AFCOOP presents the 2010 First Exposure Filmmaking Workshop Series, a series of fall filmmaking workshops, intensives, and courses.
The workshops are designed to introduce the basics of filmmaking for beginners as well as expand the development of filmmaking skills and knowledge for the more experienced. Participants are encouraged to take as many classes as they want from AFCOOP’s diversified workshop catalogue.
The First Exposure Filmmaking Workshop Series features 19 evening workshops and 2 weekend intensives. We are also offering a fresh new series of 10 specially priced film screenings and seminars called The Film History Crash Course: Ideas in Film and the return of the popular course called The Dramatic Film Lab, a 12 week extensive experience in film production.
New this Fall, AFCOOP is offering the Guerrilla Film Lab, a six week immersion into handcrafted, DIY filmmaking, beginning October 20th.
All workshop staff is comprised of professional and practicing filmmakers. All hands-on workshops also include up to four hours of on-site practice time.
To download a pdf of the entire Workshop Schedule please CLICK HERE
WORKSHOP PRICING: All taxes and materials are included in prices
Evening, Four-hour workshops: $45.00 AFCOOP Members / $55.00 Non-Members (unless otherwise indicated)
Film History Crash Course: Individual workshops: $15.00 AFCOOP Members / $20.00 Non-Members -or- 10 workshop series package: $120.00 AFCOOP Members / $150.00 Non-Members
The Dramatic Film Lab: $900.00 Members, $925.00 Non-Members
Guerrilla Film Lab: $315.00 Members, $340.00 Non-Members
To sign-up please call the AFCOOP offices at 420-4572 or drop by for a visit. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Debit, Cash, and Cheque. All workshops in this series will be held at the CBC Radio Building, 5600 Sackville Street in Halifax (unless otherwise stated).
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: (Subject to Change)
•Introduction to Successful Screenwriting
Monday, September 27, 6pm – 10pm
This workshop covers the art and craft of independent short screenwriting for participants with minimal or no previous experience in creative writing for film. Topics covered include screenplay format, plot structure and character development.
A prerequisite for Creating Characters workshop and highly recommended for The Dramatic Film Lab.
Instructor: Greg Jackson
•Everything You Need To Know to Start Shooting Film (EYNTK)
Tuesday, September 28th, 6pm – 10pm
Introduces the basics of motion picture science and creative approaches to image crafting. Topics covered include history and development of film technology, luminance theory, POV, focal length, lens choices, aperture, film stock options and more.
A prerequisite for other AFCOOP camera and lighting workshops.
Instructor: TBA
•Super-8 Tips and Tricks
Wednesday, September 29th, 6pm – 10pm
Super-8 filmmaking has undergone a revival in moving images. This workshop introduces the flexibility of Super-8 filming plus excellent information to make your Super-8 filming experience produce a superior image. Workshop participants will have hands-on practice on AFCOOP’s new professional Super-8 cameras.
Instructor: Chris Spencer-Lowe
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: Freud
Monday, October 4th, 6pm-8:30pm
Secrets Of A Soul, GW Pabst, Germany, 1926. A doctrinaire examination of Freud’s ideas while they were still fresh.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Lighting Principles and Aesthetics: Shadows and Shades
Tuesday, October 5th, 6pm-10pm
Learn the fundamentals of lighting aesthetics and science. You will also assemble and examine a typical lighting set-up for film. Prerequisite: EYNTK
Instructor: TBA
•Creating Characters
Wednesday, October 6th, 6pm-10pm
An extension of the Introduction to Screenwriting workshop that focuses on writing characters and dialogue.
prerequisite: Introduction to Successful Screenwriting
Instructor: Greg Jackson
•DIY 16mm Cameras: The Bolex and Canon Scoopic
Tuesday, October 12th, 6pm – 10pm
Participants will learn the Independent Filmmakers trusted tools- how to set-up, load and operate AFCOOP’s non synch sound cameras: The Bolex and Canon Scoopic.
Prerequisite: EYNTK
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: Animation-Expressionism
Monday, October 18th, 6pm-8:30pm
The Adventures Of Prince Achmed, Lotte Renieger, Germany, 1926. The very first animated feature was by a woman.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Super 16mm cameras: The Arriflex SR2
Tuesday, October 19th, 6pm-9pm
Learn to operate AFCOOP’s Arri SR2 Super 16mm camera. As an extra bonus this workshop covers the basics of the popular Super 16 format.
