Jumpstart your Filmmaking

There are no available registration dates at this time.

NOTE: This class will be held in an online format using the Zoom Platform.
Class meets Monday-Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EDT 

During this two-week course students gain a solid foundation in film theory and the filmmaking process. While we will discuss the many roles and functions of a large film crew, the focus of the course will be creating work individually. An emphasis will be placed on the use of cinematic visual storytelling. By the course’s end, students will each create a short narrative or documentary film. This workshop will be a full immersion into every facet of filmmaking, from the development of an idea, through editing and finishing.

Through lectures, exercises, and projects, students will learn story structure, shot design, pre-production, camera operation and movement, lighting design, composition and scene coverage, audio acquisition, and post-production workflow. We will discuss the process of working with actors and talent.

Students become familiar with the roles of writer, producer, director, cinematographer, sound recordist, and editor. There will be lectures, demonstrations, exercises, critiques, screenings, and discussions of technical, procedural, aesthetic, and ethical issues.

In working individually on exercises and on their final films, students will both get a taste for the various facets and roles involved in the process, as well as develop the skills and creativity to make a compelling film as a one-person-crew.

Schedule: Monday-Friday – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EDT

Students are encouraged to have their own camera equipment.

We recommend the following items:

-4K or HD DSLR or Mirrorless Camera (i.e. Canon 5D, Canon EOS R, Panasonic GH5, Sony A7III, GoPro Hero 8)
-Fluid Head Tripod
-External Audio Recorder (Zoom H4N Pro or equivalent)

Image Credit:  Owen Weaver

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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.