Film in Box Detailed Course Outline | Africa Movie Academy Awards

Training Courses are available in Lagos Nigeria, Banjul Gambia and Johannesburg South Africa

ACTING

This program is for those with no formal training in Acting, wishing to act for the screen. The Acting for Film program prepares actors to be technically skilled, versatile and marketable in the film industry. Coursework emphasizes training for the naturalistic portrayal of Character, the most frequent style used in film, as there are many valid approaches to Character Portrayal. The process is taught making use of complimentary techniques such as Meisner's behaviour-based exercises, Robert Cohen's techniques for integrating the Actor's many technical tasks and physical exercises adapted from the Lecoq School. Course in Voice and Movement will also be an essential component of the curriculum.

EDITING

Program Teaches You The Art And Skills Required For Editing Films And Mastering Post-Production Techniques. Film Editing Is The Process Of Selecting And Joining Together Shots, Connecting The Resulting Sequences And Ultimately Creating A Finished Motion Picture. It Is An Art Of Storytelling. Film Editing is the only art that is unique to cinema, separating filmmaking from other art forms that preceded it. It is often referred to as the 'invisible art' because when it is well practiced, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not even aware of the Editor's work.

During the workshop, students learn the standards software used by professional postproduction houses around the globe: After Effects, Maya and Light Wave. This course is extremely detailed and time consuming.

Topics covered include:

Basic Visual Effects, Storyboarding, Layout, Basic Modelling, Surfacing, Text Design, Lighting, Advance Visual Effects, Motion Tracking, Matting, Animation, Using Particles, Chromakeying

Savings, hiding, and quitting in Final Cut Pro
How to begin and organize program elements
How to mark clips
How to use the timeline
How to copy, paste, and cut clips on the timeline
Using the overwrite and insert functions
Dragging and dropping
Starting your rough cut 9
Working with cutaways and insert shots
Cutting to music and narration
Adding sound to your sequence
Applying video and audio to clips
Trimming techniques
How to use Selection, R Ripple, Slip, Roll, and Slide
Adjusting Edit Points
Transitioning to video and audio tracks
How to create sub clips from clips
Reconnecting media in Final Cut Pro
Capturing footage using a deck or camera
Changing motion properties
Working with Key Frames
Creating online sequence
Mixing audio
Exporting to QuickTime, QuickTime conversion, exporting to tape

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Cinematography is a creative and interpretive process. We teach this in our courses to that Directors of Photography learn about the technical and artistic requirement, which are a key element of the authorship of a cinematic work, not solely consisting of a photographic recording of a physical event.

The responsibilities of the Cinematographer extend from the conceptualization and preparing of filming to post-production and the presentation of a finished work. Photography itself is only one of a range or organizational, directorial, interpretive and compositional techniques made use of by Cinematographers to create a Cinematic work based on their artistic vision, imagination and technical skills in collaboration with other artists.

The Course of Cinematography is a 3-week course.

LECTURE: What is Cinematography?

VISIONS OF LIGHT: THE ART OF CINEMATOGRAPHY

Lights, Power Issues, and safety. Definition of shot, scene, and sequence. Shot Design and Manipulating Visual Elements. Positive and negative space. The Lenses, Dramatic Elements, and Organizing Action In a Dramatic Scene. Focus and where to focus. Getting to know your camera menu. On-set teamwork, hierarchy, and the role of the Director of Photography as head of the camera department.

The Studio Look LECTURE:

Handling mixed color temperature with gels`. Elements of Mise-en-scene and direction.180-degree rule and Continuity shooting. Coverage and Conflict

CLASS ACTIVITY

Exterior and Interior * 1, 2 and 3-point lighting on a subject * Subject with natural light * it subject using bounce card (reflector) * Choose exposure in a high contrast situation to make subject a silhouette * Choose exposure in the same high contrast situation to make the subject correct exposure, the background blown out * Using mixed color temperature and gels

LECTURE:

Camera fundamentals, Definition of low and high key lighting. Lighting styles: Silhouette, Notan and chiaroscuro

Solving common problems: Hot Spots Eyeglasses Light Sources Within The Frame Lighting Darker Complexions Too Much Light In The Wrong Places Different Color Temperatures Within The Scene Screening

Cinematographer’s Craft Lab: Lighting faces, through this exercise demonstrate: key light, fill light, back light, side light, background light, diffused light, eye light, and light direction. Light instruments and shading devices Practical Part to demonstrate basic camera skill and Three Point Lighting.

Shooting a One on one three point Lighting interview set up. Light instruments and shading devices. Styles. Using Positive and negative space. Tell Story with the background.

Lecture: Understanding the concept:

1. What is motivating the light on a scene?
2. Preparing for Post Production. Proposal, storyboard, lighting diagram.
3. Submit outline for final projects. Students present their proposal to the class and choose Production roles and shooting dates.
4. Begin Director’s Book. Shot lists, Floor plan, lined script, storyboards. Reference.

FILM DIRECTING

The Film Director is one of the hardest fields to break into, as a director you learn to direct and prepare actors to interpret their scripts, How they should use the dialogue in the script, to tell the story with the camera.

Directing is a hands on approach and you will learn the following long list of things to make you the best director you can be.

