Film Workshops

Teaching the art of filmmaking to individuals, companies and organizations seeking to learn or improve their craft of creating authentic films

THE WHY , THE WHAT AND THE HOW

You don't need to go to filmschool to learn how to make films.

The magic of film creation can be experienced and mastered by anyone who has the curiosity to learn something new and the willingness to practice. Films can be used in endless ways to reach your desired audience emotionally and/or intellectually.

For me, film is about getting a message across while setting up a creative process to do so in the most enjoyable way. The message is being put in an envelope, let's call it the "story", and being send off in the hope that the person who receives it can relate, understand and feel.

Before creating a film first and foremost the essence of three key questions need to be understood leading to the three main principles of filmmaking.

1. WHY do you want to tell?

This first question is leading to the intention - the meaning - the essence. If it is not clear, why are making the film, why make it? Why invest all your energy, time and love into it? The WHY is foundational, essential, existential - a potent ground for the film to exist.

2. WHAT do you want to tell?

The second question is leading to the semantics - the content - the story. This is a highly creative process and it does not require any understanding of the technical aspects of film. The only thing that counts is what's on your heart or mind and needs to be expressed. You can totally learn how to tell a story in the most mesmerizing ways without ever touching a camera and maybe that's what you want. The WHAT is priority and clarity in its answer is required to move to...

3. HOW can this be told?

The third question is leading to the syntax - the structure - the style. Just imagine the WHAT as a picture - the HOW then is the frame of it. You can have the most beautiful image yet an ugly frame will mess it up. The frame is just as important for the overall impression of the artwork yet it always serves the picture itself.

The HOW is serving the WHAT is serving the WHY.

Knowing what you want to tell you can now explore the question of how this can be told in the most effective way. This is the technical side of filmmaking. It's about creating a unique and memorable style. It's about the camera, lighting, sound and on how these fields relate to each other.

The WHY is the soul. The WHAT is the heart. The HOW is the body, the spine.

My approach of teaching filmography is a breakdown of the WHY, WHAT and the HOW into sub-themes and modules.
These modules then are being taught in group workshops and/or 1 on 1 film mentoring (online or in person in Berlin).

On request it is sometimes possible to join us in the field on an actual production for further understanding of shooting dynamics.

MODULES

Learn all about film in these different modules on the WHAT and HOW through preproduction, production and postproduction

PREPRODUCTION

Before the shoot

CONCEPT & SCRIPT

Working out an idea into a solid story
Learning the basics of screenwriting
Learning how to make a story exciting from the very first moment and ending it with a wow effect
Working out an unique audio-visual design
Defining the main target group of your desired audience
Defining the main goal of the film if there is any

LOCATION & TALENT SCOUTING

Finding the right shooting locations for your film
Finding the right actors/talents for your film
Learning how to get family/friends involved in the best way on low budget projects

SHOT LIST & SHOOTING PREP

Creating a shot list for your script
Understanding which equipment would work best for the shoot
Preparing the film equipment

PRODUCTION

The shoot

CAMERAS & THE IMAGE

Understanding what an image actually is
Understanding how moving images turn out as film
Learning about camera aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how these relate to each other
Learning about white balance
Learning how to expose the image/film correctly
Learning about framing
Learning about the different types of cameras, how to choose the right one and how to get the most out of it

LENSES & THE FRAME

Understanding the differences of zoom and prime lenses and the benefits of each
Understanding the differences of focal lengths and apertures and how these effect the image
Learning about the different types and brands of lenses and how to choose the right one

MICS & THE SOUND

Understanding why the quality of the sound is prior to the quality of the image
Learning about the different types of microphones
Learning to choose the right mic for the right shooting situation
Learning how to use field recorders

LIGHTS & LIGHTING

Understanding the importance of light in the creation of the image
Learning about the difference between soft and harsh light
Learning about different light temperatures
Learning about the different types of light
Learning to choose the right type of light for the right shooting situation
Learning about the different types of lighting a person and how to choose the right one for your project
Learning how to light a scene
Learning how to block light or reflect light
Learning how to utilize available/natural light in the best way

CAMERA SUPPORT SYSTEMS & CAMERA MOVEMENT

Understanding what camera support systems are intended to do and when to use camera movement
Learning about the different types of camera support systems and how to choose the right one
Learning how to use an EasyRig
Learning how to calibrate and use an electronic camera gimbal
Learning how to calibrate and use a steadycam
Learning how to use camera dollies and camera sliders
Learning how to shoot a hyperlapse by using an electronic slider system

DRONES & THE BIRD'S EYE VIEW

Understanding when a drone shot is useful and when not
Learning about the different types of drones and how to choose the right one
Learning how to fly a drone
Learning how to shoot basic drone footage
Learning how to shoot more complex flight maneuvers
Learning how to shoot with automated object follow up modes

DIRECTING ACTORS

Understanding the essence of direction
Learning how to direct actors
Learning what NOT to say or do to actors
Learning how to direct friends/amateurs

HOW TO INTERVIEW

Understanding the social dynamics of an interview
Learning how to stay present to oneself and the conversation
Learning how to listen
Practicing the technique of "The Lion and the Camel" to understand the desired middle way of communication
Learning how to ask strong follow up questions
Learning how to direct the conversation in the desired direction

POSTPRODUCTION

After the shoot

MEDIA LIBRARY SYSTEM

Understanding the importance of an effective library and folder system
Learning how to setup the right library and folder system for ones needs

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MUSIC

Understanding the importance of the right music in film
Getting to know the different possibilities of choosing the right music
Learning how to choose the right music
Learning about pacing, build ups and downs

FILM EDITING

Understanding the role of the film edit within the whole
Getting to know the different options of film editing softwares
Choosing the right film editing software
Possibility to learn how to use Final Cut Pro X
Learning how to use shortcuts for an effective workflow
Understanding editing flow and learning how to create such
Learning how to harmonize the image with the sound
Learning how to use effects and plugins
Learning how to create your own unique editing style

SOUND DESIGN & SOUND EDITING

Understanding sound design
Learning how to create sound design in the 3 fields of ambience, action and abstraction
Learning how to edit the sounds and sound effects
Learning how to mix the sound of the film and balance them with the music for a harmonic soundscape

COLOR CORRECTION & COLOR GRADING

Understanding the importance of color
Understanding the difference of color correction and color grading
Learning how to correct the colors of the image
Learning how to create a unique, stylized color grade for the film
Learning how to use color grading tools and plugins
Learning how to use LUTs

FINALISATION

Learning how to add last creative touches and finalize the film
Learning about different export options and formats and how to choose the right one

FILM DISTRIBUTION / PUBLICATION

Learning about the different possibilities to distribute the film
Learning about the differences of video platforms and social media pages and understanding which ones best to use for the desired goal of the film
Creating the right distribution/publication path for the film