Produced By - #16 - Josef Kader Agha: Mastering Cinematography at Recognised FAMU in Prague, Czechia

Starting point is 00:00:02 Josef Kader Agha is a Prague-based cinematographer, currently studying at the renowned Famu and working on his way into the industry. A few years ago, Josef moved to London to study film at the university, where after trying various roles he found his passion for cinematography. In the second year, Joseph participated in Erasmus and moved back to Prague to study at Famu, one of the oldest and best film schools in the world. There, his interest in cinematography intensified and his goal was to continue developing those specific skills. His final year at the University in London was impacted by the global pandemic, but he managed to successfully graduate and even got accepted in Tufamo to study bachelors in cinematography. Now, progressing through the final year, Josef shares his experience of studying at this prestigious school as well as being a filmmaker in Prague. Listen to this episode to hear a comparison between studying film in London and Prague, get a deeper introduction to FAMU, and find out what famous filmmakers studied at this university.

Starting point is 00:01:06 Enjoy! Hello Joseph, thank you for joining us for today's special episode from the Czech Republic and welcome to the show. Hi, thank you. Thank you for having me. Joseph, can you please try to introduce yourself? I'm studying to become D.O.P. So basically I'm trying to be cinematographer. During the studies, I'm helping also in light department and camera department. I'm doing all these kind of work, but I prefer to work as DOP.

Starting point is 00:01:40 And where do you study currently? I study at FAMU, which is film and television Academy of Music Arts in Prague in Czech Republic. It's a bachelor degree three years, and then you can order your study at master degree, which is two years. As I said, special guests today. But let's discuss the journey that led you there, because you studied in London as well, right? Yes, Middlesex University, bachelor degree. So how did you get from Middlesex back to Prague? Well, I always wanted to try Famu at first, but to be honest, I was a bit scared because they only accept like four to five people per year.

Starting point is 00:02:21 And they also, the difference between UK and Czech Republic is that. if you want to study film in UK, first in bachelor you study all kind of departments, you get understanding from each kind of part, but in Prague, in Czech Republic at Fama specifically, you go straight away to study cinematography, directing sound. So basically when you apply, you already have some kind of experience. You're from high school or work. So when I wanted to apply, I studied grammar school before and I didn't have any experience. experience and I was afraid. That's the truth. So that's why I wanted to start with basics. Also at that time, I didn't know that I wanted to study cinematography. I was more towards directing.

Starting point is 00:03:09 That's why I applied to study in UK at Middlesex specifically. And during these three years, I realized that I want to study cinematography more in depth. That's why I applied to FAML. And you are also from Prague, right? Yeah, I'm also from Prague, so for me comfortable. It was comfortable and basically next logical step in my journey.

Starting point is 00:03:34 And you said you studied drama before going to Middlesex? No grammar school. Oh, grammar school, okay. Yeah, so basically no art classes, nothing like connected to film. Yes, like studied in general. Yeah, basically no experience

Starting point is 00:03:51 and the only experience I got was filming weddings at the time. Oh yeah, but better than no experience. Yeah, better than no experience, but it's not like that. I would say better than me. And when you went to study to Middlesex, why did you decide to study in London? I mean, you could to go to different cities or different places. We had, like one company came to our grammar school

Starting point is 00:04:18 and presented ways how to do. apply to universities in UK, how to get student loans, what universities to pick. Like they basically help us through the whole process. And suddenly, because I always thought it's very complicated to apply to different country and like all the steps you have to go through. But with this company, they kind of helped us a lot. And through this company, they told me all the steps I have to take. And then Middlesex specifically was, I think I, got some rankings of film schools and middle sex was on the top or something like that so yeah it was metasex specifically i asked this question you people before and quite a few people mentioned

Starting point is 00:05:04 the same reason it was like in top five i think even in the uk or even top three i don't know but very yeah it's true so if the company didn't come to your school you wouldn't go to study abroad or to london To be honest I don't know I think I wouldn't probably because the company really made it very simple all the peer did

Starting point is 00:05:29 it's like a few steps you have to take and then basically get to your dreamed university so I think without the company I wouldn't think about it would you try FAMU otherwise or completely different career path

Starting point is 00:05:44 maybe I would try FAMU and then because we have also other universities where you can study cell, but each of them is different. One of them is more like general, one of them you have to pay for. So different ways, I don't know, to be honest. I never thought about it. And how did you find studying at Middlesex or living and studying in London in general?

Starting point is 00:06:07 I mean, the biggest reason for me also like to study in London was to move from my home country and to broaden my horizon. which I think London made it perfect for me. And Middle Sets, I wouldn't think about it in a great way. I mean, like, it was nice from the beginning because I learned pieces from every kind of department in some industry. And I, because before Middlesex, I didn't even know what roles you have in camera department or lighting department.

