Marian college of architecture and planning

B Arch thesis 2020

THESIS SYNOPSIS
Akshay S Year 2016 – 21

Film factory- a corpus of moving images

Overview
Ever since the pandemic broke out, the whole world is trying to cope up with it.
Mankind first tried to understand it, and then fight with it and ultimately trying to
adjust with it. Within a span of months, humans have evolved to stay away from direct
exposure to society rather virtually working with the computer aided technology.
Without doubt we could say that human race has completely entered the cyber
civilization.

Now what? Our routines, interests, activities have changed; several industries that
actually controlled the world economy just shattered into thin air momentarily; but
due the course of time, everything rejuvenated upgrading itself with reference to the
current situation. Similarly, one of the driving factors in life; entertainment found its
own way of change. Social networks, broadcasting services are highly active than
ever. Now, the content created has the channel to global exposure thereby giving
every form of art, some kind of unique recognition.

A big fish from this context, ‘the cinema’ industry is facing its installment of
evolution. It’s been more than a decade since indoor shooting and content processing
came into existence in case of cinematic industry. The western world is practicing
these techniques since late 70’s. Being a recognized film industry, Indian cinema still
lacks the ability to wield such a technology. The core aspect of the thesis is to identify
the requirement of modern day film making and implement a holistic solution to
spatial requirement for a movie production. In short the idea is to carry out a film city
in South India.

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 Marian college of architecture and planning
B Arch thesis 2020

Introduction
The main portion of the work is to conceive a film city in Kerala which facilitates
every process of film making. One of key factors in filming is the setting of backdrop
for the movie; this decides the shooting spots and subsequent production spaces. So
the canvas upon which the design should exist should be of a condition where
different outdoor scenarios could be custom made. The next aspect is the indoor
shooting areas whose built aspects should be taken care of; these include the norms
regarding the kind of spaces that facilitates the CGI processing of movies, its
associated services. The next strata of the spatial requirement as per the chronology of
movie production is of the editing and processing which in turn facilitates spaces more
of computer aided technological requirement and so on. Along with this other
background processes like music, sound mixing units should also be done. The last
and one of the important aspects the housing space, its respective services completes
the design. The outdoor space must be well defined so as to carry out safety measures
for filming, i.e. there must be enough space and nearby immediate services as a
mitigation for occupational hazard.

Site details

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 Marian college of architecture and planning
B Arch thesis 2020

The strategic location is pinpointed based on the availability of a fully functioning

film city based on the vicinity of respective major shooting hubs of south Indian states
namely Kochi(Kerala), Chennai(Tamil Nadu), Hyderabad(Telangana) and
Bangalore(Karnataka).The present location is zeroed to Panancherry, Palghat district
of Kerala which facilitates the easiest road transportation services from above
mentioned film industries. Site coordinates- 10.557872954492716,
76.33973393636155

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Marian college of architecture and planning
B Arch thesis 2020

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 Marian college of architecture and planning
B Arch thesis 2020

Relevance of the project: hypothetical project

As mentioned in the earlier part, the core idea of the project is to enhance the art of
film making and improvise the commercial value of Indian movies; more precisely
South Indian movies.

Another thought process that evoked the idea is the urban fabric of the site, the film
city will act as a plugin project that eventually follows up as a catalyst in speeding the
urbanization and development of the nearby area; the prevailing fabric shows an area
just occupied by unruly growth of just green spaces that limits the trail just as a transit
path. Thus the development of the area is also considered with respect to the project.

Although the activities taking within the space is confined and environmentally
isolated, a lot of people are indulged within the project so as to actively function the
project. So there are permanent job opportunities created from the technician level to
man power labour level.

The following factors have contributed towards the idea of implementing a film city in
Kerala.

 Rising recognition for South Indian movies especially Malayalam.

 The limitation of conventional outdoor shooting and processing during the
forthcoming times of the pandemic.
 CGI makes possible for filmmakers to build great effects that would cost too
much to produce physically, and the process requires less physical space. CGI,
when used to create film sets, makes it possible for directors to express
imaginative visions that would have otherwise been inconceivable or
prohibitively costly.
 Conception and comprehension of new graphics and any idea from imagination
is conceivable using CGI. In practical conditions, we can use CGI animation to
breathe life into animate objects and legendary living animals as well as out of
this world landscapes.
 Every need of film making – satisfied by a single cognitive body.

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 Marian college of architecture and planning
B Arch thesis 2020

Expected architectural product

 Creating a complete platform for the development of a film.
 A complete campus consisting content creation space, processing space and
accommodation, eatery and recreational areas.

Strategic framework
 S1: Identifying the need of a film city.
 S2: Identifying the scope and limitation of the project on such a region.
 S3: Improvising the urbanization and living standards of the whole region
through the influence of the plugin design.
 S4: Architecturally, imparting a monumental entity that reflects the
imageable portion of the region.
 S5: Interpreting the spatial requirement of the campus.
 Outdoor shooting areas
 Indoor shooting areas
 Editing and processing areas
 Sound mixing and developing areas
 Exhibitory spaces
 Preview theatre
 Accommodation spaces
 Eatery spaces
 Recreational spaces
 Safety, occupational hazard prevention cells and primary health care
spaces.
 Mandatory service areas

Methodology
 Primary data collection
i. Indian cinema achievements and contribution to economy.
ii. Developmental agendas of Panacherry panchayath
iii. Road access points, air travel facilities.
iv. Occupational relevance.
 Secondary data collection
i. Study of film cities and film studio work culture and functional spaces.
ii. Possibility of developing a tourist spot on film city.

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B Arch thesis 2020

 Primary case studies

i. Chithranjali Studio, Thiruvallom
ii. AVM studio, Chennai
iii. Innovative film city, Bengaluru
 Secondary case studies
i. Ramoji Rao film city, Hyderabad
ii. Mumbai Film city

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B Arch thesis 2020

Second option

Redeveloping Air Force campus in Kanyakumari.