Prerequisite: EYNTK
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: The City
Monday, October 25th, 6pm-8:30pm
Berlin: Symphony Of A Great City, Walter Ruttman, Germany, 1927. Experimental filmmaker Ruttman sees the city as a single organism.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Introduction to 35mm Filmmaking
Tuesday, October 26th, 6:00pm-10:00pm
A comprehensive overview into the exciting world of 35mm motion picture cinematography with the Arriflex 35III and 35BL III cameras. Hands-on instruction and a review of the 35mm format will be included in this workshop.
Prerequisite: EYNTK
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: Surrealism
Monday, November 1st, 6pm-8:30PM
The Age Of Gold/L’Age D’Or, Luis Bunuel, France, 1930. Bunuel’s second film fleshes out the random and unconscious universe. Plus, Dulac.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•High Definition Video Cameras: Intro to Digital Imaging for Filmmakers
Tuesday, November 2nd, 6pm-10pm
This workshop will familiarize participants with some of the hottest new tools of HD image gathering, specifically within the context of established filmmaking practices. Participants will learn to operate the second generation HD camera, the Panasonic HVX-200A and the P + S Technik Mini 35 Digital Image Converter. The combination of these two tools allows the use of professional 35mm film lenses with HD imaging, bridging the worlds of film and HD video. HD file formats and data management solutions will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: EYNTK and the Arri SR2 Super 16mm camera and/or Introduction to 35mm Filmmaking
Instructor: TBA
•Fundamentals of Directing
Wednesday, November 3rd, 6pm-10pm
This workshop will explore the basic cornerstones of film directing and will cover some of the basics of preparing yourself to direct your film. Open to all but aimed at the emerging filmmaker, the workshop will focus on script breakdown and analysis, casting and rehearsal techniques, how to build a shot list and other tools of directing for the cinema.
Instructor: Eva Madden
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: Marx and Soviet Cinema
Monday, November 8th, 6pm-8:30pm
Earth, Dozvenko, Russia, 1929. The least doctrinaire of the early Soviet Cineastes, Dozvenko still adheres to communist orthodoxy through naturalism.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Audio Principles 1: The Elements of Sound
Tuesday, November 9th, 6pm-10pm
An introduction to the terms, principles and science of sound and electronic sound equipment. A must for anyone interested in recording sound for film or sound recording in general.
Instructor: TBA
•Finding the Money: Grant Writing
Wednesday, November 10th, 6pm-10pm
Find out about the guidelines and requirements to obtain funding for your independent project and where to find film funding. Topics covered include sources of funding, timelines and the art of preparing and presenting a successful grant application.
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: The Introduction of Sound
Monday, November 15th, 6pm-8:30pm
M, Fritz Lang, Germany, 1931. Peter Lorre as the child murderer- abstract sound, and the criminal underground denouncing its own.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Digital Sound Recording
Tuesday, November 16th, 6pm – 10pm
Participants will have the opportunity to become familiar with sophisticated digital sound recording equipment and techniques. Using the Sound Devices 744T digital recorder, this workshop will focus on the basics of direct- to-hard-disc recording; portable mixing techniques and recording sound without tape.
Prerequisite: Audio Principles 1, or equivalent knowledge.
Instructor: TBA
•Fundamentals of Directing II
Wednesday, November 17th, 6pm-10pm
Picking up where PART I left off, live script reading and interpretation will be used to get participants to further explore directing.
Instructor: Eva Madden
•Avid Editing Intensive Cost: $210 member / $240 non-member
Saturday/Sunday, November 20th/21st,10am – 5pm
Sunday, November 28th 12pm – 4pm
This comprehensive clinic will introduce participants to the universally used AVID MEDIA COMPOSER editing software and hardware. You will also learn how to apply your knowledge of AVID editing to film and effectively edit for a film finish while minimizing the hassles and pitfalls of the process. Twelve hours of practice time and individual instructor appointment is included! Only four participants accepted!