Starting point is 00:06:42 And I know that. But after one year or the second year, I was kind of disappointed a bit. Oh, really? Yeah, I mean, like we didn't go in depth, like maybe the reason for me is because I wanted to study cinematography. So in that way. I mean, like in other roles, it wasn't that bad, but I mean, when you know what you want to study and what you want to work, what kind of role you want to pursue. And outside of the university, how did you find living in London? Outside from the university, I loved it.

Starting point is 00:07:15 I met so many people from different countries from different cultures. So in that way, it was really awesome. I wouldn't change that at all. Yeah, so still a nice experience. Yeah, definitely. In that way, a really nice experience. And just out of the curiosity, do we plan in the future to come back or are staying in Prague? To be honest, when I came back from London, like the first year, I wouldn't think about it at all.

Starting point is 00:07:43 I was so focused on getting back to live in Prague. But now I think about it more and more. I mean, not sure about work, but definitely visit. I miss London, to be honest. Yeah, at least something, some nice memories about London. And also, I miss the people. I want to definitely meet the person. So what was the first, like, idea to go to study to different country or different

Starting point is 00:08:09 university? To London? No, like outside of. the London, why did you decide to go back to Prague? The Prague, for me, it was FAMU itself, like the university specifically. It wasn't that I wanted to live in Prague, but it was that I wanted to study at FAMU specifically. So was it because how good the university is, or was it because you live in Prague so you want it to be back in the city where we are from, or kind of both?

Starting point is 00:08:39 kind of both because if you're Czech and you want to study at Czech universities you don't have to pay fee but it's also nice and also yeah I have my parents here I have my family here so basically that's also one of the reasons but the biggest reason is that at FAMU the teachers are really good and really on point so that was the biggest reason now when I am in my third year of bachelor I also think about it in a different way, but at that time when I applied, this was the reason why I wanted to study there. And remind me, you studied two years at Middlesex, right? Yeah, in the second year, I went on Erasmus to Phamu. Oh, okay.

Starting point is 00:09:22 But, yeah, at Middlesex, I was two years, the first and the third. And then the second, I went on Arasimus to Famu. So you've created bachelor's at Middlesex, right? Yeah, I finished, I finished. It's just because there was a COVID in their third. year so it wasn't really much study in the end so I just probably don't remember much. Yeah, that's true. I completely forget about it. Yeah, it was weird times. And it also sounds, did Famu make a good impression in a second year so that you came back?

Starting point is 00:09:55 Yeah, that's also one of the reason because as I said before, I always wanted to try it, but I was afraid. And if you apply to Erasmus, you don't get to study with like the regular curriculum but you have the special one, Erasmus one, and it's not as hard to get in. It's a similar course, like a general course, to what I studied in Middlesex. But you get the experience from FAMO, even from that. So I applied for that. I studied there one year and it's a bit complicated because they have so many courses, they have like one Erasmus Mon and then have FAMO International. and for FAMO International can apply students all around the world

Starting point is 00:10:38 and they don't have to learn Czech to study there and they can also study cinematography they can study directing they can study editing whatever they want and that year when I applied for the Erasmus class there was luck of cinematographers so they also put me there and that was when I realized

Starting point is 00:10:57 I want to study cinematography because I learned so much at that year we filmed on 16mm film we learned to expose film it was so like really going into that and after that year it was decided for me that I want to order my study and how many people got accepted into that we are also like five or six people in the last so so just a few as well yeah just a few as well and it was in English as you said yeah that course was in English did you want to go to Erasmus to any or just a different country than Middle Sex or did you want to go specifically

Starting point is 00:11:39 to Famo as well? Because for example if you didn't get accepted into Famo, would you go to a different city? If I didn't get accepted, I would say at Middlesex. That was really just to try Famo. And coming back to Middlesex, how did you find it during the third year when there was a COVID? Yeah, that was the toughest for me because I saw like a really nice It was at Samu and what I all learned, and that was probably the hardest to come back. But as I said, like, I really like the people there, so that was nice. But in terms of, like, university, and also, COVID didn't help, because we had some projects that we were about the film, and they all got cancelled.

Starting point is 00:12:23 So that was really... So you didn't manage to have film years? Yeah, we didn't. We were supposed to fill one documentary. in Brazil that was canceled because it gets really complicated and then we were about to film one short film and it was also canceled because I mean with actually we felt one day and then the second day we got canceled from university so we have the data for one day and that was it must have been an interesting day like thinking are we coming back tomorrow or not

Starting point is 00:13:00 Everyone scared not knowing what is going to happen. It's a really weird day. I think it was almost like a night shoot, so really weird. Yeah. And then I woke up and no felt. Then you woke up and nothing was same again for several months or years. What a disaster. Really bad.

