The 16-week Digital Filmmaking course provides each student with the skills necessary to write, produce, direct, edit and web-publish their own DV film.

Students will learn the foundation elements of digital filmmaking in a hands-on environment and then will test their skills by producing and directing their own short film or documentåry project.

Students work as film crew on their classmates' projects, gaining additional training and understanding of the key crew positions. Instructors are always available for consultation. DFA graduates and more advanced students are also available for crew assistance.

Classes covered in this program include:

Screenwriting Producing Directing Camera & Lighting Sound Recording Final Cut Pro Pro Tools DVD Authoring

SCREENWRITING
All of filmmaking's technological tools are meaningless unless the aspiring filmmaker understands the craft of telling an emotionally compelling, original story. This section instructs students in the principles of solid script construction: Plot, genre, character, format, mythic resonance, comedy and rewriting. The instructor uses examples from current and classic films (with additional advice from Aristotle, Shakespeare, Robert McKee and Syd Field) to illustrate these core principles. Finally, each student receives individual attention in the scripting of their own project.

PRODUCING
This section explores the business side of digital film production: budgeting, crewing, casting, scheduling, negotiating contracts, acquiring permits, and preparing for postproduction. Independent film production will be contrasted with the Hollywood studio system, and students will learn the four phases of indie feature production: formation, financing, implementation and distribution. The emphasis is on finding the best solution within a projects limitations, no matter how large or small the budget.

DIRECTING
This section provides the essential tools needed for the novice filmmaker to direct his or her three-day digital film shoot. Topics include preparation, working efficiently with a crew, drawing the best performances from actors, and effective camera placement. This section also introduces students to the more advanced directing skills, such as how to encourage and hone the talents of your collaborators - writers, designers, photographers, editors - into a unified vision.

CAMERA & LIGHTING
This section will focus on digital video as a production tool. Students will learn the DV camera features as well as operation and lighting for professional DV production. Students will compose and shoot scenes and journalist style interviews. The importance of lighting in aesthetic and technical terms will be emphasized and will include a practical study and analysis of lighting techniques for black-and-white and color digital video

SOUND RECORDING
Location Sound Recording:
These two sessions and a hands-on sound recording lab present, in a practical manner, the role of audio in the visual medium of film. Students acquire valuable technical and theoretical information that allows them to use sound as a creative tool, and to function as a part of the sound crew in motion picture productions. Much emphasis is put on the hands-on experience necessary to perform well in the field.

FINAL CUT PRO
In this section, students learn how to edit their short film using Final Cut Pro, Students learn logging & capturing, creating sequences, importing files, and audio and video effects. Although instructors are always available to the student during editing, the objective of both of the classes is to instill in each student the confidence to independently solve any problems that may later arise in the editing studio.

PRO TOOLS
Pro Tools is the industry's most widely used software environment for sound recording and manipulation. The object of the Pro Tools sessions is to understand sound and the ways to manipulate it to create special effects and achieve optimum sound quality. Topics covered include: the importance of having a good sound source on set; sound correction; synchronization; editing and mixing.

DVD AUTHORING & WEBSTREAMING
In this hands on course, students are taught to build DVD projects and create streaming video from their digital masters. Also Encoding video & audio to MPEG and Dolby Digital, Bit-Budgeting, interactivity, still menus & motion menus, buttons and highlights, programming the remote control, building discs, duplication/replication, Creating Motion Menus importing from Final Cut Pro and finally how to Burn your own DVD project. All students leave with a comprehensive understanding of the technologies behind both streaming video on the internet and DVD.

Tuition: $3,995
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6PM - 9PM