Documentary Films .net

Eight Week Semesters: Rolling Starts
Fall- Winter-Spring –Summer
Fall: Thesis Project: October 6 – November 28, 2008
Winter: The Director as Story Teller:/Documentary Film making January 7- February 29, 2008
Spring: Creative Acting and Directing: March 17 - May 9, 2008
Summer: Creative Imagery and Cinematography: June 2- July 28, 2008
Each semester is composed of a six week module during which students will attend lectures, workshops, and have both hands on practice and experiential exercises that teach the basic core of the craft of film making. The six week module is followed by a two week intensive production laboratory where students shoot and edit the film shorts they have created during the six week module.


Core Classes:
Screenwriting
Directing:
Cinematography and Lightening
Producing
Sound Design and Editing

Screenwriting:
Students will bring in their personal stories or ideas to create a film short that can be produced in the two week laboratory. Mentors will work both one on one and in lecture style class rooms to help students write a highly effective and original screenplays.

Directing: Director's Craft

The Director's Craft serves as the spine of the module introducing students to the language and practice of intuitive 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 their film project and is the venue for screening and critiquing their work throughout the course.

Hands-on Camera Work

Hands-On Digital Camera will help students master the digital medium and learn how to make the appropriate technical choices to support their artistic visions.
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Film clips to demonstrating different camera techniques and the emotional effects the camera may have on its audience will be discussed and how to use the correct tools to affect or change the Mood / Tone of the scene. How and why do select certain shots. create certain looks?


Cinematography and Lighting
Students will be instructed in the aesthetics and techniques of the cinematographer’s craft. In this class students will begin a relearning of their five senses and how to utilize them as an instrument of communication, and as a way to discover how to communicate their personal inner world. Students will enter the world of images, light, colour, and learn to communicate and explore the meaning behind each of these and its artistic relevance, as well as the emotional, philosophical, psychological and spiritual significance of images. Then they will learn the technical craft of translating their visions into the illusion of film by observing film clips demonstrating various camera movements: steadicam, handled, dolly, crane, etc. and address the question Why do we move the camera? What drives a cinematographer’s decision. Then students will learn what technical equipments movements can help to create mood, develop theme, create rhythm, pathos, and compliment the drama. and message utilizing lighting and camera angles, depth of field lens and camera choices.

Like the human eye, the camera needs light to see & function
properly…” Students will create with the help of the mentor a lighting script for their film short and learn how powerful lightening can be in developing characters and story.
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Editing
This part of the program covers the aesthetic and technical aspects of editing. Understanding storytelling techniques and the basics of dramaturgy is necessary in furthering the creative vision of the director. Technical skills will be taught using the language of editing and the organization of film and sound material. Films will be shot and edited digitally with Final Cut Pro on Apple computers. While students learn how to use the non-linear editing software, the emphasis is on the craft of editing which challenges students to create cogent sequences that best serve the story.

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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.

Producing: Budgeting and Marketing
Students will learn how to organize production schedules in order to maximize the creative time spent on their films, while minimizing the size of the production budget. They will learn the pre production process, including casting, finding locations, and all other production elements that apply to the successful completion of their films. They will also examine the emerging markets and distribution possibilities of their projects.

Two Week Production Laboratory:

Each semester has a specific theme to allow students to better explore and experiment within a limited structure. We find having a specific focus to each semester aids students in their creative process. The final semester each student is given complete freedom to create what ever film short they want. The only limitations are budget.

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