Directing
It doesn't matter which type of film you are creating, you need to know how to lead and manage a team effectively if you want to succeed. Our classes are led by award-winning directors who can guide students on how to do just that, as well as mentoring them on the finer aspects of dramatic and documentary filmmaking.
Lecture topics include:
- How to work with actors and subjects
- How to lead a crew
- The director's vision
- How to go about storyboarding
- Screen direction
- Shot selection
- Interviewing techniques for documentaries
- Casting, Rehearsing, and Blocking
Cinematography
Cinematography is the fine art of combining lighting techniques and camera operation, and is a vital component of any film production. Students enrolled in the program will be taught by well established professionals within the industry, who will guide them through the many concepts involved. Having the opportunity to operate a range of cameras, and being guided on how to control lighting, students will gain a number of valuable insights, and appreciate just what is needed to succeed as a DOP.
Lecture topics include:
- Operating Cameras
- How to manipulate mood with light
- Single and multiple lighting
- Exposure
- Framing and composition
- Painting with light
- Dollies, Steadicams and other rigs
Screenwriting
Whether a TV commercial, or an intense documentary, the story is a film's heart. Everyone working on the set is a storyteller, and they use the script as guide on how they can best compliment the story overall. Under the guidance of industry-leading writers, students will learn about screenwriting, hone their skills, and then completed scripts.
Lecture topics include:
- How to format a script
- How to develop characters
- How to structure a story
- Beat sheets
- Creating realistic dialogue
- Alternative storytelling
Editing and Post Production
Editing and post production is where all the different pieces of the jigsaw are pulled into a picture. The story, video and sound finally become the full film. Francis Ford Coppola once said, "The essence of cinema is editing." Using industry-standard software, students will learn the theories and techniques involved in editing, before progressing on to more complex subjects such as greenscreen and advanced digital effects.
Lecture topics include:
- Editing theory and techniques
- How to cut and assemble footage
- How to correct colour
- Greenscreen
- After Effects animation