Starting point is 00:13:21 So what was the alternative project that you did instead of filming a short film? I think we all got canceled at that year. we just had to submit all the preparation that we had for the film, like all floorboards, woodboards, floor plants. Because I didn't mention that at that project specifically I was a cinematographer. That's also I didn't mention that at Middlesex. We were studying everything, but in the third year we specialized. In that third year, I specialized in cinematography, and in this project I was DOP.

Starting point is 00:13:56 So my preparation was woodboard floor plants, all the camera stuff I had to do. And I submitted that and that was like my participation in that project. We've got at least something positive about Middlesex. You studied cinematography in the third year. Yeah, but I mean like it wasn't a problem of Middlesex specifically. It was more did I realize what I want to do. And at that moment it became a problem. But before that it was kind of nice because I had.

Starting point is 00:14:26 learned quite a lot because as I said I didn't study some before so when you came back in a third year how did you feel like with the experience from family did you feel like that it was harder to come back that you kind of missed the year with your peers or was it the opposite that you felt like you've got experience from a different place and it's something beneficial i mean in some areas i mean i learned how to use fell material which was kind of new for me completely so that was definitely something I could take advantage on, for example even with digital cameras, but in other areas I had something that I was missing. So I would say 60 and 50 probably. And out of interest, what nationalities were the classmates in the second tier in Erasmus?

Starting point is 00:15:16 I'm stating there were mostly European students, so France, Belgium, Estonia, like these countries. So diverse. Yeah, it was diverse. So in the third year, you knew that you wanted to come back to Famu, right? It was like your plan. It was my plan, yeah, like to finish middle sex and continuing straight away at Famo. Yeah, because I tend to ask the question, what was like your plan to start a career in the industry?

Starting point is 00:15:48 So you weren't planning to start a career in industry because you wanted to continue studying just in different university. Yeah, but in a way that's a part of like the career strategy, I would say because at FAMU specifically, you get to know a lot of people from the industry, like from Czech industry, and you also build quite a nice portfolio as a cinematographer. So basically that was my plan to know more people from the industry, get to know more people and to build a promo portfolio. And was it somehow affected by the COVID? Yeah, it was, but I mean, all of our lectures were online and all the films we were supposed to film were postponed. But we all shot during the summer. So basically, we managed to get everything done, but it was quite hell. We didn't have any summer.

Starting point is 00:16:42 We just were filming all the stuff. Was it with big precautions? We had some, but because it was during the summer when the situation got better, it wasn't that bad as in winter. But there was another wave after summer, wasn't there? So if you postponed even more, maybe you wouldn't have to make it at all in the end. Yeah. And that also, like, we basically, the way we study with cinematography is that basically we have a state exam, or like the final exam, and we have it in September.

Starting point is 00:17:16 So basically you study, you have lectures until May. And then from May till the end of summer, you're film all the, films you have to do you do all the post-production and all everything and then in September you have a final screening and final exam they just tell you if you pass or if you don't pass and then you continue so basically we had to film it anyway we because of the final exam we had to have it done by September sounds like quite intense summer yeah it was that was a lot intense and what kind of projects Did you film? Was it like short films and documentaries, kind of similar as in Middlesex?

Starting point is 00:18:00 Yes, but the difference is at FAMO, when you're at the first year in cinematography department or cinematography class, you don't sell short films, but you film camera exercises, they call it. And the reason for that is they want you to get experience before to start working with classmates from directing. In the first year, I showed a lot of camera exercises, which were like small commercials or short films or documentaries. But I had to direct it and I had to film it. And then in the second year, we started working with directing. So basically then we started to film like regular short films. And is that camera exercise only up to you or do you also get to pick others for the crew who will help you with that?

Starting point is 00:18:49 You can. You can ask for help from medical. think or sound but usually they don't want you to have a director first they want you to learn even like how to direct a bit they always tell the reason is that sometimes when you work as a d op you also have to know how to speak to actors because i don't know you have to tell them certain move or or the camera so in the first year we did mostly camera exercises and then we started working with directors So how did you find those exercises? Did you enjoy it or was it challenging?

Starting point is 00:19:25 It was challenging because we filmed like six of those camera exercises and all of them except one were on film, on 16mm. So that was quite nice. It's a different experience when you film on film because you don't know what the outcome is going to be, you don't see the image, you really have to be precise in exposure. so that was kind of stressful at the beginning.

Starting point is 00:19:51 I was going to ask if you could do a little introduction of the difference between film and digital and these terms for someone who doesn't know anything about it. The filming on film is that you use film material and digital is basically any digital camera. And the biggest difference, I mean now you have some technologies that can make it more seamless, but the way they sound it usually were that you didn't see the image, the digital image.

