Looking for videography/filmmaking classes in my area

[plnelson]

I'm an experienced still photographer with years of doing studio model photography and local newspaper photography under my belt and I want to up my game with video. I had an old HV20 which died recently and I've also shot video with my D800, and I'll be buying a new higher-end camcorder sometime this year.
In the meantime I'm looking for classes, courses and workshops in video. But I have a good day job so these would have to be evenings and weekends. I'm especially interested in composition and framing, use of sliders, dollies and similar gear, sound recording, postproduction, and maybe a good workshop or course in documentary filmmaking.
In still photography I've taken many classes and workshops taught by pro's and there's a lot you don't get from a book or video tutorial:
1 A professional to review your work and offer suggestions for improvement,
2. Interactions with others students doing the same assignments to see how different people approach the same problem, and to get their critques and suggestions
3. The opportunity to get hands-on experience with lots of professional gear.


I live in eastern Massachusetts and there's a ton of schools around here including several with degree-granting filmmaking programs. But they all seem to be for day-students. I was surprised that the New England School of Photography (NESOP), where I've taken excellent evening programs in studio lighting, fashion, figure, and other topics doesn't seem to offer much.
I feel like living near a large metropolitan, cosmopolitan area like this, there must be something around here but I'm not looking in the right place. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

 

[maranfilms]

Hi there, How far from the sagamore bridge are you? I live right in Bourne. Anyways if your interested in working some shoots feel free to send me a message. Hands on, is always a great approach to learning this art. I would say intern, instead of paying to learn, if you have the opportunity (unless you want a degree) volunteer to work some shoots, there's always room for someone that's motivated, and eager to learn on a set. I don't typically like to ask people to volunteer, but it would be a way to gain experience for free. I taught the filmmaking program at the Burt wood school for three yrs, so im used to educating people as we work.

 

[plnelson]

I'm about 2 hours from the Sagamore bridge in the winter, and about 4 hours during the summer on weekends

Thanks for your offer! I may take you up on that.

Interning has the same problem as daytime courses - I have a good fulltime day job. I'm not looking for a career change; I love what I do; I'm a consulting design engineer and there's lots of work in high-tech these days and the money is excellent, so it helps me pay for gear (and classes and workshops). I'm just trying to find classes around here.
I know I can travel to faraway workshops but if I took a week off from working, the cost of my lost working time would be far more than the cost of the workshop + travel expenses combined! So I'm looking for evenings and weekends.

I recently started reading "The Filmaker's Handbook" by Ascher and Pincus (2012 edition).

Thanks again.

 

[plnelson]

No one else has any suggestions?

What I'd ideally like to find would be a semester- or year- long course on documentary filmmaking. That would be enough time to develop a project, either as a class or individually, while getting taught necessary skills and trying them out, with the teacher and classmates there to offer suggestions, feedback and critique as I progress.