Certificate Program in Filmmaking

• Basics of professional screenplay formatting and 3-act structure.
• Brainstorm ideas for stories and scripts.
• Create story conflict, as well as memorable characters, relationships, and dialogue.
• Learn successful storytelling by examining character, structure and genre.
• Develop and write and workshop one short script.

• Learn the roles in the camera department.
• Learn basics of lighting, camera placement, coverage and continuity in hands-on sessions.

• Fundamentals of studio and location sound recording.
• Teaching the vital importance sound plays in creating an engaging and convincing scene.

• The role of the director / what makes a good director.
• Story development and script breakdown / shaping a story.
• Basic directing skills / shooting for editing / visual story-telling.
• Working with actors and writers.

• Role of the producer, from studio to independent filmmaking to television.
• Creating a production book, including script breakdowns, budgets and schedules.
• Producing the short film.

• In Screenwriting 101, class members will each write one short script (about 3-5 pages) with no dialogue. • Each student will shoot his/her script as a project during the first term.

• Learn basic principles and rules of both technical and creative film editing.
• Learn Final Cut Pro for basic editing.
• Learn how to edit for emotion, pace, timing, smoothness and continuity.
• Edit a short film with no dialogue, music and effects.

• Learn story structure in-depth, including the relation to genre.
• Learn to write inciting incidents, progressive complications, crisis, climax and resolution.
• Study principles from Robert McKee’s Story.
• Develop, write and workshop one short script.

• Learn to tell a story visually using camera movement, shot and lens selection and lighting.
• Learn advanced lighting packages to ensure quality and continuity of light.

• Digital nonlinear audio layout utilizing Pro Tools.
• Basics of ADR, foley and mixing.
• Importing, layering, and timeline editing.

• Managing cast and crew, and interacting with other departments.
• Directing actors and other directing skills / casting, rehearsals, and working one-on-one with actors.
• Using dialogue and sound to tell an audio-visual story.
• Overall theme and story resonance.

• Breakdown, produce a budget, and prepare a production schedule for a feature film.
• Casting, locations, staying on schedule and budget.
• Film financing, contracts, copyrights and other legal issues.
• Looking for funds to make films / the business of international film production.

• In Screenwriting 201, class members will each write one short script (about 5-7 pages).  • One script will be selected for production by the class as a team during the second term.

• Edit a short film with synchronized audio and video using Final Cut Pro.
• Learn basic Photoshop skills.
• Learn basic motion and color correction skills.
• Export projects to DVD using DVD Studio Pro, , and compression for internet streaming.