Starting point is 00:20:22 So basically the O.B, the cameraman or camera woman, were the only one who saw the image. And also the first AC, the focus polar, also didn't see the image. And they had to measure it by tape. That was, I guess, the biggest difference. And also directors, they didn't see any monitor, but they saw the actors. only what they thought were the actors. So that was the biggest difference, I would say. But now, digital you have monitors and most of the stuff got easier.

Starting point is 00:20:55 But, yeah, I got lost of it. That's sorry. No, no, is it still being used in today's film industry? I think in Hollywood, they use it quite a lot. For example, Quentin Tarantino is one of directors who still wants to film on film. So, yeah, they use it quite a lot. but on a bigger set, I would say, because the film material is quite expensive. And also, after you film it, you have to develop it in laboratories,

Starting point is 00:21:22 and then you have to scan it, or you use the copy, but usually they scan it after that, and then you do the post-production on computers. It sounds that it's quite difficult, and there are some quite challenges. So what is the reasoning? Why would you choose it over the digital? One is technical aspect, like the image is really, really nice. you have like a natural gray. It's really hard to replicate in digital.

Starting point is 00:21:49 And also the colors from films are really, really beautiful. So it's the image, I would say. It's one of the biggest reasons why people choose film over digital. And also, yeah, the image, it's softer a bit. And they're like these aspects that makes the image, I would say just nice. That's it. And when you watch your film, can you record? recognize whether it's digital or film?

Starting point is 00:22:15 I would say mostly yes, but sometimes the grading is so good that you can't really tell. But mostly, yes, I'll recognize it. And what about your personal preference? What do you like more and why? I mean, I really like the film because, as I said, like the film grain and the colors are really, really beautiful. But also, it's from a practical point of view, it's really expensive. if you don't see the image quite properly as you would see on digital

Starting point is 00:22:45 though also it depends on the project because some films are better to film on film and someone better on digital but my personal preference is well definitely and is it up to the director or the OPE to decide

Starting point is 00:23:01 I mean up to them is usually when the budget is quite high but when it's not it's usually on the production I would say if they have the budget for it or not. And what was the reason that you didn't try it at the Olympics? Was it because of the price?

Starting point is 00:23:19 I mean, we didn't have even the cell cameras and we didn't have the film material. So they weren't using film technologies at all. But at FAMU we have film cameras and the schools buys every year 35 millimeter film and 60 millimeter film. So it's not your choice you have to film on film. Some exercises, not everything.

Starting point is 00:23:41 But some you have to film on film. What is the difference between, as you said now, 35mm and 60mm? The 60mm is the size of the film material. So 35mm is bigger, and you have bigger resolution, and the grain is also different. And 60 millimeter is a smaller sensor. It's 60 millimeter.

Starting point is 00:24:02 I think it's similar to microsert, like the one from Blackmagic. And 35 millimeter is similar to APSC. which is normal 35 millimeter sensor like Alexa Mini, for example. Yeah, I guess not many people will understand what you just said. Yeah, in an easy way, a 35 millimeter is bigger, so you have bigger resolution, and 60 millimeter is smaller, and because small resolution and smaller size, you also have more visible grade. So is it, again, what suits more specific project, or it comes to,

Starting point is 00:24:41 price or why would you choose one over the other? Both. But price is I would say the biggest. I mean, 60mm was originally for amateurs for filming home videos and then and then they use it in documentaries. 35mm was the standard for films. But nowadays there's a lot of music videos and even short films shot on 60mm and the reason is the visual aspect of. it. So what is different? But usually before that people use 35 millimeter for films and 60 millimeters for documentaries or on videos or like an amateur's project or shooting under the water, for example. Just out of interest, can you say what is the price? Just like a comparison of digital

Starting point is 00:25:34 versus film, but it's like the price ratio if it's like a double more expensive just to get an idea? To be honest, I really don't know. Only year it is very expensive, but I don't know. You leave it up to the producer and the production to get the budget and sort it on. I think you can get the price from Kodak. And also during the COVID, it got like ripple more expensive than it was. Really? So yeah, that's also one of the reason why FAMU maybe won't be filming on film,

Starting point is 00:26:08 because it got really, really expensive. But also like that point is that if you film on film you have the hard joy, which are also not that cheap because you have to back up the files. Though they say that it's cheaper to film on film, but then when you have like 11 takes and on film you have all the three takes of the same action, I wouldn't say that it's oh but true. But that's one production. But you said that the film got more expensive during the COVID, right?

