Thinking about making a movie, for fun or
for a film festival?
This class will get you off to a good start!
- how to make a movie: the three stages of production, and
what needs to be done in each stage.
- the ten basic camera angles, how to set up, light and film them,
and how to choose the best ones to tell your story
- how to find and work with actors and crew
- location scouting
- script formatting
- types of camcorders (We'll bring in different types, including
a consumer camcorder and prosumer model, talk about their features,
and show you how they work)
- some info about tripods (how they work, what kind to rent or
buy)
- where to rent or buy equipment, and how to get the best price
- lighting basics: how to set up a basic four point lighting setup,
and how to use a combination of lights, gels and filters to illuminate
your set, make a scene look like day or night, create a sense
of depth, and create moods. (We'll bring in the lights and gels
to show you how they work)
- sound basics: how to record good usable audio, even when the
conditions you're filming under may not be perfect. (We'll bring
in different types of microphones, talk about each kind, and show
you how they work)
- editing basics: an overview of the different types of software
that are out there, what they have in common, what the differences
are, and some basic info about how digital editing works
- some tips for how to edit using Final Cut Pro
- what you need to know about contracts, release forms, permits
and insurance
- how to apply to find film festivals, and submit your movie to
them
- and more.
Because there's so much information to cover, most of this class
is lecture/discussion. But in one of the meetings, we'll bring
in some actors and a short script, and actually film a (very!)
short, complete movie in front of the class, so you can see the
whole process. (Students are free to either sit back and take
notes during this part of the class, or help out on crew.) (We'll
put the movie up on Youtube when it's done.)
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS CLASS AND YOUR OTHER FILM
AND ACTING CLASSES?
We have several classes related to acting, movies and filmmaking.
They include:
* this class (Filmmaking
101)
* Lets
Make a Movie
* Beginning
Acting
* Documentary
Filmmaking
* How
to make an action movie
* It's
Time to Write Your Screenplay!
Here's the easiest way to get a handle on the differences:
Course 2715, Beginning
Acting is an overall introduction to acting. It's a good course
for everyone who would like to learn more about the basics of
acting and performing, get some experience acting, and get more
comfortable in front of an audience. It's also a useful class
to filmmakers., as you'll learn some things about directing actors,
and may meet some actors you'll decide to cast in your film.
Course 2719, Filmmaking
101, is a lecture/discussion course. In it, you'll learn about
both the technical and business aspects of filmmaking. You'll
learn about camcorders, camera angles, audio, lighting, how to
plan, produce and direct your movie, how to find and work with
actors and crew, how to deal with contracts and release forms,
how to find locations for filming, and more.
Course 2717, Lets
Make a Movie, is a HANDS-ON course in which we actually dive
in, as a group, and make a short film. The students in Lets
Make a Movie are free to either act in it or be on the crew.
While you will learn a lot about filmmaking in Lets
Make a Movie, it does NOT cover the same ground as Filmmaking
101. In fact, we started offering Filmmaking
101 because people were coming to Lets
Make a Movie looking for detailed technical information
about lights, cameras, microphones, etc., which there is simply
not time to talk about in that class. (We're too busy racing the
deadline to get a film completed by the end of the quarter.)
Course 2724, How
to make an action movie is for everyone who would like to
learn how to make an action movie, i.e., how to tell a powerful
action-based story, how to make squibs, how to do action stunts,
how to choreograph and film car chases, fight scenes, etc.
Course 2723, Documentary
Filmmaking is an excellent course for people who are thinking
about making their own documentaries. You'll learn how to plan
your documentary, write it, direct it, edit it, avoid legal issues
and entanglements, and get it into film festivals.
Course 2312, It's
Time to Write Your Screenplay! is a class in screenwriting.
It's an essential course to take at some point if you're planning
on writing a screenplay of your own.
If your goal is to make a movie of your own, all of the classes
are useful. Since they're all film classes, there is a small amount
of information overlap, but the classes are very different from
each other. You can take them together, or in different quarters,
and in any order. When you've finished them, you'll be able to
move into making a movie, armed with both knowledge and experience.
Plus, you'll have learned what it's like being both in front of
and on the other side of the camera, and will be more effective
in working with actors as a result.
Other questions? Email Nilsosmar@gmail.com
I liked the full view into the topic. I loved the film shoot
at the end. - J.L, Seattle
It was really comprehensive and covered a lot of material. I learned
a lot and am really happy with the class. (comment submitted online)
The knowledge of the instructors, Nils and Gilbert, was very informative
and the excitment and interest it generated in myself and the
other students. (comment submitted online)
The instructor's skills and styles complemented teh subject and
each other well. It was a great overview; great basics without
too much info or over simplified. The location was great for me.
