1949 Nowadays, it's truer than ever. Anyone can make a movie! But as is the case in so many arts, although rules are meant to be broken, you can't break 'em unless you know 'em!
This is a general film production course for the person who has never gone through the top to bottom process of making a narrative film/video. We'll be studying, in fairly broad terms, what makes movies and scenes tick, how to develop a screen-effective story, how to go about putting together a shoot and wrapping it up with good editing. By the end of the course students will have created at least one narrative project of five minutes length that is critiqued by the class.
- Lesson 1: Basic Film Theory
http://www.reddit.com/r/IntroToFilmmaking/comments/xw243/lesson11intro/
- Lesson 2: Story
http://www.reddit.com/r/IntroToFilmmaking/comments/yn6rh/lesson21basicsofstorytelling/
- Lesson 3: Camera
http://www.reddit.com/r/IntroToFilmmaking/comments/zjfzz/lesson31camera_basics/
- Lesson 4: Production
http://www.reddit.com/r/IntroToFilmmaking/comments/106gre/lesson41preproduction/
- Lesson 5: Basic Lighting
http://www.reddit.com/r/IntroToFilmmaking/comments/10ihug/lesson5basicvideolighting/
- Lesson 6: Editing and Post-Production
http://www.reddit.com/r/IntroToFilmmaking/comments/10x88k/lesson6editingandpostproduction/
No previous experience required.
Some films and clips contain adult themes and language.
THIS CLASS IS CURRENTLY ENDED, HOWEVER ALL MATERIALS WILL REMAIN ONLINE FOR YOU TO PERUSE AT YOUR OWN PACE.
Mod BattleRoyale hopes to reactivate the class for live activity this SUMMER 2013. To be updated when this happens, register for the course to receive a PM alert when the time comes.
FILM ON!
-BR86
Class begins August 8th. The first few lectures will be blog post lectures on the subreddit r/IntroToFilmmaking. Some classes will be live group discussion, through a Googlegroups chat.
YOU WILL NEED A CAMERA. Any will do. It is preferable that it is one with a manual focus, but if you only have an iPhone camera, that's fine too (Wong Kar Wei made a movie on the iPhone!). The essential is to do the assignments, since practice makes perfect.
By the end of the course, if you stick with the homework, you will have completed TWO projects: a narrative still photo montage and a narrative video. It's a lot of work but if you want to make movies, welcome to the biz.
WEEK 1
Basic Film Theory
Quick overview of cinema history
Basic terminology
The Science of Sight
The art of Manipulation
Homework: Find a scene from a movie you like on youtube and analyze it. Post the link to the video so we can see it and write out a play-by-play. Watch Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" for discussion.
WEEK 2
Film Theory Cont.
Cover 400 Blows
Analysis of other students' chosen scenes
WEEK 3
SCRIPT
Basics of Storytelling
The Blueprint
Format
Common Problems
HW: Read a feature Script Write a 3 page scene around a specific assigned plot
WEEK 4
Script Cont.
Review HW in class
Editing each others work
WEEK 5
BASICS OF CAMERA
The Camera
Shooting
Sync Sound
Special Equipment
Rentals and purchases
HW: Put together a photo montage in an imgur album that tells a story. Consider your exposure, color, and composition, while looking for new angles and ways to present your content.
WEEK 6
Basics of Camera cont.
Review montages and critique
Storyboarding
Guest lecture from a pro regarding lighting and high end equipment
HW: Write a short 5 page screenplay to shoot over the next four weeks.
WEEK 7
SET
Preproduction
On Set
Directing 101
Dealing with Pressure
HW: Detail a plan in making this movie: what camera will you use, casting schedule, script breakdown, how to get it done. You have THREE WEEKS to have it shot and edited. Project should be completed by the conclusion so that people can comment.
WEEK 8
POST-PRODUCTION
Psychology of Editing
Links to iMovie, FCP, and Premiere tutorials
Sound Design
Music
Distribution
HW: Edit final projects
WEEK 9
Post Cont.
- Review Final Projects
WEEK 10
CONCLUSION
Film School, Do or Don't?
Moving Cities, Do or Don't?
Getting a job
Realities of the Industry
"Making it"
Critiques on final projects will continue freely after the last lecture.
This is a new course. Please excuse any bumps in the road that may happen from overcrowding.
Ownership of a camera, any camera, even an iPhone camera. You must gain access somehow to a video camera for the final project. The iPhone shoots video, and many digital cameras have movie mode. These are sufficient. For editing, iMovie is sufficient.
BFA Film Production from NYU, five years in the Hollywood industry as a director, writer, producer, editor, vfx assistant, producers assistant, costume designer, wardrobe assist, production assist, script supervisor, propmaster, art dept assist... seriously I've done everything.
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