Starting point is 00:26:36 Yeah, that's true. But shouldn't it be the opposite? since the productions got stopped, so I would assume that it wasn't used that much, so there would be more of film, so it should be cheaper so that productions use it more, or not? I think it got more expensive because of shipping. Okay, yeah. It's complicated, but I'm not sure, to be honest.

Starting point is 00:26:57 Just a quick one. If you enjoy our podcast, please give us a review on your favorite podcast app, subscribe or share it with your friends. For more information, visit the show notes. Thank you, and back to the show. important question I forgot to ask how was it actually to get accepted into FAMO So for the first round You have to submit one storyboards

Starting point is 00:27:20 And then 10 pictures whatever you want Like photographs And then you have a series of photography On some theme which is I think at the time it was Christmas style So for every day you had to do one picture You had to do these four works. I mean, one story board with the story from them,

Starting point is 00:27:43 one story board with whatever story you want, then photograph and then Christmas time. That was it. So you submit this for the first round, and then they tell you if you got accepted for the second one or not. And if you got, then you had to do technical exam, which was like ND filters and like all stuff connected. to camera. Then you had to do art history exam. So you had to know some basic knowledge about

Starting point is 00:28:14 paintings, about classical music, about all these stuff. Is it global or is it Czech? Global. Global. Global and Czech. Then also I think we had to do like exam when we saw like paintings and you had to guess really like who painted that paintings. That was third and then you had to go for an hour around FAMU and take some pictures. And then the last thing was 101 talk. Like interview? Interview, yeah. Wow, it sounds difficult.

Starting point is 00:28:48 Yeah, it was. That was really stressful. Probably the biggest stress I had in my life. Well, what part did you find the hardest? There were so many parts? I think all of them were, but the moment I got really stressed was the interview. In the interview, they asked you,

Starting point is 00:29:06 questions that you didn't know in the exams. They ask you why you didn't know them. So it's more of a mind game. Like you have to keep your own and you can't really get stress in front of them. I think they want to see if they like get along with you and also if you're not too stressful for the job because the job of a DOP is really stressful sometimes, especially if you have to work in a commercial for example. So that was probably the biggest moment. And they also ask you these weird questions like, what would you do if you didn't get accepted? So it's like you're sitting there and you want to be accepted

Starting point is 00:29:45 and they are telling you what would you do if you didn't get accepted. So do you answer like with your plan B or do you say like I know that I will get accepted here showing confidence? I think I said that I would try it again next year. But that was it. And how long was the interview? Like, I think half an hour to an hour. Sounds scary, not gonna lie.

Starting point is 00:30:12 Yeah, it was. But I mean, after that, we waited like two weeks and then we got to know the results. And do you know at least roughly how many people register before the first round and how many people make it to the last round? I think to the first one is like 50 applications and then they take like 10 to the second round. and then five get accepted. Do you know roughly what is the ratio of Czech applicants and foreign ones? For this Czech course, it's all Czech. Oh, it's only Czech.

Starting point is 00:30:48 Yeah, for the foreign students, it's the FAMU international. That is specifically in English. So it's basically the same course just in English. Because I was going to ask if it was in Czech language or English, but it's in Czech. Yeah, and this one was Czech. I mean, if you learn Czech, you don't have to be Czech to apply. but you have to learn how to speak check. And just out of curiosity, why didn't you go for the English one?

Starting point is 00:31:15 Since your English was on good level? Because it's not 100% the same, it's a bit different. You have a different kind of exercise. But the biggest difference for me, it was because if you're a check, you don't have to pay for the check course. But you would have to pay for the English one. Oh, that makes sense. just for the comparison, is it similar price as studying in the UK?

Starting point is 00:31:40 I think it's quite expensive. I think for one year it's around 20,000 euros or something like that. Because the UK one is expensive. I cannot imagine what is more expensive than the UK one. Yeah, I mean, but it's different if you study it. I think some of the, you know, it's a public school or if it's a private school, even in UK it gets different on each university. Yeah. Oh yeah, are the teachers the same on both courses or it also differs?

Starting point is 00:32:10 Some of them, yes, because they know how to speak English, but some of them are really, really old and they don't really know English, so they can't. So how was when you got accepted, I'm sure that you were excited, who wouldn't be, but how did you find education there in general on family? Or how do you still find it since you are still there? Yeah, now it's a bit different. I mean, it's like managing expectations, they would say, right? It's like I had my expectations really high before I get accepted, but then when I got there, I saw both sides, like the positive and also the negative ones. But the positive ones are that you really get the chance to build a really strong portfolio because you filmed just as a DOP. In the first year, I worked on a five or six projects.