Prerequisite: Knowledge of Macintosh Computers, Highly recommended co-requisite: Post-Production for film
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: George Bernard Shaw
Monday, November 22nd, 6pm-8:30pm
Pygmalian, Anthony Asquith, Britain, 1938. Language, class, argument- all Shaw’s ideas masterfully put on film by a British Prime Minister’s son.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Post-Production for Film
Tuesday, November 23rd, 6pm-10pm
There are many post-production decisions to consider when finishing your film final cut. This workshop walks you through the many steps of post-production. Topics covered include discussions on post-production choices, how to avoid technical blunders plus scheduling. The workshop will provide an overview of 16mm and 35mm film laboratory processing and the use of video to facilitate a film final post.
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: Nationalism
Monday, November 29th, 6pm-8:30pm
The Rules Of the Game, Jean Renoir, 1939. The soul of a nation exposed by one its greatest artists; love, heroism and an aristocracy’s end.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Studio Sound Recording: Negotiating the Dials
Tuesday, November 30th, 6pm – 10pm
An intro to AFCOOP’s post sound suite and general universal studio practices and principles.
This workshop is a prerequisite for the Digital Sound Editing with Pro Tools workshops.
Instructor: TBA
•Digital Sound Editing with Protools Cost: $210 member / $240 non-member
Saturday/Sunday, December 4th/5th, 10am – 5pm,
Sunday, December 12th 12pm – 4pm
Learn how to digitize sound effects, foley, dialogue, backgrounds and music into AFCOOP’s Pro Tools environment and edit, manipulate and yes, even mix them together. Twelve hours of practice time is included! Only four participants accepted!
Instructor: TBA
Prerequisites: Negotiating the Dials, Audio Principles I or equivalent studio experience and FAMILIARITY WITH MAC COMPUTERS. Recommended: Digital Sound Recording, Post Production for Film, Audio Principles II: Sound Design
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: World War Two
Monday, December 6th, 6pm-8:30pm
In Which We Serve, Noel Coward/David Lean, UK, 1942. The epic encapsulated in a patriotic ode to Britain during its greatest trial.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Audio Principles II: Sound Design
Tuesday, December 7th, 6pm-10pm
Participants will be familiarized with the terms, principles and art of sound design. This workshop will focus on assessing film clips for aesthetic merit and techniques. Group discussions will provide the foundation for exploring and understanding this art form.
Prerequisite: Audio Principles I., Recommended for Digital Sound Editing with ProTools
Instructor: TBA
•Distribution for the Independent Filmmaker: Getting it Out There
Wednesday, December 8th, 6-10PM
So you’ve finished your film and now you need people to actually see it. This workshop will cover how you can do that. Topics discussed will be independent film distribution networks, getting that all important broadcast deal, getting your film to festivals and more. A must-take seminar for the independent filmmaker.
Instructor: TBA
•The Film History Crash Course-Ideas In Film: Film and Myth
Monday, December 13th, 6pm-8:30pm
Orphee, France, Jean Cocteau, 1949. Classic antiquity re-imaged as the avant-garde by multi-genre artist Cocteau.
Instructor: Ron Foley MacDonald
•Film to Video made EZ
Tuesday, December 14th, 6pm-10pm
Participants will learn to transfer 16mm and Super-8 to video using AFCOOP’s Telecine system.
Topics covered include general video and audio studio patching, duplicating and transferring to/from Beta SP, VHS, MiniDV, AVID and DVD, plus information on the use of the Panasonic DVX-100b 24 frame per second video camera to improve transfers and alter the image.
EYNTK highly recommended
Instructor: TBA
WORKSHOP PRICING: All taxes and materials are included in prices
Evening, Four-hour workshops: $45.00 AFCOOP Members / $55.00 Non-Members (unless otherwise indicated)
Film History Crash Course: Individual workshops: $15.00 AFCOOP Members / $20.00 Non-Members -or- 10 workshop series package: $120.00 AFCOOP Members / $150.00 Non-Members
The Dramatic Film Lab: $900.00 Members, $925.00 Non-Members
Guerrilla Film Lab: $315.00 Members, $340.00 Non-Members
To sign-up please call the AFCOOP offices at 420-4572 or drop by for a visit. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Debit, Cash, and Cheque. All workshops in this series will be held at the CBC Radio Building, 5600 Sackville Street in Halifax (unless otherwise stated).
