Abhinav Varun Revis Amit Kumar Singh Post Production, Editing Course: Diploma in Post Production/Editing   at Film Training Institute

Abhinav Varun Revis and Amit Kumar Singh are two bright young men who from early on were clear they wanted to be a part of the media industry. So right after 10+2, they enrolled themselves at a film training institute in Noida. Abhinav, 19, is doing a one-year diploma in Post Production while Amit, 19, is pursuing a one-year diploma in Visual Communications.

Abhinav’s mother wasn’t too pleased with his decision to become a film editor. “My mother works in a government hospital, so she thinks a full-time graduation and a job that pays at the end of every month is more sensible.” He’s studying BCom (Honours) through correspondence, not ignoring his mother’s concern.

Amit, too faced a similar challenge. In his case, his father, marketing executive with Hindustan Unilever Limited in Bihar, wasn’t approving of his choice. “But he came around when he saw my pictures in an ad for a cement brand. The billboards were all over Bihar,” says Amit who while modelling discovered that his strength lay in direction.

In post production, Abhinav is studying sound recording, sound editing, video editing, graphics and advanced editing. “Editing can make or break a film: it can enhance a scene, make it more dramatic, more thrilling or completely kill it if the editing is sloppy. Of course, one has to be talented, but technique helps polish the talent,” he says. Amit, on the other hand, is learning about all the elements that go into making a film like editing, sound, acting, art direction among other things.

In another six months Abhinav– he’s already halfway through his course – would be job-ready. He’s confident that his editing skills will fetch him a job that pays at least Rs. 20,000. Amit cites the case of his friend who joined a television channel a few years ago as a cameraman and is drawing upwards of Rs. 50,000.

But making up your mind about your career isn’t an easy decision especially right after 10+2, so Abhinav’s advice to all those just starting out in life is that no matter what you do, don’t lose your originality.