Year-Long course taught by industry professionals

Our year long hands-on course, provides high school students of varying ages, the education necessary to shoot on motion picture film. Our hands-on approach, puts the mechanics of filmmaking in the hands of our students. This very tactile approach, keeps them entertained and excited, as they learn. Our hands-on History program, teaches students the history of filmmaking, through the use of fun puzzles and games, which keeps the students thinking and remembering for the future. Students will learn not only through instruction, but through experimentation based on what they've learned. Where the classroom is focused on small-group learning, students will also get the opportunity to work independently of those groups on their final "thesis" projects if they so choose. By the end of this course, students will have an in-depth knowledge filmmaking on motion picture film. They'll also be able to take their final "thesis" film and use that as a staring position for their future education.

Weekly Course Syllabus

  • Introduction to how film works and the history of the format

  • The art of cinematography part I (Lighting/Film Stock)

  • The art of cinematography part 2 (Lensing/Composition)

  • First class shoot (90 second commercial shot on reversal BOLEX)

  • Introduction to film cutting and projection

  • The history of color film and prepping for a color shoot

  • Second class shoot (90 second commercial shoot on Color Negative Arri/Aaton)

  • The photochemical process

  • Sound on film and sound recording

  • Screenplay writing for motion picture film

  • Planning your shoot and the job's on a film set

  • Third class shoot (Group shoot with rotating positions Arri/Aaton)

  • Group editing of Third shoot

  • Group viewing of short films projected and discussed

  • Holiday Break

  • Hands-on History seminar 1920's (thesis film assignments handed out)

  • Hands-on History seminar 1940's (thesis film discussions)

  • Top cinematographer guest apperance and discussion

  • Documentary filmmaking on motion picture film

  • Advanced lighting and gaffing techniques

  • Fourth class shoot (3 minutes on 35mm Arri/Aaton

  • Open lab for students to break-down film and edit

  • The Negative cut and conforming to make a print

  • Presenting 35mm short and discussing students thesis projects

  • Equipment checkout and return class (students will take equipment home to shoot thesis)

  • Hands-on History seminar 1960's

  • Hands-on History seminar 1980's

  • Modern filmmaking practices; the great film vs digital debate

  • Open Lab for equipent return, questions and editing

  • Open Lab for questions and editing

  • Fifth class shoot (Class inverviews shot by students Arri/Aaton)

  • Reviewing Thesis films as a class

  • Final viewing of all class shoots during the year and final grading