Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 4: Students from the Bachelors of Media and Creative Technologies programme at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) recently visited a busy, high-end film production set. This exciting visit was organized in collaboration with Sierra Learning Academy, who acts as the facility management and practical training partner for these industry-embedded courses. The visit gave students an inspiring behind-the-scenes look at the commercial entertainment industry and a direct chance to understand advanced media gear, helping them build professional portfolios that stand out to future employers.
The day started with a clear briefing by director Vijay Monteiro, who explained the massive coordination needed to run a professional movie set. Unlike regular college courses that focus mostly on history and textbook notes, this specialized programme teaches students how creative ideas are turned into technical tasks on a real set. By speaking with directors right next to the camera rigs, the learners discovered how sets function like organized businesses. They learned how small changes in lighting or scene setups can directly affect a media project's success.
After the briefing, the students took a step-by-step walk through the live studio sets. This hands-on experience allowed them to see the exact tools they study daily on campus being used on a live project. To understand how real studio environments move so fast, creative director Harshith Someshwar mapped out the visual plans for the day, explaining how rough storyboards are turned into actual physical setups on the floor. The students then stood side-by-side with associate director Arvin Lobo to learn how complex scene movements and tracking shots are timed perfectly with the actors. By watching multiple takes of a scene, the students saw firsthand how strict timing and clear team communication create a flawless final video product.
This visit gave students an in-depth look into advanced systems that traditional degree students rarely get to see or touch. Under the on-set guidance of director of photography (DOP) Prajwal Suvarna, the batch explored the mechanics of a professional overhead lighting grid and moving camera dolly setups. They studied how specific lenses, camera angles, and digital colour filters instantly change the mood and look of a scene. They also analyzed how physical sets are built from scratch to integrate easily with digital visual effects (VFX) tools-technical skills that are a core part of the program's practical curriculum.
This experience proved that an industry-embedded program gives students a huge advantage over regular college tracks. Traditional degrees often stick to standard classroom lectures and written exams, leaving graduates with no real-world confidence. This course is completely different because it focuses on studio-driven practice. While regular students are still reading textbook definitions, these learners are already using commercial equipment and speaking professional on-set language, putting them one step ahead of the crowd before they even graduate.
The set visit was both highly educational and deeply inspiring. One student shared, “Stepping onto a real soundstage brought our classroom lessons to life. Seeing how a high-end camera moves smoothly on tracks gave us incredible ideas for our upcoming portfolio assignments.”
Another student added, “Interacting directly with the directors and technical crew gave us plenty of practical tips about the commercial side of media. Understanding the exact setups they use has made me feel much more confident about our upcoming company projects.”
Overall, the trip to the commercial film shoot was a fantastic blend of learning and inspiration, leaving the students motivated and better prepared for corporate creative environments. The professional production crew, including Vijay Monteiro, Harshith Someshwar, Prajwal Suvarna, and Arvin Lobo, were thanked for hosting the batch and showing them the power of industry-embedded training.
Students interested in understanding how digital media and creative businesses operate can explore the Bachelor’s in Media programmes at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), offered in collaboration with Sierra Learning Academy. The programmes provide opportunities to gain hands-on studio experience, earn a monthly stipend through a paid industry internship in the third year, and build a global career in the creative industry.
Applications for the programme are open. For details, visit Sierra Learning Academy or contact +91 93535 04965.