Question: Maine Media Workshops + College
- Thread starter Dan_ETP
- Start date
Wow, I forget what it was called back then, but I checked the website and it is indeed Rockport Maine. I have no experience in recent years, but long ago it was awesome, took a week-long lighting course with a DP Rob Draper, and then an additional 2-day filter course with Ira Tiffen. Wandering around the campus you'd see the steadicam guys running around with Garret Brown at the helm. Definitely inspirational and a learning experience for me. Good Luck!
I have been looking at attending their 12 week cinematography course this August. I have read lots of good feedback in regards to their photography programs, but I have not read much on their film courses. I have not found anything negative so far. I know that DP Zach Zamboni (No Reservations, Parts Unknown) is teaching a course their this fall.
nutmegger
Well-known member
Many years ago when it was called Maine Photographic Workshop I took a two week still photography workshop at MPW. Expensive, but worth it. Back then, Rockport was best known for Andre the Seal.
Hi everyone! My name is Tawny and I run the film program at Maine Media Workshops. A friend showed me this thread at NAB, where I've been the last week working with sponsors to ensure we've got the best gear for students to work with this summer!
DP Zach Zamboni certainly is teaching this summer, the Camera in Action workshop! As is Homeland AC - Dom Mainl, Spotlight Gaffer - Mo Flam, Daredevil DIT - Jeffrey Hagerman, and loads more talented people...
If I can answer any questions for you here for all to see, please do let me know, or feel free to email me at tbradley@mainemedia.edu
Thanks for your interest in MMW!
DP Zach Zamboni certainly is teaching this summer, the Camera in Action workshop! As is Homeland AC - Dom Mainl, Spotlight Gaffer - Mo Flam, Daredevil DIT - Jeffrey Hagerman, and loads more talented people...
If I can answer any questions for you here for all to see, please do let me know, or feel free to email me at tbradley@mainemedia.edu
Thanks for your interest in MMW!
CharlesPapert
Director of Photography
I began my Steadicam career at the Maine workshops back in '85, and returned to teach Steadicam in the mid 90's. I've known many people who have gone through the various programs there and gotten a lot out of them.
Thanks for your insight, Charles. Great to hear from you.
And thank you Tawny, that's pretty neat that this reached you. I suppose my question would be how do the Digital Cinematography and Advanced Digital Cinematography workshops differ? Also, how much lighting is covered in each, and how would some of that material differ from the Lighting course?
Thank you!
And thank you Tawny, that's pretty neat that this reached you. I suppose my question would be how do the Digital Cinematography and Advanced Digital Cinematography workshops differ? Also, how much lighting is covered in each, and how would some of that material differ from the Lighting course?
Thank you!
Digital Cinematography is an entry level workshop that covers fundamental techniques and aesthetics using digital motion picture cameras - primarily DSLRs, Canon C-series and BM for this workshop. Basics include how to set up cameras, use on-board menus, sensor sizes, depth-of-field, CCD vs CMOS sensors. The week does cover basic requirements of lighting for digi cameras, using light meters to achieve correct exposure, working with the camera's dynamic range, balancing and correcting mixed lighting sources, calibrating video monitors. We also cover an intro to digital workflow. The above is achieved through minimal lecture, primarily hands-on production in groups. Students entering this workshop should have a basic understanding of exposure, f-stops, t-stops, focus, focal length, shutter, depth of field, dynamic range, lens selection, camera + support set up, set safety and etiquette.
Advanced Digital Cinematography is one of our highest level workshops and is reserved for the final weeks of the 12-week Cinematography Intensive. Through minimal lecture students discuss pre-visualization, script breakdown, shot listing, visual breakdown, and perform camera tests with the week's equipment to cover menus, exposure, contrast ratio, latitude, metering - light meters, waveform, false color. Cameras used in this workshop vary dependent on availability from sponsors each year but last sessions we had a couple RED Epics, BM Ursas, an AJA Cion and a C500 - most everyone shoots in 4K. This is a largely independent workshop where each student goes from pre-vis through to final edit of a short 1-3 min piece under the mentorship of the instructor. Students in this workshop are typically shooting for their submission to the on campus Zeiss competition and of course, for their reels. Again, this is a master level workshop and one of few we have where each student is able to shoot and complete their own piece in the one week - largely because of the skill level of the students, guidance of the instructor and access to anything equipment you may need comparable to what you'd find on a studio production.
The lighting workshops we have are very different from the above! We have Location Lighting that's instructed by a union rigger/best boy and is an intense five days with multiple location set ups per day. A big focus is on safety - becoming comfortable with single phase cable and distribution, metering electricity as well as balancing amperage loads, and gaining experience working with generators. Of course creative lighting techniques with a variety of lighting sources are explored with each location set up. Creative Custom Lighting is taught by the same instructor. This class takes our Home Depot credit card and goes nuts spending the week building their own lights. This workshop is also sometimes referred to as DIY or indie lighting as you discover how to achieve studio quality lighting on a budget. Finally, Feature Film Lighting is one of our most popular master level workshops. This is instructed by Mo Flam (gaffer for Spotlight, Black Swan, I am Legend, etc). Mo focuses on location scouting and prep, interpreting the script, dramatic lighting, creating a mood, time and place through lighting, and understanding the Zone system. Aside from CCL, students in these workshops have access to our entire inventory of Arri, Mole-Richardson, MacTech, Litepanels, K5600, and High Output sponsored gear.
I hope the above is helpful and answers your questions! If not, keep them coming! And please do check out this page of the website: http://mainemedia.edu/workshops/filmmaking/cinematography-intensive. All of these workshops are listed there and if you click into each there are behind the scenes videos and images from last season that give you more insight into how the workshops are taught. You'll also find some student testimonials and reels from the past couple of seasons there.