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EIGHT-WEEK FILMMAKING WORKSHOP
Start Dates: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December
In our Eight-Week Film School, each student writes, shoots, directs,
and edits 4 of his/her own films and crews on 12 others.
Designed for people who wish to study the craft of filmmaking in a hands-on environment, this filmmaking workshop challenges students to produce four films over a period of two months. Unlike other film schools, our students begin to learn how to write, shoot, and edit their own films from their very first day onward instead of being handed a book. Students each direct four short films of increasing complexity that are screened and critiqued in class. Students spend a full month at our film school producing, directing and editing their final film project.
For students with little or no filmmaking experience, the Eight-Week Filmmaking Workshop offers the best of all worlds: focused learning on topics of immediate interest to the student, hands-on film shoots, and the opportunity to make a fully-realized final film.
The workshops begin on the first Monday of every month year-round at our central film schools in New York City and at our West Coast site at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California. The Eight-Week Workshop and the One Year Filmmaking Program is held throughout the year overseas at our film school at London, UK.
OVERVIEW
The first month of the program is divided between hands-on instruction in class and the production by each student of three short films of increasing difficulty. Students use Arriflex 16mm cameras, Lowel lighting packages, and digital editing systems on Apple Final Cut Pro stations. Special classes in digital camera and lighting are given before students shoot their final films. Following production and post-production, students screen their work for their classmates and instructors and engage in critiques and discussion.
The second month of the program is devoted solely to each student’s final project: a 16mm non-sync or 24p digital film of up to ten minutes. Students have a pre-production period to cast, scout locations, plan their final films and meet with instructors for one-on-one consultation. The rest of the month is devoted to production and post-production of their final films.
OBJECTIVES
PRODUCTION GOALS• Write, direct, and digitally edit four short films in 16mm film or Digital. The Final Film can be up to 10 minutes in length with multiple tracks of sound.
• Be cinematographer, gaffer, and assistant Camera on your crew's films.
LEARNING GOALS
• Explore and understand the art and technique of visual storytelling including directing, cinematography, editing, and post-production sound design. Continue >>
CLASSES
DIRECTOR’S CRAFTDirector's Craft serves as the spine of the workshop, introducing students to the language and practice of filmmaking. Through a combination of hands-on exercises, screenings, and demonstrations, students learn the fundamental directing skills needed to create a succinct and moving film. This class prepares students for each of their film projects and is the venue for screening and critiquing their work throughout the course.
WRITING
The writing portion of the filmmaking course adheres to the philosophy that good directing cannot occur without a well-written script. The course is designed to build a fundamental understanding of dramatic structure which is essential to writing an engaging film. Arc, theme, character, tension, and conflict are thoroughly explored.
EDITING
This class covers the language of editing and the organization of film and sound material. Films are shot on 16mm film and edited digitally with Final Cut Pro on Apple computers. While students learn how to use the nonlinear editing software, the emphasis is on the craft of editing which challenges students to create cogent sequences that best serve the story.
HANDS-ON CAMERA AND LIGHTING
Beginning on day one, this is a no-nonsense camera class in which students learn fundamental skills in the art of cinematography with the 16mm Arriflex-S, the Lowel VIP Lighting Kit and its accessories. Unlike many film school programs, students shoot and screen tests for focus, exposure, lens perspective, film latitude, slow/fast motion, contrast, and lighting during their first week of class.
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
Production Workshop gives students the opportunity to learn which techniques will help them express their ideas most effectively. This class is designed to demystify the craft of filmmaking through in-class exercises shot on film under the supervision of the instructor. The guiding idea is that once students articulate the objective of a given scene, the craft and techniques they need will follow.
BUDGETING AND SCHEDULING
Students learn to organize production schedules in order to maximize the creative time spent on their films, while minimizing the size of the production budget. They learn the preproduction process, including casting, finding locations, obtaining shooting permits, costumes, and all other production elements that apply to the successful completion of their films.
SOUND DESIGN
In this class, students learn to incorporate voice-over, sound effects, and music into their final film projects. Students will have access to our extensive library of sound effects and sound recording equipment. Final films may have multiple tracks of non-synchronous sound.
QUICK FACTS:
Start Dates: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December
Locations: NYC, Universal Studios
Program Requirements: High School Diploma, GED
Cost: $ 4,800* (USD)
€3,237 (EURO)
You Graduate With: Diploma/Certificate, DVD Film Reel
*Please note, Equipment Fee is $1,000 (€674), students will incur additional expenses on their own productions. This varies depending on how much film they shoot and scale of the projects.
Locations: NYC, Universal Studios
Program Requirements: High School Diploma, GED
Cost: $ 4,800* (USD)
€3,237 (EURO)
You Graduate With: Diploma/Certificate, DVD Film Reel
*Please note, Equipment Fee is $1,000 (€674), students will incur additional expenses on their own productions. This varies depending on how much film they shoot and scale of the projects.
