Weekend Film School

We're excited to announce that we will be teaching part of the 2nd day inside Noble Desktop. Noble Desktop is one of Manhattan's premiere computer training facilities with a top-notch video editing studio.

Read a great article about us in Movie Maker Magazine and save $100.

Reserve your space now. Maximum Class Size is just 6 students. Cancellation policy is 1 week before class starts. After 1 week, you can reschedule the class up to 72 hours before the class starts. After 72 hours, you cannot cancel or reschedule class.

Enroll online or call us at 917-887-6607 to sign up.

$595.00

When would you like to attend?: No Classes Scheduled

In just one weekend, you will learn the entire aspects of independent filmmaking - pre-production, scriptwriting and storyboarding, cinematography, directing, and budgeting and scheduling.

This is not a class where you sit through boring lectures. You will work "hands-on" with cameras, storyboards, lights, microphones, and editing software. You will shoot a "super short film", edit it yourself, and take your project home with you.

We are located in lower Manhattan at 121 Fulton Street. We are just a few blocks away from the offices of Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, and The Tribeca Film Festival.

If you want to extend your stay an extra day or two, we can certainly help you with local tours, shopping, and New York sightseeing. Just let us know what you'd like to do and see in New York and we can make it happen.

Classes are held Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

PRODUCING
Introduction to planning your film or video project. Includes a brief introduction to scheduling and budgeting your project. This module uses Gorilla Software to introduce you to producing a film. Gorilla Software helps independent producers and filmmakers manage Budgeting, Scheduling, Crew, Expenses, and Locations.

SCRIPTWRITING
Introduction to writing a script for a feature film, short film, documentary, or video project. We will show you both standard screenplay format for narrative films and audio/video scripts for documentaries and reality-type projects. This module uses professional scriptwriting software for PC and Mac.

STORYBOARDING
Introduction to storyboarding for film, TV, and animation. Storyboarding is perhaps the single greatest saver of time and money for low-budget filmmakers. You will learn standard 3-panel pen and paper storyboarding and computer storyboarding using Frame Forge 3D professional storyboarding software. No artistic talent required!

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Introduction to cinematography including camera set-up, proper camera techniques, technical understanding of your camera, and differences between mini-DV, Super 8, 16MM, and 35MM film stock. You will practice the most popular camera shots such as close shot (CS), close-up (CU), extreme close-up (ECU), medium shot (MS), point-of-view shot (POV), and long shot (LS). You will learn low-budget techniques to mimic more expensive Hollywood productions.

You are encouraged to bring your own camera to this course. We teach the class using 3-chip mini-DV cameras such as the Canon XL1, Canon GL2 and the Panasonic DVX100.

LIGHTING AND SOUND
Introduction to proper lighting and sound design. You will learn standard 3-point lighting. You will learn how to use artificial lighting, natural lighting, and lighting for indoors, outdoors, day, and night. You will learn how to use shotgun mics, on-person mics, and boom mics. You will learn low-budget techniques to get fantastic results.

DIRECTING
Introduction to directing your film. You will learn how to construct scenes - the building blocks of your project. You will learn how to work with individual actors and ensembles.

EDITING
Introduction to the art of editing. You will learn basic techniques of a non-linear editing program such as Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. You will learn how to assemble scenes on a timeline. You will learn simple cuts, effects, and transitions used in professional editing. This course includes a short editing project.

LEGAL ASPECTS AND DISTRIBUTION
Introduction to legal and financial aspects of filmmaking. You will learn about permissions and rights clearances, unions, distribution deals, and film festivals. Whether your expected budget is $1,000 to $1,000,000

Alex Meillier is a New York University film school graduate with experience in directing and shooting commercials, documentaries, TV, short films and feature films.

Alex has been teaching Filmmaking, Directing, Cinematography, and Producing for ten years. For seven years, Alex was the deputy director at the New York Film Academy. He has also taught filmmaking all over the world for UCLA, DV Dojo, and The Apple Store.

Alex produced the instructional Shoot for the Cut DVDs for the Canon GL2 and the Panasonic DVX100. He is known worldwide as an expert on low-budget filmmaking and videography.