Ellenville 4-day Filmmaking Workshop Schedule September-October 2023
Student Time Commitment: Students can attend as many or as few scheduled activities as desired. The “4-day” workshop is a curriculum designed to span 2 weekends of “Core” instruction & hands-on Production. Students are encouraged to attend additional editing sessions via Zoom based on their level of interest and availability. Additionally, ad-hoc shoot days may occur based on actor and location availability. We strive for maximum student participation and will schedule these additional shoots and editing sessions to accommodate the most students. The program culminates in a premiere night event where the students can showcase the film they made to friends, family, and the community.
Dates and activities
September 22nd - Mentor Dinner at 4 Water St. Napanoch and Zoom Conference Call
Dinner and planning session for mentors. 6pm - 8:30pm.
September 23rd - *Core Day 1: Saturday Weekend 1 Preproduction (Morning Session)
Location: 9 Market Street, Ellenville.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Registration and Welcome (Coffee and Breakfast Served)
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Introduction to Filmmaking Workshop
- Overview of the workshop objectives and expectations
- Introduction to the instructors and fellow participants
- Distribution of workshop materials
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Icebreaking Improvisational Exercises (With Rachel and Don)
- Acting mentor(s) will lead the group in physical exercises designed to stimulate the body and mind while fostering team building and free expression.
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM: Understanding the Filmmaking Process
- Introduction to the stages of filmmaking: preproduction, production, and post-production
- Exploring the roles and responsibilities of each crew member
- Overview of the essential elements of film pre-production planning: script, storyboarding, & shot lists.
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM: Developing a Story
- Understanding the importance of a compelling story
- Brainstorming session to generate story ideas.
- Resource board creation. (list of available actors, locations, props, etc)
- Introduction to screenplay structure and formatting
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch
September 23rd - *Core Day 1: Preproduction (Afternoon Session)
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Scriptwriting and Storyboarding
- Selection of the story for the workshop film from the brainstorming session ideas.
- Introduction to scriptwriting techniques and formatting guidelines
- Crafting the screenplay for the workshop project
- Working in groups to develop storyboards for the chosen story
- Discussing shot types, camera angles, and visual storytelling
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Planning for Production
- Discussing the logistics of production: location scouting, casting, and equipment.
- Assigning roles and responsibilities to workshop participants
- Preparing a production schedule and organizing the shooting days
- Introduction to the importance of obtaining permissions and releases
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September 24th - *Core Day 2: Sunday Weekend 1 Preproduction (Morning Session)
Location: 9 Market Street, Ellenville.
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Registration and Welcome (Coffee and Breakfast Served)
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Carl Teaches the basics of recording field sound. Sound recording techniques and the importance of capturing quality audio
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM: Status Updates
- Reiterate the workshop objectives and expectations
- Distribution of draft script.
- Updates on overnight developments.
10:30AM - 11:00 AM: Icebreaking Improvisational Exercises (With Rachel and Don)
- Acting mentor(s) will lead group(s) in physical exercises designed to stimulate the body and mind while fostering team building and free expression.
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Technical Aspects of Filmmaking
- Introduction to camera operation, including framing, focus, and exposure
- Basics of lighting techniques and composition
- Students will get hands-on training with professional equipment.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch
September 24th *Core Day 2: Preproduction (Afternoon Session)
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Laurie Guzda Teaches “Directing Actors”
- Practicing scene rehearsals with actors
- Understanding the concept of blocking and its impact on visual storytelling
- Collaborative discussion on directing techniques and working with actors
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Production Design and Costumes
- Understanding the role of Production Design in storytelling
- Exploring set design, props, and costumes
- Discussing the importance of visual consistency in a film
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Finalizing Production Plan
- Reviewing the production schedule and making any necessary adjustments
- Addressing any concerns or questions related to the production process
- Preparing the necessary documents for the shooting days (e.g., call sheets, location agreements)
OPTIONAL: Status meetings Tuesday and Thursday 6:30pm-7:30pm Via Zoom.
Mentors and participants contributing locations/costumes/props will be doing work during the week.
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September 30th -*Core Day 3: Saturday Weekend 2 Production (Morning Session)
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Welcome Back
- Short icebreaking improv exercise
- Reiterate the workshop objectives and expectations
- Distribution of shooting script.
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM: On-Set Production
- Setting up production equipment and props
- Filming scenes according to the production schedule and shot lists
- Collaborative effort in executing the production plan
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch
September 30th - *Core Day 3: Production (Afternoon Session)
2:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Continuation of On-Set Production
- Filming remaining scenes as per the revised production schedule
- Encouraging creativity and teamwork during the filming process
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October 1st - *Core Day 4: Sunday Weekend 2 Production (Morning Session)
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Status Meeting
- Short icebreaking improv exercise
- Reiterate the workshop objectives and expectations
- Distribute the revised script and discuss lessons learned from the first day of shooting.
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM: On-Set Production (Continued)
- Wrapping up any remaining scenes from the production schedule
- Focusing on capturing\scheduling additional shots or reshoots if necessary
- Ensuring efficient time management and effective communication on set
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch
October 1st - Day 4: Production (Afternoon Session)
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Post-production Introduction
- Overview of the post-production process: video editing, sound design, and color grading
- Introduction to editing software and basic editing techniques
- Organizing and transferring footage to the editing system
3:30 AM - 6:30 PM: Editing and Sound Design
- Importing and organizing footage in the editing software
- Basic editing techniques: assembling the footage, cutting, and transitions
- Introduction to sound design: adding and adjusting audio elements
OPTIONAL: Editing Meetings Tuesday and Thursday 6pm-7pm Via Zoom.
The film is edited scored and color-corrected in the week leading up to the premiere. A video recording of the editing Zoom meeting will be provided for all participants who can not join to review at their leisure. These Zoom meetings will cover:
- Advanced editing techniques: refining the pacing, adding music, and effects
- Color grading and enhancing the visual quality of the film
- Reviewing the final cut and making necessary adjustments
OPTIONAL: Editing Meetings Wednesday and Friday from Noon-4pm Via Zoom.
Final touches to the film will be made to the film the weekend before the premiere, with ad-hoc editing sessions as required.
Please note that this schedule is subject to change based on the specific needs and progress of the workshop. The workshop instructors will provide more detailed information and guidance throughout the duration of the workshop.
October 14th Saturday Night at The Movies -
The project culminates with a premiere for friends family and community,
Locations For Shooting TBD
Canera Package For Workshop:
Cannon C500mii With Raw module
List of films this camera has been used on: https://shotonwhat.com/?s=c500
Highlight Reel of Prior Mythic Bridge Films : https://vimeo.com/858259041/2067d42aa1
Mentors for Sept 23,24 :
Don Klien - Storycraft & Production
Michael Tosner- Cinematography, Editing all Technical
Rachel Smith - Acting
Laurie Guzda - Acting - Improv- Storycraft - Teambuilding
Derek Stenborg - Set & Production Design
Lauren Banjo - Sound
Carl Weldon - Sound mixing
Sarah Grace Long - Set/production design
Prior Student Film Nominated in 2015 for Emmy
“Killing it With Kindness” https://vimeo.com/103158093
Students chose to explore the topic of gun violence in schools as their central theme and landed on the concept of “the butterfly effect” (a string of small acts of kindness) working to short-circuit a school shooting.