Immerse yourself in this hands-on course covering all aspects of the art and craft of film and video production.

There are no available registration dates at this time.

Please contact our Registrar, Kerry Curren  [email protected] regarding lodging & meals prior to registering for this program.

The demand for individuals with the skills and knowledge required for film and video production continues to grow. This hands-on workshop is for new filmmakers, film students, graduates, and those who have yet to make their first film or work professionally in the field. During this four-week course, students gain a solid foundation in film theory and learn to work both individually and with a crew. By the course’s end, everyone will create a short narrative or documentary film.

This course will be a full immersion into every facet of filmmaking, all the way from the development of an idea, through editing and finishing. Through lectures, in-class exercises, and projects, students will learn story structure, shot design, preproduction, set etiquette, camera operation and movement, cinematography, lighting design, composition and scene coverage, working with actors, audio acquisition, and editing & post-production workflow.

Each student will gain first-hand experience working in a variety of roles such as writer, producer, director, assistant director, director of photography, camera operator, and editor. There are lectures, critiques, screenings, and discussions of technical, procedural, aesthetic, and ethical issues. Class time is comprised of demonstrations, exercises, and group projects. Students use evenings for writing and planning individual and group projects, and support one another for the final productions. The overall emphasis of the class is cinematic visual storytelling.

Past Student Work:

Created by John Shelley, 4-Week Film School.

Image Credits: Owen Weaver, David Martinez

Please note: An hour-long training session on Set Etiquette and Safety will be required of anyone registered for a workshop that involves production. Students only need to participate in this session once during their time on campus.

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Instructor: Tom Ryan

A New England-based editor and filmmaker, Tom has worked extensively in the worlds of commercial, corporate, and documentary film. He has freelanced in Production for over 9 years and is a co-founder of the Maine-based Production company, Tailwind Media. As an editor, his work in fiction and documentary film has been shown in numerous festivals. In addition to workshops, he currently teaches documentary film in the 30-Week Professional Certificate program at Maine Media College. Affiliated with MMW+C for over 6 years, Tom is passionate about teaching storytelling to students of all career paths and skill levels.

Instructor: Alex Burnett

Alex Burnett is a New England-based filmmaker and editor who has worked within the worlds of narrative fiction, documentary, experimental cinema, and virtual reality. Having worked as an editor for National Geographic, the NFL, Colgate University, Vitec Group, and Schiempflüg NYC, he has experience with a vast range of companies and artists. His passion lies in creatively tackling the many challenges that come with telling stories through film.