How to prepare a shot list
How to line a shooting script
How to prepare for a day of shooting
How to block a scene How to get your master shot
How to get coverage How to create and work with storyboards
How to pace and schedule
How to break down a script
How to work with actors
How to work with the director of photography, grip department, and other gear heads
How to work with producers
Permitting
Finding funding
Marketing Distribution

SCRIPTWRITING

Assessment context, why screenwriting and storyboard, the story structure, the story types the dramatology, basic character building, the dialogue, story boards, formats, shot types sequencing, planning a project.

Essential terms and concepts: terminology; screenplay format.

The Three Act Story Structure: Screenplay basics, story structure and story types.

Character: dialogue Storyboard basics: format, shot types, sequencing, planning, categorizing and structuring a story, developing a treatment and pitch, sequencing a script and designing storyboard.

What does a writer do? The Writer is the person who creates, takes, or adapts an idea and formulates a screenplay. The Script is King. What it means is that, at the end of the day, the most important element comes down to the script. Your job, as the writer, is to produce the SCRIPT to die for.

The die for Script. The script that isn’t merely good. It is beyond good, and it is beyond great.

Lesson One: Getting Started We also, discuss the importance of reading classic screenplays and begin understanding what essential elements all good screenplays have in common.
Lesson Two: The Story
Lesson Three: The Three Act Structure and Plot Points This is called the 3-Act Structure.
Act One: The Setup Exposition Main Character Dramatic Premise Dramatic Situation Inciting Incident
Act Two: The Confrontation Obstacles First Culmination Midpoint
Act Three: The Resolution Climax Denouement
Lesson Four: Character Your characters must be alive. The Reality Back Story Character Arcs Taking What You See Supporting Characters Homework
Lesson Five: Theme/Genre Genres include: * Comedy * Drama * Action * Musical * Thriller * Horror * Western * Science Fiction * Fantasy * Satire “Theme” is different from genre.
A theme addresses the question “What’s it about?” Not “What’s it about?” Examples of themes include: * Revenge * Loyalty * Love * Forgotten Love * Justice * Betrayal * Friendship * Faith
Additionally, this lesson will spend time getting you ready to sell your screenplay. Identifying the Genre The Two Line Pitch The Two Movie Pitch Homework
Lesson 6: Actions and Descriptions A screenplay has to move. We’ve talked about having a beginning, middle and an end. All of the scenes within the three acts must be targeted to move the story along, whether it’s character exposition or action. The Novel vs. The Screenplay Write What’s Seen Writing Scene Action Shooting Scripts vs. Reading Scripts Homework
Lesson 7: Formatting They need to be formatted correctly. They need to be the proper length. A screenplay page is roughly a minute of movie length, so a 120-page screenplay is a 2-hour movie. They need to be printed and presented correctly In marketing “packaging is everything.” If you plan on selling your script, or raising money to produce your own film you need to know how to format and present your finished screenplay. What screenwriting software to use, Your title page ,Printing
Lesson 8: Dialogue Giving your characters a voice A word on narration Do you ever use it? Homework
Lesson 9: Synopsis and Treatment The Long Synopsis The Four Page Treatment Homework
Lesson 10: The Scene Outline Scene Ordering Marking The Plot Points, Acts, Midpoints and Climax Sample Scene Outline Your Guide The Main Rule of Writing Create Your Rock
Lesson 11: The First Draft Create Your Rock, Part Two Pushing To The End
Lesson 12 The first read The “professional” first draft Making a cohesive story Judging the logic and movement Your job
Lesson 13: Polishing Good tightening Bad tightening Fixing a scene’s structure and flow Making it error-proof The first 10 pages Your job Homework
Lesson 14 Where to find good readers How to interpret their notes

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Production Design enables the students to learn about the look and feel of a film, It includes set design, costuming understanding how costumes can affect or effect the right styling for a film, the importance of props, set lighting. You get to visually develop the script prior to its filming how to build a set is very important the design style for a set, locations, costumes, props * Train in the creation of overall 1.

DURING THE SECOND PART OF THE PROGRAM THE MAIN FOCUS IS PRODUCING A FEATURE FILM

Students pre-produce, shoot, edit, and work on the marketing and distribution of a real film intended for theatrical release. The programme provides master classes and professional supervision to ensure the artistic and professional quality of the film.

Classes are aimed at addressing the specific needs of the film. Students complete programme in 21 days, knowing all the aspects of film industry, from pre-production to distribution, and, most importantly, each team leaves with a film that exhibits the talents and professions learnt during FILM IN A BOX.

PRODUCING

Course Objectives and Outline Producers are one of the most over worked team members of any film, TV, or theatre production the truth is many do not know what a film producer does, producers wear many hats while working behind the scenes, making what they do sometimes hard to discern.

But make no mistake, without them; films, television shows, and documentaries don't happen. Executive Producer, Associate Producer, Co-Producer Line Producer The Main of their duties is to secure financing for a film, Producers can play a vital role in the creative aspects as well. Films Producers hire actors, directors, editors, screenwriters and even other producers, and can also develop scripts. Some producers also direct and act. For complete and total autonomy, then become a producer a it is the hub engine of any production with Film in a box you will have seven days to learn these hands on two courses a day

1. How to develop a film project
2. Developing scripted material
3. How to pick the right location
4. How to schedule a film shoot
5. Pre-Production, Production, Post -Production
6. How to manage a film set
7. How to work with Production Managers, Production Designers, Production Coordinators
8. Permitting and insurance (liability insurance, workman's comp)
9. Errors and omissions
10. Completion bonds
11. Marketing and distribution
12. Film festivals
13. Foreign sales
14. Contracts, budgeting
15. Financing techniques
16. Pitching how to get it right