Make a movie course:

Summer 2010 courses booking is now open - early booking is advisable to avoid disappointment. Please check this websites for further updates.

Ever wanted to make your own film? Next summer the award-winning Digital Film School, as featured on RTE 2, 2fm, 98fm, Spin fm and TG4, is running "make-a-movie" courses for Teenagers and Adults at the locations listed below. This intensive five-day, hands-on, course covers all the elements of filmmaking. Students will write, direct and edit their own short film. On completion of the course, all students will take home a DVD of the finished film!

Numbers on the course are limited to 12 students to ensure participation in all aspects of the process under supervision. An enjoyable and productive learning atmosphere will help build team skills and allow participants to discover their own talents.

Aim
The aim of our course is to demystify the craft of film production and challenge you to master the art of visual storytelling.

Overview
The Digital Film School course is a one-week, intensive course offering a comprehensive introduction to filmmaking. Our five-day, introductory course is designed for students with little or no experience in filmmaking. It is a hands-on, practical course that fully immerses students in the crafts of camera, lighting, sound, directing, screenwriting, editing, producing and storyboarding.

Objectives
To equip all participants with technical filmmaking skills, which they can apply to future projects. (Camera, light, sound – capture shots that will cut together in the edit)

To equip all participants with intellectual filmmaking skills, which they can apply to future projects. (Story telling, screenwriting, directing, editing – how best to capture each shot to tell the story and the impact of where the shot is put within the film)

To provide all participants with a working knowledge of how a crew operates. To know the responsibilities of each role on set to ensure smooth and efficient filmmaking teamwork and congruent creative vision.

To understand the filmmaking process as separate to watching a film.

To impart production skills so students can bring a film in on budget, working with time constraints, actors availability and location accessibility.

Structure
We teach the art and craft of filmmaking through a balance of classroom instruction, hands-on film workshops, and immediate directing experience. Students are behind the camera from the first day of class. Students will learn about and explore the numerous visual, dramatic, and technical challenges that directors face.

Subjects covered include:

Camera
Controlling the look of the film and operating the camera. Get the most out of your camera (exposure, white balance, shutter speed, focal distances, camera angles as a narrative tool, handheld, tripod, effective clapperloading)

Lighting
The role of light in the filmmaking process. Using light to paint the scene, creating mood through light. (gels, diffusion, intensity of light, colour temperatures, high contrast & low contrast lighting, 3 point lighting set up, creating depth within the 2D photograph)

Sound
Bringing moving pictures to life through sound. (Capturing clear dialogue, the importance of atmos & wild tracks. Sound problems: Peaking, distortion, off-mic. Types of mic: omni-directional, cardiod, shotgun. Mono, stereo, line mic. Sound editing: music and track laying, mixing, spot effects)

Directing
The role of the Director on and off the set. Working with actors, interacting with other crew members, congruent vision of final film.

Screenwriting
Overview of narrative structure in film and visual story telling techniques including, plot, character, necessity clause.

Producing
The role of the Producer from pre to post production. Learn how to efficiently timetable and structure the shotlist into a working shooting order.

Storyboarding
hands on work in visually translating the script to screen. The storyboard allows us to make sure we are all singing off the same hymn sheet, by providing a frame by frame visual outline.

Editing
Two days of the course are entirely devoted to picture and sound editing. Especially important in documentary making. Students really learn from their mistakes during this process.

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