Starting point is 00:33:00 and in a second year as well and in a third year it's as well so basically just during the bachelor you get to work on 15 to 20 films as a DOP just quite a lot so that's really positive because you can cut the show real problem or you can

Starting point is 00:33:18 show it to some productions after you finish your school but the negative ones is that we have to learn like really a lot of technical side of the cinematography which is sometimes gets really boring. We have to learn even, for example, about how television broadcasting works, we have to know how projection works, even like these details, when sometimes you're asking yourself, is it really

Starting point is 00:33:44 something I have to know? It gets overwhelming sometimes. Because I thought that since you were filming so much, that there was like higher emphasis on practical work over the theoretical, but now you said it's also theoretical, so it's also kind of both. Yeah, it's kind of both, I would say. Yeah, if something is more, it's probably the practical side. For example, if you miss classes because you are filming some school projects, they always are okay with that. But you always have to do even like the exams. You have to pass them.

Starting point is 00:34:15 So is there always... Or actually, can you try to compare it with university in the UK? What are some similarities, differences? What is better on that one or that one? In Middlesex, I learned a lot about other departments. like sound, editing. We also had lectures about editing in Avid, in Premiere, like all these kind of stuff. But at some way you don't get to learn these stuff at all.

Starting point is 00:34:44 So basically, without Middlesex, I wouldn't know anything about other departments. Is it something that you were kind of ahead of your peers? I would say yes. That's something I'm glad I learned at Middlesex. Even like we had some production classes, for example. So now I feel like when I'm working with my classmates from other departments, I kind of know what they're doing and like what are their struggles. It's nice.

Starting point is 00:35:11 Yeah, so that was middle sex. And then if I have to compare it to FAMU, then FAMU for me specifically is better that we really go in depth in the department you want to study. So for me, cinematography. We really go, we've shown a lot, we learn a lot about the technical side. And we also have like 90% of our lectures are just cinematography. Then we have like art history and then other stuff. But 90% is cinematography.

Starting point is 00:35:40 And do you write essays? Not that much. Is it something you miss from London? I mean, yeah, it was nice, but I'm more of a visual person, not really good at writing. And what are the exams like in FAMU? Is it theoretical, practical, both? At the end of semester, you have normal like exams, theoretical ones. And then the end of the year, after the both semesters are completed, you have final exam,

Starting point is 00:36:12 and in this final exam, you submitted all the films you filmed, plus theoretical parts that you've finished. So you film during the whole year, but you submitted it at the end of the year. So they don't grade it like throughout the year? it at the end? During the year you just get some feedback and some consultations. We're doing also the development of the film with the teachers. So they know what you're filming and what date of filming you are, but they grade it or they tell you if you pass or didn't pass, they tell you that at the end of the year. And when you work on those projects, like on the short films, you collaborate with guru from different courses, right? Yes. So,

Starting point is 00:36:58 then basically you get a project and there's like one project and people who work on it they are not classmates because everyone is from a different course right yes so they still obviously want to do their best although they are not together because it goes towards their personal grade yeah but that's i mean there are more kind of projects you can work on as a cinematographers we have these camera exercises as i said these are more like a visual films like commercial or really, really short documentary, like something between three to five minutes. But it has to be like really strong on the visual side. And for that, we got to grade it only as a cinematographers for the whole film.

Starting point is 00:37:42 But then when we work on a bigger project with directors and the editing department, then you got graded just for your work. So, for example, the film is not that good, but you try your best as a cinematographer, cinematographer, then you are graded as a cinematographer and that's not for the whole project. You also have projects on which you don't get graded at all, but you get credits from it. I don't know, this system in Czech Republic of studying universities a bit different. You have to get certain point of credits. That's the same as in UK, but, I mean, it's the same basically, but the thing is that you can get credits from these projects.

Starting point is 00:38:24 and you don't have to be graded. And how does it work with crewing for those projects? Because since you are from different courses, is it like a producer from producing course who gets the crew or you contact each other or how does it work? So if it's camera exercise, then you just ask your classmates from other departments and you just ask them if they can help you.

Starting point is 00:38:49 But the directors, they have a different bit. they have like a film that they have been filmed during the year and on that project all the other departments have to participate for me it's i have to work with some director so these are like bigger projects this is like from 15 minute to one hour short film for example good yeah in master degree one of my classmate they also did a normal feature film like one hour and a half and i think that film was can. How long does it take from pre-production to final film is it the whole year, the whole masters? Yeah, sometimes it's the whole master, sometimes it's one year depends on the scale of the project. Sometimes the students postpone their studies so they can apply for grants and get some money for the film for the development.

Starting point is 00:39:41 Because you get a budget from university, but if you want to make a... You always want more money so you apply for grants or some sponsors. or some sponsorship or whatever. So that is something that is different, that over there you get a budget, but in UK you... Yeah, that's true. I forget about it.

