Workshops
Go deep into the art of cinematography in this four-week intensive.
There are no available registration dates at this time.
Our 4-Week Cinematography Intensive is a fully immersive program that provides students with the knowledge, tools, and experience, essential to become a working professional in the film industry. Unlike any other film program you’ll find, this Intensive exposes you to fundamental film theory, top-tier industry equipment, and the tools and knowledge to prepare you to work as a professional, or get to the next level in your career.
Note: We also offer a 5-Week Cinematography Intensive starting with the Foundations of Film Production, making it the best choice for those who want a solid grounding in set and production dynamics before going deeper into specific areas. It’s the ideal option for students with little or no on-set experience.
In a sequence of workshops, you’ll spend each week focusing on a particular aspect of the art and craft of cinematography, and be guided by seasoned industry professionals with years of experience honing their craft at the highest levels of film production. You’ll make valuable professional connections, learn hands-on with industry gear, and accumulate content each week for your professional portfolio or demo reel.
Students will leave the program having gained meaningful and extensive experience in all aspects of cinematography, the camera, and visual storytelling.
Please note: Each of these workshops can also be taken individually if you are looking to take a specific class. Please contact Registration for information on room & board fees for intensives at [email protected].
Testimonial:
“The industry professionals that come in are world-class. You get intimate time with them to really ask questions, learn, and network with other creatives. All the while, you get hands-on time with some of the best equipment in the industry, which is unique for a small school in the middle of (beautiful) nowhere. I will always recommend Maine Media as a great organization!”- Rob Weidner, Alum, Camera Operator, “Black Panther”, “The Maze Runner”.
Header image copyright M.D. Welch.
The 4-Week Cinematography Intensive (Jun 26-Jul 21, 2023)
Week 1: The Art of Cinematography | Brendan Kuroki Uegama, CSC
This workshop covers the fundamental technical aspects and aesthetic considerations of the craft and process of cinematography. Students explore the camera as a tool, and the theory of cinematic storytelling. They are introduced to fundamental concepts through lectures and demonstrations. They explore the theory and use of exposure, lens selection, frame rate, shutter angle, depth-of-field and composition. Through hands-on exercises in-studio and on location, led by a career cinematographer, participants get their feet wet shooting with digital cinema cameras and DSLRs, as well as with various lenses, filtration, and lighting units.
Week 2: Creative Lighting for Film & TV | Steven Ramsey
This is our most advanced lighting workshop for cinematographers, gaffers, and freelance filmmakers who want to explore dramatic lighting techniques used in feature films and TV. Through lectures, screenings, and discussions led by a career Cinematographer or Chief Lighting Technician, this class covers the importance of light in visual storytelling, and the techniques and processes to execute complex lighting.
Week 3: The Steadicam Workshop | Paul Taylor
In this unique and intense advanced Steadicam workshop students will learn to interpret a script in visual terms based on the director’s vision, the DP’s requirements, and the editor’s needs. They will learn the “language of Steadicam” and how to properly employ it to produce riveting images that enhance the narrative.
Week 4: The Camera & Visual Storytelling | Steven Fierberg, ASC
In the final week of the intensive, the focus will be on the cinematic language and grammar of shot design, composition, camera placement, and movement, and how these techniques are employed to tell effective and emotional stories. Students will work with a distinguished cinematographer as their instructor. The subtle differences in visual styles and their effects on the viewer are addressed through exercises and screenings. The course will be heavily project-based and the entire latter half of the week will be dedicated to shooting original concepts. By week's end, participants will have created a short, portfolio-quality, cinematic piece, and worked with an editor to see their vision to completion. Projects are screened at the Friday Night Showcase of student work.
Mentor & Course Manager: David Martinez
David believes in the idea of Docendo Discimus. He enjoys teaching and has taught more than 30 different workshops at Maine Media on topics ranging from camera, lighting, color grading, and cinematography theory. He has been working as the Film Program Manager at the workshops since 2018 designing curriculums and syllabi for both in-person and online workshops. His role at the school has given him an opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of industry professionals across many areas of filmmaking and film production.