- R.H., Kent
Exposure to a lot of information about the practical and technical
sides of film-making. That was very informative and useful. (comment
submitted online) - T.W., Bellevue
The comprehensive nature of it... everything you need to know
to get going on making a film on video in 6 sessions. A lot of
info, great value. The instructors were generous with their time,
allowing q & a that invariably made the class go overtime
(a good thing). - J.G., Seattle
I am still currently taking this class, but I can tell you that
I like the accesibility of the information. Film making can be
an expensive edeavor as far as going to a formal film school,
or to a college with a film program. It has always been my belief
that one can become a film maker in ways other than spending 10's
of thousands of dollars- on an education that may give the graduate
only a slight advandage over the largely "self-taught"
student. This class fits well into my budget and my larger plan.
I've also become more connected to the larger filmmaking community
of Seattle. - Michael J., Seattle
(I liked) the lighting and camera angles demo. - Katie L., Redmond
Both Nils and Gilbert have real, insightful information to share.
- Jack R, Seattle
(I liked) the comprehensive nature of it... everything you need
to know to get going on making a film on video in 6 sessions.
A lot of info, great value. The instructors were generous with
their time... - Mickey T., Kent
I liked the unhurried but enthusiastic style of the instructors.
They were practitioners giving us the inside scoop on what you
really need to know, mistakes to avoid, etc., not giving stuffy
lectures. - Laura R., Seattle
The lecture about camera angles and storyboarding was really helpful.
- John H., Renton
I'm glad I took the class before buying a camcorder! I would have
wasted a couple thousand dollars on the one I was planning to
buy. - Ahmed C., Tacoma
(The class was) was very informative and useful. I enjoyed
the times we were shown samples of finished work as examples of
what was being discussed and the times when class members were
asked to come forward and help demonstrate concepts such as actor
placement for the over-the-shoulder shot. I would recommend this
class to anyone interested in quickly getting a broad overview
of what's involved in filmmaking. It gives you enough information
to understand the basics and helps you discover the direction
you should go to begin building more in-depth knowledge. - Michael
K, Bellevue
The instructor's skills and styles complemented the subject and
each other well. It was a great overview; great basics without
too much info or over simplified. - Jerry R., Seattle
The teacher's dedication to teaching as well as film - the attitude
that we students just be being there were/are film makers I enjoyed
the class size Very thorough class. I learned alot!! -
Mary T., Seattle
Filmmaking 101 is sponsored by the ASUW (Associated Students University of Washington) Experimental College, and is held on the U.W. campus in Seattle. It's a non-credit class open to everyone; you do not have to be a U.W. student to attend. The University of Washington is committed to providing equal access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accomodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accomodations, contact the Disability Office at least ten days in advance at: (206)543-6450/V, (206)543-6452/TTY, (206)685-7264 (fax) or email dso@u.washington.edu
To sign up by mail: You can sign up by mail at any time. To do so, click here to download the mail-in registration formThen fill it out and mail it to: ASUW Experimental College Box 352238 SAO 21 University of Washington Seattle WA 98195-2238 (Note: mail-in registrations won't be processed until June 23rd.)
To sign up online: Online registration for summer quarter Experimental College classes will begin on June 9th. (Please do not try signing up online before that time! Or you may end up in the spring quarter class instead.) We'll post a registration link here when summer online registrations begin.
To sign up by phone: Phone registrations for summer
quarter Experimental College classeswill begin onJune 23rd We'll
post more information here at that time.
Want an email reminder about registrations? To be added to the
instructor's email list, email Nilsosmar@gmail.com
You'll receive an email reminder when online and phone registrations
begin.
Whatever method you use to register, you will only be charged a $10 registration fee for each class you are enrolling in, when you sign up (or $5 if you are a UW student.) The course fee is not due until the first day of class.
Sponsored by the ASUW Experimental College:
Drawing
for absolute beginners
Learn
to Draw Faces
Figure
Drawing for beginners
Cartooning
Perspective
for Beginners: Drawing in Depth
Drawing
Clothing and Drapery
Exploring
Color
Beginning
Acting
Acting
in a Movie
Filmmaking
101
Writing
Fiction and Short Stories
It's
Time to Write Your Screenplay
Adobe
Photoshop
Sponsored by other schools *
Drawing
& painting Flowers
Drawing in
Ink
Drawing
comic books and graphic novels
Acrylic
painting for beginners
Drawing
with colored pencils
Documentary
filmmaking
Editing
tips & tricks for filmmakers
FX Makeup
for filmmakers
Improv
for beginners: acting without scripts
How
to make commercials & infomercials
Free
up your writing! (Beyond writer's block)
Writing
science fiction & fantasy
* click on the course title for registration information