Starting point is 00:40:01 In the UK, when I studied in Middlesex, we got equipment, but we didn't get any money. At it follow, you get equipment and some money. Not that much, but better than nothing. I guess you cannot say the specific amount, right? I can say, I mean, it's not something. again for the camera exercise it's not bit much because it's a small exercise for that you got i don't know

Starting point is 00:40:25 like 100 euros but you got covered in film material film development film scanning all the equipment all these stuff are covered and you got like 100 euros extra for gas for food or these stuff and then on director's film i think it's around 10 000 euros And then in a master degree, it's like 20,000 euros, I think. So is it enough to make a decent film? I'd say, yeah, if you manage to get other stuff free, like location, equipment, and crew members, then yes. But sometimes it's hard. It's like the scale of the projects get really high.

Starting point is 00:41:06 As I said, like in a master degree, they did a feature. And one of the sponsor was Czech TV. So they also got like some equipment and some facilities, like, grading and editing room from Czech TV. So it's different in every project. Did you participate on that project? Yeah, I worked as a second AC on that. Really? Wow, nice. Yeah, in the camera department. So you've got a credits on IMDB or Chesa Fadell? Yeah, yeah, I think so. I think, yeah, I was in the final credits. How was the experience working on that film? I mean, as I said, the, the,

Starting point is 00:41:47 biggest difference I would also say is that when you're studying at FAMU, usually the students are already working in the industry. So for example, here at the project specifically, the DOP was already filming commercials and working as a DOP. And this was like his final project. So he already had the experience. He even had like some crew members, which were like normally people from the industry. Like a light department was completely from the industry. example. So in that way it was really scaled up. You are working on a school project, but you are already working with people from the industry. Yeah, so it's like a professional shoot. Yeah, it's almost professional. It's like a professional shoot, a bit small budget. And I'm sure you

Starting point is 00:42:36 remember, like from filming in London, it's quite difficult, for example, to get even a location. Is it the same in Prague or what is it like in Prague? Or even Czech Republic. It's always. public in general. I mean, in Czech Republic in general, I really don't know. I think you can try, but from what I learned to part is that you tell them that you're from family and it's a cool project, they usually try to help you with like lowering the price for the location or if they can, they give it to you for free. But if you're not too much credit.

Starting point is 00:43:12 But yeah, that's also in other ways. Like, for example, we didn't have equipment at school because everybody was filming because of COVID, everything was postponed, and now there were no equipment at school. So I tried to reach out to Ari and Panavision, and they got me the equipment for free because I was from family. So that was really nice. This is also because teachers that are teaching you, they worked with the owners of the rentals. in the past. That's also why you get the equipment because they know each other and they just make a call sometimes. If you really need it, not every time, but if you need it and there is no equipment at school, they manage. Yeah, that sounds great. I was wondering, for example, with the locations,

Starting point is 00:44:02 that it's easier or cheaper or sometimes even for free. If it's because the FAMU has such a name and probably reputation, or if it's because, let's say the nature of people in Czech Republic is just different than the UK or in London, where it's just people are kind of, you know, just different culture. So it's, you know, there's like a different level of trust or people are more helpful. I would say both. Definitely if you say that you're from Samu, it helps a lot. But also because the life here is cheaper than they can afford to help you, I would say. Because in London, it's really expensive and sometimes for the owner, it's hard to help you. But here, I think, I think, they manage more easily. Yeah. And do you personally or do you have experience only from

Starting point is 00:44:50 filming and from Prague or is it come on to go even to film outside of the Prague? Outside of the Prague, I would say it's even better. In Prague it's the worst probably if you want to get some location. But if you go outside of a Prague, it depends on what location you want. But I would say it's easier to get a location for a film project. Definitely if you're filming normal commercial project, they won't give it to you for free. But if you're filming a student project, they can help you. And I guess it's also, if you want to film outside of London, it takes a few hours to get outside of London.

Starting point is 00:45:26 But I guess in Prague, I'm not saying it's not long, but it's like, I don't know, 30 minutes or something, not such far away. And when it comes to facilities that you've got at the university, what is it like in comparison to Middlesex? equipment, software, the quality of classes or anything. In that way, I would also give points to Middlesex because we had quite a lot of equipment, quite a lot of new equipment,

Starting point is 00:45:56 and also grading facilities. We had like, I don't know, five rating suits. But here at some, we don't have that much, to be honest. But also, we are not that many students, so you don't need to have that much. But it would definitely help if we got more equipment or if you got more editing or grading suits. Yeah, and actually we've been talking about family for a while,

Starting point is 00:46:20 but for someone who doesn't know anything about the university, can you try to introduce it a bit? For example, what are some famous or successful people from there, like a bit of the history or something that you find interesting about the university? Well, I would say it's a big name in Czech Republic, but I don't know how the name is big in the world, But probably the biggest director from that university is Milosh Forman, who filmed many films like, I don't know, Larry Flynn against the world.

