Filmmaking get away?

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wildgrace

Member
I looking to start learning about filmmaking.

However I would like a week or two "immersion" course I could take.

Anybody have any suggestions? Someplace where I get my hands dirty and actually shoot film and edit it.

I'm willing to do this on my vacation, so travel is an option.

Any thoughts much appreciated.
 
wildgrace said:
I looking to start learning about filmmaking.

However I would like a week or two "immersion" course I could take.

Anybody have any suggestions? Someplace where I get my hands dirty and actually shoot film and edit it.

I'm willing to do this on my vacation, so travel is an option.

Any thoughts much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Write a short script (5 pages)

Rent a DVX100

Shoot

Edit it

Priceless!
 
John_Hudson said:
Write a short script (5 pages)

Rent a DVX100

Shoot

Edit it

Priceless!
Click to expand...

Best . Idea. Ever!

You'll learn more by going out and shooting with actors for a day than you could from any course, book, or DVD.

I've been doing this for 10 years, and I still learn something new on each shoot.

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
If you have the money, I would add a pro DP for a day. You will learn more in one day of private instruction than you will in a year of fumbling around. I guess a school is okay, but likely dumbed down for the morons. One on one, you get to skip stuff you already know, or ask any questions you need to. SO write a script of you feel comfortable and go that route.

Maybe check with Walter about his lighting course, maybe he will let you be the camera guy, or can bring in a tutor for you while he teaches a lighting class, and then you shoot it. That avoids the issues of finding actors, writing script, etc. NYC is nice in the spring. Or offer to pay some Independent film to let you be the trainee for a week.
 
clarification

clarification

I should have made this more clear. I know nothing about cameras and filming. So I'd like a little "hand holding" before I start doing anything on my own.

Basically I want to learn how to use the camera, to set up a shot, and edit the film with appropriate software.

I'm working on writing a short, that I hope to film someday. But first I need to know how to work a camera. Something tells me it's a little more difficult than point and shoot :)

I thought I heard IFC had some week long film classes. And another I heard about was AMC movie camp (or something like that).

I'm in the Hamilton, ON, Canada area.
 
Here is what I did when I first started.

The first thing I did was start reading this forum because there are people of all levels here asking and answering questions. So you're on the right path.
The second thing I did was buy a couple of books.
Digital Filmmaking 101 was the first one I read then Rebel without a crew.
Rebel without a crew was good for me because it really showed me one persons journey in filmmaking and all the things he had to do to get to where he is today.
The third thing I did was buy a camera
The fourth thing I did was watch barry's dvd and read the book.

-Note you will find yourself going back to the books that you read in the beginning as you start to understand more.
Now to the actual shooting part. I took my camera out and shot a 5 minute short with no dialogue so I can get a feel for putting images together.
- Note as you go along you will naturally develop question like : What is white balance or What is Depth of Field. It is at this point that you would want to look them up and find the answer. I would keep doing thing until you know your camera pretty good. Meaning you know what most or all of the buttons and knobs do.

Now editing is really another cup O' tea. Mainly because you first have to learn the program itself and I really don't fully know my program but I can pretty much get it to do what I want. Then you have to understand how to edit the images together whether it be cuts, dissolves, B-roll footage , effects or just plain out where should this shot go. There really is a lot to making a movie and I guess that's why there are so many names in the credits.
Best of Luck from one learner to another
 
Here's a list of good workshops in a variety of areas. You can pick one that's close to you.

http://www.apogeephoto.com/photography_workshops.shtml

One that has a stellar reputation and gives you both the "hand holding" and push to improve you want are the Maine Photographic workshops http://www.theworkshops.com/ which Dakotapod also referenced in an earlier post.

Lots of pros go there but all are welcome. A beautiful place to learn with quality pros covering all levels of experience. These are teachers who actually know what they are talking about. Not teachers who teach because they can not "do".

If there was only one workshop to recommend, it would be this one. However...we all have different budget specifics which come into play.

Best of luck.
 
I've never taken a formal course in movie making. I buy a ton of DVD's with commentary and filmmaking books. Robert Rodriguez's movies allways have teriffic commentary (El Mariachi/ Desperado and the Sin City Recut edition.) If you can find it in the bookstores, pickup Rebel Without A Crew by Robert Rodriguez. It's a real help.
 
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