with a compound annual growth rate of 10.5%.

Q. Does cinematography require any technical skills?

A. It is a technical job, where a cinematographer must be adept at not just the camera but also lighting, sound, framing, etc.

Q. What are the film industry's top job roles with promising career growth?

A. Some top job roles with promising career growth in the film industry are actor, director, producer, Singer, Special Effects Artist, Writer, Director of Photography, Choreographer, Stylist and Makeup Artist, and Set Designer. 

Q. What is the average annual salary package of a film director?

A. The average annual salary package of a film director is INR 5 LPA.

Q. What is the average salary of a special effects artist in the Indian film industry?

A. The average salary for a special effects artist in the Indian film industry is INR 3 LPA.

Q. Which companies are top recruiters for film school graduates in India?

A. Red Chillies Entertainment Ltd., Zee Entertainment Ltd, Film City Media Ltd., Hindustan Media Venture Ltd., Doordarshan, and PVR Pictures are some of the top recruiters for film school graduates in India. 

Q. What is the average salary package provided by Symbiosis School of Visual Arts and Photography through placement?

A. The average salary package provided by Symbiosis School of Visual Arts and Photography through placement is INR 7.55 LPA.

Q. What is the average salary package provided by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)?

A. The average salary package provided by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is INR 8 LPA.

Q. What opportunities does a film set intern get to have?

A. Being a film set intern will help you achieve hands-on experience in the workings of filmmaking. You also get a whiff of the atmosphere on a set. Being a film set intern will also help you learn from experts.

Q. What are the top Indian cities to get lucrative jobs in after graduating from film school?

A. Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Noida are the top Indian cities that are great for getting lucrative jobs, after graduating from film school.

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Film Making. Students interested in pursuing a career on Film Making, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

10 Feb ' 25 - 12 Feb ' 25

CUET PG 2025 Application Correction Window

Mar '25

CUET PG 2025 Advance City Intimation Slip

TENTATIVE

13 Feb ' 25

MAH AAC CET 2025 Application Last Date

5 Apr ' 25

MAH AAC CET 2025 Exam

28 Jan ' 25 - 5 Feb ' 25

NSD Exam 2025 Workshop cum interview

10 Jan ' 25 - 15 Jan ' 25

NSD Entrance Exam Registrations 2025

Feb '25 - Mar '25

PUBDET 2025 Applications

TENTATIVE

Jun '25 - Jul '25

PUBDET 2025 Admit Card

TENTATIVE

Popular Film Making Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Film Making Colleges in India. Learn more about these Film Making colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
9.36 L

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
9.6 L
4.35 LPA

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

2 Courses
1.8 K - 10 K
8.25 LPA
6 - 18 LPA
1 Course
432
9.5 LPA
9.84 L
4.6 LPA

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

Popular Private Film Making Colleges in India

4.6 L - 4.77 L

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
9.6 L
4.35 LPA

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

6.5 L - 13 L
7.2 - 8.16 LPA

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

2 L
10 Courses
1.5 L - 8.5 L
4.4
1 Course
3.2 L

Film Making Applications open. Apply Now

Popular Film Making Specializations

Following are the most popular Film Making Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Popular Film Making UG Courses

Following are the most popular Film Making UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Film Making PG Courses

Following are the most popular Film Making PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

To get into MIT University Shillong for a Bachelor of Science in Film Making course, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria set by the university. Students must pass graduation with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% for reserved category candidates). MIT University Shillong offers full-time BSc

...Read more

S

Shikha Arora

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 weeks ago

In India, the duration of the Cinematography course can vary between 3 months to 3 years, depending on the level of the programme. You can check the table given below for more details:

Course

Course Duration
UG Level3 Years - 4 Years
PG Level2 Years
Certificate-Level/Diploma3 weeks to 6 Months

A

Abhay Dixit

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

The major topics that are common at all the levels of Electronic Cinematography Course are listed below:

  • Film screening, shooting, appreciation
  • About Cameras, types, angle and it's functioning
  • Lighting, its basics and techniques
  • Introduction to lenses

P

Piyush Chatterjee

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

The course fee for various colleges offering Diploma courses in Electronic Cinematography ranges from INR 50,000 to INR 5 LPA. The fees depends on colleges to colleges.

P

Pallavi Rai

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

Candidates seeking admissions to UG and Diploma courses should have passed at least class 12th from a recognised Board. For a Diploma course in Electronic Cinematography, candidates should pass class 12 in any stream from a recognised board and If the candidate wants to pursue a PG course in Electro

...Read more

K

Kritika Tyagi

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

Many colleges conduct an entrance exam in order to shortlist aspirants for admission to courses offered by them. Students can secure admission to an Electronic Cinematography if they fulfil the eligibility criteria for the course in which they want to secure admission. the general eligibility criter

...Read more

P

Pallavi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

After completing a course in Electronic Cinematography one can work for production houses like Yashraj Productions, Dharma Productions, UTV movies, Balaji Telefilms Ltd, Eros International Media Ltd etc. Some Cinematographers are also hired in Television Production Companies such as Balaji Telefilms

...Read more

A

Abhishek Arora

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

Besides practical experience, there are a host of other skills and qualities that are required in this field. Some of them are listed below:

Skills for Electronic Cinematography

Creativity

Leadership skills

An Eye for perfection

Innovative skills

Technical Expertise esp. Camera and Film production process

Strong Communication Skills

Networking Skills

Confidence

Concentration

A

Aashi Srivastava

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

Based on the science and technology of digital image acquisition, Electronic Cinematography is all about making students see the world differently and presenting it in an engaging way. Through courses related to Electronic Cinematography, students are introduced to the technical knowledge of media i

...Read more

M

Mohit Mishra

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, animation is a form of filmmaking which involves creating and sequencing of images that create an illusion of movement on display. Just like conventional filmmaking it also requires storytelling and character development. There are various 3D animation film making courses nowadays that are bein

...Read more

P

Pragati Singh

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The animation in film making course teaches the techniques that uses still images to create an illusion of moving pictures. It is used in making animated movies and shows to bring characters to life. 

P

Pragati Singh

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

No, FTII does not offer undergraduate degree courses. They only offer postgraduate Diploma and certificate courses under their film wing and television wing. However, they do have one Undergraduate Certificate course in Animation & Visual Effects Design.

A

Aayushi Madavi

Contributor-Level 8

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