Starting point is 00:46:54 But then, you know, the English names of these films. One flew over the Cuckus nest. Yeah, for example. And I think Amadeus as well, isn't it? Yes, yes, yes, yes. Amadeus, yeah, and they shot it in Prague. Oh, yeah. And it was during a quite difficult era.

Starting point is 00:47:12 Right? Because it's when Czech Republic wasn't really democratic, sadly. Yeah. When he was filming here, they were spying on him and they made the documents about what he's doing outside of the film set, what he's doing on the film side. It was crazy. But he managed to make a really successful film.

Starting point is 00:47:33 So probably he's the most famous one. And then there are really famous people, but for Czech country. Can you name some? Maybe we've got some international audience that is interesting in Czech cinematography. I would say, Vyara Hittilovah, Onzschechek, Schofara, cinematographer, Menzel. Some contemporary ones that are still working these days? I mean, they are, but I really don't know, like, well, these things wouldn't probably say anything to the audience around the world. But what I can't say, like, the youngest generation that are.

Starting point is 00:48:11 like the young DOPs are really like working on international projects as a on commercials for example that's really nice that you get to see your classmates which already finished schools and they are like working around the world which is really nice but as you said before that you don't know what is the perception of international students or people that are not from the Czech republic about the university i have to say that from my experience i noticed quite a few times that people know it and They see it as a university with a big name. So it seems like it's well-recognized outside. Really, that's nice.

Starting point is 00:48:48 That's very nice to hear. And you are in a third year, right? Yes, Bachelor. So how is it going third year? Third year, I mean, it's quite stressful because we have to, again, we have to film all the films in somewhere. Or, I mean, we don't have to, but I will, because you have longer days and you have nice weather,

Starting point is 00:49:08 and you get to use, like, natural light. I'm going to be salmink a lot and then I have to write my final thesis. What is it going to be about? I'm going to write about in a grading, you can manage to replicate film look, basically, on a digital data. But I'm going to try to go deeper than just applying some plugin or just adding grain. But I really want to get with some color grader and really work on it step by step, like, what you have to really change to get. like really film, which you can't recognize. So that's going to be my thesis.

Starting point is 00:49:45 It's more about as a test and then writing about it. And then I'm going to have final exam, like theoretical one. It's going to be like painting the ads really. I'm sure you won't underestimate it, so we'll nail it. Thank you. But I'm going to try. I'm going to see it. But there is still going to be filming in summer, I guess.

Starting point is 00:50:06 Yes. So some short films? In the summer I'm going to be so. one short documentary which is it's on black and white 35mm film and you have to film like some famous person from film industry or art related industry so i chose a photographer karel sudle who he even had some photographs in magdol while established name and then i'm going to be shenlameen short cell again camera exercise when it's called a dream and you have to have two timelines and one is reality and one is a memory, dream or some idea.

Starting point is 00:50:48 And you have to visually make these timeline like completely different. Sounds quite challenging and interesting. Yeah. For cinematographer it's quite challenging and interesting. Yeah, it's up to how we're going to make it different. Yeah. So are you excited for those projects? Yes.

Starting point is 00:51:07 A bit stressful with all the thesis and all these. stuff but yes I am excited. And are you already preparing for that or is it still too early? Yes, we are planning already from October. They always gave us like deadlines for all part. I don't know for example we had to write script first for the dream exercise and then now we're making mood wars and these stuff so basically we are working on it all year. But obviously most of the work is done like right before the shoot. Actually why did you pick the photographer you mentioned for the documentary. Are you his fan? I am his fan. Like his pictures are really like street style photography but back in the days back in the 60s. It's

Starting point is 00:51:50 really nice because I do a lot of street photography. I really like that. And yeah, so basically this is the biggest reason because I really like his work and I want to get to know him. Yeah. Well Joseph thank you for a chat today. I will stop it here and we'll be happy to do part two in the future if you are up for it. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Norris, Adol, thank you very much. Wish you good luck in your career and hope to speak with you soon. Okay. Bye.

Starting point is 00:52:19 Bye-bye. Thank you for listening to Produced Bye. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast at, leave a review or send us your feedback. For more information about the host, links from the episode and ways to connect with us, visit the show notes. If you know someone who would be an ideal guest for our podcast, Please get in touch. Thank you and see you soon.

Produced By - #16 - Josef Kader Agha: Mastering Cinematography at Recognised FAMU in Prague, Czechia

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